The Post Partum Wrap Up.

This will probably be my last post on this blog until I decide to pick this journey up one last time. She is here. Grace Rebecca Moore has finally arrived. If you haven't yet, and you want to, you can read all about it here.

This post is where I wanted to write all about my last few weeks of pregnancy symptoms and the post partum symptoms I am now experiencing. This time around I had a hard time remembering what was new for this pregnancy, and what I had gone through before. I don't want to forget and be thrown off next time, so these things needed to be documented.

I already wrote this, but first and most important...

1. Don't plan anything big after 30 weeks. You will start to go downhill quickly. Physically and mentally. When you feel like you need it, get on an antidepressant. Don't wait. Do anything and everything that will help you feel better mentally and emotionally. Go out to eat, go for a drive, have sex even if you're exhausted - it'll be an hour where you don't have to think about how much you hurt or how done you are being pregnant, eat a treat and don't worry about the calories, buy something for baby, buy something for yourself, if you can - serve someone else, make a countdown calendar, spend time with your kids, spend time with your spouse, go on a date, spend time alone, go out with friends. Anything that will help.

2. The last month is the worst. You will be counting every single day for the first two weeks, and the last two weeks, you'll be counting hours. Do what you can to stay sane. Take any help anyone is willing to give. Organize. For reals. There is no time for that once baby is here.

3. This time, I felt absolutely no downstairs pain. Other than during the delivery ya know. Afterwards, it was almost like nothing had happened. I took care of myself the way I should have - ice gloves and medication and such, but even where I had a couple of stitches, no pain. It seems to get less and less with each baby. So that's really nice.

4. The cramps however, get worse and worse with each baby. My uterus is still cramping pretty badly and I am almost 2 weeks out. Not so fun.

5. My feet started to swell right around day 2 PP, and only got bigger from there. But, the swelling was completely gone one week after.

6. So much peeing. So much sweating. I had headaches this time too, probably from the shift in hormones. The exhaustion is unreal. I only get up with Grace once at night and Luke gets up with her once. But I am like ready to pass out all the time. Naps aren't an option. You have 4 kids. Next time you'll have 5. They don't understand the need for naps. Just go to bed early and sleep as well as you can. Gracie is doing good though. Last night I slept from 11pm to 6:15am when she woke up. And Luke got up with her at 3am. She will be sleeping through the night in the next month or two.

7. The PPD is starting, but I am already on prozac and am monitoring myself closely so I know when I need to up my dosage.

8. And finally, this is a weird symptom this time around. My bones hurt. From my knees to my navel, I ache, deep in my bones. It started about 2 weeks before she was born and is still going strong two weeks after she was born. The only thing I can figure is, my hips were moving out and now they're on their way back in. And the reason it hurts so much is because this is my 4th baby. Things are starting to get a little worn out. Good thing I am only contracted for one more time.

So that's about all I think. I haven't been super moody yet, my hormones are definitely shifting because I have some acne showing up. But over all, its just really nice to not be pregnant anymore. Overall, I gained 24 lbs during this pregnancy and so far, I have lost 14 lbs. Only 10 lbs to go to pre pregnancy weight and then on to regular weight loss!


Until next time.