Baby #2 Pregnancy Update: Weeks 30-35

You made it through Monday! I hope you had a lovely weekend. We had a full day of Saturday rain around here and then some drizzly, overcast skies on Sunday, so we were all feeling a bit cooped up this morning. Thankfully, we were able to take Zoey outside Sunday afternoon for some play. The girl loves being outdoors and I am not complaining.

Now that baby #2 is officially in the third trimester, and we are quickly approaching our due date, I wanted to give you guys an update on how things are going. If baby updates are not your thing, feel free to come back another day. Head here to read about my first and second trimesters.

Even though I have been pregnant for most of the school year, and at times it has felt like the weeks were moving like molasses, I cannot believe this baby is already at 35 weeks and that the school year ends on Friday for both teachers and students. Truthfully, I am thrilled to have made it this far with baby #2 since I am considered high risk for the third trimester in the development of preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome. While it is unlikely to happen again, and everything is looking really good at my twice monthly checkups, I am just so comforted by the fact that if something were to go awry at this point the baby would be fine. Such a relief!

Overall, I am feeling pretty large. This baby has consistently stayed out and proud throughout its growth, rather than low in my hips like Zoey, and I get pretty uncomfortable by around 3pm each day. Just the feeling of being stretched tight and like my basketball (as Rob fondly calls it) gets in the way. Zoey is definitely running out of lap room and she has to adjust her seated position a few times before she finds a comfortable one.

Luckily, I have not been having any food aversions since the middle of the second trimester. At first, I could not stomach vegetables which progressed to just peppers, onions, and salsa. Now, everything is fine. The problem now is all I want to do is eat! Most of the time it is not because I am actually hungry, but if there is food around, I will probably have some. I am trying to eat as healthy as I can, but am certainly giving myself a lot of freedom. Similar to when I was pregnant with Zoey, I am interested in foods that I usually do not enjoy, like cookies and cereal.

On my Instagram over the weekend, I chatted briefly about how I do not love being pregnant. Yes, I love feeling this baby move (which it does a ton!), I love that our little family is growing, and I love watching these babies grow and learn, but the physical act of being pregnant has been tough on me mentally and emotionally. A lot of that has to do with feeling slower, not being able to move as quickly or as much, and the overly stretched feeling which weighs on me.

I am also at the largeness point where people think it is ok to touch my baby bump without asking. I have had a number of teachers and students give my bump a little rub and only a few seem to remember themselves and pull their hand away before I say something. This, combined with my very out belly button, makes me feel like I am on display which contributes to me not loving being pregnant at this stage.

Sleep has been decent. Now that it is a bit harder to maneuver around, and the need to use the bathroom is more frequent, I get up at least two or three times a night. Sometimes the baby likes to throw dance parties in my belly at random times of the night, but it is more entertaining than annoying to be up while it boogies.

Overall, my body feels good. I have some general discomfort in my hips as my body prepares for birth, but all in all, I feel fine apart from the usual low back strain.

Everyone keeps asking me if I have any ideas on the gender, and I truly have no clue. I was absolutely convinced that Zoey was a boy, so I am really at a loss with this one. Rob and I do not have any preference other than having a healthy, happy baby and a calm, uncomplicated birth experience. Personally, I am hoping this is a bit of a redemptive birth experience with time to labor at home and peacefully go to the hospital without rushing and the risk of more serious medical interventions.

I had last Wednesday off from work randomly for graduation and did some nesting around the house. Little chores like washing hand-me-downs, setting up diaper baskets, and putting together a little nursing station in our bedroom made the arrival of this baby seem all the more real. Second kids are so much easier to prepare for since we have everything we need already! Between Zoey’s toys and the amount of places we will have to put the baby, our house is slowly being taken over.

Last week also had me finishing off my maternity lesson plans for my long term sub. All my teacher friends know what a feat this is, especially at the end of the year. But, all copies are made, the planning calendar is done, and I am thrilled with the woman who is taking over for me while I am out. This leave was a lot easier to prepare for as I only have one plan period and the rest are co-taught classes. So much better than with Zoey when I had six plans and was lesson planning while she napped then running into school on weekends to make copies.

Once school ends next week, I plan to do a whole bunch of freezer cooking, take a few day dates with Rob while Zoey finishes up at daycare for the summer, and just enjoy some quiet around the house before we welcome baby #2.

With potentially only four weeks left, I am getting anxious to meet our new family member. I am soaking up as much one-on-one time with Zoey as I possibly can and trying to memorize her at this age and the calmness we have with just her. It is so exciting that Zoey is going to have a playmate. After the initial adjustment period that is sure to take place, I know she is going to be an incredible big sister since she loves to help, has a high level of empathy for her age, and wants to be sure everyone has a turn doing an activity. She surprises me everyday with the new things she knows and does and I am sure being a big sister will be the same.

How was your third trimester of pregnancy? How did your oldest child adapt to the addition of your second?