Pregnancy Update: Month 7

By  |  16 Comments

i am officially in my third trimester and i feel like i ended up here quicker than a one hit wonder spends his money!

today actually marks my 31st week of pregnancy so entering the 8th month (!). my 7th month was so far one of my favorite ones. my energy was consistently up for the most part, my belly was obviously pregnant but not so huge that i knocked things off tables and i finally got the whole ‘pregnant on the beach‘ thing down!

HIGHLIGHTS

  • once i hit 27 weeks, her chance of survival should she be born early jumps to 85% – what a relief!
  • getting to see our besties in portland get surprise married (and other friends there)!
  • having friends and my family members all feel her move and very distinctly
  • her kicks and punches getting more defined and stronger (i prefer this feeling to the little flutters and swooshes from the month previous)
  • continuing to compare notes with my sister, who is experiencing a very different pregnancy than me (remember – bursts of joy!?)
  • finally got our registry together (we opted for target but not my most favorite process and not sure i’d recommend it)
  • my husband put his ear to my stomach and could hear her heart beating at 28 weeks!
  • getting to visit my in-laws on the beach before they move here next month!
  • had my glucose testing and didn’t get a call so that means i’m in the clear YAY!

ryan and chelsea avery beach

LOWLIGHTS

  • sleep and i are no longer friends
  • the heat is completely zapping me and making me feel sick
  • air travel is so not my favorite but i will say it’s way better to fly to florida from denver rather than portland! i appear to be much more susceptible to motion sickness and turbulence while pregnant. ugh.

STRANGE/INTERESTING FACTS

  • stretch marks are mainly hereditary so no amount of creams will prevent them if it’s in your family’s history (but the cream will help with itchy skin due to stretching)
  • baby starts entering REM sleep at week 28 so i’m already certain she is dreaming BIG!
  • she is starting to regulate her own temperature by week 30
  • most women gain 1-3 pounds in their breasts (i’m on that low end but i’ll take it!)
  • because pregnant women have 40-50% more blood than non-pregnant people, that adds 3-4 pounds of our weight gain (isn’t that insane?!)
  • by 30 weeks, she is measuring around 17 inches (WHAT) and weighs around 3 pounds!
  • each week after 30 week, she will gain 1/2 pound each week (which means i’ll be gaining about 1 pound)

SYMPTOMS

  • remember those commercials in the 2000s about ‘restless leg syndrome?’ well, karma is getting me for making fun of those because i have it and it is weird and irritating. when i go to lay down, my feet sometimes feel like there is in invisible string inside them and forces them to jerk and just feel gross internally. it’s so weird.
  • heartburn is to be expected pretty much every night the instant my head hits my double-stacked pillows
  • i am averaging about 4 hours of sleep a night – thanks insomnia and heartburn
  • it’s quite odd to already have a belly and then still get bloated on top of that #huge
  • she now kicks my bladder frequently – those kegels are paying off because i haven’t peed anywhere i’m not supposed to (yet)
  • my nose is stuffy every night, which is yet another pregnancy symptom
  • i have retired my wedding rings for the time being because it causes too much anxiety to try to get them off as my fingers randomly swell

AVERSIONS

less intense about this but we just changed sugar’s wet dog food and the new one made me gag.

CRAVINGS

this month i’ve been on a salt kick. maybe i should just invest in a salt rock, keep it at my desk and give it a few licks throughout the day. that’s how much i want it.

i also totally overindulged at my in-laws in florida because my mother-in-law is a fabulous cook so now i’m craving her cookies again!

beach cookie real

MOVEMENT

this month her movements have been insane! it is getting much more distinct so that i can feel either a long arm or leg! i have even felt her little imprint of a foot kicking the crap out of my insides. it’s pretty bizarre to look down and see my stomach wiggling and moving and having a mind of its own, which i suppose it technically does!

it was around week 26 that my husband put his hand on my stomach and she moved BIG time. he pulled away his hand and with wide eyes said “there is someone in there!!!”

WORKOUTS

i did what i believe was my last jog for a few months. since i ran (not far and not fast) before i got pregnant, my midwife said it’s fine to continue with it right up until the end but it’s just not comfortable. my lungs can no longer expand enough and the joints in my pelvis are loosening up for the big day so it hurts.
instead i have been going for at least a 3 mile walk two times a week and then doing weight and leg exercises on other days as well as some prenatal yoga. i have almost already gained all the weight i’m ‘supposed to’ (they say gaining between 25-35 pounds is healthy) so trying to make working out a priority while i still feel good!
7 months pregnant

MISSING ANYTHING

  • sleep, glorious sleep
  • not having heartburn
  • my clothes fitting
  • regulating my own temperature in the heat

LOOKING FORWARD TO

  • figuring out what position she is in in my belly!
  • my husband is currently home for a full 2 weeks – yay!
  • continuing with our childbirthing classes!

want to not do whatever you are supposed to be doing and read about my earlier month progression? i have you covered:

first trimester (month 1-3)

month four

month five

month six

16 Comments

  1. Nina @ Hugs and Lattes

    June 29, 2016 at 9:03 am

    LOL I love the end where you say “Not wanting to do whatever you’re supposed to be doing?” Totally at work right now. Yikes. Restless Leg Syndrome sounds MISERABLE and absolutely uncomfortable. This was a fun update, though! I’ve heard the 2nd trimester is the best and then you settle into the 3rd and you’re just ready to meet your little one!
    Nina @ Hugs and Lattes recently posted…Cold Feet

    • chelsea

      June 29, 2016 at 1:59 pm

      haha glad that made you chuckle. restless leg syndrome is no joke (though the name is absurd) it’s SO weird! my husband is always like “what’s going on?! why are you doing that?! what’s happening over there?!”

      yes i think what you’ve heard is spot on for me…we are getting super excited to meet her!

  2. Audrey

    June 29, 2016 at 10:42 am

    You know I absolutely love the update!! I can’t believe you’re at 8 months! How exciting for you guys! I am definitely not pregnant but I am now craving that chocolate chip cookie! It looks so gooood!!
    Audrey recently posted…Never Have I Ever…

    • chelsea

      June 29, 2016 at 2:01 pm

      yay! so glad you like these updates – thanks for saying so because i know it will be fun for me to look back at them too 🙂

      seriously – my MIL has a fierce reputation of the very best chocolate chips cookies. it’s almost unfair to all the other cookies!
      chelsea recently posted…Pregnancy Update: Month 7

  3. jenniferhastonsays

    June 29, 2016 at 1:25 pm

    Wow!! Eight months already!! Love the comparison to the “one hit wonder”- Actually at 27 weeks now and just now starting to feel our “queen” move- it’s the whoosh you noted but it’s definitely happening- How awesome for Ryan to hear her heartbeat. I joined the “Y” for the “non weight bearing exercise” of swimming and am walking weekly with my girls. It’s getting a little harder each week but am determined to “keep moving” as instructed by doctor and chiropractor
    and right now am glad that coconut oil is helping the “all over itch” but I have to say overall, I feel pretty good-
    So fun watching/reading about your journey!!

    • chelsea

      June 29, 2016 at 2:03 pm

      yes so wild! i just started on the 8th month so about 2 months left to go ahhhhh! love that you’re feeling your queen move jennifer – those wooshes are so funky and fun 🙂

      so glad you are keeping up with your exercising – well done! i am also telling myself that even if i don’t want to, i know there will come a day when i physically feel that i can’t so get a move on, chelso!

      oh that all over itch sounds horrible. glad the coconut oil is helping some! yay pregnant buddies!

  4. Courtney {Alkeks Abroad}

    June 30, 2016 at 6:22 am

    We are getting to the finish line!!! I’m so jealous of your workout routine. You look so good! I pretty much just do Pilates once a week since 28 weeks . I wish I could go on long walks but my pelvis disagrees. Also so jealous both sets of grandparents are going to be so close!
    Courtney {Alkeks Abroad} recently posted…A Quiet Brisbane Weekend

    • chelsea

      July 1, 2016 at 1:11 pm

      can you believe it courtney?! it’s blowing my mind. i feel you about that pelvis pain – i am lucky to have better days than others with that but what an odd and painful feeling! please do everything in your power to raise your little one with an australian accent while you’re there 🙂
      chelsea recently posted…Tell Me Something Good –

  5. Sara

    June 30, 2016 at 7:37 am

    It has been fun to follow your pregnancy updates. Will you be having a baby shower?
    Sara recently posted…Why Imperfection is Freedom

    • chelsea

      July 1, 2016 at 1:12 pm

      thank you for following along, sara! yes, my sister and i are having a joint baby shower in the beginning of august!

  6. Vivien

    June 30, 2016 at 1:22 pm

    Wow how time flies! Eight months 🙂

    • chelsea

      July 1, 2016 at 1:13 pm

      you’re telling me vivien! cannot believe i’ve started in on my 8th month!

  7. Pingback: Tell Me Something Good - • the new wifestyle

  8. Elyse

    July 14, 2016 at 12:23 pm

    You’re baby belly is seriously adorable, Chelsea! I can’t believe you’re already 30+ weeks!
    Elyse recently posted…Awkward and Awesome: Vancouver Edition

  9. Pingback: Pregnancy Update: Month 8 • the new wifestyle

  10. Pingback: Pregnancy Update: Month 9 • the new wifestyle