Dear Friends and Family,
Where are we at now? 37 down, anytime in the next 5 weeks.
Pass the sparkling apple cider! Pioneer and the rest of us have made it to term. After all of the fun and games of the past month and half, it feels good just to be able to say that.
Now, "all" that's left are the fun and games of labor and delivery. I still worry that something can still go wrong. I guess there's no getting rid of that feeling. There's always some risk. I had a friend lose a baby at term, so, for me, it feels like a real risk, not just a hypothetical risk.
This is hard to believe, but I may miss being pregnant. For all the extra ultrasounds and hospital visits and everything, Pioneer wasn't too hard on me. And, it's been fun feeling them move and grow and sharing the bond we've been sharing. I'll miss that once they're born.
Symptoms? Let's see. There's the false labor pains which I'm convinced are still doing the job of getting the cervix ready for what's to come. There's the shortness of breath which comes in fits and bursts every now and then. There's "the burpies" which seem to be acid reflux related and are a sign that I should have eaten dinner 30 minutes ago. And, fortunately for all of us, the stretch mark crisis seems to have passed. Belly's stayed nice and smooth after that scare that morning. Guess the band and the lotion helped prevent that one. Knock on wood.
I hope to cover our birth plan with the doctor this morning. I've kept it very simple: prefer a vaginal delivery unless a c-section becomes medically necessary; prefer an epidural for pain management, but only for the later stages of labor; prefer NO episiotomy, if at all possible; want Mr. mouse to be able to cut the cord, if possible; want Mr. mouse to be able to hold Pioneer for a moment before all of the tests begin, if possible; and want Pioneer circumcised if he's a boy. I think that covers it. Hopefully our doctor thinks it's reasonable. Mr. mouse doesn't think it'll be an issue.
I also hope to get the clearance today for some more flexibility - like to take some long walks and stuff, now that Pioneer's at term. We'll see what the doctor says.
Baby
Your baby is about 21 inches from head to toe and weighs about 6.8 pounds. Most of the baby's downy hair, lanugo, and whitish coating, vernix, is disappearing. Your baby is getting its antibodies from you to protect against illness. Baby's growth is slowing, but fat cells under skin get plumper for life outside the womb. Almost ready for birth, your baby would do well if born now.
Mom-to-Be
You're probably not getting any bigger, but you may be feeling more uncomfortable. Make sure you have a bag packed. It won't be long now -- 95% of all babies are born within two weeks of their mother's due date.
Tip for the Week
Consider whether you'll circumcise your baby if it's a boy. Circumcision isn't as much a medical issue as a cultural or religious one.
Cheers!
mouse
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