What’s Cookin’ :: Weeks 37-Delivery (Month 9)
We’ve made it!
Your Baby: Month 9
At week 37, your pregnancy is considered full term, meaning baby is likely to thrive after birth. Baby spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world… meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale. Meconium, which you’ll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. If (okay, as) you worry about giving birth, consider what it’s like for the little one. During the journey out of your womb, baby will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life.
In case you haven’t been checking my photo blog, a little tour of her nursery can be found here. 
What’s Cookin’ :: Weeks 33-36 (Month 8)
Your Baby: Month 8
Baby’s senses are continuing to improve — when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month.
Updates, fun questionnaire style!
So, I’m woefully behind here. I have 2 showers now to blog about, all kinds of happenings happening around here in regards to the baby room, etc. I’ll get to them in the next week or so (right?! Right.). But for now, I’ll give you an update on all things Arabella in a fun questionnaire I found somewhere in the blogger-verse.
How far along? 31 Weeks, 1 Day
Total weight gain/loss: 4 Pounds. Yes. 4. I finally got the guts up to ask the nurse at my bi-weekly check in this week to see my weight chart, and was SHOCKED to see that it was only 4 pounds. I’m kinda proud really. Don’t worry though – this is a net weight gain situation. I dropped a lot of weight in the first trimester due to nausea, etc. So, I’ve technically gained all of that weight back plus 4 pounds. But, I think saying “Yes, I’ve only gained 4 pounds this pregnancy” sounds way more impressive. Hehe!
Maternity clothes? Oh yes. Some things are already retired (die, maternity jeans, die), but I’m definitely in full force maternity clothes.
Stretch marks? I’ll spare you the details, but yes. Oy.
Sleep: Not too bad. Able to sleep pretty well. I usually get up once or twice a night to go to the bathroom, but that’s not too bad. Last night was rough – I really started overheating and had to take a break from the bed and sit in the recliner in our room to let me side of the bed cool off some.
Best moment this week: Finding out I have only gained 4 pounds, getting a call from my 3D ultrasound place offering me a free session so they can train a new tech. We’ll go in this week!
Movement: So much that we’ve dubbed her “Native American Name” to be Sackaweasels.
Food cravings: Nothing on a consistent basis. When something sounds good, it sounds GOOD and must be had though.
Gender: Very much a girl. No concerns there that they’re wrong.
Labor Signs: None. At all.
Belly Button in or out? In. For now.
What I miss: Being able to walk around for more than 30 minutes without feeling completely spent. I was at the mall this past week for a relatively short time, and I practically had to take a nap when I got home.
What I am looking forward to: Getting our house put back together – we’re staining concrete this week and the house is a wreck. Can’t wait to clean out the baby’s room (AGAIN – it had to be used as storage for the concrete staining process) and to start getting things organized!
Weekly Wisdom: Me? Wisdom? Hmm… Lay off restaurant food if you want to reduce swelling. I had some MAJOR ankle swelling episodes a couple of weeks ago that are all but gone thanks to us eating at home more.
Milestone: Did I mention that my doc set our induction date at our appointment this week? No? Well, mark your calendars… if she doesn’t come on her own before then, I will be induced on August 10! Eeek! Less than 2 months to go!
What’s Cookin’ :: Weeks 29-32 (Month 7)
Yikes! Long time, no post! I know I’m waaaay behind – we’ve had baby shower #1 at my school and a super cool 3-D ultrasound to share! I will do that soon (after all… there are only 4 days of school left!)
Baby’s energy is surging, thanks to the formation of white fat deposits beneath the skin. (Have those kicks and jabs to the ribs tipped you off yet?) Baby is also settling into sleep and waking cycles, though — as you’ve also probably noticed — they don’t necessarily coincide with your own. Also this month, all five senses are finally functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developments.
(P.S. – New post category – Third Trimester!!!)
What’s Cookin’ :: Weeks 25-28 (Month 6)
Your Baby: Month 6
Let your spouse put an ear to your belly — he might be able to pick up baby’s heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby’s also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink — perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.
Still here!
We’re all still here, I promise! It’s been a busy couple of weeks… lots of photo shoots, editing, educating youth, etc. Not a whole heck of a lot has been going on besides Bella’s regular kicking and flipping and turning – it’s always reassuring to feel her do her tricks. I’m also starting to look “pregnant” – people I don’t know are coming up and asking me when she’s due. We’ve been working a little on her room. Most everything has been sorted, tossed, or put in the garage sale pile. We’re working slowly but surely. I’m betting that most of the work on her room will be completed during the first couple of weeks of summer vacation. We finally got her registries organized… it was a bit of a race to get them done because my fab coworkers offered to throw us a baby shower on May 12! I can’t believe that her first shower is only a couple of weeks away.
I have my regular check up with the OB on Thursday. This one should be an in-and-out kind of thing. No big deal. The next one is the biggie – my 28 week appointment. Glucose tolerance test, rhogam shots (I’m Rh Negative)… oh joy! And not long after that we’ll go to check ups every 2 weeks. I can’t believe that we’re already rounding that corner towards her big arrival.
I’ve also chosen the photog who will be doing her family photos once she arrives! I’m so excited! Of course, I’ll be taking about a billion pictures of her on my own, but I sorta want to have pictures where, you know, I’m with her! Ha!
In other news, I’ll be turning 27 this week… yikes! It’s quite the significant day… I’ll be 27 on the 27th and there will only be 27 days of school left that day! Hehehe
What’s Cookin’ :: Weeks 22-24 (Month 5)
Ok, Mama… can you guess the fruit?!
Your Baby: Month 5
Watch what you say — baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby’s starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn’t be hard to figure out when — just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.
What’s Cookin’ :: Week 21
I’m excited and sad all at the same time to say that this is the last weekly fruit & veggie update! Starting next week, it will go to a monthly update – still fun, just less frequent! I can’t believe we’re starting to turn a corner towards the end!
Your Baby: Week 21
Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they’ve already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.
by Deena
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