thirty-three weeks

At thirty-three weeks, I am happy, nervous, excited, and weepy; basically, I'm a big (and I do mean that literally; I've gained thirty-one pounds and counting during this pregnancy) bundle of hormonal emotions. I'm hoping that I really do have only seven weeks to go, because I'd love to sleep on my back again, ease my sore hips in the hot tub, and sip on a glass of Bailey's. Maybe I won't be able to do the latter activities for a while after giving birth, but I'll get there eventually; sleeping on my back--no matter how little sleep it actually is--will be good enough to start. Since it's my first pregnancy, though, I wouldn't be surprised if I was overdue. I know doctors often let natural-birth pregnancies (which I'm planning to try, meaning vaginal and without painkillers) go up to two weeks past the due date.

It's a busy week as far as pregnancy weeks go: three physical therapy appointments for my bursitis (I almost passed out in my most recent one, getting me out of my last two exercises); an eye appointment; the first training class for our rottweiler puppy, Mya; an all-day birthing class followed by dinner with friends; and a myriad of unscheduled activities: doing baby laundry, writing thank-you cards for baby gifts, studying for my comprehensive exams (I'm trying to finish a PhD), and trying to catch my breath in general. The doctor, though, assures me that the last part--catching my breath--will be easier in about a month when the baby drops. It already feels pretty low, making sitting or wearing certain clothes uncomfortable at times, but right now its feet are right in my ribcage and generally crowding everything else--including my lungs, I suppose.

What else? The baby's movements have racheted up quite a bit. Pretty much any time I'm sitting still during the day (like right now), I feel little legs and arms squirming around and trying to make more room in my belly. And I can't tell quite how, but the baby has shifted somehow. I'm fairly certain it's still in birthing position (head down, feet in ribcage), but the kid really, really doesn't like it when I lay on my left side now, making the hip situation even harder during the night (staying on one side is virtually impossible; I get too sore). When I do lay on my left side, I need to have better pillow support than I've needed during the rest of the pregnancy and even then the baby starts protesting by kicking and punching--hard--and squirming so much you'd think I was hanging it mid-air by its feet.

What's the oddest thing this week? Probably the fact that I haven't been very hungry. Of course, that could be explained by the fact that the kid isn't leaving me much room in there. And it could explain why I almost passed out Friday during physical therapy. It'll be interesting to see what week thirty-four holds!