End of Pregnancy...Special Feature Coming Soon

So as the pregnancy nears its end...whether that be today or two weeks after my due date, I've found that a new pattern has emerged in my life.

Old Pattern:

I used to go to bed around 11:00pm and sleep until around 2:00am, get up to pee, then go back to bed until 5-6:00, pee again, and then sleep until K's alarm went off at 9:30.

New Pattern: (And I'm strangely not bothered by this)

• Go to bed at 12:30-1:00
• Read for about an hour (because either I forgot to take my prenatal before going to bed, or I know I'll have to pee and I don't want to go to sleep only to wake up in 1/2 and hour and have to gingerly, but quickly, make my way downstairs in the dark...) 
• Go to the bathroom
• Sleep for about 2 hours
• Go to the bathroom
• Sleep for 2 hours; wake at about 5:30 or 6:00 and just get up for the day. 
• Nap later, as necessary. 

The way I see it is this is basically what will happen when little Ryn arrives, so why not just go with it rather than fight it? I've seen and heard of women taking sleep aids for this and if I had a job, I'd likely be one of them. However, my job is here and while I do work all day long, I have the option of taking a nap at noon or 3:00 or whenever I choose, unlike women who are employed outside the home. 

It leads me to wonder who is right? 

Should I just go with it or should I do like other women and get as much sleep as I possibly can before the baby arrives? 

I've always heard you can't "bank" sleep...that the body doesn't work that way. 

So my research begins. 

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Can You Invest in Your Sleep? 

According to this article, Bank sleep to fight tiredness, you CAN bank sleep. 

Hmmm....looks like I should make a deposit. However, if I sleep too much during the day/morning, I can't get in adequate water and that's my priority right now. I felt a vast improvement overall yesterday after having all that H2O. 

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WATER!!! My Mission Continues! 

I just can't help it. I've discovered that water "cures" soooooo many pregnancy ailments. It's ridiculous not to get an adequate amount. Plus, with the amniotic fluid having to be replaced EVERY HOUR, our babies need the extra fluid, not just us. 

Funny thing is, I KNEW this & I was trying to get all the water I could. I thought I was drinking enough, but I definitely wasn't. One doesn't end up dehydrated, with an IV of fluids in her arm if she is getting an adequate amount. 

I just hope that putting this out there will help other women avoid this inconvenience that could turn disastrous for her and her unborn baby. 

Dehydration is no joke. 

Source for article below: http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-education/water-pregnancy.htm

Water And Pregnancy

While it is always a good idea to keep the body hydrated, there are certain times when changes in the body call for more water. One of these times is during pregnancy. Water can be the answer to alleviating many side effects of pregnancy, aid in preparing the body for these physiological changes, and just overall make mommy and baby healthier.
Water is an important part of pregnancy. The fluid acts as the body's transportation system, and carriesnutrients through the blood to the baby. Also, flushing out the system and diluting urine with water prevent urinary tract infections, which are common in pregnancy. Perhaps the biggest reason to drink water is to keep the body hydrated. Dehydration in pregnant women can be very serious. Hormones (gotta love those hormones!) change the way women store water during pregnancy, so they begin to retain water, and drinking plenty of water combats that. Much of that water is used in the amniotic sack. Amniotic fluid alone needs to replenish itself every hour by using roughly a cup of water stored in the body. Replacing that water will ensure the fetus is protected within the womb.
Since the blood volume increases to nearly double by the eighth month of pregnancy, it is necessary to drink even more water to compensate. Thicker blood can lead to hypertension and other cardiovascular problems, as discussed on other areas of this Website.
Because dehydration can cause contractions, lack of water in the third trimester can also cause premature labor. Premature labor can have many health risks to the newborn baby. In some cases, premature labor were stopped simply by giving the mother enough water to re-hydrate her body.
Pregnant women should be sure to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day, which is in addition to the normal intake of other recommended foods. The benefits of drinking water during pregnancy include healthier skin, less acne, washing away of unnecessary sodium, less chance for pre-term labor or miscarriage and better bowel movements. Drinking water can, believe it or not, also help preventing the nausea known as morning sickness, as doctors recommend drinking plenty of fluid between meals.
Drinking water for health benefits of the mother and baby are evident. Doctors, in fact, ask mothers to steer clear of diuretics like caffeine and alcohol, so water is the obvious alternative for fluid intake. Also, since doctors often 'prescribe' exercise in pregnant women, fluids will be lost through perspiration. As we know, pregnant or not, those fluids also need to be replaced.

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After reading that, I really hope that none of the women think it's a good idea to dehydrate themselves in order to cause premature labor. 

Think I'm crazy to think that? 

Trust me, I'm not. There are some very irresponsible pregnant women/young girls out there. 

We don't need a license or a permit to have children. Anyone can do it. 

Such a negative way to end this blog, but eh, it's how I feel.