Week 37 - Full Term

Full term!  It's hard to believe in no more than two weeks, we'll be out numbered at home with three children.  We're very excited to meet our little man soon!  A little nervous too!  He's still a pretty active mover!  I feel him kicking and punching a lot.  He's head down and I get a lot of punches in my pelivc bone area.

I had an appointment with Nurse Hilbert today.  I brought Natalie with me.  I thought she'd like to hear her little brother's heart beat.  She thought it was pretty neat.  It was cute having her there.  His heart rate jumped around a lot from about 130 to 160 bpm depending on whether he was kicking or not.  I'm measuring on track at 37 weeks.  She did an internal exam because I'd really like to hear if my body is making progress even though I know I'll have to have a c-section.  As I expected, no progress yet.  I did find out my Group B Streph test was negative which is good news.

Yesterday my book club surprised me with some baby gifts which was really sweet.  They all got me some boy baby clothes which was greatly appreciated.  It was great having a little "baby shower" for him since being our third child, there typically isn't a baby shower.  And I definitely needed more clothes for the little guy.

Last weekend, we set up the Pack N Play, pulled out the bouncers and exersaucer, and figured out how we're going to install the car seat.  We're not going to install it until I go into the hospital since we'll have to put the girls in the third row which is hard to get at while pregnant.  This weekend, I planning to go through the containers of the girls old clothes to find our newborn cloth diapers and also to pack my bag.  I think that's all we have left to do to prepare for the arrival of this little guy.

This week has been pretty tough for me.  I continue to have a lot of back, knee and feet pain.  I don't get as much opportunity to put my feet up and rest with two toddlers and a full time job.  I'm overall exhausted and uncomfortable almost all the time.  Earlier this week, I was having a horrible time sleeping because my arms kept falling sleep no matter how I laid.  Thankfully, it's gotten a little better.  I'm still waking up to pee all the time and have to readjust frequently but it's not every 30 minutes.  I've also started swelling a lot and with that I'm getting itchy hands again like I did with Natalie.  My hands are puffy, and my ankles and cafes are expanding.  My shoes feel tighter too. 

According to what I've read, our baby is now surrounded by a peak volume of 1,000 mL of amniotic fluid which is approximately equal to 4 cups. From this point on this amount will decrease gradually. His nervous system is maturing now, almost ready to be on his own. The lanugo on our baby's skin is wearing off. In addition, the cortisone that is being produced by his endocrine system will help his lungs to take over the job of delivering oxygen to his blood stream after birth.  Our baby weighs about 6.5 pounds and has a crown-to-rump length of about 14 inches.

Week 36

My pregnancy is continuing much the same as it has the last few weeks.  Just a lot of uncomfortableness.  I think this has been the hardest pregnancy for me out of the three.  Probably harder because I don't get to sit around as much with two toddlers running around.  I have noticed this week I've started swelling so I'm trying to put my feet up more at night. 

I had an appointment with Dr. Gunter today.  It's the start of my weekly appointments.  Today they did my Group B Strep test; I'll find out the results next week.  Dr. Gunter said little boy's heart rate is doing well -- 120-130 bpm.  He's definitely head down.  I'm measuring about 37 weeks.  Dr. Gunter also did an internal exam.  I'm still tightly closed up.  I know it doesn't matter since I have to have a c-section but I'd still like to have some signs my body that it will do some laboring.  We're pretty sure this will be my last pregnancy and it still saddens me that I won't get a chance to experience a vaginal birth.  But as long as he arrives safely, that's all that matters!

We finished the nursery.  I'm very happy with how it turned out.  Emile did a great job with the painting.  It's nice to have it set up for his arrival.  We've also pulled out most of the baby items although I still need to set them up which I plan to do this weekend, including packing my bag and putting the car seat in the car.

Our baby's fat is dimpling on the elbows and knees as well as forming creases in the neck and wrists. Her gums are now very rigid.

Week 35 - 8 Month

I'm 35 weeks pregnant today which leaves 35 days until my EDD...and I'm 35 years old so a good number day!  This week has been fairly simliar to last week.  I'm fairly uncomfortable and have a hard time getting up.  Even when I roll over while lying down it hurts.  I have that feeling in my pelvic floor like I've been hitting with a baseball bat.  I feel our little guy punching me in the hip bones a lot!  My belly is getting a little more itchy but nothing too annoying.  Natalie asked me today where my belly button is!  :)  I've also apparently started snoring the last few weeks. It's a good feeling though that I'm now 8 months pregnant and starting my last month!

I did get my scheduled c-section date moved to Friday, March 9 at 9:45 a.m. -- 4 weeks from today!  I feel better about this day than the 14th.  I like that his birthdate may end up being 3/9/12.  My last day at work is tentatively March 6 so that will give me two days before my c-section to spend some one on one time with the girls. 

I'm almost done decorating the nursery.  I'm just waiting on the changing cover I ordered and then it will be ready!  I've also cleaned out the closet which needed it and washed all his clothes that we have for him.  I'm planning to get all the baby gear out this weekend and go through some of the girls old clothes to see if I have any gender neutral items I can use like onesies.

Our baby is around five and a half pounds now! The fat accumulations plump up the arms and legs this week. Our baby has gotten big enough to take up most of the uterus, and there's less room to move around. The testes have completed their descent.

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".