Note: All previous weekly updates and pregnancy/baby-related blog posts may be found on the Pregnancy/Baby page located at the top of this blog.
Baby Updates
Baby is more than 16 inches long and weighs about 3.3 pounds… about the size of a large head of romaine lettuce.
I feel like I’m at the point where I am seeing such dramatic growth changes every week. My belly is poppin’!
Weight Gained
I didn’t weigh myself at 31 weeks, but at my 32-week prenatal appointment I was up about 20 pounds.
Workouts
Workouts this week included spinning, two strength workouts and Pure Barre!
Symptoms
I am definitely feeling shortness of breath kick in during activities that used to feel like a breeze for me. Walks with Sadie are more laborious than they have ever been before and I’m beginning to consider a 2.5 mile walk a decent cardio workout at this point! If I walk too fast or go up a hill, I will sometimes feel light cramping all along the outside of my belly (my doctor said this is round ligament pain) and just make sure to slow waaay down and drink lots of water when this happens.
I’ve also noticed a change in my appetite. I cannot seem to eat as much as I could before and prefer to eat frequent small meals since I seem to fill up fast. The image below showcasing the way organs shift during pregnancy kind of blew my mind but also made me realize my stomach may be a little squished at the moment which could explain why I seem to be feeling fuller faster these days.
Eating lots of small portions constantly is the key for me right now!
I’ve also been experiencing some pain in my left hip lately and have been trying to take some extra time each day to go through some of my favorite hip stretches. I’m not doing any high impact exercises and am doing my best to be cognizant of hip pain and baby my hips a bit. My doctor said hip pain is quite common during the third trimester and since my hips have been prone to injury and soreness in the past, I’m not overly surprised that I have some pain right now. My doctor said that if hip and lower back pain increase, I might benefit from a maternity support band, so that is on my radar.
And I’m HOT ALL THE TIME. Cannot. Stop. Sweating.
Food Aversions
None.
Food Cravings
Fresh fruit. Grapes and watermelon are my current favorites.
Sleep
Sleep is kind of miserable right now. I don’t feel like I am getting a good night’s sleep most nights. It’s not that I feel uncomfortable – I actually feel quite comfortable right now thanks to the Snoogle – but I feel like all of my sleep is “surface level” and I cannot seem to drift into a deep sleep. I hope this changes soon!
Looking Forward To…
Finishing up the nursery (we just have to hang some pictures!) and organizing the lovely gifts we received from my showers.
Right now everything we have received for our little guy is sitting in a big pile at the top of the stairs and the mess is taunting me every time I walk by…
Any Baby/Pregnancy-Related Purchases?
I kept one top from my latest maternity Stitch Fix and have been wearing it non-stop! It’s a Market & Spruce bright pink tee that’s nice and soft and highlights the belly in a way that’s still comfortable. I can’t find the exact one online, but this one is quite similar.
Belly Button In Or Out?
Popping out a little bit!
Feeling…
I love that my belly is noticeably pregnant now. It seems like no one is doubting that there’s a baby in there and 31 weeks marked the first time I had a stranger comment on my belly and say congratulations… and it happened on two separate occasions! I know many pregnant women talk about people awkwardly touching their belly, but so far I haven’t experienced any strange belly rubs from people I don’t know. And I really don’t mind at all when friends or family touch my belly.
I’ve also noticed that I will sometimes forget how far along I am right now. Whenever someone asks, I usually know right away, but there were a few times this week that I felt a little forgetful. I guess the weeks are beginning to run together! My doctor said this is the time when many women begin counting down (as in “9 weeks to go!”) rather than up (“I’m 31 weeks!”) and I definitely identify with that since I feel like I have a little mental countdown going on in my brain at the moment.
As far as how I’m handling body changes, I feel like I’m doing a decent job of rolling with everything. This may seem weird, but it’s almost like the bigger I get, the more I seem to embrace my belly and changing body. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel putting on swimsuit to wear in public with a big belly, but I actually felt fine! I have been wearing my pre-pregnancy bikinis during our time on the lake (only the ones that tie on the sides since they’re more accommodating) and don’t worry much about what others think of my belly. If anything, I feel the most self-conscious about changes to my body other than my growing belly, like thicker, softer arms and legs, but I know it’s all for such a wonderful reason and I’m doing my best to enjoy this incredible time. I feel very grateful for a healthy pregnancy so far!
I’m also still trying out how to dress myself during pregnancy. You’d think I’d have it all figured out 31 weeks in, but I’m just doing my best to wear clothes that are comfortable which means blousy, flowy tops and dresses are a personal favorite. I don’t mind highlighting my belly at all, but for the most part, I prefer looser-fitting clothing that is breezier and more lightweight as opposed to clothes that cling to me right now. This could definitely be due to the fact that I seem to get easily overheated right now!
Any Movement?
I am feeling constant movement these days and the movements seem to be getting stronger and stronger. Sometimes it will feel like our little guy is pushing out so hard on my belly… One side will be raised up and feel so tight and I feel like I can push back and feel teeny body parts right now which is totally crazy! I love feeling him dance around every day and don’t think the feeling will ever get old.
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Aww, I can relate to all of this SO much right now, and it resonates so much! (I am due 3 days before you.)
First of all, that picture! Wow! Baby really is squeezing everything else, huh?
Here’s what all resonates so much with me:
– hip / pelvic joint pain (I really have to be cautious about this one)
– walking 2-3 miles being a good cardio workout (especially in hilly San Francisco)
– being hot all the time
– constant baby movement
– belly button popping out
– GRAPES!!!!!!! I want allllll the grapes.
Congratulations on making it so far! I’m so glad everything seems to be going well for you, and I hope it continues that way! Best of luck 🙂
Congratulations to you, too!!! I hope your pregnancy is going well so far!
I LOVE your attitude toward your changing belly and body – all the power to ya my lady, you’re already the best mama for just letting your body change as it sees fit and making baby #1. He’s a lucky one :). xox
you’re a trooper for being this pregnant in nc during the summer. i’m from there, it’s sweltering.
I think I’m melting every single day… 🙂
looking good, mama!
Those internal diagrams are crazy – it’s amazing how the body adapts to organs being in brand new places!
I love your upbeat attitude about all the changes you have been experiencing! And go you for rocking your pre-pregnancy bikinis. You look awesome. 🙂
Girl I feel your pain! It’s already blistering hot here in Arkansas, with several 95* days already on tap. Ugh! It’s only going to be worse this summer too, and even though we’re only 22 weeks now, I imagine by the time I’m in the my 30 weeks, I’m going to be sweating bullets constantly!
Hip pain! Yes! Mine is more like my lower back/back of my pelvis around the back of my hips, if that makes sense. I look like an old woman every time I crawl out of my car!
You look so wonderful!! Just a few more weeks before you get to meet sweet baby boy!! Can’t wait to see what he looks like!! And of course I imagine you can’t wait either 😉
You’re getting so close! I totally remember feeling SO uncomfortable all the time around this stage- it’s just hard carrying that big belly along everywhere. I was so out of breath all the time and could barely fit any food in at mealtime. Also, I’m pretty sure the tight feeling you get when one side is raising up is Braxton-Hicks contractions. I got them constantly during my third trimester. They’re usually harmless but you should keep track of them…specifically if you get more than 3-4 in an hour. Also, if you do find them to be more frequent, lay down and drink a ton of water. That was what my doctor advised. The good thing, thought, is that they’re giving your uterus good practice at having contractions!
I’m definitely getting better about embracing my belly as I get further along. For a while it was that awkward stage of just looking thicker everywhere and I was self conscious about that. Not that people can tell, I don’t mind. I can relate to feeling more self conscious about getting larger other places, like my butt, thighs, and arms. Those are the not fun parts! Makes wearing shorts not fun at all.
You are looking beautiful!! I hope you start to get better sleep soon!
This just makes me smile! I love the updates. I have a gift for you, I need to get it in the mail!
i can totally relate to feeling more confident as I get farther along. I’m embracing the belly now that it’s getting rounder and more obviously pregnant.
I also crave cold fruit and basically all cold things! Seems to be a common pregnancy craving!
I am 31 weeks as well and I live in Phoenix, Arizona! It is. SO HOT. I purchased one of those awesome pool rafts that have a hole in the middle for your belly… It is a life changer during Summer pregnancy.
Best of luck!
I’ve never seen those rafts but I am off to Google it now… That sounds AMAZING!
I’m in Tucson so it’s slightly cooler, but the Phoenix heat is insane! Good luck this summer. I had my baby 2.5 months ago and am so glad he was due before summer (although the hot flashes do not go away for awhile sadly!)
Just gotta say- I have loved following along with your pregnancy! I cannot wait for you to meet your little guy Julie!
I highly recommend you get a prenatal massage and visit a chiropractor. Not only will it help with all that hip discomfort it will help you with labor as that gets closer!!
I love reading these updates! I recommend going to a chiropractor a few months after delivery. I didn’t, & 2 years later, after dealing with low back/hip/pelvic pain & seeing a bunch of specialists, I’ve finally learned that my pelvis is shifted higher & rotated back on one side, & rotated forward on the other, all thanks to everything shifting around during pregnancy & delivery & not going back into alignment as it should. I imagine a quick visit or 2 to the chiropractor early on could have prevented this, but now my muscles have grown accustomed to being out of alignment. Just hoping to spare someone else this trouble!
PS, I sent you a Facebook message, not sure if you saw it yet, but it’s probably in your “Other” messages folder since we aren’t FB friends.
thanks for sharing this!! i’ll definitely keep it in mind!
Your attitude is the best! I know what you mean- being pregnant is making me more confident and I care less about how I look, I’m more into how I feel! Which I think is a great mental shift. 🙂
You look great!
Hang in there, my son was born in July last year and I too was always super hot. And as far as the softer arms and legs, that freaked me out too. But I can tell you, after having him, my legs and arms are leaner than they were before I was pregnant. So no worries, it will go away! 🙂
That anatomy graphic is crazy – it’s so amazing what our bodies can do!
I’m loving the baby movements too. At work when I go to the bathroom I can be heard having a full conversation with my bump. Anyone listening in must think I’ve gone made because I ask what s/he is doing in there and whether he’s running a marathon!
Are you still feeling more confident about the actual day you give birth? I was fine to start but as my due date looms I’m starting to get more and more nervous 🙁 x
I am honestly getting MORE nervous. I spoke with my doctor a bit yesterday and am just trying my best to remind myself that this is such a natural thing that women have been doing for years and years… and many choose to do it AGAIN! 🙂 Ryan and I also signed up for a childbirth prep class and I’m hoping that will help me feel a little less anxious.
You need to look into hypnobabies!! It will help you relax and teach you techniques better than any other class/program. Going into labor nervous will make your muscles tense, and that equals more pain. The more relaxed you are, the better!
My best advice for labor, especially when you start pushing, is listen to music that you would use to workout! I listened to my squatting music and it made it much easier! Pushing out a baby is just like the hardest leg day.
I’ve been enjoying treating myself to a Luna popsicle every night, so cold and refreshing in this heat!
Hi Julie, I live in Charlotte and I have a brand new maternity support band I bought around 20 weeks and have never worn (I am now 34 weeks). I was going to resell it on eBay but I could send it to you if you’d like. Feel free to email me. I also recommend prenatal yoga…several studios and Ys on the south side of town offer classes so imagine you could find something similar in the LKN area, too.
While dressing for pregnancy can be a challenge, I actually am enjoying the more fitted pieces (I am 24 weeks along). Old Navy and Target have the cutest fitted cotton dresses in all lengths. They are fairly inexpensive since Old Navy always has sales and super cash and there are typically deals on the Target cartwheel app. I feel like the lightweight cotton is perfect and you won’t be hot in them. Granted it is it is cooler where I live than where you live. I almost would say the fitted clothing feels more supportive (though I am not sure that is the appropriate word). Have you tried any of the fitted stuff? You may be surprised at how much more you like it than blousey pieces. They are designed to flatter a pregnant body. Show off that bump, this time will be over before we know it!
I can’t believe you’re already 31 weeks! Still loving your updates! One of my favorite things I did towards the end of my pregnancy was take little videos of my stomach when my little one moving. I miss that feeling now that she is here but I love that I caught it 🙂 you are going to be such a fun mom!!
It’s been a while that you published this, but being now 31 weeks along myself, I love reading your updates!
Congratulations to you!!!