36th Week

Cheeks are getting pretty chubby! :)

Well I've reached the end of the produce line...and am now a Watermelon!  (Yup, that feels just about right! Ugh!)

Thank you to all who attended my Baby shower this past weekend.  I was very touched that you would  all take time out of your busy schedules to help me celebrate this blessing.  The food, decorations, company, and laughter made for a fantastic afternoon. I was spoiled by all of your gifts and love…and am touched to have such amazing people in my life.  On a side note…congrats to Nanny F. who obviously has an eye for guesstimating a waistline.  BTW the measurement was 42.5”. Eeek!

I had my weekly Doctor’s appointment and everything is status quo.  I did gain 5lbs of fluid in a week, which has caused my ankles and hands to swell…and my BP was a little elevated. But according to the Doctor, “that’s normal with carrying such a big boy” and there is no reason not to continue working.  So back to work I go.  “Daddy” says he’s coming with me next week to fight my battle but I don’t know if he’s truly prepared for unsympathetic Dr. A!!  :s

Well I’ve begun ‘nesting’ which is a good sign.  I just can’t seem to get the house clean enough.  I’m sure Baby Bryce will be really impressed that I pledged the kitchen cupboards, detailed the fridge and freezer, and organized my junk drawer!! :p  Next is the Tupperware cupboard, the pantry, and my sock drawer!!

I definitely have a crazy pregnancy waddle going on.  I try to walk like a normal person…but that ends up looking even more ridiculous!  My body feels likes a rusty old tin man.  I’m so stiff and slow, and getting out of bed in the morning is like an olympic sport.  There’s the set-up, the agonizing roll over and the dismount. Then a hush falls over the room to see if I stick the landing.  Which I usually do…but on shaky legs.  The problem is my Sacro-Iliac joint.  It’s the spot right near the dimple on your lower back above your buttocks!  For me it’s the left side and every step sends shooting pain down my leg.  I had problems there before from running (over-training) and saw a Physiotherapist and Chiropractor.  Nothing really helped but rest and ice.  I suppose delivering this big bambino would help too! 

What’s happening with Baby this week? “Congratulations! Although he may have a few more weeks to go, your baby is considered full term at the end of the 36th week. The only organ that still needs some time to mature is the lungs. While you may be ready to be NOT pregnant, remember that every day your baby spends in the womb increases his chance of the prevention of breathing difficulties. This week, your baby may drop further into the birth canal in preparation for delivery. This makes breathing a lot easier for you, but walking becomes more difficult. You may be startled when your baby stretches into your ribs and bangs his head against your cervix. He is surely beginning to run out of room in those cramped quarters. The average size of babies in the 36th week is 19 inches long and 5 ¾ pounds in weight. Your baby is gaining more fat every day, and may be even forming those cute dimples around his elbows and knees. His gums are very rigid, and he will be ready to nurse or bottle-feed when he is born.”

18 days to go?!  I can't wait to meet the little guy!!  

35th Week

Goodbye 35 weeks...so much closer now to meeting our little boy!

35 weeks

16 weeks

I thought it would be neat to do
a side by side since I put this
pink shirt on recently and
realized that - much like my
belly - it has stretched to
maximum capacity! 

My Paramedic Partner Jenn threw me a baby shower this past weekend.  (Wow that sounds strange. Never in a million years did I think I would ever have a 'Baby Shower'! ) She decorated with blue and white streamers/balloons, and had lots of yummy food prepared.  And of course I was spoiled with gifts!   Being the center of attention makes me uncomfortable so opening presents has always been a difficult thing to do. I guess there is no avoiding 'being the center of attention' in the delivery room as I receive the biggest and best gift of my life! One of the guests brought her newborn baby.  When my turn came to snuggle him, I think there was a little jealousy from within as Bryce became extra squirmy!  It is very surreal to know I have the same little sweet package tucked inside my belly!

I also had a Doctor's appointment on  Monday. (I see her every week now)  Everything is looking good although I'm still measuring ahead at 39 weeks!  I tactfully broached the subject of medical leave as the long work week, and rush hour commute is getting to be a bit much. Not to mention the constant insomnia, and general discomfort.  Anyway, her reply was "you are too healthy for medical leave and I have no concerns at this point.  We'll just take it week by week"!  Then she went on to say, after I gave her a copy of the U/S report, "Oh he IS a big boy....you're going to have to push for 24 hours!"  Really nice thing to say!! What does that do to a moms thought process?  We are suggestible, especially at times when a person who has "authority" says something.  How many moms are psyched out of birthing their babies the way their body knows how to, when that seed of doubt is planted by their health care provider!?  I guess I just need to remind myself that my body will grow the perfect size baby for ME! 

What's happening with baby this week? "At 35 weeks, the average baby weighs about five and a half pounds now and measures about 18-20 inches long. The bun is almost done! This week of pregnancy, your baby is going to be concentrating on weight gain, to fill out his arms and legs into those plump little limbs we all know and love on babies. Besides looking cute, the layers of fat will also help regulate his body temperature. You may feel less kicking and more twisting and wriggling, as he is running out of room to move around in there. He may have turned to the head down position in preparation for delivery. Your little one is now sleeping through regular periods of REM and deep sleep at week 35. He is also experiencing active and quiet wakefulness where he continues to explore the environment around him. Pretty soon, he'll be a newborn! Have you been practicing "Goodnight Moon"? Your baby's hearing is fully developed and he is ready for a good story and a song."

27 days to go...I can't wait!!  As much as I loved being pregnant, I'm ready to carry him in my arms instead of my tummy!!

34th Week

I've been pregnant for 246 days!  Only 34 more to go!!

I can see why many women choose to have their babies at home.  In Hospitals, babies are subjected to a myriad of tests, procedures, prophylactic antibiotic ointments, and injections before they are even 24 hours old! Many of which are done purely because "That's what we've always done"!  For example, did you know that babies are  given a 1.0mg Vit K shot ~ 6 hours after they are born.  Like many medical procedures, it has been done routinely since the 1940's whether baby needs it or not.  (Vit K is used by the body for clotting) Now there are some instances where babies are high risk for bleeding and/or are born with disorders that affect their clotting ability…which certainly warrants "supplementation".  However I do not agree that all babies are born "deficient" in this vitamin. Who decided what level a newborn should have.  (Besides one wonders how God would overlook something that significant…OR how all babies born previous to 1940 survived without this injection.) Anyway…what really makes me nervous is that the shot contains 20,000 times the newborn's natural level of Vitamin K which is a fat soluble vitamin and is therefore stored in the body, not excreted.  Many opponents to this procedure refer to research that links high Vitamin K administration with childhood leukemia.  The reason being is that cellular division, which is still rapidly occurring in the early days of life, depends on precise amounts of Vitamin K.  BUT there is an alternative that most doctor's "forget" to suggest.  And that is gradual supplementation through breast milk. To do or not to do?! Do the risks outweigh the benefits?   That will most likely be my most difficult first parenting decision!

Did any of you catch the show “Life before Birth” that aired on Thursday night? (Discovery Channel)  It took us on a fascinating journey from pre-conception, through all the trimesters, and finally to birth.  They used computer graphics to take us inside the womb for a very interesting perspective.  It really opened my eyes to the miracle that is life.  I think we sometimes take the process for granted because it is so common, but after watching this program and seeing all the odds that are overcome for conception to even take place…it really is the most incredible event!  To watch some clips, check out the link below.

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/discovery-promo-curiosity-life-before-birth.html

So I had my ultrasound today.  It was very exciting to see him again...and he is definitely a HIM!  There was no mistaking the anatomy this time!  And good news....he is in the right position.  The U/S tech said his head is down, his back is curved against my tummy, bum is up to the right, and his feet are tucked under my rib cage. He is very cramped for space now...and that is because they estimated his weight at 7lbs!  I still have ~5 WEEKS to go!?!  Gulp!  After taking other measurements, she said I can expect him to be about 9lbs at delivery  Ummm...hello epidural?!  That puts him in the 95th percentile which I was initially very proud of.  I mean Baby Bryce scored 95% on his very first test.  That was until "Daddy" reminded me that 95th percentile means only 5 babies out of 100 are born larger!!  Here is an Ultrasound picture of his chubby face.  It was difficult to get a great shot due to his position and size.

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What's happening with baby this week? "Besides looking like a newborn at 34 weeks of pregnancy, your baby is acting like a newborn as well. His eyes open when he’s awake and close when he is sleeping. His sleeping cycles are the same now as they will be when he is born. He has learned to blink and can see better when a bright light is shined on your stomach. He recognizes voice and sound patterns from the outside world and is most comforted by the sound of your voice. He weighs about 4 ¾ pounds now (OR NOT) and is about 18 inches long. His fingernails have reached the end of his fingertips at week 34 of pregnancy and he may even scratch his face before he is born. His fat layers are growing every week to fill up that wrinkly skin and he may have already turned into the head down position for labor. Your baby’s central nervous system is still maturing, and his lungs are almost fully ready to breathe air. If your baby is born this week, he has a 99% chance of survival outside of the womb, pretty darn good odds." 

As Red Green (and "Daddy") says...."Remember, I'm pulling for you. We're all in this together!"

33rd Week

Goodbye week 33…

Well we spent all of last Saturday in “Baby School”.  There was a lot of information covered and “Daddy” said he learned a lot.  For me, having a medical background, most of it was a review in terms of interventions, drugs, stages of labour  etc– but I learned some breathing techniques and non-medicated comfort measures.  There was even a birthing video and I’m proud of “Daddy” for staying upright in his chair!! 

 

I also had a Doctor’s appointment this week.  I must say that she doesn’t have a very good bedside manner.  She is personable…but only runs office hours once a week.  Which means I usually spend an hour waiting for my appointment (along with 50 other women) and then get about 3 mins of her attention.  This week she took the usual measurements.  Belly is 36cm (up from 34) so still slightly ahead but I am really carrying mostly out front.  (And maybe a little extra bit on my behind!) My BP was great, no obvious swelling yet, and baby’s heart rate was about 146. Because we are doing well, it looks like I will continue to work indefinitely until this baby says otherwise! 

While I was there, I asked her to check if the baby had turned yet.  I have been feeling a lot of pressure down below and a lot of grinding, kicking up under my right ribcage...so I figured he was in position.  However, when she palpated my tummy she was quite puzzled as to which was head and which was bum.  She did say he is laying diagonally across my belly (right to left) so not totally vertical yet.  Anyway, she ordered another ultrasound which is scheduled for next Friday just to check his position. We’re excited to sneak another peek at Baby Bean!!  We haven’t seen him since 20 weeks!!

Nursery is coming along…and pretty much ready.  Although Baby won’t see much of it for the first several months as he’ll be “bunking” with us.  The original valance that came with the crib set was too narrow for the window  so I ordered a second one and hung them both. (Instead of making one from the bumper pad) I also had to order a custom blind because the window (as with all my windows) is not a standard size!  The rocking chair is also ready to be placed in its corner…where it will be put to good use on many a sleepless night!!

What’s happening with baby this week? “For all the weight and bulk you’re lugging around these days, you’d think your little champ would weigh more than a mere 4 pounds! But once you add in the placenta, amniotic fluid, and extra blood, you've got at least 10 pounds of baby and their life-support gear smooshed up against your organs! In terms of appearance, your sweet lil' looker is getting cuter and pudgier every day as they pile on that adorable baby fat. And as you know all too well, your womb kick-boxer is getting stronger with every passing day. Heck, it’s even possible to observe a well-placed belly-wobbling kick just by watching your belly! Despite their obviously increasing strength, your bigger-by-the-day baby will actually start dropping their rate of movement in the last few weeks, no thanks to their restricted womb space."

41 days left...time is flying by!!