Doctor Visit at 37 Weeks - 9 Months

37 Weeks

Your baby is now considered full term, even though your due date is still three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. He weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. (www.babycenter.com)

37 weeks and counting!

Karl and I returned from our 37th week check up today. Happy to report, all is well. Blood pressure remains around 96/54 to about 106/56. I tested negative for Strep B. Yay. Very minimal swelling in my legs and hands. Weight gain is still up. I'm getting close to Jessica Simpson's weight gain. Yikes. Thank God I'm tall. Oh, and our baby's head has dropped since last week. I had everything checked and the doctor noticed a change in the baby's placement (as in dropping lower), but our baby is still snuggled in me pretty tight. My belly is measuring about 35 centimeters at 37 weeks, which the doctor said is great.

In our baby pool I said I'd be going into labor on April 6, which would be next week. That just seems nuts to me right now. No way. Me, becoming a mom in a week?? Say what? I've decided I want to change that. Our doctor is going on vacation next week. My brother Mike is going on a mission trip to Peru through Easter. My sister-in-law Kelly is going to Colorado. And my parents will be finally getting back to Illinois from Arizona. Soooo...the timing wouldn't be the most ideal if baby decides to show up next week. But when baby is ready, baby will be ready. Again, trying to keep that open mind!

Changes in the past couple of weeks... Lots of pain going on in my bladder area since last Saturday. I went on a walk and soaked up the wonderful sun and fresh air, but when I got back, I felt like I pulled every muscle in my groin and the pain kept getting worse, moving on to other areas. And it hasn't quite gone away since. Just feeling lots of stretching going on.

Lots and lots and lots of trips to the bathroom. Like, every hour on the hour. The past three nights I haven't had the best sleep, but I still have a ton of energy. I'm plowing through tons of projects at work just to make sure I have everything in order and done before I have to leave at a moment's notice. And the house is pretty clean.  Except for all these gnats all of a sudden. How does one get rid of them?

Those nasty leg and foot cramps are back. It never fails. I work out at the gym hardcore and that very night the leg cramps come on with a vengeance. I did get an amazing deep tissue massage at a new place in Shakopee last week and the massage lady told me to drink 4-6 ounces of milk right before bed. I did, and the cramps actually went away. I think she might be on to something!

Also, during the day I have been feeling a lot more tightening going on, almost like it's that time of month, but nothing too painful. Enough to notice though. Body must be getting ready.

We scheduled our next three doctor appointments. That's it - just three more until the big day...if that. I can't believe this!!!! I have a ton of emotions flooding me on a daily basis. Sometimes I feel like I'm in denial. Not sure what that's about. And I keep having dreams of a baby boy...