Week 34: Cantaloupe (weight)

6 weeks and counting everyone!! I wanted to share with you our family website that we had started a while back. This is where you can find the story of us, and all of the updates that I've done throughout the pregnancy. This is also where we'll update photos of Mr. Futz, etc after he shows up. http://thenewcivellofamily.blogspot.com/ If you haven't already ... don't forget to put in your guesses in our baby pool!!! http://bebepool.com/go/?a=babycivello As normal ... below you'll find my weekly update ... :)

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

How your life's changing:

By this week, fatigue has probably set in again, though maybe not with the same coma-like intensity of your first trimester. Your tiredness is perfectly understandable, given the physical strain you're under and the restless nights of frequent pee breaks and tossing and turning, while trying to get comfortable. Now's the time to slow down and save up your energy for labor day (and beyond). If you've been sitting or lying down for a long time, don't jump up too quickly. Blood can pool in your feet and legs, causing a temporary drop in your blood pressure when you get up that can make you feel dizzy.

If you notice itchy red bumps or welts on your belly and possibly your thighs and buttocks as well, you may have a condition called pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP for short). Up to one percent of pregnant women develop PUPPP, which is harmless but can be quite uncomfortable. See your practitioner so she can make sure it's not a more serious problem, provide treatment to make you more comfortable, and refer you to a dermatologist if necessary. Also be sure to call her if you feel intense itchiness all over your body, even if you don't have a rash. It could signal a liver problem.

3 Questions About...C-sections
Q1.What are my chances of having a c-section?

About 30 percent of pregnant women in the United States give birth by cesarean section these days. In certain cases the surgery is scheduled in advance. In others, it's done in response to an unforeseen complication.

Q2.Why might I need a c-section?

You may have an unplanned cesarean delivery for many reasons, such as if your cervix stops dilating, your baby stops progressing down the birth canal, or your baby's heart-rate gives your practitioner cause for concern. A planned cesarean may be recommended if:
• You've had a previous cesarean with a "classical" vertical uterine incision or more than one previous c-section. (If you've had only one previous c-section with a horizontal incision, you may be a good candidate for a vaginal birth after cesarean, or VBAC.)
• You've had some other kind of invasive uterine surgery, such as a myomectomy (the surgical removal of fibroids).
• You're carrying more than one baby. (Some twins can be delivered vaginally, but all higher-order multiples require a c-section.)
• Your baby is expected to be very large (a condition known as macrosomia).
• Your baby is in a breech (bottom first) or transverse (sideways) position. (In some cases, such as a twin pregnancy in which the first baby is head down but the second baby is breech, the breech baby may be delivered vaginally.)
• You have placenta previa (when the placenta is so low in the uterus that it covers the cervix).
• The baby has a known illness or abnormality that would make a vaginal birth risky.
• You're HIV-positive, and blood tests done near the end of pregnancy show that you have a high viral load.

Q3.What should I expect during a c-section?

Typically, your partner can be with you during the surgery. If you don't already have one, your medical team will start an IV and insert a catheter to drain urine during the procedure, and you'll be given an epidural or spinal block, which will numb the lower half of your body but leave you alert and awake. A screen will be put up so you don't have to watch the actual procedure. Once the doctor reaches the uterus and makes the final incision, she'll ease the baby out, lifting him so you get a glimpse of him before he's handed off to be cared for by a pediatrician or nurse. While the staff is examining your baby, the doctor will deliver your placenta and stitch you back up. When your baby has been examined, the pediatrician or nurse may hand him to your partner, who can hold him right next to you so you can nuzzle and kiss him while you're being stitched up. Closing your uterus and belly takes a lot longer, than opening you up. This part of the surgery usually takes about 30 minutes. When the surgery is completed, you'll be wheeled into a recovery room, where you'll be able to hold your baby and breastfeed if you want to.

This Week's Activity:

Make a labor contingency plan. You may go into labor early or have a complication that requires you to be in the hospital longer than you anticipated. Give at least one friend or neighbor the keys to your house in case you need something and can't get home. Line up people to do the following on a moment's notice:
• Take care of children
• Drive older children to and from school and to any afterschool activities
• Feed the dog, water the plants, get the mail
• Fill in for you at work or any other obligations

As for me ... I am starting to get tired more easily. Like I did in the first trimester but only at times is it as bad as it was then. Fortunately Mike has been great and helpful in letting me get some rest. No itchy red bumps or welts ... so that's great news. :) In our childbirth prep class this past weekend we talked about c-sections and Kaiser definitely doesn't like to do any unnecessary c-sections. They do not perform voluntary c-sections either. And this week's activity ... we already have keys out there to Debbie/Gary. And no pets to worry about and since he's the first, no other kids to worry about. The only thing we now have living at home are the plants. And although I'm stoked to have my herb garden again, they wouldn't die without being fed the next few days unless it suddenly hits 100degrees right now. :) We're getting everything set and looking forward to the shower. Looks like the rain may come in but could stay away. We shall see!! Next class is Tuesday ... Newborn Care class. Where we'll learn diapering and bathing, etc. I'm really looking forward to this class. After that, we have our tour of Labor & Delivery at Walnut Creek next week. My next appointment isn't until next week with the midwife. My last day of work will be Friday June 4th. I'll be off work for the two weeks leading up to his expected arrival. Hope all the mommies Mother's Day yesterday was a great one!! I sure enjoyed my first of many. :) -- danielle & mike