35 Weeks

I've made it another week- yeah!  Another week towards a healthy baby!  According to babycenter.com the baby weighs around 5.25 pounds (about the weight of a honeydew) and is around 18 inches long this week.  (Which is probably pretty accurate since Bryson was 5 pounds 10 ounces when he was born.) The physical development of the baby is complete, and now it's only job is to put on weight.  I think a lot of my fears about having a premature baby are gone at this point since I had Bryson just shy of 36 weeks and everything was fine with him and he was able to go home from the hospital with us.  I would still like to hold on for another week or two yet, though, since then the baby will be "term" and I will have less to worry about in terms of blood sugar levels, body temperature, and jaundice.  So that's my goal now.

I had my weekly midwife appointment today and she was pretty excited to see me for another appointment.  She's hoping that the baby will stay put for at least another two weeks:)  My blood pressure looked great, my weight gain was fine, and I'm still measuring a week behind at 34 cm.  The baby looks good: his/her heart rate is still in the 140s and he/she is still head down and very low.  I had her check my cervix again and I am now 2.5 cm dilated and 80% effaced.  A slight but definite change from last week (basically I'm a ticking time bomb:).  I am not surprised, though, since I'm having more contractions and starting to feel a lot more pain internally with some of them.  So it's back to the couch for me:)  I have a feeling it won't be long now until we meet our precious little one.

I'm not going to lie, this week has been the hardest for me.  Having to be cooped up in my house and feeling so helpless all the time is really starting to get to me.  So I've broken a few 'rules' and have gone on a Target run and taken the boys to our playgroup this week.  I just had to get out of the house or I (and the boys) might have gone crazy!!!  If you know me, you know that I am constantly on the go and taking the kids places, so having to be resting all the time is hard for me, and also for the boys.  I've also been experiencing a lot of rib pain from sitting around so much, and some evenings I can't even get comfortable to watch TV, so that weighs on me.  I'm also feeling rather huge and that my skin can't possibly stretch any further (although I know that it will).  I had a break down moment on Wednesday where I just wanted to be done with the pregnancy and to meet my baby.  I don't mean to sound like I am complaining about anything, because I know that what I am doing is what's best for the baby and I am so thankful that I am able to carry a child, but I'm being honest.  Yes, it sounds wonderful to be able to sit around all day and have everyone else take care of the kids, the house, and the meals, but after awhile, it's not all that fun anymore, and this week, I felt that!  I'm feeling a lot better today, though, so hopefully I can keep a positive attitude as I continue to rest in order keep this baby in for at least another week or so.  Please pray for me!