At 34 weeks pregnant with her second baby, this mum shares an honest Pregnancy Journal update on pain, gratitude, toddler life and counting down to birth.
Guest Pregnancy Journal: 34 Weeks Pregnant – Second Pregnancy
Week: 34
My baby is the size of a: Butternut squash (and feeling like it).
My weight: 70kg. I was incredibly sick for the first four months but lucky not to have put on any weight so far… win win, lose win?
Cravings: Birth.
Symptoms: PGP, SPD, reflux and fatigue.
I’ve been feeling: Increasingly desperate to give birth. I’ve come to appreciate the difference between not enjoying pregnancy and still feeling incredibly grateful and excited to meet my new small human. I felt guilty for not appreciating this pregnancy the way I did the first time, but I’ve realised this experience has been so far from easy that I don’t need to enjoy something so difficult to still feel grateful and full of love for my baby.
My partner has been: So supportive. He has really taken on more of the parenting for our toddler and encourages me to rest and take care of myself. He’s been empathetic towards pains that are foreign to him – hip pain and feeling huge.
I’m most nervous about: Juggling a two year old and a newborn through everyday life. Who gets out of the car first? Who goes to bed first? How do you food shop with a toddler and a newborn?
This week I learned: Heart palpitations can be a normal side effect of pregnancy. They are unsettling but common due to increased blood volume, especially in the third trimester.
Something I need to get done: I’ve been Simone Anderson-level organised this time, so I think I have everything covered besides packing the car.
The most surprising thing about being pregnant: How different each pregnancy can be for the same person. This pregnancy is nothing like my last, even though they are both girls.
How I’m going with diet, exercise, sleep and stress: Pregnancy insomnia has well and truly kicked in. Exercise mostly consists of running after a two year old and physio for pain management.
If I could say anything to my baby right now it would be: I absolutely love and adore you. I can’t wait to meet you, to discover how much extra love we are capable of, and to see you and your sister together.
If after reading this you’d be happy to share your own experience of pregnancy, please email megan@forgetmenotjournals.com to receive one of these pages, or send a photo of your own pregnancy journal.
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More third trimester reflections:
- 34 Weeks Pregnant – 11 Months Apart
- 35 Weeks Pregnant – Second Pregnancy
- 36 Weeks Pregnant – Second Baby
- 38 Weeks Pregnant – First Time Mum
- 41 Weeks Pregnant – Guest Journal
Document your own journey with the Pregnancy Journal – Made With Love, and continue the story with the Baby Book – Your First Years.