Week 34

I've noticed more stretchmarks this week, and darker in color.  My belly is very round and hard.  I definitely have the basketball look going on.  A lot of the same pregnancy pains as last week -- can't sit or stand very easily and when I lay down, my muscles seem to tighten up quickly.  I'm getting a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions and I feel like he's sitting low.  I do feel more pressure on my pelvic floor and waddle when I first get up from a chair while my bones and muscles realign.  I haven't noticed any swelling which is nice.

Now that I'm 34 weeks, if he were to come early, I wouldn't need steroid shots to speed up development of his lungs. His lungs should be developed enough to handle it if he comes early which is relieving news!

I had an appointment with Dr. Gaines this week.  He said our baby's heart rate sounds good and that he's probably head down given where he hears our little guy's heart beat at.  I may reschedule my c-section date to March 9 instead of March 14.  Dr. Gaines agreed that their records are off by a day for my estimated due date given that this is Leap Year so he will be ok with scheduling the c-section for that Friday, which is my 39th week based on my LMP.  I should know by early next week if we'll get to move it.  If so, I have at most only 5 weeks from today until we meet our little guy.  Based on when I'm full term, he could be here as soon as 3 weeks from now!

Last weekend, Emile painted the nursery and set up the crib, with help from the girls.  It is such a relief to finally be moving forward with getting everything ready for this little guy to arrive.  I'm still working on the decorations of the room but expect to have that done by next weekend.

Our baby is about 5 pounds now with a crown-to-rump length of 12 3/4 inches.  The baby responds as a newborn with its eyes open while awake and closed while sleeping. He is developing immunities to fight mild infection. Those sharp little fingernails are at the ends of the fingertips already.

Week 33

I am officially very uncomfortable.  My belly is stretching a lot and I have Braxton Hicks contractions all the time.  My lower back and pelvic floor are typically hurting.  Doing the dishes is difficult because my belly forces me to have to lean over the sick further from it.  And of course bending down to do anything is next to impossible.  I get up frequently at night and need to pee usually within 10 minutes of going during the day.  I also have a lot of pulling near my pelvic region that wakes me sometimes at night causing me to rearrange.  All these aches and pains are of course making it difficult to play as much with the girls as I'd like to.  I'm definitely ready to meet this little guy, although staying put another 4 weeks at least would be good.

I am getting more stretch marks on my lower belly now.  I think they're the same ones I had with Claire that are showing up again.  Hopefully, they'll fade after pregnancy like they did after delivering Claire.

Our little boy probably weighs about 4.5 pounds and has a crown-to-rump length of about 12 inches.  At this point, the amniotic fluid is at the highest level in the pregnancy. The amount will remain constant until delivery. Rapid brain growth has increased our baby's head size approximately 3/8 of an inch this week. Fat continues to accumulate which turns the baby's skin color from red to pink.

Week 32

I had an appointment with Dr. Gaines on Wednesday.  I was measuring a little ahead (32 weeks when only 31w 5 d) and he's heartbeat was strong at around 150 bpm again.  We talked about the possibility of a VBAC having had two previous c-sections.  Dr. Gaines was not for that idea and encouraged another c-section.  They called today to line up my c-section date:  March 14 at 12:30 p.m.  I had hoped to schedule it for the 13th so all our children were born on a day with a 3 in it (30th, 3rd and 13th) but he'll at least be born in the 3rd month if he stays put till then.  My pre-test appointment will be on the 13th at the hospital and I'll have a pre-op appointment with Dr. Gaines on the 6th.  It's all starting to feel so real with having a c-section date set.

We moved Claire to Natalie's room and got paint samples to pick the blue paint we're going to paint the nursery.  I'm hoping to work this weekend on reorganizing the girls toys and clothes to get the nursery cleared out to start putting back the baby items.  I'm hoping to start feeling like we're getting prepared soon given we have only 7 weeks to go!

Our baby is up to four pounds now and his crown-to-rump length is probably over 11.5 inches.  He has all five senses are functional. The toenails are completely formed and the hair on the head continues to grow. 

Week 31 (and 1 day)

It's shocking how much this little guy kicks and punches me.  It's pretty much a constant feeling.  I don't think he takes a break when he's awake.  A lot of punches to my hips and pelvic bone, and kicks to my gut and lungs.  He's going to keep us busy when he's born with activity if this is any sign of his temperament.

I've gotten a few more stretch marks but not that bad; they look like the some of the same stretch marks I got with Claire just reappearing but so far not nearly as many has I had with Claire.  I've also not yet gotten the linea negra line I got with the girls.  Given I'm already over 30 weeks, I wonder if I'm just going to get it this time.

I am starting to feel like I've been hit in the crotch with a bat more frequently now.  He's definitely starting to put pressure on me with his weight.

Growth is beginning to slow a teeny bit, but the brain is going through a period of rapid development. The only major organ left to fully develop is the lungs. His testes begin to descend from the body cavity to the scrotum. Our little guys weighs about 3.5 pounds with a crown-to-rump length of 11.75".

Week 30 - 7 months

This week has been fairly low key with my pregnancy.  Mostly just a lot of peeing and waddling.  He's still kicking and elbowing me a lot.  I constantly see an elbow, knee or hand moving across my belly.  I think he's more active than Natalie and much more than Claire.  We could have our hands full when he arrives! 

Our little guy is about 3 pounds and has a crown-to-rump length around 10 3/4 inches or so.  The early lanugo is disappearing, the eyelids open and close, and the toenails are growing. The bone marrow is now responsible for red blood cell production.

Week 29

I felt much better this week compared to last.  The weird contractions have stopped.  Back to my normal Braxton Hicks contractions and being super tired.  The weight of the baby is really starting to wear on me now.  By the end of the day, I'm ready to just lay on the couch and do nothing.

This week Riet went with me to my doctor's appointment with Dr. Anderson.  It was the first time she'd ever hear a baby's heartbeat on a doppler.  The doctors didn't do that when she was pregnant with Emile and she hasn't been in town for my other appointments with the girls or with our son.  She was very excited to hear his heartbeat and to see him kick me which then sounded different on the doppler.  Dr. Anderson said everything looks good.  I'm measuring about one week ahead but that is normal given babies go through growth spurts at different times.  His heart rate was around 150 bpm again.  I also got my Rhogam shot while there which I'll have to get again after he's born.

Our son's head should now be in proportion to the rest of the body. Fat continues to accumulate under his skin. The brain can control primitive breathing and body temperature control, and the eyes can move in the sockets. Our baby is becoming sensitive to light, sound, taste and smell.  By this time, our little guy weighs about 2 3/4 pounds.  His crown-to-rump length is almost 10.5 inches. 

Week 28

This week has been harder.  I got a stomach bug on Monday that ended up causing a lot of contractions to start.  By Tuesday, they were fairly frequently for this stage, about every 30 minutes which had me concerned.  I went into see Dr. Placide to check for pre-term labor.  He did an internal exam and did confirm that my cervix is still closed and is high as it should be.  He also took a swab sample to do a pre-term screening test.  Thankfully on Wednesday, my results indicated that I'm not at risk for pre-term labor right now.  More than likely the contracts, which felt worse than Braxton Hicks and were uncomfortable, were probably due to dehydration.  So I've been drinking a lot of Gatorade and water.  Since I've still been having good and bad days with an upset stomach and digestive issues.  I haven't been able to eat that well and have been focusing mostly only apple sauce, bananas, and toast.  Hopefully it will be cleared up by tomorrow since it's Christmas Eve tomorrow!  But our little guy is kicking away to let me know he's still doing fine.  Dr. Placide confirmed his heartrate is about 150 bpm.  Although he could still shift positions, he is already head down.

While at the doctor's this week, Dr. Placide also confirmed that my 1-hour glucose test was normal which is wonderful.  I don't need to worry about gestational diabetes thankfully.  My weight is also pretty good compared to with the girls.  I'm pretty sure I've gained less weight at this point than I did with the girls.  I'm hoping to at least gain 5 pounds less if not more so it's easier to lose afterwards.  Either way though I'm confident I'll lose my pregnancy weight again.

Our son is growing and developing at an astonishing rate! Eyebrows and eyelashes are now present, and the hair on the head is growing. The eyelids open, and the eyes are completely formed. The body is getting plumper and rounder (weighs about 2.5 pounds) and is composed of around 2 to 3% body fat. Muscle tone is gradually improving. The lungs are capable of breathing air.  His crown-to-rump length is close to 10 inches with a total length of about 15 3/4 inches.