Making it through the last month of pregnancy

making it through the last month

So officially today I’m 36 + 2 weeks pregnant, around 4 weeks to go. This is the worse part of pregnancy – counting down and waiting. Officially 37 weeks is classed as full term, and Miss Baya made her appearance at 37+2 so it could be anytime in the next 4 weeks {though I’m praying it’s sooner rather than later!}

Just when you thought you couldn’t get any bigger… you do. Everyday things like, oh, walking, sleeping, getting up of the sofa, get that little bit harder ;) Add to that being asked twenty times every time you leave the house ‘How long left?’ and you begin to wish those last few weeks would just hurry up and be done with.

Whether it’s baby number one, four or eight, those last weeks drag on forever when all you want is a baby to cuddle. I’m trying to stop and remember that this little man will be here before I know it, and I’ll probably be wishing for just one more undisturbed night ;) Here are my tips for surviving these last few weeks:

Sleep {or at least rest}
OK. so sleep may not be the easiest to come by right now…. trying to get comfortable with a giant belly isn’t easy. Even with a maternity pillow and around every other throw pillow we have in the house wedged in around my body, I haven’t been sleeping great. I have to wake up to go pee, wake up to roll over, wake up because my back is hurting like billy-o…. Most nights I end up on the sofa, somehow with a pillow or two wedged in my back, as well as a hot-water bottle on just the right spot {lower left side fyi} then I can usually get comfortable enough to forget the back ache and doze back off for an hour or two. If sleep isn’t happening, then at least take it easy. If you can get a nap in the daytime, do it… an extra hour or two can make a huge difference. If you can’t get back to sleep at night, get yourself comfy and read a book until you feel sleepy again. IN a few weeks, when you have a newborn screaming at you all night long, you’ll be wishing you’d enjoyed these last few nights!

Pamper yourself
It’s hard to reach your legs to shave them, let alone paint your toes! Give yourself a treat and book in a pampering treat or two – a pregnancy massage, a pedicure, even just getting your hair done – or best yet, get some reflexology – it might just get labour beginning!

Do Nothing
I’ll admit, this is not something I’m good at. I have to be practically at death’s door to stop and do nothing… I like to be busy, and will keep on pushing and pushing myself. It’s easy to get so caught up in all the things that must be done before baby comes, that we forget to listen to our bodies and let them rest. While I still have three other kiddos to look after 24/7, a house to run and a business to run, my body needs me to slow down. Life will be even crazier with a newborn thrown into the mix, so now’s the time to rest! Read a book, watch a movie, take that nap….

Be prepared
While I’ve started stocking up our freezer with meals for after baby arrives, nows the time to make sure you have things ready. Baby clothes washed, nappies ready, hospital bag packed {even though I’m planning a homebirth, I have a bag packed with essentials for me and the baby just in case!}. Stock your freezer with some nutritious homemade meals, enusre your store cupboards are well stocked too. Then you can sit back and enjoy those first weeks with baby, instead of shopping or trying to feed everyone!

Schedule some quality time
If you have other kiddos, plan in a ‘date’ with each of them individually. A movie or a hot chocolate in a cafe… enjoy a little one-on-one time before there’s a baby demanding all of your attention. Likewise, now’s a good time to sneak in a date with your significant other. Go out for a meal, or a movie, or if you’re feeling really lazy, have a date night at home )

What are you top tips for surviving the last few weeks of pregnancy?

23 Comments

  1. Stephen

    November 26, 2014 at 09:45

    Wishing you all the very best with the end of your pregnancy, it sounds as though you have everything worked out!

  2. Sara-Jayne

    November 26, 2014 at 11:40

    My top tips? Hmm… I think the rest one was key, and just enjoying the time with your family before the big day. I also went and had my hair done, that made me feel happy!

  3. The Diary Of A Jewellery Lover

    November 26, 2014 at 12:19

    It won’t be long now! This is the most uncomfortable part I think. You sound prepared. Can’t wait to see a photo of the newborn :)

  4. Helen @ Witty Hoots

    November 26, 2014 at 12:38

    Hope that these last few weeks fly over for you. My top tips for the last few weeks of pregnancy are keep moving when you can, try to take time out for you – read a book or watch that DVD that you never get around to & delegate jobs to other people! Good luck :)

  5. Globalmouse

    November 26, 2014 at 12:43

    I really find the last few weeks the worse – not helped by the fact that I always go 2 weeks over my due date…so I don’t have any tips really, except to relax as much as possible which is always harder when you have other children. GOOD LUCK!!

  6. Kate Thompson

    November 26, 2014 at 12:54

    Great advice – but I was never any good at following the resting part! I love the silhouette photo, beautiful!

  7. Sarah Ebner

    November 26, 2014 at 18:06

    Great advice – hope you are following it yourself! I was really ill throughout my pregnancies, so just wanted to get them over and done with as soon as possible and feel back to some kind of normality…

  8. emma (My Little 3 and Me)

    November 26, 2014 at 20:45

    Great ideas. i think the first few weeks with baby are so tiring it’s good to rest now if you can. Good luck.

  9. Kathryn

    November 26, 2014 at 20:53

    Ah remember this well. I quite liked the fact it gave greig an excuse to paint my toenails.
    Hang in there! P.S. that photo of you is beautiful – you should print it out!

  10. agatapokutycka

    November 26, 2014 at 22:20

    I think you covered just about everything.
    Good Luck!

  11. Adele @ Circus Queen

    November 26, 2014 at 23:32

    Tried reflexology for the first time recently and loved it. They say that feeling well and truly fed up can be a sign of things getting going. That was certainly my experience with Ophelia. I suddenly had a sense of humour failure and within days things got going. Definitely worth taking extra care of yourself at this time.

  12. reread

    November 27, 2014 at 00:24

    Ughhhh – I hear you I’m 37 weeks tomorrow and I am SO over it. There is no more room in there for this little dude to fit and he’s a fidgety little thing. I want my body back NOW.

  13. Rachel

    November 27, 2014 at 09:38

    I hope you do get plenty of rest and some ‘me’ time before Beastie arrives x

  14. victoria thurgood

    November 27, 2014 at 14:15

    Im 36 weeks my little girl is due Christmas day I would love a full nights sleep or more than just 2 hours without needing a wee im lucky my two teenage boys are helping me out so much with washing up and house work this really helps

  15. Joanna Sormunen

    November 28, 2014 at 00:17

    I just couldn’t sleep during the last weeks of my bregnancy. It was so weird to be so tired and still not to be sleepy.

  16. VaiChin @RamblingThroughParenthood

    November 28, 2014 at 17:38

    My top tip would be to take it really easy and put your feet up as much as you can!

  17. laura

    November 29, 2014 at 10:04

    Wow how exciting especially since Baya came so soon – I remember really wish Mr A would come sooner rather than later because I was so breathless and tired in the last month – you have some great tips for getting through it though and I think resting and being prepared is key

    Laura x

  18. laura redburn

    November 29, 2014 at 19:15

    great tips, and i love that pHoto!

  19. Bek

    November 30, 2014 at 12:20

    I hope that you don’t have too much longer to wait. I remember those last few weeks all too well! Lots of great tips here. Get resting :-)

  20. Sylvia @ Happiness is homemade

    November 30, 2014 at 17:15

    I hope it all go quick and smooth! Good luck! x

  21. Katie Albury

    December 2, 2014 at 10:58

    So lovely…sounds like a very organised plan and probably so needed this time of year! x

  22. Emma

    December 2, 2014 at 11:51

    Can totally relate to the not being able to rest thing – but I always tell my pregnant friends to go swimming in the last weeks, it worked for me as I was doing something but it cleared me head and made me feel good at the same time!

  23. Lori

    December 2, 2014 at 23:00

    Oof i remember what no sleep was like towards the end! So uncomfortable,bless you not long now and you look amazing in that pic! x

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