Happy Halloween! Today we start our 38th week of pregnancy, which also happens to be our last week of pregnancy! We almost thought our little girl would come in our 37th week of pregnancy with the little scare we had last week but everything turned out to be okay with our baby girl. My blood pressure is on the rise again so my doctor was happy she made the decision to move our c-section up by five days. So as long as I don't go into labor earlier we'll be meeting our baby girl on November 4th.
Dave has been teasing me as my 'nesting' is in full gear lately trying to get things settled before the baby comes. I've washed all of the baby's clothes and put them away.I found the baby monitors and have plugged them in to get them charged up. I've washed all the baby bedding - even though she'll be in a bassinet in our room for a few weeks. I've washed all the receiving blankets and blankets and put them away. I've set up the baby swing in the great room. The pack & play is in the great room waiting for Dave to set that up with the basinet and changing table. I've been sorting and organzing Zach's room and his toys so he is all set up and ready to go. Oh and let's not forget just putting things away as we are still unpacking some things. I know I'm not going to be fully unpacked for a few weeks AFTER we bring the baby home as I'm still trying to figure out where I want to put things in the house.
I've already pre-registered online for the hospital. We're delivering at Woodwinds in Woodbury, the same hospital we had Zach at. Dave calls it the 'country club' because it is such a beautiful hospital campus.
I've packed my bag for the hospital with all the essentials I'll need while I am there for a few days. Hopefully I've remembered everything. If not, the hospital is close enough to home where Dave can go home to get it or I can do without it.
We still have not finalized a name for our little girl. Hopefully we'll get that all ironed out in the next few days. *giggle* I can say we do have our names narrowed down to a very short list. So you all are just going to have to wait and see once we make our announcement that our little girl has arrived.
This is our last week of pregnancy updates if all goes well. Next week will be photos and the birth story of our baby girl. So exciting! So according to BabyCenter.com week 38 stats and info:
How your baby's growing:
Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). [Megan's Comments] According to the ultrasound on Tuesday our baby girl is measuring 6 pounds 15 ounces. No idea how long she is we'll have to wait until she arrives. She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.
Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.) [Megan's Comments] Zach has golden brown eyes, Dave has hazel eyes, and I have very dark brown eyes so it will be interesting to see what color eyes our little girl will have.
How your life's changing:
For many women, the next couple of weeks are a waiting game. [Megan's Comments] It is a waiting game, but the waiting is much easier when you KNOW when you are going to be having your baby. Use this time to prepare your baby's nursery or to take care of necessary tasks you may not get around to for a while after your baby's born. Take naps, catch up on your reading, and spend uninterrupted time with your partner while you can. [Megan's Comments] I have been focusing on getting the baby's and Zach's room set up in our new house - that has been a priority. Thank goodness for good friends and all of their help last weekend - otherwise I would be feeling really overwhelmed right now. Dave and I knew that time would be short once we moved so we took up our friends offers to watch Zach prior to the move and got out on the town and spent some time alone together. It would have been nice to arrange a sleep over with Zach's aunt Dawn and uncle Rob this weekend but with it being Halloween weekend it just isn't something I want to do because we want to take Zach trick-or-treating and give him all the extra attention he needs from mom and dad because he has so much change going on right now. I think the extra family time is better for him right now.
Some swelling in your feet and ankles is normal during these last weeks, but call your practitioner without delay if you notice excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, or have a sudden weight gain. Also let her know immediately if have severe or persistent headaches; visual changes (such as double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, light sensitivity, or a temporary loss of vision), intense upper abdominal pain or tenderness, or nausea and vomiting. These are symptoms of a serious condition called preeclampsia. [Megan's Comments] Ahhh yes - these are symptoms that we watch for me. My ankles and legs are swollen and get worse the longer I am on my feet. My hands are even swelling a bit as my wedding ring is tighter although I can still wear it but by evening I need to take it off because my hands get swollen.
3 Questions About... Preparing to breastfeed
Q1.
Why is breastfeeding considered the best way to feed a baby?
Breast milk is nature's most perfect food for babies. It has just the right proportion and types of proteins, carbs, and fats, along with almost all of the vitamins and minerals that a baby needs in the first six months of life. Dozens of studies have confirmed the benefits of breastfeeding and new ones are published all the time. Here's a look at some of the highlights. Breastfeeding can:
- help protect your baby from diarrhea, respiratory problems, and ear infections.
- reduce your baby's risk for allergies, leukemia, and possibly obesity.
- reduce your stress level and risk of breast cancer.
[Megan's Comments] I will be trying to breast feed again. I was able to breast feed Zach until he was about seven or eight months old if I remember correctly. I ended up ending earlier than I wanted because I didn't have time to pump while at work. Work/life balance at my old company was a rather difficult - however with my new company I don't see any issues with being able to get away to pump. Which is comforting.
Q2.
What can I do to prepare for breastfeeding?
You can set yourself up for breastfeeding success by reading about how to breastfeed and learning where to turn for help if the going gets rough. Here are four key things to know:
• Insist that you and your baby have skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth (unless either of you has a medical complication) so you can start breastfeeding as soon as possible. If you have a c-section, ask that your baby join you in the recovery room as soon as your surgery is done.
[Megan's Comments] One of the great things about Woodwinds is recovery is in your own room with a personal nurse. So we will be able to try breastfeeding right away after the c-section as we did last time with Zach. It does take time for milk to come in but the clostrum did come quickly with Zach.
• Realize that nursing doesn't come naturally to every woman, and if you're feeling discouraged, you're not alone. Get help early while you're still at the hospital or birth center to make sure you and your baby get the hang of breastfeeding before you go home.
• Nurse your newborn frequently — eight to 12 times every 24 hours. And unless medically necessary, your baby shouldn't get anything but breast milk until breastfeeding is well established (for the first few weeks at least).
[Megan's Comments] Yes, this is the real trick to breastfeeding and if you are having difficulties or your milk isn't coming in then you actually need to put the baby to breast MORE than once every two hours as this stimulates your body to produce milk. It is the enzymes in the baby's saliva which stimulates your body to produce milk - so the more you put the baby to breast the quicker your milk should come in.
• For more information, see BabyCenter's comprehensive breastfeeding area.
Q3.
Does breastfeeding hurt?
Just because breastfeeding is the most natural way to nourish your baby doesn't mean it's always easy. For many women, breastfeeding can be uncomfortable or even painful at first. Don't suffer in silence. Pain is often an indication that your baby isn't attached to your breast properly. Her mouth should cover a large part of your areola (the pigmented skin around your nipple). Your nipple should be far back in your baby's mouth. If nursing hurts after your baby's first few sucks, break the suction by inserting your little finger between your baby's gums and your nipple — and try again until you find a position that's less painful. Talk to a lactation consultant before you leave the hospital to make sure your baby is latching on to your breast correctly. If your hospital doesn't provide lactation support or you encounter difficulties after leaving the hospital, you can contact La Leche League International for help.
Some women are totally comfortable breastfeeding in public, while others feel self-conscious. If you're worried about it, carry a jacket or extra blanket with you when you go out with your baby. That way, if he needs to nurse before while you're out, you can drape it over your shoulder and your baby's head for privacy. [Megan's Comments] I've never been comfortable breastfeeding in public even when using a jacket or blanket to cover up the baby. It bothers me the way people look at you like you are doing something wrong. Although nuring your baby in a restroom while sitting on a toilet isn't something I'm going to do either. Ishy!
This Week's Activity:
Start reading up on baby care. If you haven't already, now is the perfect time to switch reading gears from pregnancy to baby. You won't have as much time to read after your baby's born, so learn all you can about the first few weeks now. [Megan's Comments] I suppose I should take out the book and read up on a few things as it has been a few years since Zach was a baby. Over three years now as he is now 3 years and 2 months.
Well that's all for now folks. Time to go take a nice warm bath and relax. Have a great Halloween! I'll take photos of Zach tonight while he trick-or-treats! Hopefully I'll have time to post them before we check into the hospital.
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