Baby Update: Week 29

Due date: July 22, 2013

Baby size: 15.25 - 17 inches, Butternut squash now & weighing 2.5 - 3.1 lbs. Actually, the doctor said at or appointment Tuesday that she was about 2.6 lbs and expected her to be about 7.7 at full-term...she's about to do some crazy quick growing!

Total weight gain: about 22 lbs or 10 kg, a pound and a half or so again this week

Maternity clothes: Still winning on my goal to not buy anything new!

Sleep: Lots of sleeping in and naps this week. Getting the rest I need. But it's getting pretty difficult to find a comfortable spot to fall asleep with this big baby belly and heartburn is worse when I lay down.

Movement: At my ob appointment on Tuesday, I learned where she's positioned and it adds more fun to the movement I'm feeling. I imagine her more easily and feel like I can communicate with her better.

Food cravings: Strawberries

Symptoms: Heartburn, carpal tunnel tinglings

Gender: Still a girl.

Name: Some names that were high on the list but didn't make it...Reagan, Leah, Genevieve, Edith, Jennings.

Labor Signs: Well, yes, actually. When we visited the doctor, we learned that, because the baby has decided she likes the head-down position and because of her healthy size, she's put a lot of pressure on the cervix and it's shortened. Thankfully, not dilated, but there is some risk of pre-term labor, so I'm on some modified bed rest. Watching out for contractions, but hoping that this rest will keep things from progressing.

Goals for the Week: We hope to move next week, and we moved up my departure date, so that means there's a TON of things to do. My goal is to not stress over it all and take it easy in spite of the massive to-do-list.

Things I am doing well: Resting. Reading up on baby stuff.

Things Kenny is doing well: Everything! It's been an extra busy week with it being Orthodox Easter weekend and house searching, but he's still managed to take care of everything at home too. He's also been really great about calling and texting when he's out to let me know what's happening and when he's coming home.

Feeling toward Pregnancy: Suddenly, it feels like the end is very near. I guess the pre-term labor risk will do that. We're praying for her to stay in to full-term and although the due date is 11 weeks away, full-term is just 7! I'm not ready for it to be over yet! While I'm laying down and resting, I've been doing so much reading about labor and delivery and caring for a baby, which makes me feel more ready, but there's certainly a very anxious piece that doesn't feel at all ready. Maybe we're being overly cautious by bed-resting it, but if I were to continue with everything normally knowing there's a risk of it and she were to arrive early and under-developed, I'd feel completely responsible. So, although I may miss a lot, may not get everything done I hope to, and may get super bored with bed-rest, it's what I can do to give our little girl her best chance to stay put and grow, and I'm going to do it without complaining.

What I miss: Some days I feel little, but some days I feel like a busted can of biscuits!

What I am looking forward to: Dressing our little girl is going to be fun. I'm anti-frills and sparkles, and pink explosions, so it's going to be a little tricky to avoid the girly-girl stuff, but I'm up for the challenge. Also, I realized this week that I'm going to have to learn to do hair someday...uh oh.

Fears or uncertainties to surrender: Early labor is high on the list. Trying not to worry and just trust that God knows and loves this baby better and more than we do, is taking care of her, and He knows what's best for our lives. Everything's going to be alright.

Milestones: Began bed rest.

Albanian Culture and Pregnancy Tidbit: Albania can be a pretty corrupt place and we've heard that in the public hospital, families basically must bribe their doctors to receive care. Our language tutor friend said each of her pregnancies she refused and stood up to the system, but the doctor respected it and gave her great care and all the other women in the hospital noticed and asked her how much she had to pay him. She ended up giving him some money as a thanks afterwards. Albania is a great place, but it's got it's problems.