32 weeks

So many people have told me that the last few months drag out, but I still feel like time is flashing by. The nursery cupboard doors are now painted, though they are still leaning up against the wall, rather than attached. I had wanted to put in open shelves in the nursery, but I've decided that, from a practical point of view, that is a silly idea. As soon as this baby gets mobile, everything on the bottom 2-3 shelves will be on the floor. So draws it is! Then to make a start on washing and homing all these clothes, blankets and everything else! Once that's all sorted, I can finally get these Winnie the Pooh bits up on the wall.

While time is still flying by, I am noticing things are becoming a lot more work. Everything is. I'm needing more sleep again. I often need to stop and take a few breaths after a transfer, particularly getting in and out of the car. My massive belly rubs against the steering wheel if I'm not careful where I put my seat. I can still get my chair in and out over my belly, but it's a bit of a jenga game each time.

I've got my 'fat' chair out, but I can't actually use it at the moment because I can't find my side guards for it! (If someone has a set I can borrow for a few months, that would be awesome). I actually really don't want to swap out of my good chair, since this one fits in those stupid flat pack toilets, meaning I can use most bathrooms. That's particularly handy in places that don't have a wheelchair bathroom.

I'm finding my transfers are more difficult with so much belly in the way. I can't lean over properly to get the butt lift I need, so I find I get stuck half way into my chair sometimes. The good news is I haven't had any falls lately (touch wood) even if there have been a couple of close calls.

I know I've said a bit before about things swelling. Well my poor little toes are swelling so much through the day they are getting splits and cracks underneath them! Just another thing to keep an eye on and manage. While my feet and legs do deflate overnight, that fluid has to go somewhere. A least part of it is going to my hands. Those rings would have been long chopped by now if I hadn't got them off the other day. When I wake up, they are so swollen I can't even close them properly. I have to lay there opening and closing my hands, gradually moving the fluid out of them. They are actually quite sore most days and it usually takes a good 10-15 minutes to get them moving properly.

I'm pretty sure my bellybutton is now an outie. I've also got linea nigra, which is a dark line from your belly button down that pregnant women often get. Not that I can see anything past my belly button now unless there is a mirror involved.

It's interesting how the questions I'm asked have changed throughout my pregnancy. Early on it was 'how far along are you?' to 'when are you due?' to now the 'how long to go now?' I'm not sure if I'm small, or if it's just because I'm sitting all the time, but people always seem surprised how far along I am. Not that I'm worried, the baby is certainly growing fine. I think it's probably starting to run out of room now though, because there are some really strong movements! While I wish I could feel more, I don't mind that I can't feel those nasty kicks to the ribs etc. One of my friends told me a while ago that it's a new and unpleasant sensation being punched in the vagina’. So, honestly, I'm not too upset to miss that one.

I'm now gathering bits for my hospital bag, things like cheap undies I can just throw out and maternity pads. I was discussing it with a friend the other day, how much weight we put on while we are pregnant. If you consider there is several kg of baby, a couple each more in fluid, extra blood volume, amniotic fluid, placenta, boob mass, uterus.... it doesn't take long to add up! I was thinking later about how much blood and gunk you lose in the weeks post baby. Well, if you consider how much of a mess a standard period is, with only a couple of weeks of growth to the uterus and lining, it's really no wonder there is so much to get rid of after nine months!!! Anyway, that's today’s insight into how my brain works.

I've also been putting a bit of thought into the birth itself. (Probably a good idea). I know that the more movement you can get, the more you help labour along, which is why they encourage you to walk, stand change position and so on. I'm kind of limited in that regard. Personally, I have no interest in a water birth, but I like the idea of being able to labour in the bath. Again, I'm going to be limited there, since I'm not the one who has to get me out of the bath again afterwards! I should be able to use the shower instead though, which is a pretty good compromise, I think. I'm going to be basically restricted to laying on my back or my side for the birth itself. Unfortunately labouring on your back is the least helpful position for getting a baby out, but it's not really something I can do anything about! 

Another thing I've been thinking about is fit balls. Obviously I can't balance on one of those, but I'm keen to try a bosu ball, which is kind of a half fit ball, on a board. Theoretically the same principles of sitting on a fit ball should apply to a bosu ball too. The idea of using a fit ball throughout labour is the movement and sitting upright both help get the baby into position and move along the labour process. Assuming I can get on and balance on a bosu ball, then I'll be able to get the same kind of motion as I would using a fit ball. Again, something to think about and practice.

Tim and I went back to see his shoulder specialist this week. At our last appointment, the surgeon wasn’t comfortable with doing the surgery and gave Tim a cortisone injection instead. This has made his life a lot more pleasant lately and he has actually been able to sleep on his shoulder again. So six weeks in from that, our options are now wait, go for the cortisone again, or go for surgery, but that would be to fix the AC joint not the SLAP lesion we originally thought. With the baby due in 8 weeks, it won't be surgery for now, but we may find in a few months that the injections aren't doing enough, so it's not off the table completely. 

Well, that's it for this week. Our next scan and appointment with Dr D is only a few days away, so we will know more then!