36 weeks

The midwife and assistant came to the house today for a home visit. They did the normal checkup - urine dip all normal, blood pressure 108/60, heart tones good (150s) and the baby is head down, still. They also checked out the supply kit I had ordered and got the layout of the house for when the big day comes. (Homebirth "supplies" includes things like an umbilical clamp, newborn hats and various things that absorb stuff...you can get ANYTHING on the internet.) My fundal height (i.e. baby containing portion of belly) is measuring 37.5 cm which translates to 37.5 weeks, which could mean he is a little big or it could mean nothing...he is likely not small though. I asked if they thought I might go early, considering size and the fact that I have lots of contractions now. The old wives' tale she used to see how long I would go said that it would be 3 more weeks, which would be early but within full term. (The test is how many of the mother's fingers fit between the xyphoid process and the top of the uterus. I fit 3.) We'll see! Overall, it was pretty exciting to finally have the home visit. From now on I have weekly visits at the office.



Also, as of today, here is the assortment of evening pills. In addition to taking a daily prenatal, nutribiotics (basically grapefruit seed extract) and DHA supplement, it's time to add alfalfa and evening primrose oil to the line up. Alfalfa contains vitamin K, which is important for coagulation, thus limiting bleeding after birth. Evening primrose oil prepares the cervix to let the kid through nice and easy. It is used more aggressively to induce labor if one gets to 41 weeks or so. In addition, I'm drinking as much red raspberry leaf tea as humanly possible, which is supposed to support all over uterine health. When not drinking tea, I'm to drink as much water as humanly possible. Dehydration is the most preventable problem that can occur during labor and birth, so I'm on that one.

From babycenter.com:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of 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 covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. 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.

34 weeks

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which she'll need to regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her 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.

from babycenter.com

Confirmation

After weeks of being told to place my hand on Alyssa’s belly and weeks of “Did you feel that"?”, “No”, “Did you feel that?”, “No”, last night I finally confirmed that there is indeed a baby moving around down there. And it was unprompted. That is to say that I felt the baby move without the “Did you feel that?”.

Half baked

Baby and I marked the 20 week point on Tuesday! Here is the 20 week belly.

During the last week I've gotten my appetite back and it's fierce. I woke up a few times at 3 am with a growling stomach. I am an eating machine. I need breakfast as soon as I wake up. And I'm hungry again before lunch. Everything sounds good to me now, including sweets. I highly recommend the Dairy Queen Limited Edition Thin Mint Blizzard with vanilla ice cream. It may surpass Wendy's Frosty as my favorite frozen treat. I think I will have gained some weight by my next appointment :)

I have tried to hear the baby's heartbeat with my stethoscope for the last couple of weeks, but still nothing. It is supposed to be possible as of 20 weeks, so I am getting excited for it any day now. It is moving a lot, but it is only noticeable after I eat or when I lay down. Donavon thought he felt it move while we were in Chicago, but so far that is the only time. And he wasn't really that sure about it.

19 weeks

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, taking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom —about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

official punching

Last night I felt the first official punch from the baby. Lying in bed, around 10:30pm, I had my hand on my belly. I felt about 5 little punches in a row, a few seconds apart, in the same spot. It was just left of midline, where we have heard the heartbeat quite a few times. It likes to hang out near my pulse, from the aorta, which is just left of center. I could feel the movements from both the outside (subtly) and the inside (rather strongly). Then it moved more toward the center and there were another 4-5 smaller punches. D put his hand on my belly to try to feel it, too. He felt something, but he is not convinced it was baby vs my body moving. I am. This was like nothing I have felt before. Baby is turning into a boxer on this new high protein diet.

18 weeks

How your baby's growing:
Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

there's a fish in my belly

So, I'm finally pretty sure that I felt the little flipper moving around. I've been feeling faint flutters or bubbles for a couple of weeks, but it was unclear whether it was gas or digestion or some other gurgly gut function. But on Monday, I felt a little fish swimming around and it was pretty strong. I was lying down. Now almost every time I lie down I feel little whooshes and dives that I'm pretty sure aren't gut based :) Hi little baby.

17 weeks

Your Baby: If you hold out the palm of your hand, your baby could sit in the center! Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. Your baby is growing a little more every day. This week, your baby begins to develop fat cells (also known as adipose tissue). As your baby grows, these fat cells are essential to maintaining heat production and body temperature. Right now, water makes up most of your baby�s body, but by the end of your pregnancy, more than three-quarters of his or her birth weight will be fat. Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

16 weeks

YOUR BABY THIS WEEK

Your baby is on the move, and you may start to feel it! Your baby weighs almost three ounces (.08 kg) and is close to 5 inches (13 cm) in length.

As this week begins your baby has fingernails, and the hair on his or her head is starting to grow. Although baby's brain is still tiny, it is beginning to send signals to muscles that allow arms and legs to begin moving. The motion, called "quickening" can be slight or more robust, but don't be alarmed if you don't feel it this week, you will soon enough.

14 weeks

I had a 14 week checkup today and all was well. I was doubly blessed with not only hearing the good strong heartbeat but also finding out I had lost a pound since the 10 week checkup. So, the last few weeks of eating really well and exercising is actually having an effect. It's good encouragement to keep it up - with an occasional Frosty :)