Keeping Up With The Bump | Week 31

Eek! It’s week 31 which means the weekly countdown is officially in single numbers. I am so, so excited. And scared. But more excited.

What’s Happening To You In Week 31?

You are growing, growing, growing! You’re headed for another growth spurt, especially as last week all of your energy was going on brain growth. You weigh roughly 3.5lbs, which is about the same as a coconut, and are about 16 inches crown to heel. Fat is starting to accumulate thick and fast now so you should be plumped up like a turkey ready for Christmas by the time you come out, though I hope you’re not that big!

You’re making lots of movements and I’m sure I can feel you doing somersaults, I’ve got lumps and bumps all over the place where your limbs are and I’m pretty sure you were playing tootsie with me last night, because I’m sure I could feel your foot. While you’ve mostly favoured the left side up until now, this week you’re favouring the right side, which is the same side as Toby, and you’re right up in my ribs again with the occasional poke of my bladder – which, by the way, is really starting to hurt, so please get off!

What’s Happening To Mummy In Week 31?

It’s not really been a good week for me. Your brother and Daddy have both been poorly, and it’s my job to look after them both, as well as trying to carry you around and do all the other mummy stuff I have to do. Maybe this would have been a better week for a meltdown instead of last week, but the show must go on! I think I’ve been getting some Braxton Hicks (practice contractions) as my belly goes really tight and uncomfortable, although completely painless, for about a minute. It tends to happen more in the evenings than during the day – but I’m so busy I don’t take much notice.

Sorry if TMI, but I’ve started getting a bit of colostrum now, which means my boobies are getting ready to feed you day and night! It also means I might need a bigger maternity bra because the ones I have are super tight and I’m quite tempted to walk around braless most days. I’ve also started making a mental list about things I need to get for my hospital bag. It’s obviously going to be a bit different this time as I know I’ll be having a caesarean, so those knickers need to be super granny pants for a start.

The second thing I really ought to start thinking about properly is my birth preference. One of my lovely midwife friends has suggested I go in and speak to one of the supervisor midwives to discuss, realistically, what I would be able to do. However, it’s finding the time to do that, so I think it’s probably easier for me to write in my preferences and discuss them at my pre-op meeting and maybe with my actual midwife who I get to see on Monday morning.

I keep feeling like the sciatica is slowly getting worse, I’m definitely looking forward to that going! Some days I don’t have it at all, but I can usually feel that familiar tug in the evening. Luckily, I’ve been given the chance to review a pregnancy pillow by the lovely people over at PregnancyPillows, so I’m hoping to make some serious use of that, instead of a pillow between my legs.

The last thing for me this week is keeping a close eye on any indication that I could be going into pre-term labour. I am so convinced that you are coming early because I keep dreaming about it. I’m on red alert so should probably start packing that bag!

Here we are at week 31 and I look so tired!

Keeping Up With The Bump | Week 32