First, I've mentally shifted from feeling like there's so much still to be done... to feeling as if, if Baby Boy suddenly arrived tomorrow, we're close enough to being "done" that we would be fine.
Secondly, my body is reaching it's own point of being "done", even though I know that there's still 6 weeks and more growth to go. Supposedly, Baby Boy has only gained 1/2 a lb this week, and the scale says I'm only up 1 lb from last week, but it feels like so. much. more. By the end of the day, I feel cumbersome and heavy and just all-around sore.
But! Baby Boy is healthy and active and doing well, so I suppose I can hang in there for 6 more weeks (I'm in denial about the possibility of going overdue again ;) )
This week:
Baby's size: a cantaloupe; almost 18 inches (head to heel) and a 4.75 lbs.
What Munchkin is up to (according to Babycenter):
His fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.
(Just want to add in here, Baby Boy, that while I'm sore and tired, I don't want to endure a NICU stay, so you can just keep comfy in there for a little while longer)
Symptoms: I think I've about covered that. Basically, I feel 8.5 months pregnant.
Total Weight Gain: 26 lbs
Best moment since last update: I'm really starting to feel prepared and much more relaxed about Baby Boy's arrival. Things are falling into place. I don't know if this is a best "moment", but I'm enjoying the feeling of peace. Now, ask me again how I'm feeling in about 2 months.
Movement: Yeah. When is it that the movements slow down? No sign of that yet here. He likes to stretch out across my stomach so that I can feel him pressing on my hip and opposite rib at the same time. Other favorite activity? Digging his heel into my stomach, hard enough that I can actually feel the little tiny ball shape from the outside.
Food cravings: Nothing specific
Gender: BOY!
What I miss: I'm having some parent guilt about Mia. She's totally happy, but I feel guilty that I can't (comfortably) get up and down off the floor, or even sit on the floor for long periods of time so that I'm on her level. Sitting on the floor scrunches Baby Boy up under my ribcage in such a way that it makes it hard to breathe, so that if I'm sitting, it has to be in a half-reclining position, and this makes it challenging to do certain activities with her. We're doing the best we can, and I know that she's not going to hold this against me in the long run, but it's frustrating in the short-term.
What I'm looking forward to: We're headed up to Pennsylvania this weekend for a small shower. Kevin's also going to try his hand at taking some maternity photos this weekend, and I'm excited to see what he comes up with.
Weekly Picture:
No comments:
Post a Comment