Today I am officially 28 weeks and in the third trimester. We also had our birthing class and hospital tour today, which feels like a perfect initiation into this final stretch of pregnancy.
My second semester was sweet. After a third confirmation of heartbeat, I felt my mind and body relax, better settling into the possibility that it will all work out. The bump popped, and I started to show. Even now I’m hanging on to these days where I’m not feeling too big and uncomfortable yet—the cute bump stage. My energy came back slowly, now in full-force, and I started to feel like myself again. I was able to see and believe the pregnancy glow for myself: feeling beautiful, capable, and expansive.
Shifting out of the fog of the first trimester, I started to turn towards much more learning, prep, and mind-nesting. We picked out a name, started the registry, and made plans for a shower. I am still so in awe and grateful for all the family and friends who are so enthusiastically helping and going the extra mile to make it so special. And to all the folks who will be traveling from across the country to make it to a party where the baby isn’t even out yet! We and this baby are so loved.
It was also a much more social and active second trimester, as I attended two baby showers for my own close friends — their first pregnancies as well, and how sweet it is to all be on this path together with our dragon babies. I filled up on vitamin d with a babymoon with Adam, and one last family trip before baby with my stepdaughter to enjoy just the three of us.
I think we are turning a corner here with this dreary upstate New York weather. Temps are slowly climbing and we are seeing those signs of warmer days to come: little blooms here and there, a bird contemplating our Christmas wreath (embarrassingly still up!) for a nest, and more sunshine peeking out of the clouds.
I make this note about the weather because it is especially exciting to think we are moving closer and closer to what the days will feel like when this baby makes his arrival: warm air, abundant daylight, and full, green trees. It’s easier to picture your July baby when it actually starts to feel more and more like July.
Third trimester, all I ask (and I know it’s much!) is that we just keep these good vibes going. I want this time to go slowly. I may regret saying this when I’m full-term, at peak discomfort, and want nothing more than to get this baby out of me, but for now, it’s my truth.
As one of my friends recently announced the arrival of her gorgeous baby girl, it just makes me so excited for my and Adam’s turn when our son comes. But it also makes me want to hold on to this time, the before times, as much as I can. It’s been nice being pregnant. And I think that once birth happens, we’re all so excited about the baby and what comes next. But we don’t talk a lot about how that is the end—a sudden and dramatic end—to your pregnant era.
These are the eves, the quiet days of anticipation and preparation. The last weeks and months of life as we know it right now.