Just like that, baby #3 is in the third trimester. 

I meant to get this pregnancy update posted weeks ago, but as is life with two young children, it kept getting pushed further and further down on the list. 

We are officially in week 31 of growing our third child and while I do not feel like this pregnancy has been quick, it has not been slow either. The weeks are certainly flying by and I am struggling to believe that we are going to have another tiny human in our arms so soon. 

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When I was pregnant with Zoey, I used to regularly check the pregnancy app to see how big she was, what changes I could expect, and what they recommended I do to prepare for her arrival. I was also part of all these forums for June due dates and read through the posts and comments regularly, did a ton of research on birthing options, and felt more “involved” with the pregnancy itself.

Now, I feel like I know what to expect and am spending more time on planning for the logistics of having a third person. Logistics like trading in one of our cars for a minivan, shuffling around bed arrangements to free up the crib (making that leap much later), soaking up time with each child, and trying to predict how Zoey and William are going to handle a new baby.

Both Rob and I are doing a lot of mental preparing around going back to the newborn phase as well, which we do not feel ready for. 

How I am feeling physically at 31 weeks

I am really fortunate to feel really good during this pregnancy. Compared to how low William was and how strong his kicks to my ribs were, this baby feels like a dream. 

I have yet to experience any food aversions and fingers crossed it stays that way!

My energy is definitely slowing down and I am doing the walk/run combination when I head out for a few miles once or twice a week. Lifting and high intensity workouts still feel good, but I have to spend some extra time caring for my sciatic nerve afterwards to be sure I can walk, and not waddle, the next day. 

Just because you are pregnant, does not mean you need to sacrifice the same high intensity workouts that you enjoyed before baby was on board. You should tone down the high impact, but you can still lift heavy, get your heart rate up, and focus on your pelvic floor. The Full Body Tone Workout Plan will give you some full body strength building workouts, core strengthening, and stability training so you can have a strong pregnancy.

Similarly to William, my hips are starting to prepare a bit early for birth and if I start walking from a stop, or have been sitting for a while, it takes me a few touchy, rocking steps to get my hips to coordinate and not hurt to put weight on one over the other. 

I have only had a few charlie horses at night (a symptom I had to wear compression socks for with the other two) and just started sleeping with an extra pillow between my legs. 

As far as I am concerned, all normal physical symptoms of growing a human! 

My one must have pregnancy product is Burt’s Bee’s Mama Bee Belly Butter. I used it with both other kids and am using it with this one too.

How I am feeling mentally at 31 weeks

Ups and downs, as any pregnant woman would probably say. 

When I see Zoey and William play together (finally!), I get excited to add another giggle to the mix. 

When I think about going back to the newborn days of no sleep and those tough first few weeks home with the other kids, I feel a bit dark and teeth-grit survival. 

The benefit of heading into the realm of having three children under the age of four, is that you really do not have time to dwell on the doldrums as Zoey’s boundless energy and William’s innate curiosity keep us very busy. I am very thankful for that!

How I am feeling emotionally at 31 weeks

Frustrated. Nervous. Anxious. 

Rob and I knew we wanted a third child, but this baby is coming a little earlier than we thought. It just goes to show that if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. 

I have been trying to pour into both Zoey and William all the attention, love, and one-on-one time I can before the baby arrives and takes up so much of my time. I know William especially is going to struggle with this new arrival as his general place of happiness is on my left hip, just chilling, watching whatever I am doing (cooking, walking, grocery shopping). It is definitely going to be a shock for him when that spot is no longer his alone. 

Around 28 weeks, I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes. While this is a common diagnosis, and seems to run in my family when it comes to third children, it took the wind out of me. 

I have not mentioned it on the blog or social media yet because I have been trying to navigate my thoughts and feelings surrounding it. 

I had to take the three hour glucose test with both other kids, but never failed it before, so while I was not surprised at taking it again, I was shocked that I had failed it.

After three weeks of testing my blood sugars, the only number that seems to be worrisome is my morning fasting, which I cannot seem to get consistently under that magic number of 95. 

While I realize this is one of the easier pregnancy symptoms to deal with, it terrifies me that it puts me at a higher risk for preeclampsia, which is already a high risk for me since I had HELLP Syndrome with Zoey. 

There have been a few stressors surrounding this GD diagnoses over the past few weeks.

• Eating at specific times. The nutritionist recommended I eat 6 small meals a day, which is 1-2 more than I normally would and spaced much closer together. My meals have to be smaller, but it still feels like I am eating when I am not hungry just to regulate my blood sugar. 

• Testing my blood sugar at exact time. I have to test my blood sugar exactly one hour after the first bite of food, which seems nearly impossible some days as I run around with the kids, or get interrupted over and over again during a meal. Sometimes it takes more than an hour just to finish eating.
• Counting carbs. I typically pay attention to added sugars, sodium, and the ingredients list in any given food, not the carbohydrate count. This has been a huge eye-opener and a bit of a game changer for me in terms of how I am structuring my meals. 
• Finding enough to eat. Sure, I normally eat lots of fruits and vegetables, but I also enjoy dessert and love my simple carbs. There have been twice a day salads and way more hummus and cheese going through this house than normal. It has left me feeling more hungry than I would like and a bit more touchy. 

I am working hard on the mental aspect of it all to calm down, take it as a learning experience, and do what I need to do now so birth goes well, but it has been a disheartening journey as it is only one number during my day that is giving me trouble.

How Zoey and William are handling pregnancy

Zoey is so excited! She regularly asks to feel and hug the baby and we talk a lot about what she needs to do to take care of it. She really thinks this is going to be her baby! Zoey even has some opinions on names and wants us to call it William 2 (with the fingers up). 

William does not seem to really know what is going on, but he does know that my book reading lap is getting a little smaller. He will often look back at me confused and seeming to wonder what I did with it when he sits down.

William does like to touch my belly, especially when Zoey does, and it gives him a huge smile. He really just likes to push in my belly button, which has reached the popped out phase of belly growing. 

Regardless of gestational diabetes and my general anxiety of having our third child, the baby is moving well and seems to be just as active as the other two were. We have yet to get the baby’s room ready, buy a bassinet, or pick up any diapers, but that is the norm with third children, right?