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36 Week Pregnancy Update + Tips

I’m sharing my 36 week pregnancy update and a few tips for you in your last few weeks of pregnancy!

I got to see our little guy today and my goodness is he big! He’s already weighing in at 6.5 pounds (about a week ahead of schedule with a head that is almost two weeks ahead of schedule). He moved around for most of the ultrasound, which was no surprise and it was so fun to see how his cheeks have filled out and how his hair has started to grow!

 

36 week update

thirty-six weeks! crazy. 
 

Favorite Moments: Going over our tentative birth plan with Ben…well, more like talking through birth together. I was planning to add taking a hospital tour together but this whole “not getting out of bed for three days and feeling like death” thing got in the way of a few of our plans.

People were right about the low immune system in pregnancy letting you get sick all the time. Mostly it’s been a slight runny nose but this week has been killer. But hey, at least it’s me sick and not the baby, right? 

Eating: Bell peppers and apples (ever single day). I certainly don’t eat completely healthy all the time but pregnancy has certainly brought out the best in my eating habits. Late at night I’d almost always rather have an apple than ice cream (bizarre, I know).

Feeling: So excited! For Christmas, for my family to visit, and for the baby to get here (and occasionally wondering if it will be in that order).

Names: We’ve finally come up with a short list of names that we have liked for more than two weeks (which is a record so far for us) but I think we’ll wait until we actually meet this little guy before deciding what he’ll be called the rest of his life.

Craving: I’ve been loving the smell of auto mechanics and home improvement stores (hello fresh cut lumber and new rubber). There haven’t been many food changes but this smell thing is powerful. If they made new tire smell perfume, I’d wear it at this point.

Weight Gain: 35-40 pounds. And I remember wondering how in the world I’d gain the weight the doctor expected.

Missing Anything: Sleeping for more than a few hours at a time – but it’s good practice right?

Aches or Pains: My body is definitely trying to adjust to a baby this size and there is still plenty of the back pain I’ve been having for the past few months. But, while overall it’s getting worse, the end is so close that it seems a lot better than it did months ago.

Maternity Clothes: Some of those don’t even fit anymore! It’s a good thing there are only a few weeks left.

 

My Mood: This week I’ve just been grateful for Ben, exhausted, and a little overwhelmed. But I chalk that up to being sick and not to being pregnant. I had a slight scare at the doctors last week when they reviewed my blood work and sent me over to a hemotologist because they were “very worried about my platelets.” Platelets help your blood clot, so having them is kind of important for someone going into labor. Turns out, the specialist found my levels to be just a tiny bit below normal and wasn’t worried in the least (thank goodness – but the two days before my specialist appointment were a little uncertain).

Exercise: Being sick means walking to the fridge and drinking water count as exercise. I have been trying to do a bit more stretching? I’ll be better this week.

Excited About: FOUR WEEK COUNTDOWN! Except realistically, I have to be ready for it to happen just about anytime now. So my question is, how do you prepare for it to happen anytime, but not mentally let yourself think it’s happening for another four weeks? Impossible.

Little guy, come whenever you want. Although maybe you should let us pick up that carseat first 😉

Tips for your final weeks:

  1. Start stockpiling everything you need for baby (check out this list of household items to stock up on to make the first few months with baby easier).
  2. Schedule a few final date nights
  3. Take a minute and write down some thoughts and feelings (these are my favorite pregnancy + baby journals!)
  4. Take a nap (but really, take ALL the naps)
  5. Read up on post partum changes no one tells you about
  6. Make a plan for your delivery and check out these tips on how to get the most out of your hospital stay 

So you’re 36 weeks pregnant? Congratulations! Have you stockpiled these household essentials for when baby arrives? 

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5 Comments

  1. Oh my gosh, that belly of yours is gorgeous! I can't wait for you to meet your little guy!

  2. Amazing pictures, Bella. Aw yeah! You're getting close. Best wishes!! 🙂