...contractions & the growing baby mac...
 
(this pic is obviously not one of baby mac’s but it is a pic of a baby the same age as baby mac) I am sorry to say it has been almost a month since I updated ‘baby news’..oops! So much has been happening and I guess I didn’t think about writing it down... I started having braxton hicks contractions a few weeks ago now (these are practice contractions your body does to get ready for birth)... they thought it was a little early so I went in for a visit and everything was fine...although I was measuring about a week ahead. I was hoping that would mean a move for the due date, but it didn’t... (rats!) Then I went to Ohio for the baby showers and it was so much fun..I definitely started dealing with swelling for the first time in the whole pregnancy..not fun...when I got home from my long flight it took me almost a whole week to un-swell. ugh...if you are interested in these stories, you can visit my old blog to read them (www.katemcdonald.blogspot.com) At any rate, I learned that garlic helps keep swelling down and I have been cooking with it at least once a day since then and I am now wearing my rings again! I can’t say my breath is better, but I still think its a good trade off *grin* Even without the swelling, I am definitely in that stage of pregnancy people warn you about... the second trimester is so great...no more puking, you have energy again, and you actually look pregnant (as opposed to chubby) without the bump being too cumbersome. Ahh...the second trimester...how lovely that was! Being in the third makes me wish for the second (although I am mucho glad to be closer to the baby reveal!) I am tired again...but this time from not sleeping...heartburn is a nightly symptom, the belly is heavy and cute has long since left the building. I am peeing so often its ridiculous! The other day I even had to pee at the dog park during a walk... I just couldn’t wait! There were no potties around and I was about to die so I walked the dogs deep into the wooded section, prayed no one would come along and that I would be able to not get it on myself, and just peed. That’s what you call preggo, friends. I was 7 minutes from home and could NOT make it. Besides, those little things we had a big scare this week on Wednesday (again you can read the whole story at the old blog) but basically I ended up in the hospital with contractions and bleeding. Luckily, a c-section was averted and I was sent home, commanded to be a little more restful, and told I will most certainly not make it to my due date now that the placenta is torn slightly. I knew it. I have been telling everyone I felt like I would not make to the end of May...premonition. So that bring us to now...I am 34 weeks tomorrow! I only have to make it to 37 to be full term...I would like to make into that first week of May when Shawn is home. We’ll see... the scare did make us think, “man, we have got to buy some baby stuff!” I think I will get a car seat at least here in the next few weeks... Okay...enough about me...here’s a little update on what is new with the baby... -amniotic fluid is at an all time high -the baby is experiencing rapid brain (and thus head) growth -neurons and synapses are developing in huge numbers to prepare the baby for learning -he/she can now coordinating sucking and swallowing with breathing -most of the bones are hardening (except for the head...thank goodness! that would make birthing worse) -baby is now breathing...amniotic fluid...practicing for birth -baby is now over 17 inches long and close to 4.5lbs! here are some cool pics of other babies at 34 weeks gestation: http://www.katemcdonald.blogspot.comshapeimage_2_link_0
Sunday, April 8, 2007