35 Week Update

I had my bi-weekly appointment this morning and everything is looking good. I didn't even ask what I was measuring because I was a little frustrated.  I sat in a room waiting on the doctor for an hour and a half this morning and my appointments only take five minutes.  I also had the 8:15 appointment, so at the most I had two people in front of me.  I get it if you had to deliver a child or something, but wouldn't you at least tell me that, or apologize for being late?  It wasn't my normal doctor, its one of the others in the practice, and this never happens with my normal doctor.  Its just frustrating because I'm very quickly running out of PTO and 2 hour doctor's appointments don't help the cause!

I start my weekly appointments next Monday, so I'll have a better idea then of how I'm measuring as it will also start the more in-depth evaluations.

PREGNANCY HIGHLIGHTS

How Far Along: 35 Weeks

Size of Baby: Your baby is now about 5½ pounds and over 18 inches long—about the size of one of those price-club sheet cakes.

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).

As Patrick Swayze put it, "Nobody puts baby in a corner!" Doubly true for your little tenant. 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.

At this point in your pregnancy all the blood has gone to your belly ... literally. Nearly 1/6 of your body's total blood volume is chugging around in the vessels in your uterus. So that's why you feel so lightheaded all the time!

Starting this week you'll visit your OB or midwife weekly. Every time you go you'll probably beg her to tell you when she thinks your babe is coming. Unfortunately, her guess is about as good as yours. Even if you're dilated, there's no telling exactly when baby will make his appearance (unless you have a scheduled C-section, of course.)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 20 pounds

Movement: Still moving around a lot, and feeling hiccups usually once a day, just not as many kicks as rolls and pushes.

Sleep: Starting to get a little more labored. I wake up every night at least once, maybe twice, because I have to use the restroom, and I always have a hard time falling back asleep for some reason. I also am having pains in my hips and pelvis when I wake up, but they usually go away by mid-morning.

What I Miss: Sleeping on my stomach and feeling "in shape" (being able to breathe normally after going up a flight of stairs or doing normal household chores).

Cravings: I've had a few cravings this week, but nothing too weird, just your usual dessert craving.

Symptoms: Shortness of breath, increased peeing, indigestion, and clumsiness have settled in.  I dropped and broke a glass of cranberry juice, burnt my hand on the stove, and dropped a big pot onto a baking dish all within about 20 minutes of each other last night.

Best Moment this Week: This is kind of the best/most frightening moment this week ... coming to the realization that I could have a child in three weeks.  Scary!