36 Weeks!

How Far Along: 36 weeks (28 more days to go! Really?? How did that happen??)

What "They" Say About Our Baby's Development: Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his 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 his 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.) Most likely he's in a head-down position. But if he isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an external cephalic version which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating him from the outside of your belly.

Mama: Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs! You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes. Even if you're enjoying an uncomplicated pregnancy, it's best to avoid flying (or any travel far from home) during your final month because you can go into labor at any time. In fact, some airlines won't let women on board who are due to deliver within 30 days of the flight.

Weekly Food Comparison: A crenshaw melon

The Good: Good cardiology appointment and good massage therapy appointment this week

The Bad: More contractions, and feet swelling (although if I've made it this far with no swelling until now, I feel fortunate!

The Weird: His "sweeping" motions across my belly...and knowing it's his arms/legs!

Currently Craving/Avoiding:

Avoiding: Not really avoiding anything...other than big meals. I feel full so fast now!

Craving: Fruit, water

Doctor Updates: Seeing the doctor on Monday

Total weight gain/loss: 30 lbs. (happily I only gained 1 lb in the last week, so I think the doc was right about it being fluids the week I gained 4 lbs!)

Maternity clothes? Yes...still squeezing the last little bit out of some non-maternity tops. I basically can wear only a few outfits a week and keep washing and rotating them!

Stretch marks? 2

Sleep: I've started to have some pregnancy insomnia. I usually wake up at about 3am and can't get back to sleep. I've also been waking up for good at about 6:30am most weekend mornings.

Best moment this week: Feeling this little guy move more and more, getting things accomplished in prep for his arrival, feeling really calm about him coming...

Movement: Constantly

Labor Signs: Practice contractions

Belly Button in or out? I think it's officially "out"

What I miss: Not having heartburn

What I am looking forward to: Doctor's appointment this week to see if I'm dilated any more...and planning when this little guy will be making his arrival into the world!


The Weekly Belly Bump: 36 week photos!

And, not a belly photo, but one of my kitty Eponine...
snuggling under blankets and my body pillow I sleep with every night...