Today we are driving an hour outside of the cities to visit my best friend, her husband, and new baby boy! He was born very early Friday morning after my friend was induced at 41 weeks + 1 day Thursday morning. As you may (or may not) recall, my best friend and her husband started trying to conceive about 3 months before The Bee and I did. We didn't talk much about our struggles in the very beginning because neither of us wanted to believe that there was actually something preventing us from successfully getting pregnant, even though we were both secretly worried. By the summer and fall of 2011, we talked A LOT about what we were going through. We both started seeing specialists and we started e-mailing each other happy thoughts everyday to help us get through the tough times (usually these thoughts were things that we were thankful for or just silly things that brightened our days). I am so excited to finally meet her little miracle baby!
Yesterday I reached 39 weeks*. A co-worker of The Bee's, who has a 4-month-old, recently told him that the last month really, really sucks, so be prepared! That was about 4 weeks ago. I kind of laughed because I had been feeling pretty well still, but now I know what his co-worker meant! Ponyo is still moving a lot but there are fewer kicks and a lot more big stretches. Her space is becoming so limited. I am progressively becoming more uncomfortable. After not too many Braxton Hicks contractions Thursday and Friday (I am wondering if I was having them but was just too busy at work to really notice) I started having a ton again yesterday after The Bee and I got home from working in my classroom for a few hours. I am seriously considering talking to my principal tomorrow about starting my leave on Thursday.
That's cutting my teaching days short by 2 days of what I had planned. In reality, she could be born before then, but I think Wednesday is a perfect day to end on...I have school mass in the morning and then will teach one kindergarten class before
my long term sub comes in and finishes the day solo so I can get to my
doctor's appointment on time. That will have given us almost 5 full days
in the art room together for her to ask questions and for me to give
her any inside info on students and techniques that I use to keep things
running smoothly. She is very competent, so I know she will be fine
even if Ponyo decides to come tonight! My goal is Wednesday, though,
because of the nice short day and because my sub has an appointment in
the morning and can't come in until after the first class of the day. I
feel like I am being sort of a weakling by considering starting leave before my due
date, but it is hard to even make it to the bathroom easily at this
point (I walk so slow and it is all the way on the other side of the
school! I waddle there at the pace of a snail!) and I am not getting
very much sleep lately. I am sorry for being a whiner...I am thankful for these aches and pains because I know the end result will be so worth it! I still ache, though, and I still don't like having to waddle across the school just to use the bathroom during the school day! Regarding the bathroom, I am so incredibly lucky that my sub started shadowing me last week because on Friday I was able to take a bathroom break during a class that I normally couldn't have trusted alone!
*39 week photo posted under pregnancy tab
I was just like you and didn't think I would be uncomfortable the last month, and boy was I wrong! You are more than allowed to whine, because those last weeks were the WORST!!! I was lucky too that I had a co-teacher in my class for half the day so I could go to the restroom every half hour! Take your leave early! You will appreciate the time to rest before she arrives, if she doesn't come sooner. I'm so glad I got to rest before the babe arrived, because that first 2 weeks is incredibly hard with adjusting to a whole new schedule. Thankfully the last few weeks of pregnancy and the lack of sleep you get somewhat prepares you, too!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear your news and story of Ponyo's arrival!
I was miserable from Christmas on so I completely understand and so does every woman who has been pregnant. I'm glad Reagan was on board with my plan to work till the end of the year. We are getting a visit today from a BFF who was going to go the Dr this month due to issues conceiving but found out a few weeks ago that they are expecting. I am so excited for them!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for Ponyo to get here!!!!
I don't think you are a weakling at all :) we often make decisions about how long we plan to work in the beginning/middle of our pregnancies, having NO idea how we will actually feel toward the end... so I think it is normal see the reality of being 39 weeks pregnant and not want to push yourself too hard! I hope your principal is understanding if that's what you decide to do. Hope you are able to get some rest today!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about this last month business - people warned me too but it is hard to understand until you are in the midst of the worst of it! If your gut is telling you it might be time to stop working this week, then go for it! Sounds like you'd be in a good position to do so. Can't wait to hear more updates!
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