Journey through Pregnancy: Month 8

How far along

This is being published July 8, which is at the beginning of month 9 (baby’s don’t just pop out on week 40, many women go early & some even go an extra 2 weeks). If all things go well, I will be induced sometime between July 27 & August 2 at Osceola Regional Medical Center. My doctors (cardiologist, OBGYN & FMH) all agree this is the best course of action due to my heart condition, blood clotting disorder, & gestational diabetes. Oh the joy!

Sex

It’s a boy y’all. And I case you are wondering, we are planning on circumcision. Still have not loved any of the nickname ideas so I am either sticking with William or Furi.

Total weight gain/stretch marks

Oh boy do I have stretch marks! I don’t seem to have many more than last month but they are there & they are dark. Most of these momma stripes go away or lighten up considerably after birth but there isn’t much you can do to change how your body reacts so I’m not stressing.

Weight gain, at this point I am a steady 168/169 – not really going up anymore.

Maternity Clothes

This month was all about comfort!!! I found a mumu/nursing/house dress for a good price on Jane.com so I snagged that (loving the mumu game!).

Also, while at Target, I got:

• 1 more nice maternity dress
• 1 pool cover up that can totally work as a mumu/nursing/house dress
• The comfiest pj bottoms so I got those a size up
• 1 gorgeous button up white summer dress (not even maternity, but I made it work) & I think it will be feasible for nursing too!

Sleep

Overall still doing good here – only waking up once maybeeee twice a night to pee but I still wake up feeling decent. In summertime we “sleep in” until 7am (that is sleeping in when we normally get up at 5:30 am during the school year). I’ve been going to bed around 11 pm, which is late for me, but still getting my 8 hours.

A million and one people keep telling me to nap or “rest up.” 1. I don’t love naps but if I am tired I nap. Don’t force me into a nap I don’t want. 2. I feel good, so stop fussing. 3. You can’t actually stock up on sleep like that. Sure you can recuperate on the next day but it’s not like sleeping this next month will suddenly make 2am feeding a joy.

Miss Anything?

I will be so glad when I do not have to drive to Kissimmee every dang Wednesday for my high risk doctor. It’s almost an hour each way, with tolls! When I first started going to him I thought my OBGYN was going to be more my primary and that I would only see the FMH doctor once a month, maybe twice at the end. Nope! For the last 2 months I see him every week & definitely more frequently than my OB. Next time, if there is a next time, I will certainly pick a doctor closer to me!

Cravings

Switching to a gestational diabetes diet was really hard when we didn’t have a kitchen because everything I was finding at restaurants or quick pick ups was not diabetic friendly, but now that we have a kitchen again it’s easy for me. I don’t specifically crave white bread or sugar but it would be nice to not have to scrutinize every label or check my blood sugar an hour after every meal.

Symptoms

My back is wayyy not hurting as much as I though thank goodness! I have scoliosis (had to wear a clunky back brace in middle school) & it was always a fear of mine that back pain would keep me immobile.

Besides the fact that I have to pee every 20 minutes, nothing really much. At this point I am not putting on much weight & I’ve gotten used to the size of the belly, I’m not bumping into things as much. lol

Mood

The highs and lows were strong this month. From sobbing in my car on a Wednesday because I have gestational diabetes to crying on the following Saturday because my padrino surprised me by coming to the baby shower – this was a rollercoaster of a month.

But now that I have come to the end of month I can say the mood that is most pervasive is a peaceful strength. My mother in law reminded me that, with everything going on, I am handling things well. I can do this. This whole years long process has made me stronger, even my moments of weakness and anger has helped me to walk away better. I have to be thankful for that.

Best Moment this Month

Easy. The baby shower. I can hardly put it into words how much it meant to me that family traveled so far (from as far away as California!) and it felt like such a lovely glimpse into a beautiful future (one without COVID ruining it all!). The set up was beautiful, the food great, the weather hot but bearable, presents were awesome, but most importantly was the people who were there. Being able to hug loved ones I have not seen in over a year was emotional and knowing that this baby has such a strong and loving family village is touching.

Thank you to every person that came & those who I know could not travel but who are still part of our village. We love each and everyone of you.

Hardest Moment this Month

Getting the gestational diabetes diagnoses was difficult for me (as I am sure it would be for everyone). I couldn’t stop thinking if there was something I could have done to change it and in my subsequent research the answer was a big fat no. It just happens to some women, even healthy normal weight active women like myself. I felt crushed because it was just another medical complication on my docket and I felt like everything was being pile on top of this shit list.

Now that it’s been a whole month, I feel better; albeit still annoyed to have to watch carefully what I eat, prick myself 4 times a day & be on insulin at night. However, this is truly a lesson in obedience to the will of nature. I can’t control having a heart condition, genetics, blood clotting disorder, nor gestational diabetes. Might as well make the best of it, manage it well, and live out the healthiest pregnancy I can for this baby. Maybe this is all a lesson in the harsh reality that my body is no longer my own.

Exercise

No specific workouts, but still lots and lots of house projects that keep me on my feet nearly all day. We’re finishing the kitchen, guest bedroom, nursery, and doing other odds and ends in the garage and with the yard. Trust me, I’m active!

JMF