Day 68: Freedom

As I said yesterday, I'm having less contractions now than when I was on bed rest and medications.  Go figure!  I am now getting to the uncomfortable point that I've heard of so many pregnant women complaining about their last few weeks.  I'm starting to get back pain, it's getting more difficult to bend over, and I get tired easily. So the end of this pregnancy is becoming less and less of a risk and more like any other pregnancy.  Thus, I've been using my freedom to be up and around.  I've enjoyed a normal Saturday with lots of errands (we had a lunch of samples at Sam's Club, got some groceries, went to the bank, returned items to the library) and some chores (dishes, bathroom cleaning, and laundry).  We also went to to dinner with J's family and although all these things were pretty mundane, it's nice to be able to do them, especially since all is quiet with this pregnancy.  That said, I am getting more and more impatient to have the baby.  I'm thinking next Thursday would be nice, but I know I can't choose.  I'm just getting worried now that J's starting to take on more shifts the week after next (he works nights) and my mother-in-law will also be out of town.  I'll have to get a back-up driver and babysitter . .. tomorrow.  The baby can't come between the 1st and 6th of March, but knowing that, he probably will.  But then again, who knows because as I said, nothing's happening at this point.

 

Day 56: We Made It To 35 Weeks

 

Thanks to faith, medicine, hospital intervention at 26 and 28 weeks, and A LOT of prayer (ours and others'), I am 35 weeks pregnant.  If I make it past 10:40 tonight (and I have NO notions that I won't), I will have carried this baby longer than I carried B who was born at exactly 35 weeks.  I am only dilated to a one at this point and contractions are occasional and irregular, so we're still going strong.  I will be taken off of bed rest and all my medications in seven days!  I can't wait.  My contractions could very well go crazy once medicine and bed rest are taken out of the equation, but then again, maybe I'll go full term.  We shall see, and I'll keep you updated.

I also finally got my field trip in that I didn't get last week.  J and I went to lunch and then I rode around Target in a scooter (Jarom was horrified at my lack of scooter-driving skills and had to help me back up and maneuver down the aisles a few times so I didn't knock anything over).  We got our blue bath tub and a few clothes.  Our Pack N' Play is apparently on back order, so hopefully it will get here in time for us to bring Baby home.  I had fun going on a date with J and am so glad to be 35 weeks along, as I am confident Baby would be fine if born anytime from here on out.  I know we made it this long on faith and prayers, so thank you for sending yours!  Now we'll see if we can make it full-term!

Some of our loot:  the Superhero onesies have capes on the back . . so cute!

 

Highlights of Week Thirty-Five (33 week fetal age):

• Baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long (hopefully . . . we’re all short over here, and B was only 17 inches long at this point).  Just because he’s not doing somersaults, doesn’t mean he’s not still kicking and rolling.  I often see/feel a bum, elbow, foot, or hand protruding from my belly.
• He tips the scales at about 5 pounds, 4 ounces or more, about the size of a honeydew melon.
• Baby is head down in pelvis to prepare for delivery.
• Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks (hopefully) putting on weight.   Baby will put on about half a pound a week from here on out.  
• Baby Boy's body is growing rounder due to developing fat layers.  He still probably doesn't have enough fat deposits beneath his skin to keep warm outside the womb, but fat stores are accumulating in the legs and arms. These layers of fat will help him regulate his body temperature after birth.
• Although Baby's central nervous system is still maturing, his lungs are nearly fully developed (boys' lungs do generally take longer to develop than girls' lungs, however).
• His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. 
• Baby's reflexes are coordinated.  He can turn his head, grasp firmly, and respond to sounds, light and touch. 
• Eyes opened when awake and closed when sleeping.
• Baby is sporting full-length fingernails and toenails.
• Lanugo, the baby fuzz that protects baby's skin in utero is starting to disappear. The cheese-like coating on baby's skin, vernix caseosa, is getting thicker to keep Baby moisturized for the big day.
• Hair continuing to grow on head. 
• By end of week, Baby will start to develop daily activity cycles.
• Brain development continues to advance quickly.
• Baby’s digestive system is putting on its finishing touches in preparation to take baby’s first meal in a few weeks’ time.

Day 53: Kind of a Field Trip

When I was still contracting this morning after taking my anti-contraction medication and a sleeping pill last night, I made a doctor's appointment.  I am having contractions, but they're not doing a whole lot to change and dilate my cervix, which is good at this point because I'm still hoping we can hold out for another few weeks.  Unfortunately it looks like I will be contracting like this off and on until my real labor starts, so I'll be very uncomfortable before this baby comes.   In my pregnancy with B, I was already dilated to a 3 at this point, so I'm holding out better, but it looks like I'll be one of those ladies who is in inactive/early labor for a long time.  The discomfort is worth it though, if we can have a healthy baby.   My doctor said to postpone the field trip until next week because of the contractions, so J and I stopped for Buffalo Wild Wings on our way home.  It was sort of a field trip. . . sort of.