Thursday, October 29, 2009

33 Weeks (8 Months, 1 Week) Pregnant - Baby Pumpkin

How fitting is it that this week she is now the size of an average size pumpkin?
(Halloween is Saturday.)


At about this point you have probably begun to obsess over labor and delivery. (Uh ya...especially since my friend Wynne had her baby last night and she is only 5 weeks ahead of me!!! It reminds us of how close we are to being able to hold and see Brianna!) You may have a vision of how you'd like the whole event to go: contractions are brief and painless and in one push out pops your baby to the background music of "Chariots of Fire." That fantasy is all well and good but it's important to be flexible and brace yourself for little surprises that may occur. Also, keep an open mind as far as medication and labor support go once you're in the thick of things.

The big news this week is lung development—baby's respiratory system is almost completely mature. That means if your baby was born this week, odds are she'd be a healthy bouncing baby with a just a little help from her friends (aka, the NICU). Some of the specifics are: Your baby can now detect light and tell the difference between night and day (of course that ability will miraculously disappear once she's born and up all night screaming). Her pupils will constrict and dilate in response to light. If you shine a flashlight on your belly, your baby may shy away from the light as if to say, "Cut it out, Ma. You're soooo annoying."The bones in your baby's skull are soft and are not yet fused together. In other words, now is not the time to teach her how to do a headspin while breakdancing. This pliability allows the bones to overlap; making that trip down the tight birth canal possible (and resulting in that surprising cone head look your baby will sport for the first few days post-birth. Don't worry, it's totally normal and that's what hats are for.) Your baby will continue to pack on the pounds gaining around ½ pound a week from here on out.Your baby weighs about 4½ pounds, as much as a grownup duck, and is approximately 17.5 inches long, about the same as a collarbone-length pearl necklace. (Did somebody say push present?)


Nothing super exciting has happened this week. I am still getting over allergies (all the rain causes mold spores that I am allergic to = I get super sick) so I have not been feeling super hot. Eric and I are taking my maternity pictures Saturday (I am sure we will post some when we get them back). We are really excited. The only new news: 1) Looks like we will be buying a new fence sooner than later...our's is literally about to fall over...ugh builder's fences. We were hoping that it would make it through the summer, but that is not going to happen. 2) Looks like we might get some relief on my kindergarten team. I think we might be getting a 5th teacher (YEA!!!) which will make the numbers in our class go down quite a bit. I think we are going to ask for volunteers first and then it will be a lottery on who gets moved to another class....we will see. I will have more to update after next Thursday (my 34 week exam). Until then...

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

32 Weeks (8 Months) Pregnant - Baby Large Jicama

UPDATE 10-22-09: Had our 32 week appointment and follow-up on the sonogram from Tuesday. Brianna is in the 43 percentile on growth so she is right on target! Her heartrate was in the low 150s so she is looking nice and healthy! WOO HOO.
Thanks for the prayers! - ML and E

This is a Jicima (FYI)


Eric and I had a VERY busy weekend. We woke up at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday for him to go run the 5k Susan G. Komen breast cancer run in Dallas. He did pretty well considering he never runs anymore! We then came home, showered, and then went to the UNT Homecoming parade and then tailgated for a few hours while visiting with old friends. Sunday we got up early and redid the entire front yard (mowed, edged, weedeated, and redid ALL of the flower beds). We pulled out a lot of plants that we were not pleased with and put in all new flowers (purple Kale cabbage and Pansies). Once they grow in a little bit, we will take pictures and post them!




Eric (far right) and his co-workers getting ready to run the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Race in Dallas
Eric crossing the finish line...

Eric and his buddies getting ready for the 5k run...

This is for my mom and grandmother - Eric and I decided he would run for Audrey Freele, a good friend of my family's who battled breast cancer several times in her life. We know that Audrey did not lose a battle to breast cancer, but since she is no longer living and did beat breast cancer, we figured it would be better to put "In Memory Of" instead of "In Congratulations to." We love you and miss you Audrey (and of course Bob too!)!

Brianna's Profile - 32 Weeks - 10/20/2009

Brianna's Profile - 32 Weeks - 10/20/2009

Brianna's Profile - 32 Weeks - 10/20/2009

Brianna's Right Foot and Toes (toes on the right) - 32 Weeks - 10/20/2009

Brianna still showing she is a GIRL! - 32 Weeks - 10/20/2009

Brianna's Face (look at those chubby cheeks and big lips! Her nose is smooshed against my stomach right now in the picture.) - 32 Weeks - 10/20/2009

Up until now, you've been seeing your doctor about once a month. Now you'll start seeing her every two weeks, until the final month when you'll kick it up to once a week. There is a 50% chance of surviving if the baby is born during this time. There is something surreal about watching a tiny foot move across your belly (and something uncomfortable about getting jabbed by a tiny elbow in the dead of night). Now that your baby is nice and big and mobile (as of 10-20-09, Brianna is 3 pounds, 13 ounces), you'll be getting kicked and prodded in all sorts of unexpected places. Oooof! Did you feel that one in the ribs? (YES, I did! And I have a lovely bruise on my right upper rib to prove it!)

Although your baby will still remain active, her days of trying out for Cirque du Soleil are nearly over. About this time your baby will settle into the head-down position in preparation for birth. (She is already head down and face back like she should be!) Other fascinating facts:Both you and baby are putting on some serious weight at this point. You'll probably gain about a pound a week for the next few weeks, with half of that poundage bulking up baby. She'll likely double her weight in the next eight weeks. Ever wonder what your baby is doing in there these days? She's busy blinking, looking around, grabbing things, making faces, practicing his breathing, peeing and listening to everything around her—pretty much exactly what she'll be doing for the first three months of her life, sans the adoring audience and the flashing camera. By the end of this week, your baby will weigh about 4 pounds and measure over 17 inches long—about the length of a hot pair of above-the-knee boots. Christian Louboutin? Manolo Blahnik? We're thinking Isaac Mizrahi for Target—you've got a nursery to furnish!

Saturday, October 17, 2009

31 Weeks (7 & 3/4 months) Pregnant - Baby Squash

31 (almost 32) Weeks Pregnant Watching the UNT Homecoming Parade
Eric and I tailgating at the UNT Homecoming Parade 10-17-09


I am totally behind this week in posting. I am so sorry. We had parent teacher conferences all week so I was at school from 6:45am to about 6:00pm each day of the week. Needless to say after teaching 23 5 year olds and then having conferences before and after school, I was EXHAUSTED when I got home.

You've just entered the single-digit countdown (only nine more weeks to go!). Make a list of what you'd like to do in these final weeks: See the new Oscar-worthy movie, hear your favorite local band, have lunch with your BFF, go on a romantic date with your partner. Whatever it is, do it soon because baby is right around the corner!

Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. Measuring 16 inches long, she weighs 4 lbs. 4 whole pounds, wow! And from this week, until 2 weeks before birth, she will gain about a half pound every week. As you've probably noticed, she is moving around quite a bit in there! It's not uncommon for her continuous movements, which may feel like somersaults, to be keeping you up at night. Her arms, legs and body are also filling out as she continues to develop fat underneath her skin, making those kicks and prods feel even stronger than last week. You may even see an arm or a foot move slowly across your belly! Due to increasing space constraints, your baby's arms and legs stay drawn up close to the body now, known as the fetal position (oh, so that's where that name came from!). Plus, your baby can now process information from all five senses—so she'll be all set to smell the pureed peas, taste them, feel them as she mashes them into her hair, hear you crack up and then see the flash as you grab the camera to snap picture after picture. By now, your baby's lungs are the only system not fully mature. And by mature, we're not saying that the rest of your baby's systems are mature enough to be out past 10 PM with the neighborhood hooligan, just that her lungs need a little bit more time to bake before they can kick it in the outside world.

You may find that you have some trouble catching a good breath now and again. Remember to take things easy as you continue your pregnancy week by week and as you grow and develop during the last few weeks of pregnancy.
As a little update: last Thursday (when I was 30 1/2 weeks pregnant), Eric and I went to my 30 week appointment. Apparently I am measuring "small" (as in my belly size) for 30 weeks (he said I was measuring about 26 weeks), so we are going to have a "growth sonogram" on Tuesday to make sure everything is okay and normal. We will update you after next Thursday (our follow up for Tuesday's appointment).

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

30 Weeks (7 1/2 Months) Pregnant - Baby London (Britney Spears' Yorkie)/ Baby Squash











This is NOT Brianna...just a picture of a 30 Week Old Baby...









Sorry if this is not something you wanted to see...but a lot of people have been asking to see my actual belly...so....here it is...

She is totally going under my ribs now days and making it WAY HARDER to breathe...as you can tell, you can no longer see where my ribs are where as in the 26 week picture, you kinda could see them..Big news for baby's brain this week: It's starting to wrinkle and fold and looks like something that grew in the back of your fridge. This is due to the rapid growth of your little genius's brain cells. Other highlights this week:Fingernails and toenails are finally finished—causing his or her parents great fear and anguish the first time they try to cut those little daggers (it gets easier, we promise)! Plus, the bone marrow is completely in charge of red-blood-cell production now. Trust us, this is a good thing.Baby is starting to shed his lanugo—the downy hair that was covering his skin. Now that she's chubbier and better able to regulate his body temp, she doesn't need to sport a fur coat 24/7."I spy an umbilical cord and the inside of my mom's uterus!" When your baby is awake, her eyes are now wide open and she's whittling away the hours looking around, checking out her rather dark, limited environs. Your baby hasn't gained much weight or height this week, as most of her energy's been channeled to the brain. She weighs about 3 pounds and is approximately 15.5 inches long, about the size of London, not the city, Britney Spears' Yorkie terrier. Of course your baby is less hairy and way cuter!

Your baby is continuing to grow and develop during pregnancy at 30 weeks, filling out your uterus more and more every day. You have probably noticed an arm or leg moving across your belly at one time or another. (Yep...I am starting to feel limbs but I am not quite sure what they are yet though. I am going to ask Dr. Levy tomorrow when I am there for my 30 week appointment. Brianna tends to be on my right side of my body...at least that is where I feel her pushing and kicking my ribs a lot.) Many parents have a lot of fun playing "guess the body part" as their unborn baby moves underneath mom's belly during pregnancy 30 weeks. This game is even more interesting as your pregnancy week by week continues. A hard round lump is likely either the head or your baby's bottom, whereas a longer flat surface may be your baby's back. Your healthcare provider may be able to help you identify your baby's bumps and lumps at your next prenatal visit.
You may be feeling a little tired these days, (UMMM ya...not sure if I am tired from the pregnancy or my 23 kindergartners and all the problems they are having) especially if you're having trouble sleeping (which I am). You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. (Yeah for flats!) Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size (all I am wearing these days are flip flops so not quite sure what the winter months are going to bring...).Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. (Yep, having those again. I really just wanted to cry today at school. It's been a LONG and HARD year. I am so ready to go on maternity leave...). It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy.