Bump Update: Week 38

Hi friends. Are you a little confused?

Don't you worry, I didn't become pregnant all over again! 

On Friday, when I changed over to 38 weeks, we took a photo. I figure since I was 38 weeks pregnant for two days, I'd better go ahead and document/share prior to sharing about baby girl's birth. 

How Far Along:: 38 weeks.
 
Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of a pumpkin. I have not gained any weight at my last two office visits, though my stomach does seem to be expanding!

Gender:: Baby Girl!

Stretch Marks:: In the clear.
 
Sleep:: I can't say that it is non-existent, but I am definitely not sleeping a sound 9 hours like I once was. Granted, even when I was getting sound sleep, I was needing multiple bathroom breaks; now I am just up multiple times each night with the inability to get myself back to sleep!  I hear this is normal and just getting me prepared for the many restless nights ahead. 

On Sunday, I arose around my typical insomnia time of 3:30am. This morning's back pains and feelings were just DIFFERENT. After trying to get comfortable in our bedroom for over an hour, I announced that we needed to move downstairs to the family room. Well, we all know that a birth story began to develop shortly thereafter.

Fit Pregnancy:: We resumed exercise on Saturday! My diet had stayed pretty consistent though I did eat half the bag of Golden Graham S'mores mix which was basically Golden Graham cereal, marshmallow pieces, white chocolate chips, and dark chocolate drizzle. I can't even claim that it was a "healthy" snack mix option. I will not be purchasing it again!

Cravings:: Still thinking about that Jurassic World Dairy Queen blizzard from last week! And it was eaten on Friday night!!! Wonder if any of these treats got labor moving?!?

Miss Anything:: Any adult beverage sounds delicious!

Symptoms:: Back pains, mild 'menstrual-like' cramping, contractions, and just overall pressure down south! 

Belly Button In or Out:: Flat.

Movement:: It's beginning to get hard to distinguish her movement/stretching and contractions since they are both pretty uncomfortable.

Looking Forward To:: Little Miss Kemp's arrival. (She's here!)

Best Moment This Week:: Mimi's arrival!

Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Watch: Week 34

Yikes! This post is coming 2 days late! Today, I am 35 weeks! But, lets review week #34...

How Far Along:: 34
 
Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of a butternut squash.

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks:: Nope

Sleep:: No major changes!

Fit Pregnancy:: Sticking to modified workouts, walking and eating healthy foods (minus my nightly fruit bar/ice cream indulgence). I have been eating the fruit bars during the week and saving the more indulgent, frozen desserts for the weekend (Friday, Saturday & Sunday, lol)!

Cravings::Last weekend we bought an ice cream maker! Totally Coach's idea, not mine! I am always a fan of cold treats, and now we have easy access. This past weekend Coach made a traditional vanilla ice cream with cookie crumbles. We will transition to healthier options - coconut & almond milk ice cream - here shortly, but it's always healthier when you know the specific ingredients of your food! I too should add that Coach made the ice cream with no additional sugar and only 4 ingredients (including the crushed organic cookies)! I am glad this purchase was made later in my pregnancy verse right away though :) 

How I will manage these creamy desserts postpartum is another problem that I will tackle later!

Symptoms::Does frequent urination count as a "symptom?" By golly it should because the amount of times I frequent the bathroom is beyond absurd.I too am having sharp pains in my bladder after I relieve myself. At my appointment yesterday, the doctor determined that Little Miss Kemp is very low and pressing against all my organs. After I relieve my bladder, organs are re-adjusting themselves and this is the cause for my pain.

Belly Button In or Out::Still mostly flat with a small, top portion out.

Movement:: This girl does NOT stay still!

Best Moment of the Week:: Saturday the basketball wives hosted a baby shower for myself and Annika, the MBB Athletic Trainer. It was a great time at the OU Inn!  

Looking Forward To::We start weekly visits now! Yes, a little earlier since I turn over on Fridays and my appointments are scheduled on Thursdays. We will have our 36 week US next week when I am still technically one day shy of being 36 weeks pregnant! This too means that this baby is coming very shortly! Where's my to-do list!?!

Michelyn Cynthia

Redefining "Fit Pregnancy"

The last two weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind. One moment, I was feeling 100% perfect and then the next I am heading to the ER -- for the second time!

I was placed on a modified bed rest - oh my! You know, I was beginning to get a little over-confident about having such a smooth sailing pregnancy, and then a few roadblocks came my way. Over the last ten days, I questioned how people do this (i.e., pregnancy) multiple times, if my body can even handle pregnancy, if I was going to be a "prisoner" to my office chair/sofa/bed, and the list goes on... See, this is what happens when you put a woman on bed rest! She goes a little batty.

The good news! This momma-to-be has been released from her modified bed rest. Given that this is my first pregnancy, the doctor's are being cautious but they believe I have a dynamic cervix; meaning that it shortens and elongates more easily. (As an aside, cervixes, in general, are dynamic; however, they believe mine is more dynamic than average. This, again, is a hypothesis, there was no specific test administered, but the data trend of my cervix length would lead one to conclude this finding.) 

Little Miss Kemp, in the future, dancing away! Or, just celebrating that mommy is off bed rest!

I have been placed on a strict exercise regimen - 30 mins of slow walking/day. I too have been approved to continue with resistant band exercises, most of which I do from a seated position. Now one can find me with a band in hand while I peruse the internet online shop and read my blog roll!  My 30 mins of walking will include going to the grocery store, a walk with the dog, or walking on the treadmill (2.6 - 2.8 pace); and then it is time to sit, relax, and try to not push it too much!

If you have been following my weekly Bump Updates, this is a change to my previous exercise regime. I had some unease because I felt like I had, once again, failed in my vision for a "fit pregnancy." I previously wrote a post about my frustration with not feeling comfortable with running while pregnant (post here),though it was in my plans. Now the second curve ball came these past few days, and it was after my Fit To Be Pregnant feature which made me a little more dejected.

What is most important - following my vision of a "fit pregnancy" or a healthy baby?

A healthy baby, for sure, and this has always been my goal for my entire pregnancy. Over the last 8 months, my definition of having a fit, healthy pregnancy has surely evolved because my body has shown signs that it needs to slow down.

I am in no way shunning women that run throughout their entire pregnancy or those that are able to continue their regular/modified workouts without any issues. In contrast, I commend them. I too commend women that redefine their workout routine to accommodate their pregnancy.

I too had to remember that "fit pregnancy" is not only defined by activity level. Many fitness and health professionals actually state that the foods that one consumes is the most important factor in living a healthy lifestyle.

For the next 9 weeks, my goal is to focus on my diet, the foods that I consume, to continue on my quest for a "fit pregnancy."

What has been the best aspect of this whole ordeal?

The many ultra-sounds! Typically patients at my OB office have USs  between 8-12 weeks, 20 weeks, and then a final US at 36 weeks right before delivery. Well, Little Miss Kemp already likes the limelight because we have seen her "on the big screen" an additional four times! She is doing well, thriving, and wondering what is all the commotion about in that outside world. However, she always puts on a little show for the on-lookers - wonder where she gets that from?

 Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Watch: Week 29

How Far Along:: 29 weeks.
 
Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of an acorn squash.

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks:: I believe we are still in the clear.

Sleep:: Sleeping like a log :)

Exercise:: On a short, modified exercise plan, which entails a little more rest than activity. On Saturday, I over-exerted myself by walking on the treadmill for an extended period of time, and then followed this up with a shopping spree in Columbus with my mother. You know the saying "Shop til you Drop!?1" Well, I may have followed that to the letter. I was admitted in the ER overnight Saturday for monitoring, and have been instructed to rest. Basically, all of the activity agitated my cervix, shortening it, but it seems to be ok now. Most importantly, Little Miss Kemp was fine throughout the duration of the situation. She, of course, put on a little show for the nurses/doctors!

Cravings:: My mother's arrival means some home-baked desserts. She has baked some scrumptious oatmeal raisin bars and fudge! We shared some with the OU Athletic department as well!

Miss Anything:: CrossFit SEO

Symptoms:: Nope, feeling good!

Belly Button In or Out:: Still flat!

Movement:: Yes! The last two nights I have eaten desserts, and she is going to town. It actually is way uncomfortable as it almost feels like she is pushing her back-side outward. My whole stomach is lop-sided when she does this, lol. Hoping we go back to simple kicks here soon!

Best Worst Moment of the Week:: Visit to the ER!

Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Watch: Week 25

How Far Along:: 25 weeks

Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of a cauliflower!

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks:: If you been following for awhile then you are privy to my "secret formula!"

Sleep:: Sleeping like a log.

 Exercise::On Monday we went to the ER! I was diagnosed with gastroenteritis and pre-term labor/early contractions. I am feeling better today, and back to work but still very tired and lethargic. I am taking the remainder of the week off from the box!

Cravings::I am boring in this department though I still need to develop a list of must-haves while we are in Madison, WI.

Miss Anything::My back NOT hurting!

Symptoms:: Back aches/pain. I have made an appointment with a highly regarded OB-GYN D.O. for this coming Monday! D.O.'s specialize in OMM (osteopathic manipulative medicine), and I am hoping for whatever and all manipulations to get some back relief. 

Belly Button In or Out::In

Movement:: She has been a little more on the quiet side compared to last week, but then got more active on Monday night/Tuesday morning. The constant vomiting had her excited. 

Best Moment of the Week:: Coach and I attended a Lamaze Child Birth Class on Saturday and Sunday - 12 hours to be exact. Both of us would agree that it was the most well-spent 12 hours we have ever delegated to one task in a long while. If you are currently pregnant, I highly suggest that you take a Lamaze class, and I am not simply referring to the free hospital tours. Yes, we are doing that as well, but we both feel way more prepared for the birthing process as well as the first few days of baby's life!

On My Mind:: I am in disbelief that she will be arriving three months! Uhm, a person can train for a half marathon in three months! Eek - so much to do, so little time!

Looking Forward To:: My OB appointment on Thursday! While in the ER, many tests were run, even an ultra-sound. I just want to ensure all is still going ok with Little Miss Kemp. She was doing fine on Monday night, even showing off for the ultra-sound - doing flips, peek-a-boo, you name it!

Michelyn Cynthia