Week 38: Oh the Swelling!

This week, my swelling went to the next level. I have mild, self-diagnosed, pitting edema. If you Google images of it, just know that mine isn’t as bad as you see. But I don’t like it! It often occurs during pregnancy, and I don’t have any other negative signs of something more serious (like pre-eclampsia). It’s not painful and is worsened if I’m on my feet all day.

So I’ve been trying to take it more easy, but that means hubby is doing more for me and around the house; besides working hard at his own job. Today he defrosted our fridge and freezer and hung out the laundry. And he must make at least 5 ice cold water bottles for me a day.

The Bump and Baby Center say this about Week 38:

“Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Pumpkin.

As long as a Leek.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)”

Start of the baby cap I mentioned last week. Luckily I got it done before my carpal tunnel got worse.

Pregnancy Tracking Questions

How far along: 38 weeks.

Size of Baby: Weighs as much as a small pumpkin and is a long as a leek.

Sleep: I wake up every 2-3 hours. Practice?

Maternity clothes: Same old stuff.

Stretch marks: None.

Wedding Ring: Off. I thought I’d miss it, but I don’t even notice with my hands so swollen.

Things bought/given: We got a package from my friends back home, and got a few more little baby items (bows, sunglasses (so cute!), socks, washcloths). We bought some little hand-made stuffed animals. Our plan is to work together and make a mobile out of them. We also got some newborn hats for pictures after she’s born.

Best moments this week: Saturday, we had a really lovely day. We went to a local school fair, which was so cute, had lunch at Groote Constantia, went for a drive and saw part of the Atlantic ocean I hadn’t seen for a while, packed our hospital bags, and saw Zero Dark Thirty (our last movie before the baby comes).

Cute Giraffe.

Worst moments this week: Nothing too awful, just overemotional or irritable to little things. I also didn’t get to the gym this week- and might not do much more exercising besides walking until this baby is here!

 Movement: She’s dropped 3/5ths into my pelvis. On Thursday, at our Midwife appointment, she had flipped from my left side to my right side, which so was weird, because she has been in the same basic position since at least my 26^th weeks. By the end of the day, she was back to the left side. 

Miss anything: My energy!

Cravings: Sweets are always nice.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.

Annoyances: Having a weaker grip.

Belly button in or out: In.

New Aches and Pains: My carpal tunnel has gotten worse this week. Lots more tingling in my fingertips and palms, and a weird feeling in my forearms. And the pitting edema (see above).

Braxton Hicks: I think I’ve been feeling some, but more of a tightening on the top of my tummy occasionally. Nothing regular, but my abs did feel tired afterwards.

Looking forward to: Big changes. Our lives are going to be so much fuller now.

Worried about: Big changes. Our lives will never be the same.

Song of the Post: Landslide, as sung by Stevie Nicks and also The Dixie Chicks. I can’t make up my mind which version I like best. Thoughts?

Week 37: Hit a Wall of Tiredness.

Wow, this week, things changed. I have become extremely tired all the time. I’m only getting up twice to use the restroom, however, I have to rotate at least 5 times a night from side to side. I also wake up scratching mosquito bites at least once a night. 

The second thing is that I’ve developed a little bit of carpal tunnel in my right hand this week. It is fairly common for pregnancy swelling to occur in the wrists and compress the nerves in the hands. This means I have some weakness, numbness, and tingling at different times throughout the day.

Thirdly, the swelling in my hands have gotten worse. I gave up wearing my wedding ring this week because even the larger ring I’d moved to was getting tight. My knuckles are so swollen and painful- the pain slightly dissipates between 11 am – 7pm, but comes back really bad overnight. I wake up and I can’t make a fist. And if I force it, the middle finger of my right hand gets stuck in a closed position, while I can open the rest of my fingers normally. I have to pop it back out manually. Its really weird, but not painful. I've posted a video below to show you!

 

The Bump and Baby Center say this about Week 37:

“At 37 weeks, your baby has reached full term. That means she’s developed her most crucial functions. Of course, she’ll get even healthier and stronger over the next few weeks, so don’t get too impatient. She likely measures around 18.9 to 20.9 inches and weighs about 6.2 to 9.2 pounds. She's gaining about 1/2 ounce each day. If you go into labor now, her lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb.”

Winter melon.

Swiss Chard.

“Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.”

Pregnancy Tracking Questions

How far along: 37 weeks.

Size of Baby: Weighs as much as a winter melon and is a long as a stalk of swiss chard.

Sleep: Bad. See above.

Maternity clothes: Some of my maternity shirts are starting to not fit- my belly can still be seen underneath. I’m back to earing the Bella Band sometimes to bridge the gap between shirt and pants. Who knew your belly could out-grow a maternity shirt?!

Stretch marks: None. Pre-stretched you know.

Wedding Ring: Off. See above.

Things bought/given: We bought a little baby bathtub and newborn insert for it, some Size One disposable diapers (we don’t have newborn cloth diapers). Bought a beautiful bunting to hang in the baby’s room (whenever she finally gets one) from the Design Indaba (I wrote about it last year, and will again soon).

Best moments this week: I still go to Belly Dance 2-3 times a week, as well and Antenatal Yoga 2 times a week (although that might change now). This week, I was feeling tired before Belly Dance class, and  I left feeling happy and more energized. I’m really going to miss it while I’m recovering.

Worst moments this week: Being more irritable and teary than normal.

Movement: I think she’s dropped some, but she is still in the same basic position, bum in the air on my left; feet kicking on the right side.

Miss anything: Motivation.

Cravings: Cold water never gets old.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.

Annoyances: Hubby’s farts drive me crazy. He does it so often, and never realizes where he does them (right in front of the fan blowing in my direction?!). I bought him probiotic pills today- I hope they regulate his system a little!

Belly button in or out: In.

New Aches and Pains: See above.

Braxton Hicks: None yet. I think….

Looking forward to: Trying to crochet some cute newborn hats- if my swollen hands and carpel tunnel allow it!

Scared of: Not labor. I’m scared of what I’m going to do with her when we get home. Really worried.

Song of the Post: The Way You Do The Things You Do by The Temptations. I left our midwife appointment with this song in my head. I’m providing two versions of the song this week, the second is by UB40.

AND

36 Weeks: This is getting real!

We finally realized that these last few weeks are going to pass quickly, and the baby could literally come almost any time now. Two women we knew, due on ly a week before us, both gave birth this week! So we realized that we might need to get our bags packed, have a place set up for the baby to sleep, buy some newborn diapers, finish washing all her blankets and clothing, and get the car seat base installed in the car. We got most of this list done or partially done. 

 And...

One last thing the be figured out- her NAME! 

We still haven’t decided.

The Bump and Baby Center say this about Week 36:

“Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

Crenshaw melon (source).

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

(source)

Your due date is just four weeks away. Your once-poppy seed would probably be able to breathe on his own if he was born right now. Most of his systems are in working order at 36 weeks. Since baby really could decide to make his arrival any day now, try to put in a little prep work. Go over your plan for getting to the hospital, and all the what-ifs. Week 36 is also a good time to enjoy a date with your partner. We’re guessing you won’t be up for dancing, but a nice dinner might be just what you two could use.”

Pregnancy Tracking Questions

How far along: 36 weeks.

36 weeks. Compare me in the same shirt at 20 weeks here.

Size of Baby: Honeydew or Crenshaw melon.

Sleep: Has improved a little with more strategic use of pillows.

Maternity clothes: Still going strong.

Stretch marks: None.

Wedding Ring: Switched. My fingers are fairly swollen, as are my feet. They have periods where they aren’t so bad.

Things bought/given: One of the mama’s that gave birth this week gave me baby book where you write memories and put pictures in for the child to look and flip through as they’re growing up.

Best moments this week: Our 36 week scan with my OB- baby is looking good, but has not really engaged into my pelvis yet. Got some final questions answered because we won’t see her again (unless there’s complications) and will only work with our midwife until the birth!

AND

Hubby’s birthday was this week- we had a fun day. We went to the Constantia Craft Beer Festival (yes I went, and no, I didn’t drink) and then to the V and A Water front for sushi and over priced Häagen-Dazs Dulce de Leche ice cream (so worth it though!). We watched street performers and strolled around. Nice time!

Worst moment this week: Having the grocery cashier tell me “You look tired, how much longer?” I didn’t mind her comment, but it made me realize just how tired I really was! My eyes suddenly felt like they had weights on them.

Movement: She still moves strongly at different times throughout the day. She usually moves after I eat (when she is eating).

Miss anything: Full mobility.

Cravings: The nectarines we bought this week were delicious.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.

Annoyances: All the grease spots developing on all the bellies of my shirts. Not how I like to present myself to the world. I’ve started putting napkins on top of my belly while eating.

Belly button in or out: In for now! Is it silly to be happy that it hasn’t popped?

New Aches and Pains: Just getting harder to get out of bed each time I wake up.

Braxton Hicks: None yet. I think….

Looking forward to: Meeting our little girl!

Song of the Post: Wouldn’t it be Nice by the Beach Boys. When we were dating so long ago, I used to think of this song…and I realized today that we are living it! Those were bittersweet times.