Week 31 & 32 - June 29, 2009

Week 31:
From this week on, your baby will continue to gain around ½ pound a week until shortly before birth (even though it may feel like a whole lot more with every step you take). Other highlights this week: Due to increasing space constraints, your baby's arms and legs stay drawn up close to the body now, known as the fetal position. Plus, your baby can now process information from all five senses—so he'll be all set to smell the pureed peas, taste them, feel them as he mashes them into his hair, hear you crack up and then see the flash as you grab the camera to snap picture after picture. By now, your baby's lungs are the only system not fully mature. And by mature, we mean that his lungs need a little bit more time to bake before they can kick it in the outside world. Your baby weighs about 3½ pounds and measures a little over 16 inches.

Week 32:
Although your baby will still remain active, his days of trying out for Cirque du Soleil are nearly over. About this time your baby will settle into the head-down position in preparation for birth. Other fascinating facts: Both you and baby are putting on some serious weight at this point. You'll probably gain about a pound a week for the next few weeks, with half of that poundage bulking up baby. He'll likely double his weight in the next eight weeks. Ever wonder what your baby is doing in there these days? He's busy blinking, looking around, grabbing things, making faces, practicing his breathing, peeing and listening to everything around him—pretty much exactly what he'll be doing for the first three months of his life, sans the adoring audience and the flashing camera. Your baby may (or may not) have a full head of hair now. If he's a baldy, don't worry. You can always buy a Baby Toupee or some adhesive barrettes. By the end of this week, your baby will weigh about 4 pounds and measure over 17 inches long.

A bit more excitement this past week and a half...though, all still well. At my appointment last week, the doc decided to put me on the monitor again for about 45 minutes just to make sure everything is going fine....due to having so many Braxton Hicks contractions....or so they thought. They now think it's just the baby in a funny position that's causing the contracting. Heart rate looked really good which is a very positive sign that nothing is wrong.

We were supposed to go visit Mike's sister, Missy and her family in Michigan this past weekend but Mike ended up getting really sick. It turned out that he had strep throat and got a very bad case of the flu with it....he's still recovering almost a week later. I don't think he's been this sick in awhile...but, he's been a trooper and slowly recovering.

We've completed 3 childbirth classes and the tour of the hospital was last week. It is a wonderful facility and the birthing rooms are like mini-hotel suites. We are learning alot about the childbirth process and it's alot of info to take in at once...but we are starting to practice breathing techniques and getting ready for the big day!

Tomorrow is another doctor's appointment and I see him every other week for the next 3 visits and then we go to weekly visits. The day is getting closer until we get to meet Eli....we are getting excited and anticipating his arrival. More work to do this weekend in his room to prepare....

Til next week.....(or the week after...depending on when I get the chance to post again).