News from the Womb

At 36 weeks, baby's skin is getting smooth and soft, her gums are rigid, her liver and kidneys are in working order, and her circulation and immune system are basically good to go. Her lungs are the only organs that still need to fully mature, but every day she gets a little closer to breathing on her own.

She's also started her descend down my pelvis.  I feel some mild relief from the constant heartburn and shortness of breath.  I can fully inhale into my lungs now. This puts the brunt of the baby's weight solely on my hips and pelvis, making me soon adopt the oh-so-adorable pregnancy waddle. (not looking forward to that). Early this morning, I woke up with a mild, dull stabbing pain in the center of my lower back, right behind the pelvis.  It traveled down my hips and just lingered there.  My husband applied counter pressure and it actually worked!  I'm so relieved to find this out, as this will become handy once real contractions set in.

I have also noticed that my Braxton Hicks have started to get more regular.  I now get them everyday several times, although they feel mild, they can still be annoying.  They start at the top of my belly, making it look like a fist.  At first I thought it was my baby pushing her body out, but then I realized this were the actual BH contractions people talk about.  Sometimes they are accompanied by a twinge or a burning sensation and other times they precede some cramping in the bottom of my belly. 


Wishful thinking for my next prenatal appointment:  To be somewhat effaced or dilated. But this of course is not up to me.  


Less than four weeks until I meet Emilu.  Baby dust to all!

A few things about pregnancy weight

It's a relief to know that even though I have gained more pounds than I was actually hoping to gain with this pregnancy, it's not a gloomy forecast for post-pregnancy weight loss.

According to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the recommended weight gain for women with a normal weight before pregnancy, yoohoo that's me, a gain of 25 to 37 pounds is actually normal.

Whew! That is good to know!  So far I've gained 31 pounds and I still have 6 weeks to go.  I know that a very tiny portion of that weight gain has been my controlled, but still not recommended, consumption of sweets during my pregnancy.  I have blogged before that I'm usually not a sweets person, but this belly has me craving for sugar like it's the food of the Gods, and it's the only thing that soothes my indigestion and heartburn-prone stomach.  

So let's take a look at the estimated distribution of weight gain during pregnancy:

• 7 1/2pounds is about how much the baby will weigh by the end of pregnancy.
• 1 1/2pounds is how much the placenta weighs.
• 4 pounds is attributed to increased fluid volume.
• 2 pounds is the weight of the uterus.
• 2 pounds is the weight of breast tissue.
• 4 pounds is because of increased blood volume.
• 7 pounds is attributed to maternal stores of fat, protein and other nutrients.
• 2 pounds for the amniotic fluid.

For a total of 30 pounds.

Remember this is just an average; you and your health care provider need to decide what is best for you.

Baby is growing

I'm in week 32 of pregnancy and the baby is packing up ounces by the day.  She's probably around 16 inches long and weights a little over 3 pounds.  And she's been moving a lot lately.  Her favorite position is having her bum sticking out in the side of my belly and her head diagonally facing down, cushioned in either side of my pelvis. This, of course, makes my sciatica act up.  This nerve jolts me to pain unexpectedly.  I could be standing, waiting for the train to arrive and suddenly it lashes down my leg and makes me grunt for a few seconds. Which means her tiny feet are somewhere up in my ribcage or the top of my belly. I feel them at night when she kicks them up.

Which then takes me to my next topic:  Sleeping.  I'm was resting fine until a few days ago,  I suddenly don't find my nights to be restful anymore.  For the past 3 days, I have been waking up around 4 a.m. with fiery heartburn.  Heartburn is completely normal in this stage of gestation because as the uterus moves up it pushes your stomach up too.  This, and the hormones are relaxing the valves of the esophagus allowing more acid to recede into it.

I have been waking up and going to the kitchen to drink water and munch on something lite.  Usually a banana or some cereal with milk.  Calcium and Omega-3 acids are particularly important in this stage of pregnancy.  They allow the baby to build strong muscles and bones as well as feed his brain development.  

From now on this should be my normal as this baby develops and grows more and more.