I haven't done regular updates this pregnancy, as honestly, it's mostly super repetitive when you're pregnant with your second baby! As of today, I am 36 weeks pregnant and it has absolutely flown by. I feel like we found out we were expecting a few weeks ago, and now we could have our baby boy here any day.
I'm definitely at the stage where I am so done with pregnancy though. Baby boy dropped at 35 weeks, is fully head down and the pressure is real. I just feel like I can't really 'live life' as normal at the minute as I am in constant discomfort and pain, with cramping and so much pressure on my bladder that it's hard to walk for two seconds without feeling like my bladder is going to explode. I haven't had a rough pregnancy at all so I try not to complain too much. I was diagnosed with SPD in the second trimester, but it never got any worse during the third trimester, whereas some people can have it so bad that they end up on crutches - so I'm counting my lucky stars that it never went that far for me.
So many people say to enjoy the last few weeks of pregnancy before you're landed with a newborn, which I've got to be honest, makes me laugh a bit. There's nothing fun or relaxing about this, I'd rather be able to sleep comfortably, walk normally, and get out and about again with my tiny newborn in tow. I'll be exhausted with a new baby, but the sleep that I do get will be much better quality than the sleep I'm getting now with the constant wake ups to pee all night. It's impossible to get comfy with this extremely large bump too!
Despite the discomfort of this very end stage of pregnancy, I have loved being pregnant again and having a baby bump. It really is so special seeing your bump get bigger and bigger each week and feeling those kicks get stronger and stronger. The first and second trimesters were particularly hard for me anxiety wise after miscarrying our previous pregnancy, and whilst that anxiety has never fully gone away, it's been so reassuring being able to feel baby constantly and form a real bond with him.
We had a 4D/HD Live Scan at 28 weeks pregnant and it was incredible seeing our little boys face for the first time. I had one of these with Ru but it was just the plain 4D one which was black & white and not as advanced as the new HD Live one that they now do. Both are pretty special however as you get to see such a clear image of your baby whilst they are still in the womb - it's just such clever technology! It makes me sound so old, but it's amazing what they can do these days. He has a super cute button nose and little pout that I can't wait to squish and kiss. Our first thoughts were that he looks like Ru as a baby, but then the more I looked at it, the more of Jake and his little girl I can see, so this little one is potentially a good mix of both Jake and I. We'll soon find out anyway, and I can't wait to meet him.
Our little changing station is pretty much complete and I'm really pleased with how it's turned out. Jake and my dad made these drawers from scratch, imitating the West Elm set that I loved the style of, and they have both done the most incredible job. They are beautiful! We don't have a nursery as there isn't a spare bedroom for one, but as my bedroom is so large it's been easy enough to fit all his bits in my room as well as create his own little corner in it too. The plan is to buy somewhere bigger eventually together with enough bedrooms for all of our children, but for now little one will be in with us, and eventually share with Ru until that time comes. It works perfectly for us!
My bump has well and truly popped recently, and is hanging super low now. I have a few stretch marks around my belly button that come and go weirdly. I think they've reappeared from my Ru bump, but they don't seem to stick around, you can see them more vividly in certain lights and depending on where baby sits, they can sometimes not be visible at all. I don't think I have any new ones so far. I remember going the whole pregnancy with Ru with zero stretch marks and then I hit the 36 week mark that I've hit today, and they went wild. It'll be interesting to see if the same happens again with this pregnancy or if things will just stay as they are. My bump looks about the same size as it was with Ru at this stage and my midwife thinks he'll also weigh about the same if not more. It's all really interesting comparing two pregnancies isn't it, or is that just me?!
I'm yet to pack my hospital bag but my midwife told me off for that today at my 36 week appointment so that's now on this weeks to-do list. I'm not sure when baby will arrive, I partly feel like he's going to be earlier as it's my second baby and Ru only came 4 days over - but knowing my luck, because I'm so desperate to get him out, he'll hang in there for ages! Birth plan wise, I'm totally going with the flow and have no specific preference in mind which my midwife thinks is the best mindset to go into it with. Birth is so unpredictable and the midwives keep telling me how quickly second babies can actually come, so I may never get the birth I want if I get an idea stuck in my head.
So far, I have it in my mind that I'd like to try the pool out and see how I get on with a potential water birth, but if I'm not coping at home with the contractions etc, I'll go straight into hospital and ask for an epidural. I had an epidural with Ru and my labour total was 19 hours start to finish, from mild cramping and losing my plug, to having him in my arms. I don't think that's bad going at all for a first baby and with an epidural that slows down labour! I'm definitely not against an epidural if I feel like I need one for the pain, I'd just like to be out of hospital as quickly as possible to get home to Ru, so if I can cope without one then that would be even better.
So with any luck, I'll hopefully be back here with a birth story shortly - let's see!
