In the meantime, we're just trying to check off all the final boxes and make sure we have a plan for childcare in place. We have a few more items to purchase (you know, like diapers), but nothing that couldn't easily be picked up at Target or the grocery store should he arrive earlier than anticipated. All the "big stuff" is bought, if not organized. Hospital registration is complete. Insurance/protocol/pediatrician questions have been asked and answered. For the most part, I think we're just in the waiting game now. And the OBGYN informed me on Monday that at this stage, if I was to go into labor, they would just let it progress.
So...
Baby's size: a crenshaw melon; more than 18.5 inches long, and over 6 lbs (on average...size at this stage in the game can really be all over the place, so who knows?)
What Munchkin is up to (according to Babycenter.com):
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. Your 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.
At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely he's in a head-down position. But if he isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating him from the outside of your belly.
Symptoms: General late-pregnancy pains, especially in the evening. Some BH contractions that almost always appear in the middle of the night, but no "real" contractions, and no other signs of impending labor.Total Weight Gain: 31 lbs... Ha! Showers, and birthdays, and leftovers, oh my!
Best moment since last update: Having the doctor confirm that all is well... weight, blood pressure, measurements. Everything seems to be going perfectly. At this point with Mia, I was battling hypertension, so this is nice to hear.
Movement: Yup. Still active. In fact, when I told the doctor this, she responded, "But not TOO much moving, right?" I assured her that I didn't feel him doing backflips anymore (head DOWN, baby, head DOWN), but that he still finds room to wiggle and kick his feet.
Food cravings: Pretzels. But pretty much just food. Maybe he's going through a final growth spurt, I dunno, but I'm hungry all. the. time.
Gender: BOY!
What I miss: Sleeping, actually, has become easier since he's dropped. I can breathe easier so that on nights that I can get to sleep and I'm not awakened by cramping in the middle of the night, I'm actually able to sleep well. What I miss is my energy level. I'm resigned to the fact that this is the home stretch and except for a few short hours in the morning (after a good night's sleep), I feel like I'm dragging through the day -- heavy, awkward, groggy. Though I don't imagine it gets much better for awhile, so maybe this is just the new me ;)
What I'm looking forward to: Getting one more look via ultrasound of Baby Boy on Monday. I didn't have a third trimester ultrasound with Mia, so I don't even know what one this late in the game looks like. But with any luck, this will be the last "inside" look we have, and the next time we see him, he'll be out in the big wide world!
Weekly picture:
Oy vey.
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