38 weeks

Well, its official. Stretch marks have over taken my belly!!!

As of yesterday to be exact. Once again I'm amazed at the changes a women's body goes through during this process.

Yesterday morning I woke up and did my daily belly inspection. Nope, no stretch marks.

At 1 pm I hopped into the shower (yes working from home allows for odd grooming hours) and low and behold I had red marks all along the bottom of my belly. It took place in a matter of hours and not simply one mark popping up a mark at a time (as I would have expected) but a whole slew of them all at once.

By the evening they started to fade already and a part of me thought that maybe it was a heat rash from the extreme heat we've been having (38 degrees indoors and out).

This morning, yup, they're there but ironically not very prominent. Seems the first day the skin doesn't like it much but adjusts accordingly. Still, I have a few weeks to go yet so who knows what they'll look like in the next 14-21 days.

On another note. Anyone who's interested in wondering if the expensive creams work. I'm going to go out on a limb and say no - it truly is genetic.

My mother got them (not sure of the details).
My oldest sister got them around 38 weeks - they arrived 'over night' and were timed with the dropping of my niece. No cream was used
My other sister got them at ~37 weeks. Again, I believe they came on fast and quick. No cream was used.

Me, I got them at exactly 37 weeks and 6 days all the while applying a cream "sworn by a friend" who of course never got a mark. I'm guessing neither did her mother who didn't use cream.

Either way I have worked hard for these badges of honour and even if the cream gave me a few extra weeks of a mark free belly I'll happily sport these marks knowing that they equate to a big and healthy baby growing.

I'll try to get back on for an updated belly shot.

Here goes. Updated late but better late than never.

My belly actually looks quite 'small'. Definitely better hidden with a shirt that doesn't conform to each and every bump.

36 weeks 5 days

The end is nigh!!!

Ok, maybe not but a girl can always hope right???

As I near the magical 37 week mark (the point where the baby is considered full term) I can't help but wish this was finally over.

Not for any other reason than I WANT to know if there will be a healthy, (hopefully happy), crying (yes, I know oxymoron to happy), baby in our arms.

After all, this pregnancy has almost been TOO GOOD. Absolutely NO complications or problems and that in itself causes me more fear than if things were just a bit off kilter. Like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Part of me feels like I've figured out Karma's plan to get my guard down only to kick me when I'm down. But I ain't falling for it!!! ;)

...Ok, so its now 3 days later and I'm finally finishing this post. Oh, and I'm relieved to say that this pregnancy is not longer "perfect" - whew!!

Our last OB appointment I have been confirmed as Strep B positive. Yup, I have a bacteria (Group B Streptococcus to be exact). Though it can make delivery just a tad more complicated, I'm ironically very relieved to have it. It has created that 'bit off kilter' feel that I was looking for to allow me to think that this pregnancy isn't too good to be true. The good thing is I have the best possible strain of Strep B - if there is a 'good' strain.

So what does this mean. Not much. It simply means I'm put on antibiotics for delivery - an IV I think, so while I've been there done that before, it does minimize some of the freedom I would otherwise have if I didn't carry the bacteria (ie no cartwheels down the hospital halls to help speed up labour).

Mmm, not much else to update but here, finally!! is the lone maternity picture we have thus far.

35w 2d

Ha ha, I'm back, with my foot in my mouth. Only 2 days previously I was walking the walk as I didn't have any stretchmarks.

Yesterday we noticed our first stretch mark - right where my naval ring used to be.

Oh well, I think at 35 I'm too old for naval rings anyway - and really, I think the chances of getting a flat enough belly to wear one is no longer an option (as the last 8 years have proven).

Otherwise Dwayne and I did our maternity photos today. We went out to one of the local lakes for some scenic shots (since come on, we know that we're not that exciting to look at thus we need background and atmosphere). It was absolutely beautiful out today and from the few our photographer showed us, the background and area was amazing.

Of course, when we have a few to show we'll share.

35 weeks

There's not much to report at this time, I simply figured its been a while since we checked in so I should at least pop on here and let everyone know that we're still plugging along.

I'm happy to report that I'm huge (I even have the photos to prove it) and even more happy to say that so far no stretch marks. Not that getting stretch marks is a big deal but hey, if I can escape unscathed then great. If not, then I'll consider myself lucky that I made it far enough to have earned those badges of honour.

I can honestly say that this pregnancy has been pretty easy. Nothing major to complain about - though I still have 5 weeks to go so I may be counting my blessings a bit early here.

We recently took a trip out to Saskatchewan (last week) and until then I didn't suffer from any swelling. The plane ride took care of that and since then I've noticed that the swelling has stuck around usually rearing its head in the evenings after I've been up and about all day. Dwayne and I did invest in some athlete compression socks and though I'd probably be fine without them, the fashion guru in me loves wearing them (especially with shorts - and no you won't be seeing pics of them).

For now, I'll leave you with a wonderful belly shot from yesterday (34w6d). For the record, with over 5 weeks to go I'm bigger then two women I have recently met who were due imminently. The doc says I'm only measuring two weeks ahead but then that means both of them were measuring about 5 weeks behind :).

No worries though - I'm loving every stinking minute of it!!