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!)