34 Weeks

34 Weeeks: 7.3.12

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long.

Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. 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 your life's changing: 

By this week, fatigue has probably set in again, though maybe not with the same coma-like intensity of your first trimester. Your tiredness is perfectly understandable, given the physical strain you're under and the restless nights of frequent pee breaks and tossing and turning, while trying to get comfortable.

Now's the time to slow down and save up your energy for labor day (and beyond). If you've been sitting or lying down for a long time, don't jump up too quickly. Blood can pool in your feet and legs, causing a temporary drop in your blood pressure when you get up that can make you feel dizzy.

If you notice itchy red bumps or welts on your belly and possibly your thighs and buttocks as well, you may have a condition called pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP for short)

Newborn care immediately after birth

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Up to one percent of pregnant women develop PUPPP, which is harmless but can be quite uncomfortable. See your practitioner so she can make sure it's not a more serious problem, provide treatment to make you more comfortable, and refer you to a dermatologist if necessary. Also be sure to call her if you feel intense itchiness all over your body, even if you don't have a rash. It could signal a liver problem.

Update:

- This week has been very busy. I have been shopping and filling in the holes for things we still need right away, but did not receive at the shower.

- I have been VERY tired.  I have been sleeping at night, but usually get up once to go to the bathroom and have been very thirsty when I do so.  I have added a king size bed pillow this week, to see if it helps and it does.  My belly just needed to be supported by something soft while I slept.

-  I called the Maternity care coordinator and set up my 1 hr appt with her.  I also filled out my pre registration hospital paper work. 

- Friday 6.29.12 I had the worst leg/calf cramp of my life.  It has been very hot out, and with all the extra weight and strain..I think my leg just gave out.  I was napping on the couch, and got up to go to bed..and the cramping began.  I scared my husband, because he wanted to help me, but I didn't want him to touch my calf because it hurt so bad.  Finally after what seemed to be the longest 1 minute of my life, it finally stopped. I couldn't straighten my leg, or foot..it was awful! My husband said when he played football they used to get cramps like that..I don't wish them on anyone! 3 days later and my calf is still tight (making it hard to walk normal and go down the stairs!

-My feet have begun to swell. (I blame the heat!) I hadn't really noticed, and then my coworker made a comment after I wore some strappy sandals to work, and how my feet looked "puffier." Well by the end of the week after 30 hours of work and 100+ temps outside we went to a picnic and my feet REALLY started to swell. I couldn't wait to get home and take a cool shower and put my feet up.

- I'm feeling very round now, and it has even been hard to breathe some days because she is sitting up so high.

- I have been enjoying my 8 hr work days this week. (Because of the 4th of July holiday) It's nice to go home and get projects done and nap if I choose.

- I have had that nesting instinct kick in. I want everything clean and organized and home projects that I have been putting off done!