Pregnancy Diaries - week 38

Hi again, I thought id better write this now because I have been having contractions all night and not sure how much longer I'll be pregnant for!.

Im 38 weeks and 5 days pregnant!.

This week has been the hardest of all for me so far, I think its because Im so close to meeting for little baby yet at times I feel like its never going to end.

I went through the "Nesting" phase a couple of days ago.. even tho physically I was so tired I had to urge to clean my house each room at a time and make sure everything was ready and in place for the arrival of my little bub. The nesting phase is completely normal and can happen anytime during the last trimester of your pregnancy. Even my partner experienced the nesting bug and he has been a clean freak for the last week... Just remember not to wear your self out too much lol.

My body has been hard at work this week preparing me for the upcoming labour. I have been having more regular and more painful Braxton Hicks, this helps to strenghten your muscels and prepare your body for labour. I have also had an increase in bowle movements and have been feeling alot more pressure on my bowel and bladder. This is from the baby decending further down into my pelvis.

My breasts have been a bit tender too and my nipples have been very sensitive, They have already started to produce "colostrum" also known as beestings or first milk or "immune milk").

There is a high chance my baby could be born this week, signs to show your in early labour are -

The "show" appears, this is the mucus plug that blocked the cervix, it can look like a blob of semen and may have streaks of blood in it, labout can start days after this happens so dont rush of to the hospital just yet.

You have increased bowel pressure.

Contractions become regular and more painful.

If your water breaks call you midwife or go to the hospital strait away!!.

See this advice for more info http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1678/Labour-Signs-Could-I-Be-In-Early-Labour/#609691

The most important this is to get as much sleep as you can, I know its hard to do but eveen ten min naps here and there help because when you do go into labour you will need all the energy u can get!.

There are some things you can do to bring on labour or hurry it up a little, I have found being intimate with your partner works really well as do long walks or walking up stairs... you could go for a bumpy ride in a car and try drinking raspberry leaf tea too.

well... Im off to go for a walk to see if the contractions I had last night will kick back in, if not there will be a week 39 to write about lol.

thanks for reading.

xoxox

 written by angela parker