5 weeks to go

6 weeks to go

A little bit about the Baby (week34):

Baby is continuing to grow and fill out during pregnancy week by week. In fact, that is his primary job during pregnancy at 34 weeks and beyond. Not much changes from 34 weeks pregnant and on except the baby is adding valuable meat to his bones
Babies born at 34 weeks usually have fairly well-developed lungs and their average size of 5 pounds (2250 grams) and 17.7 inches (45 centimeters) allows them to survive outside the womb without extensive medical intervention. However, oxygen might be needed for a few days.
Meanwhile, baby's adrenal glands have grown. They are now producing hormones that stimulate lactation. The vernix coating on the baby's skin is becoming thicker while the lanugo hair is almost completely gone.

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I went to the hospital this morning to have my routine check up and the midwife told me that the baby turned its head already – so it’s facing down the way it’s supposed to. There is a chance he may turn around again but hopefully he will stay that way; otherwise he will be in the bridged position and a cesarean section may be needed.

I feel very tired now. The third trimester it’s not such a fun anymore. I have difficulties sleeping – very hard to turn from one side to another during the night.

We started buying stuff for little one too and we got him a lovely bed, drawer, lamp, some body suits with funny cars and little socks. Oh I can not wait now. All the clothes are so tiny, like for a little doll – Just as well because if he was any bigger I don’t know I would like the idea of giving birth :).

Stages of labor

First Stage - This begins when you start to have regular contractions that increase in frequency and intensity. The contractions will then pick up and you will be in the active phase of the first stage of labor. Contractions are more intense and come more frequently, usually requiring more of your attention. Somewhere between this active phase and the next phase, transition, you will change to your place of birth. Transition is the short but hard part of labor. Transition has contractions coming very close together, but they never actually feel any stronger than the contractions of the active phase. At the end of transition you will be completely dilated.

Second Stage - You begin this stage when you are completely dilated. You will begin pushing your baby into this world. Your contractions will get further apart and feel differently. If you have been un-medicated you will feel the urge to push. If you have been medicated you may or may not feel the urge to push and will be directed at how to proceed. If there is an episiotomy done, it will be done at the end of this stage. The end of the second stage will be marked by the birth of your baby!

Third Stage - This is the anticlimax. Anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour after delivering your baby they will want you to give a few small pushes to get the placenta out.

7 weeks to go

Oh God the last 2 weeks have been mad and I can not believe how the time has flown.

I was supposed to update my blog more often with some interesting facts but I can hardly find the time to do my basic daily duties.

Physically I feel exhausted. I could sleep all the time. My feet and ankles have swollen to my surprise - I thought that once you keep fit you don’t get these kind of symptoms – how wrong was I!!!
I find it hard to walk long distances and going up the steers feels like running a small marathon.

Mentally I feel great. I have been so busy recently that the weeks seem to fly by. First we had a BBQ a week and a half ago for 20 people. I really wanted the house and the garden to look perfect that I over exhausted myself with cleaning and planting new flowers in the garden. I have to say it was so worth it at the end because the garden looks FANTASTIC and the BBQ was a great success.

Yesterday I started an evening photography class. I am so over the moon I booked the course. The lesson was very detailed – the tutor introduced us to the basics of photography such as aperture, shutter speed, depth of field etc. The lesson was 2,5 hours so I felt like my brain was cooked at the end but I have all my notes and I just need to look through them once again. I am so excited about getting more knowledge in this field. I want to be able to take great photos of Leon and my family. The only killer is the time of these classes. It starts at 7 and finishes at 9.30 pm – I should be in bed by this time !!!!

Oh and we had our wedding reception 2,5 weeks ago. I have some great photos from there so I will post them soon on the blog.

8 weeks to go!

8 weeks to go!