21 Jan 2004 - 11:33pm - 35 Weeks Today!

Your baby is getting big. He or she now probably weighs about 5 1/4 pounds and is approximately 18 inches long. It is during this last six weeks of pregnancy that your baby will put on most of his or her weight. In general, babies gain about one-half pound per week in the last month of pregnancy.

These days your belly probably reminds you of the movie Alien. Your baby's elbow, foot, or head may protrude from your belly when she stretches and squirms about. And soon, as the wall of the uterus and the abdomen stretches thinner and lets in more light, your baby will begin to develop daily activity cycles. This week, your little one is sporting new fingernails and has a fully developed pair of kidneys. Her liver can also process some waste products.

Mom, your uterus has expanded to about 15 times its original volume. You may be feeling like you've run out of room — your uterus is now up under your ribs. There's much less amniotic fluid and much more baby in your uterus. You've probably put on between 25 and 30 pounds, and your weight gain has hit its zenith. Even your belly button it's gotten 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. And although the pressure on your bladder will make the bathroom your second home, don't slow or stop drinking water — your baby needs the fluids. Just stay away from diuretic drinks like tea and coffee, which will make you have to urinate even more often.

Your doctor or midwife will probably want to start seeing you every week until you deliver. She may give you a handout on how to count fetal movements; if not, ask her for one.

You may have noticed that your baby has predictable patterns of sleep and wakefulness. As the neurological system develops, he or she will have predictable cycles. Awareness of these patterns provides a helpful insight into your baby's overall well-being. Some practitioners emphasize the importance of daily fetal movement counts. Even if you don't use a counting method, it is wise to be aware of your baby's typical pattern and alert your care provider if he or she seems to be less active, or if the pattern is significantly altered. Your provider may request that a "non-stress" test be performed to observe the activity of the fetal heart in response to fetal movement.

The time is rapidly approaching when months of waiting (years, for some parents!) is rewarded with your newborn son or daughter. Just as real, are the fears you may be experiencing. If this is your first baby, you may wonder how you will cope with labor. Will it be "easy" or "hard," long or short? We all have visions of the perfect labor, just as surely as we have visions of the "perfect baby." You are probably wondering if you will be a good mother or father. If you will be prepared to meet the demands of parenting. You and your partner have already made some very important decisions, but many more lie ahead.

This last month of pregnancy is often an introspective time. Of course it is also a busy time. A time for packing your bag if you will be giving birth in a hospital or birthing center. Time to arrange for child care of siblings and care of the house and pets. Time to buy diapers and baby clothes and a car seat. It's also a good time to prepare your children for the baby.

Find out about hospital or birth center protocols for sibling participation. Make an appointment with a pediatrician or pediatric nurse practitioner to ask about newborn exams and tests. Find out if the staff is supportive of breastfeeding.

If you haven't already done so, now is the time to write out a list of questions and concerns that you may have regarding your birth.

35 weeks today. Only 5 remaining till our due date; 2 weeks till I'm considered "full term" and it is safe for the baby to arrive at any time. It's really getting real. Frighteningly and excitingly so.

My belly is huge. (Don't believe me? See here). Though despite that, my belly button has stubbornly remained an innie (I'm sure you wanted to know that). And though there really is no space in there any more, I would most definitely not say that the baby's kicking has gotten any less intensive. Oh, no. Little JAM just tries all the harder. S/he quite bruised my ribs today, thank you very much. :)

Indeed, the brief respite I had from the baby dropping is coming to an end - s/he's grown so big, her feet are once again able to reach my ribs (and under them), and quite frequently do when JAM decides it's time to stretch and kick and remind mom that s/he is there.

Today, for some reason, was an incredibly active day for our little one. Though truly painful at times, it's still an amazing sensation... and even more amazing to watch the look on John's face, and in his eyes, as he lays his hand on my belly to feel the baby move, or just watches my stomach jump. It can be really weird watching the obvious movements of the baby. It really is hard not to think of Alien references at such moments.

There is still a lot we need to do to prepare for little JAM's arrival, and time is rapidly slipping through our fingers. Hopefully it shall all be done before our baby comes home.

I do wish for a good night's sleep, however. Just one night, to sleep straight through the night, before the baby arrives. I am so tired all of the time, and very achy most of the time as well. But I suspect that shall remain a dream to be fulfilled some other time.

I cannot wait to bring our baby home, to hold him or her in my arms. To watch John as he holds our child for the first time... or to watch as he falls alseep with little JAM on his chest.

There are some moments where it still seems so hard to believe, where I'm filled with this amazing sense of wonder at all of it. Am I really about to become a mother? Is this really real?

How I cannot wait for the pinch that assures me that this is all true and not just some dream... the moment when our baby arrives! (Ah, and if only labor were "just a pinch!" ;) ).