33 weeks: Making his slow descent!
Well… I’ve started to “drop” a bit!
A few days ago I noticed that breathing became easier and walking became a lot harder. Bambino is kicking me (or head butting me) in some weird internal places that also doesn’t feel so nice. From the front I also look like I have this big beer gut. All along I’ve carried pretty much like there was a ball under my shirt, but now I notice that ball looks like it’s melting downward. It is so weird! I can fit 3 fingers flat below my chest before my belly gets in the way. Previously I could fit only 1. My friend told me I’ll be able to get my hand completely flat eventually and then I’ll know the baby has completely dropped. You can’t tell too much from the photo, but maybe a little bit?
33 week photo:
OK, so this picture doesn’t really show what I am talking about, but believe me it’s happening! Everyone who sees me says it, and I feel it.
The infamous blocks have finally failed us. There is no second #3!
I started a page with all of the belly pics and weekly updates for easy comparison. I still go to some of my favorite sites (most notably This Place Is Now A Home) to compare my belly this week to others. I did it more at the beginning, but I still do it now and again as it is fascinating. Some women at 25 weeks looked as big as I do now, and some at 33 weeks look like I did at 25. It is so cool how we all carry and progress differently.
One thing I haven’t shared with you yet is The Case of the Lumpy Belly. I didn’t know that pregnant bellies weren’t always round and smooth. My belly sometimes is completely lopsided, with bambino hanging out on the right side. Other times I look like I swallowed a huge bullet, with bambino’s cute bum popping out above my belly button right in the middle. My belly is sometimes nice and round, but when this baby is awake and kicking it takes on all sorts of shapes. That is something the books don’t tell you.
I have this daily anxiety now that I’m supposed to be doing something that I’m not. The hospital bag is as packed as it’s going to be right now, as everything else will need to be packed last minute (Kindle, chapstick, camera, etc). I have a pretty good to do list of other things that need to get done, but many of them can’t happen until the baby is here. Examples include new lounge clothes for myself and washing the bigger baby sized clothes (since I don’t know when he will fit into certain seasonal clothes). So I’m left kind of just randomly walking around the house looking for a project. I keep reorganizing drawers and things and I think I need to stop! Actually, I definitely need to stop because…
The crampiness and contractions have increased a bit. I don’t want this baby to come too early so I know I need to keep taking it easy. I still feel like he’s coming early.
This week’s actual to do list only has a few items: wash the cloth diapers, install the car seat base in PB’s car (since we will take his to the hospital with us), return a couple of things to the baby stores, find a cute nightgown for hospital photos (thanks for that tip Ame)… and that’s it. It’s too soon for freezer meal prep, and I have nothing else I can think of that I can do now. Please help me think of something so I don’t go crazy!
PB and I finally finished our living room after 2 years of searching for a new rug. I hated his rug because it was too light and left carpet dustballs everywhere even though I vacuum almost every day (I’m kind of crazy). After seeing Gina‘s gorgeous rug I knew we had to just bite the bullet and buy one. We went to Home Depot (of all places) to buy some supplies and decided to just browse the rug section. We found one we loved! It was delivered on Friday and made our weekend extra special. PB had superhero strength and managed to remove the old rug and replace the new one without any help and without room to really move out the furniture. Amazing. Isn’t it pretty?
We will eventually get new pillows just to change things up as I’ve had these for four years now. Since my taste is very expensive I am going to take my sweet time.
My husband has been especially incredible lately, rubbing my legs when they hurt (my IT band/sciatic nerve has been bothering me a lot lately), doing dishes, and overall being cheerful and very caring. When I cry he doesn’t call me dramatic and laugh, but instead gives me a big hug and tells me I’m beautiful. I’m lucky to have such a wonderful man in my life.
Here’s what Babycenter says about 33 weeks:
How your baby’s growing:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He’s rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren’t fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don’t entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.
When does the doctor estimate how big the baby is? Does everyone get that information or only people with complications? I feel like bambino is really long, but I have no thoughts on his weight. I know that a doctor’s estimates aren’t very accurate anyway, but I wonder if we will get one. He will definitely either be long and alien-like as I was, or normal and pudgy as PB was. In a few weeks he will be here and we will know!!!!
Just for fun, a completely gratuitous photo of bambino’s crib. Isn’t it lovely?
And his first set of clean laundry! I have a great baby laundry tip for the other first time moms out there.
Random thoughts of the week:
Weight gained in the last week: less than a lb, despite eating my weight in ice cream last night (THANK GOD. For both the ice cream and the normal weight gain.)
Overall weight gained: 33 lbs overall
Number of work days before maternity leave: 17. This information is notable because sitting in one position is no longer comfortable or bearable for me. Also, I try to squeeze in so much prep after work that I end up having tons of Braxton Hicks contractions and need to relax. I really don’t know how women work up until they go into labor. I know I won’t make it that long.
Current cravings: I really want a Rhode Island lobster dipped in butter. Also, New England clam chowder from one of my favorite spots in RI. Sadly I will have to wait for bambino to be born to enjoy either. No more visits to RI until then. I’m also craving ice cream again, as well as yogurt bombs. I couldn’t eat yogurt bombs for the whole second trimester, but now I really crave them again. Current favorite combination is either vanilla Stonyfield Farms yogurt or plain Fage 0% with strawberries, a few mini chocolate chips (like, a few), and some granola. It’s a delicious afternoon snack.
Previous weeks:
Week 32
Week 31
Week 30
Week 29
Week 28
Week 27
Week 26
Week 25
Week 24
Week 23
Week 22
Week 21
Week 20
Week 19
Week 18
Week 17
Week 16
Week 15
Week 14
28 Responses to “33 weeks: Making his slow descent!”
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S, you look truly beautiful. I can’t believe you’ve already come so far (though I recognize it probably doesn’t feel that way for you). Hoping I get get to sneak a peak at the last bit of belly at HLS. I saw Kath over the weekend and agreed that this could be the first of the Summit babies…we’re growing up:)
@To Kiss the Cook, Yay thanks lady! Can’t wait to see you in two weeks!
Yay for dropping! My maternity photos came AFTER I dropped and I was all sad because they don’t show how big the belly was π
Aren’t the crazy belly shapes strange? Have you been able to pick out body parts yet? That’s super strange. Also have you felt him turn? One night my whole belly went crazy and it was kind of painful in a weird way and Haun and I watched as Lu’s butt went from the bottom of my belly to the top. Crazy stuff!
@Chelsea, We never did official maternity photos. I kind of regret it already!
I only saw body parts two times so far. One time it was clearly his rump and another time it was definitely a foot or a hand because I saw all these little things swim by for a second. Bizarre!
I never felt him turn. He’s been hanging out head down for weeks now (thank goodness). BUT! I have felt him move from side to side a couple of times. It is the coolest AND weirdest feeling ever.
I dropped last week and didn’t notice it until I compared my weekly side shot photos- WOW what a difference! It’s very exciting π
I wonder if you’ll have your baby before me? I get a lot of BH and at my last appt my doc told me my cervix was already soft (at 35 weeks), but I feel like it could still be a while, but you seem to be close!
It’s going to be a fun and crazy next few weeks π
PS- lopsided bellies are my favorite!
@Brittany (A Healthy Slice of Life), When is your due date again? Mine is September 16! These updates are about a week behind so that I can write about what actually happened in that exact week.
My doctor hasn’t checked anything in a couple of visits. I’m curious to see if he’ll do a check on Monday. I am still feeling September 12th for some reason.
Are you breathing better now? I notice that I feel like I can breathe so deeply now. Such a weird feeling. I’m also waddling like a penguino ha.
@RhodeyGirlTests, I’m waddling, too π I’m 36 weeks today, due September 6, so we really aren’t far apart at all! I am breathing more easily and have a lot of pressure in my lower abdomen. baby D sometimes kicks my cervix and I feel like s/he is trying to escape!
There is a full moon on Sept 12, so it’s very likely you could have your baby then! My mom was a labor and delivery nurse and she said full moon nights were always super busy!
I have my next appt on Friday and am anxious to hear if I’ve made any progress, even though I know it doesn’t necessarily mean anything. When is your next appt?
@Brittany (A Healthy Slice of Life), Next appointment is Monday! I’m not positive he will do a check though.
And when I wrote that bambino was kicking me in weird internal places that’s exactly what I meant.. I feel like he’s trying to escape!
I’ve also had a lot of cramping.. less like BH and more like other types of cramps. You?
I’ve enjoyed your updates as I’m due about a month after you. We got the same crib. Wondering what mattress you decided on? (sorry if I missed it in a previous post) Also, does the wire part that supports the mattress move a little bit? Or did my husband do something wrong in the assembly process? π
@Ali, Congratulations to you!
We got one of the Naturepedic mattresses. It was $299.99 at Buy Buy Baby and we used a 20% off coupon. It’s kind of expensive for a crib mattress, but it is organic cotton and we figure we will use it for all the kiddies we hope to have. I know that with our crib all standard mattresses should fit.
The wire part does not move at all – I’d have your husband recheck his assembly work or make sure that all the parts are there and nothing is missing. My only complaint with the crib so far is that the wood is so light that I can move it easily. For example, when I was putting the bedding on the crib kept sliding around. We might put a rug underneath eventually.
Hope this helps.
@RhodeyGirlTests, Thanks! I really appreciate your response. Good to know a standard size fits as some of the online reviews of the crib mentioned some mattresses not fitting – and good to know about the coupons, too. Wish a Buy Buy Baby was closer, but a trip to NH from MA isn’t too bad. Will definitely check out the wire part again! Also, I keep a can of Bar Harbor clam chowder on our shelf and it’s good for a canned clam chowder! (I get it at Stop & Shop)
@Ali, Oh one more thing! Buy Buy Baby delivers. I ordered the same mattress for my dad’s house in RI. There is no BBB even remotely nearby. The shipping was like $20 but they let us use 2 coupons for that one for some reason. I had to call to use the coupons to order it.
And I didn’t read that about the crib. At least your know the Naturepedic size fits!
Loving these posts! I had no idea about the lumpy lopsided belly! Good to know π
Ah, Sabrina, I saw cans of Clam Chowder from the Black Pearl in Newport yesterday as I was preparing to depart T. F. Green. I should have picked one up for you. So happy to hear you’re doing well. Keep it up, girl – your in the homestretch!
Hugs!
I’ve been having mild period-like cramps at times. My doctor raised an eyebrow and this, but I told him they aren’t consistent and he wasn’t too concerned once I said I hadn’t had any bleeding.
You can always ask them to check. They should do your strep b test soon, and usually check then because you’ll be undressed anyways.
And I asked my doc about pitocin after delivery and he said it’s standard practice, so I’ll get it, too. Who knew?! Like you said though, baby will be out, so I don’t mind π
I love that feeling when the baby drops and you can breathe a bit easier again. But then hate that anxiety you were talking about. I felt the same way since I’m such a planner and control freak.
Looking good girl! Hang in there! Ask your Dr about the weight! They will try to give you their best guess. My doctor was spot on. The crib looks fantastic. And love that the man is so supportive.
You look beautiful and ready for bambino! Enjoy the next few weeks with a little down town! You and PB should do a some last dinner dates as a family of 2, treat your self to a mani/pedi, go to the movies, or have a movie night at home just savor the last few weeks.
I, too, love that every pregnancy is different- including the way women carry! I just find that so fascinating:-).
Thank you for passing on the tip about laundry! I don’t think I ever would have thought of that on my own. Looks like I have a lot less to wash (at one time) now :-).
You look fabulous!! Love the new belly pics tab! Very convenient for belly pic stalkers like myself!! I think we’re about the same size/height so I am always stalking your pictures trying to guess when I will finally look like I’m having a baby!
I love the crib! Where did you get it?
Thanks for the shout out! I STILL look back at my belly photos and ooh and ahh at them. And I so, so, so look forward to making more of them someday. It is so cool to see everyone’s bodies change.
If you “feel” like you’re going to go early, you very well might!!! I kept having that nagging feeling, and once the doc started checking me (around 36 weeks, I think), she confirmed that I was right. And I went 1.5 weeks early. So listen to your bod and put your feet up for a few weeks.
ENJOY the last few weeks!!!
OMG sabrina! Two things: you look GORGEOUS! And two…VERY funny. JUST yesterday I FINALLY went on a mad search for those baby blocks- MAD search… and today, there’s the link! love that idea- getting them for a friend! Hope you are well and cant wait to see Bambino!
Not that I know anything on this subject aside from observation but I think you’re going to go early π Yes! A HLS baby would be amazing!! I hope I get to see you (and bambino) next weekend!
I never knew that about the “lumpy baby belly!” Thank you for sharing! I’m now at 16.5 weeks, and I’m finally starting to pop a little bit. I’m so eager to really show because right now this miracle still doesn’t feel real. It’s the first time in my life I’ve wanted a bigger belly . . . LOL.
Congrats on 33 weeks! I am feeling a little baffled at 30 weeks this week! Ack! I am really really trying not to waddle despite what my mom says that it is not lady-like! Ha ha. LIke I can help it! Hospital bag, hospital bag. I don’t have that done yet, but I did decided today before reading your post not to wash anymore past 3months clothing for baby girl. Makes sense! Thanks for your beautiful pictures!
So close! I’m so excited to “meet” the bambino π After I had the baby, I had to have my Mom buy me some granny panties to bring to the hospital. One reason was because all my tiny low-rise underwear would hit my scar and it hurt. Another reason, and this would apply to non-csection mamas, would be because the post partum sanitary napkins you have to wear (and definitely need!) are NO JOKE. They are H.U.G.E. They’ll give you mesh underwear to wear at the hospital but they are a PITA and I wanted some regular underwear. Nobody ever told me this, so I’m passing it on to you, LOL. I rocked the granny panties for a good month after my delivery, so it might be a good idea to have some on hand π
You look fabulous! Can’t believe it’s getting closer and closer!