Pregnancy Update: 38 Weeks

Hello, and happy Wednesday!  As I mentioned in my late post yesterday, I've had a busy week so far this week!!  I gave a day-long PD session for some teachers, so my mind was 100% in planning-and-executing mode for that.  Now that it's over, I've got today, tomorrow, and Friday until Spring Break.  So exciting!

Now, since I'm a day behind on my posts, let's take a look at how things are going with the pregnancy!

Pregnancy Update: 38 Weeks

How far along? 38 weeks (and 3 days)

Baby Bump progress: Baby Fish is really growing, as you can tell!

I made an album on my iPhone of all of my bump pictures, and it's so interesting to flip through the album and see the progress!  I'm so happy I took these pictures :)

Baby's Size? a pumpkin! Around 7 pounds and 20 inches long.

What's happening this week?  

• Baby is working on shedding the shedding the vernix and lanugo, which has been protecting the skin.
• Baby is producing surfactant, which will prevent the air sacs in the lungs from sticking together

Total weight gain/loss: 33.8 pounds total since my first doctor's visit.  I actually lost .4 pounds between last week and this week, but I think the main difference was I didn't eat my snack before my appointment.

Stretch marks?: nothing new!  Just the little ones at my armpits, some on my chest (which have faded a bit), and a light one going down my stomach.

Sleep: this has been a little more tough this week.  I've been warm and haven't been able to get comfortable!  I actually knocked the AC down 1 degree on Monday (yes, I have to have the AC on right now...it's in the 80s each day...) and slept SO WELL!  It was great.

Best moment this week: hands down, best moment was the surprise shower the youth group kids planned and threw for me on Sunday night!  

Picture of the whole party!

It was the sweetest thing--they planned it, decorated, and set up games for everyone to play.  They also all brought diapers for us.  It was so much fun, and I was so touched by the sweet things they did!  I love the youth group kids!

Miss anything?: having lots of clothing options, having normal-sized feet, alcohol, sleeping comfortably

Movement: still moving and grooving!  I'm doing the kick count for my doctor, and when I sit down to count, it normally takes about a minute or 2 to get the 10 kicks I'm looking for over 2 hours!  Baby Fish is active!

Food cravings: I've been really in to Cheetos over the last week.  

I've also been wanting salads more, which is great since I got out of the routine of my salad lunches over the past few months.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope, other than some pretty bad acid reflux.  I woke up one night feeling like I needed to throw up because of how bad it was!

Gender: We'll find out when Baby Fish is born :)  I'm really looking forward to finding out!!

Labor Signs: Other than Braxton-Hicks contractions, nothing!  My doctor tried to check dilation at my appointment yesterday, but she wasn't able to reach to see (which is normal, the opening was just pointing toward my spine).

Symptoms:

• Acid Reflux
• Swollen feet/ankles (and some finger swelling)
• Itchy (and growing!) belly
• Braxton-Hicks contractions
• Forgetfulness--seriously, I feel like recent things have been blocked out of my mind!
• Maybe a little "nesting" this weekend

Belly Button in or out? still in, but just very very slightly

Wedding rings on or off? I had trouble getting them on this weekend, but I've been able to do so every day this week!

Happy or Moody?: This week has been a happy week, so that's a good thing!  Bike Week wasn't so bad (I was anticipating some meltdowns), and now it's over!

Funny moments this week: Before going to church this weekend, I couldn't get my wedding rings on!  Joe wasn't able to go with me, so I was there by myself.  I could TOTALLY tell that when people saw me there by myself, pregnant, with no wedding rings on, they were judging me just a little bit.  I kid you not, at least two women looked at my left hand!  I obviously didn't say anything, but I just find it funny (or maybe "ironic" or "sad" is a better word) that they would even care about that.  We're at church where we're supposed to love and serve one another, right?  Funny stuff!

Looking forward to: SPRING BREAK next week and meeting Baby Fish sometime soon!!

Exercise this week: I've taken about 4 walks over the last week.  That's about all I can muster, especially with my feet getting super swollen throughout the work day!  I'm hoping that with spring break coming, I'll be able to do something every single day next week.  Just gotta make it to Friday!!

Well, that's all I have for you today!  Next week, I think I'll share with y'all my birthing plan.  Joe and I still need to talk about all that we discussed at last night's birthing class (we went over the medical intervention options during delivery), so we'll aim to talk about that next week :)

Hope you have a great Wednesday!

Question for you: How has your week been?  Do you have Spring Break coming up?  Moms or Moms-to-be: did you come up with a birthing plan beforehand or just go-with-the-flow?