I'm 35 weeks pregnant today with 35 days to go.
And today is also officially 8 months. Although since the official math defines my pregnancy as starting 2 weeks before conception, that's a little bit weird. But that's how the math is done and therefore today marks 8 months.
Max is still kicking up a storm and seems to like to kick along with the clicks of my keyboard.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
35 Weeks = Honeydew Melon
When I weighed myself this morning I was up one pound from last week for a total weight gain of 15 pounds. So I am right on track.
I had my checkup today with a doctor from the practice. He was very nice. My blood pressure is just fine. My weight gain is just fine. My feet didn't look very swollen at all. The doctor says I can keep working like I am now (mostly working from home with my feet up on the ottoman). The doctor also recommended that I try to see a specialist about my headaches since today is Day 8 of this headache (although really only the first two days were really bad).
Max is doing great. The doctor confirmed he is head down. His heart rate is very good. He measures exactly the right size. And the doctor estimated his weight at 6.5 pounds.
When I got home from the doctor I made myself a boboli pizza. I ate it with the plate resting on my tummy. Max seemed to think it would be fun to try to kick the plate off my belly. He has been a very active kicker today. Although I guess that is still basically true of every day.
I'm working on my list of folks to notify when the baby comes, so if you aren't sure that I have your email address, let me know!
And now here's the 35 week scoop:
http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-35-weeks_1124.bc
How your baby's growing:Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he'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, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.
I had my checkup today with a doctor from the practice. He was very nice. My blood pressure is just fine. My weight gain is just fine. My feet didn't look very swollen at all. The doctor says I can keep working like I am now (mostly working from home with my feet up on the ottoman). The doctor also recommended that I try to see a specialist about my headaches since today is Day 8 of this headache (although really only the first two days were really bad).
Max is doing great. The doctor confirmed he is head down. His heart rate is very good. He measures exactly the right size. And the doctor estimated his weight at 6.5 pounds.
When I got home from the doctor I made myself a boboli pizza. I ate it with the plate resting on my tummy. Max seemed to think it would be fun to try to kick the plate off my belly. He has been a very active kicker today. Although I guess that is still basically true of every day.
I'm working on my list of folks to notify when the baby comes, so if you aren't sure that I have your email address, let me know!
And now here's the 35 week scoop:
http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-35-weeks_1124.bc
How your baby's growing:Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he'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, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Last Pre-Natal Class
The stupid chick wasn't there, so that made it nice. We also got our certificate of achievement to show that we were there for all 6 classes.
I wasn't sure how useful the class was going to be last night. The first 4 classes were all about labor and delivery and that was key information. Last week was all about breast-feeding, also critical information. And last night was on the transition from hospital to home. Mark has already done that twice and both kids are still alive, so I felt good about our odds. But the class was actually very useful.
The teacher gave us some basic info on taking care of the baby. And some more advanced info on how to not be peed on by a boy baby, how to fold the diaper so that it doesn't rub against his cord stump, and how to buritto the baby up to keep him calm. I also learned that the new recommendation is that you give a baby a pacifier when you put them into bed because it helps reduce the chance of SIDS. Apparently if they are sucking then they are not in such a deep sleep and it helps to keep them alive. We also learned more about jaundice and some other potential issues and how to deal with them.
Another key set of info from last night's class was information on how to take care of myself after giving birth. Lots of good tips there on how to deal with the after effects of giving birth. I like to feel prepared!
I am really pleased with our teacher and how she organized the class. I think it was time and money well spent. And super duper thanks to everyone who pitched in and helped out with the kids so that Mark and I were able to go together.
I was really tired last night before and after the class. And I got into bed and felt wide awake. Not cool. Today I feel very tired, very cranky, and very not into being at work. I have a ton of meetings before I can escape and I feel like I have a lot of things that require me to use my brain and lot a lot of brains available to devote to the tasks at hand. I did manage to vote this morning and I got both kids off to school on time (Tuesdays are extra complex because J has a French class at 7.45 on Tuesdays). I have no after work commitments today (M will take both kids to MyGym tho so I will have an hour at home by myself) so I am looking forward to being able to go home and rest and relax.
Max is very active this morning so I guess he is feeling no ill effects from my lack of sleep.
Chloe decided last night that instead of sleeping near my feet or Mark's feet she had to sleep between us. Actually it would be more accurate to say she was sleeping between Max and Mark. She was right up next to Max all night long. It was a little funny to hear her purring and to feel Max kicking around.
And now, time to try to pull myself together to be useful at work...
I wasn't sure how useful the class was going to be last night. The first 4 classes were all about labor and delivery and that was key information. Last week was all about breast-feeding, also critical information. And last night was on the transition from hospital to home. Mark has already done that twice and both kids are still alive, so I felt good about our odds. But the class was actually very useful.
The teacher gave us some basic info on taking care of the baby. And some more advanced info on how to not be peed on by a boy baby, how to fold the diaper so that it doesn't rub against his cord stump, and how to buritto the baby up to keep him calm. I also learned that the new recommendation is that you give a baby a pacifier when you put them into bed because it helps reduce the chance of SIDS. Apparently if they are sucking then they are not in such a deep sleep and it helps to keep them alive. We also learned more about jaundice and some other potential issues and how to deal with them.
Another key set of info from last night's class was information on how to take care of myself after giving birth. Lots of good tips there on how to deal with the after effects of giving birth. I like to feel prepared!
I am really pleased with our teacher and how she organized the class. I think it was time and money well spent. And super duper thanks to everyone who pitched in and helped out with the kids so that Mark and I were able to go together.
I was really tired last night before and after the class. And I got into bed and felt wide awake. Not cool. Today I feel very tired, very cranky, and very not into being at work. I have a ton of meetings before I can escape and I feel like I have a lot of things that require me to use my brain and lot a lot of brains available to devote to the tasks at hand. I did manage to vote this morning and I got both kids off to school on time (Tuesdays are extra complex because J has a French class at 7.45 on Tuesdays). I have no after work commitments today (M will take both kids to MyGym tho so I will have an hour at home by myself) so I am looking forward to being able to go home and rest and relax.
Max is very active this morning so I guess he is feeling no ill effects from my lack of sleep.
Chloe decided last night that instead of sleeping near my feet or Mark's feet she had to sleep between us. Actually it would be more accurate to say she was sleeping between Max and Mark. She was right up next to Max all night long. It was a little funny to hear her purring and to feel Max kicking around.
And now, time to try to pull myself together to be useful at work...
Thursday, February 7, 2008
34 Weeks = cantaloupe
Today I am up 2 pounds over last week for a total of 14 pounds. I'm also seeing some swelling in my hands, although my feet were better this morning. Last night I had a really brutal headache. I took codeine and I used ice packs on my head but it didn't seem to do much to ease the pain. I was able to sleep ok and I felt better when I woke up this morning. Not great, but better than last night.
Max is very active already this morning. Maybe he is making up for sleeping through Kick Counting Time last night. 7pm came and went and it wasn't until 9pm that he decided to demonstrate that he still knows how to kick.
I don't have a doctor's appointment this week. I go in next Thursday for my next check up.
Here's the 34 week update:
http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-34-weeks_1123.bc
How your baby's growing:
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.
How your life's changing:By this week, fatigue has probably set in again, though maybe not with the same coma-like intensity of your first trimester. Your tiredness is perfectly understandable, given the physical strain you're under and the restless nights of frequent pee breaks and tossing and turning, while trying to get comfortable. Now's the time to slow down and save up your energy for labor day (and beyond). If you've been sitting or lying down for a long time, don't jump up too quickly. Blood can pool in your feet and legs, causing a temporary drop in your blood pressure when you get up that can make you feel dizzy.
http://www.womenshealthcaretopics.com/pregnancy_week_34.htm
How Big is the Baby at 34 Weeks Pregnant?
By 34 weeks pregnant your baby is now almost five pounds and just shy of 20 inches long!! More so than ever before your baby resembles a miniature being from pregnancy 34 weeks on.
Your Baby's Growth and Development
Your baby is continuing to grow and fill out during pregnancy week by week. In fact, that is his primary job during pregnancy at 34 weeks and beyond. Not much changes from 34 weeks pregnant and on except your baby is adding valuable meat to his bones. Keep in mind that the weights presented each week in our week to week guide are only estimates. Some babies will weigh in a bit larger and others a bit smaller. Some babies will also be longer or shorter. Every baby is unique.
There are many factors that make estimating the weight of your baby challenging as you continue pregnancy week by week. Many women like to get an estimate about how big their baby is during their prenatal visits. However, most estimates can be as much as 1 to 2 pounds off in either direction.
There are many reasons for this. It is difficult to guess how much the baby will weigh combined with the placenta and amniotic fluid. Even with ultrasound your healthcare providers best estimate may be off. Ultrasound however can be a valuable too to help predict the weight of the baby.
During an ultrasound your healthcare provider will take many measurements to help estimate the baby's weight and size. Among the more common measurements include the diameter of your baby's head, the circumference of the head and abdomen and the length of your baby's femur.
Estimates are more likely to be within ½ to 1 pound when an ultrasound is used.
Your Growth and Development
Your uterus at pregnancy 34 weeks is now just about 5.6 inches from the top of your navel. You may notice that you look similar to or different from other pregnant women who are as far along as you are. Every woman carries her baby differently. Some tend to carry more wide, while others carry lower or higher. It really depends on a number of factors. You may even carry differently from one pregnancy to the next!
There are many women that believe the way you carry represents the gender of your baby, but by and large this is an old wives tale! It is fun to guess however, particularly if you are waiting until delivery to determine the sex of your baby!
Changes in You
You probably are getting a little bit uncomfortable by pregnancy week 34. You are also likely to start feeling anxious to meet your newborn baby during pregnancy week 34 or thereafter.
Some women start to worry about whether or not their baby will fit through the birth canal at about this point in time. Generally your healthcare provider will not be able to predict whether or not your baby is too big to fit through your pelvis. This diagnosis is typically made during labor, when your physician can determine how the baby is fitting into your pelvis.
Just because you are petite doesn't mean that you won't be able to delivery a large baby. There are many women who are petite that go on to deliver babies 8 pounds or more.
Some women also start wondering when their baby will 'drop' sometime after week 34 pregnancy. Dropping is the term that refers to the process whereby your baby's head enters the birth canal. It generally occurs in first time mothers a few weeks before delivery. In moms who have already given birth, it may not happen until a day or two before labor begins.
When you do drop you should notice a change in your abdomen. You might notice your baby is resting lower. You might also notice that it suddenly becomes easier to breathe, in part because you have 'lightened' your load and now have more room available in your upper abdomen.
It is also common to start feeling some pressure in the vagina after the baby drops. Some women worry that their baby might fall out. Talk to your doctor if you feel the pressure is severe. Your healthcare provider can check to see exactly how low the baby's head is. Usually everything will be fine, you simply need to adjust to your baby sitting a little lower than you are used to.
Max is very active already this morning. Maybe he is making up for sleeping through Kick Counting Time last night. 7pm came and went and it wasn't until 9pm that he decided to demonstrate that he still knows how to kick.
I don't have a doctor's appointment this week. I go in next Thursday for my next check up.
Here's the 34 week update:
http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-34-weeks_1123.bc
How your baby's growing:
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.
How your life's changing:By this week, fatigue has probably set in again, though maybe not with the same coma-like intensity of your first trimester. Your tiredness is perfectly understandable, given the physical strain you're under and the restless nights of frequent pee breaks and tossing and turning, while trying to get comfortable. Now's the time to slow down and save up your energy for labor day (and beyond). If you've been sitting or lying down for a long time, don't jump up too quickly. Blood can pool in your feet and legs, causing a temporary drop in your blood pressure when you get up that can make you feel dizzy.
http://www.womenshealthcaretopics.com/pregnancy_week_34.htm
How Big is the Baby at 34 Weeks Pregnant?
By 34 weeks pregnant your baby is now almost five pounds and just shy of 20 inches long!! More so than ever before your baby resembles a miniature being from pregnancy 34 weeks on.
Your Baby's Growth and Development
Your baby is continuing to grow and fill out during pregnancy week by week. In fact, that is his primary job during pregnancy at 34 weeks and beyond. Not much changes from 34 weeks pregnant and on except your baby is adding valuable meat to his bones. Keep in mind that the weights presented each week in our week to week guide are only estimates. Some babies will weigh in a bit larger and others a bit smaller. Some babies will also be longer or shorter. Every baby is unique.
There are many factors that make estimating the weight of your baby challenging as you continue pregnancy week by week. Many women like to get an estimate about how big their baby is during their prenatal visits. However, most estimates can be as much as 1 to 2 pounds off in either direction.
There are many reasons for this. It is difficult to guess how much the baby will weigh combined with the placenta and amniotic fluid. Even with ultrasound your healthcare providers best estimate may be off. Ultrasound however can be a valuable too to help predict the weight of the baby.
During an ultrasound your healthcare provider will take many measurements to help estimate the baby's weight and size. Among the more common measurements include the diameter of your baby's head, the circumference of the head and abdomen and the length of your baby's femur.
Estimates are more likely to be within ½ to 1 pound when an ultrasound is used.
Your Growth and Development
Your uterus at pregnancy 34 weeks is now just about 5.6 inches from the top of your navel. You may notice that you look similar to or different from other pregnant women who are as far along as you are. Every woman carries her baby differently. Some tend to carry more wide, while others carry lower or higher. It really depends on a number of factors. You may even carry differently from one pregnancy to the next!
There are many women that believe the way you carry represents the gender of your baby, but by and large this is an old wives tale! It is fun to guess however, particularly if you are waiting until delivery to determine the sex of your baby!
Changes in You
You probably are getting a little bit uncomfortable by pregnancy week 34. You are also likely to start feeling anxious to meet your newborn baby during pregnancy week 34 or thereafter.
Some women start to worry about whether or not their baby will fit through the birth canal at about this point in time. Generally your healthcare provider will not be able to predict whether or not your baby is too big to fit through your pelvis. This diagnosis is typically made during labor, when your physician can determine how the baby is fitting into your pelvis.
Just because you are petite doesn't mean that you won't be able to delivery a large baby. There are many women who are petite that go on to deliver babies 8 pounds or more.
Some women also start wondering when their baby will 'drop' sometime after week 34 pregnancy. Dropping is the term that refers to the process whereby your baby's head enters the birth canal. It generally occurs in first time mothers a few weeks before delivery. In moms who have already given birth, it may not happen until a day or two before labor begins.
When you do drop you should notice a change in your abdomen. You might notice your baby is resting lower. You might also notice that it suddenly becomes easier to breathe, in part because you have 'lightened' your load and now have more room available in your upper abdomen.
It is also common to start feeling some pressure in the vagina after the baby drops. Some women worry that their baby might fall out. Talk to your doctor if you feel the pressure is severe. Your healthcare provider can check to see exactly how low the baby's head is. Usually everything will be fine, you simply need to adjust to your baby sitting a little lower than you are used to.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Pre-Natal Class #5
Sadly the stupid pregnant chick was wrong about when she was being induced. She was at class this week because she is having her baby NEXT Friday. And she was just as annoying and stupid as ever. One of the highlights was her finding out that she can't microwave the baby's bottle. She seems to feel like putting the bottle in a bowl of warm water is too time consuming. At least she won't be there next week, right?
The class this week was all about breast-feeding. I was very interested to learn as much as I could this week at class. I went to the La Leche League meeting with Krista last Saturday and I learned a lot there. And so this class was a good review of some of that information and provided more information as well. I am starting to feel better about the idea of breast feeding. I definitely want to do it but I have a lot of worries that I won't be able to do it. Everyone seems to be saying there are lots of ways to get help and that Max and I can learn together how to be successful. There is another La Leche League meeting on March 1st and I am hoping to make it to that meeting as well. That meeting is focused on possible troubles with breastfeeding and how to overcome them. Sounds like an ideal class.
Next week's class is our last class and we will be learning about the transition from hospital to home. I'm curious to see what that involves. Mark has successfully kept two kids alive so I am not too worried about the transition. :)
The class this week was all about breast-feeding. I was very interested to learn as much as I could this week at class. I went to the La Leche League meeting with Krista last Saturday and I learned a lot there. And so this class was a good review of some of that information and provided more information as well. I am starting to feel better about the idea of breast feeding. I definitely want to do it but I have a lot of worries that I won't be able to do it. Everyone seems to be saying there are lots of ways to get help and that Max and I can learn together how to be successful. There is another La Leche League meeting on March 1st and I am hoping to make it to that meeting as well. That meeting is focused on possible troubles with breastfeeding and how to overcome them. Sounds like an ideal class.
Next week's class is our last class and we will be learning about the transition from hospital to home. I'm curious to see what that involves. Mark has successfully kept two kids alive so I am not too worried about the transition. :)
The joys of kids...
Last night I was making dinner. Julian asked me if I wanted to play I Spy. I said sure. He went first. He said "I spy something huge." I looked at him and laughingly said "Is it me?" and he said Yes! I said "I spy something jerky." And he laughed and said "Is it me?" He went on to say that he meant it in a good way because at least I know the baby is still there. I'm pretty sure I will know when the baby comes out, but I guess Julian doesn't know how that part works. :)
Monday, February 4, 2008
Hospital Tour
Yesterday was our tour of Alexandria Hospital. We got back from NC in time to change from the van to my car. After 9+ hours in the car between Saturday and Sunday we were ready for a little change of scenery. :)
The tour was great. We met up near the gift shop and learned how to get from that entrace to the labor and delivery ward (up the elevators and there you are). We were able to see the triage unit (where I had my monitoring done) and the other rooms. The rooms are pretty large and have lots of chairs and a couch for people. The bed is also super adjustable. It can be a flat bed or a chair or a lot of things in between. We also saw the kitchen area (they call it a nourishment center) where they have ice chips and juice and a microwave.
We went up and saw the maternity ward where you have 2-3 days of recovery. We got confirmation that the kids can visit during visitation hours (11am to 8pm) so that is good. And Max will stay in the room with me except for some visits to the nursery for weigh-ins and other monitoring. We also learned where the cafeteria is. :)
One of the areas of concern for me is the parking situation. Mark will have to drop me off at the door and then park the car. Or we can valet park, but then you can't get your car back if the valet service is closed. So we'll have to see when I go into labor and how ok I am at check in time. Or maybe when we call someone and beg for them to bring Mark some taco bell that person can also move Mark's car from the valet parking to the regular lot. :)
When we were doing the tour there were 5 women in labor. We saw no one freaking out. We heard no screams. Everyone seemed very calm and capable. That helps a lot with my stress level. I wouldn't say I am looking forward to giving birth, but I am feeling calmer about it.
I also was able to go to a La Leche League meeting on Saturday morning with Krista and that really helped me feel better about breastfeeding. Delivery is not optional, but breastfeeding is. But because I feel so strongly about wanting to breastfeed, I am focusing on learning as much about that as possible so that I am prepared. It sounds like there are a lot of resources at the hospital to help with getting started, and then the La Leche League and my friends who have successfully breastfed. I know I am not alone and that there are lots of ways for me to get the help I need. That all helps a lot too.
Max seemed to enjoy the Super Bowl. He was his normal super active self. He seems to tolerate the laptop on my lap much more easily than he does me reading a book and resting my hands on my belly. This is good news for me. He still kicks about a bit but he is less distracting than at other times. I have to say that being able to work from home with my feet up on the ottoman is making a huge difference in my ability to continue working.
The tour was great. We met up near the gift shop and learned how to get from that entrace to the labor and delivery ward (up the elevators and there you are). We were able to see the triage unit (where I had my monitoring done) and the other rooms. The rooms are pretty large and have lots of chairs and a couch for people. The bed is also super adjustable. It can be a flat bed or a chair or a lot of things in between. We also saw the kitchen area (they call it a nourishment center) where they have ice chips and juice and a microwave.
We went up and saw the maternity ward where you have 2-3 days of recovery. We got confirmation that the kids can visit during visitation hours (11am to 8pm) so that is good. And Max will stay in the room with me except for some visits to the nursery for weigh-ins and other monitoring. We also learned where the cafeteria is. :)
One of the areas of concern for me is the parking situation. Mark will have to drop me off at the door and then park the car. Or we can valet park, but then you can't get your car back if the valet service is closed. So we'll have to see when I go into labor and how ok I am at check in time. Or maybe when we call someone and beg for them to bring Mark some taco bell that person can also move Mark's car from the valet parking to the regular lot. :)
When we were doing the tour there were 5 women in labor. We saw no one freaking out. We heard no screams. Everyone seemed very calm and capable. That helps a lot with my stress level. I wouldn't say I am looking forward to giving birth, but I am feeling calmer about it.
I also was able to go to a La Leche League meeting on Saturday morning with Krista and that really helped me feel better about breastfeeding. Delivery is not optional, but breastfeeding is. But because I feel so strongly about wanting to breastfeed, I am focusing on learning as much about that as possible so that I am prepared. It sounds like there are a lot of resources at the hospital to help with getting started, and then the La Leche League and my friends who have successfully breastfed. I know I am not alone and that there are lots of ways for me to get the help I need. That all helps a lot too.
Max seemed to enjoy the Super Bowl. He was his normal super active self. He seems to tolerate the laptop on my lap much more easily than he does me reading a book and resting my hands on my belly. This is good news for me. He still kicks about a bit but he is less distracting than at other times. I have to say that being able to work from home with my feet up on the ottoman is making a huge difference in my ability to continue working.
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