Week 34

What’s Will up to? According to babyzone, baby's skin is smoothing out and he continues to plump up (sound familiar? he has a lot of plumping up to do!). By now all of his internal and external structures are functioning. Though he has six more weeks to bake, your baby is a whole person now who acts very similarly to a newborn. He hears well enough to react to loud noises outside the womb (notice any kicking when you turn up the music?); his brain developed enough that he can respond to the sound of your voice. His tastebuds distinguish flavors and his eyes, though still quite myopic, can differentiate between light and dark. If you could peer into the womb you might see him touching a hand to his face, gripping the umbilical cord, or touching one foot to the other leg.

Appointments: On 5.22.12 we had a growth scan for Will, his estimated weight was 4 pounds 14 ounces!! I also had a routine BPP u/s on 5.25.12 and saw the OB. The OB I saw today doesn’t think I will make it much longer after the stitch is removed on 6.8.12.

Bed Rest: 10 weeks at home on full bed rest, 7 weeks in the hospital on full bed rest and 1 week at home on partial bed rest. 18 weeks total survived!! Crazy to think, at this point I have been on bed rest for more than half of this pregnancy!

Highlights: Moving around and seeing friends and family outside of the house and hospital.

All about me: I am up a total of 22 pounds and 14“ on my tummy!  I am feeling great! Being on partial bed rest is definitely challenging. I am not use to any exercise and so doing anything is very strenuous on my body. I can tell I am starting to slow down in my walking and I am very exhausted. On the positive side, I am excited to get out of the house a little bit, to cook again, to wash dishes, to work on small things around the house. It feels wonderful.

Week 33

What’s Will up to? According to babyzone, baby's movements are slowing down this week. As the your uterus gets more and more cramped, he's curled up, chin resting on his chest and arms and legs cocked. He continues to practice breathing, to open and close his eyes, and to swallow amniotic fluid. In fact, during this last trimester he will be swallowing about 4 cups of amniotic fluid a day! His taste buds have matured now and experts believe that Baby can already distinguish some of the tastes in your amniotic fluid--like onions, garlic, and certain strong spices, like cumin. Some scientists believe this pre-taste is a way to prepare a baby for the different flavors of breast milk, which also changes based on a mom's daily diet. I have definitely noticed that I don’t feel as much movement this week as I had in the weeks leading up to this point. I had a few panic moments that I got out of bed and drank ice cold water to get him to move/kick.

Appointments: On 5.15.12 I had a BPP u/s and the sonographer tried and tried to get a good face shot on 3D for Grandma and I but Will had his hands in front of his face the whole time. I also had another BPP u/s on 5.18.12 and saw the OB.

Bed Rest/Hospital Stay: I have been on bed rest for 17 weeks (7 weeks at North Memorial in Robinsdale). The OB gave me the ok to try and be up a little to help me get use to the big changes coming up. I am not sure if I feel comfortable doing this yet, because I feel so much pressure on my cerclage/stitch and it’s not comfortable at all. So partial bed rest it is for the rest of our pregnancy!

Highlights: I have enjoyed being at home this week. Plenty of fresh air and sun!

All about me: I am up a total of 21 pounds and 14“ on my tummy!  I am having a harder time getting sleep this week and have been having some headaches.

Week 32

What’s Will up to? According to babyzone, baby's head will stay squashy and pliable until after he's born in order to help him pass safely through the birth canal, so if you deliver vaginally don't be surprised if your newborn looks more like Homer Simpson than a Gerber baby at first. Even after birth, he will have two soft spots called "fontanels"--one on the top of his head and one on the back--to allow his brain to continue its lightening-speed growth. The rest of Baby's skeleton is hardening up and, like you, he continues to put on weight. Though still very small, he has toenails, fingernails, eyelashes, eyebrows, and a beautiful little face that you'll soon be gazing at lovingly.

Appointments: On 4.8.12 and on 5.11.12 we had a bio-physical profile scans both days and also saw the OB on the 11^th. Everything looks good with Will and he is head down now. He was showing off to his grandma at how flexible he is by touching his foot to his face and we got a shot of it!  

Bed Rest/Hospital Stay: I have been on bed rest for 16 weeks (7 weeks at North Memorial in Robinsdale). Things are still going well. I am getting settled in at home and I am enjoying my time here. I figured out my new routine and I am very comfortable here. One of my Labor & Delivery nurses called to check up on me, I sure miss those ladies. They hold a special place in my heart and I miss them. It was a quite week with visitors only last weekend.  

Highlights: There is no place like home…I tried to imagine how I would feel after arriving home after being in the hospital for 7 weeks but there is no way I could have ever have known how new and wonderful I would feel. I wasn’t prepared for my emotions… I was completely overwhelmed and filled with happiness and gratitude. From birds chirping, to the beautiful grass between my feet, to the flowers blooming, to a fresh clean home, to newly painted nursery for Will, to a freshly painted room for Chris and I. The list could go on and on. My husband is amazing! My friends are amazing! My family is amazing! Most of all God is AMAZING! I am so happy and thankful to be HOME.

All about me: I am up a total of 20 pounds and 14“ on my tummy!  I have been feeling really good this week!!

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mommies out there. I can’t wait to be holding Will next year!

Week 31

What’s Will up to? According to babyzone, though you may feel like Baby head butts your ribs all the time now, he's actually spending the vast majority of his time sleeping. Gaining all that fat we talked about last week is tiring work! And just like adults, Baby experiences rapid eye movement (REM) sleep as well as deep sleep. He also experiences another, unique state of consciousness: an undefined sleep-like state that is unlike an infant's or a grownup's and comes from the immature state of his brain. As his lungs continue to mature, his chances of surviving outside the womb get better every day (though if your baby were born this week he would still be small enough to fit into a large man's hand). It's good that he's sleeping, even if you're not, as the baby is heading into a period of tremendous internal and external growth.

Bed Rest/Hospital Stay: I have been on bed rest for 15 weeks, 7 weeks at North Memorial in Robinsdale. Things are going well – so well that I get to go home tomorrow! I can’t believe it!! I am super excited to go home but sad to be leaving such wonderful nurses here. I would recommend delivering here in a heart beat! You would be in the best hands ever. I am going to miss these ladies.

Highlights: I forgot last week to share with everyone that Chelsea (our dog) came for a visit last week. It was so sweet when she first saw me until the nervousness kicked in. She was so sweet and I can’t wait to be home with her and Chris tomorrow!

All about me: I am up a total of 20 pounds and 14“ on my tummy!  I am feeling good about the diabetes, I am comfortable with giving myself insulin too, all set to go home!

Appointments: On 4.30.12 and on 5.3.12 we had a bio-physical profile scans and Will is looking perfect, no stress which is all we can ask for.

I pray for a good night rest tonight with all the excitement and for a good exam in the morning so I can go home before Will’s big arrival.