Week 39 Inside Mommy's Belly

Dear Gavin,

Despite the frequent contractions that seems to be making Mommy's routine a bit slowed down, I still pray that we could still hang in there until the 30th. Next week would be our pre-op for the big D-day and I'm both excited and worried. Excited because I would now see your face. Worried because a C-section is a major operation and something might go wrong.

Mommy doesn't want to sound so negative but I just couldn't help but worry for what might happen. I've been praying for your health and for Mommy's safe delivery. Daddy's been quite anxious that I might go into labor before the 30th, as planned.

Daddy's really weird because he still doesn't know what to feel now that you're about to come out. As a parent, normally one would be excited but in his case, he feels more worried than giddy knowing that he wouldn't be there to actually take care of us. All he wants is for both of us to be okay.

Anyway, though Mommy's feeling a bit of pressure and cramping, I'm sure we could still wait for another week. Seven more days to go and we'll all be welcoming you into the world.

Mommy can't wait to see you.

Excess: For Pre-natal Appointment Update - click here

Facts About Being 39 Weeks Pregnant

Fetal development in week 39:
Whether you give birth tomorrow or next week, it's pretty much all the same for your baby, who is now truly R-E-A-D-Y to face the big bright world outside of your womb. Speaking of wombs, your body is priming up for the big moment and hopefully, you're as prepared mentally as you can be. Your baby is well stocked up on fat, all their organs have put on the finishing touches. Here's hoping your child is already in the birthing position and basically just "hanging out" waiting for that elusive moment when all sysytems synchronize in your body to trigger the labor process.

How big is your baby?
Your baby will be weighing in at around 3.288kg (7.25 pounds) and measuring 50.7cm (19.96 inches).

How is your baby developing and growing?
Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

Your baby will continue to gain weight although it has slowed down.
All the organ systems are now in place and capable of functioning on their own.


How big are you?
Your uterus now sits about 16-20cm above your bellybutton and about 36-40cm above your pubic symphysis.

How's mom doing?
We know you're antsy for the big moment, but let's step back a minute and talk about what it takes to get to the point where you’re finally holding your sweet little miracle in your arms. Are you mentally ready to embark on the oh-so-fun adventures of labor? Take a moment to review all your preparations If you're giving birth at the hospital, don't forget socks, they always over air-condition the place for handling the pain (breathing techniques etc.). Don't forget you're going to have some physical signs prior to labor: 1) you'll lose the mucous plug sometime before labor sets in, 2) the good ol' water breaking (doesn't happen to all women), 3) and finally, before the contractions kick in, it's likely you'll see some brownish-red discharge in your underwear-- charmingly called "bloody show."

And how about all those little details?
Have you got yourself a back-facing infant seat for the ride home? Is their adorable "first outfit" all packed up? Where's that list of family and friends you're going call with the happy news? Do NOT forget the camera!!! If you're giving birth at the hospital, don't forget socks, they always over air-condition the place. Also, if you're not having a home birth, bring your pillow, you know it's better and comfier than anything they're going to provide for you. Lastly, have you ironed out all the details of your birth plan with your caregiver? It's best to clarify all your preferences prior to serious labor, because once you're puffing like, well, a woman in labor, it's highly unlikely you're going to have the presence of mind to talk it out clearly.

How your life's changing?
At each of your now-weekly visits, your caregiver will do an abdominal exam to check your baby's growth and position. She might also do an internal exam to see whether your cervix has started ripening: softening, effacing (thinning out), and dilating (opening). But even armed with this information, there's still no way for your caregiver to predict exactly when your baby is coming. If you go past your due date, your caregiver will schedule you for fetal testing (usually a sonogram) after 40 weeks to ensure that it's safe to continue the pregnancy. If you don't go into labor on your own, most practitioners will induce labor when you're between one and two weeks overdue — or sooner if there's an indication that the risk of waiting is greater than the risks of delivering your baby without further delay.

While you're waiting, it's very important to continue to keep track of your baby's movements, and let your midwife or doctor know right away if there's a decrease. Your baby should remain as active as ever right up to delivery, and a decrease in activity could be a sign of a problem — meaning that you need to deliver now rather than later. Also call if you think your water may have broken. Membranes rupture before the beginning of labor in about 8 percent of term pregnancies. Sometimes there's a big gush of fluid, but sometimes there's only a small gush or a slow leak. (Don't try to make the diagnosis yourself. Call even if you only suspect you have a leak.) If you rupture your membranes and don't start contractions on your own, you'll be induced.

Your Nutrition
If you are going to be breastfeeding your baby, you may be concerned about your nutrition levels and what is best for you to eat. You may be advised to eat an extra 500 calories per day, as on average a breastfeeding mother usually secretes about 425 to 700 calories into her beast milk everyday.

The extra calories can be gained from eating the following:

Bread/cereal/past/rice - 9 servings/day
Milk/cheese/dairy - 3 servings/day
Fruits - 4 servings/day
Vegetables - 5 servings/day

You will also want to avoid foods that can cause gas, such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower and spicy foods.


How your body changes after giving birth:

Even if your labor and delivery was fast and easy, it will take some time for you to feel like your old self again. It may be hard, but try to remember that it took nine months to get here, so you won't bounce back — emotionally or physically — overnight.

What to expect from your body:

• You'll start losing weight right away. While you probably won't return to your pre-pregnancy weight for some time, most women are about 12 pounds lighter after delivering one 7- to 9-pound baby and losing another pound or two of placenta and another two pounds or so of blood and amniotic fluid. Although it will take a while for your body to regain its pre-pregnancy shape — that pregnant belly may stick around for longer than you'd like — by the end of the first week, you'll probably have lost about 4 pounds of water weight.

• You'll have lochia discharge. After your baby is born, the cells that form the lining of your uterus will begin to slough off. This results in a discharge called lochia that lasts for weeks. At first, this discharge is mixed with blood, so it appears bright red and menstrual-like, then it gradually gets lighter in color, finally fading to white or yellow before it stops.

• Your emotions will be in flux. Within the first week or two of giving birth, many new moms experience the "baby blues." You may find yourself moody and weepy, exhausted, unable to sleep, or feeling trapped or anxious. Your appetite can change, too — you might want to eat more or less. The good news is this emotional upheaval will generally pass within two to three weeks.

Call your caregiver if:

• You have signs of abnormal vaginal bleeding, such as soaking more than one sanitary pad in an hour, passing blood clots bigger than a golf ball, or bright red bleeding that occurs four days or more after you give birth. You may have what's called a delayed postpartum hemorrhage. (Note: Call 911 if you're bleeding profusely or if you have any signs of shock, including lightheadedness, weakness, rapid heartbeat or palpitations, rapid or shallow breathing, clammy skin, restlessness, or confusion.)

• You have signs of infection, which may include any fever; lower abdominal pain or foul-smelling discharge (signs of endometritis); difficulty urinating, painful urination, cloudy or bloody urine (signs of a urinary tract infection); redness, tenderness, discharge, or swelling around the site of a wound (such as a c-section incision, episiotomy, or laceration); a painful, hard, reddened area, usually only on one breast, and fever, chills, muscle aches or fatigue, and possibly a headache (signs of mastitis, a breast infection).

• You have signs of postpartum depression, such as being unable to sleep even when your baby sleeps, having any thoughts of harming your child, crying all day long for several days in a row, or having panic attacks.

How to recover more quickly:

• Get as much rest as you can, and make an effort to sleep when your baby sleeps. This can be tough advice to follow, especially during the day, but it really helps.

• Limit visitors and the time you spend with them. Consider turning off the phone and posting a "we're napping" message on your door to discourage drop-ins.

• Eat a well-balanced diet.

• Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and sugared sodas.

• Accept all offers for help with cooking, cleaning, childcare, errands, and the like. If you aren't receiving offers, ask for help. It's hard, but trust us, your friends and family want to help and most will be honored you asked. If you can't get help for free, consider hiring a mother's helper, cleaning lady, or others who can give you a break.

• Don't isolate yourself. Talking to friends, relatives, and other new moms about your birth experience and life with a newborn can help you cope.

SOURCES:
Baby Gaga
Baby Center
Pregnancy Calendar

Waiting for 10 More Days

10 more days and it's Babyville for me.

10 more days and I'm gonna be a Mommy again.

10 more days and Glenn's gonna be a proud Daddy.

10 more days and Jenna's gonna have a baby brother.

10 more days and we'll be having a new member in our family.

10 more days and it's gonna be diapers and feeding sessions for me.

10 more days and no more swollen feet and Braxton Hicks contractions.

10 more days and it would be pretty much hectic with a baby to take care of.

10 more days and we'll be expecting late-night wake-ups and afternoon catnaps.

10 more days and I'll be wrapping my arms around Gavin and everything's gonna be okay.

Week 38 Inside Mommy's Belly

Dear Gavin,

After last week's scare, yesterday's appointment came out pretty well, despite the fact that the doctor said I'm letting him down.

First, in my sonogram, my amniotic fluid appeared normal and I actually saw a picture of your foot. It was actually propped up in Mommy's belly, and the sonographer had a clear shot of it, with toes and all. Based on last Friday's reading, you're now 6 pounds and an ounce.

Second, in the NST room, it took the nurse a long time to get a decent reading since there was no movement at all coming from you (although your hearbeat was normal). You were actually sleeping and I couldn't do anything to wake you up. Though I started patting my belly slightly just to get even just small kicks from you but I guess you pretty much dozed off after being quite active the night before. So after being strapped up in the reclining chair for a good full hour, the nurse was able to get a satisfactory reading after having to "force" you to move at least 5 times or so. (When I mean by force - I had to pat my belly a few times just to make you move).

Third, for Mommy's pre-natal check, the results for my vaginal culture came out negative so I wouldn't have to take any antibiotics if I ever go into labor. The doctor said that Mommy's a bit dehydrated, hence the early contractions last week. The vaginal discharges (that looks like pieces of cotton) that I've been seeing in the toilet for the past few days is normal, as per the doctor and is an indication that I could go into labor anytime soon. I told him that I've been feeling pretty tired lately and he said that it's normal now that I'm in my final stretch. He even said that I should be smiling now since I'm almost there. But with my blood pressure still elevated, he keeps telling me (for the nth time) to avoid being stressed and just relax. But with so many things to think about, that would really be a challenge for me. And there's this issue with my weight - I'm still losing weight, instead of his advice to gain a few pounds. He asked if I eat regularly, and all I could do was smile back as an answer. He said that I should be eating healthy - but what can I do it I couldn't? That's when he said, "... you're letting me down, what's goin' on?". And I couldn't say anything to assure him otherwise. And with my history of preeclampsia, he told me that if ever I suddenly feel any of the symptoms (upper abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, headaches, blurred vision, etc.) then I should not hesitate to go to the labor/delivery unit.

I came home feeling a bit light-headed, since I skipped breakfast and had a late lunch. Daddy was having one of his "bad days" so we had a bit of an argument which he apologized in the end. Daddy's under a lot of pressure lately, and I feel like it's all my fault. He even took 2 days off from work just for him to relax. I want him to feel better but I don't want to worry to much because as per the doctor, I should be relaxing.

Mommy can't wait for the next two weeks to be over. Just don't start pushing out until Mommy's C-section date since I'm still having second thoughts are giving birth vaginally - now that there is a possibility for that to happen.

My Baby's Name

In 14 days, I would finally have my baby boy in my arms.

Even before I got pregnant, I already have names on my mind for a boy (or a girl). I never got the chance to do it with my daughter since my mom was the one who thought about Jenna's name. And so when I found out I was pregnant, the first thing I did was start looking for the perfect name from the few specials ones I've picked up already.

And so, after months of choosing, we (I, mostly) decided on the name GAVIN MATEO.

I wanted a name that could easily identify us as the child's parents - a "G" name for Glenn and an "M" name for me (Michelle).

I found it quite difficult to find a proper "G" name that wouldn't sound too geeky or unusual. And my husband hates the thought of naming the baby after him. Then one day, when I was on the bus on my way to pick-up Sophie, the first song that played on my mp3 player was Gavin Degraw's "Follow Through" and I said to myself, "that would be the perfect name for my baby boy". I've always been a fan of Gavin Degraw, when his songs started playing on TV shows.

So I checked the meaning online and in Wikipedia, Gavin is a common given name in Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales. It is the late medieval form of the name Gawain, which in turn is believed to have originated from the Welsh name Gwalchgwn, meaning "white hawk".

It was easy finding an "M" name, but with a lot of choices, the challenge was looking for the right one that would fit perfectly with Gavin and one that wouldn't sound too common. I started checking on the Italian and Spanish name database online and came across Mateo which sound pretty much in tune with Gavin.

Mateo is the Spanish version of Matthew, which translated from Hebrew means "gift of the lord". Coincidentally, Mateo and Jenna does have a similarity in definition since the Arabic version of Jenna means "gift from God".

So there goes the history of how my little boy got his name. And it makes me proud that we (I, mostly) took the time to think and decide on what we think is the right name for our boy.

Facts About Being 38 Weeks Pregnant

Fetal development in pregnancy week 38:
As you know, you've arrived at the final leg of your pregnancy journey, and if you're still carrying your little love around, they've just about reached their birth weight (somewhere between 6 to 8 pounds is average depending on whether they're a boy or girl). There really isn't a lot to report on baby this week, so lets do a quick recount of where we're at: all internal organ systems are pretty much ready for the outside world, they've got their meconium stockpile building up (their first black baby poo), lots of healthy baby fat, a rapidly developing brain (that'll keep growing with them for years to come), and they've more or less reached official baby status-- all they need to do is "head out" and say hello to the rest of the world and especially their ready-to-pop momma.

How big is your baby?
Your baby will be weighing in at around 3.083kg (6.80 pounds) and measuring 49.8cm (19.61 inches).

How is your baby developing and growing?
At this stage of your pregnancy your baby is gathering a lot of meconium in his/her intestines. This will then pass through the system as the first stool.

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs between 6 and 7 1/2 pounds (boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls), and she's nearly 20 inches long. She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)


How big are you?
Your uterus now sits about 16-17cm above your bellybutton and about 37cm above your pubic symphysis. Most women don't grow much more in the last few weeks of their pregnancy.

How's mom doing?
Hang in there momma, it's only a matter of time before the obnoxious and painful fake contractions you felt in your back, lower belly, and pelvic region will be replaced by real contractions... which are even more obnoxious and painful. You'll know when the real ones kick in because they're if you're feeling weird electrical tingles in your legs and inside your vagina, this would be none other than your not-so-little baby hitting various nerves as they settle into the pelvic area more intensely painful (woo!) and they spread over the entire uterus, through the lower back and into your pelvis.

If you're having trouble sleeping (which about 100% of women in this phase of pregnancy are), try to take little catnaps during the day, get one of those neato full-body pregnancy pillows, or at least lots of pillows that you can shove between your legs and under your belly to support your awkward shape more comfortably. Also, if you're feeling weird electrical tingles in your legs and inside your vagina, this would be none other than your not-so-little baby hitting various nerves as they settle into the pelvic area. If you're feeling sharp shooting pains instead of tingles, this would be your extra-evil-but-adorable baby pressing on your oh-so-very sensitive sciatic nerve. All we can recommend is some wincing, sitting down, and putting your feet up.

How your life's changing?
For many women, the next couple of weeks are a waiting game. Use this time to prepare your baby's nursery or to take care of necessary tasks you may not get around to for a while after your baby's born. Take naps, catch up on your reading, and spend uninterrupted time with your partner while you can.

Some swelling in your feet and ankles is normal during these last weeks, but call your practitioner without delay if you notice excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, or have a sudden weight gain. Also let her know immediately if have severe or persistent headaches; visual changes (such as double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, light sensitivity, or a temporary loss of vision), intense upper abdominal pain or tenderness, or nausea and vomiting. These are symptoms of a serious condition called preeclampsia.

Your Nutrition:
Now you may not feel much like eating as you are more than likely feeling tired, sore and bloated.

It is important that you keep your nutritional intake up, and here are a few 'smart snacks' to ensure you keep your nutritional value up:

- Bananas, raisins and dried fruits for iron, potassium and magnesium
- String cheese for calcium and protein
- Crackers for fibre
- Fruit shakes made with skim milk and yogurt for calcium, vitamins and minerals

SOURCES:
Baby Gaga
Baby Center
Pregnancy Calendar