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!
JiaHu!!!! I can't believe how much you've changed in just one week! I actually gasped when I saw your pic! You have such a tiny frame so your babe has nowhere to go but out! :) Your birthing center sounds amazing. I have to deliver at Stanford which has a horrible reputation (the main complaint being shared rooms). I've also been looking into cloth diapers. I don't think I could ethically use disposables... There's a company in Mountain View that offers a composting service that I might look into. Not sure which is more environmentally friendly. Ok, keep in touch!
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Wow!!!!Things are changing fast. Glad to hear that he has moved into position. I woke up this morning thinking of you and remembering that Rita my mother-in-law called me about this time in my pregnancy and told me to take a day and devote it entirely to me and pamper myself. She said that once the baby is born you will always worry a little when you are away from him. I did not heed her advice but I pass it on and hope that you will.
ReplyDeleteLove, Sue