40 Weeks! 10 Months!

How Far Along:  40 Weeks / 10 Months!!! Due date has arrived. Not that I put a lot of stock in the date because it is a guess and babies come whenever they want anyway. I just had hoped he would come close to the date.

Front bump marks

 side marks

 

Dropping? I know he has, I just cant really see it in pictures.

How big is baby:  The average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds (about the size of a small pumpkin) and is about 20 inches long.

This weeks development:

He's continuing to grow hair and nails.

And he's keeping up that lung development, too.

My Body:

Pelvic pain due to things loosening up to prepare for birth and all the pressure of baby boy.

I have a cough which makes sleeping EVEN more difficult.

40 week appointment:  No change in cervix or dilation from previous week...Bummer! I have been doing lots of walking etc this week too! Just goes to show whatever I do to try to get labor going wont do anything if baby is not ready. It is so hard to be so out of control!!! I set up next week's appointment hoping I wont need it and baby boy will have arrived. After 41 weeks I will get hooked up to a monitor for 15min to see how baby is doing. I really hope he comes soon. I am so excited to meet him and I am so done with being pregnant! I am so thankful I am able to be pregnant but at this point I just want my baby!!

Stretch Marks:  Ones I have are getting darker.. I think a few small ones appeared... it is hard to tell because they are on the under side of my belly and for me to see I use a mirror which I feel doesn't give me a good look.
Weight gain/loss: up a total of 39lbs yikes!
Maternity clothes:  Really hard to find tops that still fit.

Best moment this week:  Spending time with Nathan.
Movement:  He moves most at night. Last few days he has been really active
Miss Anything: SLEEP!

Food cravings: Breakfast foods

Symptoms: Pelvic discomfort, not able to sleep, gas, emotional and irritable.
Sleep: I wake up frequently to use bathroom and reposition.

Anything making you queasy or sick: No.
Gender: Boy

Looking forward to:  Meeting our little guy! It is all I can think about.

39 Weeks!

 

How Far Along: 39 Weeks! 1 week till due date.

 

*Thursday (yesterday) I am 2.5cm dilated and 50% effaced.

How big is baby:  He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, about the size of a mini-watermelon. 

*Doctor said he thinks he is average size like 7.5 lbs

 

This weeks development:

He's probably able to flex his limbs now.

His brain is still rapidly developing -- he's getting smarter by the week!

His nails may extend past his fingertips.

My Body:

False labor. Usually these pains start in the front of your body and ease up when you switch positions. You'll know it's real labor when they start at the top of your uterus and become more frequent.

Water breaking. Call your doctor if you suspect yours has broken, or if you think you could be leaking amniotic fluid.

More heartburn, hemorrhoids, pelvic pressure and trouble catching your breath.

The urge to nest. Don't stress though -- you'll never get everything done.

Stretch Marks:  Ones I have getting slightly darker...nothing new
Weight gain/loss: up a total of 35lbs yikes!
Maternity clothes:  Nothing new, probably wont be buying anything even though tops that fit are limited now.

Best moment this week:  Increase in dilatation and effacement which means progress and getting closer to labor starting!
Movement:  Same, he has always been a good mover. Movements are less often but more powerful when they occur.
Miss Anything: Nothing really this week.

Food cravings: Breakfast foods

Symptoms: pelvic discomfort is severe when getting up from sitting and walking. Baby is at station 0 or 1.

 

Sleep: I wake up frequently to use bathroom and reposition

Anything making you queasy or sick: No.
Gender: Boy

Looking forward to:  Meeting our little guy! It is all I can think about.

38 Weeks

How Far Along:  38 Weeks 9.5 months!!!!  Looking back to when we found out we were expecting in May I never thought Jan would get here...and here it is!!! I am so anxiously excited to meet our little one it is all I can think about.  Every day I keep wondering "will my water break...is this pain a contraction..."

How big is baby: Baby is about 18.9 to 20.9 inches long and weighs about 6.2 to 9.2 pounds. His head is now about the same circumference as his abdomen.

This weeks development:

He may have about an inch or so of hair already.

He's slowly shedding that white goo on his skin (called vernix caseosa) but you might see some of it at birth.

My Body:
Lightning crotch." As baby bumps against nerves in your pelvis, you might feel shooting sensations down your legs and even inside your vagina.

You're probably still having Braxton Hicks contractions, difficulty sleeping, vaginal discharge, an itchy belly and swollen feet and ankles.

You might have had a slightly bloody, mucus discharge, known as bloody show. This is a sign labor is coming.

You might also have some diarrhea, which could also mean baby is coming soon.

How we started off 2014
New Years Eve, Nathan and I went to the Hobbit. During the movie I noticed I was having consistent Braxton Hicks. It got to the point I thought it might be the real thing. When I got home, had a bowel movement and I felt better. New  Years Day, I slept in and did things around the house to get organized a bit more. As I was eating some cereal and watching tv with Nathan I noticed my vision getting blurry, like I had a massive floater in my eye. It didn't go away and I started to get dizzy and a head ache. I tried looking online and what kept coming up was preeclampsia. I called the hospital and they wanted me to come in right away to get evaluated. When we arrived the blurred vision went away. After I put the lovely gown on and was in bed I felt groggy, my hands are arms went heavy and my face and fingers started to tingle and go numb. My blood pressure was high.  They put an IV in (my very first experience with this) and took some blood and urine. I felt very out of it. Labs came back normal-no preeclampsia! They wanted me to stay in a few more hours. My contractions started getting consistent and stronger but they were felt up high on my belly (not the real ones). The nurse checked me and I was dilated to a 1 and very thick.  They had me relax in the tub for a while and things calmed down after. It was nice to be in a big tub that I could actually soak in.  They checked me again and I was the same. My blood pressure looked good and I felt better so I was sent home. 

Started using these to help thin out cervix. I also am sitting on the yoga ball to help get baby boy in a good position and to help with back pain.

 

Stretch Marks:  Ones I have getting slightly darker...nothing new
Weight gain/loss: up 4lbs total of 34lbs yikes!
Maternity clothes:  Nothing new, probably wont be buying anything

Best moment this week:  Getting this from Jennifer (Mila)  :)

Movement:  Same, he has always been a good mover. Movements are less often but more powerful when they occur.
Miss Anything: Nothing really this week.

Food cravings: Breakfast foods

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks getting stronger and consistent, increase pelvic discomfort, and I live in the bathroom.

Sleep: Pelvic pain increased at night, hurts when getting out of bed and shortly after.
Anything making you queasy or sick: No.
Gender: Boy

Looking forward to:  Labor actually starting.