Wednesday, October 29, 2008

34 Weeks

Gah! 3 more weeks until full term - 6 weeks until D-Day!

So this week has been fun times with the sudden onset of sciatica. It started on Sunday and hasn't let up since. There is nothing like an extremely sharp shooting pain on one side of your back every time you walk, stand, or move at all to really slow a person down. According to the doctor it is most likely caused by Big Man here sitting on a nerve where he doesn't belong. If he moves the pain could go away. Or he could stay put. Or it could come and go. So basically, the verdict is too bad, suck it up.

In other news, here is my gigantic gut, which no longer fits into any of my clothes. My new theme song is "Fat Guy in a Little Coat" for pretty much everything I put on. This outfit should look familiar since its almost the only thing that fits so I put it on right after work almost every day!
According to Babycenter: 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.

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.

I don't know if I believe this weeks produce comparison. Cantaloupe seems like a downgrade from last week! Shenanigans Babycenter!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like putting my back up to your belly and having Milo give me a back rub with his kicks.

Mommy Moreno said...

ugh - sciatica is the WORST! Only 6 more weeks though - can you believe it!??!

Alison said...

Lookin' GREAT Steph!!!