8 Months/32 Weeks: 6.19.12
How your baby's growing:
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus.
You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.
How your life's changing:
To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances.
If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor. Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.
Update:
- I had my 8 month appointment yesterday 6.19.12 Everything is still on track and measuring within normal range. You were head down already when the doctor felt my belly. We heard the heartbeat again, and it sounded strong and healthy. I have one more appointment in 2 weeks and then I will start going in once a week until delivery.
- I have noticed a big growth spurt and kicks are stronger then ever. Your dad finally got to feel you really move around..he was pretty excited.
- We went home to MN this past weekend for a couple of baby showers and had a wonderful time. We got a lot of baby basics that we are going to need for your arrival (and a ton of cute outfits!) We are very thankful for great family and friends! Baby Shower blog to come!!
- Grammy Tammy got to feel you move one night and she was very excited. We also were able to feel your head or butt the way you were laying (i'm saying butt cause I could also feel your feet for the first time!)
- We ate really well this week all kinds of yummy food. You are definitely your mothers daughter..you got really excited and moved a bunch after eating cake.
- My back has been bothering me quite a bit more this week. It has often even been difficult to sit upright at my desk. I was really worried how I was going to do in the car on the way to MN for 6.5 hrs..but we stopped to get gas at the halfway point and stopped at the MN rest stop to stretch (and go to the bathroom) Otherwise I think having a week off from work has done me well.
- I started writing Thank You notes today for all the wonderful gifts we received, and am ready to do some shopping to fill in the holes for things we still need.
- We purchased some Dreft baby soap yesterday and can finally start washing up all of your new outfits.
32 Weeks
It was so good seeing you and your belly this weekend!
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