Checking in at 38 Weeks
Hi friends! I wanted to do a little 38-week check in. We’re in the final count down to baby and there is A LOT going on behind the scenes that I wanted to share more of. I feel like Instagram shows one story but there’s a complete other side of the screen that you haven’t seen this week. (PS, I am planning to do a whole postpartum diary series of check ins while on maternity leave too, so stay tuned over on Substack to be the first to receive those updates!)
Okay… I feel like this is going to be long and I might ramble a bit, but here we are at 38 weeks!! I slacked on my bumpdate photos but set up my tripod this week and forced myself to take what will probably be my last bumpdate picture.
I have basically been working from bed almost every single day (Levi isn’t complaining about this arrangement) while my team has been holding everything down behind the scenes. I can definitely feel my body starting to be like… okay, we’re done now. My Oura ring has shown both minor and major signs of strains and I’m curious if this has happened to any of y’all prior to labor? I feel like my Oura ring knows something I don’t…
My ankles are…not visible. Like fully gone. My hips and back are killing me. And I can just feel myself slowing down in a way that I don’t really have a choice about. It’s the little things that normally feel so easy suddenly feel heavy. Like walking Levi. I can barely make it to the park without having to physically hold my crotch. Not glamorous yall but it feels like this baby is falling out of me!! My body is giving me both subtle and not so subtle signs that it’s time to take it easy…
I had my 38 week appointment this week and found out I’m not dilated AT ALL yet, so baby is just hanging out high and tight, no rush, completely unbothered. Which for how low this baby feels I can’t lie and say that I wasn’t a little shocked when my OB told me that news.
And then of course later that same night, I convinced myself that the baby flipped from head down to feet down. Fully spiraled. Ended up going in again this week just to check, and baby is still head down (thankfully), but apparently has discovered their hands for the first time this entire pregnancy because it literally feels like they are punching their way out. Like…what is going on in there?!
So yeah. That’s where we’re at! I’m really just trying to listen to my body these last couple weeks, take it easy (as much as possible), and also soak everything in. Packing the hospital bag, finishing up the nursery, doing all the little last minute things that somehow feel both exciting and overwhelming at the same time. And just trying to be present in it, because I know this phase is so short.
The Social Media Spiral
Can we talk about how unhinged the end of pregnancy gets with pressure from social media?
Because I swear the second you hit this stage, your entire feed turns into what you need for the hospital bag, what you need for postpartum, how to set up a bottle station, things you must have or you will regret it forever…
And I’m sitting there like wait… do I have anything I actually need?? I felt prepared but now I’m second guessing every little thing that we have prepared.
If you’re panic ordering too…here’s everything I’ve been ordering
I genuinely feel like I’ve been on this constant loop of ordering things that I probably don’t need… but also what if I do need them? And then I convince myself I need them, so I order them anyway. It’s just been panic order after panic order over here. Let’s just say that I am personally keeping Amazon in business with the amount of packages that show up daily…
If you’re feeling like this too, please know I am right there with you. It’s so overwhelming and somehow makes you feel completely unprepared no matter what you’ve already done.
Also… random but not random, I’m pretty sure we’re about to get an Amazon credit card because the amount I’ve spent in the last two weeks alone is honestly concerning. If you have one and love it let me know, I need to know immediately.
Fully Embracing This Phase
Somewhere along the way… I’ve officially become that girl. I am over here making the date smoothies (they are actually SO. GOOD.), bouncing on my yoga ball as a part of my daily routine, and y’all… I printed out a birth plan.
I truly did not think I would be a birth plan person. And yet here we are. FULLY leaning into the final days and just praying that I am doing at least one thing right.
Shop: Amazon Dates | Pregnancy/Breast Feeding Safe Protein Powder
DATE SMOOTHIE RECIPE: I measure from the heart on most of these ingredients but here ya go! You can easily screenshot this image below to save it.
- 6 dates
- 1 banana
- 1/3 cup vanilla protein powder (this one is pregnancy + breast feeding safe)
- scoop of greek yogurt
- scoop of cashew butter (or peanut butter)
- splash of maple syrup
- dash of cinnamon
- milk
- ice
Maternity Leave + My Team
While we’re all here, I also wanted to share a quick update on what things will look like over the next few weeks.
As soon as I deliver, I will officially be on maternity leave through the end of May. I do plan to pop on stories here and there because I know myself… I won’t be able to fully disappear. But for the most part, I’ll be soaking up newborn life and our new normal while my husband is on paternity leave (he’s taking 4 weeks). Plus we already have both families booked to come into town to meet baby so I can’t wait for that special time to be fully unplugged.
Have a feeling I’ll be living in this Barefoot Dreams d*pe robe during mat leave
My team will be keeping everything running in the meantime, and honestly, I don’t talk about them enough and how much they truly do to keep IACTM running. Shannon is based in Florida and Jess is based in Texas, and they will continue to keep my Instagram and LTK running smooth while I am out. They help with everything from content execution, to making sure the things I’m loving and sharing actually get in front of you in a seamless way.
While I’m out, they’ll continue posting my sale finds, favorite pieces, and everything you’re used to seeing. You’ll probably start to see a natural shift into more baby and motherhood content as well, because that is very much the season I’m stepping into.
But at the core of it all, my “why” is the same. Affordable fashion, helpful finds/hacks, and the little things that make everyday life feel chic will always be at the heart of what I share. Just now with a baby on my hip. 🥹
Big Things Coming SOON
And before I go…I’m also really excited about something I’ve been working on behind the scenes.
The next look book dropping this Sunday is my official Chic Mama Guide, and truly, it’s everything I wish I had from the very beginning. Believe me, I’ve watched a thousand Instagram reels, Tiktoks and asked ChatGPT equally as many questions. I’ve done my thorough research and put it all in one nice and neat place for you! Whether you’re just entering this phase or you’re at the very end like me, my goal is for it to feel like a resource you can actually use and be able to share with your expecting mama friends and family.
There’s so much noise, so many opinions, and so much pressure around doing everything “right”. If I can help take even a little bit of that off your plate and give you something that feels simple, chic, and genuinely helpful, that’s exactly what I want to do, and I believe this guide is just that. You can view it on over on Substack here!
There are so many BIG changes happening right now and I just want to reiterate how much I truly appreciate you being here and supporting me and my family along this journey. I’ll be sharing postpartum diary entries here along the way, and make sure you’re following along on instagram too for all of the updates/fun maternity leave content!
