Full term at 37 weeks!

 

At 37 weeks, our baby weighs an average of 6 1/3 pounds and measures slightly over 19 inches, about the length of a stalk of Swiss chard. 

 

 

The baby is now considered full term meaning that his or her lungs are most likely developed enough to adjust to life outside the womb. Hooray! It is unbelievable to me still how a full grown baby - even as big as I am - can be taking up residence inside my body. Such a miracle how our bodies can make that happen!  

 

Earlier this week my feet started to swell. Things aren't so bad in the mornings yet, but by the time the day is done, it looks like short sausages have replaced my toes! My ankles and legs are becoming thicker and I can feel a tingling and tightening sensation throughout my body, a hint of the swelling to come. My Braxton Hicks contractions have been stopping me in my tracks and I can now feel myself waddling from time to time. The baby feels like he or she has dropped significantly since my last appointment with my doctor. I am getting up three to five times a night to go to the bathroom and the four pillows I have strategically placed around me for comfort are producing little. Jeff can hardly fit in our bed anymore! My fuse has returned to its shortened state and I am getting weepy like I am in my first trimester again. Things are coming full circle and my body and mind are yelling at me sharply, reminding me by the minute that this baby will be here SOON!

 

And if I didn't have my body and mind to tell me that, I still have perfect strangers chiming in:

Liquor store check-out lady (as I make a beer and vodka run for my husband, feeling slightly inappropriate for even being there, let alone purchasing a case and a 1.75 liter!): "When are you due?"

Me: "May 31st, so finally right around the corner."

Liquor store check-out lady: "Honey, you done dropped so low you might as well say any day. You better be tellin' people ANY day'."

(I was just shy of three weeks from the 31st during this conversation, so technically almost a month away from my actual due date of June 6th. Seriously, almost a month before I am due I should be telling people any day this baby is coming? Don't get me wrong, some days I feel that way too lately, but it's kind of humorous when someone else - someone I don't even know besides that they have given my kids a sucker or two at check out time - wants to say it to me! However, I must add that this did not and does not offend me. Just comical.)

Liquor store check-out lady continues: "What are you having?"

Me: "I don't know. It's going to be a surprise. People have told me they think I'm carrying low, so maybe..."

Liquor store check-out lady: "It's a boy. Yep, it's a boy when you're carrying that low."

 

Thanks for the chat, check-out lady!

 

Over the past two weeks I have gotten a ton of relief from the bloody noses I was getting several times a day. My doctor made an appointment for me to see an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist because of my ongoing congestion issues and, more troublesome for me, my ears that have been partially plugged for weeks (after a plane ride to Florida in the middle of April). The appointment was last week (Monday, May 6th) and ironically, my bloody noses went away a few days before that. I think I have only had two minor ones since and it was been splendid not having them to contend with every time I blow my nose.

 

I found out I have a deviated septum, which I did not know previously, and rhinitis of pregnancy, essentially congestion and stuffiness during pregnancy. I would not normally go to the doctor for these things, but my biggest concern was if I was going to have any permanent hearing loss since my ear problems had plagued me for such a long period. The answer was no. The Eustachian tube in the middle of my ear was weakened because of the rhinitis and the plane ride made things worse. There were no other issues in my ears and they should return to normal fairly soon after the baby is born. The rhinitis should go away also. I have already noticed improvement with each week, so neither of these issues has been too big of a deal lately.

 

So, those are my latest health and wellness updates! I have been hugely fortunate to have had such an enjoyable pregnancy with this third baby of ours. I have thoroughly cherished my time with the last bundle in my oven, even more so knowing this will indeed be the final time I will be with child in my stomach. Despite looking forward to moving freely again and being without the discomfort and ailments that go along with the last weeks of pregnancy, I am entirely going to miss being pregnant. I have loved it. Every single day of it. Even now. 

 

And oh, how I have adored all of the feasting! I have been a glutton without guilt. There are (unfortunately) not many times when you can be that in life and I have had one heck of a time! I may not be so happy about it when I am trying to shed those extra pounds in a few months, but remind me to read this post again. To the girl with the newborn, the one with the flabby belly and ultra-soft edges who can't seem to fit into a dog gone thing, I'd say, "You had a lot of fun packing on those pounds and it was well worth it! Give yourself some time. Grab yourself a pint of your favorite ice cream for old time's sake and get over it."

 

Jeff, Vivi and I will be back to see Dr. Chow tomorrow for my 37 week check and then I'll have only one more appointment left next week before our babe's arrival. I'm overwhelmed with anticipation!