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Hello, friends! I am 39 weeks pregnant this week and on pins and needles waiting for this baby to come! Seriously! Last Wednesday, I had a cervical exam and the doctor was convinced that I was going to go into labor soon – he told me to be prepared because it could be any minute!! So Chris and I have been on the edge of our seats waiting for me to go into labor… but it hasn’t happened, yet! (If you follow me on Instagram, I will update you guys on stories when it’s time.) Anyway, I wanted to write a third trimester update like I did for my first pregnancy! I definitely think the first and third trimesters are the hardest, wouldn’t you mamas agree?

Let’s get to it!

Q: Are you using a doula?

Yes we are using the same doula that we had with Kennedy! I loved having our doula Jessica in the room during Kennedy’s birth. A doula acts as an advocate for the mother and offers both physical and emotional support throughout the pregnancy and birth experience. There’s no guarantee that I will get *my* doctor at our birth, so having a friendly face in the room is SO nice and makes me feel so much more confident! She is also there to advocate for my wants/needs and to make sure that my birth plan wishes are carried out (for example, this time I want to delay cord clamping until the umbilical cord stops pulsating, and Jessica will make sure that happens!). Our doula also happens to be a lactation consultant, so she is going to work with us after the baby gets here to ensure that breastfeeding goes well.

Q: What’s your set up for the first few months with a newborn? Bassinet?

We bought the Halo bassinet to use with Kennedy and we are going to use it again! We keep it right by the bed in our master bedroom to make breastfeeding during the night as easy as possible – all I have to do is lean over in bed and pick her up out of the bassinet to feed her. We plan to keep her in the bassinet for the first three months!

Q: Are you re-using Kennedy’s baby clothes for the new baby?

Yes! We kept almost every single item of Kennedy’s (unless it got soiled/had stains) so we have a lot of clothes that we will be able to re-use. On that note, we really did not need to buy very much for this baby at all! We already had a newborn car seat, stroller, bouncer, lounger… and anything else you can think of haha. It has been nice not to worry about buying all new things!

Q: Are you getting another epidural?

Yes, I plan to! You guys know that I am all about living a “non-toxic” lifestyle and I want to go into labor/give birth with as little medical intervention as possible. However… I am all about the epidural! I really appreciated how my first birth experience was so calm and peaceful (thanks to the epidural) and, in my research, it does not pose any risk to the baby at all. I will gladly get an epidural again to have another calm birthing experience!

Q: Best comfy panties and PJs for third trimester?

For underwear, I love Hanky Panky! This is the only underwear I wear, pregnant or not pregnant. They stretch with you as your belly grows and then shrink back in the washing machine. For pajamas, I have been wearing these sleep shorts and oversized T-shirts (usually my husband’s). I have given up on wearing cute pajamas to bed because none of them fit. Haha.

Q: What were the differences between your pregnancies?

This pregnancy has been MUCH tougher, physically, than my last one. The main reason for this is because I’ve been chasing around a toddler! I don’t think you realize the physical (and mental) toll this can take until you’re doing it, haha. It’s exhausting! Aside from being really tired, I feel like the physical symptoms have been worse this time around. My stomach is bigger, I’ve gained more weight, my acid reflux is worse, my bladder symptoms are worse, etc! I had to see a pelvic floor my entire pregnancy because I can barely make it 30 minutes without having to pee.

Q: Helpful tips for acid reflux? Did not get it until third trimester and it’s terrible!

Acid reflux is the worst!!! There were several weeks of pregnancy that I felt absolutely miserable because of acid reflux – I even lost my voice a few times from the acid burning my throat so badly! I think the first step is to keep a food diary and see what “triggers” your symptoms. For me, pizza (specifically Papa Johns) and eating a lot of sugar/chocolate triggers my acid reflux. It’s also triggered if I don’t eat for a long period of time and then have a huge meal. To combat this, I eat lots of small meals/snacks throughout the day and never let myself get too hungry. I do allow myself to have dessert, but only at night after dinner and not during the day! I also noticed that tight clothing on my stomach would cause me to feel symptoms… especially tight leggings. When I’m really suffering, my doctor said I could take Pepcid AC or Tums…. I made sure that these were always in my medicine cabinet but only took them if I felt like I really needed it!

Q: Were you fatigued your entire pregnancy? I feel like I can’t catch a break the second time!

I have been fatigued a lot of pregnancy, yes! I did get a burst of energy in my second trimester, which I’m extremely thankful for. The second trimester was definitely my easiest one and the time period that I felt the best! This pregnancy is definitely much harder. During my first pregnancy, I was able to lay down or take a break when I felt like I needed it… whereas with a toddler, that is pretty much impossible! I’ve had a lot of days in my third trimester where I feel extremely fatigued and crawl in bed right after putting Kennedy to sleep (at 8pm!).

Q: Who will watch Kennedy when you go into labor?

We plan to call my brother immediately (he lives five minutes away). He is great with Kennedy and knows her routine and is more than capable of taking care of her for a few hours! We also plan to notify my mom and dad right away – they are going to come stay at our house with Kennedy, but they will need a few hours to get their stuff together and make the drive up from Charlotte. So my brother will watch her until my parents can come over and relieve him, haha.

Q: Does your body feel more ready for labor and delivery this time around?

100% yes! With Kennedy, I came in to get induced past my due date and was 75% effaced and 2 cm dilated – that is exactly what I was at 38 weeks this time! I don’t know how to describe it, but my body just feels… ready? The baby is soooo low, she was already at a -2 station last week and I literally have to pee every 15 minutes. I’ve also been having a ton of Braxton Hicks contractions, and they get stronger every night… so I think my body is preparing for the real thing!

Q: Can you still pick up Kennedy? Is it hard to hold her?

I can still pick Kennedy up, but only for short periods of time. I don’t really have hips anymore to carry her, haha, so she ends up kind of resting on my stomach and it’s painful! Instead of carrying her around the house, I get down on her level and play with her on the floor.

Q: What are you putting on your postpartum care cart?

I bought this cart from Amazon and plan to use it for breastfeeding and newborn necessities… and the best part is that it can roll around the house with me from room to room! On the top level I plan to keep my Stanley water bottle, snacks, and my Haakaa. On the middle level I want to keep baby necessities like diapers, wipes, burp cloths and pacifiers. And the bottom I was thinking my pump and/or pump parts!

Q: Do you get leg cramps? What helps?

Yes, I’ve gotten a few leg cramps this pregnancy! I find that electrolytes (specifically magnesium) help with muscle cramps. I like adding both LMNT packets and these unflavored ones to my water… or I take a bath with these magnesium bath salts! This blog post was really educational and helpful for learning about electrolytes during pregnancy.

Okay I think that’s it for your questions! Always happy to answer more in the comment section if you got ’em! 🙂