Well here we are March 1st and 41 weeks pregnant. Monday night we spent a good 6 hours in early labor with contractions every 4-5 minutes that only got more painful as the hours past. But after four hours of no change we went home, well more like a hotel room due to the weather. Around 2 am we finally went to bed, I thought if labor would start at least I would get a little rest in between the contractions.

Well they fizzled out, and we saw my midwife on Tuesday morning, then spent the day walking around. Sure we had contractions throughout the day but that was about it. Wednesday was the same… sporadic contractions. Although since Monday the contractions are much different than before. Before they were like Braxton Hicks where my stomach would get hard as a rock but no pain. Now when I get then, they hurt and I have to breathe through them.

At my internal check on Monday night I was 2cm, 50% effaced and baby girl is at a -3 station…. she just wont engage!!!

Today (41w) I have another midwife appointment this morning along with an NST and a BPP. We had both done on Monday and baby girl scored perfect. Still gobs of fluid and placenta is great. So at least through all this emotionally draining crap baby girl is doing perfect and kicking away.

I wont even give you an update of the 41 week pregnancy because it’s terrifying to read and has me in tears. This journey has been hard, both physically and emotionally. From the miscarriage a year ago and the struggles with adding to our family (even from when we were trying to Sarah), to the morning sickness that lasted until 20 weeks and now going well post date… I am not sure how much more I can handle.

Happy Due Date to me!

Ever since I hit 37 weeks I had this feeling baby girl would hold out until the every end to make her appearance. Well, here I am at my due date and she is still baking! I do have to say that now that I hit my due date go me! I kept this baby baking for 40 weeks. I seriously can not wait to meet her!

My appointment with my midwife was good. Nothing new to report except for her mentioning that once I hit 41 weeks I need to have an NST (non stress test) and a Biophysical profile done on baby to make sure she is fine.

The Biophysical profile is done after you are post date to check the amniotic fluid level, and to check the placenta. After you reach your due date they start worrying about the fluid level decreasing and the placenta calcifying. Of course this also brings on the fears of needing an induction.

If I need an induction then I wont get my birth center birth and I think that also means my midwife wont be allowed to deliver me at the hospital.

I guess I need to stay positive because Shelby’s birth is it’s own story and I don’t “really” get a lot say in how her story goes. (Just how I would like it to).

Your Baby in Week 40 of Pregnancy

Congratulations! This week marks the official end of your pregnancy. Your baby probably weighs anywhere from six to nine pounds and measures between 19 and 22 inches (though tons of perfectly healthy babies are smaller or bigger). The bones in her skull haven’t fused yet — Mother Nature’s way of making it easier to get through the birth canal during labor and delivery. She now has enough fat under the skin to maintain her body temperature outside the womb (with a little help from those cute outfits and swaddling blankets that you’ve been stocking up on!). You (or actually the placenta) are still providing the antibodies she’ll need to fight off infections for the first six months of his life. And if you plan on breastfeeding, your milk will be giving her more antibodies that’ll boost her immune system.

Wow… one week until my due date! Not sure if I will make it or not. I had both my older girls at 39 weeks so it will be interesting to see when this little one comes!

I am trying not to be one of those pregnant moms who complain about everything, sure I get a back ache, yeah my ankles started swelling this week, I can’t see “downstairs” anymore, it’s hard to put on my shoes… but…. every little thing is so worth it in the end for this sweet little baby.

I had my midwife appointment and all is good. I finally gained some weight so I am up around 6 or 7 pounds total. And my midwife noticed the start of swelling, which was normal for me in both my other pregnancies at 39 weeks.

Shelby still loves to sit high up in my ribs but I still love feeling her body slide around. I will miss her movements. But I am ready to move on with the next stage in our lives… we all are!

Your Baby in Week 39 of Pregnancy

Coming down to the wire, your baby weighs around seven to eight pounds and measures 19 to 21 inches. Those measurements won’t change much from now on, but her brain is still growing at an astonishing rate, a pace that will continue for the first three years of life. Her pink skin has now turned whitish (even babies who’ll eventually have darker skin appear whitish now — they haven’t yet developed pigment). Her head may have dropped into your pelvis by now, which makes your breathing easier but walking harder.

Here we are two weeks from our EDD! Hopefully you aren’t too bored with all my pregnancy updates, but these are my last few days or weeks so they will be over soon (then you get to hear about Shelby )

I had a great 38 week appointment. Based on feeling Shelby from the outside of my stomach my midwife thinks she may be around 7 lbs to 7 and a half pounds at birth. Which is kinda what I feel like too.

I also started the oh so fun prodromal labor. I spent a few nights with contractions for an hour or so before they fizzled out but boy were they annoying! That dull menstrual like ache with a rock hard stomach is really annoying when it’s false labor.

total weight gain is one pound. Midwife was happy, said I did great with my weight. I am hoping this means I am able to get down to where I want to be quickly, and I am sure breastfeeding will help!

nothing new this week, baby is still high, she gets lots of hiccups and I just love feeling her practicing breathing.

Your Baby in Week 38 of Pregnancy

Hey, your little one isn’t so little anymore, weighing close to seven pounds and measuring 20 inches long. Fetal development is nearly complete as your baby tends to a few last-minute details like shedding the skin-protecting vernix and lanugo. She’s also producing more surfactant, a substance that prevents the air sacs in her lungs from sticking to one another once she starts to breathe. Most of the changes this week are small but important: She’s continuing to add fat (so she can take advantage of all those photo ops by sporting a round, cute baby look!) and fine-tuning her brain and nervous system (so she can deal with all the stimulation that awaits her once she makes her entrance into the world).

Finally at 38 weeks we have everything completely done! All clothes are washed, all diapers are prepped, all bedding and blankets done. Everything is put away and ready to go!

I have even (almost) finished my birth center bag. Shelby’s bag is done, snacks are packed and the older girls bag is ready for grandma’s house.

now we wait……

Well I am not sure how many pregnancy updates I’ll have, but with my luck miss Shelby will wait until the last minute to come! I fully expect to be pregnant for a few more weeks.

My appointment last week went great. Still n weight gain, bp is good, no swelling and Shelby was moving all over the place! I do feel like she is growing like a weed as some days I have back ache and some nights the pressure is pretty bad. But then days like today I feel great with barely any discomfort. Braxton Hicks are more frequent, and usually I get them after I have been sitting for a while and I get up and move around.

I love sitting at night and watching my belly move around. Shelby’s kicks hurt sometimes but I get a kick out of watching my belly sway back and forth as she moves from one side to the next.

Now that we are coming to the end it is bitter sweet really. I am so ready and anxious to meet her and hold her, but at the same time I will miss having her inside, and moving. I’ll miss my round belly. but…… I am excited to be able to bend over or bend down again, to walk and not waddle. But most of all I am excited to hold this little miracle and share her with her daddy and sisters!

Your Baby in Week 37 of Pregnancy

Congratulations! You’ve got what is officially considered a full-term baby, even with three weeks to go. That doesn’t mean she’s finished growing — in fact, she’s still packing on about a half pound a week (at this age, the average fetus weighs about 6.5 to 7 pounds). That makes it a little crowded in your uterus, so she’s probably not kicking as much, though she’s probably stretching, rolling a bit, and wiggling (all of which you’ll be able to feel!). Right now, your little superstar is busy rehearsing for her big debut, inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid (to get the lungs ready for that first breath), sucking her thumb (to prepare for that first suckle of milk), blinking, and turning from side to side.

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?