Still an eggplant...although another website used a Cucumber as a "length" comparison for this week.
Epidural without guilt? Turns out the epidural debate is as hot as the Breastfeeding debate. Ask a handful of women and you're bound to cause a heated discussion. I was speaking with two medics yesterday who are just back from Maternity leave. They praised the epidural saying it allowed them to "enjoy the experience more because they weren't distracted by the pain." But then speaking to others, they say that the pain is PART of the experience and warned me that the risks of an epidural outweighed the benefits including; lowering baby's heart rate, stalling labour, nerve damage AND allergic reaction. Some will even go so far as to say that the endorphins released from the pain of childbirth, help you to bond with your child faster! On the other hand, some say that the risk of tearing is less with an epidural because you are more relaxed!? Up until this point I always just expected I would go natural, as my Mother and Sister have done. I thought that I wouldn't truly "experience" the birth without the pain. But if I'm so focused on the pain, I may actually MISS the experience!? Perhaps I'm just getting cold feet as the delivery date approaches!! :s I guess I can always leave the option on the table and take it one contraction at a time!
Have you heard of baby sign language? The theory is that we are all born with an instinctive need to communicate but speech requires motor skill that babies only master after a year +. Studies show that while infants may lack these skills, they do have the ability to understand and use 'language" before they can actually 'speak'. Babies who are taught to sign have the ability to communicate when they are tired, thirsty, hungry, or even when they want another story read. Research has shown that babies who sign are less frustrated since they have a way of expressing their wants and needs. BUT will this cause a delay in actual speech?? The same research says NO. Amazingly, babies who are taught a few simple signs not only speak earlier than non-signers but have larger vocabularies and become better readers. It has to do with stimulating more synapses of the brain. Signing babies even have IQ's that are 10-12 points higher. When you think about it, babies instinctively "sign" already. For example, without being taught, a baby will raise his arms to be picked up. The key is to emphasize the word verbally while also making the sign. Now apparently this technique can't be used until the child is around 7 months but it would be fascinating to "communicate" with your child before they even utter their first word! The problem I foresee is that unless everyone in contact with your child knows the signs, you are going to have one very frustrated 7 month old on your hands. One who thinks some grown-ups aren't very smart!! :)
What's happening with baby this week? "Your little grower's physical proportions are pretty much birth-ready and most of their remaining development will largely be weight gain and a ton of nervous system development. The good news is: if your child were to be born premature, they'd likely survive without much trauma as their lungs started producing "surfactant" last week, which means their tiny respiratory system is getting stronger with each passing day. Yes, now's a good time for a minor sigh of relief and a quick pat on the back. All that hard work and conscientious living is really getting your child prepared for a healthy delivery. In mobile-fetus news: your baby should be scootching slowly out of the breech position (head upright, with their butt-n-legs down by your pelvis) and start rotating around for a head-first exit through the birth canal. If all goes well, and your little womb hi-jacker isn't a contrary one, they'll be locked-n-loaded in the next few weeks! Time is short (or really long, depending on who you ask) - just (still!) 14 weeks left before you can go back to being a single-resident human...with one tiny brand-spankin' new family member!"
14 weeks left?! I'm not ready yet!!! Gulp!
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