Tuesday, January 26, 2010

37 Weeks

Congratulations! Your baby is full-term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away. He 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.

McKenna's doctor informed her yesterday that she is 75% effaced!


(Effacement: Thinning of the cervix. Usually in the last month the cervix begins to stretch and thin. This process means the lower segment of the uterus is getting ready for delivery. A thin cervix will also allow the cervix to dilate more easily.

The health care provider may check for effacement in the final 2 months of pregnancy. Effacement is measured in percentages. You may hear your health care provider say,“You are 25% effaced, 50% effaced, 75%...” The Braxton Hicks contractions or “practice contractions” you have been experiencing may play a part in the effacement process. You will not be able to determine your effacement process, this can only be done by a health care provider's exam.)


Saturday, January 23, 2010

A 'small' recap, shall we?


Ah, yes....the first month and first belly picture!  Don't worry, Kenna, with your activity level, you'll be back to this in no time at all!!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

9 Months and counting!


The doctor has told McKenna and Dave to have their hospital bag packed and ready by the door!  She saw the doctor yesterday.....and no, there is nothing changing down there, right now....however the countdown seems to be flying by!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

36 Weeks

Your baby is gaining about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy hair that covered his body, as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. Next week, your baby will be considered full-term. Most likely he's in a head-down position, but if he isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an external cephalic version, where he'll try to turn your baby by manipulating him from the outside of your belly.  (Yikes!  That's gotta hurt!)

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

35 Weeks

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 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.   Bwahahahahahahahaha!!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

34 Weeks

The baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which he'll need to regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

McKenna and Dave have started their Lamaze classes this week and will continue up to a week before their due date.  She is so excited about them; bringing the reality of it all front and center, so to speak.  I've asked that should they feel comfortable about doing it, to take pictures at class and I'll post them here.