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!!