Wednesday, September 8, 2010

33 week update...

Every week I get these baby status updates by email and every week I just laugh. This week's notification said:

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

I've been seeing a maternal and fetal specialists for the last two months for gestational diabetes. Dr. B has recently decided that my sugar is completely in control and I can thank genetics for this large baby growing within and not the GD. As of last Friday, Oliver, at 33 weeks, was weighing in at 6 pounds and measuring about 20 inches long. I have these measurements taken weekly and every week, he's well ahead of an average size baby. Now you see why I laugh. Oliver has also decided that he prefers to hang out in the womb breech-style. If he doesn't rotate into proper position in the next two weeks, we'll be scheduling a C-Section for week 39. For the last few weeks, Dr. B seemed hopeful that Ollie would turn in time for a vaginal birth. However, the closer we get and the larger Oliver gets, the hope wanes.

I was looking forward to a natural birth but am now preparing myself mentally for a C-Section. While I would prefer not to undergo major surgery, I am a fan of doing whatever it takes to get both Oliver and I on the other side of delivery day safely. Dr. B estimates Oliver could weigh 10 pounds by birth, so when I look at it that way, may the C-Section won't be so bad.

Here's an update for record-keeping sake:

How far along
: 33 weeks and 4 days.

Symptoms: Heartburn, heartburn, heartburn! Toss in some hip pain and sleep issues and that pretty much sums up the last few weeks. I recently started experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions a few times per day. I record all of that to say that I honestly have loved being pregnant and I'm thankful that I still have a few weeks to enjoy it!

Total Weight Gain: 18 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: The clothes are fine. However, I'm over the shoes. Apparently pregnancy can make your feet go all Fred Flintstone and you're forced to wear flats every day of your life. Can anyone say boring?

Stretch Marks: Evil.

Sleep: I can get to sleep, its the turning over and getting out of bed part that's becoming painful.

Best Moment This Week: Brent and I (along with Anders) took our last childless vacation for the near future. We spent the weekend in Elijay in a cabin we rented. We checked in on Friday night and didn't leave until Sunday. It was 2 glorious days of being alone and relaxing!

Movement: His most active times are 4 am, 6 am, 9:30 am, 12:30 pm, 4 pm, 9 pm and midnight. He prefers to do most of his sleeping during the NST sessions.

Food Cravings: Nothing in particular anymore.

Belly Button: Still an innie.

What I miss: Looking down and seeing my feet.

What I am looking forward to: Completely finishing the nursery! All we need to do is hang the shelf over the changing table. I can't believe that's all that's left to do!

Milestones: I've made it to the part in pregnancy where I see a doctor two times per week.

How is Daddy?: Daddy is a travelling fool right now. He's only got about 2 weeks left before the travel will cease until Oliver arrives. I'm ready for it! :) Daddy is excited about Oliver's arrival as much as I am. He thoroughly enjoyed the breastfeeding class we attended and I am sure he's looking forward to our upcoming birthing classes. He's going to a be a great father!

How are the Grandparents? Spoiling him with cute clothes every chance they get.

Stranger Encounters: I was walking into my building and held the door for a lady with a baby and stroller. She stopped and told me that I looked great and shared her birth story with me. She told me how wonderful it was and that not all stories are horror stories. You rarely have anyone go out of their way to tell you how positive an experience can be. I'll always remember her.

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