Pregnancy Guide: Third Trimester

1. How I Felt…

I felt great up until week 32/33! Week 32/33 was when I started to deal real pregnancy feels. It was a major switch in how I felt. Physical discomfort really started to be high during third trimester. This might be weird to understand if you’re not pregnant, but it’s hard to breath!! You’re constantly having to pee and the little trinkle is so not satisfying. Getting around just exhausts you and you waddle like a penguin! It’s so glamorous lol

Colin and I would wonder every weekend once I hit 37 weeks, “Could this be our last weekend just the two of us? Is this our last date night before baby?” All the thoughts go racing constantly.

At my 38 week appointment I was sick with a sore throat and body aches. The flu had hit our grade level and school pretty bad, so thankfully I only had a bug. But flip side, my blood pressure went up. During my whole pregnancy it stays normal, until now. My doctor ordered some blood work and had me do a 24 hour pee sample. Those who have done this know the pain of it. Basically you pee in a jug for 24 hours and it has to be refrigerated. It’s so attractive!! Not only all this, but doctor ordered me to be on bed rest.

When I heard bed rest, my whole mind went to negative talk, “I didn’t do this right, I should be at work, I can’t miss or take days off early before baby…” All the mom guilt came through. Flip side, I know it’s not in my control, but your mind tells you otherwise. Listening to the doctor is so important because he knows what’s best for mom and baby. This time before Corin comes needs to be about mama relaxing and unwinding before labor. This is my pregnancy and I need to do what’s right. God is in control of all things, including this journey.

2. Bed Rest Days…

On a normal day I would say I’m such a homebody, but when you are FORCED to be home and do nothing, that changes things. Some things I did to keep me sain…

1. Wrote Corbin a lot of letters during this time. I was just incredibly sentimental and incredibly emotional during this time. Blame it on the hormones! I used this one HERE to write my letters. I felt it was my alone time with him.
2. Worked on the blog
3. Binge watched trash t.v.
4. Slept and napped
5. Wrote Colin letters that I hope to give him soon!
6. Spent more time in prayer and started a bible study on my own
7. Snuggled with the puppy and broke all the dog house rules.

3. Favorite Products…

• I lived in my pajamas or robe- If I wasn’t teaching that is. If I was at work, I lived in leggings. Thank goodness the harder months were in the winter!
• Loved everything that was spa related. Colin would make fun of me and call me #spakirstin when I get into all the creams, oils and candles. I’m a HUGE fan of this mask and facial products (all pregnancy friendly)
• Towards the end, I lived in these sneakers, leggings and this top.

4. What I Did…

• I ordered this baby book.
• We finished his nursery and photographed it!
• We took our classes at the hospital and installed our car seat properly. I had the car seat checked by the fire department because every car seat is different. I’m so glad we did that because we had it ALL WRONG!
• I packed our hospital bags and put them in the car.
• I took maternity photos.
• I finished Thank you cards from my baby shower.
• I made nurses gifts for the hospital. (See IG stories for details)
• I made a basket for items to use while breastfeeding/pumping.
• I sterilized his bottles.
• I washed and organized all of his clothes.
• I organized and printed all my bump photos to have for looking back at different stages of pregnancy.
• I got my address list together for birth announcements and picked the ones I wanted to use!
• I nested, which was more of a phase in which I wanted to redecorate and refresh the home! I also focused on cleaning a lot before baby arrived so I didn’t have to come home a ton of laundry and dirty dishes.

5. Mistakes I Made…

I definitely let “Pinterest guilt” get to me. I started to look up all the “lists” of things to do before you have a baby and I was really hard on myself about accomplishing everything. I’m already super Type A, so it threw me over the edge. It’s so silly! I will say, I did what I could with what I could. You can’t do it all and carry a baby.

I also made other people’s stories mine too. This is so hard not to do because EVERYONE and their mother gives you their advice. You have to just nod your head and smile to people you don’t want to hear their “story.” This is just what worked for me. I will say, some advice is helpful tho! You’ll know who you need to listen to and not. You hear it all!

Everyone is so different. I finally realized, “I don’t need 50 freezer meals because I don’t have 5 other kids. Colin and I don’t have family here, but there’s Ubereats and he can cook! Like I said, there’s only so much you can prep. Your pregnancy to-do list will vary depending on how large your family is and your lifestyle. So don’t give yourself guilt! Relax, get as many manicures as you want before baby arrives and just enjoy your time with your husband.