39 weeks

How far along? 39 weeks (and 1 day)

Due Date: August 2, 2011

Total weight gain/loss: 28 pounds.....somehow I lost a pound even though my swelling is worse this week.  I'll take it!

Maternity clothes? Pretty much everything at this point and I may never return to regular pants since maternity pants are so comfortable!  Most of my regular yoga and "comfy pants" don't even fit me across my belly anymore.

Stretch Marks? Nada.  That spot on my hip has never developed into a stretch mark after all. 

Sleep:  Not too bad in the last few days.  I've had some 4 hour stretches of sleep, which has been really nice.

Best moment this week:  Girls' weekend and NKOTBSB concert with my work girls!!!  Some much needed girl time before this baby arrives!

Movement: Still very active, especially today, which I'm cherishing since it's really my last day to feel her move inside me.  Tomorrow she'll be in our arms!

Food cravings: Nothing really.

Food aversions: Chicken and eggs, although I have been able to eat a Chik-Fil-A sandwich here and there.

  

Gender: Girl

Labor Signs: Still lots of random contracting and cramping, but I'm still closed.  This doesn't really surprise me since there is nothing in my pelvis pushing against my cervix.

Belly Button in or out? Still in, but getting pretty flat.

What I miss: Not having pitting edema on my ankles!  It is SO PAINFUL!  I also miss being able to sit, stand, walk, or lay down comfortably!  Thank you, Lord, that I wasn't this uncomfortable until recently!

What I am looking forward to: The arrival of our little girl TOMORROW!

  

Milestones: Your baby's waiting to greet the world! She continues to build a layer of fat to help control her body temperature after birth, but it's likely she already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of her skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

My guess for her weight at birth tomorrow???  7 pounds 7 ounces

38 weeks

How far along? 38 weeks (and 2 days)

Due Date: August 2, 2011

Total weight gain/loss: 29 pounds.  This swelling is killing me!

Maternity clothes? Pretty much everything at this point and I may never return to regular pants since maternity pants are so comfortable!  Most of my regular yoga and "comfy pants" don't even fit me across my belly anymore.

Stretch Marks? Nada.  That spot on my hip has never developed into a stretch mark after all. 

Sleep:  TERRIBLE!  I can't get comfortable in bed anymore.  I can't turn in bed without feeling like a beached whale.  I get up every 1-2 hours to pee.  I'm hot and sweaty even just sleeping in a t-shirt and with a sheet over me and a fan blowing on me and the A/C at 68 degrees. Now the couch seems a lot more comfortable than my bed.  UGH!

Best moment this week:  Matt went with me to my LAST doctor's appointment today.  I know he was super bored, but I liked having him there.  Then we went over to the office of one of the MFM doctors I work with for a "bonus" ultrasound where we got to see her profile, that she has some long hair, she's still breech with her feet and hands up by her face.  Her estimated fetal weight today was 7 pounds 4 ounces. 

Movement: Still very active, but not as many jabs and pokes as wiggles, stretches and pushing by her in there.  She is still breech and my C/S is scheduled for July 28th @ 9:30 am with Dr. Cleary.

Food cravings: Nothing really.

Food aversions: Chicken and eggs, although I have been able to eat a Chik-Fil-A sandwich here and there.

  

Gender: Girl...this was reconfirmed today, although again she wasn't super cooperative about showing the goods.

Labor Signs: Still lots of random contracting and cramping, but I'm still closed.  This doesn't really surprise me since there is nothing in my pelvis pushing against my cervix.

Belly Button in or out? Still in, but getting pretty flat.

What I miss: Not having pitting edema on my ankles!  It is SO PAINFUL!  I also miss being able to sit, stand, walk, or lay down comfortably!  Thank you, Lord, that I wasn't this uncomfortable until recently!

What I am looking forward to: JULY 28th!

  

Milestones: Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.  Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

A huge milestone....37 weeks...aka TERM!

How far along? 37 weeks (and 1 day)

Due Date: August 2, 2011

Total weight gain/loss: 27 pounds.  This swelling is killing me!

Maternity clothes? Pretty much everything at this point and I may never return to regular pants since maternity pants are so comfortable!

Stretch Marks? There is one little spot on my right hip that I can't tell if it's a stretch mark in the making or not.  Other than that, none.

Sleep:  TERRIBLE!  I can't get comfortable in bed anymore.  I can't turn in bed without feeling like a beached whale.  I get up every 1-2 hours to pee.  I'm hot and sweaty even just sleeping in a t-shirt and with a sheet over me and a fan blowing on me and the A/C at 68 degrees. 

Best moment this week:  Reaching this milestone was my biggest goal met yet!  I'm super happy about this!

Movement: Still very active, but not as many jabs and pokes as wiggles, stretches and pushing by her in there.  She is still breech and my C/S is scheduled for July 28th @ 9:30 am with Dr. Cleary.

Food cravings: Nothing really.

Food aversions: Chicken and eggs, although I have been able to eat a Chik-Fil-A sandwich here and there.

  

Gender: Girl (if not, this little boy is gonna have one brightly colored room and a lot of dresses to wear)

Labor Signs: Still lots of random contracting and cramping, but I'm assuming my cervix is still closed.  No sign of my mucous plug or any spotting.  

Belly Button in or out? Still in, but getting pretty flat.

What I miss: Not having pitting edema on my ankles!  It is SO PAINFUL!  I also miss being able to sit, stand, walk, or lay down comfortably!  Thank you, Lord, that I wasn't this uncomfortable until recently!

What I am looking forward to: JULY 28th!

  

Milestones: 

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, her lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

4 weeks or less!

How far along? 36 weeks (and 1 day)

Due Date: August 2, 2011

Total weight gain/loss: 24 pounds.  I was really disappointed about my 4 pound weight gain last week, but this week I didn't gain anything, so I feel a little better.

Maternity clothes? Pretty much everything at this point and I may never return to regular pants since maternity pants are so comfortable!

Stretch Marks? There is one little spot on my right hip that I can't tell if it's a stretch mark in the making or not.  Other than that, none.

Sleep:  Pretty terrible again.  Waking up every hour or 2 to go pee and change positions.

Best moment this week:  Feeling like I have most everything accomplished that I wanted to get done before Baby Girl gets here. 

Movement: She's still very active, but has yet to flip head down.  I have my C-section scheduled for August 2nd, but will be changing that to the week before while I'm at my doctor's appointment tomorrow.

Food cravings: Seafood!

Food aversions: Chicken and eggs, although I have been able to eat a Chik-Fil-A sandwich here and there.

  

Gender: Girl (if not, this little boy is gonna have one brightly colored room and a lot of dresses to wear)

Labor Signs:  I stopped my Procardia this week and have continued to have about the same amount of contractions every day, but now some of them feel like strong menstrual cramps.  At my doctor's appointment last week, my cervix was still closed, but it was 50% effaced and soft, so it makes me wonder if I'll even make it to my scheduled C-section date in 3 weeks.  This also makes me a little sad that she hasn't turned because I feel like I would have a good shot at a good labor.

Belly Button in or out? Still in, but getting pretty flat.

What I miss: Walking without my arches of my feet hurting.  All the swelling (which really isn't too terrible compared to some edema I've seen) puts so much pressure on the arches of my feet and they are killing me by the middle of the day.

What I am looking forward to: Being term next week and Matt coming home from Vegas in the next few weeks and then, of course, this baby coming out of me! 

  

Milestones: Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.  At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.)

5 weeks to go!

How far along? 35 weeks

Due Date: August 2, 2011

Total weight gain/loss: 24 pounds....a FOUR pound weight gain this week????  WTF?!?!  I haven't changed my eating at all and have been so busy and active.  I blame this on swelling, but I DON'T like it one bit!

Maternity clothes? Pretty much everything at this point and I may never return to regular pants since maternity pants are so comfortable!

Stretch Marks? There is one little spot on my right hip that I can't tell if it's a stretch mark in the making or not.  Other than that, none.

Sleep:  Not too bad...only getting up 2-3 times per night these days.  I am sleeping for about 3 hour stretches, which seems amazing. 

Best moment this week:  Definitely the acupuncture I had done last Thursday.  It was HEAVEN!  Best thing I've ever done for myself in my life!  I started going last week to try to get this baby girl to turn....yes she's still breech.  No luck after the 1st treatment, so I go back again today and Thursday this week.

Movement: She's always very active, but she's been even more active since my acupuncture session last week.  She will get her head all the way to eat side of my belly, but so far, no flip-a-roo.  Stubborn girl!

Food cravings: Seafood and pretty much anything that doesn't aggravate my heartburn.

Food aversions: Chicken and eggs

  

Gender: Girl (if not, this little boy is gonna have one brightly colored room and a lot of dresses to wear)

Labor Signs:  Nothing new to report.  Still contracting a lot during the day, but nothing new.  Still taking Procardia 3-5 times per day, but this is my last week for that.  I'll stop the Procardia at 36 weeks.

Belly Button in or out? Still in, but getting pretty flat.

What I miss: Feeling "not swollen."  The swelling has really kicked into high gear this week.  Mostly my feet, ankles and legs, but it's super annoying and uncomfortable.  My maternity jeans started to feel tight in the legs today and I don't approve!

What I am looking forward to: My Pottery Barn piece will be delivered tomorrow, my acupuncture today and Thursday, my doctor's appointment on Thursday, my pregnancy photo shoot on Thursday and my massage on Friday.  Guess it's a bit of a busy, but pampered, week. 

  

Milestones: Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

34 weeks

How far along? 34 weeks (and 1 day)

Due Date: August 2, 2011

Total weight gain/loss: 20 pounds...oh sweet Lord!!  I'm getting dangerously close to my goal weight gain of 25 pounds.  I don't like that. 

Maternity clothes? Pretty much everything at this point and I may never return to regular pants since maternity pants are so comfortable!

Stretch Marks? Nada.

Sleep:  Not too bad...only getting up 2-3 times per night these days.  I am sleeping for about 3 hour stretches, which seems amazing. 

Best moment this week:  I've been really productive and getting lots of things done in the baby's room and around the house.  It feels good to be getting things together and in order, but I'm still not ready for her to come yet!

Movement: I don't feel as many "kicking" movements now, but more pushing and stretching from both her head and limbs.  She's still breech and I have my 1st acupuncture treatment tomorrow morning to hopefully help her turn to vertex.

Food cravings: Fresh fruit and McDonald's french fries.  Great combo, right?

Food aversions: Chicken and eggs

  

Gender: Girl (if not, this little boy is gonna have one brightly colored room and a lot of dresses to wear)

Labor Signs:  Nothing new to report.  Still contracting a lot during the day, but nothing new.  Still taking Procardia 3-5 times per day.

Belly Button in or out? Still in, but getting so much more flat. 

What I miss: Walking without waddling AND without my feet swelling.  New development this week....super cankles.  YIKES!

What I am looking forward to: My Pottery Barn piece will be delivered next Wednesday and then I feel like I can really get the nursery together.  My glider and ottoman should be here in the next few days also.  It WILL come together!

  

Milestones: Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

33 weeks

How far along? 33 weeks

Due Date: August 2, 2011

Total weight gain/loss: 18 pounds...at least I didn't gain anything this week!

Maternity clothes? Pretty much everything at this point and I may never return to regular pants since maternity pants are so comfortable!

Stretch Marks? Nada...I adore my BioOil!

Sleep:  Not too bad...only getting up 2-3 times per night these days.  I am sleeping for about 3 hour stretches, which seems amazing. 

Best moment this week:  I had many great moments this week.  I had my work baby shower and I'm always blown away by how sweet and generous all of my amazing co-workers are.  Along with all of the clothes, towels, pacifers, etc. they also got me my ENTIRE Chicco Travel System (carseat, base AND stroller) AND my video monitor!!  I mean, are you kidding me?  How amazing for a new mom to be surrounded by such love and generosity!  Also, my SIL Sarah picked up my crib for me and brought it over yesterday and helped me put it together.  Finally some furniture in the baby's room!!  I'm still waiting on the mattress to get here, but it should arrive on Thursday.  Here's a pic of the crib (sans mattress) with the quilt my sister made me: [pic coming soon]

Movement: Still tons of movement and ninja kicks and punches and hiccups.  But at work on Saturday I talked one of the MFM docs to scan me for fun and this baby girl is BREECH!!  UGH!  Stubborn baby!  Mommy says stand on your head!

Food cravings: Nothing in particular this week.  Still loving avocado, of course.

Food aversions: Chicken and eggs

  

Gender: Girl (if not, this little boy is gonna have one brightly colored room and a lot of dresses to wear)

Labor Signs:  Nothing new to report.  Still contracting a lot during the day, but nothing new.  Still taking Procardia 3-5 times per day.

Belly Button in or out? Still in, but getting so much more flat. 

What I miss: Walking without waddling and standing up and walking without feeling like I'm going to pee on myself all the time.

What I am looking forward to: My Pottery Barn piece being delivered sometime this week or early next week.  Also, looking forward to the mattress being delivered so maybe I can get ONE thing in that room ready.

  

Milestones: This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Oh, my little jicama. (32 weeks!!!!)

How far along? 32 weeks

Due Date: August 2, 2011

Total weight gain/loss: 18 pounds...eeek!  Better lay off the salt and fast food!

Maternity clothes? Pretty much everything at this point and I may never return to regular pants since maternity pants are so comfortable!

Stretch Marks? Nada...I adore my BioOil!

Sleep:  Not too bad...only getting up 2-3 times per night these days.  I am sleeping for about 3 hour stretches, which seems amazing. 

Best moment this week:  I had my first baby shower this past weekend and it was really fun!  Baby Girl got so many nice things and it was nice to get together with family and friends that I don't get to see all that often.  In other news, I finally decided on a crib last night and purchased it!  This was such a relief!  After stressing about a crib that met all of my "requirements" for the last few months, I feel like the "right one" just fell into my lap.  All my crib shopping/stress was complicated by a few obstacles over the last few months.  First, one custom furniture company went out of business, which sent me back to the drawing board on a crib.  Then after more stress and searching, I settled on a crib I didn't love and didn't meet all my "requirements," but would do.  When I went online a few days ago, I found this crib had been discontinued, which started my process all over again.....for the THIRD TIME!!  I am so glad it's finally over!  Now just to get that crib in my house....

 

Here is the stock picture of the purchased crib.  It's the Vista from Sorelle in French White.

Movement: Still lots of movement.  My doctor agreed with me that she thought she had turned head down last week, but I still haven't had an ultrasound to confirm this, so I'm still a tad nervous that she's still breech.

Food cravings: Salads and fruit this week.  What?!?!  Where did these healthy cravings come from?

Food aversions: Chicken and eggs

  

Gender: Girl (if not, this little boy is gonna have one brightly colored room and a lot of dresses to wear)

Labor Signs:  My cervix was still long and closed and posterior last week and my fetal fibronectin was negative again, so that was all good news.  I did get orders to increase my Procardia as needed (another perk of being a nurse).  So, I'm taking that about 4-5 times a day now. 

Belly Button in or out? Still in, but getting so much more flat.  If I go my remaining 8 weeks, I think it will definitely get completely flat.

What I miss: Walking without waddling and standing up and walking without feeling like I'm going to pee on myself all the time.

What I am looking forward to: My baby furniture getting delivered soon and my work baby shower on Friday!

  

Milestones: By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.