37 Weeks

37 weeks

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

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

How far along: 37 weeks

Pregnancy symptoms: Braxton Hicks, back pain, constant need to pee, heartburn, itchiness

Food Cravings: ice, shakes, oatmeal

Sleep: still pretty good (amazingly!).  Last night I was up three times (exactly 3 hours apart!) to pee, but I was able to go easily back to sleep.

Measurement: ?? inches around the belly, 194.5lbs

Movement: lots of feet kicking me in the top part of my belly (thankfully!)

Labor signs: not really

What I miss: snuggling my girls close to me

What I’m looking forward to: seeing my little man in his tiny cloth diapers! 

Milestone: 37 weeks is “full term” – pretty exciting!  I also worked a bunch on our bedroom this weekend so there’s a proper “nook” for Baby Brother.  And it’s almost actually clean. 

Thoughts from the Girls: They are excited!

Doctor’s visit: I had my 37 week visit this morning.  Wonderful Lisa watched the girls again (yay!) so it was like a little vacation laying there on the table.  No exam this week, but she felt around the outside and asked, “Are you feeling a lot of pressure down there?”  So it wasn’t my imagination that he felt lower!  It was Tuesday of last week that I realized he felt low – lots of back pain and pressure.  The pain’s not fun I guess, but he’s headed the right direction!  I had blood work last week for something else which is fine, but turns out I’m very anemic.  Boo.  My doctor’s pretty worried, so I’m increasing my efforts in remembering to take an iron supplement.  And by golly I’m going to have a steak this week!  And as soon as I get to store I’m putting spinach on everything I eat.  I had heard from a couple of people that craving chewing ice was a sign of anemia – guess in this case that’s true!

Baby-related projects:

• Pack a basic hospital bag.  **Done!
• 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!
• Clean the house – really clean it, and keep it clean.  **I actually made some progress this weekend, and Matt has offered to clean the bathrooms for us tonight – LOVE HIM!
• Get some meals in the freezer: casseroles, soups, browned meat, cooked chicken, etc. **not so much has been done here, but I do have a few leftover things packed away and Matt has gotten ahead on making bread.
• Sell stuff at Baby Daze and KYS.  Planning to clear out the bedroom of stuff this weekend.  **Done and everything else is OUT of the bedroom – took a load to Goodwill and a load to Half Price Books this weekend.  I have a couple of large bins in the garage that will be the “dumping ground” for things to sell or donate.  When they’re full, they go!  No more getting as behind as we were with junk!
•  Pull the “newborn” gear from the attic: bathtub and bouncy seat.

Some cute “sibling” pictures!