Start of Week 32 and Month Eight

This week, Kathryn will grow to weigh 3.75 to 4 pounds and be 18 to 18.9 inches long.  She'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks!  She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair.  Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth, and is no longer transparent in any way.  She fills almost all the space in my uterus now, but may still have enough room to do somersaults.  Kathryn is practicing opening her eyes, swallowing, breathing, kicking and sucking.  We love her very much.

  

                 

                                                       A 32-week-old baby in the womb

I had my latest appointment today at the Birth Center, and everything's still looking good.  Her heartbeat is about 150, which is a little high, but anything below 160 is still considered normal.  I was told my weight gain and blood pressure look fine.  I brought up some concerns--I had some bruising on my upper left thigh that wouldn't go away, a big lump on the left side of my groin, and low, pelvic pressure.  It was determined that they're all related: the bruising is actually spider veins, the lump is a clump of varicose veins way under my skin, and the pressure is, well, pressure.  They tell me I have "vulvar varicosity", basically, that my left side is enduring a lot of pressure from the baby and uterus, and it's breaking down a little bit on that side.  So now, I get to wear a special support band and apply vitamin E and C oils to my skin daily.  

My blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since I got pregnant.  My acid reflux is back, and I occasionally get Braxton Hicks contractions, although they have been nearly absent the last two weeks.  Kathryn moves a lot--it seems she does more jumping or shuddering than kicking or punching.  I have pelvic pressure and achiness, mild swelling, a little bit of varicose veins/spider veins/stretch marks, and a little bit of difficulty sleeping.  All in all, I really don't feel I have much to complain about.  I still really enjoy pregnancy and feel blessed that things have gone so well, and that Kathryn is healthy and growing.  I try to remember to thank God for these things every day.    

Jared will be adding me to his insurance next week, and they have agreed to include the Birth Center in their network!  This is a big answer to prayer and saves us about $2400 of prenatal/maternity/newborn costs.  It is a week and 2 days until our next baby shower, and three weeks until the next appointment, where they will do an ultrasound to make sure that Kathryn is head-down.  Time seems to be passing slowly, but I try to keep on top of things to make sure that the last few weeks don't sneak up on us!

Into the last 10 weeks

Kathryn, it feels like there's such a short time until you're here, and yet it seems so long.  It still could be three months/12 weeks before you're here, but it's 10 weeks until your due date and we are now starting the eighth month of pregnancy. 

By the end of this week you'll be 16-18 inches long.  You'll weigh about 3.3 pounds (about four naval oranges) and you're heading into a growth spurt.  You can turn your head side to side and fat is accumulating on your limbs.  You've been making trillions of brain connections and can now process information, track light, and perceive signals from all five senses.  We love you very much.

You've been moving a lot, but I still feel like you are head up.  I would feel better if you were head down, but I know there's still four weeks before I need to start thinking of doing exercises to make you turn.  Not only do you kick, punch and roll, but sometimes you seem to shudder. 

I had a lot of pain in my abdomen, almost like cramping, on Tuesday and again today.  It got my attention, but I feel it's probably tummy trouble and not something more serious.  I'm also going to the bathroom more, have a couple areas of varicose veins, have occasional headaches and I'm fairly fatigued, even doing easy things.  I'm having a little trouble sleeping, mostly due to sleeping on my sides--it hurts to keep sleeping on one side, and it takes so much effort to turn over that it wakes me up.    

I've been very productive at home this week, after finishing out my time as a teaching assistant at Lockhart last Friday.  I heard today that the new assistant--the woman who was supposed to take my place--isn't being hired at all.  I feel bad for the new teacher that I left behind because I know that class is incredibly hard with two adults in the room--much harder with just one!  But, I'm in a much better place now.  The only hard part left is changing insurance providers--such a pain. 

Our next appointment is in one week and our couples' shower is in a little more than two weeks! 

Starting the 30th Week

Kathryn, you are probably 10-12 weeks away from your birth date!  The last three weeks, especially have seemed pretty fast.  You're 16-17 inches long, and weigh about three pounds.  You'll pack on weight for the next month and a half--about half a pound a week.  The amount of amniotic fluid around you is starting to decrease, and your head and body are now proportioned like a newborn's.  Your eyesight is developing, but your vision at birth will be about 20/400--you'll only be able to make out objects a few inches from your face.  And you will start shedding your lanugo (downy body hair), since you can regulate your own body temperature now.  We love you very much.

I have one day left at my teaching assistant job--mostly sweet, but slightly sad.  There are about twelve ladies that I love working with and will miss very much.  Other than that....I'm good to go!  I have a meeting on Monday morning with a temp agency that I hope will give me a few good assignments before Kathryn arrives. 

I am feeling pretty good--I have a couple of stretch marks (no biggie), a couple varicose veins (they don't hurt and they're small and way up on my thighs), and my ankles and feet get a little swollen during the day.  I am also tired--I sleep fine, I just don't get enough sleep.  And I'm a little irritable, but I think that's mostly due to my work situation and it'll get better very soon. 

 Yesterday, Jared and I fell out of our hammock (it wasn't a weight problem), and I have an angry bruise on my backside.  I wasn't concerned, but then Kathryn didn't move all day today, which is abnormal for her.  I called the Birth Center, and they wanted me to come in today, even if it was after hours.  They hooked me up to a monitor and measured her heartbeat, kicks, and any contractions for 20 minutes.  We both got a stellar report at the end--I wasn't actually worried that something was wrong, but I guess it's nice to have a definite "yes, everything's just fine".  I'm glad that God is taking care of all of us. 

I think our next appointment is still two weeks away.  Our big shower that our mothers are hosting is in a little more than three weeks!  There is still a lot to do, but I believe I'll actually have time and energy for it, starting next week. 

Twenty-Ninth Week

You keep growing and changing, Kathryn!  We want you to stay inside, but if born in the next two weeks, you have a 90-95% chance of survival.  This week you will grow to 2.5-3 pounds, and could be 15-17 inches long.  You are getting close to your birth length, but still need to chub up.  Your muscles, lungs and brain are working hard this week to develop.  Your eyes now have color--most babies' eyes are blue when they're born, but can change over the first six months.  You can distinguish bright light coming through my belly.  Your space is getting a little cramped, but you'll most likely keep up the kicking and stretching.  We love you very much.

When I write my next post, I'll only have one more day left of being a teaching assistant.  It's starting to feel real--the school has chosen my replacement and I received an "exit questionnaire" from Wake County today.    The students and parents still don't know--I intend to send a note home on Monday.

My acid reflux is back, but not as bad as it had been.  And I have stretch marks and the occasional Braxton Hicks contraction.  But, I feel blessed to be having what I consider a great time in pregnancy.  I don't have varicose veins, an itchy belly, back pain, trouble sleeping, stuffy nose, a popped belly button, hemorrhoids, or headaches.  Maybe those will all come next week, who knows.  But I feel confident and content in my body--I feel strong.

This weekend is busy!  We have birth class, a picnic with our church connect group, a baby shower, and a dinner celebration for my parents' 30th wedding anniversary.  And then Monday is our next appointment at the birth center.