Embracing the end of pregnancy!

[LionTigerBear]

Okay, this thread is not just for mamas who already feel fantastic and happy. If there are any. Although if there are, please come and inspire us.

This is for the mamas who, like me, feel achey and bored and exhausted and moody and emotional and impatient and and and . . .

I was just thinking, how getting into this negative rut can just make things worse.

And then I was thinking how I may very well miss this when it's gone. I mean, this may be my last pregnancy. And my last few days with just me and the boys. My life is going to change completely-- albeit in beautiful new ways, I hope!-- but maybe I should spend a little more time embracing where I am now, and finding my peace with this, before I mentally rush into the next step.

Anyone following me?

So does anyone want to join me in trying to focus on the positives of the final weeks or days of pregnancy?

So, some positives for me:

One really cool thing that I like is feeling the baby's head down in my pelvis. It's such a surreal feeling and it reminds beyond a doubt that there is really a real baby in there!

Also I am feeling more energy as I feel my body change in slow and gradual preparation for labor. I often feel a warm glow about me. I feel blessed and powerful in a feminine, yang kind of way.

I also love the curves of my huge belly. I know it makes life really awkward in a lot of ways, but eventually I will miss that when it's gone.

Anyone else? :

[k13]

I was just thinking about this very thing!

I was talking to a friend today who was asking me how it felt for me to "go to term"...

As miserable as I've been feeling I am trying really hard not to be too whiny and to "savor" these last moments - partly because I know I'm not going to do this again (we're done).

Plus, I am really thankful that this baby has stayed in to term! Since my other two came early I was spared some of the last month agonies but dealt with a lot of other stuff that was very difficult from having such early/little babes. So I'm really hoping this one will be "easier" It's funny that several friends of mine say things like "now you know how bad it is" regarding the last weeks of pregnancy - but I honestly wouldn't trade it!

All the positives you listed ring true for me too...

I'm really focusing on enjoying time with my older girls and dh.

I'm also enjoying the time I can spend dinking around on the computer and other such things that are soon going to be a lot more difficult...

thanks for starting this thread!

[tak]

This is a great idea, LTB.

I am going to concentrate on enjoying the time Mike and I have together, alone -- just the two of us, making dinner at whatever pace we want, going to bed whenever we want, reading our books at night when it's really quiet. It will be a while before we can ever have that quiet just us time again.

I love being pregnant. I love how I feel like my body is working, doing something crazy like building a baby and still doing all the stuff it normally does -- pretty freaking amazing.

And I love my belly. I wish I could keep it. I love feeling the shrimp give me kicks at night, get all pissy when I poke it around, letting me know what position is cool and which ones suck -- "sit up mum! You're squishing me in here!". I love seeing Mike talk to the shrimp, and thinking that every day the shrimp hears our voices we become more familiar to him/her.

[firefly mama]

I've been loving the big round belly a lot more lately too! I know the mashed potato tummy is almost here, so I'm trying to hug this big basketball for as long as I can.

This is my 3rd and longest pregnancy yet too. I alternate between being excited that I'm much less likely to have jaundice and bfing problems, and being really pissy that I'm still pregnant and uncomfortable. You'd think I'd already passed my due date - people are calling and emailing and stuff, cause everyone thinks I should have had the baby by now.

But I am very happy to have a little more time with my older two, especially some of the one-on-one time I've had lately. I'm also glad this kiddo waited a bit longer, cause I've had a cracked rib for these last few weeks and it is actually starting to feel better...so hopefully won't interfere during the birth. Unfortunately, now I have a yeast infection, but maybe baby will wait long enough for that to be gone too.

I do like the kicks a lot too.

[monkaha]

OK, I'll try..... (feeling really impatient and uncomfy right now). I love feeling him move around. Love that I'm healthier in this pregnancy than either of my other 2. Love that I'm not very swollen, not all puffy in the face, and am mostly all belly. Love hearing DD giggle when I'm snugging her to sleep and the baby kicks her.

[LionTigerBear]

Oooh, you reminded me-- I am grateful that I have gained less weight with this pregnancy than with my previous two-- by like ten pounds! Yay! I also feel like my posture is better this time.

[BathrobeGoddess]

I'm feeling pretty good these past few days! I am most scared about having three little kids...I know people do it all the time...but I haven't!

I love my big belly, I actually look really good pregnant when you can't see my little belly I actually feel like I can wear anything I want without looking fat...just pregnant...I find that very freeing!

I;m glad that I made it to my eldest dd birthday...I know it will be hers alone in our home now! I wanted that so much for her!

I have gained 20lbs so not to much for me being slightly over my ideal weight to start with.

Overall, I am ready to start this new chapter in my life!

[Mal85]

Staying positive is becoming increasingly difficult. I am probably the most impatient person I know and I have kept myself in check very well up until now. I just can't wait to meet this little person and hold her and kiss her. So, the things I keep in mind to remain positive about waiting...
I am so grateful this has been an easy pregnancy. I had minimal morning sickness in the beginning and that was gone by the end of the summer. She has just been very kind to me throughout pregnancy. I haven't gotten very swollen, I have just recently started to notice my feet looking puffier and did take off my rings last week because they started getting pretty tight. An easy pregnancy was very important since I have remained (and am remaining) a full-time student through the whole thing. I can't imagine being able to drive to school and walk around campus all day if this pregnancy had been difficult or if I had gained a lot. I've stayed right on track as far as weight gain.

I'm particularly thankful that she grew a vagina instead of a penis. I had some serious concerns about how I would react if the ultrasound had said boy. I just had my heart set on a girl. She already listens to me so well. I love to feel her move. She's running out of room in there right now, so her movements seem so slow and calm. I'll miss that when she's not in there anymore, but can't wait to see her do it on the outside and figure out just exactly what she's been up to all this time.

And most of all, I'm thankful that it's almost over!! Within the month I will be holding my baby girl in my arms and that is a joy I cannot even fathom.

[Queen of my Castle]

OH, I'm feeling great, and I'm loving this part! I love how ripe I feel, how close to the end, how close to the birth, the terrible and awesome anticipation of the birth and how thrilling it will be!

I love the heaviness I feel, the movements of the baby, the way my body has changed to accomodate this new life, almost here!

I love my breasts! They're there! I love my belly, I think it's awesome. I love sex! Well, I guess I know I won't be into anything for awhile after, so I love that I can enjoy my body and enjoy my husband, and I feel so physical and sensual.

I have a pretty great amount of energy right now, especially during the last half of the day. I really enjoy my kids, I love that I can respond to them as I need to. I'm also enjoying what I feel is a bit of freedom- I get up when I want to (sort of, as much as you can with kids) and sleep when I want to. I'm not exhausted or really sore in a healing kind of way.

I will miss being pregnant! I will miss having the attention on me, not just from other people, but myself. I will miss feeling like I look really good, and just so curvy.

And of course, I'm so excited to see who this baby is! Is it a boy or girl? What's it's name? What's it like? How will it enter this world- quickly and gloriously? Part of this deliciousness is the anticipation, once I know it all it's known...but the guessing and the dreaming is just so wonderful.
I feel that warm glow that you mentioned, LTB. I always feel very spiritual and close to God in pregnancy, like His hand is so physically close to me, instructing my body, forming this baby. I think it's just so cool, and I want to give praise back with my body, allowing it to do what it knows to do, and to enjoy this awesome miracle!

Hope I didn't go overboard. Feeling paticularly energetic and positive.

[kssinca]

THanks for starting this thread!

One positive I can think of is that I love knowing my baby is safe inside me.

[moonshine02]

good thread and I need it to remind myself of all the blessings. I must say that I am "ready" but still have 22 days until my official "due date" and I know it could go even longer being my first. Yes, I am a bit impatient. Three very close friends have had babies in the last 2 months and I am ready to join the ranks. But last night I did nothing-- watched a movie on netflix and did not get off the couch one time! Ha! I know that will come to an abrupt end very soon. Just petting my kitties a length and taking a long uninterrupted showers, non-mommy conversations, eating hot food...
This has been a way easy pregnancy. Low stress, no physical problems. I love my job so I "hope" that when it is time to return to the workforce it will be easier-- this is what I tell myself.
Generally I sleep well. I am enjoying swimming a few times a week and don't care a hoot about how I look in a bathing suit. But I does bug me when I am at the Y and I get looks. Okay, so I will just cool my jets and wait patiently... but I really do hope to have a Feb not March baby.

[Eliseatthebeach]

Today is my edd and yes, the end of this pg is very bittersweet for me.
This will be my last pg, no matter what the outcome. I have always loved everything about being pg, even the labor and birth I look forward to. It's so primal and empowering...it's the only time in a woman's life that she can feel that way. This pg has been very hard on me emotionally and I have not been able to embrace it as I have with my others which contributed even more to the emotional stress of this pg. In addition to that the emotional stress has affected me physically as I have not felt nearly as good as I did with the others.
I do still love so many things about being pg, and as long as this baby arrives safely in my arms I just may forget about all the stress and focus on the good parts of this pg and have the same wonderful memories I had with my others.

[heinz28]

Okay, you're right, you're right. I'm going to stay positive because I have a lot to be grateful for.

Since this is my first, I have found pregnancy to be an incredible adventure. I'm truly amazed at my body and do find it satisfying to think that the baby is safely tucked inside me right now--no equipment needed to bring her anywhere just yet!

I'm also trying to relish this last period of just me, my hubby, and the dogs.

[Mainstream Hippie]

I love the third trimester. The first trimester sucks eggs- you aren't showing but are bloated. You are exhausted and may start having morning sickness. It kicked in early this pregnancy, around 8 weeks. Every little spot of pink on the toilet paper sends you into a panic. You can't hear the baby's heartbeat on doppler yet- any concerns need ultrasound, if you cannot just wait them out. The second trimester is only better in that more people know you are pregnant, and you can consistently hear the baby's heartbeat clopping away. Morning sickness really kicks in. I never get a second trimester burst of energy. And I still don't look pregnant. At least you start feeling the baby.

Third trimester... I finally look pregnant! Morning sickness is calming down to just a couple of times a week! People hold open doors! I get to talk baby stuff without looking like a chubby maniac! People encourage me to take naps! And naps I do take! And my son's movements are so big and strong- baby kicks are one of the things I miss most. And babies are soooo much easier to care for when they are on the inside.

I just had friends over to do a belly cast for me yesterday. I really love the way it turned out. The shape is beautiful.

I am looking forward to going out tomorrow night with friends and our kids. I am looking forward to my Valentine's Day plans- we are doing fondue out. That is a hard one to do with a little one.

I am enjoying sleep. I went to bed last night at SIX PM. My husband got home from work, fed the older kids, got them to bed. I only woke up to pee. It was awesome.

This is most likely my last pregnancy. I am trying to enjoy it all. Oh, and I really want to go get pictures taken of the kids and my belly. I have one of my daughter and the belly with her brother in it, and it is one of my favorite pictures ever. It makes me emotionally raw just thinking about it.

The only thing I wish is this upper respitory infection would just go away. It has been a solid month.