The 41 Week Myth

So I'd believed in a big myth. First time babies are not on average, born 41 weeks into pregnancy. I got it straight from the doctor's mouth today.

Reality is, once the 37th week is reached, birth can happen at any given time. So where did the 41 week figure come from? Who knows, but my doctor assured me that 41 weeks is the longest he'd let a pregnant woman remain pregnant. He said at that point, the placenta's service as provider for the baby is on it's last legs, amniotic fluid becomes less and less, and the baby runs out of what little precious room it already has! Not an ideal enviornment. Can I just tell you what a relief this information was to me? It was like a light at the end of the tunnel with a finite time frame attached to it! No more than 41 weeks! Another piece of good news, on average, babies are born between 37-39 weeks. Woo hoo!

Additionally, I am seeing my doctor every week now till delivery, which makes me feel good - brings a sense of 'progress' to it all. Today's visit to the OBGYN was no exception as far as progress was concerned.

I get a non-stress test (NST). This involves hooking me up to two kinds of monitors - one to detect contractions and the other detects/records Jack's heart rate. The results are recorded on a graph sheet with peaks and valleys representing variations in Jack's heart rate - accelorations/decelorations. Variations between the two states are what the doctors are looking for...as Martha Stewart would say, "it's a good thing.". The whole test is meant to last 20 minutes but today it took 45 minutes because Jack was moving around so much. We had to re-position the monitor three times. He's always been a busy body. The doctor reviewed the NST results....Jack passed with flying colors! I also had 5 small contractions throughout the test. To me, these felt like mild tightening of my tummy. Not painful at all.

Next was my internal exam. I did not enjoy this last week. It wasn't painful, but more uncomfortable. But today, not only could the doctor feel Jack's head was down, but also discovered I am 1cm dialated, and 30% effaced! Jack's at -3 station. Apparently, this is also a good thing and I'm right on target considering this is my first pregnancy.

My co-workers are now on full 'baby-watch'. Alex is very excited too. He's freaked out, but in a good way. He's also one step closer to Jack with every bit of progress that is made.

Wonder what kind of progress there will be next week? Next appointment includes the last ultrasound of Jack - this should give us a good idea of how big he's grown since four weeks ago! Maybe we'll see hair again....

Are we there yet?

This is week 35. From this point forward, I will be seeing my doctor once a week, and getting a non-stress test which is a 20 minute monitoring exercise. It's just to make sure everything is A-okay inside now that I am nearing the end of my pregnancy. I had an internal exam this Monday. I am not dilated, but the Dr. could feel Jack's head. He's head down and he's moved down (engaged) which is a good thing.

Jack's room has been tidied up a bit more - the wonderful shower gifts we got have been stowed away in the closet, the phone tree has been sent out, and I've organized Jack's collection of clothes by month/size. He still needs more of this and that and Alex and I are putting that final list together. We bought some more sleepers/jumpers with footies this week that were a 0-3 month size (the ones we received were for older month/size).

Strolling through Babies R Us this time around was fun. We indulged in our craving to buy outfits....eh-hem....a Halloween costume. Alex couldn't pass it up....he had to have it. Jack will be a little cow for Halloween this year. Isn't it cute?

Along with the excitement of D-day comes the discomforts of late 3rd trimester blues.

I have stopped sleeping. I think I average about 3 hours every night. No position is comfortable to sleep in. For a while I blamed our mattress, but let's face it....at 35 weeks, no mattress is going to feel comfortable....or pillow for that matter. I go to sleep with a bunch of pillows around me, and I wake up with a bunch of pillows on the floor next to the bed.

Oh, and I'm also wearing a wrist splint due to pregnancy induced carpel tunnel in my right wrist/hand. I've been trying to live as a left handed person for the past two weeks. Not an easy thing to do. Where is Ned Flanders' Leftorium when you need one?

Jack's head is on my bladder so I get up 3 times a night to pee.....but it takes me forever to get myself out of bed to go to the bathroom and then to get myself back into bed to try and sleep. I think I may resort to sleeping sitting up on my couch as sitting seems to be the only position tolerable these days. All those nights yelling at Alex to get up from the couch and sleep in the bed....and now I will be committing the crime of falling asleep on the couch. I hate it.

Week 33-34 Belly Shots

Week 33:
At the surprise lunch-shower thrown by Taylor's coworkers.



Week 34:
At Ellie's 3rd birthday party at Brookfield Zoo.

Ellie Jelly Belly!

Happy 3rd birthday to my cutie pie niece!
YOU DID IT! You made it to three! Hooray!

We love you very much!

Love -
Uncle Boo and Emoh

Baby Shower Photos! (2 Weeks Late!)

Here is a brief selection of photos from the fantastic baby shower! Thank you to everyone who came and especially to the organizers! Wany, your food was beyond amazing!

Let's Play!

Last night I asked Alex a question: "Am I still pretty to you now?"

His response: "I'm not playing that game with you, Taylor."

I wish he would have played that game. I'm not feeling particularly pretty these days (which is why/when women ask this question) and I don't think it would have killed him to just reply with a "yes" along with some other kind words.

Men are thick. Sigh, shaking of head, sigh.

Footprints

We felt Jack's foot last night.

I'd just gotten into bed for the night, and as is his routine during this time of night, Jack started moving and stretching.
But on this particular night, the stretching felt stronger, so I put my hand on the spot where I felt his movement. Viola!

I felt the tiny outlines of a foot! Alex felt it too. It was a way cool experience.

So far, we've identified his butt and one foot. :-)

Behold! The Voice of......Dad?

We have attempted playing music for Jack. Headset on the stomach, playing CDs of various kinds. We tried The Beatles, Mozart, some jazz, etc. It is hard to tell if Jack is reacting to it or not. It also is not the most comfortable setup for Taylor, either.

Yesterday, I (jokingly) put my lips on Taylor's stomach and began talking in a deep voice to Jack. Mostly, I was repeating his name and making very deep sounds. After half a minute, he began moving. The more I spoke, the more he moved! It was amazing!

And, these were not the same old movements from months ago, either. Before, the movements felt like the tip of his fists pushing straight out. Now, the movements feel like arms and legs kicking around and sliding in the tight, confined space. It is still hard to fathom the fact a real person is in there.

Crazy.

The Lift

I have started using the elevator at work.

I can no longer climb the stairs to get to the 2nd floor of our office building.

I no longer sleep through the night with trips to the bathroom sprinkled here and there. Once I'm up, I'm up....I cannot fall back to sleep. Every position is getting uncomfortable whether I am sitting on the couch, or getting ready for bed or driving in the car, or sitting at the office like now.

It feels like I am sitting on a bowling ball or incubating a huge egg the size of a bowling ball...not comfortable. Walking is a tricky thing now as my legs won't go as fast as I want it to. I remember being in a lot of pain after a good jog, or work out, but that is nothing compared to the all day long achiness I feel now.

My right butt cheek is sore. Jack's head has moved down (which I am happy about as he's been in the breech position before) but his head has moved down towards my right butt cheek and is pinching my nerve.

At night when I sleep on my right side, he tickles me when he moves (goofy kid). When I stand or sit up, his head presses on my bladder and I immediately have to use the restroom....not a good sensation when you can only 'walk' at 0.05 miles per hour.

I'm getting sleepy now too. I nap after dinner for about an hour, then get up, watch some TV, then back to bed at 10pm. Remember the good ol' days of the 1st trimester? Yeah, the fatigue is coming back.

Poor Alex....he does so much already and now he's just gotta keep doing more around the house. And I wish I could say he only has to do them for a little while longer, but I know that won't be true. I'll need even more help once Jack arrives. I don't know how single parents do this thing.