38 weeks and High BP

This week baby is the size of a watermelon...(Pretty much that's what I look like...like I've swallowed a watermelon, or a basketball.)

Here's what's happening with Judah this week...

• Baby is about 20 inches (51 cm) and weighs about 7.5 pounds (3.4 kilograms).


• The soft down, which covered the body throughout the pregnancy, is now disappearing.


• The body fat is continuing to build up.


• The wrinkled skin is becoming 'baby' smooth.


• The baby may have reached its final birth position.


• Most babies are born head first with only about 3 percent coming out feet first.


• About one in eight births are caesarean.

Development is complete, baby's main job is to gain weight. The body continues laying on the fat stores that will help regulate his body temperature after birth. The amniotic fluid, this is approximately equal to 4 or 5 cups. It doesn't sound like much, but just wait until your water breaks, it will feel like much more.

Baby may have a full head of hair now, an inch or more long, but some babies are born with only peach fuzz. Speaking of hair, most of the downy coat of lanugo that covered your baby for weeks has disappeared, but you may see some on the upper back and shoulders when he or she arrives. Almost gone has most of the vernix caseosa, the whitish substance that also covered baby.

Your baby will swallow the lanugo and exterior coating, along with other secretions, and store them in their bowels. These will become your infant's first bowel movement, a blackish waste called meconium. Your child's intestines are accumulating lots of meconium. About 30% of babies move their bowels before birth. Usually this is a sign that the baby is under some stress and can cause pneumonia if the baby inhales any amniotic fluid with meconium in it. If there are signs of meconium in the amniotic fluid at birth your care provider will make sure that the baby's throat and lungs are suctioned thoroughly.

Your baby's intestines have accumulated a considerable amount of meconium (the code name for black, tar-like baby poop), which is usually eliminated shortly after birth and gives you your first experience with the 100-wipe diaper change. Here's what else is up:

Your baby might just scratch herself in the womb as the fingernails have grown over the fingertips now. Baby's lungs continue to mature and his brain and nerve function are working better every day. The latter two will continue to mature until Junior is a teenager, at which point he'll know it all (or at least he'll think he does).

He has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold his hand for the first time! His 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 he's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If he's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time he'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 he'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.)

Here's me at 38 weeks...

I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to post my weekly blog. You're probably thinking..."you're on bedrest, you should have all the time in the world to be posting on your blog." If you're not thinking that, then you are probably now thinking..."I didn't know you were on bedrest...what's going on?"

Well, let me tell you. It seems odd to have made it to 38 weeks and be put on bedrest. If it was for contractions, then you're right, that would be odd. Unfortunately, that is not my problem. My blood pressure has gone up slightly over the last couple weeks, and this last weekend, it was pretty high when I was doing anything but lay down on my side. I ended up going into the hospital, because my doctor wanted to do some blood work and other tests to see if I had preeclampsia. (You may also know this as "Toxemia".)

All my tests came back totally normal, so Praise the Lord I do not have Preeclampsia. What I do have is Pregnancy Induced Hypertension or PIH. That basically means that the pregnancy is causing my blood pressure to go up. Because of this, I have been placed on modified bedrest. Meaning that I monitor my BP during the day and if it's doing good, I can do a little activity for a short time, and then take it again. If it goes up, I have to lay back down. So basically I am spending a lot of time on the couch with little spouts of activity in between.

My boss has been totally gracious and is allowing me to work at home, so I don't have to take this time off. So, I lay on the couch with my laptop working. This helps me to feel like I've been somewhat productive during the day. Which is good, because I hate being inactive. I will say I am somewhat enjoying the rest, but it's hard for me to just stay on the couch, when I'm usually so active.

I'm trying to see this as the Lord's way of telling me to rest before the BIG day and the arrival of our son. I'm trying to enjoy it and soak it in, because I know soon it will be a thing of the past.

Oh yeah...and my cervix is 2 cm dilated and about 75%-80% effaced (or thinned out). So, it's changed a little, but I'm not having regular contractions. I do get braxton hicks contractions throughout the day, but not in a regular pattern. So, who knows when this baby will decide to come. We just continue to wait and try to wait "patiently" to meet our precious son.

37 weeks and FULLTERM!!!!

We have finally arrived!!! Judah is full term, which means fully baked! If he decides to make his appearance, all systems are "go"! I can't believe it!!!

This week baby is the size of a diaper bag. (Okay, this is a slightly odd measurement and a little ironic, I think!)...

Here's what's happening with Judah this week...

• Typically, baby now measures 19.5 inches (50 cm) from the head to the heel.


• Baby weighs up to 7 pounds or 3 kilograms.


• The head diameter is over 3.5 inches (9cm).


• The water could break at any time.


• If it does happen, see a doctor immediately.

Gaining one ounce per day, your baby is growing rapidly. Keep up those exercises, especially your Kegels. Keeping your pelvic floor muscles toned will aid in a quicker recovery from the birth. An elbow, foot or head may protrude from your stomach when baby stretches and squirms about. Soon, as the wall of your uterus and your abdomen stretch thinner and let in more light, your baby will begin to develop daily activity cycles.

Even though you are three weeks from your due date, you are now considered full term. In most cases, nothing will be done to stop your labour once it starts, even if it is before your 40th week. You may notice a bit more vaginal discharge and/or cervical mucus.

If you go into labor at this point your careprovider will not try to stop it. (Babies between 37 and 42 weeks are considered full-term -- a baby born before 37 weeks is premature and after 42 is post-term.)

Even though you can't wait for the little bambino to quite literally rear his head, keep in mind that your bun benefits from every day in the oven. Other ticker-tape-worthy developments:

Baby's growth slows down dramatically this week, which is great news for your birth canal. His bones are still soft and pliable and will solidify after he's born. More great news for your birth canal.

So if he's all cooked and ready to go, what the heck is he still doing in there?! He's busy practicing for "life on the outside," working on his breathing, sucking, sleeping, gazing and peeing abilities. The only thing he can't practice yet is his ability to scream at the top of his lungs when he's hungry—but he'll do plenty of that in a few weeks.

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel. Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

Here's me at 37 weeks...

So, I'm full term...YAY!! I still have technically a little less than 3 weeks till my due date, but if Judah decides it is time, then we are ready! I can't believe we are finally at this point!

I am seeing my doctor now every week on Wednesdays. Last Wednesday, my doctor said my cervix was really soft and I was dilated to 1 cm and was 60%-70% effaced. (If you don't know what that is, it means that my cervix is getting thinner and is starting to open.) The week before I was only a Fingertip and was 60% effaced. So, I made a little progress in a week. That was good to hear. It doesn't necessarily mean anything, since I could stay at 1 cm for weeks or I could slowly dilate without even being in labor. (That would be nice....since it would mean when I do go into labor I am starting out a little bit ahead of the game!)

We went by the fire department on Saturda and had them inspect an instruct us in the installation of the car seats. So, those are now securely installed and ready to go as well. Pretty much, we are all ready and just resting and waiting at this point.

I can honestly say that I am still really enjoying this pregnancy. I still love feeling Judah move inside me. I won't lie and say that I'm not uncomfortable, and at times in pain, but I really have had a wonderful pregnancy. I wanted to say this now, so if I said it after I had him, people won't just think...oh, she just has amnesia and doesn't remember how bad she felt! I have been truly blessed.

Now, if I could just get my feet to stop swelling...! :-)

36 weeks - ALMOST FULL TERM!!

This week, baby is the size of a beachball... :-)

Here's what's happening in baby-town this week...

• The baby is about 19 inches (48 cm) long.


• Weight is around 6 pounds (2.7 kg).


• The baby's body is becoming chubby as fat layers build.


• Between now and birth they may gain about an ounce (30g) a day


• You may feel contractions of the womb, called Braxton Hicks contractions

While it says that your baby weighs six and a half pounds this week and measures 19 inches long, this is only an estimate. In general, babies are gaining half a pound per week now. Baby continues gaining weight as fat deposits and is forming creases in the neck and wrists.

You may feel contractions of the womb, called Braxton Hicks contractions, which can be used to perform and practice breathing exercises. You may be visiting your caregiver weekly up until the birth. Regular internal exams may begin, to see if your cervix has softened, thinned, dilated or if your baby's head is dropping into the pelvis. Any of these could be signs of impending labor but there are no guarantees and you could be waiting for weeks yet. Your baby is almost ready, a pair of kidneys and the liver has begun processing some waste products, the only organ still to mature is the lungs.

This week your baby may drop into the birth canal, this is called 'lightening' or 'dropping'. If this is not your first baby, this 'lightening' may not occur until right before labor. Your care provider may refer to it by saying that your baby is now 'engaged'. The majority of babies are now in the birth position, either head down (vertex) or butt down (breech), most will maintain this position until birth. Any movements that they make are more likely to be rolls from side to side.You may notice when this happens because it will suddenly become much easier for you to breathe. While breathing becomes easier, walking may be the exact opposite. If your baby has dropped you may find yourself visiting the bathroom much more often as baby is resting right on top of your bladder again.

Your baby continues to put on weight at about ½ pound each week. This layer of fat will help your baby regulate his body temperature after leaving your climate-controlled womb. In fact, your baby will be 15 percent fat at birth (and you ... well that's another story). Even in the womb, your baby can listen, feel, touch and see. The only thing separating him from living in the outside world is a little thing called the birth canal. Other highlights this week:

His gums are firm with ridges that look somewhat like teeth, though his actual pearly whites won't start breaking through until he's between three months and a year old.

Your baby has definite patterns of sleep and wakefulness—opening his eyes while awake and closing them while sleeping. Your baby will become alert and turn his head toward light and sound just as a newborn would—except when you put on that Celine Dion CD. Then the baby puts his hands up, turns away and gurgles, "Oh no you didn't!"

She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an external cephalic version, which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

Here's me at 36 weeks...

Well...I can't believe we are almost there!! This coming Sunday I will be 37 weeks and therefore considered "Full Term."

I feel like we are finally ready, and if baby takes a few more weeks, it will be nice to get a little rest before the big day! We have worked hard, and everything is ready and set, which make me feel very much at ease. The nursery is ready, the clothes and baby items are washed and put away, my hospital bag is packed, and the house is totally clean.

This is what I did this last weekend...cleaned. My mom and mom-in-law came over on Friday and we spent the entire day DEEP cleaning my house. In fact, I don't know that my house has ever been as clean as it was by the end of that day! They were so amazing, and I totally couldn't have done it without them. I was completely exhausted by the end of the day and I only did a third of the work. I have the most amazing mom's!! Thank you so much!

So, now we await God's perfect timing and the arrival of our precious son, Judah. We can't wait to meet him and begin this new adventure that God has for our lives! I praise Him daily for the precious gift he has given us...thus the very reason we are naming him Judah Nathanael which means "Praise for the gift of God"!!

35 weeks...So Close!

This week baby is the size of a thow pillow (?)... (Have I mentioned that I love how quantitative these measurements are!)

Here's what's happening with baby this week...

Your baby is now about 18.5 inches in length and weighs over 5.5 pounds.

Baby is about 47cm crown to heel and weighs almost 2.7 Kg.

The body is growing round due to developing fat layers.

Your baby's reflexes are coordinated.

Lungs are almost fully developed.

About 90% of babies born this week survive

Most babies gain about half pound per week in the last month of pregnancy. Fat stores accumulate in the legs and arms. These layers of fat will help them regulate their body temperature. Baby still doesn't have enough fat deposits beneath its skin to keep warm outside your womb. If born now the baby would probably be put in an incubator, about 90% of babies born this week survive.

Lungs are almost fully developed. Your baby's reflexes are coordinated, they turn their head, grasp firmly, and respond to sounds, light and touch. You should still feel movement every day. He or she is about 5 and a half pounds and growing fast, it is getting short of space in the womb.

Your baby has pretty much taken over your entire torso by now. Over the past few months, he's squished and mushed all of your organs out of the way. Any day now, he'll make a final move and shove your heart up and to the left to make more room for himself. (See, he's got your heart in his hands already.)

Before all this pregnancy stuff, your uterus was a small ball the size of your fist and was tucked neatly away behind your pelvis. Today your uterus is the size of a small watermelon and reaches all the way up to your ribs.

This week the final touches are being added to your mini-masterpiece and most of his development is going to packing on the pounds. While baby's movements may be becoming less jerky, he may do his final somersault in the womb soon—to put himself into the head-down position for birth. Other fascinating facts:

Your little Karate Kid can't quite pack the punch he used to due to the limited space inside the womb these days. You're likely to feel more wiggles, stretches and rolls than kicks and jabs. The extra layer of fat your baby is adding will create those cute dimples on your baby's elbows and knees. His liver has begun processing his waste products, so you know which organ to thank when he has his first blowout up the back of his onesie.

Baby's nails are growing so long they may curl over the tips of his tiny fingers and toes before he sees a pair of clippers. He'll be in serious need of a mani-pedi once he's born (as will you).

His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.


Here's me at 35 weeks...

Here's a bit of a different view this time, that Nathan took, and I liked how it turned out. It gives you just a little bit of a different perspective.

Okay...so I totally did the cheesy picture of the hands in the shape of a heart on my belly. I know, I know, but every new mom has to have at least one of these pictures, right? :-)

So, pretty much the newest thing in our lives this week is that our huge remodel is complete!! Yay! I won't talk much about it here, because you can see in the two posts below that I finished a little bit earlier all the details and the pictures. Enjoy...I know I sure am!!! :-) (Maybe we can get a little rest now!)

The Remodel is COMPLETE! We have a new closet!!!

THE REMODEL IS FINISHED!!!! The project that has been progressing from the time it began about 3 months ago is finally done, and just in time. Now, maybe we can get some rest and sleep in on a weekend or two before baby comes!

Nathan has done such an amazing job. I love seeing what we have envisioned for so long, come to fruition, and in my opinion, turn out even better than we planned. Really...Nathan was the one with the vision and the plan, I just was along for the ride!

The nursery was finished about 2 weeks ago, and we spent the last two weeks finishing the furniture and decorating. This weekend, Nathan spent 13 hours on Saturday finishing our new walk-in closet. It started with him laying the laminate wood floor, then doing baseboards and trim, and finally building and installing the closet system. It was a long day, but well worth it when we saw our clothes hanging in the closet and not laying in piles in our guest room for the first time in 3 months! We stayed up till midnight putting our clothes in the closet. We just started by wanting to put a couple of things in, and see how it would look. As I'm sure you've experienced...once you get going, you just don't stop.

Check out the pics below of the progress and the final product!

(Nathan is giving me a cheesy smile, because I asked him to look at the camera. He may sometimes get a little tired of all my picture taking!) :-)

Our friend Tim came to help for a few hours that morning as Nathan laid the floor.

The Nursery is Finished!!!!

I am so excited!! The nursery is finally finished. All of the construction has been done for a couple of weeks, and as you saw in last week's post, the furniture was completed last weekend. This week, we finished with putting everything away, organizing, planning, and decorating.

We did a jungle animal theme. We love the stuff we picked out, and thanks to Nathan's mom and grandma getting us most of the accessories that match our bedding, the room has turned out really cute! The best thing about it is since it's gender neutral, we can use this with any kids we have in the future as well! (Although, Nathan insists if he has a girl, he wants her to have a definite girl room.) We'll see! :-)

So, without further ado....here is Judah's new room...

Check out the Desk (now our changing table) and the dresser that Nathan refinished. Didn't they turn out great?!

Judah makes his presence known!

So, a couple of nights ago, I was laying in bed reading and Judah started moving like crazy. He's done this many times in the past, and I always think, "Man, I wish I had a video camera." Usually, by the time I call someone to look at it or would have time to get a camera, he's stopped.

Well, this night, he was moving, and Nathan and I were watching my belly for a bit, when I said, "Hey, go get the camera, let's see if we can capture this, if he keeps going." Sure, enough, we got some fun videos, that I'd love to share with you. I took multiple short video clips, and below are two where he made some of the bigger moves. It was seriously making Nathan and I both laugh to watch it!