Week 34- 42 more days!

Whats Baby S up to?
Your baby now weighs about 5 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.

We had a growth ultrasound last week. Baby is about 5 lbs and is in the 48 percentile. They did notice that the baby's belly was a little small. They will have to watch it and I will have another ultrasound next week and see if it grew. If it doesn't I will have to see a fetal maternal specialist. They will then make sure the kidneys, etc are working OK. I am praying that it was just the way the baby was laying and the tech just didn't get a good look. I am crossing my fingers. I know in my heart everything will be fine. I also had a non stress test because I am 35. I will be having one every 2 weeks also until I deliver. This is to make sure the baby can handle going down the birth canal. They just hooked me up to a monitor and monitored the baby's heartbeat. Here are a few photos of our little one. I cant wait to hold the baby and kiss its sweet face.

Just 6 more weeks to go!

Week 33- 8 Months pregnant!

What's Baby S up to?
Baby’s senses are continuing to improve, when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month.
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a cone head-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

We are still working on the nursery. I can feel my nesting coming into play. I just want to clean and get things all done for little ones arrival. My husband painted the nursery last night. I love the color. We used Benjamin Moore's, garland green. I will post pictures when it is completed.

Thursday I have an OB appointment and I cant wait! I am having an ultrasound to see how big the baby is. I am also have a non stress test. I just cant wait to see my sweet little one. I have a feeling he/she is a good size.

Here is a picture of my 33 week bump!


7 more weeks to go or 49 more days! We are almost there!

Week 32- 8 more weeks!

What's Baby S up to?

By now, your baby weighs 4 pounds and is about 17 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.

To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.

You may have lower back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of pre term labor.

Assuming it's not pre term labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

What's going on with me?

Still feeling very antsy and nervous. I feel like I have so much to do and little time to do it in. My husband is painting the nursery and he has other painting jobs I want done before the baby comes.

We still have to buy alot of stuff. Actually everything. I am not having a shower. My family does not do one. So we have alot of stuff to buy. Also I am trying to sell my car so we can purchase a family car. My car is a two door and I just want a 4 door. Its getting very stressful that I haven't sold it yet.

I am feeling rather stresses out. I am trying not to but as the weeks so by, my excitement grows but also my nervousness rises too. So much to do in so little time.

8 more weeks to go... that's only 56 more days to go!

Week 31-Getting very antsy

What's Baby S up to this week?
Your not-so-little-one is just a bit closer to their birth weight and height at around 4 pounds and 17 inches. With each added layer of baby fat, your baby's skin starts to look more and more like it will when they finally get to see the light of day. The heavy news: you can expect your miracle-gro muffin to gain about a half a pound of weight per week from now until about two weeks before birth. Great. That's just what you needed. Even more weight to carry around!

Your baby's still-developing immune system has gained substantial strength over the past few weeks getting them in full gear to face our disease-ridden world o’ wonders. Obviously, a large majority of your child’s immune strength will be derived from exposure to breast milk as well as the outside elements. Their cute little noggin’ (which could already be covered with luscious locks or just purty peach fuzz), is still soft because the skull bones have not yet fused together. As much as that sounds a little too vulnerable, their “skull softness” allows for a much smoother passage through the birth canal during labor—something both you and your little swimmer will appreciate when it’s finally time to “go!” Also, some babies will have that “soft spot” on their head for up to one year after birth.

I am getting very antsy this week more than usual. I just cant wait to meet this little one. I feel like we need to get the house in order. My husband just started the nursery last week. It still needs alot of work. It isn't even painted yet. What if I go early? What will happen if I don't sell my car? I need to get a new one. I feel like I am running out of time. I guess these anxieties are normal. Although we only have 2 months to go, I have to think that's its plenty of time to everything done.
I am also feeling more tired. At night after work I just want to lay on my chair and watch TV and then go up to bed at 8pm and read and go to sleep. Sleep though has gotten more difficult. I wake up literally every 2 hours to go to the bathroom but also from not being able to get comfortable. I guess the baby is preparing me to be awake. I am starting the sleep deprivation already. Even before baby is here.

9 more weeks to go!

Week 30- Starting the nursery

What's Baby S up to?
Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision, which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face.

You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size.

Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious.

We are starting to do the nursery. It is very exciting. We are going to paint the nursery a green. I decided to wait on the bedding until the baby arrives and we know what it is. I have a girl bedding and boy bedding picked out. I can't wait to put the room together and just wait for this little ones arrival.

I also just purchased a couple of books to prepare me for the baby and what to expect the first year.
I purchased What to Expect, the First Year and BabyFacts.

http://www.babyfacts.com/index.html

I am ready to welcome my sweet little one. 10 more weeks to go!