Week 40

Final Week! I've decided not to post a belly pic this week for several reasons: 1) My belly looks the same, 2) Next picture I post will hopefully be me post baby (belly will still be there), and 3) I'm getting really tired of having a big belly.

I've looked up all the "impending labor signs" and so far I have all of them except for two: contractions and water breaking. Everything else has happened, so I guess I can really go into labor anytime. I'm trying to wait patiently and I'm trying to stay busy so that I don't constantly think about going into labor. It's hard though...

If I still don't go into labor after next week, I might just have to try to castor oil method. If you don't know what this does, google it. It's pretty gross, but apparently it's very effective! Hopefully this little guy will come out without any coaxing though!

Week 39

Two weeks left...I went for a checkup on Friday and found out the baby has "dropped" into position. He's now sitting at the 0 station position and I am also 1 cm dilated. This means that I could either go into labor any time, or it will still be two weeks. At least I'm "progressing," but the doctor still can't say anything more definite. It's really just a waiting game at this point.

Next week will be my last week going into work and then I will be staying close to home during the last week. I'm not sure what I'll do to distract myself, but I'm also fine just relaxing. While I'm very anxious to meet this little guy, I'm also nervous about how much our lives are going to change once he arrives. It's been me and Ryan for the last 6 1/2 years and now it's going to be me, Ryan and child for the next who knows how long. Crazy!

Week 38

Baby's development: You all get the point by now. He's getting fatter and running out of room. I hope he'll only put on another pound before he's born. Life is definitely more difficult these days and sleeping is becoming more and more uncomfortable. Just turning in bed has become a chore.

My belly button has officially become an "outy" now. It's easy to see through my shirts and our new neighbor commented on my outy the other day. It was a little embarrassing, but I hear that the belly button goes back to normal once the baby is born. Still no stretch marks, by my vericose veins are getting worse. All that pressure!

I went to the doctor on Thursday and my body is getting "ready". I'm now about 80% effaced (cervix is thinning out and needs to be 100% effaced for birth) and the baby is in the -2 station (2 cm above my pelvis). Once the baby reaches 0 station, he will be considered to be engaged and ready to move through the birth canal (sorry if this is too much information). Just as a point of reference, station 4 is when the baby is crowning. And yes, this means that the birth canal is only 4 cm...but boy does it take a long time to come down those short 4 cm.

We met with our doula this weekend and went over the birth plan. Our's is very short: 1) no induction, 2) no drugs (unless it becomes a marathon labor and becomes over 24 hours), 3) and no episiotomy. I went online to look at some sample birth plans and some of them have over 30 items on them. I don't understand how you can plan your birth like that. A healthy baby and healthy mom should be the ultimate goal, right?

Three weeks and counting now. My guess is that the baby will come June 21 and Ryan's guess is that it will come June 18. Wishful thinking, right?

Week 37

No belly pic this week because we are in CA and I forgot my camera.

Baby's development: At the end of this week, the baby will be considered full term. The doctor said that he will be putting on about 1/2 lb per week from now until he's born, so he could be around 5 1/2 lbs right now. Right now, he's just putting on weight, getting fat, and preparing for life outside the womb!

We are heading back to Colorado tomorrow after spending three days in CA. No one from the airlines stopped me and demanded to see a note from my doctor, so I guess it's not a huge deal flying during the last four weeks of pregnancy. I had a doctor's visit right before I left and my doctor said that I was not dilated yet, but that I was about 20% effaced.

I feel like it's now just a waiting game. A part of me feels like there is so much to do still before the baby comes, but a part of me also just wishes that the baby comes so that we can still stop waiting. I still have my seminar to tape and another phone interview before next Monday, so as long as the baby doesn't come before then, I'm happy. Then after that...I'll be ready!

He's really running out of room now and we are both uncomfortable. He kicks me in the ribs hard, I fight back by pushing him, then he kicks more, and then I push more. Maybe he'll get impatient and release oxytocin, the hormone that will start labor!

Week 36

Baby's development: Baby is now anywhere from 17 to 19 1/2 inches long and according to my most recent ultrasound, he weighs about 5 lbs (slightly smaller than the "average" baby, but still within the normal range). The lanugo that covered his body to keep him warm is now disappearing and he will be swallowing it to produce his first poop (called meconium). He'll probably put on at most another two pounds in the next month.

So far I've put on 20 lbs and I'm feeling pretty big. I'm sure I'll continue to say that for the next five weeks. During the most recent ultrasound, my doctor said that the baby is on the smaller side, but that he is within the normal size. He also has a slightly longer femur and already has hair on his head. I was also told that he has a small nose that is smashed in near my pubic bone. Poor baby is running out of room to move around!

Gloria and Gabe flew out this weekend for the baby shower. THANKS you guys! There was great weather, food, friends, and family. We had a great time and would also like to thank everyone for coming and hanging out with us. We feel very lucky to be surrounded by such great people.

Ryan and I fly out to San Francisco next week for my interview for the faculty position at the University of Sydney. My doctor says that it's OK for me to fly and Frontier airlines will allow you on the airplane as long as your doctor says you are fit to fly. So, I know I'm cutting it close, but at least I get to go for an interview. We'll get back June 2, which is less than 4 weeks before my due date, but I'm feeling pretty confident that everything will be just fine.

Week 35

Baby's development: Baby is now about 17 to 18 inches long and weighs 5 1/2 to 6 lbs. The vast majority of the baby's growth is complete after the 35th week. 99% of babies born now survive without any major problems. The central nervous system is maturing, the digestive system is almost complete, and the lungs are fully mature. There is now no more room for summersaults in the uterus because he's running out of room.

Six more weeks! To say that I'm feeling huge these days is an understatement. My belly now gets in the way of everything: putting on socks and shoes, picking things up, cooking, driving, etc. Additionally, it's not just the size of the growing belly that is hard to deal with, but it's the position that the baby has come into. During the last doctor's visit, I was told that the baby has settled now into the head down position. This means that his butt and legs are near my ribs and he's constantly kicking me and pushing against the right side of my body. My organs are getting a beating these days. I can't believe that he's going to continue growing still!

Ryan and I did a tour of the birthing center at the hospital this weekend. It's way nicer than I imagined! Every birthing room has it's own bathroom with jacuzzi tub and shower. Each room also has its own towel warmer, and a huge TV with On Demand movies (like laboring moms really want to sit and watch a movie!). The great thing about the birthing center is that they encourage mom and baby to spend as much time together as possible right after birth, so the baby is never taken away from the mom (unless there is an emergency). They do everything right in the room and never take the baby to the nursery. The birthing bed even has an attachment so that you can lean on a squatting rail during the pushing stage of labor. Pretty cool.

I also made our first purchase for cloth diapers. We are going to do a diaper service, but I went to a diaper service store today to purchase the plastic diaper covers. I got a quick lesson on how to actual use cloth diapers. There are a million different types out there. Cotton versus hemp versus polyester. Who knew there were so many choices?

This is all becoming VERY real VERY fast. Jun 26 is just around the corner!

Week 34

Baby's development: Baby is now about 17 1/2 inches and weighs between 5 and 5 1/2 lbs. The baby's lungs are almost at full maturity and his immune system is developing to fight mild infections. The end of his fingers now have sharp fingernails. Most babies born now have a very good chance at survival.

I'm feeling very stretched these days. I eat a little and my stomach is so full and I get very uncomfortable. The baby is taking up a lot of space! He also doesn't have much space to move around now, so when he wiggles, I can see my stomach stretch in strange ways. It's becoming very real that there is a thing growing inside of me!

My PUPPP rash has gotten a lot better this past week. I'm not sure what is helping exactly, but in the past couple of days, I've noticed that my stomach is no longer as red, and the patches that were red have turned darker in color and started to peel. It's almost like a bruise that is healing. I've been using the Grandpa pine tar soap and Cetaphil lotion, and taking Claritin during the day, Benedryl during the night, and also two doses of dandelion root. I'm hoping this combination helps! I'm still itchy at night, but I can see the rash disappearing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will continue to go away because if this rash comes back, I might just lose it. I need a good night's rest!

Ryan and I just recently decided that we are going to have a doula for the birth. Becky, who is our birthing instructor is also a doula and we have asked her to be ours. We were both feeling pretty confident about labor until the most recent birthing class. We watched a birthing video and afterwards felt really "scared." I think that if I'm going to do this drug free, it will be great to have another calm and confident person there during labor. Labor is going to be long, painful and tiring. Having an experienced doula there will be great for both of us. I also just found out that we can pay for the doula and our birthing classes through our health savings account. Yay!

Some good news: On Friday I received an email from the University of Sydney requesting an interview. This is first of eight faculty positions that I have applied for that I have gotten an interview. Unfortunately, they want me to give a seminar on June 8, which is way too late for me to fly. I'm going to ask them if I can go earlier and if so, Ryan is going to try to come with me. If they are not flexible, I will try to give my seminar talk over the internet. It won't be the same, but oh well. I knew this was going to happen -- I was finally going to get an interview right before the baby was due!