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!

Braxton Hicks contractions

I have been paying close attention to the subtle changes in my body.  It's amazing how pregnancy gets you in tune with your physical and emotional self, and  I have been prey to some of the symptoms common in the 8th month.  However, I hadn't felt a single Braxton Hicks contraction until late last week.  These contractions are often called "practice contractions"  because they are actually helping you to prepare for labor.  Nature is really wise.  They help to soften your cervix and uterus for your upcoming labor. Without them, labor would actually be much more difficult and painful.  Nevertheless, not all women feel them, they could be as subtle as some of your baby's movements and get swallowed up in the busy schedule of your day, especially if you are an active person.

A couple of nights ago, I was wide awake in bed, product of insomnia, and I started to feel some cramping in the lower middle part of my abdomen radiating down to my buttocks. Voila! Braxton Hicks alright! They lasted about 10 minutes.

But what actually triggers them?  It's really unpredictable, but some accounts suggest common triggers that include: 

• physical activity or exertion
• sexual intercourse
• dehydration
• touching your abdomen
• your baby moving inside your uterus

Last Saturday, my husband and I sprang up to clean our patio after months of Winter neglect.  We re-potted two Majesty palms, cleaned up the strip of soil which houses our boxleaf shrubs and mulched the strip once we were done. We also fertilized the fern and the shrubs.  We also took out the patio bench and swept the floor.  All this activity must have triggered my practice contractions that night.  But it also happens that one of my daughter's most active periods is in the middle of the night. Whatever the reason, I finally know what they feel like and am relieved that things are progressing and my body is gearing up to the big day:  childbirth.

 

News from the Womb

At 33 weeks, the baby has grown tremendously.  She now weights between 4 and 4.5 pounds and is approximately 19 inches long.  She is also running out of space to maneuver, spending most of her time in the heads down position, since the lower part of the uterus is roomier than the top portion. This position not only prepares her for birth but allows blood to flow to her developing brain now that it needs all the blood flow it can get.  Her skin is turning opaque, looking very much like a human and the only organs that need further nourishing are the lungs and the brain.  But the brain doesn't stop growing once she is born.  Brains continue to grow and expand inside the skull well into early adulthood.  No wonder our parents and physicians make us take fish oil or omega-3  capsules during our childhood.  I hated taking mine, but it's all for a good, brainy reason.  Starting this week, she is getting ready to receive all the antibodies from me, the rest she will get through breast milk. I call it maternal inoculation. 

Weeks 32-33: Still can’t find an escape route. It’s getting really tight in here and I’m spending most of my day just thinking about stuff and trying to work out what’s happening on the other side of the walls. There have been lots of people trying to touch me – the invasion of privacy is outrageous. Prodding me night and day – the nerve. For some reason I keep wanting to lie upside down. Some strange force within is telling me to do so. I can’t work out whether it’s my brain, the hostess or the vending machine trying to issue the instructions. I get the feeling something is about to happen. I’ve been going over my evacuation notes from sperm school just incase. My brain keeps on getting bigger and better. I’m able to control it better and I think I’m learning how to do things. For example if I want the hostess to sit still I just apply pressure in certain places and hey, presto she stops moving. Here commeth 4 pounds.

 Via Diary from the Womb.

News from the Womb

This excerpt is a clever way of speculating what the baby might be up to inside the womb. It's a hilarious way to experience pregnancy.  

Weeks 30-31: "The hostess is always moving around and fidgeting. Doesn’t she know that I need some rest – it’s getting very cramped in here. Smashed through the 3 pound barrier last week. I'm seriously considering getting out of here and having a word to the hostess. The deep voiced one keeps prodding me telling me to give him a kick. He’ll get a kick all right, right up the wahzoo when I get out of here. I’ll show him. The hostess has been complaining that he’s a lazy bum who is in for a real shock when the baby comes. Don’t know what that means but sounds like he’s in for a tough time – he deserves it.

I’ve been peeing a lot and I don’t think it’s all getting removed as efficiently as I’d like. I’m now swimming and drinking it. No wonder I’ve started getting the hiccups! Body hair starting to fall out – fat addition showing no sign of abating. Brain keeping me awake at night and I’m getting bored of the view. Might see if I can break out of here somehow. Have started kicking the walls which gets a reaction from the hostess but doesn’t achieve much else."

 Via Diary from the Womb.

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