37 and 38 Weeks (Dec 1 - 15)

I'm combining weeks again...I'm lazy and there's really not much to write about. Well, there is one big thing, which I'll tell you about below.

I'm feeling huge and everyone is noticing. I put this picture up on Facebook earlier this week and got a lot of comments about how much bigger I'm looking lately!

My biggest news this past week was that I accepted a new job after the baby is born.  I know. I'm a litttttttttttle bit crazy...I mean, I interviewed for a job at 35 weeks pregnant, and accepted a new job at 37 weeks pregnant.  That is insane. 

I had absolutely NO intentions of switching jobs. I love (most things) about my current job and I couldn't have better co-workers, but I found a position in Hiawatha that is part-time and I couldn't pass it up.  Not only that, but I feel like it's more in line with what I see myself doing long term. I'm excited for this new opportunity!  I'm planning on working at my current job until either I have the baby, I can't work any longer, or up until my due date, whichever comes first!

After the baby is born, I plan on taking around 8 weeks maternity leave and then I'll start my new position.  I've also worked it out with my current job that I will be available on a part-time or on-call basis to help train a new person or to be available to answer questions about my position. The last thing I wanted to do was to leave them in a bind.  Luckily, I had been making lists and how-to's for maternity leave.

Other than my job news, there really hasn't been much going on.  I've still been sleeping well. I pee so much during the night it's not even funny. My wedding rings don't fit any more. And basically, I'm just ready to be done being pregnant!

As I was about to finish up this post last Friday (the 13th), I was having a lot of contractions and they seemed different than the braxton hicks that I was used to--a lot of pain in my lower stomach and back, so I called my nurse and they squeezed me in for an appointment before the weekend.  Unfortunately, nothing had really changed from my appointment on Monday; I was still dilated to a two and my doctor just said that he'd maybe see me later this weekend or maybe not! I have my regular weekly appointment on Monday, so hopefully something has changed by then!

Week 37, the baby is the size of a winter melon.  The baby is full term.  He likely measures around 18.9 - 20.9" and weighs about 6.2 - 9.2 pounds and he's gaining about 1/2 ounce each day.  During week 37, baby's practicing some skills: inhaling, exhaling, sucking, gripping and blinking.  He's also getting her first sticky poop (called meconium) ready for his first diaper.

 

Week 38, the baby is the size of a pumpkin!  The baby is about 18.9 - 20.9" long and weighs about 6.2 - 9.2 pounds.  His head is about the same circumference as his abdomen.  By week 38, the baby may have about an inch or so of hair already.  He's also shedding that white goo on his skin (called vernix caseoa), but you might still see some of it at birth.

35 and 36 Weeks (November 17 - December 1)

I seem to be getting lazier with my blogging as the weeks go on, or I have nothing else going on besides getting fatter every week.

Lincoln's mom had both of her knee's replaced this week, not fun!  We went to St. Joe one night after work to see her and were SO close to hitting the most gigantic deer ever on our way home. I freaked out. It scared the crap out of me! I started crying almost instantly for some reason; I think it's because normally when it's dark out and this time of year I have my eyes glued to the road for deer...for some reason, I was on my phone and not paying attention and the damn thing just jumped out in front of us and I had no time to react.  The poor little deer would have been in my lap that night had we hit it. Yikes.

I had my 36 week check up at the doctor this week also and there wasn't really anything new going on...my doctor wasn't 100% sure that the baby was head down, so I have a sonogram at my next appointment (37 weeks) to make sure that he is.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Hillyer's on Thanksgiving day this year.  Since Lincoln's mom had just had surgery, his sisters and I took care of making all of the food and we just brought it all out to his parents house. I took care of pretty much all of the carbs: mashed potatoes, stuffing, homemade rolls, and a dessert. Everything turned out really good!

Later that weekend my mom's two sisters and my cousins came up for a late Thanksgiving and early Christmas celebration.  We did a lot of eating all weekend!  I don't know if I did a lot of standing or if I ate too much salt or what...but my fingers and toes swelled up over the weekend!  I had to take my engagement ring off (it's still not back on!) and my toes looked like sausages. Sick. 

I went home and drank a bunch of water and put my feet up and luckily when I woke up the next morning, the swelling had gone down, but it scared me a little since I hadn't had any issues with swelling so far! I guess I am lucky that it is just now happening and I haven't had any issues prior to this week!

 

At 35 weeks, the baby is about the size of a coconut or about 17.2 - 18.7" and around 4.2 - 5.8 pounds.  By week 35, hearing is fully developed, the circulatory and musculoskeletal systems are complete and his lungs are mature.

 

At 36 weeks, the baby is the size of a honeydew! He's still in the 17.2 - 18.7" and 4.2 - 5.8 pound range and continues to beef up.  The baby would probably be able to breathe on his own if he was born right now.  Most of his systems and organs, such as his liver and kidneys are in working order at 36 weeks.