Pregnancy Update // 38 Weeks

Pregnancy Update // 38 Weeks

DenaMarch 16, 2015

Pregnancy Update // 38 Weeks

How far along are you? 38 weeks.

Sleep: Still rough, but I’ve gotten in a few decent stretches of sleep lately. Sometimes my body hits a wall of physical exhaustion and I fall into a deep sleep, despite the pain in my hips & my ever-present need to use the bathroom.

Movement: She is getting strong! She must be working on growing muscle these days. Last night she pushed against the middle of my stomach with such force, I’m certain that she was trying to break out.

Favourite Moment: My favourite moments these days involve daydreaming about her. This week I’ve been busy sorting through her clothes and putting things away. I often catch myself imagining what she will look and feel like wrapped up inside of them. There is so much excitement and anticipation wrapped up in these final days. So many “what-ifs.”

I’ve also had several favourite moments with Roman. He is going through another period of rapid mental development. Within the past few weeks, he’s started to talk all the time. From the time he wakes in the morning until the time he falls asleep at night, his little mouth is going and he has so much to say. Best of all, we can understand a lot of it. It’s amazing to finally be able to communicate with him in many ways. It’s a huge relief, too, that he’s come this far before his baby sister is born. Even though he can’t communicate everything, it makes things so much easier now that he can tell us when he is hungry/tired/thirsty/hurt.

Cravings: Most of the time I just want to eat, I don’t care what it is. However, my terrible indigestion has really been ruling my diet. I try to stay away from anything that contains too much acid and I’ve decided to stop eating after 4 pm. Not eating after 4 pm has been insanely difficult at times, but waking up in the middle of the night with indigestion so bad that it brings me to tears/to vomit is just not worth it.

Happy or Moody? Moody for sure. I’m all over the place these days, it’s a wild roller coaster. I may be crying tears of gratitude one hour, flung into despair the next, and snapping like a bull dog later on. It’s all in a day’s work, I suppose.

Belly Status: I can’t tell a difference anymore. M. says that it continues to grow daily, but I’ve lost track. I have noticed that even my most forgiving “regular” clothes no longer cover the bump. It’s all maternity, all the time at this point.

Aches & Pains: I talked about the indigestion and sleep issues already. Other than that, I still struggle with back & hip pain most days, but it’s contingent upon activity. As long as I don’t overdo it, it’s not too much trouble like it was a couple of months ago. I’ve had three, short, intense periods of pain that felt like they could have been contractions. However, they also could have been muscle pain or gas pain — who knows. And finally, I’ve had some nasty ligament pains under the bump. I have to be careful about getting up from sitting or standing too quickly and about coughing in certain positions. Fun, fun, fun.

Looking Forward To: At this point, it’s hard to see passed labor & delivery. When I think ahead, that’s where my mind goes. I wonder when labor will start. Will I go early (like last time) or will I go late, past my due date. I wonder if it will be in the middle of the night again or if it will be in the morning. There are so many questions along these lines — will I be strong enough to go med-free again; will I be able to go intervention-free again; will I be able to labor in the water tub; will I tear again — the list just doesn’t end and I’m really looking forward to knowing the answers, putting them behind me, and holding my little girl.

At the same time, I am in a way, looking forward to the labor & delivery experience. It may well be the last time I get to experience it and there is just nothing else like it — it’s the ultimate feeling of empowerment, strength, and magic. My first time was (mostly) such an incredible experience and I am prayerful that we will be so blessed once again.

I sat in silent meditation last night for the first time in too long. I stretched and then sat still, shutting my mind off. I breathed strength into every part of my body, starting with my toes and working all the way up to the top of my head. I am preparing myself — physically, emotionally, and spiritually. These strengthening rituals will be a part of my daily routine from now until the big day.

Changes to the Home: At this point, we are as ready as we’re going to be. We’ve addressed all of the last-minute details this week, like installing the car seat and packing the hospital bag. I realized that there are a few little things that I still needed (nipple butter, extra pacifiers, another pair of maternity sweats) so I put in an order on Amazon Mom which should arrive early this week.

I’m probably a bit over-prepared considering my due date is April 1st, but that’s how I roll. Plus, I’ve been reading about how the average pregnancy actually lasts 35 to 40 weeks from the date of conception — and varies from woman to woman and birth to birth. This reconfirms my belief that the “due date” is really just a guess date.


That’s all for this update. My mind is clearly overflowing with pregnancy-thoughts at the moment and I could go on forever. Soon, however, I’ll be living through it rather than thinking about it.

This will most likely be my last pregnancy update as I’ve been making them every couple of weeks. Hopefully my next such update will be about my happy, healthy baby girl!

/// To see my other pregnancy updates, click here. ///


Comments (6)

  • Momista Beginnings

    March 16, 2015 at 6:02 pm

    My mind’s been racing too, with the “what ifs”. I try to steer clear of that and focus on the now, though. Tough to do. But of course, I can’t help but to also imagine what my little baby will look like, whether or not I’m going to see boy or girl parts raised in the air above me while laying in the delivery bed. All so crazy. Glad to hear that you’ve rested some, finally…and that you all are prepped and ready (as ready as you can be) for your little girl. Any day now 🙂 xo -Misty

    1. Dena

      March 18, 2015 at 9:36 am

      I don’t know how you’re doing it with “not knowing.” I mean I guess a lot of people go that route, but it would be the death of me. You are amazing. I can’t wait to find out what you have. I am so excited for you. <3

  • Tina

    March 16, 2015 at 9:02 pm

    Oh my gooooood how do you not eat after 4pm?! When I was pregnant I would get so sick if I didn’t eat every couple hours. Also, I don’t even have dinner til like 8pm every night so that would be very hard. I can’t wait until the little miss is here so you can go back to eating food at night!

    1. Dena

      March 18, 2015 at 9:38 am

      haha…. It is a challenge for sure! It’s really just a matter of weighing the pain of hunger vs. the pain of not sleeping/a burning chest/and vomiting. I pick the lesser of the two evils.

      I would have never been able to do it in the beginning when I was nauseous. Back then I had to eat practically every half hour just to survive. It’s amazing how different my first and third trimesters are. Almost like two different pregnancies altogether!

  • Abby

    March 18, 2015 at 7:54 am

    Awwww, this was me a year ago. Well, not quite, I was probably closer to 35 weeks at this time, but close enough. My littlest guy will have his first brithday in a few weeks. Hard to believe.

    I just found your blog and I love the cool, peaceful vibe it gives out. Good luck on your delivery.

    1. Dena

      March 18, 2015 at 9:38 am

      ahhh, thanks so much, Abby! That is such a sweet compliment. I am going to check out your blog now and look forward to getting to know you more! xo

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