General Documenting Pregnancy Shoot VIII (38 Weeks / 19th January 2022)

(I’ve said before that I don’t like doing these shoots. I probably spent the longest on this one, and it’s still quite off. I’m a lot lower than I am in the other photos, but for my sanity I had to stop trying to get it right. I’m frustrated, but I’m also tired and 38 weeks pregnant so I’m going to let myself off – for now and then be annoyed about it for the rest of my life probably.)

#ThisIsTheMostPregnantIHaveEverBeenInMyLife #ThatSoundsDramaticButBWasBornByThisPoint

I could have wrote this as a hashtag with every picture when I was pregnant with B, but I didn’t. This just feels like major unknown territory now.

#ThisAlsoMayBeTheLastImageOfThisSubSeries #IDoNotImagineThatIWillStillBePregnantInTwoWeeksTimeButItIsPossible

Baby will come when baby is ready. I just want to know when that will be though!

#IStillFindItWeirdThatICouldBeAMotherOfTwoAnyDayNow

*Nervous laugh*

#IFeelMoreNervousThanIThinkIWasWithB

Definitely. I’m nervous for the birth too.

#PerhapsBecauseIKnowWhatIAmInForThisTimeAndTheNewbornStageIsSoIntense

Having to set alarms to wake up to feed the baby if they haven’t already woken you up etc.

#AndAsBWasBornBefore38WeeksIAmJustOnHighAlertNow

With B I thought I had more time, this time I am aware that I might not have.

#ICanNotSayThatIAmReallyLookingForwardToTheNewbornPhaseButIKnowItWillBeSoonBeOver

And I will be sad that I will never experience it again (I really do not want more than two kids).

#AtLeastBabyXWillNotWriggleLoadsWhileIChangeHerNappyOrDressHer

In the beginning anyways. I am so slow at dressing B to go out for walks as she keeps running off and I am too pregnant to be bothered to chase her etc.

#SheWillBeAsleepALotButTheFeedingIsJustSoDemandingAndIReallyHopeIFindItEasierThisTime #IGuessThatIsWhatIAmTheMostNervousAbout

I am nervous about breastfeeding. It is what it is. If the baby is bigger then maybe that might help?

#SomeoneToldMeThatTheirFriendsDaughterHadToWaitSixDaysForABedInTheHospital #ButIGuessThatWasForAnInductionOrSomethingAsWhenABabyIsComingTheyWillNotThenWaitForDaysAsThereIsNoBed

So I’m not that put off. If anything it will hopefully buy me more time if I do end up needing an induction…

#ThisWeekIWentToTheCoffeeShopByMyselfAndGotAHotChocolateAndSatInTheParkAndDrankIt

Mega stuff.

#ThatDoesNotSoundLikeMuchButThatWasTheFirstTimeIHaveDoneThatSinceBWasBornAndItCouldPossiblyBeTheLastTimeForALongTime

The weather was quite pleasant. I was going to read my book or something but I just enjoyed watching birds and things. Simple pleasures.

#DueToCovidAndBeingCautiousThereAreNotManyThingsThatIFeelLikeICanDoToMarkTheShortTimeLeftBetweenBeingAMotherOfOneAndAMotherOfTwo

So I am taking advantage of anything I can do.

#ISawSoManyGirlsWhoLookedToBeASimilarAgeToBWhenIWasSatOnTheBenchAndItMadeMeMissHer

I felt awkward smiling at them, but their grownups could probably see I was pregnant and no threat. I’m sure I had not seen any of them before when I’ve been with B…

#TheOtherNightSheWasTheMostMiserableIHadEverSeenHerAndItWasAwful

Yesterday she had her shoe balanced on her foot and brought it towards her face. It fell off and her face nearly made me cry, as she didn’t cry out but her lip was quivering and I felt awful (I’d been trying to put it on over two pairs of socks). This wasn’t why she was miserable though – I just thought about it.

#SheJustSeemsToNeverStopTeethingAndWasSoSadThatWeThoughtABathWouldCheerHerUp

She wasn’t eating much of dinner, she was moping about, and she loves baths.

#SheStartedOffHatingItAndBLovesBathsButThenTheIbuprofenWeGaveHerSeemedToKickInAndSheWasHappyAgain

Yeah, B LOVES baths.

#WeHaveBeenGivingHerParacetamolForAgesButHaveSwitchedToIbuprofen

I think the paracetamol doesn’t do much for her anymore, and I did notice a big molar cutting through the other day. She’s just dribbling constantly. Poor thing.

#BHasAFriendWhoWeSeeAtTheParkALotAndTheyNowHighFiveEachOtherWhichIsSoAdorable

I thought I might give birth there and then from all the oxytocin of seeing them high five.

#TheyAlsoClapForEachOtherWhenTheyGetToTheBottomOfTheSlideButTheyAlsoClapThemselves

Adorable.

#HerSleepingHasBeenOnAndOffButThenSoHasMine

Life is a fun game.

#SometimesIDoNotWantToGiveHerMedicineIfIAmNotSureIfSheNeedsItButThenSheWakesUpEarlyFromANapTeething

And I regret my decisions… This was two days ago. She really needed a nap as she had woken up early, and then only slept 40 minutes and wouldn’t sleep again. I didn’t have a nap and I was tired…

#ACoupleOfNightsLatelyIHaveNotBeenAbleToSleepBetweenThreeAndFive

It’s so frustrating as I know I need my sleep. I ended up reading a book. I tend to sleep the night after, but I just want to have as much energy as possible for labour.

#OrIJustWakeUpEveryHourOrSoAsICanNotSeemToGetComfortableAnymore

Turning over is painful. My hips just hurt. My back hurts right now.

#FourNightsAgoIHadALegCrampForTheFirstTimeInAWhileAndItWasMassive

I thought Tiago might think I was in labour or something, but he said afterwards that that never even crossed his mind. He forgets I’m pregnant half the time…

#IAmOverBeingPregnantButIAlsoHopeIHaveAFewMoreDaysAtLeast

I don’t want it to drag on too much longer, but I also want to have a bit more time to myself. Baby will come when baby is ready though.

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There are no comparison photos from now on, as B was born by this point so I have no photos of me pregnant past 37 and a half weeks…

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