38 weeks

So today I'm 38 weeks and SO ready to be done! I'm REALLY uncomfortable all the time. If I stand for too long my ankles hurt and if I sit or lay down for too long my hips and back hurt. It will all be worth it, I know I know, but right now stinks! Good thing this Friday is my last day at work!
I had my 38 week doctor's appointment yesterday. He said that I haven't made any progress since last week (boo!) and is looking for a reason to induce me since he knows I'm uncomfortable, but won't do it unless my body is making at least some progress on it's own. He said that if he were to induce me with where I am now (only about 1 cm and 50% effaced) I could be in labor for days and still end up with a c-section because my body just really wasn't ready. So this week I will be trying all the methods to get things moving that are out there: walking, eating spicy food, drinking different kinds of tea, eating pineapple, etc.
My mom comes in on Sunday so we'll definitely kick it up a notch after she gets here. She'll be here for 3 weeks and I'd prefer the majority of the time is with baby and not with me still being pregnant.

Here are my 38 week belly pictures. It looks like he's dropped a BIT but the doctor said he hasn't dropped completely.

Here is what is going on with Landon and I this week:

Your baby has really plumped up. He weighs about 6.8 pounds and he's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). He has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold his hand for the first time! His organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If he's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If he's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time he's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after he's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

For many women, the next couple of weeks are a waiting game. Use this time to prepare your baby's nursery or to take care of necessary tasks you may not get around to for a while after your baby's born. Take naps, catch up on your reading, and spend uninterrupted time with your partner while you can.

Some swelling in your feet and ankles is normal during these last weeks, but call your practitioner without delay if you notice excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, or have a sudden weight gain. Also let her know immediately if have severe or persistent headaches; visual changes (such as double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, light sensitivity, or a temporary loss of vision), intense upper abdominal pain or tenderness, or nausea and vomiting. These are symptoms of a serious condition called preeclampsia.

37 weeks - Full Term!

So I am officially full term today! This means that if Landon were to come any time after today they wouldn't stop labor.

School for students started yesterday and it's been interesting. It's nice to be back to work (and getting a paycheck) but it's also tough when carrying around all this extra weight in the front! My feet were killing me yesterday by the end of the day and my stomach was really tight (probably from standing for so long and my muscles having to work overtime). I know I need to be here for at least another week or two, but it's getting tough!

I had a doctors appointment yesterday and everything looked good. The doctor said I was about 1 cm and 50% effaced, which really isn't much but it's something. We talked about the c-section idea and how me having one may make the recovery longer than if someone else had a c-section (due to them cutting muscles and my low muscle tone). So we discussed the idea of an induction at about 39 weeks. That way I'd have a better chance of getting him out (because from now on all he's doing is putting on weight and getting bigger). So hopefully we'll get this confirmed at my appointment next week :)

Here are my 37 week belly pictures:

And here is what is going on with Landon and I this week:

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)
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.

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 his quarters are getting cozy, he 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.

36 weeks

So we are down to less than a month left! We are very excited and very ready. Honestly, if we weren't in the financial situation that we are in, I probably wouldn't be going back to work. I'm already worn out at the end of the day and the students aren't even there yet! After school today Dan and I went grocery shopping and we got home and my feet were sore (but I can't really see them). I sat down and looked at my feet and they were a bit swollen. I guess I'll have to stay off my feet a bit more. Below is a pic of my swollen feet. They may not look too bad to some, but I have REALLY narrow and skinny feet and ankles, you can notice it the most in the ankles.


We had a doctor's appointment on Monday. They did an ultrasound and saw that Landon is no longer breech, but head down. This is good news, however I'm still worried about whether my body can handle a regular birth with my hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hypotonia (low muscle tone). The doctor said that if I get to 39 weeks and I want a c-section he is more than willing. So we are in the process of deciding. I thinking about telling him that if Landon hasn't come on his own by September 8th then we will do a c-section on September 8th. I figure that if he comes by then I might be good weight and size-wise to have him the regualar way. However, if I have to wait until 40 weeks or more than I'm worried his size plus my medical conditions will make it tough.
They also estimated his weight at about 6 lbs and 3 oz at the 36 week mark. They say that just a little under 6 lbs is normal for that time, so he isn't that far off. However, they measured his femur again (they won't estimate height, but it gives them a slight idea of how long he'll be). They measured it twice and took an average and said that it was measuring at about 38 1/2 weeks and he's only 36 weeks... so it sounds like we are looking at long and skinny :)
I've been back at work this week for preplanning. Next week the students come back and I'll be with them for 2 weeks. My last day is going to be September 3rd and I'll be taking 12 weeks under FMLA. However, if Dan gets laid off that time, I may be going back to work after only 6-8 weeks due to financial strain (no paid maternity leave here).
Below are my 36 week belly pictures (I definitely have a serious waddle going on now!):

Here is what is going on with Landon and I this week:
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) 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 his 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 her 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.

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 vaginal 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 vaginal 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.

35 weeks

35 weeks down, 5 to go! I'm starting to get very uncomfortable no matter what I do. Standing, sitting, lying down... all uncomfortable. Yesterday, Dan and I went to Sam's Club to get toilet paper and dog food and I was waddling more than usual (I had been setting up my classroom all day and was sore). Dan started waddling next to me and cracking up! I told him to knock it off but he said that he was trying to make me feel more comfortable by not being the only person waddling through the store (I'm pretty sure he was just making fun of me!). So he continued through the whole store, punk.

Last Thursday we had a bit of a false alarm as well. I was feeling really crampy (like it was that time of the month) and I was having more Braxton Hicks contractions then normal. I decided to call the doctor to be sure and they told me to come in just in case. Turns out I had let myself get dehydrated (We had done a bunch of running around the day before, and when I thought about it later I hadn't drank as much water as normal) and I had a UTI. The doctor also checked me (which was REALLY fun, lol) and said that I was only about a 1/2 cm dilated (which is nothing). So I was perscribed something for the UTI and told to drink more water and at least 1 gatorade a day. She also mentioned that she thinks that Landon is head down, based on when she checked me and where she found his heartbeat. We have our 36 week appointment on Monday and we are getting an ultrasound, so we'll see then!

Here are my 35 week belly pics:

Here is what is going on with Landon and I this week:

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.
Your uterus — which was entirely tucked away inside your pelvis when you conceived — now reaches up under your rib cage. If you could peek inside your womb, you'd see that there's more baby than amniotic fluid in there now. Your ballooning uterus is crowding your other internal organs, too, which is why you probably have to urinate more often and may be dealing with heartburn and other gastrointestinal distress. If you're not grappling with these annoyances, you're one of the lucky few.

34 weeks

So today I'm 34 weeks, meaning I technically have 6 weeks until my due date. However, some things have changed about our little guy's arrival. I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and discussed with the doctor that Landon is still breech. He said that at my 36 week appointment they will do an ultrasound to check and then schedule a c-section for 39 weeks if he is still breech. They would do it a week early so that I don't go in to labor on my own and then have to have an emergency c-section. I asked him what the chances were of flipping (because I already feel like he has no room in there) and he said very slim. He's almost out of room and his umbilical cord is near his head (always in the way during ultrasounds) so a lot of times these 2 things will keep them from flipping over.
So we are looking at the week of September 6th! I can't believe he will be here so soon! Not only have we had the 9 months of anticipation but there is also the 2 years of trying before that as well, so it kind of felt like this day may never come... and now it's right around the corner! We are VERY excited!
We also got some more good news today, Dan is going back to work!! Ok, it may not be for a long time, but it's for at least 2-3 weeks. This is great news since he makes more than twice what unemployment is. He knows of a job coming up on September 1st at Disney that a few of his buddies are going to be on so they are all trying to get him set up for that one too. Fingers crossed! Dan's going to continue working at the nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights through the first short job, but if he gets on to the Disney job then he'll probably quit. It would be just too much otherwise. However, he's planning on keeping his post of Craigslist to help people with moves and try to schedule them for weekends or after work. I'm worried he's going to over work himself but I know he wants to provide and try to make up for the 3 months he's been laid off. Hopefully it all works out for the best!

Below are my 34 week belly pictures (my belly button is almost flush with my stomach. I don't think I'm going to get an outie but it's probably going to end up flat!)
Here is what is going on with Landon and I this week:
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.
By this week, fatigue has probably set in again, though maybe not with the same coma-like intensity of your first trimester. Your tiredness is perfectly understandable, given the physical strain you're under and the restless nights of frequent pee breaks and tossing and turning, while trying to get comfortable. Now's the time to slow down and save up your energy for labor day (and beyond). If you've been sitting or lying down for a long time, don't jump up too quickly. Blood can pool in your feet and legs, causing a temporary drop in your blood pressure when you get up that can make you feel dizzy.