The third trimester is here!
*So far this third trimester has been an emotional one. I have cried more in the last week or so than I have the entire pregnancy leading up to this trimester combined. I’ve been crying about the smallest things that normally wouldn’t even bother me. I’m learning—> It’s okay to be grateful and struggle at the same time. It’s okay to feel what we need to feel and cry when we need to cry. Besides just the fact that my hormones are all over the place, I think the added stress/emotions/struggles of 2020 have built up in me and just kind of exploded out the last week or so. I am down to about 70ish days until I get to meet this new member of our family and all of those running mantras I’ve used over the years (I CAN DO HARD THINGS) are translating nicely over to dealing with how emotional I feel ALL of the time right now. I’ve been very open to talking to Andrew about how I’ve been feeling and my doctor so we can all keep an eye on where I’m at emotionally:)
*I am cooking things with all sorts of smells… I remember during the first trimester thinking that I would never ever cook anything again in our home because I couldn’t handle the smell. I’m so happy to be out of the ‘smells’ stage!
*We had a doctor’s appointment on Monday along with the glucose test (I passed). I have a feeling my kids would LOVE that drink so much judging by the fact they want to drink otter pops before we put them in the freezer. I’m guessing the two are very similar.
*I am just so amazed at how well my doctor and nurses can keep a secret! I’m sure it says the sex right on my chart and they haven’t said a word. At each visit we get to have an ultrasound and I make sure that Andrew doesn’t look at the ultrasound too closely ha because I’m worried he will be able to tell.
*Running is still going well but I think I’ll probably be starting more run/walking soon! For some reason I don’t need my belly band anymore to run with and I definitely did at this point with the girls’ pregnancies.
*Sports bras have come a LONG way since my first pregnancy! With Brooke’s pregnancy I had to wear 2-3 sports bras at a time to comfortably run and now Brooks has the best running bras and makes it so I only need one at a time. I do not miss those 3 sports bras at a time days!
*It really is interesting to me but my body naturally wants less junk food when I am pregnant compared to when I am not pregnant. You always hear about all of the pregnancy cravings of ice cream or fries or potato chips and sometimes I have those but more often those are my cravings when I’m not pregnant. Give me a big stir fry for lunch and you have my heart forever. Fresh fruit has definitely been my biggest craving and I have been eating cantaloupe every day for a while now.
*I get up at least 3 times to use the restroom during the middle of the night but luckily I fall right back to sleep afterwards. I am so grateful that I have been able to sleep well this last week!
*A few times a week I’ll take a 20 minute nap and that has made me feel really good!
*Nesting has kicked in and had me doing things like organizing our pantry! It has also made me want to cook a lot more meals at home for some reason which I’ll gladly take because I am not usually one to enjoy cooking.
*I’ve had a few people ask if I am planning on having an epidural. I did with both girls and I am planning on having one again with this one BUT I’ve also heard that your 3rd one tends to come FAST so who knows what will happen!
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Those of you that have been pregnant—> Did you feel more emotional during pregnancy? A little or a lot? Did you feel other emotions stronger during that time too?
Short labors, long labors, somewhere in between?
Those of you with 3 or more kids… did the 3rd one come faster once you were in labor than the others?
Epidural—> yes or no for you?
42 comments
Michelle
I didn’t find out the sex if my first two babies (both delivered in UT) and they told me they don’t mark the chart anywhere! They check during ultrasounds time make sure everything looks ok but that’s it. My midwife (CNM) told me they check a box that says “doesn’t want to know sex” and it is usually written throughout to not make a mistake.
The Hungry Runner Girl
Thank you so much for telling me this because I have really been wondering how they are so good at keeping it a surprise! Excited to have the experience you have had twice… so fun! Have a beautiful evening Michelle!
Michelle
Thank you!! It was super fun. We found out for our third bc I was a big grouch and refused to wait.
The Hungry Runner Girl
Hahaha I am starting to feel that ‘grouchy’ side you are talking about;)
Jessey
I wasn’t that emotional during pregnancy – but those 2 weeks after – wow!!
#1 was 21 hours of labor, 2.5 hrs of pushing then a csection. My epidural pump kept failing!
Needless to say, #2 was a planned csection. I am a complete wimp about pain. I could deal with surgery recovery way easier than even 1 more co traction in my life. A few times since I’ve had severe gas pains and I equate those to labor way more than period cramps.
The Hungry Runner Girl
Hormones are sure interesting and quite surprising! 21 HOURS, 2.5 hours of pushing and then a c-section with your epidural pump falling out?! Okay, that sounds crazy! I’m with you, I am a wimp about pain! Hope you are having a great night and your two little ones are doing well!
Erika
your dress is so cute in that first pic! where is it from? GOOD LUCK from one woman to another… not a mom yet haha, 70 days!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Thank you so so much Erika, that means a lot! I got it from Called to Surf and they have the best dresses. Have a great night!
https://calledtosurf.com/collections/dresses?gclid=CjwKCAjwkJj6BRA-EiwA0ZVPVmzoEmsV4eLWrsXwm1xNtBN-i9VcZFUcVOI5fXObXmobqXljg8dT4xoCtWYQAvD_BwE
Megan
Definitely feeling a lot more emotional this time around (#3)! I’m crying a lot more and just feeling all over the place. My first birth was 14 hours and my second was 7 hours. I’m thinking/ hoping this third one will be quick too!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Congrats on #3 wahoo! I am so happy for you but so sorry you are feeling so emotional right now. We’ve got this and here’s to some more stable feelings soon. Keep me updated with how you are doing!
Erica
This post made me feel so much better! I am 31 weeks and yikes, I am super emotional. My main emotion right now is rage and anger (I sound so pleasant I know!). I have also been crying a ton, so you are not alone! I have a 3 year old daughter and this baby is a boy and I feel way more emotional this time (may have to do with other stresses including the covid pandemic). And a giant YES to an epidural-I was a wimp with my daughters contractions ha!
Take care Janae, we are almost there! Sending you love and support from Illinois :)
The Hungry Runner Girl
Erica! 31 weeks wahoo! You are getting so close. I am so sorry that you are feeling so emotional right now. We are definitely in this together. My sister felt an insane increase in rage and anger with her last two boys too. These hormones are something else. Please keep me updated with how you are doing and we will get through this and we have the best reward up ahead. Thank you and that means a lot!
Jan J
So excited for you!
My 3rd came SUPER fast. No time for an epidural! My recovery was amazing. I could have gone home within hours.
Nancy J Creel
I have 4 kids and everything was faster the more kids I had. I drove myself to the hospital with number 4 because I was already dilated to 5 in the exam room during my weekly appointment. No idea, felt fine. My husband came straight to the hospital from work. My midwife didn’t think he had time to get home and get me to the hospital. Epidurals are my friend, yes yes yes. Super emotional, and I remember the anger/rage Erica mentions, also the tears. I teared up at the sentimental commercials during the holidays. omgosh, the Folgers commercial and Hallmark of everyone coming home for the holidays. Too funny.
The Hungry Runner Girl
OH WOW!! That was super fast for #4! So many tears and I wonder if the creators of those commercials had any idea how many pregnant women would cry because of them! Thanks for sharing and I hope you and your family are having a wonderful day so far. Thanks Nancy!
Karin
I craved cantaloupe like crazy with my BOY, maybe that’s what you’re having?
I was super emotional throughout my first pregnancy, and then I’d have periods during my other two pregnancies where I’d cry for no reason, but nothing like the first.
I was induced for my third and I actually think it was my longest active labor, strangely. But all of mine have been pretty short. 1st was 6 hours, 2nd was 7, and third was 8. I wonder if the trend will continue if I go for a fourth?
The Hungry Runner Girl
Wahooooo Knox will be very happy to hear about the cantaloupe idea that it might mean it is a boy! Interesting that with each one it was an hour longer! I feel like it seems to be the other way around! I hope you and your three kids are having a really great day so far and thank you for sharing!
Lisa
I had an epidural with my first two (12 hours and 7 hours) and my third was born in under 2 hours, at the hospital for about 45 minutes, so no epidural. First sign of labor was my water breaking when I stood up at my desk at work at 1, she was born at 2:49.
The Hungry Runner Girl
UNDER TWO HOURS?! She was ready to get here and get here FAST! Thanks for sharing Lisa and I hope your Thursday is off to a great start!
Amy Cole
Yes, I was definitely more emotional during and after pregnancy! I have one baby, but I had a very short labor (5 hours from water breaking (didn’t feel any contractions before that) to delivery with zero drugs! I was planning on an unmedicated birth anyway, which was lucky because by the time I got to the birth center there wouldn’t have been any time for that! Good luck with your last few weeks of pregnancy!
Mary
Thanks for doing these updates. I’m pregnant with my second and really appreciate the honest content. This is the second time I’ve followed along and found comfort in your posts!
Hormones are extra wild this time for me and I’m stuck in the smells stage. Everything smells too strong and I might never have broccoli again :)
We are not finding out the sex either and I am just soooo sure someone will slip and let it out! Hope you have a great day.
Andrea
Thank you for sharing openly!!! So important to talk about the good and the not so good. Whatever you’re feeling is a-ok.
I forgot to tell you, you look so much like your sister now with your blonde highlights! Beautiful as always!!
I really disliked my first (and only) labour, it felt very long and I was so tired. I felt very alone, the doctors/residents weren’t really around except for the delivery. Started at 7 am and I had her the next day at 2 am with vacuum assist. I had an epidural as soon as I could!! I would consider midwife if I were to have another child as I hear they’re very present through the labour.
Jade
My 2nd baby came REALLY fast and was in my arms 18 mins after arriving at the hospital. My 3rd actually wasn’t as fast… somewhere in between. I had perinatal depression with my 3rd which was so much different than my other pregnancies. But things were great once she was born. So grateful it didn’t carry on to PPD. Each pregnancy and baby is different!
Emily
When I was pregnant I saw a therapist every few weeks and that really helped me work through ALL the emotions. Even now 7 months later I use a lot of things she helped me think about to manage anxiety and she really helped me know that it is A OK to feel the feelings! I was really hesitant to start doing that but I think it was one of the best decisions of my life!
So excited for your little family!
Erika
I had planned on a natural birth but things didn’t go as planned – had an emergency c-section with my first and he was out within 19 minutes of us arriving at the hospital – they didn’t even have time to put me under! My second was a scheduled c-section due to my complications with the first delivery.
With our first my doctor said right away that he was just going to say ‘boy’ and ‘he’ when talking about the baby but that didn’t mean anything and it was just his go-to language for referring to the baby. Turns out the baby was a boy so I don’t know if the doctor really knew or not.
Not pregnant but I think myself and a lot of people are extra emotional right now with everything going on!
Torrie
Epidurals that work are amazing!! With my daughter I had a beautiful epidural that worked wonderfully and they actually had to turn it down slightly when it was time to push because I was feeling nothing, hah. With my son I guess they put the epidural in the wrong spot (and I guess this is fairly common??) and it did not numb my abdomen, only my right leg. So my right leg was complete dead weight but I could still feel everything from my hip up! When I realized, pretty fast, that it wasn’t working they called the anesthesiologist to come back but he was already with someone else and I dilated quickly and I ended up having my son before the anesthesiologist could get back to fix it!
Katie
This happened to me too. The epidural didn’t work. My legs were numb and useless but I could still feel all the pain. Oof, and it was such unimaginable pain!
Katie
I should add that this was my second baby. For my first, the epidural worked. I’m a big fan of epidurals that work ??
Erica
I remember once I got to 30 weeks getting a little obsessive with counting baby movements, etc. My mind ran a little wild with what -ifs and in my dream world I would have been hooked to a baby monitor at the hospital where an emergency C section could have been done at anytime.
Love you, you can do hard things.
Amanda
I had a lot of anxiety before I got pregnant and was on the generic of Zoloft pre-pregnancy. I talked a lot about it with my doctor because I was worried it would affect my baby when I became pregnant. She told me Zoloft had the most research behind it and that it was safe for pregnant women. She also said it was better to be on something that helped my emotions, rather than not and have elevated stats because of stress/anxiety. My plan was to ween off my drugs right before labor so my baby wouldn’t have a “withdrawal” from the medicine and then start them right after she was born. And theeeeennn covid hit. So needless to say, in March and April stress was high and my doctor told me to stay on them. I’m not at all saying you need to go on any type of prescription to help with your emotions, that is a very personal decision that you would know best about. I just want to share my story to let you know that I was on drugs and that my baby was 100% okay. I know it was something I was really worried about (as most mothers would be) and it was a deep dark hole on google to find real stories. If you are at all considering possibly going on medication to help, and want someone to chat about it with who went through it, especially during covid, I’d be happy to share my story with you <3
Emily
Thank you for sharing! I’m also on sertraline and have worried about how I’d handle going off that if I were to get pregnant again. It’s encouraging to hear a positive story and I’m glad you’re baby is healthy!
Anna
Emotions: I was never extra emotional in any of my pregnancies but its totally normal if you are!
LABORS: First baby-water broke at midnight, got epidural at 10am at 3cm and was at 10 cm and ready to push in 2 hours
2nd baby-contractions started at 2am, got the epidural around 9am between 2-3cm and was at 10 and ready to push in about 2 hours as well
3rd baby- water broke around noon, went into the hospital SHOCKED to find that I was already 5cm! Decided to try all natural and made it with her! I got to about 9cm and started to do this weird tribal moan thing that I was SO embarrassed about but I could NOT control it! I even had another nurse come and quietly close my door as the moans were so loud! I was on the birthing ball at this point and started to scream at the peak of the contraction and the nurse was like ‘uh, I think we need to get you on the bed so I Can check you’ so I get up on the bed and she pushes the nurse emergency button cuz my doc isnt there yet (this was this nurses first natural delivery) and they push me on my back and said ‘you’re at 10’ hold on the doc will be here soon and I SCREAMED at an intense pain and said ‘what was that??’ and they said ‘you just had a baby!’ HAHA for REAL! my body pushed her out all on its own and I had no idea!
4th baby: decided to do natural again-she was born fairly quick as well
Babies 5, 6 and 7, I did epidurals with but they were still fairly quick :)
Sorry for that long story on baby #4! :)
Christina
It makes me so happy to read that you can cook again! I am currently 8.5 weeks (also w/ number 3) and in the total thick of it. Please tell me that you can brush your teeth again as well to give me hope!!
If I can, I’ll definitely do the epidural again like I did the last 2 times. I think otherwise, I would be way too tired to deal with 3 littles and the sleepless nights, haha.
~R
Kid1 – 25 hours, no epidural, no drugs.
Kid2 – 4 hours, specialized epidural (I am allergic to the normal anesthestic they put in an epidural so it was modified with fentanyl). I had planned to go natural again but it was a complicated pregnancy and delivery and a little extra pain control was needed.
Kid3 – 5 hours, no epidural because the hospital I was diverted to didn’t believe my allergy was real, low-dose fentanyl via IV instead. (Opiods/narcotics don’t work very well for me or last very long…just enough to take the very edge off so I could breathe through the back labor. But no anaphylaxis from the anesthesia so still a win!)
Gillian
I didn’t have epidurals with my 3 labour’s but I do want to say that the third came SO fast. My labor from start to finish was 3 hours with only 5 mins of pushing it was crazy I remember leaning over the bed during a contraction and I could feel him moving down with each one until the urge to push was so intense they had me get back in bed lol!
Gina
I was definitely more emotional with my pregnancies! My husband learned that just came with the territory. :)
Kids 1-3 I had epidurals, and I was induced a week early with babies 2 and 3, just because my doctor said I could be if I wanted. Then baby #4 I felt so strongly I needed to plan for an unmedicated birth, which was crazy because I was always the biggest proponent of epidurals. :) We were hoping that baby would stay put til his due date because we were moving (just a couple miles away) a week before he was born….but of course he had plans of his own. I went into labor in the middle of the night the night before we were moving. I was in total denial and kept saying it was false labor, until it became very clear it was not, haha. We left our house for the hospital right at 5:00 am and our son was born at 5:27. It was wild to say the least!! I was so so grateful, though, that I had listened to my feelings about needing to do an unmedicated delivery that time around, because there’s no way I would have had time for an epidural. But since I wasn’t planning on one anyway, I was fine with that. :) Oh man, this is all making me nostalgic, I love talking babies and deliveries and I’ll be excited to read about how your experience goes! I’m excited for you guys!
Danielle Turk-Bly
Crazy how close you are getting Janae! I feel like my last pregnancy was forever ago (enter heavy sigh). My second labor in comparison to the first was half the time and with my third I had to have a cesarean due to placenta previa. I had my first on at a birth center in Bozeman, MT with no epidural and my second son at home, BUT! I believe every birth is beautiful and that a mom should always be celebrated for her choices rather than attacked or left feeling ashamed. I am a big believer in “you do you” (as long as there is no harm to your or anyone else). I hope for another great experience for you and I’m so excited to find out if they are a little he or she :)
Laura
Oh man, third pregnancies are hard. I think it’s because the other siblings have so many demands. I had my third on April 21st and although my last two had an epidural, this lady came so fast there was no time. My water broke spontaneously (never happened before) at 1:15am and she was in my arms at 1:50. So don’t dilly-dally getting to the hospital!
Emily
I love hearing people’s birth stories! I have 3 kids, two boys and a girl. My first two births I had epidurals and pushed about 3 times with each. My third was so fast there wasn’t time for an epidural! I felt pretty scared because I hadn’t planned on a natural birth, but my doctor was amazing and she made me feel like I could do it! One push and our baby girl was born, and that recovery was actually my best of the three (not having a sore back was amazing!)
Can’t wait to hear how your delivery goes!!
Leah
Just found out I’m pregnant with #3 and hadn’t considered that this one might be super fast. Had #1 without pain meds after a pitocin induction (water broke at 36 weeks) in about 15 hours (45 min pushing). Had #2 at home in about 6 hours (20 min pushing). Planning #3 at home also, but may consider calling the midwife a little earlier just in case ?.
I’m so early on I haven’t hit the smell aversion yet, but I can feel it coming haha. Glad you’re doing well and excited for you and your family!
Hilary
With my first, I had no birth plan other than I knew I wanted an epidural. But, she arrived only an hour after we got to the hospital so there was no time! I’m due again in December and seriously worried about giving birth on the side of the road on the way to the hospital because subsequent births are usually quicker ?
Andrea
Your epidural question and your comment about the third child coming out fast made me laugh. When I went in to the hospital to have my third child, I told them immediately that I wanted an epidural and then every time a nurse or doctor came into my room. They finally got it in and had just started the drip when it was time for me to push so I never got the relief from it. I was so mad that I had to go through getting it out in for no reason. My labor started around 5 am and I had her at 9am, definitely much faster than my other two. And she was my biggest baby. But my recovery was a lot quicker, too!