Pregnancy Update: 32 Weeks

Okay, ladies... we are in the final homestretch and I can't believe it. Here are my 32 weeks pregnancy stats!

32 Week Doc Appointment

Went to the doctor today. I must say, my doctor's visits during this third pregnancy are very uneventful. I feel like I walk into the room and the doctor and I sort of stare at each other, mulling over what to talk about without having much to say. Overall, I am thankful for that, just getting myself to the doctor is a bit annoying at this point. But yes, everything is looking healthy, which I am overly grateful for. General stats: my blood pressure was 104/64 and my weight gain was around 25 pounds. I hoped to weigh a little less at this point, but what is a girl to do. I am pretty on track to maintain a 35 pound pregnancy weight gain if I can hold it together, which I assume that I can. If not, whatever!
One noteworthy update is that the doctor said I was measuring at 31 weeks rather than at 32 weeks. I was slightly annoyed by this because no woman likes to measure on the smaller side. For starters, no pregnant woman likes to think that her due date will be even further out of reach. And secondly, I just don't like the idea of having a small baby. I'm not used to it because my boys were all high 8, low 9 pounders. The idea of a "small" baby just doesn't sit right with me for a multitude of reasons. Not only that, but my doctor changed my due date at my 12 week scan, pushing it earlier. I kind of argued with her, telling her that my cycles were 32 days and so my due date was probably later, if anything. But she corrected me, and said it would be a good idea to move up the due date by several days. Instead of September 15th, the due date was now going to be September 10th.
After she adjust my due date, the thought settled in and I was actually excited that my due date was going to be earlier, because like all women, I want to go into labor sooner rather than later (so long as baby is full-term). Now fast forward to today, and the doc is saying that I am measuring at 31 weeks rather than 32 weeks, and I'm kind of like, well, if y'all wouldn't have changed my due date, we would have been right on time!
And then, she added on top of that, that the baby might be smaller? Smaller? I thought. No, no. I don't birth small babies. Rhett was 8 pounds 13 ounces and Vance was 9 pounds 3 ounces. The whole small baby thing isn't part of my genetic code. Needless to say, I left the appointment a bit baffled. So I took it to Instagram and texted friends their experiences.
I think the general plan at this point is to see how the baby is measuring at my 36 week ultrasound. If the baby is measuring at least 7 to 8 pounds, I am going to opt for my membranes to be swept at 39 weeks. If the baby is measuring smaller, I will go ahead and wait until 40 weeks. The reason I want my membranes swept is because I opted out during my last pregnancy and ended up having to be induced at 41 weeks, and had a 9 lbs 3 oz baby! I slightly fear that I'll have a 10 pound baby this time, which is totally fine so long as I can still have a vaginal birth. I only worry if I wait too long that the risk of a big baby will make a candidate for a c section. So ya, I am trying to be somewhat strategic about my birth plan.

Fitness and Diet

Getting my seven day a week workouts in, and feeling great! Well, I say feeling "great", but I most definitely feel like a pregnant woman trying to workout. It is not nearly close to the same as working out while not pregnant. My lower back hurts, I am less coordinated, I get round ligament pain and sometimes Braxton Hicks or regular contractions with certain body movements. On top of that, I am unable to do some of the workouts that I love, such as running and spin. I also have to modify quite a few exercises for safety purposes, such as ab workouts and the like. But aside from this, which I am trying not to complain, just to illustrate that I am DEFINITELY modifying my workouts to suit my pregnant body, I feel very proud of myself for maintaining a workout routine on a daily basis and fully promote that the benefits far outweigh the risks.
My favorite workouts at this point are step class and tabata. On the weekends, when I don't go to a workout class, I do a Kayla workout with my husband. I highly recommend workout CLASSES for pregnant mamas. Personally, it motivates me to go to the gym and to finish a workout. It also leads me into something I probably wouldn't otherwise do. And I can drop my kids off at childcare. Anyways, I feel SO good after my workout; the endorphin rush is amazing. I feel energized through the day until about 2pm when I start to slow down.

My diet is faring well. I am trying to hold it together, but it does get more difficult in the third trimester. I feel hungrier and also bigger. I am focusing on feeding baby, making sure I eat regularly but not too much in one setting so that I don't ignite acid reflux, which has been present in the third trimester. 

Upcoming Trips

On Wednesday, the boys and I leave for California to celebrate my sister's baby shower - yay! Not only am I excited to talk all things baby with her, I'm excited that this trip will change up the pace and hopefully make these last few weeks of pregnancy go by a bit faster. From California, we then fly to Colorado with my parents - and are there for another 8 or 9 days. Then, we fly home and then a few days later fly out to Park City with my husband's family! Whoa. So much travel. But honestly, those final weeks of pregnancy tend to drag and I am so thankful that I will have travel to keep me busy. I just hope I am able to maintain my diet and exercise routine while on the road.

Boy or Girl

Okay, so I was TOTALLY boy mode for pretty much my entire pregnancy, but now that the doctor says that the baby is measuring smaller, I think there is a chance it could be a baby girl. To be honest, having a girl has me all anxious! HA! I really don't know why. I honestly just have feelings of anxiety around having a girl, even though I would love a girl. I feel a little more comfortable with the idea of having a boy for some reason. I know that when the baby gets here and we realize what he or she is, everything will feel perfect, but I cannot deny these feelings! Again, my feelings don't dictate preference; they are just to show my natural reaction to a pregnancy. We would be over the moon (for different reasons) with either gender!!

That's all for now, mamas! Stay tuned for these final pregnancy updates!

xo,

​Brooke