Week 38 of pregnancy

Baby is now ready to greet the world. At this stage, your baby is still building a layer of fat to help her control her body temperature after she's born. All your baby's organs are well developed, though her lungs will be the last to reach full maturity. 

From this week onwards, the amount of amniotic fluid in your uterus gradually starts to decrease, although your body will continue to make fluid until your baby's born. 

http://www.babycenter.com.au/s1001635/38-weeks-pregnant#ixzz2M5K1IRVu

I went to see my obstetrician on 22nd feb and she said that baby's head is still floating. Uterus is still up because of the weak muscles. Have to wait till end to find out whether I will be having a normal or c-section.
Last few days have been quite busy as I am trying to finish up most of the pending work ( paper, housechore) before I go into hibernation for 3 months. I have registered with CellCareAustralia for cord blood and cord tissue banking. It's still controversial how useful its going to be. But I believe being parent we should do the best for our kids. The way cancer rate is climbing up, I don't see any harm in taking this step. The good think about the banking is that if the need arises the same cord blood can be used for the other sibling. For last few days, pain in belly button had increased which got me very worried. I didn't have a good experience with my first post natal period. The increasing pain in belly button means that with the other pain I have to bear this one as well this time. I wish I could fast forward this recovery period.

2 weeks more for my angel to arrive. I am waiting for the moment when she will open her eyes for the first time and will look at me and her daddy. I am waiting to see Aarav's reaction. I am hoping that he will get used to her soon. He is turning 3 on 28th feburary. I still have to finish packing my maternity bag.

Week 37 of pregnancy

Baby weighs close to 2.8 kilograms and may be about 50 centimetres long from head to toe. Your baby's head is now cradled in your pelvic cavity -- surrounded and protected by your pelvic bones. This position clears some much-needed space for her growing legs and buttocks. 

Many babies now have a full head of hair, with locks maybe around 2.5 centimetres long. But don't be surprised if her hair isn't the same colour as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes taken aback when their children are born with bright red or blond hair, and fair-haired couples likewise can produce babies with dark hair. And then, of course, some babies don't have any hair at all. 

Speaking of hair, most of the downy coat of lanugo that covered your baby from 26 weeks has disappeared, and so has most of the vernix caseosa, the whitish substance that also covers her. Your baby will swallow her lanugo and exterior coating, along with other secretions, and store them in her bowels. These will become your infant's first bowel movement, a blackish waste called meconium. 

http://www.babycenter.com.au/37-weeks-pregnant#ixzz2LOdYLVy


I went to see my obstetrician on 15th feb and she told me that baby's head is still floating. If it doesn't engage by the end then we might have to do C-Section. It doesn't sound good as I already got umbilical hernia and if it doesn't get fixed by exercise then that would mean I would be getting operated for it again. It's such an amazing feeling when ponyo/enyo stretches her body parts and I feel her tiny feet, hands, bum, face . Though it get's bit uncomfortable at night but I am enjoying it. I will be seeing obstetrician again on 22nd feb. For last 3 days my belly button has started to pain.

Aarav's bday party and baby shower was a success. Everyone enjoyed it and Aarav loved his inflatable dinasours. Got many pink dresses for Ponyo :)

Week 36 of pregnancy!

Baby is still gaining weight -- about 28 grams a day. She weighs around 2.7 kilograms and is 45 centimetres long from head to toe. 

You may begin to feel an increased pressure in your lower abdomen and notice that your baby is gradually dropping. This is called lightening or engagement, and your lungs and stomach will finally get a chance to stretch out a little -- breathing and eating should become easier. However, walking may become increasingly uncomfortable -- some women say it feels as if the baby is going to fall out. Also, you may still feel as if you need to go to the loo all the time. 

The good news is that by the end of this week, your pregnancy will be full-term and you could give birth any day now. (Babies between 37 and 42 weeks are considered full-term -- a baby born before 37 weeks is premature and after 42 is post-term.) At your weekly visit, your doctor or midwife may check to see if you've started dilating (when the cervix opens) and effacing (when the cervix thins). The midwife will also check what position the baby is in, in order to estimate how far the baby has dropped into the pelvis. This information will be entered into your maternity notes so that your midwife in will know the position of the baby when you go into labour. 


http://www.babycenter.com.au/36-weeks-pregnant#ixzz2LOc34Px6

Feels like baby has moved down as I feel too much of pressure in pelvis. Not sure if she has engaged as I got very weak muscles so it's quite possible that she will float till the end. On 16th february, we are having my baby shower and Aarav's 3rd bday party. His birthday is on 28th feb but we doing it early as 28th might get too close to due date. I have selected Dinasour as his bday theme, have ordered all party supplies, got his dino t-shirt, his bday cake is also in shape of dinasour. Feel so excited. I haven't prepared my maternity bag. Most probably will do it after 16th. My in-laws have come to help us during the delivery and it feels nice to have them around. Specially, we don't need to worry about Aarav a lot as someone is here to look after him.

35 weeks of pregnancy

Baby now weighs about 5.25 pounds/ 2.4 kilograms and measures approximately 18 inches/ 45 centimetres from head to toe. His elbow, foot or head may protrude from your stomach when he stretches and squirms about. Soon, as the wall of your uterus and your abdomen stretch thinner and let in more light, your baby will begin to develop daily activity cycles. 

This week, your little one is now sporting fingernails and has a fully developed pair of kidneys. His liver can also process some waste products. 

There's much less amniotic fluid and much more baby in your uterus, which has expanded to a thousand times its original size. You've probably put on between 25 and 30 pounds/ 11 and 13.6 kilograms and your weight gain has hit its peak. Even your belly button has got bigger and has popped outward. You may be feeling breathless now that the top of your uterus is up under your ribs. Try getting down on all fours to take deeper breaths. Although the pressure on your bladder will make the bathroom your second home, don't drink any less water -- your baby needs the fluids. But you may like to cut down on diuretic drinks like tea and coffee, which will make you have to urinate even more often. 

http://www.babycenter.com.au/35-weeks-pregnant#ixzz2Kdm9tUQM

Day by day it's becoming very tiring. It feels amazing when ponyo protrudes her body parts out. Just in couple of weeks she will be out in my arms. I feel excited the same way I used to feel during Aarav's time. No matter, you are first or second time mom, every pregnancy makes you feel more happy.