Heather's Handmade Life: Choosing to live, work and parent with happiness + creativity

Sausage fingers and numb hands

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Heather Laura Clarke

Monday, May 24, 2010

38 weeks, 1 day pregnant

13 DAYS TO GO!

Did I mention, somewhere in my foggy pregnant ramblings, that I finally had to take off my engagement ring and wedding band? Stupid fat fingers.

The engagement ring was the first to go (since it’s a tiny bit tighter) a few weeks ago. I fought long and hard to keep the wedding band for as long as possible, but it came off last week.

I probably could have kept them on, since I know there are lots of people who can’t get their rings off due to extra weight, but I didn’t want to chance it. I’ve always been traumatized by those gym-teacher lectures about having to take a saw to your finger to slice off your ring if you get hurt in volleyball. Since, you know, I’m playing so much volleyball these days.

So I am ring-less, and it is probably for the best. My fingers are usually normal, but they plump up at random times (super-attractive) and feel stiff and gross. And my hands are going numb a lot, which is apparently caused by my (pregnancy-induced) bad circulation.

It’s definitely fun when I wake up in the middle of the night to pee, and realize I have to wait a minute until the feeling returns to my numb hands, so I can grasp toilet paper, flush, etc.

Um, WHEN is this magical time coming to an end?

Welcome to Week 39

Posted on May 23, 2010 by Heather Laura Clarke

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Sunday, May 23, 2010

38 weeks pregnant — now in Week 39!

14 DAYS TO GO!

I can’t believe we’re in Week 39. As in 39 out of 40. Wowwww. There are just TWO WEEKS LEFT — only 14 days!

Of course, in my not-so-secret thoughts, there are only six days to go — based entirely on the notion that my friend went eight days early, and we got our H1N1 shots together, so YES, THIS MAKES PERFECT SENSE. Pregnant women can justify any and all crazy thoughts, I have learned.

But realistically, the baby really does have to arrive this week. Because you see, otherwise my blog layout will be unbalanced. In my sidebar, there is just enough room for the pregnancy to end neatly on Week 39. If I need to add Week 40, the trimesters will be unbalanced, and we couldn’t have that. See? …

It’s official: this baby needs to arrive before midnight on Saturday. I’ve set a deadline!

OK, enough insane “planning.” Here’s what happening with Baby Boy this week:

Baby’s size: He could weigh between SEVEN and EIGHT whole pounds, and might measures 21 inches. I was 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and Darling Husband was NINE pounds, SIX ounces, so I’m betting our little guy is at least eight pounds … 10 wouldn’t surprise me.

Development: He’s fully-cooked (and no doubt EAGER TO ARRIVE, right?)

Appearance: Continuing to chub up, so he can fill out those newborn onesies … or outgrow them entirely? Must re-think hospital packing job …

Weekly re-cap

Posted on May 23, 2010 by Heather Laura Clarke

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(May 16 to May 22)

Symptoms: Swollen ankles and feet, leg pain, trouble sleeping, the worst heartburn of life, Braxton Hicks contractions, not much appetite.

Body changes: The belly seems lower, but I could be imagining that in my please-let-me-have-the-baby-soon state.

Belly button: In for keeps.

Stretch marks: I thought I was in the clear, but I finally got a few purple-ish streaks on the underside of my belly. Damn!

Baby movement: There definitely isn’t room for him to move around much, so I’m just getting different body parts pressing hard against my skin (knees, feet, butt, etc.). This child is enormous, I am telling you.

What’s new? Tried out two Mom/Baby activities this week (swimming and a movie). It gives me hope that I’ll get some socializing in, once Baby Boy is here.

Energy level: Low. I’m getting as much sleep as possible (sometimes 9 or 10 hours), since everyone says that’s the best thing to do before the baby arrives, but the aching always wakes me up. Owwww, limbs.

Baby preparations: Birth announcements are addressed. I wish I was a psychic so I could print out the actual announcements in advance, too …

Cravings: Just snack-y stuff, since my body is all, “Meals! Ew!” lately. I think I forget what it’s like to have a stomach that actually fits comfortably inside you.

High point: Going to Mom/Baby swimming and the Mom/Baby movie with lovely friend C, and having a girly movie night with lovely friend A. It made me realize that my all-consuming loneliness during the first week of maternity leave is something that must be avoided during this year that I’m off work. I need to actively make plans with friends on a regular basis, to have fun and keep from going insaaaaaane.

Low point: Desperation to go into labour, since Baby was officially full-term as of last Sunday. I have spent much of the week Googling “early labour signs” and “ways to induce labour,” and basically obsessing over every possible symptom. I know — somewhere in the back of my brain, in the part that used to be smart — that I still technically have two weeks to go, but the irrational (pregnant) part of my brain is screaming that I’m SO DONE, SO READY, LET’S GO!