31st Week

53 days to go?!? How is that possible?! I remember writing on my 12th week blog  "…only 194 days to go!!"  

Not much to report this week...just been really busy at work.  It seems that suddenly everyone realizes I'll be going off on Maternity leave soon so everything has become a priority to get done.  Argh!

I had an OB appointment on Tuesday.  I haven't seen her for 5 weeks due to a scheduling conflict.  She took the usual measurements and said the baby is growing like a weed.  In fact, I'm measuring 2-3 weeks ahead which means I think he's gonna be a BIG boy!  (AND I've already gained 30lbs…with 8weeks to go! :s  (Who set the 25lb-35lb weight gain rule anyways?!?) She said not to worry - she won't let me go overdue.  She also told me I'm anemic, which accounts for my shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue. Just not making enough red blood cells for both of us.  Therefore, I have been put on iron pills which might take about a month before I see any improvement.  Going forward, my appointments will now be every 2 weeks. 

One of the girls from the "preggers" club at work gave birth this week.  A 9lb baby boy!  And she was tiny...but her belly was enormous!  That restored my faith that I can do this…as she did and lived to tell the tale!  We also had a new pregger join the club.  So wide eyed and naive…just like we all were at her stage (13 weeks).  Now us old timer, third trimester girls will have to take her under our wing (our giant jiggly wing) and show her the ropes.  :)

 

What’s happening with baby this week? “As far as growth goes, your baby's still on a roll, measuring an impressive 18 inches and weighing in at more than three pounds. At 31 weeks, you can still expect your baby to gain at least three to five pounds, possibly more, before you two meet. Your baby's brain is working overtime these days, developing faster than ever.   Connections between individual nerve cells are growing at a frenetic clip, and your baby can now perceive information from all five senses. Sure, your baby can't smell anything right now, but that's only because he or she is still submerged in amniotic fluid and needs to be breathing air to get a whiff of anything. Lucky for you - and your baby - yours will be one of the very first scents your baby breathes in, a scent that will quickly become his or her very favorite. So what's your little dove doing all day while you're busy feathering your nest for his or her arrival? Making faces, hiccupping, swallowing, breathing, pedaling with little hands and feet along your uterine wall, and even sucking his or her thumb. In fact, some babies suck their thumbs so vigorously while in the womb that they're born with a callus on their thumb.”

The countdown is on to mommy-hood.  I still can't believe I've been blessed with this gift.....