I am 31 weeks today! Yesterday I had my 30ish week appt, and all was well. I gained two pounds in two weeks, which is perplexing since I'm on a tremendously high caloric intake right now. I eat EVERYTHING IN SIGHT! Shim must be having a growth spurt. He supposedly is between 4-4 1/2pounds by now, in theory. His FHT were between 130-140's. He has his head snuggled down in my pelvis, and that makes me happy as a lark. I really didn't want a breech baby, since that takes pretty much all choice away. I've got a lot to get done today before heading to Florence, but just wanted to update really quickly. Have a great weekend!
3 comments:
Nikki,
So excited to read your last update. I researched a bit on your current week, and found some interesting facts about your current stage. I'm so excited for you!
Fetal Development:
Your baby now weighs approximately 3.5 pounds, measures about 18 inches from head to toe, and is getting used to the world of light and dark by opening and closing its eyes. Its facial muscles continue to strengthen, and your baby can make different expressions.
This is day number 217 and you're 31 weeks pregnant!
You have 63 days or 9 weeks left, and are 77.5% of the way there.
Baby's age since conception is 203 days or 29 weeks.
This is a question that a woman had about engagement:
Q: I am 31 weeks pregnant and my doctor told me that my baby has engaged (vertex). Does this indicate that I will have an early delivery? Is 31 weeks too early for a baby to be engages? Also, is the baby likely to stay in this position till delivery or can he still turn around?
A: Most babies "lock into" position (vertex vs. breech) by 32 weeks, so more than likely your baby will stay head first. As far as being engged, the real test of early delivery is preterm dilation and/or effacement of your cervix, not engagement.
This is general information:
This is a week of rapid weight gain for you as well as your baby. The baby’s lungs and digestive tract are nearly mature by
now. The baby’s demands for nutrients are the greatest in the last few weeks and you might love or hate the size of your body as it keeps growing. Your skin and face will be glowing during this time and you will be enjoying the pregnancy period. Pregnancy is nature’s way of making you feel good about putting on weight and do not regret the weight that you have put on at this time because your healthy eating habits will go a long way in helping you get right back in shape soon after delivery. Breast feeding is also known to have positive effects on regaining your original weight hence one should avoid bottle feeding the baby as breast feeding is best for the baby as well as the mother.
Baby’s Development
The baby is growing very rapidly and has reached 15 inches in length and weighs around 3 ½ to 4 pounds which is more than half of the size at birth. The baby continues developing a layer of fat under the skin and in the coming weeks the baby will put on a lot of weight. This week there is an incredible development in the baby’s lungs as they will be able to inflate properly from now onwards. The lungs start producing surfactant from this week preventing the baby’s lungs from collapsing as the baby starts breathing smoothly after delivery.
The fetal ear is completely developed from the inside as well as outside and the baby can hear your voice as well as other familiar voices before she/he is born.
The baby’s skin is pink in color instead of red at this point. The baby has well developed finger nails and might scratch itself in the womb. The baby’s bones are growing stronger and will require calcium to grow well. The baby is receiving all the nutrients through the placenta and the placental blood flow enables the baby to make urine. The baby urinates about half a liter of urine every day and the baby also swallows some of the amniotic fluid which is replaced a few times daily.
Changes with your body:
The average weight gain at this point is between 21 and 27 pounds. This weight gain is more due to the baby’s weight, placenta, fat, water storage, uterus and the amniotic fluid. The ligaments and muscles supporting the back relax and loosen to prepare for childbirth making backaches more severe now. You will notice changes in your breast size and shape as they get ready for lactation. A thick creamy yellowish substance might leak from the breasts called as colostrum or pre-milk which occurs during pregnancy and lasts for several days after the birth of the baby. Not all women experience this but it is considered normal either ways so there is no reason to fear if you experience this or even if you do not. Many women experience Braxton hicks contractions as the pregnancy period comes to an end. Some feel these contractions from the second trimester of pregnancy as well but generally they are more common in the third trimester.
The baby will be taking in all the nutrition from the food that the mother has so it would be sensible to continue having a healthy diet till the end of the term.
Getting a sound sleep will become more difficult as the pregnancy advances and your weight increases. Frequent urination also creates problems especially when you have to get up a number of times in the night. Vivid dreams can also occur.
I just find this all so fascinating! I am thinking of you and Shim always, and pray for a smooth and memorable remainder of your pregnancy!
Take Care!
Kim :0)
Woot for 31 weeks!!!! How is your hypnobirthing homestudy going?
Glad to read you are doing good! Not too much longer now :)
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