Week 32: Large Jicama (weight)

That’s right everyone … 8 weeks left!! Mr. Futz will be gracing us with his presence at some point in time in this period (maybe but hopefully not too much later) and Mike and I simply can’t wait.

We’re busy trying to get the home in “working order” and ready for another clean sweep by Anna and her crew in early June. And also trying to get in some last minute “musts” before he arrives. Like heading off to Monterey to see the aquarium last weekend and the Oakland Zoo this past weekend. We’ll be heading up to Tahoe soon as well and may even try another day trip or something up North. We’ll see.

Other than that … trying to relax and enjoy our last moments where it’s just us until our kid(s) are out of the house like us. :)

How your baby's growing:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth.

How your life's changing:

To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.

You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.

Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

Decision Guide: Who should be in the labor room with you?

• Childbirth is an intensely personal experience, as is your decision whether to have additional family members, friends, or labor coaches in the birthing room with you. Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare your guest list:
  There's no one right decision. In a recent BabyCenter poll, 44 percent of expectant moms said they preferred to have no one but their partner and medical staff in the room when they gave birth, while 37 percent said they brought an additional relative along and 16 percent requested to have a friend present. Only 3 percent of respondents asked for a doula or labor coach in the birthing room.


• Some husbands or partners may be confused about their role in the birth or reluctant to participate if others are present. If you bring outside relatives or coaches in, make sure your partner is on board with the plan.


• You may be under pressure from mothers or mothers-in-law who are eager to be present for the birth of their grandchild — regardless of your wishes to keep the experience private. If you want to be alone with your partner, don't be afraid to enlist hospital staff for support in carrying out your wishes and keeping relatives out of the delivery room.


• Labor and delivery nurses come and go according to their shifts, so if you'd like to be attended continuously by one person, a private labor coach or doula is a good option. In fact, some research shows that women attended by labor assistants have shorter labors, fewer labor complications, and healthier newborns. You should also give serious thought to having a doula present if you're set on having a drug-free birth.

This Week's Activity:Start lining up helpers. Your friends and family will want to pitch in after your baby's born, but many new moms are too overwhelmed to direct household help. How to prepare now:

• If anyone offers to help during the newborn weeks, write down their name and number.


• Select one friend to set up a schedule so that all the friends who wish to help are given a date on which they can bring you a meal.


• Create a master grocery list so you can hand it off to a friend.


• Create a childcare or ride schedule for older children.


• Line up a friend or neighbor to take out your garbage, walk your dog or feed your pets.
  

As for me …

• Shortness of breath still only comes when leaning/bending over to tie my shoes or pick up something. That’s literally because he squishes my lungs and I can’t take a breath. But I can still jog up the stairs. So that’s a feat in and of itself. Lol!


• Lower back pain … nope … just the same side that gets annoyed after a long day or too much sitting OR standing. This is a spot that I’ve always had issues with and not new and I keep an eye on it so as not to confuse it with possible pre-term labor.


• But I would LOVE to get a prenatal massage … I think I’m going to have to look more seriously into it soon. Mike is EXCELLENT at back rubs … but I think I’m beginning to abuse it. LOL!


• Guests in the labor room … this is certainly a topic that has been coming up a lot in conversation, even with my accounts! Especially any of my accounts that have had a child within the last few years or they themselves are expecting soon. I do have a few of those! Ultimately, in the progression of the labor while in the birthing suite, I have ZERO problems with people coming to visit me. In fact, I welcome it because I know that I will go crazy if it’s just me and the doctors. I need some social interaction to help divert some anxiety. But with that said … I want to be very clear with everyone … NO MATTER HOW MUCH MIKE AND I LOVE YOU … once I begin the fateful “pushing” … it will only be Mike and I in the room. We both agree that I reserve the right to change my mind and call people in if I feel I need more “support”. But until then, only Mike will be present for the birth of Mr. Futz.


• Helpers … not sure on this one yet. Guess we’ll see how it all goes. But I do have an account of mine that’s a chef that has offered to bring over meals for us!! I’m stoked for that. Random factoid … I’m sure several of you have heard Mike and I talk about our “town crier” or self-proclaimed “town mayor” that lives in our complex and of course is our NEIGHBOR. She and her husband have been trying to get Mike and I to meet up with them for dinner. For a while now. We’ve been so busy with work that we haven’t been able to get together with them. But were finally getting closer to settling a date here soon. Besides, Mike and I figured we should warn them that we’re expecting since we share common walls. Well, yesterday morning as we were getting ready to leave to head to the zoo and Mike was setting up the new patio furniture we bought (Yea!), our neighbor came out and said HI. Guess who’s expecting twin boys this summer?! Seriously?! She’s due July 17th with the boys but because twins usually don’t go full term she may end up delivering her boys around the same time as Mr. Futz shows up! Crazy!!!

Another week another dollar. Renewals are moving along well and are slowing down a bit. We still have 2 weeks until our deadline for renewals and our bonus comes up and we’re chugging. Can’t wait for the Lottery on May 18th to tell us where we’ll pick in the draft. But more importantly I can’t wait until May 16th!!! Here’s to hoping that it’s a gorgeous day outside that day and that everyone shows up that can. Til then we have our first class coming up this weekend (First Aid/CPR) and Mother’s Day next weekend.

Have a great week everyone!!!

PS ... for those wondering about my foot ... I will be seeing the doc on Wednesday to have it looked at again. It's not progressing the way I feel it should be and is still painful at times. Both the part I hit and the scar as well. I’ll keep you posted on it … I’m keeping my end of the bargain to Mike and my boss of getting through the end of the season and bulk or renewals and then getting it taken care of. Whatever follow ups I need to do … I will. I want my normal foot back!!!!!!!

-- danielle & mike