36 Weeks

36 weeks

How Your Baby’s Growing (from Babycenter.com):

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

How far along: 36 weeks

Pregnancy symptoms: Braxton Hicks, back pain, constant need to pee, heartburn, itchiness (maybe a preggo symptom, maybe in my head?)

Food Cravings: ice, shakes, breakfast foods, chocolate

Sleep: still pretty good (amazingly!)

Measurement: 44 inches around the belly, 192lbs

Movement: constant; I’m very curious as to what he’s doing in there :)

Labor signs: not really

What I miss: bending over, less frequent trips to the bathroom

What I’m looking forward to: At this point, I’m looking forward to meeting him!  I know he’ll come when he’s ready, and I’m happy to wait. 

Milestone: I think I’m finally done shopping for the baby.  I made the last couple of purchases this weekend. 

Thoughts from the Girls: Joanna and I were talking about Baby Brother and I said that I couldn’t wait for her to meet him, and she said “me, either.”  I know she means it too!

Doctor’s visit: I had my 36 week checkup this morning.  My BP was 120/78 I think; his HR was good.  He’s head-down – yay!!  My doctor chuckled at me when I said “good boy!”  I had my group B strep culture, and I asked her to go ahead and check me.  I’m dilated 1-2cm.  LOVE that!  I have the next four Mondays scheduled for weekly visits.  I tried to make them all at about the same time so I won’t have to remember!  I may be at every one, but… maybe not.  :)

Looking back: With Joanna, I’m pretty sure I was at 2cm at 36 weeks.  With Natalie, I looked on the blog but I may not have posted it (what?!) but I’m thinking I was probably 1-2 at 37 weeks.  So we’re chugging right along with this one!

Baby-related projects:

• Pack a basic hospital bag next week.  **I’m working on it.  I charged the video camera and my old camera and put them in the bag.  I’m going to try and keep my other camera charged.  I’m pondering buying another battery for it.  Just to help my neurosis.  
• Assemble a call list of people who can either (or both) drive me to the hospital if Matt’s at work and watch the girls.  **Done, just needs printing!
• Clean the house – really clean it, and keep it clean.  **some serious burst of energy better be coming for this one (and the next one)
• Get some meals in the freezer: casseroles, soups, browned meat, cooked chicken, etc.
• Get ahead on the bread making. **we’ve got several loaves in the freezer thanks to my hubby!
• Read my birth books again.  **started this!
• Sell stuff at Baby Daze and KYS.  Planning to clear out the bedroom of stuff this weekend.  **Baby Daze is over but there’s still some stuff to clear out of the bedroom.  Some of it is headed to Half Price Books, but most to Goodwill.