37 weeks = Swiss Chard

Weight gain is now at 18 pounds. My blood pressure was fine. Max's heart beat was fine. Max is right on track for size. Max is also still head down. They did a check and I am not dialated or effaced or anything. The contractions are happening at a rate of a couple a day, but they are just for entertainment value. They are not a sign of anything starting to happen. I'm still uncomfortable and feel huge. Sleeping is increasingly difficult. Esp when the kids come in and ask me questions early in the morning instead of just letting me sleep! It is lucky that Mark is such a good sleeper since me turning on the light to read myself back to sleep doesn't bother him.

My group B strep test came back negative so that is good news. If it had been positive I would have needed to have anti-biotics during labor, but now I'm off the hook for that.

Nothing much else to report. Max is very active. And I'm just waiting for him to be cooked. My belly button is poking out more and more although not yet fully popped.

Here's the 37 week update:
http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-37-weeks_1126.bc
How your baby's growing:
Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.
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.

How your life's changing:
Braxton Hicks contractions may be coming more frequently now and may last longer and be more uncomfortable. You might also notice an increase in vaginal discharge. If you see some "bloody show" (mucus tinged with a tiny amount of blood) in the toilet or in your undies, labor is probably a few days away — or less. (If you have heavier spotting or bleeding, call your caregiver immediately.) Also be sure to ask your caregiver about the results of your Group B strep culture. That way, if the result isn't yet on your chart when you get to the hospital or birth center, you'll be able to give the staff there a timely heads-up if you need antibiotics.
It may be harder than ever to get comfortable enough to sleep well at night. If you can, take it easy through the day — this may be your last chance to do so for quite a while. Keep monitoring your baby's movements, too, and let your caregiver know immediately if you notice a decrease. Though her quarters are getting cozy, she should still be as active as before.While you're sleeping, you're likely to have some intense dreams. Anxiety both about labor and about becoming a parent can fuel a lot of strange flights of unconscious fancy.

Surprising Facts: Signs of labor
There's no way to predict when labor is going to start. Your body actually starts "preparing" for labor up to a month before you give birth. You may be blissfully unaware of what's going on or you may begin to notice new symptoms as your due date draws near.
Here are some things that may happen in the weeks or days before labor starts:
• Your baby drops. If this is your first pregnancy, you may feel what's known as "lightening" a few weeks before labor starts as your baby descends lower into your pelvis. You might detect a heaviness in your pelvis as this happens and notice less pressure just below your ribcage, making it easier to catch your breath.
• You note an uptick in Braxton Hicks contractions. More frequent and intense Braxton Hicks contractions can signal pre-labor, during which your cervix ripens and the stage is set for true labor. Some women experience a crampy, menstrual-like feeling during this time.
• You pass your mucus plug. The mucus plug is the small amount of thickened mucus that blocks the cervical canal leading to your uterus. The plug may come out all at once in a lump, or as increased vaginal discharge over the course of several days. The mucus may be tinged with blood (which may be brown, pink, or red), in which case it may be referred to as "bloody show."
• Your water breaks. Most women start having regular contractions sometime before their water breaks, but in some cases, the water breaks first. When this happens, labor usually follows soon. (If contractions don't start promptly on their own, you'll be induced.) Whether the amniotic fluid comes out in a large gush or a small trickle, call your doctor or midwife.

How can I tell if I'm in false labor or true labor?
Sometimes it's very hard to tell false labor from the early stages of true labor. Here are some things that might help you sort it out:
• False labor contractions are unpredictable. They come at irregular intervals and vary in length and intensity. Although true labor contractions may be irregular at first, over time they start coming at regular and shorter intervals, become increasingly more intense, and last longer.
• With false labor, the pain from the contractions is more likely to be centered in your lower abdomen. With true labor, you may feel the pain start in your lower back and wrap around to your abdomen.
• False labor contractions may subside on their own, or when you start or stop an activity or change position. True labor contractions will persist and progress regardless of what you do.

Belly button

My belly button has not yet popped out. But I think it will soon. It is showing definite signs of pooching out...

Today as I was waiting in line at McDs for some emergency lunch food, a stranger said Congrats to me. I was so focused on needing to eat and so not expecting a guy to comment to me about my pregnancy. I was startled. And then as I was getting my drink two women looked at me and asked somewhat incredulously "when are you due?!?" When I said 3 weeks they said I had a long way to go. I guess that is a good thing?

Tomorrow is an all day meeting at work. I have a bad attitude about it. It just seems overwhelming to me to sit in a chair and focus all day. I won't have a way to put my feet up. And it is an all day thing. I am not sure I can make it through all that...

Meanwhile the last of the baby clothes are in the washing machine. Almost everything Max owns has been washed with the special baby detergent. Within 90 minutes everything should be clean and dry and ready for him. Now I just have to find a place to keep it all. :)

It is starting to seem more real...

So tonight was the last night of knitting class. Max is due in exactly 4 weeks. Knitting classes go for 5 weeks. So this was the last knitting class that I will see to the end. Next week a new class will start but Max will arrive before they finish their 5 week session. And I won't be able to help out with the classes for quite a few weeks. That makes it seem all the more real. I'm going to have a baby and my life is going to change. I know that. But in some ways it also seems like I am just going to be pregnant forever. I've been pregnant for so long. And I have tried not to focus on having a baby since that seemed like a good way to drive myself crazy while waiting and waiting and waiting for it to be time for Max to arrive. But now we are down to less than a month. Max could arrive at any point during that month or after that. And when he does, things will change. Concrete specific things. There are the general things like still not being able to sleep. But there are other things like not being able to teach knitting class. It will all be worth it to have Max here. But I guess it is good there is such a long adjustment period. I am sure that nothing will be able to prepare me for what comes next. But at least there is a good long time for me to try to prepare myself. :)

36 Weeks

I had my 36 week checkup today. Max is still doing very well. His heart rate was good. His size was exactly on target. And he's still very active. I also got a good review today. My blood pressure was down from last week. I weighed myself this morning and I was actually down a pound from last week for a total gain of 14 pounds. At the doctor's office I showed a gain but that was after lunch so I'm not concerned about that. I always weigh myself at the same time of day so I think my measurement is more accurate. The doctor today was one of my favorites so I'm glad she was the one Mark got to meet during an appointment. She also said that her estimate is that Max will be 7.5 pounds when he is born. I like that answer better than last week's doctor's estimate! She says there is no reason to expect that Max will be extra large. My low weight gain is also another sign that he isn't likely to be a monster baby.

Because tomorrow marks 36 weeks, Max is now considered full-term. If I go into labor right now they will not try to stop my labor. I'm clear to give birth whenever Max feels ready. He has not dropped yet, so it probably won't be any time soon. :)

I like to think that all of the extra Easter candy I have been eating is a factor in losing a pound. And that I should eat even more Easter candy this week to see if I lose another pound. Even if my theory is wrong I will get to eat lots of delicious Easter candy. Creme eggs, cadbury's mini eggs, russell stover vanilla cream eggs. It is all just so delicious.

I took a little bit of video of Max moving around inside me yesterday. I'm working on posting them to YouTube for your viewing pleasure. He's a very active little boy. Although I am eager to meet him, I will miss feeling him kick around.

I'm still having trouble sleeping. And when I wake up my hips and back just ache and ache. It is very hard for me to walk across the bedroom in the morning. Luckily by the time it is going-to-school time I am usually able to walk again. And I'm fine most of the day. By evening I feel tired and a bit achy again. It is hard for me to fall asleep and I wake up frequently and have trouble getting back to sleep. I know that I won't be sleeping a lot after Max arrives, but there is still something to be said for being able to sleep face down without having someone kick you to tell you he is being crushed!

Here's the 36 week update:
http://www.womenshealthcaretopics.com/pregnancy_week_36.htm
How Big is the Baby at 36 Weeks Pregnant?
By 36 weeks pregnant your baby is now right about 6 pounds and is about 20.6 inches or more long! Your little one will soon enter the ranks of heavyweight champs as you continue pregnancy week by week and he approaches delivery!

Your Baby's Growth and Development
Your baby is still working on putting on weight during pregnancy week 36. While that may not seem very exciting, keep in mind this is his primary job from now until delivery. Round babies are healthy babies. This is probably the one time in your baby's life they can put on pounds with wild abandon. If you were to peak inside your womb, you'd probably see your baby giddy with glee.
Did you know that some researchers believe your baby actually releases a signal to trigger labor? There are actually several different theories. Some believe that when your baby's brain is completely mature it sends a signal to the fetal adrenal glands. These glands then start to secrete the hormone cortisol, which may alter the metabolism of estrogen and progesterone, resulting in labor.
Other researchers have postulated that the fetal lungs secrete signals indicating they are mature, as well as enzymes that result in the release of prostaglandins, which help the cervix ripen and help the uterus to contract. This is highly likely as the body does release prostaglandins around the time of birth.

Your Growth and Development
You are round and beautiful during pregnancy 36 weeks. Your uterus during pregnancy at 36 weeks is now more than 5 and a half inches from your navel. You may think you simply can't get any bigger by pregnancy at 36 weeks, but don't forget you still have four weeks of growing left! Some women may even have a little bit more!
The capacity of the uterus and abdomen to stretch during pregnancy is truly a remarkable phenomena. At no other time will the body transform at such a rapid rate than during pregnancy. Amazingly, while it takes nine months for the uterus to stretch to several times its normal size during pregnancy, by your six week checkup it will be back to its normal pre-pregnancy size already.

Changes in You
You are probably getting more and more anxious for delivery by 36 weeks pregnant. You probably still have a good 4 to 5 weeks to go however even at 36 weeks pregnant, particularly if this is your first pregnancy. Full term is defined as gestation between 37 and 41 weeks. That means your baby could come any time between then and that would be perfectly normal.
While some women hope and pray that their baby will come early by pregnancy week 36, the vast majority actually come a little later than we expect. Relatively few women actually deliver on their exact due date, though many do in the days just before or just after.
The level of amniotic fluid in your belly is relatively constant. Your baby will actually swallow a certain volume of amniotic fluid each day during pregnancy. Typically your baby will go on to excrete this fluid as urine. There is a balance between your baby swallowing the amniotic fluid and the baby excreting the fluid as urine that is maintained each and every day.
If this balance is not maintained the amount of fluid in your womb will increase or decrease significantly, causing a condition called polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios respectfully. These conditions are relatively rare though it may affect up to 8 percent of pregnancies. Abnormal amniotic fluid volume is more common in the third trimester than in the second though it can occur at any time. Your healthcare provider will be able to measure your baby's amniotic levels via ultrasound during your pregnancy if he suspects abnormal amniotic fluid volume.
If you are feeling a bit clumsy lately, you aren't alone. When was the last time you saw your toes? One of the best things you can do for yourself in the last few weeks of pregnancy is go for a light swim. Swimming is wonderful during the last half of pregnancy, if for no other reason that it renders you practically weightless, which can relieve a lot of the pain and stiffness you might experience in the last half of pregnancy.
Remember however to stay away from the hot tub until after delivery. You can however enjoy a warm bath as well during the last half of pregnancy. Many women actually climb into the tub during the early phase of labor to help relieve some of their discomfort.
Whether this is your first pregnancy or last, take a few moments to savor the feeling of your baby moving about your belly. There simply is nothing quite like it, and in the grand scheme of things pregnancy is just nine short months of the long journey of life. Your newborn baby will eventually grow into a teenager and then an adult. Before you know it you will look back on these days of bloating, weight gain and fatigue with awe and longing!

Nik's latest question

So this morning on the way to school Nik was again asking about Max being in my tummy. We made a decision at the start of my pregnancy to not delve into the details of where Max is. Tummy was good enough for two young boys.

Nik's questions today started with the standard questions about what Max is doing. Is he growing in my tummy? Is he not yet ready to come out? The standard questions I get on a regular basis. He likes to know if Max is awake or if Max is sleeping and growing so that he can get bigger so that he can be born.


Today we had a new question... Will I be sick when Max is born? Apparently Nik thinks that I will be puking Max up out of my tummy when he is ready to be born.

Things I Will Miss

Max has the hiccoughs. Both of the kids were able to feel them. Nik asked if the baby was crying. And followed up with saying that he doesn't cry when he has the hiccoughs either. Very cute.

I enjoy feeling Max move around. It is reassuring since I tend to freak out if he is still for too long. The kicks make me feel like he is doing well. And since I wanted to be pregnant for so long, it is really cool to be able to actively feel some sort of sign of him growing in there.

I also enjoy that Max is silent at the moment. And feeds himself automatically with no active interaction from me. I hear that those two things will be things I will miss greatly in the future.

I do not miss not being able to sleep on my stomach or on my back. Or the difficulty I have sleeping in general. I can sleep on my side, but it isn't comfortable. Sitting on the couch is good, but I am not one for sleeping sitting up. And my feet de-swell much better when I am actually flat...

Number Fun

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.