31 weeks!

The baby is about 3 pounds, 5 ounces and is 18 inches long from head to toe. The central nervous system is controlling more of his bodily functions. If he's exposed to bright light his irises will dilate (even in utero, although I don't see how this would really happen).

The information about me includes feeling breathless from gaining all the baby weight, but not to worry (and I wasn't), the baby still gets enough oxygen from the placenta.

From the APA: "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."

Things people tell me

I've started classifying the pregnancy advice and comments I get from other people. Usually, I get this information from people I don't know and so far I've managed to be polite and just smile and nod, I'm sure a breakdown of saying something rude is coming as I get closer to the due date. But I've classified them into the basic comment and then the specific comments I get from that, people are slightly more polite than this, but it's easier to classify them as I hear them.

1) You are so big

 -Really, you're only having one?

 -You aren't due until February?

 -That's going to be a big baby!

2) My friend/relative/6-degrees person had this awful thing happen to their baby

 -I don't want to go into these, it's hard to be polite when listening to stories of otherwise healthy babies that are suddenly still-born, ill, whatever

3) I (only) gained x pounds

 -If it's only, x is like 10

 -Otherwise, x is something like 90

4) So and so was so happy being pregnant

 -Those women are lying, it's all I can say

30 weeks!

The baby weighs 3 pounds now. Although I don't have fruit sizes anymore, the book suggests putting a canteloupe on the scale at the grocery store and that's about the right weight. He's more than 17" long from head to toe now. The baby is practicing breathing now (even though it's just amniotic fluid) and may get the hiccups. His lungs are still developing.

Here's what the APA says about the baby: 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 their eyes. Newborns only have the ability to focus on objects a few inches from their face. While “normal” adult vision is 20/20, a newborn’s vision is 20/400.

Also it says that I may start to tire easily especially if I'm having problems sleeping. This is an excellent point because I slept almost 5 hours straight last night, that's the most I've slept in a long time. It made me very happy.

Food Cravings

I don't feel like I have any real cravings (I don't say, if I don't get X, then I won't be happy), but I do have foods I want more than others. Right now I'm on some kind of orange kick. I ate a lot of Clementines last week so I bought a box this week and I've been eating them. After our work-lunch today I ate all of the remaining orange slices. A few weeks ago it was eggs, maybe each of these represents things I need, or maybe I'm just crazy.

29 weeks!

The baby is just over 16 1/2 inches long from head to toe and weighs about 2 pounds, 4 ounces. I guess we're moving right along.

The APA says to make sure I'm eating well and getting lots of rest. I like it when they advise rest, I can follow that (or at least attempt to).

Newborn Care 101

Last night was our newborn care class. We started out with a quiz that included true/false and fill in the blank questions (question 1: What should you clean the baby's umbilical cord with? answer: alcohol). We received the American Academy of Pediatrics book "Your baby's first year." This actually makes our third copy of the book.

We also did all the fun and exciting things like practicing washing your "baby" (we each had a doll), putting on a diaper, how to put on and take off a t-shirt, and how to wrap your baby up like a burrito (also called swaddling). 

I don't think we came away with a lot of new information, but it was nice to have a refresher course and to feel like you could say "I do know that."

Things I learned

I spent this past weekend with some friends who have a 5 year old, a 3 year old, and a 5 month old. The kids did their best to help prepare me for what life will be like with my old children, but they also taught me some valuable lessons:

• 1,100 is the biggest number (this is true even if you ask, what about 2,000)
• As soon as you promise more grits, you'll find out that you're out of grits and need to offer an appropriate substitute.
• Something in purple face paint stains faces.
• Having a pink keyboard cover is fascinating.
• Given this pink keyboard cover, you will be asked what all the buttons do (and asked to demonstrate them).
• If you're reading a book aloud and you mispronounce something, a 5 year old will correct you (and this is a little embarrassing).
• If part of a candy cane falls into your lap, the dog will eat it.
• When asked "why are you going back to work" it's surprisingly hard to answer.
• Although they're pretty tiring to be around all day, little kids are tons of fun and worth every minute (although that's easy to say while both of their parents are nearby).

Hungry, hungry hippo

"Hungry, hungry hippos" was one of my favorite games growing up (no skill involved, just playing). However, that's how I feel most of the time. I'm always hungry, I'm huge and I'm not really getting any smaller.

28 weeks!

Or I guess 7 months.

According to the APA the baby is 14.25" long and weighs about 2.5 pounds. The brain is beginning to develop into a more complex organ, and it's developing grooves and indentations (until now it's been smooth). Eyebrows and eyelashes are visible and the hair on his head is getting longer.

My book suggests that the next milestone is week 32 because I want to make it there even if the baby doesn't make it to term. I have to say, I'm still aiming for my due date.

Childbirth Class

Last night's class was all about interventions during birth. We learned about induction, medications given during birth (epidurals, analgesics, etc), and episiotomies. Then because of a conflict next week we went ahead and did cesarean sections (emergency and "planned"). I don't know that I have a lot to share about these. I don't think anyone really wants to have to worry about these things, there's a lot of trust placed in your OB.

These things were all informative, but they made me realize I don't really want any drugs during labor and delivery if I can help it. Each drug choice just forced more drugs to control for side-effects for the first one. But this could be because of the labor and delivery concept, labor doesn't worry me, delivery does (I can't say why really). I'm still doing my best not to think about it, mainly because there's nothing I can do to change it.

After all this we toured labor and delivery and saw the delivery rooms and post-partum rooms (and of course the nursery). Every room is private and you can control your lights and temperature (which for some reason I fixated on as a great idea). They look nice, but I'm sure I'll be tired of them when the time comes.

My Tummy the Table

I've noticed that I started using my stomach as a table more and more. I will catch myself at my desk resting my Diet Dr Pepper on my stomach.

I guess this is going to get a lot more frequent in the last three months. But I do have to admit that it's a handy table.

Dear Abby

Dear Abby,

Can you please tell your readers that the only comment a pregnant woman wants to hear about her size is, "You look wonderful."

Thank you,

Frustrated Pregnant Woman

(from The Pregnancy Countdown)

27 Weeks!

According to the APA, this starts the third trimester.

The baby is now 2 pounds and 10 inches long. And he's about 14-15 inches tall from head to toe (1 inch taller than a Barbie doll). He's almost fully developed now and the immune system is developing. The baby has a normal sleeping and wake cycle

The warning is to be careful about flying. They say to call and check with the airline when you can't fly anymore and when you need a doctor's note. The general suggestion is that after 32 weeks you'll need to check to travel.