What changes are occurring with your body?
The top of your uterus is a little over 5 inches from your belly button. Your total weight gain should be between 22 and 28 pounds.
You may wonder if you will be able to tell when your water breaks (also called rupturing of the membranes). This is the breaking of the fluid-filled sac (amniotic fluid) surrounding the baby. Only 1 in 10 women experience a dramatic gush of the amniotic fluid, and even then it usually happens at home, often in bed. Sometimes the amniotic sac breaks or leaks before labor begins. This may be just a small trickle. It is common to be uncertain about whether leaking fluid is amniotic fluid or urine. Many pregnant women leak urine in the later stages of pregnancy, so be sure to have it checked. If you think your membranes have ruptured, you should call your health care provider.
Until you see your physician or midwife, do not use tampons, have sexual intercourse, or do anything that would introduce bacteria to your vagina once your water has broken. Let your doctor know if the fluid is anything other than clear and odorless, particularly if is greenish or foul smelling, because this could be a sign of infection. Your doctor should discuss with you what to do if your membranes rupture. Most doctors want to evaluate you and your baby as soon as the membranes rupture because of the risk of developing an infection. Your doctor may decide to induce labor.*
How big is your baby?
Your baby is approximately 16 ½ inches long and weighs between 4 ½ to 5 pounds. Because growth can be so different for each baby during this time, your baby may be a little off from these measurements which in most cases is totally normal.*
What is happening with your baby?
Your baby’s skin is beginning to look less red and less wrinkled. Fat stores are continuing to be deposited under his/her skin. His/her bones are all beginning to harden except for the skull. The skull needs to remain soft and pliable for delivery.*
I can feel all almost 5lbs of this baby! Seriously when he decides to move it's like my belly is about to burst open like the scene in Aliens. Half the time it feels like he's doing the worm in my belly. Crazy thought.....in four weeks (according to my doctor) I'll be full term and can give birth any time after that!!! 4 weeks...I'm not sure we're quite ready for that. We still need to get a house.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
House Hunting
A longer better blog will follow with more detail. We are officially house hunting and have put a bid on a house. We are just waiting to hear what the buyer has to say about our offer.
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/5068-Roberts-Drive_The-Colony_TX_75056_1111684504
This a link to the house we are looking at right now. We are really hoping that this one doesn't fall thru.
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/5068-Roberts-Drive_The-Colony_TX_75056_1111684504
This a link to the house we are looking at right now. We are really hoping that this one doesn't fall thru.
Randy's Passing
Randy went into the hospital on Tuesday evening September 1st. He was complaining about pain after his chemo treatment that afternoon. They admitted him and began to give him pain meds and to run tests to see what was going on. Wednesday we got a text that he had been crashed carted and that he was in CCU. The hospital staff was unable to get his hear rate and blood pressure to normal rates. His heart rate was at around 140 beats per minute and his blood pressure was extremely low. On Thursday I had a staff meeting most of the morning, so I didn't find out until later in the morning what exactly was going on. Steven's Mom had received a phone call from the hospital that Randy had taken a turn for the worse and that they were bringing in the Chaplains. That was about an hour before I got out of my meeting. Once I got the email I immediately tried to get a hold of Steven to let him know that we could leave and head up to the hospital if needed. Right after I emailed him we got another text that things were going down hill fast, so we left work immediately and went to the hospital to be with the family. Around 12:15 everyone had left Randy's room other than Nanny, Kim and myself. About that time a nurse came in a informed Nanny that if there was any family in the building that we needed to get them to the room quickly because Randy was fading fast and he didn't have much longer. His heart rate had dropped so fast in such a short amount of time they knew it was going to be very long. That's when I noticed his heart rate had dropped to 57 beats/minute. Over the next ten minutes it dropped to zero and he passed away. There aren't words to express all the emotions that go with witnessing someone die. When the monitor hit zero I said "oh God" and everyone else began crying. I'm not sure that I want to ever experience that again, it's too much emotion for me to process. I can handle the phone call after the fact, but not to be in the room when it happens.
Family Drama
Let me start off by saying that most of the time I love our family and everything is usually peachy keen. However the last few weeks are about to drive us all crazy!
I have lived out here in Dallas for almost 8 years and for the most part I haven't asked for hardly any help from my family. I have worked extremely hard to get where I am in life....good paying job, bills paid, clothes on our back, decent credit score, a plcae to live and so on. By trying to keep all these things in order I haven't been able to afford to go out and visit my family near as much as they want me to. They have openely admitted that they feel like I have cut them from my life and in a way I had to, especially when I first moved here. They live a very different lifestyle than I do, and at the time that I moved here I already had my own issues that I was struggling with. I couldn't work through my issues and still be completely active in their lives because it just wouldn't have worked. I thought that I had finally straightened things out with my family and now I think it's all gone to crap again. I feel like they think that I think I'm better than them, and that I don't need them in my life at all. Which is completely wrong! I love them and all of their little quirks. Let me take credit for my inaction by not calling more or emailing more or just plain not remembering to send birthday cards. But they don't either. Three quarters of the time they flake out on me and never do what they say they will. I was really afraid that none of them were going to come out for the baby shower that Steven's Mom is hosting at the end of this month. Seriously pregnancy hormones can't take something like that.
Now the other side of the family....Steven and I both are about to go crazy dealing with his family. There is always drama with his sister and brother-in-law, and the latest involves Dad and Steven helping move them in with Mom and Dad. Did I mention they had to do this in the rain the same afternoon after we buried Steven's Uncle? So yeah that's one thing. Then you add in all the family that has come to town to be here for Randy's passing and the memorial service and the funeral. I'll blog about Randy's passing later, but it was really hard on all of us. I have a hard time thinking about that day because I was there. Randy's sister Connie came in from Florida and has been driving everyone crazy. She has come into town and put together a laundry list of things that need to get done and put Steven's Dad to work doing them. The only thing is that his Dad has a kidney stone and has been told by his doctor not to do any physical activities that might knock it loose because he is supposed to have surgery on Oct 3 on it. And another sister that no one has seen in years has shown up and she is trying to be best friends with everyone. She keeps offering to babysit all the little kids and says that she's moving in with Nanny now and all of this stuff. She says the most inappropriate things at the most inapprpriate times and no one knows how to act around her. Everything has just been crazy for the last two weeks!
We are ready for a nice break from family interaction.
Now the other side of the family....Steven and I both are about to go crazy dealing with his family. There is always drama with his sister and brother-in-law, and the latest involves Dad and Steven helping move them in with Mom and Dad. Did I mention they had to do this in the rain the same afternoon after we buried Steven's Uncle? So yeah that's one thing. Then you add in all the family that has come to town to be here for Randy's passing and the memorial service and the funeral. I'll blog about Randy's passing later, but it was really hard on all of us. I have a hard time thinking about that day because I was there. Randy's sister Connie came in from Florida and has been driving everyone crazy. She has come into town and put together a laundry list of things that need to get done and put Steven's Dad to work doing them. The only thing is that his Dad has a kidney stone and has been told by his doctor not to do any physical activities that might knock it loose because he is supposed to have surgery on Oct 3 on it. And another sister that no one has seen in years has shown up and she is trying to be best friends with everyone. She keeps offering to babysit all the little kids and says that she's moving in with Nanny now and all of this stuff. She says the most inappropriate things at the most inapprpriate times and no one knows how to act around her. Everything has just been crazy for the last two weeks!
We are ready for a nice break from family interaction.
Week 32 of Pregnancy
What changes are occurring with your body?
The top of your uterus can now be measured about 5 inches above your belly button. Because the top of your uterus is so high, you may begin to have trouble breathing or feel short of breath. This is due to the pressure that your growing uterus is placing on your diaphragm. This same pressure may also cause an increased amount of heartburn.
Most likely you are gaining about a pound per week. Your blood volume has increased by 40% to 50% during the past 32 weeks. This allows your body to accommodate both you and your baby. This increased volume is also important because it makes up for the amount of blood you will lose during delivery.*
How big is your baby?
Your baby is a little over 16 inches long and weighs between 4 and 4 ½ pounds.*
What is happening with your baby?
Your baby is continuing to grow. His/her toenails and fingernails have formed. The lungs are continuing to mature but will not reach full maturity for several more weeks. Your baby’s skeleton has completely formed, but his/her bones are very soft and pliable.*
The top of your uterus can now be measured about 5 inches above your belly button. Because the top of your uterus is so high, you may begin to have trouble breathing or feel short of breath. This is due to the pressure that your growing uterus is placing on your diaphragm. This same pressure may also cause an increased amount of heartburn.
Most likely you are gaining about a pound per week. Your blood volume has increased by 40% to 50% during the past 32 weeks. This allows your body to accommodate both you and your baby. This increased volume is also important because it makes up for the amount of blood you will lose during delivery.*
How big is your baby?
Your baby is a little over 16 inches long and weighs between 4 and 4 ½ pounds.*
What is happening with your baby?
Your baby is continuing to grow. His/her toenails and fingernails have formed. The lungs are continuing to mature but will not reach full maturity for several more weeks. Your baby’s skeleton has completely formed, but his/her bones are very soft and pliable.*
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Week 31 of Pregnancy
What changes are occurring with your body?
You may have noticed a yellowish or creamy substance that has begun to leak from your breasts. This substance is called colostrum or pre-milk. Colostrum is the first stage of breast milk that occurs during pregnancy and lasts for several days after the birth of the baby. It is much thicker than the milk that is produced later in breastfeeding.
Not all women leak colostrum, but either way, this is considered normal. You may notice that the leaking only occurs at certain times of the day. If you experience leaking during the day, you may want to invest in some nursing pads that can be placed in your bra to absorb the colostrum.
Many women begin to experience Braxton Hicks contractions during the last several weeks of pregnancy. Braxton Hicks contractions can begin as early as the second trimester; however, they are most common in the third trimester. The muscles of your uterus tighten for approximately 30 to 60 seconds or as long as 2 minutes. Braxton Hicks are also called "practice contractions" because they will prepare you for the real thing, and you can practice the breathing exercises you are learning in your childbirth classes.
How big is your baby?
Your baby is continuing to grow and has grown to over 15 ½inches in length and weighs anywhere from 3 ½ to 4 pounds.*
What is happening with your baby?
Your baby is continuing to develop a layer of fat under his/her skin. This is in preparation for his/her arrival into the world and gives the baby more of a newborn appearance. During the next several weeks your baby will really begin to put on the weight. Remember the average size of a newborn is about 7 ½ pounds and 19 to 21 inches long.*
You may have noticed a yellowish or creamy substance that has begun to leak from your breasts. This substance is called colostrum or pre-milk. Colostrum is the first stage of breast milk that occurs during pregnancy and lasts for several days after the birth of the baby. It is much thicker than the milk that is produced later in breastfeeding.
Not all women leak colostrum, but either way, this is considered normal. You may notice that the leaking only occurs at certain times of the day. If you experience leaking during the day, you may want to invest in some nursing pads that can be placed in your bra to absorb the colostrum.
Many women begin to experience Braxton Hicks contractions during the last several weeks of pregnancy. Braxton Hicks contractions can begin as early as the second trimester; however, they are most common in the third trimester. The muscles of your uterus tighten for approximately 30 to 60 seconds or as long as 2 minutes. Braxton Hicks are also called "practice contractions" because they will prepare you for the real thing, and you can practice the breathing exercises you are learning in your childbirth classes.
How big is your baby?
Your baby is continuing to grow and has grown to over 15 ½inches in length and weighs anywhere from 3 ½ to 4 pounds.*
What is happening with your baby?
Your baby is continuing to develop a layer of fat under his/her skin. This is in preparation for his/her arrival into the world and gives the baby more of a newborn appearance. During the next several weeks your baby will really begin to put on the weight. Remember the average size of a newborn is about 7 ½ pounds and 19 to 21 inches long.*
Week 30 of Pregnancy
What changes are occurring with your body?
You may begin noticing that you become tired easily during this last part of pregnancy. This may be especially true if you are having difficulty sleeping at night. Some women are able to experiment with different sleeping positions that make sleep a little easier. If you are suffering from insomnia, and it is becoming increasingly worse, you may want to consult with your healthcare provider. During this later part of pregnancy, you may also experience mood swings. Some of you may have experienced this in the earlier part of pregnancy as well.
Your body is producing a number of different hormones that can cause your joints to become looser. This may result in your feet actually getting larger. Some women report that their feet grow one shoe size during their pregnancy. This is normally a permanent change.*
How big is your baby?
Your baby has now grown to be about 15.15 inches long (CHL) and weighs about 3 pounds.*
What is happening with your baby?
As your baby continues to grow, he/she takes up a larger portion of your uterus. You may not feel that your body can handle your growing baby, but it will compensate by allowing your uterus to extend underneath your rib cage.
Your baby’s eyes are becoming more mature, and now he/she can tell the difference between light and dark. Babies at 30 weeks can even follow a light source with his/her eyes. Once your baby is born, he/she will spend a great deal of time with their eyes closed. This is completely normal. Newborns only have the ability to focus on objects a few inches from their faces. While “normal” adult vision is 20/20, a newborn’s vision is 20/400.*
You may begin noticing that you become tired easily during this last part of pregnancy. This may be especially true if you are having difficulty sleeping at night. Some women are able to experiment with different sleeping positions that make sleep a little easier. If you are suffering from insomnia, and it is becoming increasingly worse, you may want to consult with your healthcare provider. During this later part of pregnancy, you may also experience mood swings. Some of you may have experienced this in the earlier part of pregnancy as well.
Your body is producing a number of different hormones that can cause your joints to become looser. This may result in your feet actually getting larger. Some women report that their feet grow one shoe size during their pregnancy. This is normally a permanent change.*
How big is your baby?
Your baby has now grown to be about 15.15 inches long (CHL) and weighs about 3 pounds.*
What is happening with your baby?
As your baby continues to grow, he/she takes up a larger portion of your uterus. You may not feel that your body can handle your growing baby, but it will compensate by allowing your uterus to extend underneath your rib cage.
Your baby’s eyes are becoming more mature, and now he/she can tell the difference between light and dark. Babies at 30 weeks can even follow a light source with his/her eyes. Once your baby is born, he/she will spend a great deal of time with their eyes closed. This is completely normal. Newborns only have the ability to focus on objects a few inches from their faces. While “normal” adult vision is 20/20, a newborn’s vision is 20/400.*
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