40 WEEKS PREGNANT! I’m so happy to be here! Baby boy has completed 280 days of gestation and today is my DUE DATE! Fun fact. Did you know that only 4% of women give birth on their due date? Given that it’s almost 8 p.m. as I type this, I think I’ll be in the 96% majority. 😉

It feels like such a blessing to have made it to 40 weeks and I’m feeling extremely grateful right now for my body and the miracle it’s performed for me in growing this baby!

40 WEEKS PREGNANCY UPDATE

A watermelon! Funny because I just bought my first watermelon of 2018 last week and it’s delicious! Not quite in season but it’s from Florida and tastes good!

• With labor approaching, baby experiences a surge in hormones that will help maintain blood pressure and blood sugar levels after birth.
• Hopefully those hormones also communicate with my uterus that it’s time!
• With labor, baby is prepared for the blood flow to the placenta to decrease a bit with each contraction.
• Hair and nails are still growing.
• Brain development still continuing “like crazy” says The Bump app.

HOW I’M FEELING AT 40 WEEKS PREGNANT

In a nutshell: really good!

Weight gain/body changes: 27-28 pounds. No new body changes other than thinking there is no way the belly can get bigger…and then it does!

Symptoms: more of the same from previous weeks…fatigue, insomnia, very active bladder, cramping, etc. One thing that has been much better this week is pelvic pain. Not sure why but I’ve had hardly any of the breathtaking experiences when you stand up and feel like something is stabbing you down below.

Workouts: Since I last checked in I have walked most days, taken two yoga classes and taught one strength class…which left me so sore for three days!

Food cravings/aversions: nothing worth reporting at this point.

Working: I’m still teaching one hot yoga class every day and it feels great. My sweet friends stole my phone and took this photo of me this morning to document my 40 week class. Very flattering. I made them do tons of squat variations and told them they couldn’t be a baby about it when their 40 weeks pregnant teacher was doing it with them. 😉 (I don’t practice with them but I did do the squats with them today…because they’re good for getting baby down!)

I’m still enjoying teaching because it gets me out of the house and makes me feel “normal.”

I’m also doing computer work and obviously blogging! Keeping myself busy.

40 weeks prenatal appointment: I saw my doctor today for my 40 week appointment…and of course we had to “make a plan.” Here’s the plan…I’ll go in next Monday for a non-stress test. The American Pregnancy Association describes this as, “attaching one belt to the mother’s abdomen to measure fetal heart rate and another belt to measure contractions. Movement, heart rate and “reactivity” of heart rate to movement is measured for 20-30 minutes. The primary goal of the test is to measure the heart rate of the fetus in response to its own movements. Healthy babies will respond with an increased heart rate during times of movement, and the heart rate will decrease at rest. The concept behind a non-stress test is that adequate oxygen is required for fetal activity and heart rate to be within normal ranges.”

Obviously, if anything looks concerning on the NST he will send me over to the hospital for induction. If all looks good, he will let me go until Friday, May 19 and I’ll go in that evening to start induction with a plan to deliver on Saturday. I would be 41 + 3 at that point.

We are both very hopeful that I will go into natural labor but the office and hospital protocol requires that this stuff is scheduled once you hit 40 weeks. My doctor is super clear that my preference is the most natural birth experience possible. I’m still sitting at 80-90% effaced and he said maaaayyyybbbee 1/2 centimeter dilated but that could change at anytime if my body goes into labor and I start experiencing contractions.

I’m doing my best to stay relaxed and not stressed about going into labor. I fully believe that baby will come when he’s ready and in my body’s ability to do this. For now, I’m enjoying the extra days I have before life changes forever. I’m not in that place where I’m in pain or crazy uncomfortable or super anxious for him to come.

Induction massage: my doula includes an induction massage as part of her package of services. She had asked me several times if I had scheduled my massage so I decided that my due date was a good day to try the induction massage at Bellies and Babies. It’s a local business specializing in pre- and post-natal massage and yoga.

Sarah warned me that the massage would be a little slow and boring but I thought it was wonderfully relaxing and was in and out of sleep the whole time. Let’s see if it makes anything happen!

If you’re expecting in the Charlotte-area, definitely check out Bellies and Babies. They have a great space for yoga and massage that is very chill and zen.

That’s all for today’s recap but I just wanted to say THANK YOU. I have found pregnancy to be the most amazing time of connection with my readers. Seriously, in 8 years of blogging there hasn’t been a time where I have felt more connected to those of you “on the other side.” I can’t thank you enough for how open and honest you’ve been with sharing your experiences as well as the outpouring of love and support that you have shown me. I know I’m not the first person to be pregnant (haha) and I’m grateful for how special you’ve all made this time feel for me in sharing in my enthusiasm.

QUESTIONS

Those of you who went past your due date, did you go with the flow or did you work to get things going? I’ve had people suggest castor oil…and I just don’t know if I’m willing to go that far. Also, my doctor and the massage therapist today both recommended nipple stimulation and using the breast pump.

I can’t stop thinking about cloth diapering…I would love to hear your experiences with it…good, bad, ugly, dirty, smelly :)…if you’ve tried it. I’m pretty clueless about it but for the duration of my pregnancy it’s been something I’ve wanted to try.