I'm still pregnant. I guess I haven't done a ton of pregnancy posts this time around but each pregnancy has definitely felt different to me. Some things I feel have gotten more intense- even with just carrying one baby and some things are less intense this time around.
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1. My belly. Definitely poking out faster this time around than Charlotte for sure, maybe a little less than the twins but not much. Here's a comparison picture-
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| 37 weeks 2 days Charlotte #1 |
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| 36 weeks 1 day Abby and Olly #2 and #3 |
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| 36 weeks 4 days Baby #4 |
He's a pretty good mover. The placenta is attached on the front again like the twins' so I don't think I feel as much as I would otherwise but he's doing some big movements these days. I would still say Charlotte was my biggest kicker, it's a toss up between Olly and this little boy, then Abby.
2. Cravings. I didn't have a ton of cravings with my other pregnancies but I have more this time around. Chocolate is a must but some days I'll get a crazy need for pickles or nectarines and I eat an insane amount of watermelon. My friends Ben and Jerry are doing their best to get me a 6 pounder this time around- I love the half-baked flavor- anyone else have a favorite they want to recommend?
3. Pain bending down. This has been one of the biggest differences this time around. I feel like it hurts to bend down more- probably because I have 3 small kids who drop EVERYTHING on the floor. I keep telling them if mommy has to bend down and pick it up I'm only doing it once, so it's going to time out or the trash. I've started sweeping the toys up with the broom- it's amazing how fast they clean when I do that!
4. Back aches. Really not too bad but I had almost none with my other pregnancies. I can still mop my floor and scrub my tubs but rolling over I feel old. I took a warm bath in my parent's Jacuzzi tub and I felt like a new woman- so if you're having aches I recommend a bath!
5. Sibling bonding with baby. The kids already love him. They talk to my belly and tell him good morning and good night every day. The kids are constantly wanting to lift up my shirt and blow raspberries on "the baby" I get at least a dozen a day. The poor baby wakes up when they do it too. They want to sit on my lap and squish him, they accidentally elbow/step/lay on on my stomach when they're trying to snuggle- I feel like this poor kid is so pestered already.
6. Excercising. I exercised somewhat regularly with Charlotte, not too much with the twins and the whole pregnancy this time around. I ran up until 28 weeks, did water aerobics the next month, and now I'm walking 2-3 mornings a week. I'm pretty proud of myself. My weight gain has been very similar each time- with the twins ending up 4lbs heavier than I did with Charlotte- exactly what Abby weighed.
7. More trouble deciding on a name. We had our boy and girl names pretty well picked out before our 1/2 way ultrasound with Charlotte. We still debated a little but we ended up sticking with Charlotte. With the twins we walked out of the gender reveal ultrasound and Matt said, "Let's name them Oliver and Abigail" Again, we debated for awhile, but those were the names. This time we've talked about hundreds of names- my list was over 50 names long at one point. I researched boy names until I was so sick of it I told Matt I couldn't do it anymore. At 34 weeks we finally thought of a name we both liked, and so far it's sticking but I don't know if we'll feel ready to tell before he's born yet. I'm jealous of couples who have similar taste in names- we have to work very hard to find anything we both like.
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1. I don't feel like this kid's head is going to fall out. With both Charlotte and Olly their heads were down so low for so long I had to do special neck stretches with them after they were born! This kid seems to have much more room- I was worried he was breech but he's been head down for awhile now. I don't think he's dropped yet.
2. Ultrasounds, and monitoring in general- with both Charlotte and the twins measuring small I had so many ultrasounds and NST tests. I also think my OB liked lots of tests and was more through than most doctors. With switching offices this time around to a midwife I feel like they just check less things in general. Less appointments is nice with 3 kids to find a babysitter for in the summer it's been tricky.
3. Projects done. I was ultra prepared for Charlotte after a nice long leisurely summer. 6 weeks of bed rest and knowing I would have twins at the end made me get things done faster. This time I have more mess makers and just doing the regular laundry, dishes, sweeping, entertaining takes more energy than I have. I don't know when I thought I'd sew Halloween costumes before he came and the other 100 things on my "To Do Before Baby #4" list. I am in turbo-get-it-done-mode now, when I have the least energy and mobility to do it. I think I got more done last week than I did the first 3 months of my pregnancy.
4. Reading of the pregnancy/labor books. I read so many with Charlotte, I read a ton of twin ones the next time around. This time I feel like an old hat. I still read a little here and there when Charlotte wants to know when the baby can hear and what vegetable is the same size but otherwise I'm pretty sure I know what I'm allowed to eat/not eat, do/not do.
Baby Boy 33 weeks 4lbs 1oz It was hard to get a clear shot because he had his face snuggled in the placenta the whole time. Does he look like the other kids to you yet?
We brought the kids to this ultrasound since my friend Sunny does it. The kids thought it was kind of interesting especially when they could see his little mouth sucking, but mostly they just wanted to play. Olly my snuggler, kept climbing up next to me. This little baby has a very sweet big brother. If you ever need/want an ultrasound Sunny is awesome- here's her site
Little foot.
It's time to make a guess. When will this baby come? Here's some stats to help you out-
Charlotte 38 weeks, 5lbs 5oz 19.5inches
Oliver 37 weeks 3 days 5lbs 6oz 19.5 inches
Abigail 37 weeks 3 days+4min (haha) 4lbs 1oz 17 inches
I was 8 lbs and Matt was 7lbs
This baby was right on schedule at my midway ultrasound 50% at my 33 week appointment he was already 4lbs 1 oz (Abby's birth size) and 35%
Anyone is encouraged to guess but aunts, uncles, and grandparents are required ;-)
Poor 4th kid again- I slacked and didn't get it up early enough so I'm the only guess on there! He was my earliest by a day (37 weeks 2 days) and my biggest baby!
I have no memory of those black capris!
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