Week 30: Cabbage (weight)

Gosh … only 10 weeks left … wow …

How your baby's growing:
Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

How your life's changing:
You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. 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. 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.

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. 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. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious.

Surprising Facts: Common labor fears
Are you nervous about giving birth? You're not alone! Here are some common fears and how to cope with them.

• I won't be able to handle the pain.One in five expectant moms says this is her top third-trimester fear, according to a BabyCenter poll. Some women know ahead of time that they will want pain-relieving medication during labor and, in fact, most women do end up opting to have an epidural. Others are committed to giving birth without drugs. They accept potential for pain and discomfort and learn techniques to help them manage it. With the right preparation and support, some women find natural childbirth deeply satisfying and empowering.

• I'll need an episiotomy or I'll tear.An episiotomy is a surgical cut in the muscular area between your vagina and anus (the perineum) which is performed right before delivery to enlarge your vaginal opening. Some women tear spontaneously in this area during delivery — even with an episiotomy — and the tears can range from almost undetectable to severe, requiring a significant number of stitches to repair. Once nearly standard, episiotomies are on the decline and experts now agree that the procedure shouldn't be done routinely. Talk to your practitioner about how often and under what conditions she performs episiotomies and how she might help you avoid one, or tearing. There's some evidence that you'll be less likely to need stitches if you start massaging your perineum about five weeks before your due date.

• I'll be steamrolled into unnecessary medical interventions.The best way to deal with this fear is to have a frank conversation with your practitioner. If you trust and respect your doctor or midwife, you can rest assured that she'll be doing her best for you and your baby on the day of delivery. If she's aware of your wishes and preferences (consider writing a birth plan), she can do her best to adhere to them. Another way to ease this fear is to hire a doula — a professional labor assistant — to attend your birth. She can be your advocate at the hospital.

• I'll have to have a c-section.Since one in five women giving birth for the first time ends up having a c-section to deliver her baby, this fear is understandable. If you have your heart set on a vaginal birth, ending up with a c-section can be disappointing. Some moms say they feel cheated out of a vaginal birth, especially if they took childbirth classes and fantasized about the "ideal birth," or if they feel that their c-section wasn't really necessary. Others say they feel as if they're somehow less of a woman because they needed a c-section. If you have these feelings, it may take some time to reconcile the reality of your birth experience with what you'd imagined during your pregnancy. It might help to know that many women find their babies' births, whether vaginal or c-section, very different from what they expected.

• I won't make it to the hospital on time.Emergency home deliveries are extremely unusual, especially with first babies. But if you can't shake this fear, check out our emergency home birth instructions so you'll have an idea of what it involves.

This Week's Activity:
Assemble any baby gear This is the perfect job for your partner or a friend who wants to help. Cribs, bassinets, and strollers are notoriously tricky to put together, especially when you're sleep deprived, so get started now. Swings, mobiles, and monitors can all require batteries, so make sure you have enough on hand. Tip: Consider getting rechargeable batteries and a battery charger.

As for me ...

• Every time I figure out how to sleep ... my body changes. Then I have to figure it out again. It's so frustrating. Mr. Futz has now also learned how to push up against my ribs on my right side. Of course he does this as I attempt to get cozy at night.


• Clumsy ... hello I'm a former dancer/gymnast ... I'm clumsy but I'm graceful.


• Mood swings ... I'm certainly not perfect. Mostly I just get a bit bratty. And not weepy ... THANK GOODNESS. I feel like it's easier to recover from bratty. I can apologize and admit my fault. Then move forward. But weepy takes a lot out of me. So I'm happy that it's not there.


• Fears ... of course. What women doesn't have them. I'm anxious about the pain but only because of my hips and back. Not because of the time to push. I hadn't been fearful of tearing until reading this. Guess I need to do my research. Unnecessary medical interventions, from what I hear, Kaiser is excellent. So I haven't been worried about it. C-section, if it's necessary, it's necessary and I'll deal with it. Making it to the hospital on time ... it's certianly not the church ... but I'm sure we'll make it. Especially with this being the first one. Although I know Mike is a bit anxious about making it on time if he's at work in San Jose. But even still ... he'll make it.


• Assemble gear ... furniture is up and ready to go. And there isn't anything else at home to put together. But we did get laundry detergent, etc. to wash the baby's clothes. Does that count?

Work craziness is officially over ... hence it taking sooooo very long to get my update out this week. I've officially worked almost every day for the last 4 weeks. We've only had 2 days off!!! But at least it's well worth it between the OT I've made and the potential for my bonus.

We love you all ... here's to Mr. Futz!!