Full Term: 37 Weeks

Tipp is officially full term this week and is free to come whenever he is ready!  I’m sure my co-workers would not agree to that since I promised them one more month end.  I’m hoping to make it to my birthday and then start working for home or just stop working!  We have been enjoying the Memorial Day weekend with tidying up the house, grilling out, relaxing and packing the hospital bags for me and Tipp.

Tuesday I had an appointment with Dr. Anderson who reviewed the ultrasound results and confirmed everything looks great with Tipp.  I had the Group B Strep test done and found out I’m barely a finger tip dilated – which is no surprise this early.  I had mentioned my itching to him and he ruled out PUPPS, which is rash.  He was concerned it may be Cholestasis, which is a condition in which the normal flow of bile in the gallbladder is affected by the high amounts of pregnancy hormones. Cholestasis is more common in the last trimester of pregnancy when hormones are at their peak, but it usually goes away within a few days after delivery.  Itching is the main symptom, however I don’t have any of the other symptoms.  There is a very slight chance of infant fetal death, so I would need to be induced before my due date.  So, on Wednesday I went back for blood work where I had to fast.  As of Friday the office had not received the test results, so we are waiting until my next appointment on Tuesday. 

Tipp is now considered "full term," even though my due date is three weeks away. If I go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. Our baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long.

How far along? 37 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: 26lbs – it varies every day due to fluid retention
Maternity clothes? Yes!
Stretch marks? Yes!
Sleep: It’s getting uncomfortable and I feel so big taking up most of the bed
Best moment this week: Getting a sneak preview of our maternity photo session
Movement: All the time
Food cravings: Salad, watermelon, strawberries, ice cream, frosted animal crackers, trail mix
Gender: Definitely a BOY!!
Labor Signs: Lots more Braxton Hicks and possibly some weak real contractions
Belly Button in or out? Still in
What I miss: Wearing my regular summer clothes – I refuse to buy more maternity clothes
What I am looking forward to: Finding out the test results.
Weekly Wisdom: Don’t be afraid to let others do things for you!  I’m learning to ask for things.
Milestones: Making it to full term!

36 Weeks

We celebrated hitting 36 weeks with a photo session with Emilee.  I met Emilee several years ago through The Knot as we were planning our weddings and we’ve been to several get-togethers since.  In the last year she has started her own photography business and we were thrilled to have to her do a maternity session with us.  But, I think we will be even more thrilled once Baby Tipp is here and she takes his first professional pictures in the first few days of his life.  Click on the link above to see the sneak peak of our photos. 

This past week we also had a growth ultrasound to check Tipp’s size and fluid levels since I was measuring 4 weeks ahead at my last appointment.  As of 35 weeks and 3 days, he weighs 6lbs 1oz, which puts him exactly in the 50th percentile for his age.  The fluid levels and everything else looked great as well.  Tipp is slightly head down in a oblique position – sort of diagonal into my hip.  He still has a few weeks to drop down. 

With the summer-time weather coming I’ve started to have a little swelling especially in my feet and they hurt like pins in my heels if I stand too long.  I’ve also been itching like crazy which is worse at night.  But, I pampered and treated myself to a pedicure last weekend with my mom.  We earned it – she had come over to steam clean our carpets and help deep clean our house.  We really appreciated the help and love a sparkling clean house.  Let’s hope I can keep it up until Tipp arrives.

This week we also finished buying everything we will need from our registry.  Thanks to gift cards and coupons we’ve received we spent a total of $95 at Babies R Us.  Our BOB stroller finally was delivered from being on back-order and we picked it up at REI.  We love it even more and can’t wait until Tipp is big enough to go jogging with us.  Until then, we will have fun taking long walks around the neighborhood.

This week, Tipp is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Our baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, Tipp will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.)

How far along? 36 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: 26lbs
Maternity clothes? Yes and some tops are too short!
Stretch marks? Yes all over my stomach – disgusting.
Sleep: It’s sooooo hard to turn over at night
Best moment this week: Having Emilee take photos of us
Movement: All the time
Food cravings: Salads with tons of toppings and ice cream
Gender: Definitely a BOY!!
Labor Signs: Lots more Braxton Hicks
Belly Button in or out? Still in
What I miss: Wearing some of my shoes since my feet are swollen
What I am looking forward to: A nice long holiday weekend at home -  the first Memorial Day weekend we can remember not going to the beach.
Weekly Wisdom: Keep up the water intake – it helps with the fluid retention
Milestones: The fact we have maternity pictures to show!

35 Weeks : 35 Days

This past weekend we celebrated Tipp being 35 Weeks and only 35 days to go – Hopefully!  I had a doctor’s appointment Tuesday and I measured 4 weeks bigger.  I started retaining some fluid, so hopefully it is just extra fluid and not a big baby.  But, we have a ultrasound scheduled to see how big Mr. T really is!  In the mean time the swelling has gone down and is minimal by the end of the day.  For the first time this entire pregnancy the realization hit that Tippett may come before June 19!! 

On Tuesday, my office surprised me with a shower planned by two of my girlfriends at work.  I don’t think I’ve ever had a surprise party (that I didn’t figure out)!  We had a Milky Way cake from Blue Moon Bakery …Chocolate cake swirled with a cream cheese, chocolate chip mixture iced with chocolate buttercream & chocolate ganache.  We received a generous gift card to Babies R Us that will definitely come in handy soon and the backpack diaper bag Ben picked out for himself.

We spent the weekend doing lots of fun things.  I finally got an Iphone and yes I know a new one is coming out, but just upgrading to “smart phone” is big for me!  Ben is holding out of the new Iphone, but he has had fun playing with mine in the mean time.  Saturday we went to the DPAC to see Wicked for the 2nd time.  Our first was on our anniversary trip to Seattle in September, but we both loved it so much we had to see it again.  Tipp enjoyed moving the entire time and I had a ton of Braxton Hicks contractions.  After the show we came back to Apex and had dinner at Ocean Grill, which was amazing, especially the scallops.  I love eating at local restaurants and its even better when they have great service and food.

Sunday, I had my last baby shower given by Ben’s sister, Amy.  The shower was so cute and unfortunately I don’t have any pictures.  The food was awesome and we played a fun game with balloons and waddling.  Of course we received some great gifts including a play gym, bouncer, swaddle blankets, nursing accessories, books, lots of diapers, and handmade burp cloths. 

I’m still feeling pretty good, better than I expected at this point, but I do tire out pretty easily.  I think I’m getting used to the sleeping difficulties and some nights are better than others. 

Oour baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in my womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

How far along? 35 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: 24lbs
Maternity clothes? Yes
Stretch marks? Yes and thankfully some are already fading!
Sleep: Much better than Ben is well again and not coughing all night
Best moment this week: My surprise baby shower at work
Movement: Quite a lot
Food cravings: Fruit, salad and sweets
Gender: Definitely a BOY!!
Labor Signs: Lots more Braxton Hicks
Belly Button in or out? Still in
What I miss: Shopping for normal clothes
What I am looking forward to: Maternity pictures with my friend Emilee
Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy the last few weeks
Milestones: 35-35…it’s so fun to say!

34 Weeks

Happy Mother’s Day!!!  It’s been a wonderful weekend being an “almost real mom” very soon with about 6 weeks to go!  It has been a very very busy week for us.  After an extremely busy week at work for me – training and month end stuff -  we headed to Greenville for my sister, Sara’s graduation.  Friday morning was spent sweltering in the heat for the university graduation.  Then, we refueled with a tailgate before her afternoon department graduation.  Saturday we started our morning off with a brunch at Sara’s apartment before going to her boyfriend, Adam’s graduation. 

Today was a beautiful day and although busy, it was still relaxing.  Ben presented me with a card and gift almost immediately after sleeping in past 8!  He had ordered the Edna Mae Baby Book personalized for Tippett.  After making me my own decaf coffee he made heart shaped beglian waffles while I got to relax.  My mom, brother and grandparents joined us for church, then we all went to Tyler’s for brunch/lunch.  The weather was so beautiful, we came back to our house to take a few pictures outside, then headed to the park to spend the afternoon with my mother-in-law and family. 

Our birth class is going really well and we have two classes left.  Last week we took a tour of the birth center and saw the labor & delivery rooms as well as the nursery.  Luckily there were 2 babies in the nursery for us to see.  It was so exciting to know in just a few weeks we will be there welcoming our son!

Our baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making her rounder. Tipp’s skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. Babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine if born now. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

How far along? 34 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: Hopefully around 22 lbs – we ate a ton this weekend!
Maternity clothes? Um yes
Stretch marks? Yes and my skin actually hurts in some places!
Sleep: The beginning of the week was horrible – Ben may be sleeping in the guest room very soon!
Best moment this week: Seeing the nursery and knowing we will be there very soon!
Movement: Quite a lot
Food cravings: Strawberries, ice cream, lots of sweets
Gender: Definitely a BOY!!
Labor Signs: Lots more Braxton Hicks
Belly Button in or out? Getting smaller
What I miss: An ice cold beer while sitting on the porch
What I am looking forward to: Our final baby shower
Weekly Wisdom: Start preparing a little at a time
Milestones: Celebrating an almost Mother’s Day!

33 Weeks

This week Tippett weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

 

How far along? 33 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: About 20 lbs
Maternity clothes? Definitely and a few are getting a little snug.
Stretch marks? Too many to count!
Sleep: Could be better!
Best moment this week: All the little ones of talking about Tipp!
Movement: He’s been moving constantly
Food cravings: Ice Cream, Salad, Mexican
Gender: Definitely a BOY!!
Labor Signs: Lots more Braxton Hicks
Belly Button in or out? Still in and the same size
What I miss: Leaning over to pick up something
What I am looking forward to: Celebrating Mother’s Day
Weekly Wisdom: Don’t get too dehydrated…it makes the Braxton Hicks worse
Milestones: Welcoming May and being able to say we’re having a baby next month!