35 weeks

The baby weighs about 5 1/2 pounds and is about 20 inches long (20 inches is a normal newborn isn't it).
The book says my feet may be swollen or feel flat (I'm not sure mine could ever be flat). I don't think I've gotten any swelling yet, at least not enough to notice.

So the APA says that most of the growth is complete and the kidneys are completely developed and the liver is beginning to process waste.

It also handily gives me a reason for why I'm short of breath...it is due to your uterus being underneath your rib cage, causing you to have difficulty breathing.

And finally, their advice is: by this point, you should have gained anywhere from 24 to 29 pounds. (Uhh, yeah)

Falling Down

I went to the dog park today and it was surprisingly muddy. The point of this is that, of course, I slipped and fell down. It must have been pretty good to watch because I almost caught myself mid-fall and then (and here I blame my new center of gravity) I slipped on some more mud and hit my knee on a stick and slide down part of the hill on my side. I'm pleased to say that my tummy was perfectly fine and I only bruised my leg...I'm even more pleased to say I didn't hit any dog poop. Either way, it was my first fall as a pregnant woman (which is interesting since I've always tripped all the time).

34 weeks!

The baby weighs about 5 pounds and is about 19 1/2 inches long. And the baby dreams a lot and he can make faces in response to his dreams. One wonders who did that research and how.

It also says that a lot of mothers will dream about their babies and some women say their dreams are accurate (to how to baby will look). I have not had this happen yet.

The amount of amniotic fluid peaks between 34 and 36 weeks and then starts to decrease to make more space for the baby. So the movements may feel different to me (I guess I have some more time though).

T. O. B. P.

One of my friends is a medical student and after his OB rotation told me about the diagnosis of T.O.B.P. or Tired of Being Pregnant. I think I'll be diagnosed with this soon. I had an OB appointment today and he liked my analysis: "I'm tired of being pregnant, but I'm not ready to have a baby yet."

Bony Feet

I think the baby has very bony feet (or elbows or whatever). Every once in awhile I get a really good kick that feel kind of like someone is poking a crochet hook into my side from the inside (not a knitting needles because they're so pointy). I can only assume this is a knee, elbow, foot, etc.
6 1/2 weeks to go

33 weeks!

7 weeks to go. I'd like to point out that 7 is an incredibly small number.

The baby weighs about 4.4 pounds and is almost 19 inches long. All the bones (except the skull) are hardening. Nesting is common in the third trimester and the book says that a strong nesting urge at the due date week can signal the onset of labor. The book also suggests freezing food now so we have plenty to eat (easily) after the baby is born.

Here's the APA's information on the 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.

And the kicks keep getting stronger...

This is an excellent sign, I know, but I'm beginning to fear a little for my internal organs. Everyone once in awhile I have a kick that's so hard you can see my stomach poke out a little (of course, these aren't all kicks, they could be little punches or even little head butts).

It's kind of neat, but it makes the baby feel more like "Alien."

32 weeks!

8 months.

The baby is 18 1/2 inches long and weighs around 4 pounds. The baby's skeleton is completely formed now and the lungs are continuing to mature.

I'm pleased to see the book back up some of my symptoms: fatigue, sleeping poorly, pain down the legs.
The APA says that now I may have trouble breathing or have some shortness of breath because the uterus is putting pressure on my diaphragm (and this can also cause increased heartburn, although I haven't had that yet). My total blood volume has increased 40-50% from normal.

So close and yet so far.

My Common Complaints

My most common complaints:

• I'm hungry.
• I'm tired.
• My back hurts.
• I'm uncomfortable.
• I have to potty.
• My stomach hurts (this is my actual stomach because I ate more than three bites).
• My tummy hurts (this is different from the stomach complaint).
• I had the weirdest dream last night (I don't know this is a complaint, but they are weird).