Week 36

Well, we are getting close! Only 3 more days to go.

Here is the update for week 36...Obviously, I did not make the next day posting deadline. :-)

This is day number 257 and I am 36 weeks pregnant!
I technically have 23 days or 3 weeks left, and are 91.8% of the way there.
Baby's age since conception is 243 days or 34 weeks. My due date is 12/4/2007.

The baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He has added another half pound and now weighs about 6 pounds, measures anywhere from 18 1/2 inches - 20.7 inches in length, and is almost ready to check out of "Hotel Mom." (Did I mention 3 more days?)

He’s shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. The baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, this will form the contents of his first bowel movement. (Does that sound as gross to anyone else as it does to me?) YUCK!

At the end of this week, our 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.) He will be almost full term – We are scheduled to deliver at 37 weeks and 2 days.

He's in a head-down position (not that it matters too much). But if he wasn't, our practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax the baby into a head-down position by manipulating him from the outside of your belly (glad I don’t have to do that – that does not sound like much fun).

Personal Info:
Weight: 134 pounds
BP: 98/62
Waist: 40”
Fundal Height: 31 cm (not sure what happened this week – but we did get an extra ultrasound out of the deal. He is looking good! Right where he should be, not too big, not too small)
Baby’s Heart Rate: 135ish

There you have it - week 36. One more post before the baby arrives (well hopefully it will get posted before he arrives) :-)

Please continue to pray that the amnio shows good levels of surfactant (soapy substance measured to check lung maturity)& that I do not start contracting from it (a possible side effect). My amnio is scheduled for 8:45 am on Wednesday. Please pray also for the surgery on Thursday. I have done this twice before and not so much worried about the surgery as having a new doctor and being in a new hospital. Our c-section is scheduled for 7:30 am.

I know you are all wondering if we have a name yet...nope sorry! We didn't have one picked out for either one of the girls until the hospital was hounding us for the info - why should baby boy be any different? We'll have one soon. :-)

Have a great week.

Love & Blessings,
Kim