Week 36

Week 36 DONE!!!! I am feeling great. I can’t wait to hold my baby ..just four more to go !! We have been going to the doctor every week for a while now due to mom’s sugar issues but this is officially when doctors starts to check moms every week. We had a fun visit to Doctor last week, Last week we had Group B test, hopefully we will have the results when we go next. Group B test check for viral infection in the birth canal which can be harmful for the baby. Mom is not yet dilated but doctor said the baby seems to be in the head down position… This is wonderful !!! I am sure the baby want to see us as much as we want to see him/her !!

As the countdown continues most of the bones (soft skull aside) in the baby’s body is becoming harder thus provides a good solid structure/shape for their grand debut into the world. In the “NASA mission language” one can say “structure support is go” !! The physical fitness has improved significantly. The mom feel like there is no room left for the baby to grow and she is so tired of feeling so “big“. In the birth class they told that starting this week the mom may notice an increase in the amount of Braxton Hicks contractions. Braxton Hicks, in my opinion, is nothing but the natures way to get you ready for the big day. True labor eventually follow the Braxton Hicks contractions, however, the mom has not yet felt anything significant. While baby is packing on pounds the fine downy hair, lanugo, that has covered the baby’s skin is beginning to disappear, along with the vernix caseosa. Vernix caseosa is the thick, creamy substance that protects the baby’s skin while he/she has been submerged in amniotic fluid. Both of these are swallowed by your baby, along with additional amniotic fluid, which combine together to form meconium, or your baby’s first bowel movement..wow that is so disgusting !! The doctor mentioned that the baby is between 16 and 19 inches long and weighs 6 to 7 pounds. I feel like he/she is running out of room but I swear the little monster is still turning flips in there. I really hope he isn’t turning him/herself into some awkward position that guarantees a C-section. I mean, one might be guaranteed anyway, but work with us, kiddo! This is a wonderful experience ..mom can’t describe it but she tells me she would not exchange this for world !!

Interestingly, I read somewhere that at the end of this week the 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.). For some reason I do have a strong feeling that she will deliever by 39th week. We are going for the ultrasound in the 38th week to find out the size of the baby and if the doctor feels that the baby is big they will induce the labor as soon as possible.

The biggest problem mom is facing is not being able to sleep properly …she keeps telling me how she hates night !!. She often complain with terrible shoulder and back pain. She is also having some breathing issues…but the breathing techniques learned in the child birth classes are a blessing. And yes…swollen feet are still playing hide and seek.

Mom and I had a awesome weekend. We did spent a lot of time shopping around and carefully selecting what all we are going to need . We bought several small things for the baby, though we cannot buy too many cloths as we don’t know the gender. Mom got treated on Saturday evening at “Marconi and Grill”. She had her favorite Mushroom Ravioli. What made her day was when the waitress told that she didn’t even notice that mom was pregnant ..she got herself an extra 10% tip there. We made a resolution that until the baby comes out we got to eat out as much as we can and wach as many movies as we can. We are planning to see the “ body of lies” or “W”.

Here is a funny thing ..apparently the little pumpkin loves the music .. The beats makes her/him Monster wiggle as if he/she is dancing ..well this doesn’t surprise me given mom’s passion for dance.