Pregnancy update – week 38 aka the mucus plug is out

Ha! So I wrote this post at 37 weeks and 4 days pregnant. Because I was suffering from insomnia and wanted to be efficient, I thought may as well schedule this in. It turns out I didn’t make it to 38 weeks, as the very next morning I went into labour but I’m sharing the update anyway as it’s all still relevant. 37 plus 4 doesn’t have the same ring to it. 

My 38 week pregnancy update. Time has flown right? I’m 38 weeks pregnant and just finishing up at work, about to start maternity leave. I remember back in the autumn, logging into a pregnancy app and looking at the calendar. It seemed like May would never come, now it’s just weeks away. Soon there’ll be a new addition to the family and I’m so nervous I could puke! 

To be fair, it doesn’t take much to make me puke these days. Something that even this late into the pregnancy hasn’t changed, unfortunately. But the end is near and if this baby is anything like the Mini Me, I’ll get some much needed relief on the day that I go into labour. Sucks that really, doesn’t it?

So, how has pregnancy been since the last time I updated you? 

SPD / PGP

My hips still hurt, it feels like I’m walking with a watermelon trying to escape from between my legs. But at the same time, it also feels like someone has kicked me in my hoo haa and decided to leave their foot there. I wake up in the middle of the night whenever I try to turn round in my sleep. Don’t even get me started on the acrobatics needed to get in and out of my car when I’m on the commute! It’s not all doom and gloom though. If I keep still, there’s generally no pain, which is a great excuse as any to lounge around really.

The baby bump

The bump is pretty small. The midwives refer to it as ‘neat’ which I think is supposed to be less offensive than saying “my goodness isn’t your bump small for x amount of months?” It’s like the politically correct term du jour. Neat. Friends and family say it as it is and call it small, or comment on how easy it will be to bounce back into shape afterward I basically look like I’m just a bit fatter than normal. Meh

The weird side of pregnancy – mucus plugs

So a few days ago some of my mucus plug came out. It wasn’t a bloody show. I now know they are two different things after some ferocious internet searching. Normally after a bloody show, pregnancy is imminent. With your mucus plug, you can go a couple of weeks, or just a few days without going into labour. One site described it as a sign your body is headed in the right direction as opposed to being ready for d-day.

I was really excited and wanted to share it with friends the moment it happened. Then realised they probably wouldn’t be as excited as me. Who wants to know about booger like substances coming out of their friend’s privates? Anyway, I held back. But as you can see, I decided to include it in this post. Because, well if you’re reading this, then the likelihood is you’re a parent, in which case you’ve seen it all before.

Single child into big sister mode

The Mini Me is more accepting of the whole concept of no longer being an only child. I wouldn’t go as far as to say she’s excited, but accepting seems like a huge step in the right direction. Missy has bought a cute Easter duck for the baby. It’s name is Quackie. Go figure. She’s also been quite helpful, putting the Snuzpod bedside crib together with me the other night. She was keen to help out and didn’t get into a huff about it not being for her.

I know it must be pretty emotional for her. So much is changing. Just under 9 years of being an only child is a long time. Now she’s going to have to be a little bit more patient as we as parents learn how to live as a family with two kids. It’s going to be interesting to say the least but I think she’s going to be a star.

Nesting at 38 weeks

I was thinking the whole nesting thing has passed me by but oh my goodness no. In the last week or so I’ve been on a mini rampage. Pulling out drawers. Washing anything in sight. Getting annoyed at the same clutter that normally gives me comfort. I’m all for a few magazines laying on the coffee table and a blanket draped lazily on the sofa. These things create a ‘lived in’ vibe. At least, that’s what I’ve always said when my mum has visited and given me dissaproving stares. It’s lived in. Not anymore mind you. The thing is, standing up for too long or doing anything that sees me sitting on the floor or on my hands and knees just creates problems. It’s all so painful! So nesting is being done in short, small bursts!

Working during the third trimester

I decided to work up until 38 weeks. I really wanted to spend as much time as possible at home with the baby. The first time round, with the Mini Me, I stopped working at around 6 months. I was finding the commute so hard! Also, I was temping and had quite a lot saved up so could afford to. Now, well. Adulting. With bills, debts, a kid with loads of extra curricular activities to pay for etc. I need ALL of the monies!

I’ve spent a couple of days in the office followed by a couple of days working from home. My maternity cover is awesome so it was the quickest hand over ever. I’ve actually been left with spare time to take on other people’s admin projects just to be helpful. Commuting has been ok. Even at this stage, it’s hard to get a seat on the Underground without asking outright. I normally don’t mind standing but there’ve been a few days where back pain or SPD has made it that even a few stops standing up is too much.

My company are awesome, so supportive and have made it really easy for me to want to come into work. Like I mean, I WANT to be around them all so I try and make the effort to be in as much as possible. That being said, this was my last week in work. As much as I love trying to be superwoman, I think with two weeks left until this baby is due, I need to focus on preparing for birth. I’m pretty excited and not as scared or generally negative as I’ve been for most of the last nine months. Result right?

So as I mentioned at the beginning of the post, we only made it as far as 37 weeks plus 5 days. I’ll share some baby pics and what not very very soon, but thought I’d publish this post first. Thank you to everyone who has sent well wishes and congratulated my family already! You are all amazing and I feel so blessed to have this online community supporting me here and in real life this time around. If only I’d known about blogging and social media had been such a massive thing with the first baby eh!