Week 40

Hello and Welcome to Week 40!

So, I am just starting my 40th week. My due date (at the conclusion of my 40th week) is 1 week away and I am excited, nervous, scared and anxious. I wonder if I will know when the contractions I have been experiencing turn into the contractions that will ultimately bring the baby. I'm at the point where every contraction or pain is a trigger in my head to take note of the time and length. I went to the midwife yesterday and she said everything looks great. They will start giving me internals next week (if I make it that long) and the fundal measurement (the size of my uterus) is actually smaller then it was last week which means I have probably dropped. This is a great thing to hear because anything other than time passing that makes me feel closer to delivery puts a smile on my face. But other then that everything is still exactly the same. Nothing else seems to be happening. However, the only thing that could happen that would feel like progress at this point would be labor. So I will continue to sit here and wait.

I dream about the baby almost every night. Last night I dreamt the baby's hand pushed through my belly and was hanging out I guess just saying "Hi". It freaked me out. I knew that I had to get to the hospital but I never made it there. I just held the baby's hand to keep the rest of the body from pushing through. It was a little insane.

We finished our Bradley Birth Classes this week. We learned a lot and I am so glad that we took the course. I highly recommend everyone that finds themselves pregnant take some sort of birth class, even if you know you do not want to have an unmedicated birth. I considered myself well informed before we took the course. I really thought it would be mostly for Eric, but I learned so much too. And arming yourself with knowledge is the best way to combat the fear that will undoubtedly creep in at some point. For me it was worth the 8 weeks every Wednesday night. I found myself really looking forward to the course every week. So in addition to good prenatal care please consider taking an in depth birth class. You have to know your options to be able to access them.

There isn't much to report this week. I think I am all "updated" out until this baby is born. I waddle. I groan. I snore. I breath heavy. I complain. I get tired. I eats lots of ice cream to combat my heartburn. I have stretch marks. All of this and so much more will continue until this baby arrives. So think good pregnancy thoughts and let's all hope this baby comes soon!

Let's get the the good stuff! The baby is positioned with its head facing down and the bottom toward your ribs. (For me, the butt is right in my ribs 90% of the time). If this is your first baby, your baby may "drop" a few days to a couple of weeks before delivery. "Dropping" simply means your baby moves further down into your pelvis, readying for birth. (I would say that this baby has dropped simply because my pelvis is killing me most days). The baby may be seven pounds or more and 14 inches long from crown to rump this week. Below are the weekly renderings.

Love to you all,

Desiree