"Your Pregnancy - 37 Weeks"

I had another doctor's appointment today, and have nothing new to report.   He measured my stomach, which is right on track.  We talked about what necessitated a trip to the hospital:  water breaking or painful contractions that are five minutes apart, or less.

I asked him about a pain I've been having that pretty much stops my in my tracks when it occurs, and he assured me it was normal - just an indication that my cervix is doing what it needs to do to prepare for childbirth.  I confirmed that he pain doesn't indicate that labor is eminent (well, I mean ... it IS eminent ... but just made sure the pain didn't mean labor was going to start any minute).

I'm really starting to get antsy about the baby coming.  I have a lot of work to get done at my job in the next three days (taking Friday off, and all next week) and so that is putting some stress on me.   I also can't get my mind to stop racing about anything and everything having to do with an labor symptoms I might get ... what if I go into labor early, wondering about the hospital stay, wondering about a lot of things with Christian, etc.   I can't seem to focus on any one thought - or related thoughts - for a long period of time.

I'm also starting to feel like a bit of a spectacle.  You know how people's eyes tend to focus on a woman with a large chest?  That is how I feel about my stomach.  Everywhere I do, I find people's eyes immediately looking to my tummy (though, truth be told, I also look at the tummies of other pregnant women).  But the people who amuse me are those who feel the need to say something.   And that is fine ... although, when somebody asks me when I'm due, I'm going to start telling them "April" ... just for laughs.

And now for this week's (actually, next week's) "Your Pregnancy at 37 Weeks."

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, her lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

"Your Pregnancy - 36 Weeks"

I had another Dr. appointment today, and once again, all is well!   I will now move to weekly appointments.

The c-section has been officially scheduled for Friday, January 6.   I will need to be at the hospital at 5:00am.   Ouch!

The doctor said the goal is to keep lil' Biscotti inside and growing for at least the next 11 days and that after 11 days, she's free to come out whenever she'd like.  *gasp!*  11 days???

Of course, that doesn't mean she's coming in 11 days, necessarily.  That just puts me within an acceptable delivery time frame 

Side note:  I guess I've been getting these pregnancy updates via e-mail a week early.   I'm at 35 weeks today, not 36.  But I'll keep posting the updates as I get them, because they are interesting, nonetheless.

And here is this week's pregnancy report:

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. 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.

Lil' Biscotti May Now Come

Big weight off my shoulders:  That glorious brown truck known as "UPS" just delivered Lil' Biscotti's car seat.

WHEW!

So let me qualify the title of this blog post, "Lil' Biscotti May Now Come":   should she choose to arrive early, we now have a car seat to bring her home in.  However ... we'd like for her to continue "cooking" for the next four weeks.  Thank you.

One Month Away!

Today is December 6th.  Biscotti's scheduled c-section is for January 6th.  And that makes today exactly one month until our little blessing enters the world.

Of course, she can certainly arrive any time before that.    Am I ready?  Not just yet.

It seems there is still so much to do.   We are waiting for the car seat to arrive, and just ordered a changing table.  The changing table isn't crucial, but the car seat is.  Once that arrives, I'll feel much better.

I suppose you could say I'm "nesting."  I'm trying to clean the house and get baby stuff organized.  Easier said than done.   

And of course, there is holiday decorating to get to!  Again, easier said than done. But I will, I will, I will get it done!   I have put up two Christmas wreathes on each light outside of our garage, and when we are coming and going, Christian will say, "That is my Christmas Tree House!"   So I want to be sure to get all of our lights up outside.  Christian is so excited for Christmas this year, and I want it to be very special for him.  After all, this is the final year that Christian will be an only child at Christmas (or not ... again, Lil' Biscotti can come at any time).

"Your Pregnancy - 35 Weeks"

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

"Your Pregnancy - 34 Weeks"

Today's usual doctor's appointment was as uneventful as all the others, which - again - is a good thing.

I'm not going to lie - the last few weeks of pregnancy are pretty darn tootin' uncomfortable (and will get even more uncomfortable, still).  I think often about how there are people who are in a chronic state of pain or discomfort with little hope of relief.  I'm glad to know that #1, my discomfort is productive and #2, is only temporary.

Jonathan has confirmed that I definitely have a "waddle."  And somehow with this pregnancy, I'm getting a lot more attention from strangers.  Cashiers, in particular, like to ask me when I'm due, what I'm having, and what her name is.   Even male cashiers ask me, which I somehow think is funny.

Surprisingly, I haven't had anybody tell me how huge I am.  Although, both my sister and Jonathan have commented that I look like I could have the baby today.    And I agree!  I even had to confirm with the doctor today that I've got just one baby inside.  He confirmed that indeed, there is just one baby ... and assured me that with today's technology, it is impossible not notice a second baby.

So without further adieu, here is the official "Your Pregnancy - 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 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.

"Your Pregnancy - 33 Weeks"

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her 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 her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

"Your Pregnancy - 32 Weeks"

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Christian and the Stroller

Lil' Biscotti's new stroller has arrived.  It's really cool - it comes with a removable (and reversable to face the world, or face us) seat, a basinett, and we can buy an adaptor that also holds the car seat.

We put it together, inserted the basinett, marveled at how cool it is and set it aside.  I was out of the room for a few minutes, and returned to find Christian had rolled the stoller into the living room, next to the sofa and had climbed into the basinett and was watching TV.

So I got a kick out of it, took a couple of pics and wheeled it into another room.  He found it later, managed to crawl in again and declared that HE was a baby.  I said, "You're not a baby, you're a big boy.  This is Biscotti's stroller."

To which he replied, "This is MY new stroller!"

Needless to say, the basinett is now hidden away in my closet, and the frame is folded up - and uninteresting - in another room.

And so begins the sibling rivalry.  And Lil' Biscotti hasn't even been born yet.

Your Pregnancy at 31 Weeks

I had another Dr. appointment today and everything is fine!   My blood presure was great again, I passed the diabetes screening, my iron levels are fine, etc.

I asked if there was anything different that would happen since I'm 38 years old, and he said that for women my age, each week (starting at week 37), I will be sent to the hospital for an ultrasound and a "non-stress test" (where they put a monitor around my belly and I just sit there for a while and they watch things).    And that is about it.

I double-checked on the c-sectin date, and it will indeed be January 6th.   However, between now and then, I will be closely monitored for any possible complications that would require an earlier c-section.  But, for a healthy, problem-free pregnancy, c-sections are performed one week before the due date.

Of course, lil Biscotti might have plans of her own - you never know what babies are going to do.  Today my dentist told me that all four of his children were born one month early when his wife's water broke and she needed to have immediate c-sections.     Not the kind of story a 7 month old pregnant woman wants to haear.

Really, only God knows when Lil Biscott will enter this world.  Jonathan has suggested that December 31 (or sooner) would be good for our taxes - ha ha!!

For me, though, depsite the day-to-day discomforts that are mounting, I want her to stay and "cook" for as long as possible - for it is the best place for her to be.

_______________________________________________________

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Los Luceros!

Your Pregnancy at 30 Weeks

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

"Your Pregnancy - 29 Weeks"

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because her bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Meet "Baby Elisabeth"

Meet "Baby Elisabeth."   She is the doll my sweet Grandma gave me when my little sister, Elisabeth, was born in August 1976.    My mom had a  real "Baby Elisabeth," and I had my own doll version of the new baby that came to live with us.

Since that time, I've always wanted a baby girl.  Well, except for a few years when I got old enough to realize that having a baby would HURT.   And then I was completely opposed to having any children whatsoever.  But obviously, I changed my mind over time. :)

My Baby Elisabeth doll has lots of wear and tear (she is, after all, over 35 years old now!), but I've always held onto her and known exactly where she is among my other belongings.  Since becoming pregnant, we've kept her out for Christian to see in preparation for Lil' Biscotti's arrival.  

Its been a few months since I brought the doll out, so she's just a background image to him now ... he doesn't even notice her.  But every time I see her, I am reminded of the sweet dream come true that will arrive in our lives in January who will join our sweet dream, Christian, who arrived nearly four years ago!

Christian's Baby

Did you know Christian has a baby in his tummy, too?  Well, he does!    He likes to lay down, lift up his shirt, puff out his stomach and say, "Feel MY baby!"

So I put my hand on his tummy and he sucks his tummy in and then hesitates and pushes it back out again really quickly.

It is just so cute that I don't have the heart to tell him there isn't a baby in HIS tummy.  

I love that lil' guy!

"Your Pregnancy - 28 Weeks"

I had my regularly-scheduled doctor's appointment today.   All is well.  My stomach measured "perfectly," blood pressure was fine, etc.  

All systems still normal!

I had to take the routine "glucose screening test" that tests for gestational diabetes.  I hope it comes back okay, because if there is anything questionable about the results, I'll have to take the brutal three hour "glucose challenge test" which involves fasting, drinking a larger portion of glucose, and sitting at a lab for three hours while my blood is drawn four times during that time frame.  Had to take that test with Christian and it is no fun.

So we'll pray and think happy thoughts and hope that all will be will with today's test.

___________________

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

"Your Pregnancy - 27 Weeks"

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

Three Months ... 90 Days

I'm pretty sure the c-section will take place on January 6, which is just three short months away.   Or 90+ days. WOW!

Lately, I've been thinking about just what it will be like to be the mom of two little kiddos.  How will Christian react to a new baby?  What am I going to do about my job (big decision needed)?  Will I ever have a clean house?  Ha ha!

I have been told that the transition to two children is shocking.   I was warned that there is never "downtime" in a house with two children (geeze, imagine households with three or MORE kiddos.  Hello, Jon and Kate, Plus 8).  I look at how things are now:  Christian still goes down for a nap every afternoon (thought, he doesn't always take one, but he stays in his room and reads or entertains himself otherwise).  He goes down for bed at 8:00pm every night.    Relatively speaking, I get a fair amount of "downtime."   That'll all change when Lil' Biscotti arrives.

I also wonder a lot about how this little girl will be different from Christian.  He has always been a laid back, go-with-the-flow kind of kiddo.   He was on a good sleeping schedule very early on.    He didn't walk until about 21 months, so he was very much a "baby" for an extended period of time.  In fact, I still look at him and his baby-like face and think of him as a baby.    I know I'll be amazed at just how big he is once I see Lil' Biscotti next to him.

In essence, Christian is a lot like his Papa.   And the times he's feisty, well ... then he's just like his mommy! :)

So, what personality will Lil' Biscotti have?   I'm eager to find out!  And I'm already nervous about the drama ... because girls are filled with drama (I know this fact from being a girl, myself).

I'm sure I'm destined to have a dramatic and feisty girl.   It's karma.  And my mother will probably just sit back and laugh to herself ... and feel a bit of redemption. :)

A Sunday Stroll

Jonathan shot this picture while Christian and I were out on a walk yesterday.  Yes, yes, I I know I said I wouldn't be showing any photos.  Guess I lied,

See my belly?  Now, imagine me three months from now when I have a full-term baby inside.  And this is how a short, 5' 3" pregnant woman looks at six months.

Gotta check with the doctor next time to make SURE I'm not having twins.  Okay, I KNOW I'm not having twins, but I sure do look like I could be!

"Your Pregnancy - 26 Weeks"

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel.