Adventures in Pregnancy: 39 Weeks

It’s exciting to be getting close to the finish line, especially now that we are so much more ready. These past few weeks have been a flurry of activity, including lots of furniture assembly, washing of tiny clothes, moving things down to the garage for storage, and freezing meals for our first few weeks as parents. When the doctor and the doula told us at 37 weeks that he could come anytime, we *really* kicked it into high gear, and, if I haven’t made this clear before now, my husband is a saint, who has tackled all the things that I told him were of the utmost urgency. We actually never expected to get this far–I am about 20 minutes away from having the quilt finished, for instance, and Eric wrote most of an important paper this morning while I did laundry, sewed, and cooked meals for the freezer. What a considerate baby we have, giving us enough time to finish all these things! On the other hand, Eric said today that it feels a little bit like throwing a party, when you’re scrambling like crazy at 6:59 and then 7:00 hits, then 7:01, and then 7:05, and no one has arrived yet, and you think, “Okay, what do I do now?” An apt simile! And a website to answer the all-important question: Have you had that baby yet?

However, as I am looking at the calendar, I see that I could actually be pregnant for two more weeks (I am 39 weeks 3 days as of today, and my doctor said she will let me go 10 days past my due date). It’s a bit of hurry up and wait around here, and I can’t imagine what I’ll do if I really am pregnant for two more weeks, but I am sure I will think of something. Naps seem like a good idea. And maybe I will finish the last year or so of my scrapbook: ha!

I am still feeling really good on the whole, but I am starting to feel uncomfortable. I don’t think it’s that he’s really much bigger than he was a few weeks ago, but between Braxton Hicks contractions and carrying him very low in my pelvis, walking has become a bit of a challenge. I can feel the pressure of his head, and it sort of feels like a bowling ball is about to come falling out! So I take a wide stance and go slowly. Also, the heartburn is really starting to kick it up a notch. It’s been kind of brutal these past few days (but still…so much better than the first trimester alternative!) I definitely am up a lot in the night, including about an hour sometime between 4 and 6. I usually get up and read for a while and then can go back to sleep. I consider this good practice (if on a smaller scale!) for the nights ahead of me.

I am so grateful that he has stayed put this long, though, so I know that his little lungs and organs have had plenty of time to fully develop. My discomfort is so far very manageable, and that is a gift. However! I admit to being a little impatient. I just can’t wait to hold him and kiss him and tell him I am his Mommy!

But also, knowing that I’m close to delivering, these are some things I am looking forward to, in no particular order: coffee, pastrami, soft cheese, wearing my wedding rings, no longer having feet and ankles that look like flotation devices! It will take some time for the swelling to go down, I’m sure, but I am excited to be able to wear more than flip flops again (however, thank heaven flip flops are pretty much year-round appropriate footwear here).

I have to say, though, this is a really really special time. The baby is really active at night, and he responds to touch and voices. It seems like he can sense when Eric is lying next to me, and he always kicks away. It’s so sweet. We are both so excited and so in awe of how our lives are about to change. We’re savoring this time of expectation and feeling so close to each other. It’s a beautiful thing.