Category Archives: maternity

40 Weeks of Pregnancy – Week 34

It is Monday, and time for another week’s worth of pregnancy information in my week by week pregnancy guide. If you want to peruse previous weeks, scroll to the bottom.
Week 34
I have said this before, and I am going to say this again. By this point, please make sure you have filled out the paperwork with your hospital. You have no idea uncomfortable it could be if you have to do everything right then and there. With Munchie I preregistered, and it was the easiest thing ever. I showed up. They put me in a room. Done. With Ducky, even though I preregistered, they lost my paper work. So I got to experience what it would be like had I not preregistered. I am usually pretty mild mannered and calm. Until there is a baby clawing its way out of me and you are asking me to repeat my street address for the fourth time.
Now would also be a good time to pack up all your stuff for the hospital. I made this list in case you don’t know where to begin.
I wear contacts. Because I am as blind as a bat. Except I don’t have awesome sonar. I thought my vision was going but then my doctor told me that this is normal, and it will come back. Sure enough it did. So before you get your eyes checked out and a new prescription, check with your doctor.
Otherwise, all the regular symptoms will continue. Nothing new to report. Just try to enjoy these last few weeks.
If you want to catch up…  

Week 15 

Week 23 

40 Weeks of Pregnancy – Week 33

Welcome to the newest installment of my pregnancy week by week guide. This week we will be looking at Week 33. If you want to catch up with previous weeks, scroll to the bottom.
Week 33
Not a whole lot is going on this week, except that you are counting the days until you give birth. When I was pregnant I loved it, but I was more anxious to meet my little one than anything else. Not to mention my back was killing me.
Since your baby will be coming in a matter of weeks, this is a great time to finalize any last minute stuff for his/her arrival. Is the baby’s room ready? Do you have a crib? Do you have a stroller? Most importantly, do you have a car seat? You don’t want to wait until your baby is born to get it, because you won’t be able to leave the hospital until you can prove you have a car seat for your little one. But make sure you keep the receipt in the event that you end up not liking it after the baby is born. This actually should apply to all your big ticket purchases. Keep the receipt, because once your baby is here he may demand some changes.
Aside from your big ticket items, you also want to start stocking up on some essentials. If you are having a baby shower, you will probably get a lot of onesies and blankets. You will possibly get a lot of diapers too. So you may want to hold off until afterwards to buy things you don’t have. One of the things I found useful was to try different types of diapers. Regardless of what brand my friends and family used, I had my baby try them all. Some were messy and caused leaks, other worked very well but were on the pricey side, and others did the job, and really, what else do you need from a diaper?
Are you planning on breastfeeding? Don’t get the pump yet. Shop for it once you actually know what breast feeding is like. I totally botched this one, and having no clue what it would entail I bought a pump that was completely inadequate for my and Munchie’s needs. Luckily I had a friend who let me borrow her amazing pump. But pumps, in most places, are not returnable, so I still ended up spending the money. I wish I had waited.
Right around now you may be tempted to buy a few extra maternity clothes. You are gaining about a pound a week, so this is totally understandable. But unless you absolutely can’t fit into your current clothes, try to resist the urge. It will be over before you know it, and these clothes won’t be very flattering on you after.
Have you chosen that baby name yet? If so, how many times did you change your mind?
If you want to catch up…  

Week 15 

Week 23 

Five Things Maternity Leave Taught Me

Yesterday was the last day of my maternity leave, and I cannot help but reflect on the last six weeks. Spending time with my newborn baby, and his older sister was nothing short of amazing. Having had my daughter in daycare since she was six weeks old (she is currently seventeen months old) I missed out on her growing up. While spending time with our newest addition I got to catch up with her as well. I also got to learn things about her, our new baby, and myself.
1.       They really do grow up too fast
I cannot believe my son is already six weeks old today. I swear I just gave birth a few days ago. Six weeks ago? Really??? My itsy bitsy baby now weighs twelve pounds?
2.       Nursing is very relaxing
You would think I would have learned this with my daughter, but back then I was a newbie and I was too concerned with doing everything “right” to stop and just simply enjoy having my baby next to me, doing all sorts of cute things while feeding.
3.       It is okay if your kid starts crying
I used to be terrified of running errands with my daughter when she was a newborn in case she started crying in public and then everyone would think I am a bad mother. Now, I am not saying it is okay to allow your kids to have a complete melt down while you are at the grocery store, but a little sniffling, whining and general complaining in public can be okay. Your children are not little angels regardless of what you keep telling yourself. Mine are not little angels either. If I plan on ever getting anything done, I need to come to terms with this fact.
4.       I am still me
Just because I have a baby and a seventeen months old does not mean I am now relegated to be chained to my children with no time for myself in sight. Of course time to myself is now far shorter and more sporadic, but it exists, and I savor it when I get it. Spending twenty four hours a day with my children for the past six weeks helped me realize that the couple of hours I got to myself on Saturdays was indeed a time to indulge but spend wisely. I would think of all the things I wanted to do, and then come up with the one thing I REALLY wanted to do. It was almost like finding myself all over again.
5.       Getting dressed up is optional
I cannot count the times my daughter and I had pajama days in the past few weeks. Before having children I could not fathom even getting the mail without first donning a cute outfit. Then after having my daughter I relaxed a bit, but still required quite some maintenance to even make it to the grocery store. Then the second came around. A splash of make-up and clean clothes is all I require now. Flip flops will suffice.
What are some of your maternity stories?