37 Weeks! Officially "Full-Term".... YIKES

(Picture taken @ 37 Weeks + 1 Day - April 27, 2008)
So we begin our 37th week, typing those words almost feel unreal. Could I have already been pregnant for 37 weeks? Could I really have 3 weeks (give or take a few days) to go? Oh My God!

The Baby
(According to www.3dpregnancy.com) The baby and his amniotic fluid now fill the uterus to the max. Your child can still be sitting in the upper part of your stomach -- more common in a subsequent pregnancy-- but normally he is already engaged. His head is pushing heavily on your bladder and slowly sinking deeper towards your cervix. Luckily, this gives your stomach a bit more room. During this period you can start to experience pre-labor contractions. These are effective contractions that may last up to a minute and make you pay attention. They work on toning your uterus and softening and thinning your cervix. Sometimes, they even start to dilate your cervix! Remember, though, you can walk around with your cervix dilated for three or four weeks without true labor beginning. This just means that you've gotten lots of work out of the way before the labor begins. All of these contractions are doing work! If you are concerned, call your health care provider. No matter what, he only has a small space in which to move. From time to time you'll feel him, a big stretch, a wriggling hand or a kicking foot, but he will also sleep a lot.

This week his nails are longer than his fingers and he may already be scratching his own face, his vernix and downy hair is almost all gone and he may have real baby hair on his head (or still be completely bald). Or, in other words: he is full-term. He continues to gain weight, at a rate of ½ to 1 ounces per day-- up to a pound per week!. The placenta should still be working well but at some point the way it functions slows down and then the birth will start. Normally about 9 quarts of blood per minute flows past and through the placenta at this stage. It's filled with oxygen and food for your little one who weighs approximately 7 pounds (3100 grams) now and is about a foot and a half long (46.5 cm). Of course, babies vary widely in size - some full term babies weigh 5 ½ lbs, where others weigh 11!


36 Week Doctor's Appointment
Wednesday was my 36 week appointment with my OBGYN. The night before I sat down with Jonathana and we made a list of all the questions that I still had. Of course the morning of my appointment my doctor was late, and when he finally arrived we were herd in and out like cattle so I didn't get to ask! I guess I'll ask my family doctor on Tuesday!

I did however get to hear his heartbeat again, I always love that moment. My weight seems to have sky rocketed... that being said this doctors office scale seems to be a bit more generous. It "claims" that I am 190 lbs.. But just you wait until next week, I bet you my family doctors scale will say I am bout 185lbs... we'll see.

I also had my "Strep" test, pregnant woman will know what that is, I am NOT going into detail, although I will say it is not what I expected.

The Countdown
It is hard to believe there are approx. 3 weeks until my little man makes his debut into the world. I only have 2 weeks left of work before my mat leave begins, everything seems to be falling into place. I am anxious to have family come to visit. I have been keeping the house spotless so I'll have a clean house to come home to with the baby. I even spent today making a pile of spaghetti sauce to freeze, so we'll have a "quick meal" option after the baby arrives. I feel very prepared. Althought I have FINALLY gotten the "nervous" feeling about the labour.. I am not afraid of the delivery or anything liuke that. I mean, how can I be afraid of something I have never been through, I don't even know what to expect. But the other night on one of my many trips to the washroom, the thought occured to me, "what if this was it? What is I woke up to a soaked bed because my water had broke? What if I was in labour?" I could help but think how much scarier this scenerio would be at night rather than in the day as I have been imagining it... I know most woman deliver at night, but I hope I am one of the few that is sitting at home watching my soaps! HA HA HA. I know I have no choice in this matter, but I thought I would share that random thought.