36 & 37 Weeks

Sorry my fellow readers. With the craziness of the holidays and literally everyone within a mile radius of me getting sick, last week's post was delayed. Playing catch-up today!

Bebs (36 weeks): Baby is gaining about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy hair that covered her body, as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Next week, Bebs will be considered full-term!

Bebs (37 weeks): Bebs is now considered "full term," even though my due date is three weeks away. If I go into labor now, her lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb.
Baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a "wintermelon"). 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 Bebs' hair isn't the same color as mine and Jason's. 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.

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Hebs:  Turns out the cramping I had last week (mentioned in previous post) was due to a bacterial infection. Let this serve as a lesson for everyone out there--YOU know your body best, and if you think something is wrong, don't be afraid to call your doctor! I had no symptoms of an infection other than cramping (which according to the doctor isn't even a major symptom for a bacterial infection), so I'm glad I kind of demanded to be seen and have a test done. I was treated with antibiotics and have been feeling better in terms of the "stabby" type of cramping.

Last week at my 36 weeks appointment, Hubs and I saw a midwife. I loved her immediately!! We are so thankful that everyone we've come in contact with, we'd feel comfortable delivering our baby. I had to have a quick swab done to test me for Strep B. The midwife explained that about 40% of women get this while pregnant, and it just means I would have to go on antibiotics when I get to the hospital to have the baby.

Then the midwife asked if I'd like to be "checked." Since it was just a quick internal, I agreed, not knowing what to fully expect. I don't mean to brag or anything...but it turns out I am 1 centimeter dialated, 60% thinned, and the baby's head is at -2 station!!! Granted, I could stay 1 centimeter dialated two weeks past by due date. But, the midwife said it was promising because the week prior I had been completely closed up, the baby was high, and I wasn't dialated at all. I was so proud of my 1 centimeter dialation, I texted pretty much every woman in my phone on the way home from the  ob/gyn. :)

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Survey Continued:  Miscellaneous

Did you have morning sickness? Off and on in the first trimester
Did you have any cravings? First trimester--pickles, fruit, peppers, Mexican; Second trimester--cheese, anything processed; Third trimester--ICE CREAM! I can't get enough!
Did you have any mood swings? I should let the Hubs answer this one... Yes. Yes I did...and still do.
Are you a high risk pregnancy? Nope!
Any complications? Nope!
Formula or Breastfeeding? My goal is to exclusively breastfeed for 4 weeks, then begin pumping. I'm hoping I'll be able to breastfeed/pump for as long as I can.
Have you bought anything for the baby yet? Furniture and a few outfits. I can't believe I didn't go crazy buying a ton of clothes...but literally every single friend and family member has given us all the clothes, books, toys, etc. that we could ever need or want for this baby!
When did you start to show? I had to go back and look through my weekly pictures, but I'd say at about week 20 I had a cute bump!
How long could you wear your regular clothes? There are still some shirts and lounge pants I can wear comfortably now that are non-maternity clothes. I'd say I could wear my regular jeans (with a belly band) up until about 16 weeks. After that it was just way more comfortable to wear maternity clothes! 
Will you keep the baby’s clothes? I already have big organizational plans to keep the baby's clothes long after she no longer fits in them. I'd like to be able to pass any clothes along to my friends who will be pregnant in the future! After everyone I know is done having babies, then I will sell a few things at the Mother's Markets I have come to know and love!

35 Weeks

Bebs:  Bebs doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (like a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in the womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Hebs:  I got a pre-natal massage last weekend and it was wonderful. I felt relaxed, refreshed and most importantly, like I could actually MOVE again. That lasted for about two hours. Woot.

I was out of work Tuesday and Wednesday due to some cramping and (what I thought) were contractions. I called the ob/gyn on Tuesday with my concerns and was told to drink a large glass of OJ, lay on my left side, and count baby kicks and cramps for an hour. I had 7 baby kicks and 5 cramps. She told me to call back if I had 6 cramps in an hour because it could be pre-term labor.

By 5 p.m., I had 7 cramps in an hour. I called the on-call doctor, who told me to give a call back if I was getting a cramp once every 6 minutes. Ugh. Who knew there'd be so much math involved?

Yesterday was more of the same, except I called the ob/gyn again and kind of demanded to come in for an appointment. I was able to see a nurse practitioner who did a cervical exam (ow) and concluded that the baby's head was directly on top of my cervix. She is "ready to go" according to the nurse practioner, and all the cramping I had been feeling was mainly the baby pushing down on my cervix. The baby's heartbeat is a perfect 150.

The NP told me that feeling the Braxton Hicks contractions constantly did not necessarily mean labor was right around the corner. Just like some women find out they are dialated to 2 centimeters and are sure they'll have their baby that night...only end up to be 2 weeks overdue.

Pregnancy is confusing. And lonely. And painful. I've even lost my sense of humor in all of this. I'm just in this funk of "get this baby out of me NOW" that I know I'm losing sight of the things that are really important. There's a disconnect between my brain and the rest of my baby-ridden body.

An example of that....

Hubs went out for happy hour last night with his co-workers for their Christmas celebration. I asked him to bring me home some chicken fingers. He came home with a burger because the restaurant screwed up his order. I didn't just cry; I BAWLED my eyes out for a good 20 minutes, after locking myself in the bathroom. Jason told me he'd drive back to get me what I wanted, but my sadness had turned into anger by that point and I was just over it. And then I cried again. A lot.

5 more weeks, 5 more weeks, 5 more weeks...