Week 35

Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't posted pics more often lately. Believe me - I've got tons of shower pics and more belly pics to share - I just don't have the time to really go through them right now to get them posted. I'm working on getting ready to be gone from work right now so my sub doesn't have to make lessons for me. Please be patient with me, as I'll get them posted - eventually.

• Your baby now measures about 20.25 inches (45cm) in total length and weighs around 5.5 lbs (2550g). Crown to rump measurement is about 13.2 inches (33cm).
• He continues to grow and fatten up, especially in the shoulder area, and kicks regularly.
• The fine lanugo hair that covered your baby is shedding, though some may still be present when your baby is born.
• Your baby's eyes are blue, though this may change soon after birth or much later after birth.
• Your baby's fingernails are growing. They already reach the tips of his fingers and they may even look quite long and pointy by the time he is born. Your baby may even have some scratch marks from scratching his face with his fingernails.
• Your baby is probably feeling quite cramped right now and his movements are restricted by his growing size.

Week 34

• Your baby weighs almost 5 lbs (2250 g) and is 12.8 inches (32cm) from crown to rump and about 19.8 inches (44cm) long.
• If your baby were born now, she would be considered "pre-term" rather than premature. This distinction is based on fetal maturity, particularly the maturity of the fetal lungs. A pre-term baby, unlike a premature baby, is likely to have well-developed lungs and is less likely to need intensive care.
• Your baby is surrounded by a red glow when sunlight shines on your belly and may be aware of this as she is able to differentiate between light and dark.
• Your baby's hair is getting thicker, though it may be a different color when she is older.
• She is currently shedding her lanugo, the fine downy hair that previously covered her body.
• More vernix, the waxy coating that protects your baby's skin while submerged in amniotic fluid, is building up.
• Your baby's adrenal glands are producing more steroid hormone, the androgen-like hormone that indirectly aids your milk production.
• Your baby is currently producing ten times more adrenaline than a normal adult and the adrenal glands are currently the same size as those of an adolescent. They will shrink after birth.
• Your baby is laying down bone. To do this, she will draw calcium from you.
• Your baby has taste buds and it has been suggested that she can taste and develop tastes for flavors found in the amniotic fluid, particularly flavors that you eat on a regular basis.

3-D Pics

Check out the 3-D photo album:

Baby Carroll's 3D Ultrasound

I'm trying to figure out how to get the video uploaded in a good format for the web... If you have recommendations/thoughts - bring it on!

Week 33

• Your baby now weighs about 4.4 lbs (2000g) and measures about 12 inches (30cm) from crown to rump and about 19.4 inches (43cm) in total.
• Now that your baby is running out of room in your womb, you can probably see your belly moving as your baby kicks.
• Your baby may dream as he sleeps and when awake he may be alert, listening, feeling and even seeing dim shapes.
• Though your baby is still inside the womb, he is learning all the time as billions of neurons are making connections.
• Your baby is probably in his birth position by now.
• Your baby's lungs may be sufficiently developed by now, though if he were born now, he would probably still need an incubator to stay warm.

Week 32

• Your baby's total length is 18.9 inches (42cm) and she is perfectly formed!
• She measures about 11.6 inches (29cm) from crown to rump. All she has to do is fill out more.
• Your baby weighs almost 4 pounds (1800g). If she were to be born now, she would still need to be incubated as she has insufficient fat stores to keep warm.
• Your baby can distinguish between light and dark.
• Your baby can hear the outside world quite well now, and can also hear the sounds of your heartbeat, your digestion and the blood rushing in the umbilical cord.
• The pitch of women's voices are in the range babies are most able to hear over all the internal background noise.
• Your baby is already familiar with your voice and will be able to recognize it after birth.

Week 31

The shower at Skydive Houston this weekend was a blast! Thank you to everyone that came out to celebrate with us! A BIG thank you to Kristi & Kate for organizing the party, and Dave & Todd for cooking an awesome meal!

Development this week:

• Your baby now weighs about 3.5 lbs (1600g) and measures about 18 inches (40cm) in total and about 11.2 inches (28cm) from crown to rump.
• Your baby's increasing size means that she has less room to move around in your uterus.
• Your baby could already be moving into the head-down position.
• Your baby's lungs are maturing and their lining, which prevents air sacs from collapsing, is growing. This lung development means that your baby would have a much greater chance of survival if he were born prematurely.
• About 16 fluid ounces of blood are flowing through the wall of your uterus to the site of the placenta, though your blood never mixes with your baby's blood. It is separated by the placental barrier which is a very thin wall. Water, nutrients and waste are exchanged across this barrier at a rate of 0.3 fluid ounces per second.
• Your baby swallows amniotic fluid and urinates.
• Your baby's ears are sufficiently developed to hear and recognize your voice, the voices of other family members as well as familiar musical tunes.