As a Type A personality, my biggest competition is often myself. Anything can turn into my own personal competition against myself to motivate and push myself to succeed. When cooking dinner I compare past iterations against the dish being prepared trying to gauge where I had the biggest success or failure and trying to duplicate (and even outdo) myself. This friendly competition with myself isn't just limited to cooking though, it can be about most anything.
It should be no surprise that being pregnant, I'm competing against myself once again. You might be asking yourself how that's even possible but let me tell you, it's possible. Any time past 30 weeks 6 days is winning in my book but ideally I'm hoping to make it into the full term, 37 week + range. Since I had a premature delivery at 31 weeks (technically 30 weeks 6 days) with Cakes, my number one pregnancy competition goal was to make it past that part. I'm now over a week past where I was when I had Cakes, now 32 weeks pregnant, with no indications of preterm labor. One point goes to me.
Since that was my main goal and focus for this pregnancy, any other mini successes have just been icing on the cake. I was a little concerned when I didn't pass my 1 hour glucose test but was relieved to find out I passed the 3 hour. And thus far, my weight gain has been staying pretty steady. After losing my appetite for a couple of weeks and dropping a few pounds, my weight has rebounded and I'm back up to 23 pounds gained at 32 weeks. I certainly haven't been watching my weight and should be forcing myself to eat more healthily but this baby is just very particular about what she wants (her latest love is Thin Mint ice cream). Right now I'm happily obliging since in just two months time I'm sure my newest competition with myself will be dropping the baby weight. It took the stress of a 40 day NICU stay and constant pumping but I was at my pre-pregnancy weight at my 6 week postpartum checkup, what are the odds that I can match or beat that?!
Tell me I'm not the only one that does this. Do you compete against yourself? If so, what about?
Tabitha @ A Restful Place says
January 27, 2012 at 10:54 amI’m just like you! I’ve been trying so hard with this pregnancy (my second). My biggest struggle and bother to me has been my weight gain. I’m gaining so ever slowly. I’m 32 weeks too and have only gained 17 pounds. I only gained 20 pounds with my first (born at 37 weeks) but I was hoping to do a little better this time around. I get told all the time that I don’t look as far along as I am (which makes me feel like I’m doing something wrong). My in-laws were so sure last time that something was wrong because I was so small but this time I’m smaller and no one has said a word… 🙂 I’m hoping to make it 37+ weeks too – though I’ve been having lots of contractions and have been trying to ignore them and hope this baby waits till at least 37 weeks. 🙂 Blessings to you…
@Txterryo says
January 27, 2012 at 10:38 amI’m the exact opposite of you. So much so that I’m sitting here wishing I had one ounce of Type-A in me. I’m 23 weeks along with my first, and have done absolutely ZERO so far in getting the house ready, signing up for daycare (although, I think my reluctance there may be my passive-aggressive way of pushing myself towards a solutions) or stepping foot in a store to get my baby registry together.
I *am* eating well, taking my vitamins, rubbing my bump with love, sleeping all the time and trying to get in as much pre-baby quality time as possible with my husband. That has to count for something, right?
In the meantime, I’m going to have to take some cues from you! 🙂
Nichol says
January 27, 2012 at 4:02 pmI’m so happy and yes I am so similar although a MAJOR perfectionist, which is bad. I get images of in my head of what something should look like, and that is exactly what it will look like. Like a burger. It must be piled high with all the fixin’s. During my pregnancies, I wanted to be that perfect pregnant woman and quit everything bad (except eating a ton of ice cream lol). No soda, no bad food, stayed active etc. I’m keeping fingers crossed you make it to 37+ weeks, hugs mama.
MSRheinlander says
January 27, 2012 at 4:25 pmYAY!! Point to you!! I am sure you will be down to your tiny little self in no time!!
Crystal @ Simply Being Mommy says
January 27, 2012 at 10:54 pmI’m so happy you’ve made it this far. And how the heck has it been 32 weeks already?
Shop with Me Mama (Kim) says
January 28, 2012 at 1:21 amYay for making it past your mark!! You will be holding your precious baby soon, I can’t believe you are already 32 weeks!!
Penelope says
January 28, 2012 at 10:42 amI’ve been beating myself up about gaining so much this pregnancy, but I’ve been working on it (yep, compete against myself)…I hope we both make it to at least 37 weeks!
ohkeeka [The Type A Housewife] says
January 28, 2012 at 9:35 pmHooray for reaching 32 weeks! And I just know that you’ll get that other 5 weeks in too. It’s so hard to believe that you’re due so soon–time flies, huh?
I always compete with myself too. Just the other day, Chris was like, “You really have to stop being this way.” But I don’t know any other way to be!
Alison says
January 30, 2012 at 11:22 amShe’s a girl after my own heart . . . Thin Mint Ice cream, YUM 🙂
Rachel @ Rachel's Giveaways says
January 31, 2012 at 3:44 pmYou mean competing with yourself isn’t totally normal? 🙂 I’m trying to be less Type A about certain things but I am such a perfectionist, especially at work. I also can’t believe it’s already been 32 weeks – glad you’re still holding strong. Every week at this point makes such a big difference developmentally.
Kelly says
January 31, 2012 at 8:08 pmI think she liked the ice cream a little too much because my husband went to get some and was like what happened here?! I resisted buying more last time I was at the store but might have to try the Samoa flavor next time…
Dana says
February 1, 2012 at 11:47 amI’m so happy you are at 32 weeks! I can’t even imagine the extra nerves you have to fight having had such an early delivery the first time around. I’m really happy for you!