Tag Archives: 36 weeks

36 Weeks Pregnant

Today I’m officially 36 week pregnant and baby is the size of a large cantaloupe. Nothing like feeling gigantic and then being told you are carrying a gigantic fruit-sized baby within you. Baby boy weighs 6 pounds and is 18-22 inches long (approximately), and this is how I feel:
Most days, I still feel pretty good but a few days a week I wake up knowing I’m not going to be able to do squat all day. These days usually follow a restless night of tossing and turning due to continuous Braxton Hicks contractions and crampiness, which my midwife assures me is normal (they don’t get worse or time-able, they just exist and cause discomfort). Apparently, my uterus is irritable after being pregnant the first time around and is doing these things in preparation for the baby’s birth. The muscle memory is strong with this one because even on good nights I have a ton of BH and crazy movement. I’m taking a Natural Calm Calcium-Magnesium supplement which is supposed to help with muscle relaxation and make these false contractions more bearable. It also assists with replenishing these vitamins that that baby is usurping from me.


I’ve also had some hip and back pain from carrying an additional 30 pounds or so, and from my joints relaxing in preparation for labor. Needless to say, I’m ready to have this baby, but know he has to stay on the inside at least another week so I can birth him at Breath of Life (at 37 weeks), and would prefer him to stay a little longer so he can get fatter with greater brain development. I have 28 days until my due date, and I’m officially counting down each day (singing “It’s the Final Countdown” Gob Bluth-magician style).


I’m also struggling with how I’m going to be a great mom to two kids, and this hypothetical can drive a person crazy. Obviously, I’m going to do my best, and love them both, and eventually I’ll figure out a rhythm to parenting two, but it’s going to be a challenge at first. I get sad when I think how Henry and I won’t be a two-person team during our days, because I love him too much, but he is such a caring kid I know we will be fine and we will both love his baby brother so hard.


When I’m feeling overwhelmed with all these pregnancy emotions, I try to make a list of all the ways this pregnancy is awesome so I’ll leave you all with my non-comprehensive list:

  • My hair, nails, and skin look amazing – definitely my best ever, and I don’t even have to do anything. 
  • I’m still Body Pumping at the gym, with much lighter weights. I feel incredibly strong and capable of having this baby naturally because of it (in part).
  • My feet and ankles are not swollen.
  • I don’t have any stretch marks.
  • Most people (the kind ones) tell me I’m all belly, meaning the baby weight isn’t all over my body.
  • My baby boy kicks and moves so often, he’s always letting me know he is doing well so I have little anxiety over his well-being.
  • Prenatal yoga calms me despite being the hardest yoga I’ve ever done. I’m never taking my natural flexibility for granted after trying to do yoga while pregnant.
  • I’m able to become pregnant easily, and remain pregnant until full-term with no complications. I realize not everyone is so fortunate.
  • This is my last pregnancy, and soon my body will be my own again. I’m doing my best to savor these last few weeks of pregnancy despite disliking the alien-feeling inside. Keith tells me I’ve completed 17 out of 18 months of being successfully pregnant, and this helps (for some reason).
  • I have an amazing husband and son who love me. For this, I’m eternally grateful and happy.