A New High
July 14th, 2008 by ariana
On the scale that is!
159 today. UGH. That’s up from 153 at my last appointment just over two weeks ago. How can you gain 3lbs a week? At this point baby is growing about .5 lbs a week, so the other 2.5 are going to my butt and thighs which I really thought couldn’t get any bigger.
I thought wrong.
So that puts me at about 40lbs gained the entire PG, with potentially 4 more weeks (or more) to go.. which at the rate of 3lbs a week could be another 12 lbs or so! God I hope not.
I wish I could say its water weight or swelling, and if this had been two days ago I could. But today my feet and legs were actually normal, which is to say I could actually see the veins in my feet and my toes don’t look or feel like little sausages about to break out of their casings!
The extra weight is causing so much discomfort, particularly in the skin just under my breasts where all the enormous weight of my belly is putting the most strain. It sort of feels tender all the time, like a perpetual sunburn.
The good news is that now that I’m 36 weeks and so close to “term” (37 weeks) I got the ok to start moderate exercise again, so hopefully moving my giant ass around a little will keep the weight gain to a minimum these last 4 weeks.
The Breastfeeding Class
Was totally useless. Thank god I didn’t make Jeff go, if I was bored I can only imagine how he would have felt! I think I am just as prepared as one can be without having an actual baby and knowing what specific problems we will encounter and how to counteract them. All I can do is line up the info and #s of people who can help if we do have problems.
We took the second half of our “Prepared Childbirth Class” on Sunday. Once again we had a great instructor, so it was a good experience.
Tomorrow we do “the ABCs of Childcare” class at Phelps.. and that’s the end of our classes!
Not “Preterm” Labor Anymore..
Saturday day I had really bad contractions all day. They were different than my other consistent contractions in that they started out first as a menstrual cramp feeling. Then they turned into cramps every 5 minutes or so, but without the tightening contraction feeling. Then they started in with the tightening and got sharper so that they were menstrual achy AND sharply painful and at one point were as little as 3 minutes apart. This went on for at least 3 hours but slowed down and eventually stopped.
I have NO idea how I’m going to know when I’m in real labor! I pray I am one of the lucky 15% who’s water breaks at the onset, at least then I’ll know.
Next on my to do list is to pack that hospital bag… I think we’re going to need it sooner rather than later!
You might also like
 |
|
 |
|
I know this one’s old but I just found your blog today and have been enjoying perusing it :) Don’t feel bad about the weight gain- I gained about 70 lbs with my little one, for a max weight of 208 lbs. In a three week period, I gained 12 pounds once. Eek. My little one is 8 months old, and I’m back down to 160 but I still have a little ways to go!
This is a little late but, don’t sweat the breast feeding class. There will be a lactation consultant at the hospital who can give you all the help you’ll need. I don’t think there’s really much you can learn before you actually have Jasper. Without an actual baby on your boob, there’s not a whole lot to do.
Hang in there with your last few days!
You guys are so sweet for trying to make me feel better :)
Don’t stress about the baby weight. Like Stephanie said, it’s not all in your butt (well…I’m paraphrasing), and once you start breastfeeding the weight will fall off because your body needs to use up calories to feed that baby. Seriously – don’t worry about it.
Good luck with everything! I know I’m just a random blog lurker, but I’m really happy for you and your husband.
Silly girl! Don’t beat yourself up over your pregnancy weight gain. It’s not as if it’s eight pounds of baby and 32 pounds of fat! Here’s a pretty average breakdown:
* Baby = 7-8 pounds
* Placenta = 1-2 pounds
* Amniotic fluid = 2 pounds
* Uterus = 2 pounds
* Maternal breast tissue = 2 pounds
* Maternal blood = 4 pounds
* Fluids in maternal tissue = 4 pounds
* Maternal fat and nutrient stores = 7 pounds
The weight from blood and fluid (did you know your blood volume doubles during pregnancy?) will come off within a few weeks of having the baby and if you end up nursing, most of the leftover fat will melt from that. You’re doing fine. Now, if you gain another 40 pounds over the next four weeks THEN you might want to invest in a treadmill!
Relax – you look great! :-)
Can you swim at all? That feels good. Don’t stress about the weight. With breastfeeding the pounds literally melt away (particularly if you nurse for longer than 3 months-I found at 4 and 5 months post partum I was skinnier than before I got pregnant and I gained 50 lbs-including 8 pounds in the last four weeks).
I have to laugh b/c I was pregnant last summer and I remember saying, How will I know when I’m in labor! Trust me. YOU KNOW! There is no mistaking it.
Good luck in these last few weeks. Rest as much as you are able to. Enjoy silence. Enjoy your husband and your last weeks as a married couple without a baby. Eat long leisurely dinners. Read. Talk to friends on the phone and see them in person (this part of your life changes big time). You are almost to the end of the pregnancy journey!
don’t stress the weight. seriously, you’ll have enough time to stress about it after the baby comes out! enjoy it now :-) you are naturally thin, so you’ll be fine. for me, most of it just fell off in the first 3 weeks.
i think you’ll know when it’s really labor. those contractions hurt soooo bad! but yeah, the water breaking does help give you a clue ;-) but really, enjoy your time now!! once the baby is here it takes a while to feel like yourself again, and to remember to pay attention to your husband too!
congrats on making it almost full term!
Kayla, thanks, I’m glad I’m not the only one!
Chantal, that’s very sweet. I sure don’t feel like a fox, more like a panda bear :)
Toast, that’s what I thought would happen! I keep reading you are supposed to slow down or lose the 9th month..doesn’t seem like it will be the trend for me but I can always hope.
Dawn, I was just thinking this morning we should make the most of dinkhood right now instead of being frustrated and impatient to meet him!
I don’t think he’s going to hold out long enough to share my birthday but I’m glad he’ll be a full term baby! I totally feel your pain in the weight department but like Chantal said, I’m sure you’re still a fox! Enjoy these last few WEEKS, DINK-hood will be over before you know it!
Generally toward the end the weight may stop growing. You may even lose a pound…Just keep in mind that it is summer. I felt bigger and heavier with my summer pregnancy than my winter one… And you’re so close… I know it’s miserable – but that’s a sign that you’re SO close!! Hang on girl!! :)
Geez, I don’t even want to think about what I weigh. I think I started at 150, so don’t feel bad! You’ll lose the weight after though, don’t worry. I’m pretty sure you’re still a fox. :)
Once, over a 2 week period, I gained EIGHT POUNDS. I died a little inside when I saw the scale. So I totally feel for you.
A little exercise made me feel so much better in my 3rd trimester…maybe it’ll help with some of your discomfort. I’ve heard swimming is wonderful since it takes much of the weight off!