Well, friends. I certainly didn’t think this was an update that I would be writing but I knew it was a possibility given how often first time moms are late. Here I am at 41 weeks pregnant!

I started having Braxton-Hicks contractions around week 16 and then was told that I had an “irritable uterus” at week 27. My doctor initially said he’d be pleased if I made it to 34 weeks and was pretty certain I’d deliver before 38. SURPRISE! We’re now looking at induction.

Trust me when I say, I’d much rather be dealing with a late baby than an early one and this is an “issue” (that’s not really even an issue) that I’m grateful to have.

41 WEEKS PREGNANCY UPDATE

There’s not much to update you on when it comes to baby’s development this week. He’s just cozy and still growing in there. I’ll be interested to see how much he weighs when he’s born. I certainly don’t feel like I have a 9+ pound baby inside of me so I’m hoping he’s closer to these figures of high 7s, low 8s. Who knows!?

Trivia. Did you know that I’m technically not “overdue” or “post-term” until I reach 42 weeks? Baby is just a little late. Remember, due dates are just estimates and it’s common for first babies to be late, especially if they’re boys!

HOW I’M FEELING AT 41 WEEKS PREGNANT

Weight gain/body changes: 28 pounds at yesterday’s appointment.

Symptoms: same, same. Some cramping, heartburn, insomnia, leg fatigue/soreness at night, some back pain but nothing too bad.

Emotional check-in: oh these days past your due date are TOUGH! I have been inundated with questions, messages and check-ins. I’m so thankful for the concern and love but it’s still hard to feel like I’m not letting my friends and family down…even though I know that’s crazy.

I was doing great until this new week rolled around and my induction date is on the horizon. I’m feeling more urgency and anxiety this week than I was last. Also, I’ve had three friends who were due after me that have now delivered their babies before me! Ahhh!

I’m really trying not to get in a space of doubting my body or its ability to do what it was designed to do. It’s taking a lot of deep breathing, meditation and relaxation to stay grounded in that.

I had someone tell me yesterday that “babies are born on their birthdays, not their due dates” and that helped so much. A great mantra to keep with me!

Workouts: since I last updated I’ve done one yoga class, one run/walk and daily walking. I have still been tempted to go to the gym and lift but like I mentioned last week, I am terrified of being sore for labor…and everything makes me sore these days. My calf muscles are sore from the 2 miles of jogging I did on Sunday!

A girlfriend shared these wise words yesterday when I was debating a gym trip with her over text, “just go get a slice of carrot cake, take it to a nice shady spot in the park and enjoy eating without anyone touching you or stealing your food.” (She has a three year old!)

Doctor updates: I had a fetal non-stress test yesterday and was told, “that’s a happy baby in there!” I didn’t get to see my doctor yesterday because he was on call and at the hospital in surgery but he called last night to check on me. He said my NST looked perfect and as long as I was feeling good and baby keeps moving, he’s okay with holding off on the induction until this weekend.

I go in to see him again on Friday morning for an office visit. My induction is scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. but he told me to be ready on Friday to head to the hospital. I am hoping and praying that I don’t make it to that Friday appointment!

What I’m doing to encourage labor: nothing too crazy. I truly believe that babies come when they’re ready but here’s what I have been doing…

• I’ve had two induction massages and I’ll have another massage this week. Massages also just feel amazing at this point in pregnancy.
• Sitting on an exercise ball when I’m working at my desk but I can’t really say I’m bouncing on it or anything.
• Walking a lot.
• Yesterday I started with nipple stimulation. My doctor told me to get my breast pump out and start using that. The bonus of that is that I am able to pump some colostrum to stick in the fridge. I can feed it to baby with a syringe after he’s born. Oh and using the breast pump for the first time was a very interesting experience. Wow.
• Tomorrow I’m seeing an acupuncturist to hit some induction points. I did a lot of acupuncture when I was trying to conceive so it seemed to make sense to go back now.

Fun shares: 

• We’re waiting until he’s born to commit to a name BUT I think we have one! It’s different than the first name that we chose when I was referring to him as “baby G.” He now might be “baby F!” 🙂 The G name is still a contender but for some reason, I started doubting it and it just didn’t feel right in my gut so we made a short list with other options…one of which we are pretty in love with but doesn’t necessarily meet the original criteria I wanted the name to have! Oh well.
• There will not be a 42 week update because no matter what, we’ll have a baby this time next week!
• The Instagram baby watch has been pretty fun. It’s definitely helped build the excitement for me to have so many of you checking in daily and telling me, “I don’t even know you but I’m so excited for this baby to arrive.” First, I know we don’t all technically “know” each other but we are totally connected. I feel lucky for every supportive and encouraging message, email and comment that I’ve received! I can’t believe that within the next few days you’ll see a baby face in my feed and not a bump or a picture of my food! 😛

Postpartum updates/the fourth trimester: so many have shared that they have enjoyed these weekly updates and will miss them when they’re gone. I’ve done a lot of thinking about that and I think I’m going to continue weekly updates through the “fourth trimester.”

I think that the first 12 weeks after the birth of a baby are a truly unique and transformative time in a woman’s life as baby adjusts to life outside of the womb and mama adjusts to life with baby out of the womb.

As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t want to turn this into a baby/mom blog so rather than doing weekly updates about baby boy’s development, I want to follow a similar format as I did during pregnancy where I touch on his milestones/development but the bulk of the update will be about my experience of motherhood. I will talk about everything (VERY HONESTLY, I swear to you) in the same way that I did in pregnancy…from body changes to emotional well-being to exercise to food and more.

Sound good?

QUESTIONS

Speaking of the fourth trimester, I would love to hear your top insights and advice for the newborn stage…not just surviving but thriving. Advice you were given that worked well? Anything you learned personally? Anything you wish you did differently? 

Any advice for staying connected to your partner and feeling like a team during the newborn stage?