With the girls I packed the clothes they would wear coming home from the hospital in my over night bag. I knew the hospital would provide a lot of the stuff we would need for baby, like wipes and diapers, blankets even a baby hat. But with a birth center birth we bring everything we need for mom and baby!

I already packed up the bag for Shelby. I can’t believe that she will be here in only a few weeks! With a birth center birth we will be going home within 4-6 hours after baby’s birth so we do not have to pack a lot. I’d rather be prepared just in case of a hospital transport, and be over packed then not have enough for us.

Baby’s Bag:

• 2 outfits – one sleeper, one gown. The gown is the same one both my older girls wore.
• 3 hats – small cream one is hat that will be placed on her head right after birth and depending on which outfit she wears home she will wear the matching hat.
• binkies – probably wont need them but bringing them just in case.
• thick blanket
• swaddle blanket
• diapers and wipes – We are using disposable diapers for the meconium stage.
• baby wash/lotion
• baby comb

Mommy’s Bag:

• headband for labor/delivery to keep my hair out of my face
• extra hair bands
• hairbrush/tooth brush/tooth paste
• chap-stick
• deodorant
• sweats for going home
• pads
• slippers
• robe
• sports bra
• nursing tank
• 2 pairs old undies
• pair of socks

Extras

• Camera Bag – will have iphone/ipad charger, camera charger, video recorder & charger
• Baby Book
• Pillow and boppy
• Birth Binder
• iPad

What did you pack? Anything else I’m forgetting?

Hello 9 Months!

I can not believe we are in the home stretch! Now we count down the days until Shelby decides to make her entrance! I had both my girls at 39 weeks and I am kinda hoping Shelby does the same, but as my friend Tamra said, “God has picked the perfect day to be the baby’s birthday. Don’t rush it too soon”. She is absolutely right, as with both my older girls their birthdays are very special to me and I am anxiously waiting for Shelby’s Birth Day.

We had our ultrasound this past week to check on Shelby’s position and I knew we would get an approximate on her weight. I was surprised to hear she is weighing in at 6 pounds. I did not realize that she was already that big! She is in fact head down so all that www.spinningbabies.com stuff I was dong from weeks 33 to 35 worked!

I will admit it’s nice to hear from people that they can’ believe I’m due in a few weeks. I look so small, but baby girl is measuring perfectly!

Here are some of the pictures we got, they aren’t great but we can totally see that she is going to look just like her sisters! Just look at her cheeks!

And this is a potty shot. 3rd ultrasound confirming YES we are having a girl! I am getting sick of people saying “well what if she isn’t a girl?”

I still haven’t decided on when I will stop working, while my body aches afterwards, I kinda think all the walking  helps. It puts pressure with Shelby’s head on my cervix. The weather has still been beautiful and no reason for me not to work.

Your Baby in Week 36 of Pregnancy

Forget your aching back (and everything else!) by trying to focus on your baby, who is now six pounds and 20 inches long, with soft bones and cartilage to allow a safer journey through the exit door. Most of her systems (from circulatory to musculoskeletal) are ready for prime time, though her digestion system — which has done only practice runs so far — will kick into gear as she takes her first suckle at the breast or bottle.

87% of my pregnancy is complete!

Last week of month 8! Then we start our 9th month, 2 weeks until full term! Although I have a feeling Shelby will wait until close to her due date to come!

At my 35 week appointment my midwife did say that Shelby had flipped! We will still do the ultrasound to confirm position and I am sure we will get an approximate of her weight. It is so exciting we are so close to holding little Missy in our arms!

Shelby has been getting the hiccups twice, sometimes three times a day and I know after she has been still for a while that she will be up moving around very soon… and she does.

At my appointment I was measuring 38 although I don’t feel like I have grown I do feel like SHE has grown. I still have not gained any weight this pregnancy which is shocking to me, but that just means I have done a great job eating healthy and keep my weight under control.

I finished my Birth Plan and can’t wait to share it with my midwife at my next appointment. We are down to weekly appointments now and get to do the lovely GBS next week.

I also packed the baby’s Birth Center bag this week. I’ll wait a bit longer to pack mine.

As I get closer to being “full term” I of course and getting so excited to have her. I have spent the last 32 weeks getting ready and getting to know her from her movements, and her little kicks and punches. I have spent all this time with her inside and everyone else has watched from the outside. I’m excited to share her with everyone…. But it’s bitter sweet. This is our last baby, so my last pregnancy. I know I will miss her moving around inside, but I wont miss the butt in my ribs and the body parts sticking out of my sides.

Your Baby in Week 35 of Pregnancy

Your baby is standing tall (so to speak) this week at about 20 inches and continues her steady weight gain (she’s about 5.5 pounds). While she won’t get much longer, she will continue to pack on the pounds — including large amounts of baby fat — right up ’til delivery day. Something else that’s moving at a mind-boggling pace these day: fetal brain development! There’s a lot going on inside that tiny head, which is, by the way, still soft to allow an easier exit through the birth canal.

Nothing new over the past week except for the fact that I can tell Shelby has grown. She gets the hiccups a few times a day now and moves constantly! My next midwife appointment is on Tuesday and I am anxious to find out what position Shelby is in.

Your Baby in Week 34 of Pregnancy

What’s new this week? Your baby is clocking in at five pounds and could be as tall as 20 inches by now, and the vernix (the white coating protecting your baby’s skin) is getting thicker. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she’s born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well.  In other baby-related developments, those tiny fingernails have probably reached the tips of his fingers by now — and getting ready for that first postpartum manicure.

I had my 33 week appointment this week. Everything was great, half a pound weight gain, great blood pressure and measured right on track…. but baby has decided to turn breech on us. So many things went running through my head, the word “breech” is scary to pregnant moms. We are basically told you must have a c-section with a breech baby.  The good thing we still have lots of time for her to flip head down and to avoid an external version.

Nothing new this past week. I don’t feel like my tummy has grown over the past few weeks, but I did notice a change in Shelby’s movements. I also know when she will be the most active during the day as well.

Your Baby in Week 33 of Pregnancy

Your baby is still gaining weight (about half a pound a week), and she could grow up to another full inch this week. With that much baby inside your uterus, your amniotic-fluid level has maxed out, which explains why some of her pokes and kicks feel pretty sharp these days. (There’s less fluid to cushion the blows.) Antibodies are being passed from you to your little one as she continues to develop her own fetal immune system, which will come in handy once she’s outside the womb and fending off all sorts of germs.