Week 38--Changes and Developments.

Ok, so I am way behind this week...but here I am!! This week has been very busy trying to prepare for my maternity leave and everything else. I had a Dr. appointment yesterday that went uneventfully, and may actually have the baby's room ready (for the most part). As far as baby goes, this week there are a few little things happening:

• Baby will be growing an ounce a day
• Baby's intestines continue to accumulate meconium
  
• The circumference of the head and the abdomen are about the same size (Ouch!!)
  
• The testicles have descended into the scrotum (for boys)
• The labia are completely developed (for girls).

The baby at this point is considered fully cooked, and because of that...if the baby hasn't decided to grace us with its presence by Tuesday evening, I will be getting induced. That's right...there is finally a finish line in the visible future. I know it's weird, but I like that there is a date and time that marks the beginning of the end. I have loved being pregnant, but the waiting game is driving me CRAZY!!! I will keep you updated over the next few days as we get closer and closer to having a new little one in our lives.

Dr. Appointment 2/18/2009

I had another Dr. appointment yesterday and it went pretty uneventfully. I lost 3 pounds this week...my blood pressure is fine....and they didn't even check my blood sugar because they won't start me on anything for it anyway at this point! The baby's heart beat is still going strong. That's about all that they did. Next week they will actually check my cervix and if I haven't gone into labor they may try to induce me at the end of next week. However, if my cervix isn't favorable they'll wait another week to get closer to my due date. At this point it's all up to the cervix. My best guarantee to have a baby in the next week.....to go into labor all on my own. So that's my goal for the next week. Who's up for it? Anyone have any marvelous ideas??

Week 37--Developments and Changes.

Welcome to another lovely week in our pregnancy. I am still loving being pregnant, but I hate the Dr. and hospital enough that I am ready to be done. There are a few developments this week as we wait for baby to come out.

• Baby continues to develop fat at the rate of half an ounce a day
• Baby is getting rounder every day because of that fat!
• The baby's skin is getting pinker and losing its wrinkly appearance
• Baby continues to practice breathing movements.
  

This week also marks when I am considered "Full Term" even from the furthest due date (although the closest due date is SATURDAY! 2/21). I have a Dr. appointment this afternoon, which I expect to be pretty standard and then another NST tomorrow. I am kind of hoping that the Dr. will check my cervix today to see if I am dilated/effaced at all or anything, but we'll just have to wait and see I suppose. Sorry it's short this week....not much is happening other than the dreaded WAITING GAME!

Pregnancy Phenomenon #2: Baby Brain

Yesterday I discussed a phenomenon that happens to people around pregnant women, which I called "foot-in-mouth disease." Now, I don't want those people who are NOT pregnant to feel picked on, so today I'm going to share one that actually happens directly TO the pregnant woman in question....which in this case happens to be me. I call it BABY BRAIN (queue scary music). While I personally thought that this was just a myth when I first got pregnant, after several months of denial and hiding from the truth, I finally have to face the inevitable. My brain has literally turned into mush. At first it seemed like nothing too major, but it has gradually gotten worse and worse.

The first time I noticed my baby brain kicking in, I was sitting in my office at work and realized that I didn't know where my keys were. I began looking through the pockets of my coat and pants, searching all through the drawers and shelves, and was really starting to get nervous. About that time my boss walked in and asked me what I needed. I told her I had lost my keys, and she proceeded to pick them up off of my desk, right next to the keyboard I had been using to type all day, and handed them to me. I know she thought I had lost my mind. Unfortunately I didn't realize that would only be the beginning of the trouble. Since that time I have taken a wrong turn on my way to work after dropping Seth off (which I do 5 days a week) at least 3 times...lost my keys again....forgotten where I parked....started a sentence or a story, just to realize that I don't know where I was going, or even what I was talking about......put my shoes on the wrong feet....worn my clothing inside out....the list goes on and on. However, baby brain reached its peak with me this week. In one day I had several episodes of "baby brain" kicking in...with the final straw being me sitting in the bathtub, which I had already drained, and realizing that I still had BOTH shampoo and conditioner still in my hair. (Honestly, I would tell you about the other occurrences from that day.....but I can not remember. I had to go ask Seth about them.....yeah).

I have always been a list maker (in fact I have a list of the prego phenomenons I want to blog about sitting here at my desk)....but I have a feeling that for the next couple weeks (or less!!!) my life and my sanity may depend heavily on those lists to keep me in line. I only hope that no one comes across my list of how to take a shower....step by step.

Pregnancy Phenomenon #1: Foot-in-Mouth disease

Being pregnant is one of the greatest things I have ever done in my life. It is something that should be cherished and enjoyed as much as possible, and pregnant women should be praised!! I've never felt more beautiful, or accomplished as I have during the last few months. However, during this same time period, I have found that there are a few very interesting phenomenons that occur during pregnancy that don't normally happen during any other times in our lives. Some of these things happen to the pregnant woman in question...but others happen to those people AROUND the pregnant woman. One such phenomenon is what I would like to call "foot-in-mouth disease." This is one of those that people interacting with a pregnant woman are bound to face, and few seem strong enough to beat it. I have several examples:

1. While carrying 2 drinks into a building (1 for me and 1 for my husband) a woman told me that I should be careful or I would put on too much weight. Would you ever question the weight of a non-prego out loud?? How about to their face???

2. Several times throughout the day I hear "Holy crap, you're big enough you look like you're going to pop" or "Damn that thing is still in there??" One person even went as far as saying "Are you sure there aren't 2 of them in there??" Nothing makes a pregnant woman feel more beautiful than being told how enormous she is by every single passer-by. Next time I may be tempted to explain to you how fat your butt looks in your current pants.....I actually weigh LESS now than I did 9 months ago, and I'm carrying another living being? Can you say that??

3. While discussing induction with random people at work, one woman told me "you need to have more sex." Now, I tried to be tactful as possible and told her that I think my sex life was probably ok considering that's how I got to this point in the first place. Instead of keeping quiet, she decided "Well then you must not be using the right position." I was flabbergasted. Never question someone else's preferred method of sexual interaction.....ever!

4. Standing in the living room next to my little sister, she exclaimed "Your boobs look ENORMOUS!" I laughed it off, but at the same time I was confused...they are the exact same size as they were before. Considering how big my belly has gotten, you would thing that they would look smaller. I guess that's not really an insult at all...but still not something you would generally say to a non-prego.

I'm really not sure what causes this phenomenon. I really question what it is that makes people feel so open and honest with pregnant woman. Is it our beautiful glow that brings all in and makes them want to express their every thought? Or do we simply remind them of dear ol' "mommy" and make them want to snuggle up and tell all of their secrets. Next time you see a pregnant woman in a store, and get the desire to make a comment on her body, clothing style, or anything else, ask yourself if you would make the same comment to the fat girl across the street.

Another lovely dream.

So I've been slacking when it comes to recording the crazy dreams I've had during the last few months. However, last night I had a dream that I thought was VERY funny. A little back story on some of the details. Early on in my pregnancy I bought a pair of shoes for cheap, that are these simple black clog thingies. They are the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned, and I have lovingly named them my "squishy" shoes. One of the biggest fits I have thrown during pregnancy was because Zombie got a hold of my shoe and chewed on them. Now, last night I had a dream that Zombie not only chewed on my shoes, but actually completely ripped the soles of the shoes off of them and left them as shredded fragments of slipper. He did all of this while Tyra Banks watched him, and just stared at the craziness that ensued. I walked into the room and seeing Tyra watching my dog destroy my beloved squishy shoes, I started bawling and tried to beat Zombie with the shoe itself, but it was so shredded at that point that it was like beating him with a cotton ball or something. I looked up at Tyra and she looked at me like I was nuts....and then I woke up. That's twice now that Tyra has graced me with her presence during pregnancy dreams.

The first time I had a dream about Tyra, we actually were hanging out and building a tree house. The planks that we used to build a bridge from the tree to the ground were very interesting. Each plank told a small part of a story on them, and as you approached the tree house you could read the story. Tyra dressed up as a fairy princess and there were little kids everywhere.

Week 36--Developments and Changes

Welcome to week 36. We're getting down to the wire now, and baby could literally come any day (although I'm not holding my breath). There isn't a whole lot going on this week, and Dr. appointments are taking up most of my mornings. I'm definitely ready to have the baby, but not because I'm uncomfortable. I'm simply ready to be done with going to the doctor and hospital all the time. Other fetal developments that are occurring:

• The gums have become rigid
• The sucking muscles are now fully developed
• The brain is developing rapidly
• Baby is practicing blinking.

That's about all that is going on with the baby. The only other big news with us is that we bought a new car last weekend. We traded in the Honda (which made me a little sad because I loved that car) and bought ourselves a 2007 Hyundai Tucson. It's a cute little SUV which will let us travel with the dogs and the baby safely. We both love it and got a great deal on it. I have another Dr. appointment tomorrow, so we'll see where things sit from there.

Week 35--Developments and Changes

This week marks the point that baby's measure 12 inches from crown to rump and likely weighs more than 5.5 pounds. At this point, the baby's eyes are probably blue at this point as well, but there is always a chance of change after the baby is born. Other developments that should be happening this week:

• For males, the testes have completed their descent
• Baby continues to gain weight and store fat all over his/her body
• The fingernails reach the end of the fingertips
• The lungs are almost fully developed.

There isn't a lot happening, but that's ok I suppose. That means we're getting down to the end of things!! I had the second NST yesterday and it went smoothly. Even the Dr. says "I sometimes wonder why we do these things, but we have to do what's best for the baby. " Lame!! It was even more traumatic than last week though, because they put me into the triage room, and then after I got situated (which was more difficult than last time because baby was having NO part in being monitored) they brought in another girl who was actually spotting and in major pain at 32 weeks, and wasn't feeling her baby move. Nothing like laying behind a curtain for an hour listening to someone in pain and panic and feeling guilty for hearing your baby's heart beat, and even louder movements. UGH!! I'm so grateful that everything is going well with the baby, but that was a really awkward situation to say the least. We have a Dr. appointment tomorrow where they should be actually doing something more substantial than the normal ones, so hopefully I will have something to report then.