39 Weeks- One Week Left

Good morning everyone. I guess that Sam likes where he is. He's not going anywhere just yet.

According to the experts:
* As my official due date approaches, I'm completely fixed on the calendar, but since less than 10 percent of women deliver on their actual due date, chances are Sam is going to take me by surprise on a different day. Whenever Sam arrives is the right time for him.

*Sam is continuing to grow and working on the layer of fat underneath his skin. This is an important part of Sam's ability to regulate his body temperature once he is born. Sam is also beginning to form new skin cells which will replace older skin cells.


Sam is now between 18 and 20 ½ inches long and around 6 ½ to 8 pounds.




Here is the weekly bump picture (as always).
This might be the last one of these.



I requested another internal exam at my appointment yesterday and I'm still where I was last week. No change.

38 Weeks- 14 days until Sam's Due Date

Good morning everyone. I guess that Sam likes where he is. He's not going anywhere just yet.

According to the experts:
* Sam'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:

* Sam might just scratch himself in the womb as the fingernails have grown over the fingertips now.

* Sam's lungs continue to mature and her brain and nerve function are working better every day. The latter two will continue to mature until Sam is a teenager, at which point he'll know it all (or at least he'll think he does).


Sam weighs about 6½ pounds and is around 19 or 20 inches long—as long as leek.



Here is the weekly bump picture (as always).
There's probably not going to be many more of these.



I requested an internal exam at my appointment yesterday and my son is at zero station and I am 90% effaced. Unfortunately, I'm not dilated, but my midwife says that once I start, it should progress pretty quickly. I'm so excited.

Maternity Pictures

We had a maternity pictures session with a student from UNC on March 1st. Here are some of the images that she was able to capture. I'm very happy.

37 Weeks- Sam is officially baked this week!

Good morning everyone. That means I could literally give birth at any given moment. A terrifying, exciting and overwhelming concept, all rolled into one.

According to the experts:
* Huge news this week: I'm carrying a full-term baby! If I was to go into labor today, all systems would be a go. Woohoo! Even though I can't wait for the little bambino to quite literally rear his head, keep in mind that Sam benefits from every day in the oven. Other ticker-tape-worthy developments:

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



Sam is now around between 19 and 20 inches and most babies weigh approximately 6-7 pounds (approximately the length of a Swiss chard).



Here is the weekly bump picture (as always)


P.S.- During my midwifery appointment yesterday I was told that Sam has moved down and I may end up giving birth this weekend or next. Of course, that's totally up to Sam, but it's a good sign that it's going to happen sooner than later.

Week 36-- 28 Days and Counting

Good morning everyone. Pregnancy is 9 months (yea, right). I hit that today.

According to the experts:
* Sam continues to put on weight at about ½ pound each week. This layer of fat will help Sam regulate his body temperature after leaving your climate-controlled womb. In fact, Sam will be 15 percent fat at birth (and me ... well that's another story).
* Even in the womb, Sam can listen, feel, touch and see.
* Sam's 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.
* Sam has definite patterns of sleep and wakefulness—opening his eyes while awake and closing them while sleeping.


Sam is now around 18½ inches long and nearly 6 pounds—just about as big as a Crenshaw Melon!



Here is the weekly bump picture (as always)