34 weeks

Your Baby
Your baby kind of looks like he's coated in a layer of cream cheese these days. The thick, white substance that protects his skin from pruning in the amniotic fluid is called vernix. When he's born you'll probably see some vernix lingering in his "hard-to-reach" places like under his arms and behind his ears.

The soft fur, lanugo, that covered your baby's body for much of his stay in the womb is now almost completely gone. Your baby begins to develop his own immune system, instead of relying solely on antibodies received through the placenta. This will come in handy when some grubby relative manhandles the baby without washing his hands first.

This week, your baby measures about 17¾ inches, as almost as long as an American Girl Doll (!) and weighs almost 5 pounds, as heavy as a bag of sugar, minus the cup you put in your decaf this morning.

Mommy Update

So, at 6 weeks left, I am feeling pretty good. It is Winter Break, so I have plenty of time to rest. I have been exercising more (wii fit and a yoga for pregnant chicks dvd), and sleep hasn't been too much of a problem. Overall, I feel really well. I had meant to blog about every detail about pregnancy, but I don't feel much different. I have had a little bit of heart burn again, but nothing like I had during the summer! Also, my hips can be a little sore at times,usually in the morning - but nothing awful, and my lower back of course gets sore at times - but that's to be expected.

When I first started drinking lots of water, baby started moving a whole lot. Now he is getting bigger and his movement has slowed down again, but the kick counts, for the most part, go really well. Some days, he moves a ton - other days, not as much. Yesterday, I felt a whole lot of squirming but not a lot of kicking. Right now, he has what I think are hiccups - it has happened a few times in the past, too.

Also on my mind are the upcoming labor and delivery. I am not too worried about it at this point, and I am not very scared. I just feel like women have survived this for centuries - and most women do it again - so it is obviously doable. I have had funny dreams about delivery, though - like dreaming that I was checking into a lovely beach-view room at Hotel Hoag to deliver my baby - LOL - for some reason I don't think the experience will be THAT pleasant!

Baby Pool

I created a just-for-fun baby pool. (The link is on the right sidebar of this page.) I thought it would be fun to try to guess things about Baby G's birthday - the date and time of delivery, his size, etc. I thought it would be fun!

Follow the link if you'd like to participate!

This pool will close on January 10th, 2009, as we get closer to the due date!

33 weeks! 7 to go!

Your Baby
The big news this week is lung development—baby's respiratory system is almost completely mature. That means if your baby was born this week, odds are he'd be a healthy bouncing baby with a just a little help from his friends (aka, the NICU). Some of the specifics are:

Your baby can now detect light and tell the difference between night and day (of course that ability will miraculously disappear once he's born and up all night screaming). His pupils will constrict and dilate in response to light. If you shine a flashlight on your belly, your baby may shy away from the light as if to say, "Cut it out, Ma. You're soooo annoying."

The bones in your baby's skull are soft and are not yet fused together. In other words, now is not the time to teach him how to do a headspin while breakdancing. This pliability allows the bones to overlap; making that trip down the tight birth canal possible (and resulting in that surprising cone head look your baby will sport for the first few days post-birth. Don't worry, it's totally normal and that's what hats are for.)

Your baby will continue to pack on the pounds gaining around ½ pound a week from here on out.

Your baby weighs about 4½ pounds, as much as a grownup duck, and is approximately 17.5 inches long, about the same as a collarbone-length pearl necklace.

Friday's Ultrasound

So, in my last blog I was feeling sort of stressed, but by Thursday, my outlook was better. I reminded myself that things, overall, have been going really well.

On the upside:
- I feel good. Overall, I can count on one hand the number of bad days I've had.
- Baby G is measuring in the 50th percentile on all measurements- what more could you ask for?
- Baby G's due date on Monday's ultrasound was within four days - again, he's right where he should be.
- My kick counts are good - usually within 20 minutes, but always in an hour or less.
- He's been moving a lot more this week, and the movement feels different - like he really does have more room to move.
- I have been drinking a ton of water.

The worry?
- My fluids were at 9.2 cm, while they're supposed to be between 10 - 15. Yes, it is a worry, but it is only .8 away from the safe zone and 4.2 away from the DANGER _ WE NEED TO INDUCE zone. Something to take seriously, for sure, but one factor that I hoped I could effect.

On Friday, the ultrasound showed that I know have 11.2 cm of fluid! I was hoping for anything over 10, so I was stoked that I made it to 11!

I am also really happy because they told me to drink a lot of water as well as stay off my feel when possible (after work, etc.) I drank well over the suggested 2 liters a day, but had a harder time staying off my feet - with Cats on Tuesday, and my parent training class on Thursday, but I did try. And still, I was able to raise my fluids 2 cm in four days!

Also, Baby G is in a completely different position - his head is still facing down on my left, but his butt is on now over on the top on my left, and his legs are over onthe right - more like an "L" shape (as opposed to Monday's jack knife.) So he has more room to stretch and move now!

Baby Shower

Dear Baby G,
On Sunday, Mommy had her family baby shower! Grandma flew out from Michigan for a week. The party was a real team effort. Jessica and Karen hosted the party at their house and took care of all the decorations and food. Grandma Donna (who doesn't want to be called Grandma, but I am still not sure what name we decided on yet - Nona? We'll figure it out and edit this later...) made yummy cupcakes - Mommy's favorite. and Aunt Tammy and Grandma Patty took care of the games and the favors.

Lots of people who love you already came to the shower. Grandma Patty, Grandma Donna, Grandma Delaine, Aunt Tammy, Jessica, Gina, Michelle, Karen, Aunt Heather, Aunt Kathy, Aunt Nancy, Cathy, Katherine, and Angie.

Of course, with Aunt Tammy in charge of the games, we had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs! All of your "Aunties" helped mommy and daddy out a lot and spoiled you by getting us lots of great stuff that you'll need. All in all, it was a great time! You are one lucky baby! And I am one lucky mommy!

The uncertainty continues...

On Monday, I had an ultrasound. The good news? The baby is growing exactly on target - all of his measurements are in the 50th percentile - pretty much exactly where he should be. However, my amniotic fluid measured at 9.2 cm, which is too low - it should be between 10 - 15 cm. right now.

I am guessing that the dehydration diagnosis from Wednesday was pretty accurate. Luckily we caught it and I am working very hard to drink at least 2 liters a day.

Also, I have very good kick counts - Usually I feel 10 kicks in 20 - 30 minutes, easily, and Dr. Feldman said that was very important.

Today, however, I went in for a Dr. visit and saw a nurse practitioner - not my normal nurse practitioner. Usually I either see Dr. Feldman, or nurse practitioner Brownrigg. Today, I was scheduled to see the nurse practitioner.

During the first part of the exam, with the heartbeat and blood pressure, the nurse asked if I minded if another nurse practitioner came in "too," with my nurse pratitiner, which to me meant that she would come in WITH my practitioner (as in, like a medical student.)

Well, she came in by herself and I did not like her. SHe seemed very alarmist and pretty much made me feel like crap. It wasn't what she said, but how she explained it - my normal doctor has a calmer demeanor - very casual and very "we'll deal with it," type attitude which puts me at ease. This delivery felt more like I better be prepared for all the worse possible outcomes, without much talk about the positive.

Essentially she said if my fluids weren't up by Friday, we'd probably start fetal monitoring - and if we did that, then I needed to be prepared o go to the hospital at a moment's notice - bags packed and everything - because if my fluids dropeed below 5cm we would induce immediatly.

Now don't get me wrong - I appreciate knowing the possibilities - but I prefer to have it presented in a "this are some of the possibilities," rather than "this could very well happen." I don't know if I am explaining it well, but I just feel - well - stressed - which can't possibly help the situation.

I feel worried that I have taken the pregnancy to casually since everything has been going so well, and I haven't been taking care of myself enough. I am working really hard to improve that - I am trying to stay off my feet when I can, rest, and drink lots and lots of water!

32 weeks

Your Baby
Although your baby will still remain active, his days of trying out for Cirque du Soleil are nearly over. About this time your baby will settle into the head-down position in preparation for birth. Other fascinating facts:

Both you and baby are putting on some serious weight at this point. You'll probably gain about a pound a week for the next few weeks, with half of that poundage bulking up baby. He'll likely double his weight in the next eight weeks.

Ever wonder what your baby is doing in there these days? He's busy blinking, looking around, grabbing things, making faces, practicing his breathing, peeing and listening to everything around him—pretty much exactly what he'll be doing for the first three months of his life, sans the adoring audience and the flashing camera.

Your baby may (or may not) have a full head of hair now. If she's a baldy, don't worry. You can always buy a Baby Toupee or some adhesive barrettes.

By the end of this week, your baby will weigh about 4 pounds and be between 17 and 18 inches long—about the length of a hot pair of above-the-knee boots.

wednesday scare

Last Wednesday was kind of scary for me. Around 11:30, my stomach started hurting - like a cramp. It wasn't contractions - it wasn't spasms - it was more like a solid pain.

I called the doctor and the nurse who called me back said the most likely cause was dehydration - if I am not drinking enough water my uterus can cramp up. She told me that I needed to slow down, go home, rest, and drink lots of water, and if I didn't feel better I needed to call back.

My stomach hurt a lot all day long. Mom flew out that day and she and Grant took very good care of me. I drank a ton of water. When I woke up Thursday, I felt back to normal - my back was a little sore from supporting my stomach, but I felt fine - but boy oh boy, lesson learned. I have been drinking lots of water ever since!

31 weeks

Your Baby
From this week on, your baby will continue to gain around ½ pound a week until shortly before birth (even though it may feel like a whole lot more with every step you take). Other highlights this week:

Due to increasing space constraints, your baby's arms and legs stay drawn up close to the body now, known as the fetal position (oh, so that's where that name came from!). Plus, your baby can now process information from all five senses—so he'll be all set to smell the pureed peas, taste them, feel them as he mashes them into his hair, hear you crack up and then see the flash as you grab the camera to snap picture after picture.

By now, your baby's lungs are the only system not fully mature. And by mature, we're not saying that the rest of your baby's systems are mature enough to be out past 10 PM with the neighborhood hooligan, just that his lungs need a little bit more time to bake before they can kick it in the outside world.

Your baby weighs about 3½ pounds and measures a little over 16 inches, about the same length as that miniskirt you used to wear (and will again someday!).

Starting your nursery!

Hey Baby,
Do you know that you do more "rolling" then "kicking"? The kicking I expect but that rolling feeling is very odd. I wish I could watch you and see what you are doing in there!

Anyways, I just wanted to let you know that Daddy and Grandpa Gary started your nursery on Wednesday. It is all painted now and looks really good! Next we're going to put up the wall paper border so that it is ready for furniture!

So exciting, baby!

Love,
Mommy

30 week visit

Last week I had a 30 week visit. From now on, I see my doctor every two weeks! Everything is fine with the baby - his heartbeat is a consistent 140 beats per minute, and I can do a kick count every day, so Dr. Feldman says that is fine. He scheduled for me to have another ultrasound - so I get to see you again! That makes me SO HAPPY! I weigh 180 pounds now, so I've gained about 20. We're getting closer!

Something I have noticed especially this week is how funny my body feels when I move. Part of me feels like I am in another person's body. Movements that are normally automatic, like running for a few steps or bending over to pic something up, now require a second of thought to figure out how to make my muscles work properly to perform the movement correctly without falling or anything! Obviously, my center of balance has completely shifted, but it is still an odd feeling!

It is sort of like sometimes when I have this weird feeling in my house, like when I get to the bottom of the stairs and think I haven't actually made it to the bottom because I am far too high up - I can remember what it was like as a child walking down those same stairs and I know what height my head is supposed to be when I get to the bottom - I know - weird, right? Or when I am in the kitchen and I have this strange feeling because I am so much higher then the counters. That "off" feeling is the closest thing I can describe to moving with my new body.

There are somethings about pregnancy that sure are an adventure!

30 weeks!

Your Baby
Big news for baby's brain this week: It's starting to wrinkle and fold and looks like something that grew in the back of your fridge. This is due to the rapid growth of your little genius's brain cells. Other highlights this week:

Fingernails and toenails are finally finished—causing his or her parents great fear and anguish the first time they try to cut those little daggers (it gets easier, we promise)! Plus, the bone marrow is completely in charge of red-blood-cell production now. Trust us, this is a good thing.

Baby is starting to shed his lanugo—the downy hair that was covering his skin. Now that he's chubbier and better able to regulate his body temp, he doesn't need to sport a fur coat 24/7.

"I spy an umbilical cord and the inside of my mom's uterus!" When your baby is awake, his eyes are now wide open and he's whittling away the hours looking around, checking out his rather dark, limited environs.

Your baby hasn't gained much weight or height this week, as most of his energy's been channeled to the brain. He weighs about 3 pounds and is approximately 15.5 inches long, about the size of London, not the city, Britney Spears' Yorkie terrier. Of course your baby is less hairy and way cuter!