Day 77: Ready When He Is (38 Weeks)

We're at 38 weeks. This boy is welcome to come any time now. I've been having inconsistent contractions for the last few days,but am still not in labor yet. Whenever Baby Boy does decide the time is right, we're ready when he is.

 

Highlights of Week Thirty-Eight (36 week fetal age)  *Photo shows a baby at 38 weeks, but is not our baby.

Baby is close to seven pounds and is about 18-20 inches long, and he doesn't have much room to maneuver now.

Baby is head down in pelvis to prepare for delivery.  The head diameter is over 3.5 inches.

Most of Baby's basic physical development and systems are now complete - he'll spend the two weeks putting on weight and accumulating more body fat, at the rate of about an ounce a day, to help him keep his temperature and blood sugar stable.   

Although lungs are one of the last organs to mature, they should be basically developed by now and are now secreting surfactant which will keep them from sticking together and help Baby breathe outside the womb.  I figure since Baby Boy got the steroid shots for his lungs months ago, his breathing should be fine once he's born.

Could have a full head of hair, of an inch or longer.

Brain is continuing to develop and mature.

He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair (lanugo) that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that has  covered and protected his skin during so far.  Baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of his first bowel movement.

Baby’s digestive system is putting on its finishing touches in preparation to take baby’s first meal in a few weeks’ time.  

Day 63: Bye, Bye Bed Rest (36 Weeks)

Today my bed rest sentence issued exactly nine weeks ago was finally revoked because Baby Boy and I made it to week 36!   Baby Boy is growing and weighing in at 6 pounds, 1 ounce and is about 17 inches long.  The ultrasound technician commented on his short little legs, but having another baby who is on the short side is no surprise to J and I who aren't very tall ourselves.  My stomach is measuring around 35 weeks because baby is low in my pelvis, but I'm still growing and Baby is still moving even in the very cramped conditions my bicornuate uterus provides!  Because he's so low, some of these ultrasound shots have part of his forehead cut off, and he kept moving his hand in front of his face (no, that's not a foot in the third photo below), but I liked being able to see my baby's little face and knowing he's doing OK.

I have also been taken off of Procardia and Progesterone which help to prevent early contractions and cervical change.  Some women go into labor within hours of stopping the medications and others last 10-14 days or more.  So we shall see what happens from this point.  Right now besides some back pain and feeling completely out of shape (after only getting up to go to the bathroom and the table for two months, even walking or sitting is fatiguing), I'm pretty asymptomatic.  Who knows when the contractions will start and send me in to actual labor?  People ask me when I think this baby is coming, and honestly, I have absolutely NO idea.  

 

Highlights of Week Thirty-Six (34 week fetal age):

• Baby weighs just over six pounds and doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's about 17 inches long. 
• 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 and developing fat layers.   Baby will put on about half a pound a week from here on out. 
• Lungs should be just about fully developed (boys' lungs do generally take longer to develop than girls' lungs, however).  Circulation and immune systems are basically good to go, too.
• Skin is getting smooth and soft and his gums are rigid.  Baby's bones and skull are still relatively soft to make for an easier delivery and will harden after birth.
• 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.
• He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair (lanugo) that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that has covered and protected his skin so far.  Baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of his first bowel movement.
• Baby is sporting full-length fingernails and toenails and hair is growing on head.
• Baby is now developing daily activity and sleep 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 62: Last Day of Bed Rest!

My last day on bed rest

If all goes well, I will be officially released from bed rest tomorrow afternoon, so today should be my last day of bed rest.  I go in for an ultrasound and if everything looks good, my doctor will tell me that I no longer have to be horizontal 24/7!  So far, I'm not feeling any real labor symptoms and feel like we're in for the long haul (March 17th is my official due date), but anything could happen once they take me off of Progestrone (Prometrium) and Nifedipine (Procardia) which have worked to keep my cervix from shortening and my contractions from progressing.  I'm looking forward to an ultrasound to check Baby Boy who seems to be moving less and less as the conditions in my bicornuate uterus get more cramped.  I just want to make sure everything looks good with Baby Boy and am excited that today was my last day of bed rest. 

We actually had family visit this weekend and Great Grandpa brought a train for B.  I went to Church with extended family for an hour today and then we had dinner together, so I was up and around for a little while throughout the day.  But I figure since everything is quiet and this baby should be good for at least another week (hopefully), doing a little more on my last day of bed rest is acceptable.  As long as I don't go into labor tonight, right?  Haha.