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Trish: Hey mama.

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Welcome to Pregnancy unpacked.

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I'm Trish, a labor nurse of 16 years, mom of seven, and your birth vesting.

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I'm gonna be walking you through not just.

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Baby bumps and fruit sizes, but the entire identity shift that pregnancy will be for you.

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Each episode drops every Wednesday, and we're gonna unpack what's happening

in your body, what to expect, what to do, what's normal, even when it feels

extremely weird, and how to actually feel supported emotionally and physically.

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You're gonna hear from me where I'm not gonna sugarcoat

it, but I'm gonna be cheering you on along the way.

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You can follow along each Wednesday because pregnancy deserves more than outdated advice.

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And Google anxiety.

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Hey mama.

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Welcome back to Pregnancy.

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Unpacked.

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I cannot believe we are at 37 weeks.

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I don't even understand it.

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This has gone so fast.

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Probably not for you as fast as for me, but I

am so excited to be here with you at 37 weeks.

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And we're gonna talk about baby, we're gonna talk about your

prenatal appointments, preparing for birth and your mindset.

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If you forgot, I am, Trish Ware, your favorite.

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Right.

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Your favorite labor nurse turned your birth bestie.

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And if you are close to 37 weeks or right at 37

weeks, congratulations, your baby is officially.

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Considered early term and you are entering into what

I like to call any day, but maybe not territory.

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So we're gonna unpack what's really happening this week, what to expect, what

you might feel in your body, and just how to navigate the end of pregnancy.

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So hopefully that sounds good.

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Okay, so you might feel like you've been pregnant forever, but that's not the case.

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And guess what?

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It's coming to a close.

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Your little one is probably head down and getting into a launch position.

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They are around 19 inches long, at 37 weeks and weigh in around six to seven.

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Pounds.

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I mean, pick up a six to seven pound weight that's

pretty hefty that you've been carrying around.

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And you may be noticing movements feel different, but I want to caution

you, a lot of people will tell you that baby doesn't move as much at the end

of pregnancy, but that is not true, and that can be very dangerous advice.

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They are actually moving differently, more roles and

stretches, less kickboxing, and that's totally normal because.

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Baby is running out of room, which you probably already know by looking

at yourself, but you should still feel consistent movements every day.

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And we have a fetal movement count sheet that

you can get in our third trimester prep pack.

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We have a link down below or go to labor nurse mama.com/third.

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Here's the thing.

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Movements are so important because they tell you

and they tell us that baby is getting enough oxygen.

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So if movement suddenly drops off or slows down or just doesn't feel right, I'm giving

you permission that you are not overreacting, that you have every right to call us.

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We do not fault you.

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We wanna see you every time your gut feels like something's not right.

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We wanna see you when it comes to movement, okay?

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Not like every fear bump in the night.

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But if you really legit feel like something just doesn't feel

right, that is enough for me to check you in and check out, baby.

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So let's talk about a 37 weeks.

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Here's a juicy little stop for you.

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According to the CD, C births at 37 weeks have gone

up nearly 50% since 2014, which is a huge jump.

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So 37 weeks is not dangerous, but it's still technically early term.

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So it's really not what we want.

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But babies that are born at 37 weeks, they might still struggle with

some breathing compared to babies who are born at 39 weeks, which

they're gonna have stronger breathing, feeding, and brain development.

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So that's why like 37 weeks baby is okay.

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And I say that in quotes to be born, but.

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They're not ready.

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They're not cooked all the way, right?

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We want 'em to cook as long as possible, and that's why most providers

will not induce, and they're not allowed to induce unless there's a solid

reason, like a medical reason, like high blood pressure or low fluid or

gestational diabetes that's out of control and that decision is made when

it looks like baby or mama are gonna be better off apart than together.

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So if you're feeling done, I feel you.

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I've had a lot of babies.

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I really do.

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But if your body and baby are doing good, staying

pregnant a little longer can be so powerful for your baby.

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Let's talk about your 37 week prenatal appointment.

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This week's appointment is kind of a big deal.

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Here's what might go down.

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You're still gonna do the, the same old, same old weight, blood

pressure, belly measurements, baby's heartbeat, which is like sweet

little music position check is something we're gonna be doing.

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They've probably been doing that a little bit.

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Just checking right above the pubic bone if baby is head down, or

maybe baby was breached before and we're seeing if baby's head down.

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If baby is still breach, your provider might suggest something

called an external cephalic version, or they're gonna call it an ECV.

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I actually had one of these with Gavin, my baby.

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Number four.

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It's not the most gentle of things.

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It is a manual way to try to turn the baby's head down.

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It's not always successful, for me, it was worth it.

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My midwife was willing to do a breach delivery, but unmedicated

breach delivery was not really what I wanted, so I opted for the ECV.

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So what happens is you get admitted to labor and delivery.

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Some providers prefer that you get an epidural, some don't, but really it's up to you.

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I did not get an epidural.

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I wasn't planning for my birth to get an epidural, so I wasn't gonna get one for this.

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We give you a medication that's going to speed

up your heart rate, but relaxes your uterus.

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So it's very uncomfortable.

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I'm just gonna tell you that a lot of people don't tell you that

it is uncomfortable, that medication, but for me it was worth it.

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They turned Gavin, so they give you the medication, relax your uterus.

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Two doctors will come in, one pushes this way, one pushes counterclockwise, and they

gently turn the baby head down from the outside, from the outside of your tummy.

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So it's a little disconcerting, but it's safe,

and they're gonna talk this over with you again.

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This is your decision.

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You get to decide.

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For me, it was what I chose to do.

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Now you should have had your group B strep test by now.

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If not, you're going to be having it this week, more than likely.

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And that is a test where we do a swab from your vagina down to your booty.

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And we're checking if you have group B strep positive in this area.

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We're gonna be checking if you have group B strep.

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Now I have an article all about that, so I'm not gonna go into it.

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I think we have a podcast as well.

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We'll link in the show notes.

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So let's talk about things to check off at this visit.

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Confirming baby's position, going over your birth plan, asking about early labor signs.

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What's normal?

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When should you call?

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Last week we talked about talking about the process for checking in at the hospital.

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If you haven't done that, do it because when you are in labor and you.

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Come to the hospital in the middle of the night.

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The entry where you're gonna, the process where you're gonna go,

all those things are different than if you come in in the morning.

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So talk with your provider about that.

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Also, double check your hospital bag.

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Get your car seat ready.

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I recommend going and having your car seat properly checked.

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There's different websites and things that you can do to check out if the

car seat is properly installed, 'cause those things are a pain in the arse.

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I'll tell you, if you're doing cord blood banking, you need to

have that kit in the car ready to go as well, and you're gonna

take that to the hospital and give it to your labor nurse.

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Here's some things that you might be feeling this week.

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You might be feeling a lot of pelvic pressure like baby is trying to moonwalk

out of your vagina and you feel a lot of heaviness when you stand up.

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You're probably having more and more Braxton Hicks

and they're a little sassier now, but that's okay.

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You are peeing like a mother again.

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That struggle is real.

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That is going to end soon, I promise you, but it's kind

of like first trimester when you're peeing all the time.

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You probably are seeing some swelling in your feet and hands, which is

normal, but if you see uneven, like one hand is swollen and one isn't, or

it's suddenly you get swollen, you need to let your provider know about this.

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That could be a sign of preeclampsia.

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You probably are having some back pain.

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Oh gosh, this sounds so much fun, doesn't it?

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All these things I'm listing.

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I'm so sorry.

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Back pain, poor sleep, and you're probably leaking chorum.

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I love hakes Chorum collectors.

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We will link in the show notes as well for you to be able to order those.

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And you don't have to leak actively, uh, collect chorum,

but you can passively and it's really great for later on.

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You don't necessarily, unless you have a high risk reason,

you don't necessarily need to bring it to the hospital.

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If you're gestational diabetic, I would take chorum to the hospital.

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You might suddenly find yourself organizing your fridge.

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That is the nesting instinct kicking in.

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I love the nesting instinct.

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Like I had such a clean house when I was at the end of every pregnancy.

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It's totally normal and I love it, but I would tell you don't overdo it.

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Be sure that part of your labor prep and part of your end

of pregnancy plan is resting because having a new baby and

being sleep deprived and your body is healing is so difficult.

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So I really recommend that you're taking some care of you right now.

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One of the things we recommend in the Labor bat signal into our.

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Students is that if you are doing all your labor prep and all the

planning at end of pregnancy, also schedule in something just for you.

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So maybe go to the movies with friends, do something that you can't do after baby is born.

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Remember that.

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The more you honor yourself and show your family that you are valuable

by honoring yourself, you're setting up this lovely precedence for

your family that mom is important because a lot of times as moms.

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We tend to put our needs last.

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So I want you to start practicing self care now.

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Okay, check that off.

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Put that on your birth plan.

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I'm practicing self-care.

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You're probably feeling excited and nervous, scared, but also

excited, empowered, exhausted, ready, unsure, and all of that is

normal and it's okay, and it can all live inside the same body.

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So that doesn't mean anything's wrong with you, it just means you're human, you're normal.

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And growing a whole human inside of you is a pretty crazy

experience that can throw you out of whack a little.

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So if you're not.

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Bouncing with joy every second.

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That's also normal and some moms experience that.

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So that doesn't make you wrong or bad.

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You don't have to feel a specific way just because someone says you should.

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You don't have to feel excited 24 7 to be a good mom.

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You are still amazing and you are going to be an incredible mom.

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So let's normalize that.

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We all feel different emotions.

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We're not all of a sudden one like little robot person.

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So your 37 week checklist this week.

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Pack your hospital bag.

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You have to, yes, for real, have it ready to go.

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Have your car seat installed professionally.

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Just make sure you're doing it right.

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This is so, so important.

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Finalize your postpartum support, your meals, your help, all of those things.

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Keep track of the baby's movement.

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This is so important.

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Again, remember, baby doesn't slow down their movements.

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Their movements are just different.

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Print out your birth.

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Preferences sheet, your birth plan, your birth map, whatever you wanna call it.

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Prep your partner and your support person.

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And what are your non-negotiables?

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Like talk that out with your birth team.

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Like what is non-negotiable for you during your birth?

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Now I always say inside my classes that you have every right

to refuse whatever you want, but should you, so if you have a

non-negotiable, but you're not really sure the reasons we use.

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Them or the reasons why you shouldn't use them or should use them.

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You need to know that because you don't wanna make a

willy-nilly is that the right, am I saying that right?

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You don't wanna make a willy-nilly decision during your birth?

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I think so anyway.

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All right, mama.

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You know, I like to keep these short and sweet.

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These are just your weekly check-ins.

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Week 37 means you are almost there, but not quite there, but it feels like a long time.

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But then after it's over, you're like, oh my gosh, it went so fast.

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Now's the time to stay calm.

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Ask questions.

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You have every right to ask questions.

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You're not a bother.

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Trust your body, though.

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I want you right now to look down at your body out loud in your

car, wherever you're listening to this, and I want you to say,

you are freaking powerful because your body is so powerful.

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I know you're waking up in the middle of the night with wild dreams,

and I know you're peeing every three seconds, but you're doing it.

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You're doing it so amazingly, and you are so precious to us here at Labor Nurse Mama.

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This is just all a part of this beautiful, messy, miraculous.

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Road to your birth experience and no matter, no matter how it unfolds.

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You are not alone.

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We are here with you.

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If you love this episode, don't forget to hit follow

and share it with a mama who needs to hear that.

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She's incredible.

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She just wants a little check-in.

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We have our pregnancy unpacked on Wednesdays and we have the birth experience,

our full podcast with all different types of episodes and interviews on Fridays.

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So we are there with you guys.

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I'll see you again next week for a week 38.

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Holy smokes.

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Where did all this go?

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Where we're gonna be talking about the final countdown.

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We're gonna bust into some birth topics and we.

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Want to see you again next week.

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Alright, you guys, that was your weekly check-in for 37 weeks pregnancy.

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I love it.

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You're getting there.

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You're incredible.

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Keep moving that body, keep doing your deep breathing, your calming techniques,

and as always, just remember you are so magical and amazing, and I adore you.

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I'll see you again next week.

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Bye for now.