36 weeks ~ July 30th (OB Appointment)

Today I had my 36 week OB apt and it went well.  He is head down,  I'm 75% effaced, but not dilated.  I was happy and shocked to hear things are starting, but it doesn't mean he is coming early.  I could go tomorrow or weeks from now.  I'm measuring 36 weeks today (Tues), but I'm not actually 36 weeks until this Thurs.  His heart rate was 155.  They tested me for the group B strep test so hopefully that is negative.

Here is what BabyCenter says about 36 weeks:

How your baby's growing:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds and is more than 18 1/2 inches long (about the size of a head of romaine lettuce). 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. 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 she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

How your life's changing:

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!

35 Weeks ~ July 25th

I'm 35 weeks pregnant and feeling good.  I'm been very lucky with this pregnancy and have not had any morning sickness or problems, but I think that's because it was such a long, hard journey to get here.  The only issues I have now (with 5 weeks left) are swollen hands which led to carpal tunnel, lower back pains (much better), slightly swollen feet if I do not prop them up and sleeping is a little challenging.  I bought a back/belly brace that is really helping me and have been going to the chiropractor twice a week for an adjustment and deep tissue massage so that has made such a difference.  

I can't believe I only have 5 more weeks until Grayson arrives!  He has been moving around a lot, which is so reassuring, but I think he is running out of room.  Can't wait to meet this little guy!!

Belly Pictures ~ 35 weeks

Here is what BabyCenter has to say about 35 weeks:

How your baby's growing:

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 (about the size of 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.

Julia goes to camp

Julia went to a two week camp in Wisconsin for the 5th year in a row.  This year was her first time in the leadership in training (LIT) program so she learned how to be a camp counselor while going to the camp.  She will do the LIT training again next year for 3 or 4 weeks and then will be able to be a camp counselor the year after.  She went with her friend Annie again this year and they had a blast.  She also has made a lot of new friends.  We are so happy she has found a camp she looks forward to every year.

Dropping her off at camp:

34 Weeks ~ July 15th (OB Appointment)

My OB appointment went well and not much to report.  I measured 34 weeks on Monday, July 15th, although I'm not officially 34 weeks until Thurs, July 18th.  I guess I'm measuring a little big, but she says its always +/- 1-2 cm.  The baby's heart rate was 155 and she said that was great.  My next apt is Tues, July 30th.  

Here is what BabyCenter says about 34 weeks:

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (about the size of a cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help 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.

How your life's changing:

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.

33 Weeks ~ July 11th

I can't believe I'm already 33 weeks!  This pregnancy is flying by.  I'm starting to feel very "pregnant".  I have to prop my feet up all day or else I will have swollen feet.  My hands are also swollen and hurt especially when I wake up.  I started doing prenatal yoga and love it!  It's great for the mind and body and I've been told it's great for labor.  I'm trying to go 3 times a week and hope this will help with the last part of my pregnancy.

Belly pictures ~ 33 weeks

Here is what BabyCenter says about 33 weeks:

How your baby's growing:

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark (about the size of a pineapple). He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

How your life's changing:

As your baby fills out even more of your belly, lots of things might start to change: Whereas before you were sashaying, you may find yourself waddling. Finding an easy position to sit in — let alone sleep — is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course.

You may be feeling some achiness and even numbness in your fingers, wrists, and hands. Like many other tissues in your body, those in your wrist can retain fluid, which can increase pressure in the carpal tunnel, a bony canal in your wrist.  Nerves that run through this "tunnel" may end up pinched, creating numbness; tingling, shooting or burning pain; or a dull ache. Try wearing a splint to stabilize your wrist or propping your arm up with a pillow when you sleep. If your work requires repetitive hand movements (at a keyboard or on an assembly line, for instance), remember to stretch your hands when you take breaks — which should be frequently.

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July!  Hope everyone had a great time celebrating.  We had a BBQ at our house with Amanda, Carissa, Tom, Mac, Jason, Stacey, Matt and their triplets Charley, Patrick and Jackson.

Charley & Patrick

Stacey & Jackson

Patrick & Craig

Patrick, Jackson & Charley

Stacey, Matt, Amanda and the triplets

Mac, Jason & Craig

Amanda & I