Weeks 37 & 38: So, this is it…

So, this is it…
… What you’re reading here might just be my last pregnancy update on the blog. I don’t know when Miss M will arrive. Maybe she will be there tomorrow, maybe I will still be waiting for her to get out of my big belly in some weeks. I haven’t really known this feeling when I was pregnant with little L as we started the induction process two weeks before his due date. So, I feel a bit lost at the moment.

I guess I don’t really realize that in some days I will be a mum of two. Even now that I am writing it, I don’t actually realize what this means. But then again, can you really be prepared for this new life? For a life with two kids (under 2!!)? Well, probably as much as you can be prepared for a life with one kid… 😉

I sincerely hope that, even with two little ones, I will somehow find the time to continue blogging, to keep you updated about “our big Dubai adventure”. I am sure it will just get more exciting with Miss M joining us 😉

It was also a lot of fun going through this pregnancy with you – and I actually learned a lot during the last months. Hopefully, my regular updates have been or will be of any use to some of you. xxx

The symptoms I am supposed to have in weeks 37 & 38 (and how I am really feeling)

• Different shape: “You’re now about as big as you’re going to get” says my weekly pregnancy update of week 37. Haha, I love this! Is this supposed to sound reassuring? I actually feel less big and more mobile again since Miss M has apparently decided to “shift downwards”. My doula suggested to measure the height of my belly every day from now on (meaning since the beginning of week 37) and I was surprised to actually see a quite important difference.

• Nesting instinct: Hmmm, so, apparently this should be happening at the moment. I should feel an “uncontrollable urge” to clean our apartment. Well, how should I put this? Not really happening… I certainly have a lot more energy again these days but if for anything linked to our apartment than for decorating Miss M’s room, driving to IKEA (numerous requests have been denied by my dear and shopping-hating husband) and maybe getting things ready for the delivery…

• Tiredness: Well, not more or less than before to be honest. In the evenings, I fall asleep on the sofa, yes. But otherwise, I am feeling great! Actually even better than some weeks ago 🙂

Little Miss M
On Monday, we went to see Dr. Anni for, what I hope to be, my last scan. Nothing new (Miss M is still hiding her face, so, we will now definitely need to wait for her to arrive to see her 😉 ) except for the fact that she actually gained 500gr during the last two weeks and now weights about 3kg! She is still in a perfect “starting” position.

I can definitely say that her movements and kicks have become much stronger during the last days, to the point that it actually hurts sometimes when she is giving me a big kick. And my belly “dropped” again by 2 cm. Everything seems to fall into place. Now, the waiting time has started!

This week’s topic

Some last tips from my doula and hypnobirthing teacher
For this last pregnancy update, I thought I’d share with you some of the tips my doula and hypnobirthing gave me for these last pregnancy weeks. Some of them might be quite well known (even though they were not for me…) and I am not saying that they are working for everyone – or that they are even advisable for everyone (you want to get a green light from your doctor and/or doula before considering them as there might be certain risks involved). So, here you go:

• Walk! That’s probably what works best for me. I feel so much better when I walk. Even better: go up and down the stairs sidewise while lifting your knee. This might help get the baby down in a good position. Of course, only if this is not causing any pain or too much fatigue! There is no point in exhausting yourself in the weeks or days before labor.

• Dance the baby down! Well, probably not something for everyone BUT I really loved to move a bit to some nice rhythms during the last days (I am talking about A BIT, not about an one-hour dancing session, of course 😉 ). Apparently, it’s also a good idea not to only have slow and calm songs on your “birthing play list” but also some more rhythmic ones. By the way, Spotify published a birthing playlist designed to accompany women in labor. Personally, I didn’t like all of the songs, at least not for labor, (I’ve created my own playlist on my mobile with my “feel good songs”) but you might want to have a look 😉
  

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGb121IfUmM]

• Eat 6-8 dates a day! My doula told me that consuming date fruits in the weeks prior to my estimated due date might lead to a more favorable birth outcome. This has by the way been shown by a study done at Jordan University of Science and Technology found (in case you’re a person who likes facts and figures like me 😉 ) Dates are also a great fruit to consume during labor, my doula told me.

• Try Evening Primrose Oil capsules! Consuming 2-3 500mg capsules daily in the weeks before labor (my doula suggested to start in week 37 in my case) can help ripen the cervix. I started with one capsule a day and am now slowly increasing the dosage.

• Use Acupressure! My hypnobirthing teacher showed us some pressure points you can use when in labor, she focused on those to be used in case of ineffective contractions. I am not actually sure if I would get them right on my own (my doula will be there to guide us) but it’s certainly interesting to have a look at the following documents (click here for a short version and here for the complete booklet) and this website.

• Prepare a funny film! Watching a film that makes you laugh for sure in the early stages of labor can be something very positive it seems. My doula and hypnobirthing teacher explained me that laughing can increase Oxytocin levels – well, and Oxytocin makes the uterus contract 😉 (I have prepared “Les Bronzés font du ski” – the French will understand 😛 )

• And one for when Miss M will be born: Have a look at this video! Can’t wait to try it out!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgkZf6jVdVg]

So, this is it, I guess.

See you on the other side!

xxx