Your pregnancy: 35 weeks
How your baby's growing:Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew). 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.
How your baby's growing:Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew). 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.
How your life's changing:Your uterus — which was entirely tucked away inside your pelvis when you conceived — now reaches up under your rib cage. If you could peek inside your womb, you'd see that there's more baby than amniotic fluid in there now. Your ballooning uterus is crowding your other internal organs, too, which is why you probably have to urinate more often and may be dealing with heartburn and other gastrointestinal distress. If you're not grappling with these annoyances, you're one of the lucky few.
From here on out, you'll start seeing your practitioner every week. Sometime between now and 37 weeks, she'll do a vaginal and rectal culture to check for bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS). (Don't worry — the swab is the size of a regular cotton swab, and it won't hurt at all.) GBS is usually harmless in adults, but if you have it and pass it on to your baby during birth, it can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection. Because 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women have the bacteria and don't know it, it's vital to be screened. (The bacteria come and go on their own — that's why you weren't screened earlier in pregnancy.) If you're a GBS carrier, you'll get IV antibiotics during labor, which will greatly reduce your baby's risk of infection.This is also a good time to create a birth plan. Using our form will help you focus on specifics — like who'll be present, what pain management techniques you want to try, and where you want your baby to stay after you deliver. It will give you a starting point to discuss your preferences with your medical team. Childbirth is unpredictable, and chances are you won't follow your plan to the letter, but thinking about your choices ahead of time — and sharing your preferences with your caregiver — should take some of the anxiety out of the process
From here on out, you'll start seeing your practitioner every week. Sometime between now and 37 weeks, she'll do a vaginal and rectal culture to check for bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS). (Don't worry — the swab is the size of a regular cotton swab, and it won't hurt at all.) GBS is usually harmless in adults, but if you have it and pass it on to your baby during birth, it can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection. Because 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women have the bacteria and don't know it, it's vital to be screened. (The bacteria come and go on their own — that's why you weren't screened earlier in pregnancy.) If you're a GBS carrier, you'll get IV antibiotics during labor, which will greatly reduce your baby's risk of infection.This is also a good time to create a birth plan. Using our form will help you focus on specifics — like who'll be present, what pain management techniques you want to try, and where you want your baby to stay after you deliver. It will give you a starting point to discuss your preferences with your medical team. Childbirth is unpredictable, and chances are you won't follow your plan to the letter, but thinking about your choices ahead of time — and sharing your preferences with your caregiver — should take some of the anxiety out of the process
So went to doc today for 35 week check up. (I'm technically 35 weeks tomorrow). I was wishing and hoping and wishing and praying that she'd let me off bedrest. Not so much! She checked me and I am 2-3 cm and 80% effaced! She said his head is very low, right where it needs to be in fact....(to this I am thinking, no $&%#! I can feel him...it's like I just got off a horse!:) She did say that if he were to be born now, I could still have him at Skagit and he'd probably need to be there for a few extra days because he might have trouble eating, but it'd be ok. She just kept saying 2 more weeks and then I would expect you to be wanting to go into labor! (My thoughts exactly) I didn't have another appt until the 1st, but the way things are going, she decided to have me come back in next Friday. At this point, I guess the next week is the most critical. So, I'm stuck once again but hopefully Baker gets that he needs to "bake" for just a little while longer:) I do have conversations with him daily reminding him that no matter how much I complain and how much we want to see him, that he needs to stay in there a tad longer. He usually kicks right after that so I take that to mean, ok mom! I guess I'll stay in here a little longer. On a side note, I managed to lose 3.5 lbs! (I was secretly happy about this:)) I asked Dr if that was anything to be concerned about and she said no, that as long as I am eating, drinking and peeing it was fine. I laughed when she asked if I was eating! I was thinking oh my goodness, that's all I do! So I guess if eating all the time and staying in bed constantly helps to lose weight, I'm all for it!!!
I also have my family shower this weekend at Carolina's house. Dr said this was fine as long I don't move around a whole lot. I told her trust me, I'm so uncomfortable that won't be an issue!
Ok, that's all for my novel of an update! I'm back to bed....yippee! Have a great weekend!
1 comment:
Noelle~ I've been keeping up on your blog and sorry to hear about all this bedrest! I'll be praying that Baker stays in too 'bake' more too for you! I know you'll have a beautiful, healthy baby boy, and LOOK FORWARD to hearing about your overall experience and of course, PICTURES!!! If I have one piece of advice for you, it would be to keep your mind open about having an epidural (if you are one of those 'natural' only believers) I tried to go all natural, but the pain was so intense, and I am soo glad I did get one, because it made the delivery that much MORE ENJOYABLE! (I could relax and savor every moment!) Good luck and can't wait to hear more!!!!!
Nicole
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