36 weeks: 9 MONTHS!!!

It feels a little weird knowing that I am 9 months along in my pregnancy today. I have been told all my life that, when pregnant, you carry a baby for 9 months... but, in all actuality, we carry them for almost 10 months! LOL

Here are some of the fun updates for this week with Kyler...

The following is from 3D Pregnancy:

"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!"

Your baby is now around 18½ inches long and nearly 6 pounds—just about as big as a breadbox!"

The following is from WhatToExpect.com:

"Your baby's skull isn't the only soft structure in his or [his] little body. Most of your baby's bones and cartilage are quite soft as well (they'll harden over the first few years of life) — allowing for an easier journey as your baby squeezes through the birth canal at delivery (and less prodding and poking for Mom along the way). At 36 weeks pregnant, the skull bones are also not fused together yet so that the head can easily (well, relatively easily) maneuver through the birth canal.

So your little bruiser (who you've now learned won't be bruising you all that much with those soft bones) is now about six pounds in weight and measures slightly more than 20 inches in length. Growth will experience a slowdown now, both so your baby will be able to fit the narrow passageway to the outside and also so he or she can store up all the energy needed for delivery.

By now, many of your baby's systems are pretty mature, at least in baby terms — and just about ready for life on the outside. Blood circulation, for instance, has been perfected and your baby's immune system has matured enough to protect him or her from infections outside the womb. Other systems, however, still need a few finishing touches. Once such notable example: digestion — which actually won't be fully mature until sometime after birth. Why's that? Inside his or her little gestational cocoon, your baby has relied on the umbilical cord for nutrition, meaning that the digestive system — though developed — hasn't been operational. So your baby will take the first year or two to bring that system up to speed."

36 Weeks Pregnant

35 Weeks

Wow.... we are so close! It's a little scary now when I realize I am going to have to push this little guy out of me! LOL But, I know he will be worth every little bit of pain! I can't wait to meet my little man!!! Here's what's going on with Ky this week:

The following is from WhatToExpect.com:

"Your baby is standing tall (so to speak) this week at about 20 inches and continues [his] steady weight gain (he’s about 5.5 pounds). While [he] won't get much longer, [he] will continue to pack on the pounds — including large amounts of baby fat — right up 'til delivery day. Something else that's moving at a mind-boggling pace these day: fetal brain development! There’s a lot going on inside that tiny head, which is, by the way, still soft to allow an easier exit through the birth canal."

The following is from 3D Pregnancy:

"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)."

Picture provided by WhatToExpect.com

False alarm!?!?

Well, I got called in to the hospital around 10am where they did an ultra-sound. The tech said she was not sure what the tech from yesterday saw, but my amniotic fluid looked just fine to her. She said that it was at about a 10 and anywhere from 8-20 is normal.

The doctor that specializes in high risk pregnancies came in after that and did another ultra-sound to double check the numbers because there was such a big difference. She said that my fluids look good, the baby looks great, and that I can go home after just one mor

e test. They just wanted to check to make sure I wasn't leaking fluid, but the test came out fine!

So.......... FALSE ALARM!!!!! I think that first tech needs a little more training! ;)

One thing good came out of this though.... I decided that I needed to get ready for this baby to come! So, I finally got Kyler's crib together, dressed his bed, got the diaper bags ready, set up the car with the safety things I bought, and went shopping for the last few things on the list! I think we are a lot more ready now! LOL

Not sure......

Well, I went in for my ultra-sound and we got to see all these adorable shots of Ky!!! He kept holding his hand in front of his face, but I actually got to see a bit of what his face looks like... I have never been more excited!!!!! It turns out that he is only measuring about a week bigger; to be exact, 34 weeks and 6 days.

Unfortunately, there was some bad news too... as the tech was looking around she kept mentioning how low my amniotic fluid was, but she couldn't see my cervix to see if I was dilating. So, she did a vaginal ultra-sound and everything looked good, I am only at 2 centimeters. But, she asked me to stay until she could reach my doctor because she was very concerned about the low level of fluid.

She got Dr. Berry on the phone, told him the details, and then he asked to talk to me. He said that the baby is doing good, but there is obviously a large concern with the amount of amniotic fluid. He is referring me to some specialists that he works with that deal with high risk pregnancies. He said that I would hear from them by tomorrow morning and that they will need to do some tests with me tomorrow. He said that they would do another ultra-sound and then some stress tests.

I am not exactly sure what all this entails, but I will try to keep the blog updated as much as I can. Talk to you all soon!!

34 Weeks: Now that's a BIG BABY!!!

Today we hit 34 weeks!!!! And got a BIG surprise at the doctor's visit!!!

Dr. Berry was measuring my belly, as he does every visit, but this time he measured it 4 times!!! LOL Turns out, Kyler is measuring in 2 weeks bigger than he should be.... what does this mean, you ask? That's what I wanted know and all he seemed to be able to say was, "When this happens, we just get a little worried about how he's going to get out of there."

I think my jaw dropped to the floor! Kyler is a BIG baby and they don't know if I will be able to push him out! Of course, this may allow me to get what I wanted from the first place... a C-section. :)

So, I have to go in for an Ultra-sound tomorrow so that they can see how much room Kyler has.... although, this now explains all the pain I have been dealing with! I guess Kyler just doesn't have enough room in there! LOL

Now for the update!!!!

The following is from WhatToExpect.com:

"Your baby is clocking in at five pounds and could be as tall as 20 inches by now, and the vernix (the white coating protecting your baby’s skin) is getting thicker. This week, a boy's testicles start making their way down from his abdomen to their fin

al destination: his scrotum (look out below!). While about three to four percent of boys are born with undescended testicles, it's nothing to worry about — they usually head

downtown before junior turns a year old."

The picture on the top is how much room Kyler SHOULD have, on the bottom is how much room he REALLY has!!!! Poor guy!!

Another one?????

So... I have been having a lot of pain in my pelvic area for months and the doctor told me this was normal. But, lately it has been excruciatingly bad (especially at night!). I called the doctor today to see if there were some exercises I could do and to see how much Tylenol he would want me to take for this. Instead.... they told me to go to the hospital! Wha???

Anyway, I did as they said and (as I expected) I am not in labor, the baby is fine, I am just in a lot of pain. But... they did discover that I have ANOTHER Urinary Tract Infection!!! What's up with that?? Well, I got a prescription and I am starting up my daily glass of cranberry juice again. Hopefully, this is the last UTI for this pregnancy!

WEEK 33!!!!

It seems like just yesterday I was writing about week 32.... I can't believe how fast the time is flying.... and I am SOOOOOOO not ready!!! LOL I am still looking into Labor & Delivery classes, the crib still isn't up, I have a lot more shopping to do.... baby meds, shampoo, lotion, diapers, wipes, pacifiers, bottles.... wow is right!! LOL Ok, ok... let's get to the fun stuff! Here is what's going on with Kyler....

The following is from WhatToExpect.com:

This week your baby may be anywhere between 17 to 19 inches in length and weigh more than four and a half pounds. At this stage in fetal development, your baby could grow a full inch more this week alone — especially if he or she has been on the shorter side. Weight gain can range from a third more growth to a full doubling before the big debut.The level of amniotic fluid in your uterus has reached its maximum at 33 weeks pregnant, making it likely that you have more baby than fluid now. That's one reason why you're probably feeling lots of nudges and pushes — there's less liquid to cushion the blows. (Of course that means you're even closer to your baby now!) If your uterine walls had eyes, here's what you'd see: your fetus acting more and more like a baby, with his or her eyes closing during sleep and opening while awake. And because those uterine walls are becoming thinner, more light penetrates the womb, helping your baby differentiate between day and night (now if only baby can remember that difference on the outside!). And good news! Your baby has reached an important milestone about now: The development of his or her own immune system that (along with antibodies from you) will be able to provide protection from mild infections.

32 Weeks...

Sorry this is late... we hit the 32 week mark yesterday, but between work, school, and everything else... you can't blame me for missing a day! ;)

There have been some doctor's visit changes. Here is what 3D Pregnancy: "Up until now, you've been seeing your doctor about once a month. Now you'll start seeing her every two weeks, until the final month when you'll kick it up to once a week."

32 Weeks Pregnant

Now... what is Kyler up to? Here is what 3D Pregnancy has to say about that:

"There is something surreal about watching a tiny foot move across your belly (and something uncomfortable about getting jabbed by a tiny elbow in the dead of night). Now that your baby is nice and big and mobile, you'll be getting kicked and prodded in all sorts of unexpected places. Oooof! Did you feel that one in the ribs?

If you're feeling sudden, jerking movements, then your baby probably has the hiccups. Or he could be practicing his routine for So You Think You Can Dance. Changing positions, taking a walk, or drinking a cold glass of water or juice can sometimes get a very active baby to chill with the kidney shots for a while. You could also try telling the baby if he kicks you one more time you're going to come in there and give him a time-out. OK, that won't help ease the discomfort, but mentally it'll make you feel like you're still in control.

You can also take heart in the fact that in a few more weeks, your Karate Kid will be running out of room for the kind of athletic displays he's so fond of these days. In other words, he'll be too cramped in there to haul his foot back 6 or 7 inches to give you a swift kick in the ribs.

Although your baby will still remain active, his days of trying out for Cirque du Soleil are nearly over. About this time your baby will settle into the head-down position in preparation for birth. Other fascinating facts:

Both you and baby are putting on some serious weight at this point. You'll probably gain about a pound a week for the next few weeks, with half of that poundage bulking up baby. He'll likely double his weight in the next eight weeks.

Ever wonder what your baby is doing in there these days? He's busy blinking, looking around, grabbing things, making faces, practicing his breathing, peeing and listening to everything around him—pretty much exactly what he'll be doing for the first three months of his life, sans the adoring audience and the flashing camera.

Your baby may (or may not) have a full head of hair now.

By the end of this week, your baby will weigh about 4 pounds and measure over 17 inches long."