Week 35 - Looking Ready to Pop Apparently…
August 16, 2006
I have been amazed in the past week or so how many people have first asked me when I’m due (not a new question - I’ve been getting that one for months) and then when I tell them I have over a month to go, they look shocked. So apparently, I’m looking overly pregnant already. The meter man in town (the guy who writes up tickets if your meter has expired - Frank), the cashier at the local market, other tennants in the building where I work, etc. Everyone seems surprised that I’m not due earlier. Should I be worried that I’m going to have a huge baby, since 5 weeks early I’m looking ready to pop? Ironically, my weight has been about the same for over a month now. I would assume that the baby is still growing, and my stomach certainly seems larger, but my weight is the same, which is weird to me. I’ll definitely ask my doctor about it during my next visit next week.
Another new and fun development this week has been cramps. I don’t believe these are Braxton Hicks contractions, as they are localized to one corner of my abdomen, and don’t move in a wave up or down my stomach, as they’ve been described in the literature. These cramps feel like payback for every time I went swimming without waiting an hour after eating. And, they get worse the more walking/moving I do, though they eventually go away when I rest. I haven’t read about anything similar to this anywhere, so I’m not sure what’s going on down there, but I also haven’t read about it being a symptom of something bad, so I’ve decided not to worry just yet. Instead, I will walk/waddle more slowly, and rest when I feel those payback cramps sneaking up on me.
Hi, I dont know you, just happened by. But I wanted to say that my wife is currently 34 weeks with our second child, and she gets the same thing: “How much longer?” Then looks of shock. I know other mothers who have gotten the same thing.
I think it’s just that people don’t know how big you’re supposed to be. But everyone thinks they know everything, of course, so they imagine they know how far along you are by glancing at you. They’re just wrong.
Have fun! It’s a trip.
Hi Ken, thanks for the encouragement - sometimes I can’t believe how big I’ve gotten, and how much more I have to grow… I’m glad I’m not the only mother out there who apparently looks further along than she really is (according to the know-it-all public)
Congratulations on your second baby!
Hi. I just found your blog via a link from a friend. Love it. I wish I would have journaled my pregnancy in my blog. I’ve kept a written journal instead. But I wanted to mention that I’m 33 weeks pregnant and for the past week or two strangers have been telling me I look ready to pop! When I tell them I have about 2 more months to go, their eyes go wide and they get quiet. LOL! It happens to all of us. I usually just smile and say, “yep, I’m getting close.”
Hi Rayne - congratulations on your pregnancy! I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog
I think any sort of documentation, whether a written journal, a blog or whatever is a cool idea - hopefully our offspring will get a kick out of it some day. PregnancyWeekly also has an online journal feature that you can use. I started to using it when I first found out, but then decided I liked sharing my stories with friends, family and the world at large better. I like your perspective on “looking ready to pop” - it is rather amusing to see people’s reactions. Good luck to you in your final few months - they seemed to drag by for me, but looking back on them, they didn’t seem to last all that long, if that makes any sense…
Hi, I’m 34 weeks and everyone has been telling me the same thing. They all think i am due now. This is my third pregnancy and my 1st boy. For my 2 daughters i was extremely small. When I was pregnant with my 1st daughter (Aaliyana now 3 1/2) someone at the laundrymat asked me when I was due and I told them 2 days ago and they just laughed thinking it was a joke and asked “no when really” but i had her the next afternoon. For this one I was bigger than my 1st 2 pregnancies when i was 6 1/2 months.
Hi, I am just under 34 weeks pregnant and for the past month or two I have been getting told how massive I am and being asked if I am carrying twins and people are gob-smacked when I tell them when I am due. I think people just forget how big pregnant woman are supposed to get. I am going to enjoy the next six weeks.
Hi- and congrats on the baby! I’m 35 weeks and I get the same look after I say I’m not due till
November 11. Now I just say “very soon” and “it feels like tomorrow”. They don’t have to know the specifics. Good luck!
Hi Erin, congrats on your pregnancy! Apparently for you, boys show more than girls. It must be weird, since for your last 2 pregnancies you didn’t get comments about looking ready to pop, etc. It is frustrating to see those surprised faces - I like Mary’s solution of not giving specifics, which then eliminates the comments all together. Good luck to you and your growing family!
Hi Shirsten - it is frustrating when people forget just how round pregnant women can get. I certainly hope you enjoy the next 6 weeks, and all of the weeks to come after that!
Hi Mary, congrats on your baby as well! I like your method of being more vague - I will definitely have to remember that for the next time around
Hello I’m 36 weeks and i feel like i couldn’t possibly stretch anymore, I had my first child at 36 weeks so it’s just in my head that it could happen anytime. Everybody around thinks I’m going to pop anyday now. Which would be fine by me!! I was told that I’m having a good size baby from my last ultrasound, then the girl said he has a good size head on him to!! That info was just alittle to much for me, now i fear i won’t be able to pop this one out as easy as i did with my first son that was 6 pounds
Hi Lori - congrats on your upcoming baby! I’m not sure I’d want to know about a good sized head, it seems like that would make me more nervous! At least your son was 6 lbs, so hopefully this one won’t be much larger, maybe 6.2 lbs? I’ll be hoping for a relatively easy delivery and a healthy baby for you - please let us know how it goes! Good luck!
my wife is in her 35th week and this is our 3rd baby. we had a scare when during the last ultrasound the baby’s abdomen was measured as 2 weeks smaller. however, the CTG was normal and we are praying for a normal delivery full term. Our baby moves a lot and is much more active than our earlier babies (both boys - eagerly looking forward to their sibling).
Hi Steve - congrats on your 3rd baby! I am sending positive thoughts your way for a happy, healthy baby who will hopefully arrive right on time! Maybe this extra wiggly baby will be a little sister for your boys
Good luck to you and your family, and please let us know how things turn out (if you’ve got a few minutes) 
steve I was just wondering what the up date on your baby is? how did everything work out?
I’m wondering the same thing Sammie - how did everything turn out with Steve’s family? I’m assuming that he’s busy juggling two boys and a new baby, but hopefully he finds a spare minute to come back and update us!
Hi
We’re due the exact same day.I get the same comments.I live on a military base and I found that if I tell them Im not pregnant and start to cry, they will leave you alone and apologize.It sounds cruel,but so is telling a very pregnant woman she looks “huge”.
LOL I am also 35 weeks pregnant with my fourth child , and i just wanted to say every single pregnancy i have had when i was around 34 weeks and up that is when everyone just started with the “so how much longer you got ” when i tell them they looked so shocked . So in other words dont feel bad it happens to every pregnant women lol
I am 34 weeks along- this very week i have had many ask me about when i am due and suprised that it’s 6 weeks away… I have started experience the exact same lower abdominal cramps and have to walk much slower… doesn’t seem to be anything to worry about, but i’ll be asking my dr at me next appt later this week.