Week 39

Baby

• Your baby probably weighs just over 7 pounds (3250g) by now and measures about 14.4 inches (36cm) from crown to rump and has a total length of about 21.5 inches (48cm).
• Your baby's lungs are the last part to develop before birth. Once the lungs are developed, your baby is ready for life outside the womb.
• By now your baby has almost run out of space to move in your uterus.
• Your baby has shed most of her lanugo, though she may still have some on her shoulders and in the creases of her body.
• Her toenails reach the end of her toes.
• The umbilical cord, which still is supplying your baby with nutrition as she gains more weight, may be knotted or wrapped around her.
• Some of your antibodies have crossed the placental barrier and give your baby's immune system a boost to get her started until hers is fully functioning.
• Your baby could be born any day now.

Mommy

• You surely feel very large and uncomfortable but you're almost at the end of your pregnancy! - DUH!
• You can expect your weight to remain stable now. - Yea!
• Your cervix will soften and begin to partially open.
• You may be having strong Braxton Hicks contractions as your uterus prepares to give birth to your baby!
• You're almost there!

Week 38

I decided to go get a haircut yesterday after working on TAKS review all morning. Daniel said that the cut & style makes me look like my mom. :) We'll see what he thinks when my hair isn't straightened.

Dad arrived last night and we went out for dinner at Razzoo's. I don't think our child cares much for Cajun right now. I got beat up pretty good for that one. I ended up having to take a dose of extra strength Tylenol to get comfortable enough to sleep.

We're nearing the end now...

Baby:

• On average, at this time, a baby weighs about 6.8 pounds (3100g) and measures about 14 inches (35cm) from crown to rump and 21 inches (47cm) total in length.
• Your baby is still growing and gaining weight. Your baby may gain as much as 1 ounce (28g) a day at this point.
• If your baby is a boy, his testes should have descended into the scrotum by this time. Your doctor will check that his testes have descended after delivery. About one percent of boys will have undescended testes.
• Your baby has been building up waste in his intestines for the past few weeks. Called meconium, this waste is greenish-black and is made up of material from blood cell break down, shedded cells from the lining of the intestine, skin cells and lanugo shed into the amniotic fluid and swallowed, as well as other sources. Meconium is the first waste your baby passes and the first diapers that you change will probably be comprised of this greenish-black, tar-like substance. There is also a chance that your baby will excrete meconium before delivery and have some covering his body.

Mommy:

• You have probably gained around 30 lbs (13.5 kg) by now and you won't gain much more at this point. (absolutley correct!)
• You feel tired and ready for your pregnancy to end. (DUH!)
• You may have an unusual sensation inside your vagina when the baby's head presses against the muscles of the pelvic floor.
• You may experience false labor contractions before the real contractions begin. These are not like Braxton Hicks contractions and may feel as strong as real labor. The difference between real and false labor is that false labor contractions do not become regular and often disappear when you move around. While you are likely to really have no doubt when real labor begins, you may want to call your doctor or caregiver if you think you might be in labor and then he or she can help you assess whether or not you need to head off to the hospital. It is not unusual to go to the hospital with false labor pains and be sent home again. (Already experienced both Braxton Hicks and false labor... The BH ctx aren't bad at all - my abdomen just feels like a watermelon. The false labor ctx HURT! Ready or not...)

Week 37

• Your baby is now considered full term. He weighs approximately 6.5 lbs (2950g) and his total length is about 21 inches (47cm). Your baby's crown to rump measurement is about 14 inches (35cm).
• By now, your baby's head may have engaged into your pelvis.
• You may feel that your baby occasionally has hiccups from his "practice breathing".
• Though your baby is considered full term, he is still growing and developing both his body and his brain.
• He is still laying down fat at a rate of more than half an ounce every day.

UPDATES!!!

Last week:

From Belly Pics

This week:

From Belly Pics

From Belly Pics

Here are some baby room pics:
Click and view as a slide show.

Baby Room

Week 36

• Your baby weighs about 6 lbs (2750g) and measures about 20.7 inches (46cm) in length. Crown to rump measurement is about 13.5 inches (34cm).
• Your baby now feels lower in your pelvis.
• Your baby continues to grow, kick, and move about.
• Your baby's face has filled out and the cheeks now look plump and full. Fat baby cheeks are caused by fat deposits, but also by powerful sucking muscles which your baby has been honing by sucking her thumb.
• Your baby's skull is firm, but it is not hard as it needs to give a little when it is passing through the birth canal.
• Your baby's head is probably down by now, but about three percent of babies present in a breech (bottom down) position.