Sweater: Oversized Sweater, comes in 4 colors, also available here | Jeans: Maternity Jeans, and non-maternity version here | Boots: Blue Suede Corsa Boots, more colors here | Bag: Woven Tote Bag, also love this size | Sunglasses: Leonard Sunglasses

This week has felt so different than the past few weeks, but in a really good way. I’m officially 38 weeks pregnant today and all of the things that had been causing my stress and anxiety the past few weeks are in the past, which I’m so grateful for because it’s made sleeping a reality again!

Life right now feels a bit like a waiting game. After my doctor’s appointment last week, they said that the baby was sitting very very low and things were starting to progress, but nothing crazy. My doctor also said that they’re really bad at predicting when a baby will actually come and just to be ready because it could literally happen at anytime! I’ve been planning less each day and allowing myself ample opportunity to rest, do pre-natal yoga and go for walks.

Update at 38 Weeks Pregnant

What I’m Loving

Yoga

My workout routine had fallen to the wayside the past two weeks because I was so busy checking things off my list. That being said, all those to-dos, definitely gave me a workout. This week I’ve been focusing on getting calm and zen. It rained all day Monday, so I did a little work, talked to my mom and then did some pre-natal yoga and squats (I’ve heard this can help things move along!).

Yoga has always been a huge stress reliever for me, so I’m finding it really beneficial and relaxing. The reminder to breathe slowly will hopefully come in handy too!

Meditation

As much as I love how I feel when I’m regularly meditating, I don’t make it a priority and I really wish that I did. Since my days are less jam-packed, I’ve been meditating again and I think it’s been helping keep me calm and helping my sleep better. Again, there’s a big focus on breathing that I hope will come in handy come game time! I use the Headspace app and there’s actually a pregnancy pack that I’ve been doing and enjoying.

My To-Do List

A few weeks ago I mentioned a mega pre-birth to-do list that I made. It had everything from blog posts, to Blogging for Keeps posts, to freelance design work and of course, things that needed to happen before the little dude arrives. I’m so so so thankful that I made that list because it didn’t leave any loose ends. Best of all, it’s pretty much done! I’m still working on a few blog posts, but everything that had to get done before hand is done.

Prepping for Baby

The Nursery

It’s complete, and just needs a tenant! It looks so cute and cozy and I can’t wait to share pictures with you guys in a few weeks. Technically, he won’t sleep in there for the first few weeks, but having it done makes everything feel real and makes me feel less anxious and more excited for his arrival.

Car Seat

Last weekend we installed our the base for car seat. I thought it was going to be complicated and take a while, but it was the simplest thing ever. We have the UppaBaby Mesa car seat and it literally took about three minutes to install. That was one of the last things on my list and I’m so happy it’s done!

Cleaning

Along with installing the car seat and hanging up artwork in the nursery, I cleaned like crazy this weekend. I took out so many boxes that had been stacked up, vacuumed, cleaned out my office, organized a closet and tidied up our bedroom. To say nesting has kicked in is an understatement.

Reorganizing

This is the last thing I have on my to-do list and it’s not one that I’m really all that concerned about right now. But, I need to reorganize our kitchen a bit to make room in a drawer for bottles and other baby-related kitchen items. We have some pretty open shelving in our kitchen, so I’m planning on moving some small plates and bowls onto those to make room in a drawer, but it’s not super high on my list right now.

What I’m Wearing

Oversized Sweaters

It finally feels like fall, and I finally switched over my summer to fall clothes. One thing I hadn’t thought about was that most of my sweaters are not that long, ha! I ordered this one recently and it’s oversized and super cozy! Do know that it purposely runs big though and I’m wearing an XS here, so there’s no need to order a size up! I love the neckline. It’s like a funnel neck so it keeps your neck warm, but it’s not quite as thick as a typical turtleneck sweater would be. Also, it comes in four other colors—I really love the black too!

Sweaters I Love

Jeans and Stretchy Pants

One of the biggest perks about being pregnant through the summer was that I could just throw on a loose dress each day. Now that it’s cold, jeans, sweatpants or yoga pants are my only options. And, you know what? Putting on any pair of pants (and shoes for that matter) is a real struggle when you have a watermelon attached to your midsection. I’ll be happy to wear normal pants again simply because they’re so much easier to put on!

Oh, and if you need a little laugh today—last week, I was putting on a pair of heels with an skinny ankle strap and it seriously took me 10 minutes to get them on because I couldn’t see the clasp!

How & What I’m Feeling

Contractions, Pains, Etc.

For the longest time I wasn’t sure if I was having Braxton Hicks contractions or not, but finally confirmed that the tightening of my stomach at random intervals throughout the day was in fact a Braxton Hicks contraction. If you’re not familiar with them, they’re essentially fake or warm-up contractions that aren’t painful, but prep your body for the real thing. They don’t hurt, but they can be a bit uncomfortable as it pushes on my ribs a bit.

I’ve also had a few pains in my hips and pelvis that the doctor said was due to the baby moving lower. It sort of feels like lightening and doesn’t last long, but can be relatively painful.

Last Sunday, I woke up to what I think was a real contraction. Unlike the Braxton Hicks ones, this really hurt—bad enough to wake me up from a deep sleep. It wasn’t just my abs that hurt either, my whole lower back cramped up too! Essentially, it felt like really really bad period cramps (sorry if this is TMI!). It went away not too long after it started and I haven’t had any more like this so far!

My 38 week appointment is today, so I’m looking forward to seeing if anything else has happened since last week!

Exhaustion

In my 36 week pregnancy update, I complained about not being able to sleep very well. I’d be sooo tired, but then I’d get in bed and just lay there. Looking back, I think I was stressed about all the things that needed to get done. After finishing up a ton of stuff this weekend, I feel so much more prepared and calm and it’s made sleeping so much easier. I’ve been falling asleep and staying asleep longer.

But, even though I’m getting more sleep, I’m still pretty tired. Going up and down the stairs feels like I’ve run a marathon and I find myself winded by the end of my morning and afternoon walks with Oliver (and Oliver does not walk fast!). I know it’s all normal and I’ve been going easy on myself all week by sleeping late, laying down when I feel like it and going to bed earlier than normal.

Waiting

I think every pregnant gal has a tough time “waiting”—especially when it’s your first and you’re totally clueless about how life is about to change in such a major way. I have vivid dreams about my water breaking or being in the hospital and even lots of dreams where I’m at the beach in a bikini and I’m no longer pregnant, haha! It’s sort of funny, but definitely tells me that it’s pretty much all that’s on my brain right now!

I also find myself thinking about when and how I’ll go into labor—will my water break? Will I just start having contractions? Is it going to happen tonight or three weeks from now?! No one knows the answer, but I can’t help but think about it!
 
How were you feeling around this time of your pregnancy? This will probably be the last pregnancy update, but if you ever have any questions, feel free to ask! I’ve loved connecting with you other soon-to-be mamas and hearing from those who already have kiddos!

BTW, 36 week pregnancy update, and how to incorporate natural skincare into your routine.