Thirty-Seven

I finally made it! The baby is now the size of a watermelon! It’s pretty fitting too, since I can’t get enough watermelon. Maybe it’s that super sweet sugary melon goodness, or maybe my body is craving the water. I ate an entire watermelon this week, by myself, within 48 hours. The downside? I have to pee ALL THE TIME. In general, I’ve been craving fruit and vegetables like crazy! My weekly grocery list always consists of watermelon, pineapple, grapes, strawberries, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes and cucumbers. I would be perfectly happy living on only fruits and vegetables if Glen wasn’t so gung-ho about having to have some kind of meat for dinner every night. Anyway, the watermelon is such a milestone because it’s the very last fruit to baby comparison that I’ll have. It’s still hard to believe that he started out smaller than a poppy seed and my first comparison photo was at 4 weeks, when he was only the size of an apple seed.

 

This week started with a breastfeeding class at the Hershey Medical Center. Glen was really hesitant about attending, but it’s important that he be present so that he can be knowledgeable and supportive. In all honesty, he didn’t get as much out of the class as I did, but I believe that was due to the incredibly uncomfortable chairs and the monotone-voiced instructor. We started the class with an ice-breaker where we went around the room and told the class why we were interested in breastfeeding. After that, we watched a short video on breastfeeding. After the video we got to break for about ten minutes and then got back in the game with discussing what to expect while you’re in the hospital. We ended the session reviewing breast pumps, bras and pads. It was informative, but I believe that going through the experience and working with a lactation consultant at the hospital will be more beneficial.

 

I feel like the baby dropped over the weekend. I can’t be positive, but the pressure and pain on my pelvis is becoming more intense. With the help of physical therapy, I was able to work through a lot of the pain and have seen great improvement. Over the weekend, however, it seems like I was back at square one. It’s becoming increasingly harder to walk, sleep and get out of bed and it’s all due to the pain on my pelvis. I’ve also been experiencing increased Braxton Hicks contractions over the weekend. I believe that I’m currently experiencing pre-labor. Pre-labor can last 2-3 weeks, so I’m not getting too excited. I’ve accepted the fact that the baby will come when he’s ready and no sooner. 

 

The accomplishment of the week is that I started packing my bags for the hospital! I made a list of all recommended items and started getting everything ready. I also purchased a few nursing tanks for the hospital and some lounge pants. I packed my hospital FMLA and Disability paperwork and a few outfits for the baby in various sizes as well. I just have to throw in a few more items and I will be set to go! My packing may be a bit premature, but if I’m not prepared then Glen may have to pack for me and that could be quite disastrous. When I ask Glen for specific items from the grocery store, he ends up bringing home the wrong thing 9 out of 10 times. I can just imagine what he would pack! Probably a pre-pregnancy Summer outfit with heels. 

 

This week’s doctor’s appointment was some-what disappointing. I was really hoping to have an internal exam. With an internal exam, the doctor is able to tell you how far the baby’s head is and they are able to measure dilation. The doctor didn’t want to perform an internal because my pregnancy is “perfect”. She actually used those words. She said it’s a perfect pregnancy, my weight is great, the baby is in the right position, his heartbeat and estimated weight are great, I’m not swollen, and my blood pressure is on target. The big surprise from this week is that the baby is now measuring at 37 weeks. This is quite a jump from last week when he was measuring 34 weeks. She estimated that he will be an average sized baby. Some more good news is that I’m Strep B negative, which means that I won’t need antibiotics when I deliver. 

 

 

Weeks 37-Delivery (Month 9): Watermelon

Average size: 18.9-20.9 inches, 6.2-9.2 lb.

At week 37, your pregnancy is considered full term, meaning baby is likely to thrive after birth. Baby spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world… meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale. Meconium, which you’ll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. If (okay, as) you worry about giving birth, consider what it’s like for the little one. During the journey out of your womb, baby will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life. 

 

 

 

Thirty-Six

I thought that this would be an uneventful week, but it has turned out to be quite the opposite!

 

Saturday started off with early morning maternity photos. It’s always hard to pose in front of a camera and act natural. The photographer, Elena Jasic, made us feel very comfortable and confident. Within hours we got the proofs. We were so happy with the experience and outcome of the photos. It will be neat to look back at them down the road. 

 

 

 

On Sunday we had a very small pool party and picnic with the Lau’s and Dawn. We had a lot of fun and ended up filling up on the delicious taco dip before the grilled goodies were done. We spent time laying in the sun and hanging out by the pool. The kids seemed to love playing in the water, even though it was a little chilly. Marty also helped us install our car seats! So now I look back in my rear view mirror and see an infant care seat. It’s so comforting and exciting. Glen and I ended up staying in together and watching a movie. After being in the sun all day and feeding my face, I felt extremely drained. It was very easy for me to fall asleep on Saturday.

 

On Monday we stopped over at Jen & Marty’s house for a picnic. I ate 12 cream puffs and didn’t feel guilty about it at all. After the picnic I napped while Glen went to practice and we then made a light dinner and went to bed.

 

This week I had back-to-back physical therapy. They are really working me hard there to where I’m struggling to catch my breath after some of the exercises. I never want to get up at 5:30 to go, but after I leave, I do feel much better about myself. I also feel much improvement in my pelvis. My carpal tunnel is slowly getting worse but talks about shock therapy are in the works.

 

I’m really excited for this week to be over. Anakin hurt his back on Wednesday and it was emotionally and physically draining. He was running out in the yard, chasing after a squirrel and his legs buckled behind him. He started crying and shrieking. I yelled to Glen to run out and pick him up and bring him inside. I sat him on the couch with me while Glen called the vet. Anakin was shaking and obviously in a lot of pain. The only option that night was to take him to the emergency vet in York. Anakin calmed down and laid down. We didn’t want to transport him so we decided to wait until the morning to take him in. The vet took some x-rays and saw that he had two slipped disks in his back. He was given some activity restrictions and medicine to help him feel better. Now, three days later, he’s moving much better although we have to limit his activity by helping him up and down the stairs as well as carrying him outside. While at the vet, I picked Anakin up a non-stuffed plush pig. He’s in love with it. He carries it around with him everywhere and has so much fun playing with it. It’s adorable.

 

Glen and I made personal name lists with our top 10 favorite names. On most of our choices, we did not see eye to eye. While I poked fun at Glen’s suggestions like “Memphis”, he shot down my “Leo” and “Dylan”. Together, we decided on a few names although it doesn’t feel like we’re any closer to making any kind of decision. It’s nice that we agree on a few names and when we hold him for the first time, I’m sure it will come to us.

 

Week 36 ended with an early Monday morning baby appointment. The first in a series of 4 last baby appointments scheduled. The doctor did a Strep B test and felt around for the baby. The baby is in the right position and facing the right way for birth. It’s likely that he will not change his position in the weeks to come. He’s positioned in an “L” shape, which means his head is down towards my pelvis, his butt above my belly button and his legs over to my left. When he kicks it’s really bizarre because you can see these large pokes out the side of my belly. He may bust out the side of my stomach like the Kool-Aid man before his due date. Another interesting thing that I learned is that the baby is in the 21^st percentile in growth, which means that we will be welcoming a small baby. Nothing is wrong with him, he’s healthy in every way, he’s just small like Glen and me. One last thing that we accomplished this week is that we found our pediatrician. We were lucky enough to get with Dr. Baker at the Hershey Nyes Road location. He only takes very few patients a year and he just happened to have an opening. He came highly recommended and everyone loves him. I’m so excited to check one more item of my list! 

 

 

Thirty-Five

It’s July 1^st and I’m officially in my last full month of pregnancy. It’s hard to think about at the end of this month I’ll be giving birth in just a few days. I don’t think it will officially hit me until August 1^st but I do feel like we’re getting closer and closer to “the day”.

 

This week was really nice! We got a few “surprise” deliveries from Glen’s family. Home-made gifts are always very special and money for the baby is definitely appreciated. We also received some really cute items from one of Glen’s best friends, Crystal (and family). They got the baby a Boston Red Sox sweatshirt sleeper, an adorable hat and a book. Crystal also sent us a plush Penguin from “Doreen” (Glen’s late mother) that almost brought me to tears! Everything was so nice and it felt absolutely wonderful that Glen’s family was thinking of us and our new baby.

 

Glen and I went to our last child birthing class on Thursday. It was held at the hospital near Labor and Delivery in a conference room with projector. We arrived to a birth scene on the giant projector and within minutes of being there we had watched an actual vaginal birth. I’ll be honest, my confidence was slowly dissipating after that scene. It was really scary to actually “see” it happen with my own two eyes. After the video the instructor talked about the actual birth and the pushing. She also went into a little bit of detail about c-sections. We learned about what happens after the baby is born and what to expect. She also told us about vaccinations, circumcisions and breastfeeding. For about a half hour, she allowed the class to ask her questions and it was really neat to know that I wasn’t the only person that had questions on just about everything. Originally the class was to end with a tour of Labor & Delivery. Because it was a rather busy night, we had a virtual tour that was shown on the projector. They went through the different rooms and showed you where everything was and what to expect. We then went for a quick walk through Labor and Delivery (just the hallway) and passed the nursery. One little newborn girl was sleeping in the nursery and the nurse showed her off. The baby was 8 pounds, 5 oz, but still looked so very small. The women in the class cooed over the baby girl and I was overwhelmed with the excitement that I will be here in a month cooing over my own little baby boy. We said goodbye to our instructor and exchanged numbers with some other parents-to-be and left the hospital. I feel really ready. I’m ready to do this and I know I can do this.

 

In house news, our air conditioner is fixed and we have delicious, beautiful, central air once again! Coming home to a house that’s 72 feels like heaven compared to the days where I came home and it was 85. I’ve been able to sleep better and my swelling has gone way down. Physical Therapy seems to be helping my pelvis a lot! I am still in some pain, but it’s more of a slight discomfort than total incapacitation. There is still no relief in my right hand (despite the fact that I’m now wearing a snazzy new wrist brace) but the Physical Therapists are going to start having me do hand exercises next week. I just keep reminding myself that everything will feel better in about a month.