We were too busy with traveling and company to snap any photos for this week’s update. Suffice it to say, I am huge and baby feels as if he/she weighs much more than the 4 pounds my ticker says.
I was asked multiple times this week if I was having twins. Several people also commented on the fact that I am all belly. This is due not only to the diastasis recti, but also to the fact that I am extremely short waisted. There’s really no place for baby to go but out in front. Hiding pregnancy is not really something I do well. 😉
My friend, Amy, who happens to be one who does not show early and never gets very big at all has given me some great perspective this pregnancy. She revels in every second of her pregnancies (she’s due a week after me with their #8). She loves looking pregnant, and I’d almost venture to guess she wouldn’t mind one little bit if she got as big as I do.
Getting this big used to bother me a lot. In fact, I once rushed out of a store because of the comments I could hear being made behind my back, yet within my earshot. While it does get extremely old defending that I know FOR SURE I’m not having twins, and that I also know FOR SURE that my due date is December 22, and that I am well aware of the fact that I shock people when I turn around because from the back I don’t look pregnant, I am still thankful to be growing the newest member of our family…and thankful for a friend like Amy, who keeps me from having too many pity parties.
I will say, with every passing day, I grow slower and slower. It’s been a difficult adjustment going from 90 to nothing so quickly. Thankfully, I have a lot of willing helpers who help ease my workload. My 16 year old son even sat down the other night and gave me a foot massage because I looked tired and so did my feet. What a guy!
Oh, and some not so great news…
The nurse told me I had passed my 3 hour glucose test, but a few days later, she called and started the conversation with, “You are going to hate me.” I actually did NOT pass. She had misread the numbers. My beginning and ending numbers were in the 70s, but my middle numbers were above range. For now, my OB is just having me watch my diet. (yes, Trim Healthy Mama it is) I will be 33 weeks when I go back for my next appointment, so we’ll see then what she is thinking. She is super low key, so that could be the extent of “treatment” for me. I definitely feel like this is doable. I’m just disappointed that after losing weight and watching my sugar intake these past couple of years, I am gestational diabetic for the first time. bah.
So, how are all my pregnant mama friends out there? Would love to hear YOUR updates!
Magan says
I loooove to read your updates because they seem to make my pregnancy go by quicker, and I realize I’m not the only one who is slowing down! We are 32 weeks and I’m starting to see what I can and cannot do anymore. We are still doing some schooling, mostly what they can do independently, and we are reading a lot. I usually take a few weeks off before the new baby arrives because my brain turns to mush 😉 Praying for you!
Tiff says
Stay the course! Rest assured it will come off. I am on the waiting list for THM (#17 in line! LOL!) to get the pesky last 10# off. I just completed my 20th marathon Sunday (NOT a fast one!) and my baby is 6 months old (fourth marathon when nursing — all that stuff about milk quality and exercise is false — God made us to move!) She is our blessed fourth living child — I have had 9 pregnancies. After so many losses and holding a baby born still, getting huge (gained 70# — my body does it EVERY time no matter what I do!) was such a blessing. God knows exactly what he is doing in the hidden place. I must say, schooling NOT pregnant this fall is wonderful. I can’t believe how much we are getting done. For those slowing and growing mamas out there — this is a season! Let the Lord be in charge 🙂
Amy says
I am so glad to hear you gained that much AND got *most* of it off too! I’ve never had milk production issues while exercising either, so I do plan to get back to work asap!
raisingcropsandbabies says
I’ve heard as women get older (not old, just older) that G.D. can be more common. I’ll be 30 when I have my g.d. test and I’m curious to see if I pass it or not (I had my 4th at 27 and haven’t been pregnant since). I’ve been doing THM since morning sickness passed (just this past week) and we’ll see.
You are really hanging in there! I’m 3-1/2 months and just ready to be done (pregnancy has never been a time I’ve loved). Such a journey! haha
Amy says
My OB warned me last pregnancy that the older you get the harder it is to pass. I am 37 and this is the first time I’ve had GD.
Klecia says
With my 4th pregnancy (first time GD) I was 36, the Dr. told me I shouldn’t have any more because the GD will be worse next time, she said I was lucky that it was only mild (diet controlled). My next pregnancy I was 37 (only 14 months apart) I again had GD (no worse though, just the same). She again told me the same thing, she stressed that it is not fair on the baby to be born with low blood sugar and having to have their feet pricked for a couple of days (I definitely hated that part – hopefully you won’t have that, not every baby does with GD, some have it without GD but are not tested so you wouldn’t know). I replied that I’m sure the baby wouldn’t remember it, and they’d be glad to be born and exist despite this beginning in life, she looked at me like I was nuts!
Amy says
That is terrible! No mama needs to be guilted like that.
Angela says
At our hospitals (Ontario Canada) they mandatory heel prick ‘just in case of missed GD’ all babies over a certain size, they are lying through their teeth, but I have been assured multiple times that ‘it doesn’t really hurt’ the baby. How horrendous to try to guilt you like that just because she has an agenda to push.
Andrea says
Oh pooh, that test! Yes, you will just treat it with diet and all will be fine. Week 26 here, and growing. Love feeling little one wiggle around in there. Love that so much! Have really enjoyed being pregnant this time; perhaps it is due to the two losses prior to this pregnancy, I have a lot more perspective than I did in the past. And, as I have said before, I’m a little older and a little more mature – mentally and spiritually 🙂 Going in for my one hour test next week. Weight gain is starting to bother me – like you, I have worked really hard to be healthy. I still eat healthy but my exercise has basically stopped other than just normal everyday activity. Sigh. But again, maturity tells me not to get hung up on it all. Just focus on God and family. So my legs look like tree trunks – who cares! Thanks for sharing your journey!
Amy says
It’s hard to have worked so hard and see the weight packing on, but I am confident with the Lord’s help, I’ll get this back off when baby is in arms. 🙂 Older and wiser, indeed!
Jessica says
Even though your score may not have been what you hoped (mine wasn’t this time around either), remember that you’ve worked hard to be as healthy as you can – you haven’t failed!
I hear you on being *so* over the large comments. I’m only 5 feet tall and have no place else for a baby but forward and I seem to go from nothing to ‘you look ready to pop!’ in a weeks time, generally around 5 months. I really worked hard at healing my my abs this time around (thanks to your drawing awareness to it!) and it didn’t seem to help.
However, I’m now cuddling a sweet 11 day old baby boy and my belly is already almost completely shrunk down. Not to say I’ve got my pre-pregnancy body back, but I can’t believe how quickly my abs have closed and I’m sure it’s from the work I put in! You can do this!
Amy says
Way to go, Jessica!
Jen says
I’m 31 weeks with number 8 and this is my first time
With gestational diabetes too. I get to do carb counting
And glucose testing. Oh well , the point is a healthy baby right ?
Amy says
Yes, healthy is important!
Charis T says
I am right there with you. At 32 weeks with my 6th I feel like I am dragging my body around. I have no energy! Lol I’m already on count down mode and just pray I can survive. I have bad vera cous veins and lots of back trouble. Thankfully I passed the glucose test, but I am still anemic and low on B12. I have been taking supplements and they help me function, but there is just no way around the 3rd trimester exhaustion.
Amy says
I’m anemic too…trying to stay on top of that, but it seems I always am in pregnancy.
Josi says
Good for you pregnant mamas who are working hard to grow these babies. That sacrifice and hard work produces a reward! I’m surprised by the comments people make about physical appearance, as if we need them to point it out to make us aware! I once had a woman at church gasp when she noticed how much grey hair I had gotten. Thanks lady! You just reminded me of how much I don’t love looking in the mirror at my hair these days! Well, you get the last laugh…..you get the blessing of the full quiver. I know that to be true because God said it! Keep going, or should I say keep growing!…a full-term belly is a good thing! 🙂
Amy says
I need you to follow me around and keep me encouraged! 😉
Miranda says
I am somewhere around 13 weeks with my 5th. Just in the last week I feel capable of schooling my 2 oldest without laying my head down from time to time. What a wonderful thing to have a little more energy to complete my tasks. I found out yesterday that I can have a midwife for this delivery – first time there’s been one available in my northern Canadian town, hurray!
I enjoy your writing so much and love hearing about your life! Your posts are an encouragement and so uplifting!
Jen says
Tomorrow I will be 26 weeks with #4 and I am feeling it these days. I (baby) seem to have had a growth spurt these last few weeks because suddenly my clothes (maternity clothes…) aren’t really fitting so nicely and moving around is getting tricky. I don’t have DR but I do get huge and I am definitely getting the “ARE YOU SURE…” comments. And the “Wow! You are huge!” comments. Sometimes it’s funny and sometimes it’s not. BUT, I feel baby moving more and more and I know he is doing well in there, so it’s all good 🙂
Kelly says
I am currently pregnant with baby #12 and have only been diagnosed with Gestation Diabetes with my last pregnancy and this one. I think more of us will be diagnosed with the newer testing guidelines but you are definitely right…Trim Healthy Mama to the rescue. I actually only discovered THM because of my GD diagnosis with my last pregnancy. So thankful for THM to help me not feel so deprived.
Amy says
I think you are right about the new guidelines. If nothing else, it will keep me accountable over the holidays!
Rebekah B. says
I, too, enjoy your pregnancy posts. I am 36 weeks and feeling my contractions becoming increasingly stronger. That’s normal for me, though. I have passed my sugar tests, but I’m like you as I watch my sugar and try to stay away, far away from any processed foods. Besides our granola in the morning, which I use honey in, that’s the only sugar I pop in my mouth. And it’s hard sometimes! I love my breads, sweets, etc., but once I get it out of my system for a few days, it’s easier. I always try to eat a lot healthier during my pregnancies (this is #8) and keep my weight down as much as possible. I feel much better during and after pregnancy when I do this. Thanks for the updates!
Amy says
I agree – I need to keep at the forefront of my mind that I feel soooo much better when I eat right!
Melinda Johnson says
awww, I feel so huge, too, age 22 weeks! I started out overweight for the first time (this is my fourth pregnancy) and feel like I’m more like 30 weeks. Thankfully, I haven’t gotten any negative comments though. I also love pregnancy but it’s been a tough one so far. I will probably not pass my gestational diabetes either. I had it with #2 and #3 but it was diet controlled since it was only slightly above average. It can be done!! And I know you have the discipline to do it. You’ll get a meter and need to be consistent with testing, but it isn’t that bad, really. Like you said, Trim Healthy Mama should be VERY helpful with this. You can do it, Mama!!! Praying you the rest of the way through!!! – Melinda J.
Tanya-Lilyofthevalley says
Pregnant with baby #8 here and I’ll be 38 weeks tomorrow. Today I received the good news from my midwife that I’m GBS negative! Yay!!
I feel huge and am ready to have this little one anytime, I’d like to have labor behind me.
Sorry about your test results though… 🙁 That would be disappointing!
Amy says
I’ve been GBS positive 2x – hoping to “pass” that test this time! Congrats to you!
Tanya-Lilyofthevalley says
I was positive the past 2 pregnancies, so I’m really happy about that this time. I do hope you “pass” this time too!
Ava says
I am one of those women who does not look pregnant until the very end of my pregnancy. As nice as it is sometimes to carry so small, it has started to irritate me all the comments of disbelief when I tell people my due date and they say I don’t look like I’m going to be due that soon. This especially bothers me because my 2nd was too small and so it scares me that one of my other pregnancies will be similar. So, it definitely goes both ways. My husband and I have decided we’re going to enjoy my size for all it’s worth next pregnancy and not tell anyone and then see how long it takes everyone to guess. I’m looking forward to it!
Amy says
Yet another example of why people should just not say anything, but be encouraging no matter your size! You don’t need more to think about and worry about.
Klecia says
That’s what I did with baby number 4 – most people at church only noticed when I had a month to go (I had him over 2 weeks early). There were some that were shocked when I showed up at church with a new bub ha;) They came up to me and said they didn’t know I was pregnant (I am about 30kg (66lbs) overweight, so that probably had a lot to do with it).
Becky says
Right there with you! I’m 33 weeks, and just got told by someone I’d met perhaps a minute or two before that, “Wow! You’re big for how far along you are,” as she proceeded to pat me on the back. (Please don’t touch me, lady. I don’t know you.) I was polite. (But possibly only because I don’t usually think up good responses to things like this until it’s too late to use them!) 😉
Miranda says
I am due just a couple weeks before you, on Dec. 4 and I always get really big as well. I start hearing the twins comments around 6 months usually. It’s funny the looks people give me when I tell them how much longer I still have. Good to know I’m not the only one 🙂
Jennifer Dewing says
I am 17 weeks with #9. I have typically been one who doesn’t get very big, either. I’m tall and not thin, with ample room for the baby to “hide” right in the middle. Not this time around! I look every bit as if I was 30 weeks instead. I guess my body just knows what to do…. other than that, I’m feeling alright. If I could kick this cold that’s hung around for the past 8 weeks, I’d be great!
Karyn says
I’ve had high blood sugars with five out of my six pregnancies (I don’t do the glucose test, I just monitor with the home meter). I’ve managed to stay off medication just through diet (cutting out “white carbs” mostly) and all of the babies have been right around 8.5 pounds. So don’t worry about this – you can totally manage your sugars through diet alone. Glad you’re doing well, if tired.
R says
I’m 11 weeks along with out first and I’m already a little apprehensive about that test! But, my SIL had that with 2 pregnancies so far, and really, all she had to do was watch her diet. It never did get out of control. I hope yours will remain well under control for these last few weeks!
I love reading your updates!
Meghan B says
I’ll be 31 weeks tomorrow! This pregnancy has been a bit different than my first. While both have been awesome, this time around I have been on medicine for my thyroid after two miscarriages, exhaustion and other symptoms. Though I have slowed down some in the last two weeks, I have energy like I haven’t had since I was a kid. I remember being incredibly tired during my last pregnancy… 7pm bedtime… yes please! Because of my medicine I’m also so much more clear minded. Although after a bout of a stomach bug two weeks ago, I got a little b lazy with my medicine and itbreally hit me this week. I couldn’t think clearly and my emotions were all over… yes a normal pregnancy sign, but for me it’s a thyroid thing. Feeling soooo much more myself today after a few days of doing better with my meds.
I think the strangest thing has been how often I “forget” I’m pregnant throughout the day. Once I get moving, I forget the huge belly until I have to reach over in the van to pick up a fallen paper and I can hardly reach it.
Love being pregnant! What a gift! Congrats on the addition to your family. It will be all the richer for it!
Ps: we plan to have many children and it’s encouraging to hear you are pregnant at 37!
Amy says
Until a couple of weeks ago, I too would forget I was pregnant and run up and down the stairs before realizing I should probably slow down a bit! Congrats on Baby #2!
Kirsten Pankratz says
Well, since you asked…..Our 5th baby, 2nd son was born on Tuesday. He was posterior so it was a long slow labor but my midwife was able to get him to turn before being born. My labor was dragging out so much that my midwife went to check on a baby born the day before. Little Jimmy Ray decided to show up when she was gone! My husband did an awesome job coaching me through pushing and delivering our baby! We are both doing great and we are really enjoying having a new baby again!
Amy says
Wow! Congratulations!
shiloh says
I love hearing how your pregnancies are going. You are an inspiration to me Amy. I have 3 kids right now and struggle most days.
Heather says
Congrats on your newest/upcoming blessing. I just wanted to thank you for your blog and all of your resources for grieving families. Last year we held and said goodbye to two miscarried babies. It was the hardest thing I had ever endured but the things you wrote and God’s word and patience with me got me through those dark days. Your writings helped me restore my faith in God when I was questioning… God is good all the time…even when it doesn’t feel like it. I am writing this while our snoozing three week old daughter rests in my arms. God strengthened my faith and matured my understanding of Him through those losses and healed our broken hearts with this sweet blessing…All the time God is good. Thank you for your help in those difficult days.