The Gift of Life

How your baby’s growing:
Your baby’s ready to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it’s likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) Your baby’s organs are fully developed and in place, and the outer layers of skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

How your life’s changing:
At each visit, your midwife or doctor will do an abdominal exam to check your baby’s growth and position. She might also do an internal exam to see whether you’ve started effacing (when the cervix thins out) or dilating (when the cervix opens). If the week passes and your baby stays put, don’t panic. Only 5 percent of babies are born on their scheduled due date. And your baby can’t make you wait indefinitely for his arrival. If you go past your due date, your provider will schedule you for fetal testing (usually a sonogram) after 40 weeks to ensure that it’s safe to continue the pregnancy. If you don’t go into labor on your own, most practitioners will induce labor when you’re between one and two weeks overdue.

Pregnant women on television sitcoms always have their water break dramatically — in the middle of a crowded room, of course — just before going into labor. Don’t worry about a similar scenario happening to you. Membranes rupture before the beginning of labor in less than 15 percent of pregnancies, and it’s not normally an enormous gush — usually a small gush or a slow leak. In any case, if your water does break (or you even suspect you might have a leak), call your doctor or midwife right away, but stay calm — it may be hours before your first contraction. (If you’re a GBS carrier, you’ll be asked to go to the hospital so you can start getting IV antibiotics and will likely be induced at the same time if you don’t start contracting on your own.) Also call your practitioner right away if you notice that your baby’s movements have slowed, whether or not you’re leaking fluid.

There are more common signs of impending labor than water breaking. You may notice your mucus plug — the small amount of thick mucus that blocks your cervical canal — in your undies or in the toilet. It might be tinged with a small bit of brownish, pink, or red blood (which is why it’s called “bloody show”). (If you have vaginal spotting or bleeding other than mucus tinged with a tiny amount of blood, call your caregiver without delay.) Labor usually starts within a day or two of seeing the mucus plug. Another sign of labor is contractions at regular — but increasingly shorter — intervals. If you’ve been having Braxton Hicks contractions, you’ll now realize that these were just practice. Your doctor or midwife will tell you when to give her a call, but it will likely be once your contractions last about a minute each and arrive every five minutes for about an hour. (Time the contractions from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next one.) If you’re unsure about your progress, go ahead and give your practitioner a call.

Your practitioner may have you count fetal movements. Even if you aren’t asked to formally count movements, call her immediately if you notice a decrease in your baby’s activity. Your baby should remain as active as ever right up to delivery, and a decrease in activity could be a sign of a problem — meaning that you need to deliver now rather than later.

Source: BabyCenter

Fetal development in pregnancy week 38:
As you know full well, you’ve arrived at the final leg of the journey, and if you’re still carrying your little love around, they’ve just about reached their birth weight (somewhere between 6 to 8 pounds is average depending on whether they’re a boy or girl). There really isn’t a lot to report on baby this week, so lets do a quick recount of where we’re at: all internal organ systems are pretty much ready for the outside world, they’ve got their meconium stockpile building up (their first black baby poo), lots of healthy baby fat, a rapidly developing brain (that’ll keep growing with them for years to come), and they’ve more or less reached official baby status– all they need to do is “head out” and say hello to the rest of the world and especially their ready-to-pop momma.And how’s mom doing? Hang in there momma, it’s only a matter of time before the obnoxious and painful fake contractions you felt in your back, lower belly, and pelvic region will be replaced by real contractions… which are even more obnoxious and painful. You’ll know when the real ones kick in because they’re more intensely painful (woo!) and they spread over the entire uterus, through the lower back and into your pelvis.

If you’re having trouble sleeping (which about 100% of women in this phase of pregnancy are), try to take little catnaps during the day, get one of those neato full-body pregnancy pillows, or at least lots of pillows that you can shove between your legs and under your belly to support your awkward shape more comfortably. Also, if you’re feeling weird electrical tingles in your legs and inside your vagina — this would be none other than your not-so-little baby hitting various nerves as they settle into the pelvic area. If you’re feeling sharp shooting pains instead of tingles, this would be your extra evil-but-adorable baby pressing on your oh-so-very sensitive sciatic nerve. All we can recommend is some wincing, sitting down, and putting your feet up…OUCH!

Source: Baby-Gaga

Nothing much to report really. Just that baby’s getting more and more difficult to carry these days. I could give birth any day now and we tend to be a little more impatient as well. My mom’s already here so everything is set to go. It’s all up to EC now. Soon, I hope!

Your baby weighs close to 6.5 pounds / 2.8 kilograms and may be about 20 inches / 50 centimetres long from head to toe. Your baby’s head is now cradled in your pelvic cavity — surrounded and protected by your pelvic bones. This position clears some much-needed space for her growing legs and buttocks.Many babies now have a full head of hair, with locks maybe around one inch / 2.5 centimetres long. But don’t be surprised if her hair isn’t the same colour as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes taken aback when their children are born with bright red or blond hair, and fair-haired couples likewise can produce babies with dark hair. And then, of course, some babies don’t have any hair at all.Speaking of hair, most of the downy coat of lanugo that covered your baby from 26 weeks has disappeared, and so has most of the vernix caseosa, the whitish substance that also covers her. Your baby will swallow her lanugo and exterior coating, along with other secretions, and store them in her bowels. These will become your infant’s first bowel movement, a blackish waste called meconium.

Your baby’s eyes open and close with ease and have lashes. As it continues to grow, the tiny lungs are preparing to work independently. You may feel hot all the time as your body is using a lot of fuel supporting both yourself and the child inside you. More blood is circulating and you are burning more calories.

Source: BabyCenter / Nine Months

We saw our midwife this afternoon for another routine antenatal check-up. Everything is a-OK as far as measurements are concerned. Tracey, our attending midwife, palpated my abdomen to check on Baby’s position and the conclusion? Baby’s head is now engaged! So that’s why my bladder’s been constantly irritated whenever she moved. Aside from this, I can go into labor any time soon now. Baby is very much ready and in good position at this stage.

I have also complained to Tracey that I haven’t been sleeping well, with all of Baby’s weight pressing into my internal organs. I can’t seem to find a comfortable position, even with pillows propping me up. Heartburn as well poses as a problem, maybe also due to the fact that Baby gets to lie down on my poor organs. Tracey suggested to drink warm milk or to take a warm bath just before bedtime to help me get to sleep easier. Taking an antacid like Mylanta could probably also help ease the heartburn.

And just before we parted, she handed me a couple of pamphlets on breastfeeding as I earlier indicated that I was determined to breastfeed our Baby. One of the pamphlets was authored by Rebecca Glover and I must say it is very informative, complete with illustrations to guide you on how to properly breastfeed your child. Incidentally, Tracey was also a lactation specialist as the other pamphlet she gave me was one of hers. She, together with another midwife who was a lactation consultant as well, offered supportive and empowering services for mothers and babies.

Your baby is still putting on weight — about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds and is a little less than 19 inches long. She’s shedding most of the downy hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the creamy substance that has protected her skin during its submersion in amniotic fluid. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, and they’ll stay in her bowels until birth. This blackish mixture, called meconium, will become her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Babies born between 37 and 42 weeks are considered full-term; a baby born before 37 weeks is pre-term and after 42 weeks is post-term.) Most likely she’s in a head-down position by now, which is optimal for a smooth delivery, but if she isn’t head-down next week, your provider may suggest scheduling an “external cephalic version,” which is a fancy way of saying she’ll try to turn your baby manually, by pushing her from the outside of your belly.

You may begin to feel an increased pressure in your lower abdomen and notice that your baby is gradually dropping. This is called lightening or engagement, and your lungs and stomach will finally get a chance to stretch out a little — breathing and eating should become easier. However, walking may become increasingly uncomfortable — some women say it feels as if the baby is going to fall out. Also, you may still feel as if you need to go to the loo all the time. Stock up on those last minute nutrients.

Source: BabyCenter

Ugh! This belly of mine is getting pretty heavy by the day. I’ve been experiencing backaches more frequently these days and I often find that my feet are killing me by night time. It certainly helps a lot that J massages the aches away. Sleeping is also a challenge (which is something that isn’t new really). My dreams are now all about giving birth even in the most weirdest of scenarios.

I have gained a couple of pounds this past week. I presently weigh 62 kilos and my waist is 41 inches thick! I feel as if I’m about to burst any moment now. My fears about labor and giving birth though have actually lessened and am much more excited to see our baby. It’s all just a matter of time now.

Your baby now weighs about 5.25 pounds/ 2.4 kilograms and measures approximately 18 inches/ 45 centimetres from head to toe. His elbow, foot or head may protrude from your stomach when he stretches and squirms about. Soon, as the wall of your uterus and your abdomen stretch thinner and let in more light, your baby will begin to develop daily activity cycles.

This week, your little one is now sporting fingernails and has a fully developed pair of kidneys. His liver can also process some waste products.

There’s much less amniotic fluid and much more baby in your uterus, which has expanded to a thousand times its original size. You’ve probably put on between 25 and 30 pounds/ 11 and 13.6 kilograms and your weight gain has hit its peak. Even your belly button has got bigger and has popped outward. You may be feeling breathless now that the top of your uterus is up under your ribs. Try getting down on all fours to take deeper breaths. Although the pressure on your bladder will make the bathroom your second home, don’t drink any less water — your baby needs the fluids. But you may like to cut down on diuretic drinks like tea and coffee, which will make you have to urinate even more often.

Source: BabyCenter

There have been changes lately in my pregnancy. It all started last Saturday night when J and I were having one of our late night conversations in bed. I had around 4-5 Braxton-Hicks contractions at 10-15 minute intervals. It was a major change for me because I only had the BHC’s once or twice a night prior to Saturday. Now the episodes are more frequent and happen also during the day but are still at 10-15 minute intervals.

That’s not the only thing new these days. Yesterday, after lunch and doing my thing in the toilet, I may have had my first “bloody show.” I noticed my discharge had a pinkish tinge and the amount of discharge seemed quite a lot. I told J about it and he advised me to call the Delivery Suite immediately. I was quite hesitant to call the hospital because I was afraid to find out and confirm if it really was a sign of early labor. After some time, I was able to muster the courage to ring up the DS at the Canberra Hospital. A friendly midwife named Debbie patiently listened as I told her the entire story. She said what happened was perfectly normal and she asked me to just wear a pad in case any amniotic fluid leaked. If there is any leakage, then that’s the time I should call back the delivery suite.

Phew! What a relief! That really gave us quite a scare! Nevertheless, this prompted me to pack my bag just in case the time came for us to rush to the hospital. It is a bit too early though for me to give birth at this point so i’m trying to take it easy now and cut back on any strenuous activity. I need at least 2-3 more weeks to keep this baby in. We’re crossing our fingers (and toes) once again.