Wow! Already at the End of Month Eight!

Welcome to 36 Weeks! I hope you had a great week last week! Happy birthday to Nanny (she turned ?? last Tuesday)! It will be my birthday in only FOUR weeks! I'm so excited to meet everyone! Also, only one more week until I am full term! Something Mommy has been anxiously awaiting since I will be healthy enough to arrive if I do decide to come a little early!

This week's debate: SPORTS. Mommy and Daddy have been debating on what should / shouldn't be considered a "sport." Mommy insists that Dancing, Cheering, and Gymnastics are sports while Daddy disagrees (he insists that I will not take dance lessons because it's "boring," while Mommy insists that I will take dance classes and Daddy will love it because he gets to watch my cute self dance!). Last week at the Labor class the instructor announced that a woman's body needs a lot of water because it goes through the same amount of stress as a marathon runner. Daddy said, "It's still not a sport." Isn't he just hilarious!? The instructor also told them that at the 6-week postpartum check up, Mommy's uterus will be back to it's pre-pregnancy size. Isn't that incredible! I'd like to see a football player do that!

What's going on with Mommy?
More frequent Braxton Hicks contractions... Mommy likes her exercise ball when these suckers hit because it takes the pressure of her hips and back, which helps the contractions go away (or at least not be painful).
Mommy has also been experiencing some pelvic pain, (aka- round ligament pain) coming back now that I am starting to descend. Mommy's body releases hormones that trigger her connective tissue to loosen and soften to make it easier for me to exit (the same reason why my bones and cartilage are soft right now). Mommy finds relief by taking a nice relaxing bath, this also helps with her swollen hands and feet.
With my increase in size comes an increase in size of Mommy's belly... which means stretching. Mommy has felt itchy and like she cannot possibly get any bigger! To help with the itching and help prevent those not-so-lovely stretch marks, she lathers on the lotion... something Daddy likes to help with, too.
She's back to having sleeping issues, mostly due to the tingling in Mommy's hands due to swelling and waking up multiple times a night to potty.
This week Mommy's cervix is starting to prepare for my exit, so it is more sensitive now and may even be starting to dilate a little.



What's going on with Me? 


It is my last week as a Honeydew Melon, any guesses on how big I will be next week?? I'll give you a hint: This fruit is packed with vitamin C and is also Mommy's favorite Summer fruit!

Since it is getting SUPER cramped in my house these days, I have not been moving around like I used to. Mommy doesn't feel the cute flutterings of me dancing, rather sharp elbow and knee jabs every once in a while and a lot of squirming around. I think she likes it when my booty makes a big bump in her belly, she always asks Daddy if he wants to give the first spankin'! Of course he says "Absolutely not!"

I am shedding most of my baby fur this week as well as that velveeta cheese stuff (vernix caseosa). This sounds gross, but when this stuff sheds it will go into the amniotic fluid and since I am practicing my breathing and digestive skills, I will swallow it and it will become my first poopy-- a tarry black poop called meconium.

My skin is getting smooth and soft, though I may be a little wrinkly and dry depending on when I arrive -- the stuff that is shedding was protecting me from the fluids in my house, but now that I'm shedding, my skin will be affected by the fluids possibly making it flakey.

My gums have also formed ridges.

As of last week, I am still head down, lowering into Mommy's pelvis. This is both good news and not so good news to Mommy. The good news is she can breathe easier! The not so good news is that she has to potty more because I'm squishing her bladder.

The Dr did not take my weight last week because she was more concerned about the amount of amniotic fluid in Mommy's uterus (which is normal, by the way) since Mommy has been swelling really bad and her blood pressure was a little high over the weekend. The Dr said that everything was fine and dandy at the appointment, but to keep a watch on Mommy's blood pressure and any other sudden symptoms.

This week I am between 17 and 19 inches long and weigh about 4.5 to 5.8 pounds (according to the books Mommy's reading). Mommy is going to guess I'm closer to a little over 5 pounds based on how I have been growing, but maybe we will find out for sure at next week's appointment. My heartbeat is still probably faster than Mommy's, beating between 110 to 160 beats per minute (Mommy's beats about 120 times per minute).

If I were born this week, I could probably breathe on my own since most of my systems have developed (my liver and kidneys are developed and circulation and immune systems are pretty much ready for world outside of Mommy's belly). But Mommy, Daddy, and I would rather me stay put for a few more weeks to make sure I am as developed and healthy as possible (though this is hard for Mommy, since all she wants to do is hold and kiss me after this long journey!). Mommy has been kind of emotional lately. I think it's a mixture of little sleep, getting more and more miserable since she is getting bigger and bigger each day, she feels like all of the pregnancy symptoms bombarded her at once, and she is getting anxious to see me. Don't worry, Mommy... you will get to hold me soon! Only 4 more weeks to go.

See you all next week!

So Much Going On! Not Much Time Left!!

Hello everyone! I hope you had a great Columbus Day week! Welcome to week 35. Only *TWO* more weeks until I am "full term" and only 5 weeks until Week 40. There's been a lot going on in my world! Mommy and Daddy experienced some big changes and firsts last week. Daddy started his new job with Dallas Fire and Rescue last week (Mommy said he sure does look handsome in his DFD gear! I can't wait to meet this handsome Daddy of mine). Mommy is *so* glad that God blessed them with Daddy's new job because he will be working "regular" hours for a few months while he is in training (Monday through Friday 6:30 am to about 4:00 pm), which means he will get to spend more time at home with Mommy and I. Then once he starts working at a department, he will have the typical Fire Fighter schedule of 24 hours on and 48 hours off.

Mommy and Daddy had their first Labor class last week at Baylor Frisco Hospital. They no longer "teach" you how to breathe, which was good news to Mommy (she always thought it was weird anyway). They did teach Mommy and Daddy how to help Mommy relax and push through (pun intended) contractions and delivery. Unfortunately, the deep breathing and relaxing music put Mommy's labor coach (aka-Daddy) to sleep! Mommy was not too pleased and told him she will bring a water gun with ice water to keep him in line if he tries to doze off during labor. Mommy and Daddy also learned a lot about how Mommy's body will change throughout the labor and delivery process and they learned how I will work with Mommy to make it easier for her (not that any of the "easy" talk sounded "easy" to Mom!). Mommy was also very happy to hear that the instructor was also a lactation consultant (someone who helps Mommies and babies figure out the whole feeding thing) and head nurse of Labor & Delivery. The  instructor was very pro women's ability to have a baby naturally (because that's what a woman's body is made to do) and shared a lot of similar views as Mommy regarding labor and delivery.

Mommy has been trying to get my stuff all organized and ready. She spent most of last week doing baby laundry and getting my room all situated. Then, after the Labor class, Mommy realized how soon I will be here, so she started packing the hospital bag. I don't think she realized that the Doctors and Hospitals consider her "full term" at 36-37 weeks, she always thought full term was 40 weeks. Luckily the hospital she will deliver at is new and sort of like the Nordstrom of hospitals, providing lots of essentials and nonessentials to women and their family during the labor and delivery process. They even feed Daddy for free and will give Mommy and Daddy a celebration meal of steak and lobster on their last night there! Daddy was really excited to hear about that! Check out all the cool stuff the hospital offers us!

Speaking of Daddy, he has been "nesting," too. He's been searching the stores for a Carbon Monoxide detector for the past week, and he finally found one and installed it, then checked all of the alarms in the house (*I* did not enjoy this loud noise and made my feelings known... unfortunately I forget when I move around I jab Mommy... sorry Mommy!). Afterwards he announced: "Now my family is safe!" What a great Daddy!

Mommy thinks it's funny how I seem to know when Daddy puts his hand on her belly. Mommy can rub her belly all day and I just move as normal, but when Daddy puts his hand on her belly to feel me move, I get so excited to communicate with him, I go a little overboard with the communicating... accidentally jabbing Mommy too hard. Mommy will be glad when Daddy and I can communicate via me sleeping on his chest instead of punching him through her belly.

What's going on with Mommy?
... still no sleep due to the occasional back pain, potty breaks, and now contractions (which seem to only show up at night when Mommy lays down to sleep!).

Mommy's weight gain (between 25-30 lbs) is normal, though Mommy is already thinking of ways to lose the weight after I arrive. She and Daddy bought an exercise ball so Mommy can get a head start doing simple things and she was also told in the Labor class that if you plan on doing a natural delivery, this ball would help take the pressure off your back and hips. Mommy has tested this theory out and indeed it works!

My house is about 6 inches above Mommy's belly button, now. There's no question that there's a baby in here! Mommy has been hearing the "She's about to pop" comment, which is exciting and annoying at the same time. Mommy feels huge, but at the Labor class last week, she realized how small she is compared to other Mommy-to-be's. Sorry Mom, but you feel big now, just wait.... you will get bigger!

My house is about 15 times its original volume, isn't that amazing. At the labor class, the instructor passed out a book that showed a diagram of how all of Mommy's organs have shifted from her growing uterus, Mommy thinks it's incredible how her body is able to do all of that! Only God could have planned it this way.

Mommy will start going to the Dr weekly soon (since Full Term is 36-37 weeks), just to check out everything and make sure she and I are doing great.

Hormones are taking over every now and then, but I think she's doing a pretty good job keeping them under control (especially with the lack of sleep she's been getting). The main thing that's getting to her are those hormones that trigger nesting... she wants everything to be perfect for me and it seems she just can't get it all done at once all by herself! She gets tired after doing what used to be simple things and then has to stop to rest. How frustrating that must be, but don't worry Mommy... all I really need is love and food, two things you are more than capable of providing!

Mommy is doing a pretty good job with the anxiety of labor. She keeps reminding herself that God made her to do this and that she will have Daddy there to help her through it (as long as the Army doesn't try to take him away again for training, I think Mommy might have some choice words for them if they do!). Thanks to the Labor class, Mommy knows now that even if the Army does take him away, she has the knowledge that labor will be a long process and Daddy will be able to leave and make it in time for my arrival!

Another thing they discussed in the labor class was how important it is for newborns to have that skin-to-skin with their Mommy immediately after delivery. As long as everything is okay, Mommy and Daddy want me nestled on Mommy's chest until the skin-to-skin development is complete (usually taking about an hour). This is a crucial time for Mommy and me to bond and gives us a greater chance of enhancing breast-feeding success. It will also give Mommy, Daddy, and I some quality bonding time as a new family. I will post a blog with the steps so you are in-the-know of this new research.

What's going on with Me? 
Mommy had our bi-weekly Dr appt. this week. She and I are doing well. The Dr just wants Daddy to check Mommy's blood pressure every few days and she wants Mommy to stay off her feet. The Dr didn't measure my weight this visit because she needed to measure the amniotic fluid, which was normal.  However, according to studies, I  have been putting on about an ounce a day, so I may be close to 5 pounds this week. I am also probably about 18-20 inches long (almost 2 feet). I won't get much longer but I will continue to gain weight until I am born.

I'm gaining more fat, which will keep me safe and warm after I arrive into the world.

I'm not doing so many acrobatics now that space is sparse (also due to the now decreasing amniotic fluid), though I think when I move around it's painful and uncomfortable for Mommy. I know because she tattles on me to Daddy telling him I need a spankin' cause I'm hurting her. Daddy's response (I think I like this dude!)... "I'm not spanking that perfect angel!"

My suckle reflexes are now well developed, if they had a sonogram, Mommy and Daddy could possibly see me sucking my thumb.

My lungs are maturing, producing surfactant (coats lungs and keeps them from sticking together). Fun fact! Girls' lungs usually mature faster than boys'... maybe that's why we can talk and talk and talk.....while boys just roll around in the dirt and grunt! Yay, Girl Power!

My brain development is in high gear, protected by the soft plates (which will allow me to more easily fit through the birth canal), all of this development means my brain is growing, which means my head is weighing more, which means there is more pressure on Mommy's bladder (she feels like she has to go, then she doesn't... that must be pretty frustrating sometimes! Sorry Mommy).

My hearing is fully developed now. I respond best to high-pitched noises... meaning I can more easily hear my brother Hank's puppy bark over my brother Jr's big dog bark.

 

Skin-to-Skin: 9 Stages

Skin-to-Skin: 9 Stages

Ann-Marie Widstrom, a Swedish researcher on skin-to skin contact between mother and baby, describes the nine stages that occur in the first hour or two after birth when a baby is placed immediately skin to skin with her mother. She believes that if a baby is put skin to skin on the mother’s chest immediately after birth, without a delay for routine procedures, and left their undisturbed  as she goes through the nine developmental stages at her pace, that the likelihood of breast-feeding success is greatly enhanced.

When a baby is in skin to skin contact after birth there are nine observable newborn stages, happening in a specific order, that are innate and instinctive for the baby. Within each of these stages, there are a variety of actions the baby may demonstrate. The baby may do one, some, or all of these actions.

Stage 1 : The Birth Cry

The first stage is the birth cry. This distinctive cry occurs immediately after birth as the baby’s lungs expand

Stage 2 : Relaxation

The second stage is the relaxation stage. During this stage, the newborn exhibits no mouth movements and the hands are relaxed. This stage usually begins when the birth cry has stopped. The baby is skin to skin with the mother and covered with a warm, dry towel or blanket

Stage 3 : Awakening

The third stage is the awakening stage. During this stage, the newborn exhibits small thrusts of movement in the head and shoulders. This stage usually begins about 3 minutes after birth. The newborn in the awakening stage may exhibit head movements, open her eyes, show some mouth activity and might move her shoulders.

Stage 4 : Activity

The fourth stage is the activity stage. During this stage, the newborn begins to make increased mouthing and sucking movements as the rooting reflex becomes more obvious.

This stage begins about 8 minutes after birth.

During the activity stage, the newborn could:

Ø    keep eyes open

Ø    look at the breast

Ø    salivate to the point of dampening the mother’s skin

Ø    root by moving his mouth from side to side over the skin by  rubbing the cheek against the mother’s chest

Ø    move her hand to the mouth

Ø    move her hand to the mother’s breast and back to the mouth

Ø    protrude the tongue

Ø    look at her mother

Ø    massage the breast with one or both hands

Ø    exhibit high rooting (rooting that includes lifting part of the baby’s torso from the mother’s chest)

Stage 5 : Rest

At any point, the baby may rest. The baby may have periods of resting between periods of activity throughout the first hour or so after birth

Stage 6 : Crawling

The sixth stage is the crawling stage. The baby approaches the breast during this stage with short periods of action that result in reaching the breast and nipple. This stage usually begins about 35 minutes after birth. The crawling stage does not need to involve “crawling”. It could be accomplished through leaping, sliding or crawling and sometimes in conjunction with pushing and rooting.

Stage 7 : Familiarization

The seventh stage is called familiarization. During this stage, the newborn becomes acquainted with the mother by licking the nipple and touching and massaging her breast. This stage usually begins around 45 minutes after birth and could last for 20 minutes or more. During familiarization, the baby may touch the mother’s breast, may mouth on her own hand, lick the mother’s breast, look at the mother, make soliciting sounds to get the mother’s attention, mouth the nipple, lick the nipple, move her hand from her mouth to the mother’s breast, protrude her tongue, look at other people in the room, or massage her mother’s breast.

Stage 8 : Suckling

The eighth stage is suckling. During this stage, the newborn takes the nipple, self attaches and suckles. This early experience of learning to breastfeed usually begins about an hour after birth. If the mother has had analgesia / anaesthesia during labour, it may take more time with skin to akin for the baby to complete the stages and begin suckling.

Stage 9 : Sleep

The final stage is sleep. The baby and sometimes the mother fall into a restful sleep. Babies usually fall asleep about 1 ½ to 2 hours after birth.

**Dr Ann-Marie Widstroms research on the 9 instinctive stages: Online published September 14, 2010 in Acta Paediatrica. She emphasizes the critical importance of NOT forcing the infant to the breast and of allowing the infant to proceed through the nine steps at her own pace.

Only 6 Weeks More from Week 34!!

I hope everyone had a great first week of October! Mommy and I are loving the cooler weather!
This past weekend, Mommy had a Baby Shower. It was so much fun! I have so many cute clothes and Mommy got some awesome gifts that will help make her life much easier when I get here. Thank you Cici, Celeste, Grandma Jennie, and Lisa for throwing such an amazing shower! Also, "Thank You" to everyone for the amazing gifts! Mommy, Daddy, and I are so blessed!

What's Going on with Mommy?

Aside from feeling very lucky to have so many great friends and an amazing family, Mommy has been on a roller coaster of pregnancy symptoms: lack of sleep, fatigue, back pain, and semi-swollen feet are all part of the roller coaster. Mommy feels like she just got off of the Texas Giant (pre-modifications)! Since Mommy isn't getting any sleep at night and "wakes up" pretty early in the morning, she may need to start taking cat naps during the day so she can get some rest and store up some energy for when I arrive!

Mommy's friend Charlie the Horse came back to visit... probably because she has been up on her feet cleaning and getting ready for my arrival! I think Daddy needs to offer up his hard-working hands for a nice leg and foot massage for Mommy.

Something not so fun for Mommy (sorry to any guys reading this out there or women who have not yet experienced the fun of being a soon-to-be-Mommy...), my food has arrived! Colostrum, the substance that will nourish me in the first week of my life outside Mommy's belly surprised Mommy by arriving (very) early! Daddy was put on mission to get some nursing pads (something he wasn't prepared to do, I'm sure)! Mommy's friend, Britt, said "Welcome to Mommy-hood!"Mommy wanted to laugh and cry all at the same time, those hormones are really effective!

Since I am getting so big, there is little to no room for me to move in here, so when I do move it hurts Mommy or at least startles her, "The Audrey Show" is looking more like "The Wave" these days, as I move Mommy's belly will wave like the ocean!

What's Going on with Me?
At week 34, I am only three weeks away from being considered "full term," which means I will be ready for life outside of Mommy's belly at week 36. This really puts Mommy at ease from her worrying about me arriving too soon, but it also means Mommy will have to get a move on finishing my room and making sure she and Daddy have everything they will need for my arrival.

My digestive system is fully mature, enzymes are working and functional. Not so cute, but essential... I have been urinating about a pint a day... practice makes perfect! I also have accumulated layers of fat which make me more cuddly and more importantly, will help regulate my temperature once I'm born. 

Another really important development are that my lungs are well developed now. If I were born this week, I would probably need little to no support helping me breathe or digest food... though I am quite cozy in here and Mommy and Daddy are not ready for my arrival quite yet. 

This week, I should be settled into my final position, at the last Dr appointment I was still occiput anterior (head down), ideal for a natural delivery. I am also supposed to descend this week -- giving Mommy some breathing room, but putting more pressure on her bladder. The descent will also cause Mommy to waddle even 'worse' than she already was.

I can also hear conversations and I am able to recognize and react to simple songs. Though they have already been practicing this for a while, Mommy and Daddy have to really watch saying bad words or things they don't want me to hear since I am able to recognize their voices and words.

I can't wait to meet all of you! I will be here before you know it! See you next week.

Month Eight!

Hello everyone! Welcome to October, Mommy and I are loving this cooler fall weather! Daddy got home from his Army training late last week, Mommy and I are so glad to have him home. This past weekend Daddy has been nesting... he brought home a fire extinguisher and carbon monoxide detector then he and Mommy built my crib that Nanny and Poppie got for me! Isn't it pretty??
Last week, Mommy and Daddy took some time for just them. They went to the spa for pedicures and then Babe's for a "Home-cooked meal" (Mommy said food tastes *so* much better when she doesn't have to cook it), then they went to see the movie Courageous. It was just what the Dr. ordered!

What's going on with Mommy?
Mommy had her first real experience with BH Contractions this past weekend. Until recently, she's just felt cramps, but this last episode made Mommy a little nervous, but luckily the Dr had already told Mommy this would be happening and to just keep track of how long the contractions last.

Mommy's belly is getting bigger and bigger! Her belly button isn't an outtie, but it's not an innie either! Her tummy is so big that Mommy likes to call herself a waddling duck... Daddy says she's the cutest waddling duck he's ever seen (isn't he sweet?).

With Mommy's growing belly, goes the amniotic fluid cushioning Mommy's tummy from my jabs and pokes. Though it is sometimes painful and sometimes shocking when I decide to dance in my house... Mommy still loves seeing me move. At night Mommy and Daddy have designated the 5 minutes after Mommy lays down for bed as "The Audrey Show" because this is when I love to show off and make Mommy's belly do silly movements!

The time has also come for Mommy and Daddy to attend the Labor / Feeding Classes. They start the first of two Labor Class sessions next week and have the second Labor Class and the Feeding class the following week. Daddy seems to be more excited about the Feeding Class... wonder why?

Mommy and Daddy are getting really excited for me to be here, they are fixing up my room one little thing at a time. Next on the list is finishing up my closet and arranging the furniture that Nanny and Poppie have for me.

There is only one more month before Mommy is "full term" and I can safely live outside of Mommy's belly, though Mommy would prefer I stay put for at least 38 weeks.
With month eight comes a new fruit comparison! This month I am the size of a Honeydew Melon, fitting since Mommy has so many "Honey Do's" for Daddy this month!



What's going on with me?
Mommy had a Dr appointment this Monday. The Dr said everything looks great and the computer says I am now weighing in at about 4 pounds 1 ounce.

The amniotic fluid has reached the max, which means I swallow close to one liter a day to help with my digestive system! Get ready Daddy, I'm practicing my potty skills especially for you!

My brain is developing by leaps and bounds. The auditory cortex (sense of sound), visual cortex ( processing visual info), and Broca's area (speech and language processing) are all areas that have been developed so I can interpret sights, sounds, distinguish language, and even keep my eyes open when I'm awake. I am also able to coordinate breathing with sucking and swallowing, now.

My bones are hardening; except my skull bones, which will stay soft so they can overlap to fit through the birth canal when the time comes. I don't have the common button nose anymore because the bridge of my nose has formed, though I may still have a button-like nose like Mommy. Daddy says he hopes I have Mommy's cute button nose and not Daddy's nose. He says his is deformed from picking his nose when he was a little boy... I don't think I like little boys, they sound gross! (music to Daddy's ears)

I am also getting antibodies from Mommy helping my immune system develop for the world outside of Mommy's belly.

I am gaining fat, so I am looking cuter and cuter everyday. The fat I'm gaining is helping me to lose those wrinkles, to be handed to the Grandparents... the wrinkles have to go somewhere--plus, I have to practice the whole "sharing" thing!

I should be gaining about one-half a pound per week, now and I could grow up to another inch this week!

My fingernails now reach the end of my fingertips; I'll be able to go get pampered like Mommy and Daddy in a couple of years and get my pretty fingers and toes painted just like Mommy!

That's all for this week! See you next week...