Record Breaking Heat and Edema

It's been a long hot summer and with consecutive "Excessive Heat Warnings", I've tried my best to keep indoors. I'm having severe edema (swelling) in my legs, ankles, and feet. It got to be pretty painful and I'm walking at a snails pace. I had a scheduled appointment the Friday before Lincoln was to head back to school and expected to go straight to my classroom to get some things organized right after. Funny how some things just don't work out according to planned. My OB took one look at me and informed me that what I thought was typical pregnancy swelling was actually "not normal". They also found protein in my urine which can be a sign of preeclampsia. It is usually associated with severe swelling and high blood pressure and can lead to more serious complications. They've done a few labs that returned with good results, but I'm still being watched and I am considered a good candidate for developing it later on. The only way to correct it is to deliver. At this point, that's not what they're recommending because it's just a potential thing, I don't officially have it. At 35 weeks my OB put me on "modified bed rest" and asked me to devote approximately 6 hours of "awake" time to putting my feet up. That being said, I had to begin my maternity leave earlier than expected. It feels strange to not be starting the school year, but a little extra summer never hurt anyone.

At my 36 week appointment I had an ultrasound to check the weight of the baby. I have a history of big babies in my family (9-10 lbs), so I was very curious to see what the ultrasound would show. The ultrasound tech estimated that the baby is coming in at a whopping 7lbs. 4 oz at only 36 weeks! Keep in mind she'll gain anywhere from 1/2-3/4 lbs. a week until birth...and I've got 3 more weeks to go. She also saw some hair on the ultrasound and commented that it was short, but very thick. We did finally get to see some facial pictures but she still covered her face with her hands most of the time. The tech tried to get the best she could but they came out pretty distorted. Also, since she's so crowded in there, the pictures look like her face is pressed against a glass wall. Kyle's made lots of jokes that she looks like an "old man". We're confident that it's not a true representation of how she'll look on the outside.

Your pregnancy: 36 weeks

See the bigger picture.

How your baby's growing:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her 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 her 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 she's in a head-down position. But if she 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 her from the outside of your belly.

See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

5 More Weeks and Counting Down!

My summer vacation is winding down and I'll return to school on July 18th. I'll be 36 weeks at that time and hopefully, ready for fifth graders.

As well as preparing for the new school year, I've been slowly finishing my to-do list for getting ready for baby. Kyle and I think we've settled on a name, we've installed our car seat, washed all the baby clothes, and assembled all the baby gear (thank you Alison and Brittney for the help!). We finished up our birthing classes and I've been reading a few baby books. Kyle's cool as a cucumber (as usual) while I develop a new "fear" every other day. Today it's "hospital bills/insurance companies" which is actually less scary than yesterday's "preterm labor" worries.

I'm feeling pretty achy in my back and legs. I was walking 2 miles every couple of days and I was shocked to discover yesterday that I am only able to make it half that far anymore. I'm stunned with the realization that I'm slowing down :(.

I saw another doctor at my last OB visit because my doctor had to run down the hall and deliver a baby in the office! Yikes! I'm told I'm measuring within the "normal" range but I'm pretty positive I'm hosting a hefty butterball turkey. A week from today I'll have another appointment. After that, I'll be seen weekly until it's time!

I'm not quite seeing the end of the tunnel yet. The anticipation and sleepless nights are making me very impatient. If only I was clued in on when she's making an appearance, I think I could relax. Until then, I'll just have to be patient.

Nursery pictures are not ready yet. We've got to put up a ceiling fan and finish the curtains.....then I think we're done!

35 Weeks

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How your baby's growing:

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver not that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

35 weeks: Baby weighs as much as a honeydew melonYour baby, now as hefty as a honeydew melon at 5 1/4 pounds, doesn't have much room to maneuver in your belly. (Length: more than 18 inches, head
to heel.)

Babymoon to Destin

This past week, Kyle and I made a quick trip to Destin, Florida. The city is special to us since that is where Kyle proposed on Thanksgiving day, 2007. We were celebrating our 3 year anniversary and taking our last vacation before the arrival of our baby! I spent most of the time waddling on the beach and relaxing under an umbrella with a book. It was awesome!

I'm almost 32 weeks and feeling "okay". I'm having all the usual aches and pains of the third trimester, so I cant complain too much. Because of my family history of big babies, I'll have an ultrasound around 36 weeks to see how big this little lady is. I've been having a little "mother's intuition" that she'll come well before her due date....we'll see! Anytime after July 21st would be considered "full term." If I've learned anything from her ultrasounds, it's that this baby "does things on her own time" and when she feels like it. She's got the makings of a Diva, I'm afraid.

Big news for us this week is that our baby nephew was born June 16 in San Antonio, TX. My sister, Christina, and brother-in-law, David, chose to name him Luke Evan. He's very cute and has lots of dark hair.

Soon, I'll have nursery pictures to post. We are nearly finished, yeah!

Showered Again, and Again!

These past few months have been incredibly busy. I finished up the school year on June 10th and I am settling into a nice 5 week summer break. I was blessed to have been thrown a shower for friends by my very best friends (Anne, Alison, and Becky). It was a great time to catch up with long time friends.

I was blessed again to be given a work shower by my Lincoln family, hosted by Aunt Deb and friend Carrie. Again, it was an outpouring of love from those that help me make it through the school day. Enjoy the pictures!

We'll Party If the River Doesn't Rise

Today Kyle and I enjoyed a BEAUTIFUL baby shower with family and family friends. It was at the Old Newburgh Lock and Dam and almost didn't happen due to the rising Ohio river! Today was a special expression of love and excitement for our baby girl. Enjoy the pictures from the day.

Kyle's Daddy gear

These are my first babies. I babysat for them from the time Abbie (on the left) was 9 months old

Help I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!

Sciatica! I cannot stop saying, "This is happening too soon!" I have been lucky in the pregnancy symptoms department but I'm having my fair share of aches and pains. The baby is lying right on my siatic nerve and its giving me horrendous pain. My doctor says it will probably get worse and it will end when I give birth.....what!? Doesn't she remember that I've got months to go! There are many times Kyle has to hoist me out of a sitting position because the pain is too much.

To add to the madness, I'm experiencing some major swelling, especially at the end of the day. That too will get worse before it gets better. These may throw a big wrench in my plans of returning to school when we start our new year in July at 36 weeks.

The last ultrasound we had the baby was curled up so tight the tech couldn't get all the anatomy pictures needed. Today we went in for another ultrasound and we got to take home some more pictures. We got a clean bill of health and were assured that it's still a girl:)

Baby's now the size of a cantaloupe!
Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies respond best to tastes they've already had via amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you'd like your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.