14 Jan 2004 - 10:05pm - 34 Weeks Today!

Your baby now weighs more than 4 3/4 pounds and is probably about 17 1/2 inches long. She's filling out and getting rounder — she'll need her fat layers later to regulate her body temperature. If you don't already talk to your baby, you should start — by next week, your baby's hearing will be fully developed. And don't feel ridiculous if you're already chatting in baby talk. Some evidence shows that newborns pay closer attention to high-pitched tones.

If you've been nervous about going into preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that 99 percent of babies born at 34 weeks can survive outside the womb — and most have no major problems. Though your baby's central nervous system is still maturing, your baby's lungs are nearly fully developed by now.

Many women start to notice a tingling sensation or numbness in the pelvic region from the baby's weight on the nerves in the legs and pelvis. Unfortunately, this feeling probably won't subside until the baby is born. If you're terribly uncomfortable, mention it to your healthcare provider.

With labor looming, you may be getting just a bit nervous -- especially if this is your first baby. Will you have a safe birth? Will the pain be more than you can handle? Will your labor drag on for hours, or will you even make it to the hospital in time?

Studies indicate that pain and length of labor may be related to the level of maternal anxiety about the process of giving birth. Physical stress can translate into uterine muscle tension which can make contractions more painful. Stress and anxiety also increase a substance in the blood called catecholamines, which work against your body's natural production of oxytocin. As a result, labor does not progress as quickly as it might otherwise.

To think it's already the middle of January! We're more than 2/3 of the way there, with only 6 weeks remaining till my due date... three weeks till I'm considered at "full term" and it's safe for little JAM to arrive, should s/he choose to do so.

Marney told me that I look "very different" now than I did before the baby dropped; simply amazing, according to her. I was flattered (at least, I hope it was meant to be flattering, and not a way of saying I look terrible while making me thinking I'm all a-glow ;) ), and really do feel the urge to put on that pregnancy glow whenever someone comments on it.

I am in an admitted great deal of discomfort and pain these days, but I wouldn't say I'm not enjoying my pregnancy... it still is an amazing thing. (Though I won't complain at all if JAM decides to come in three weeks... really. I do tire of the constant aches and pains, and - oof! - are his/her kicks getting painful at times. You do realize, little JAM, that no matter how hard you kick, there just isn't going to be any more room in there, don't you?)

I'm also feeling terribly restless, like there are a million things I need to do and do immediately... I must prepare for the baby's arrival, and insure we have all we need. And I want to get done all the stuff I want, and get caught up on certain projects and other things (like, oh, summary letters for various games), before the baby is here.

And yet I also desire to do my version of nesting - which is snuggling in. The weather certainly isn't helping, either. My muscles tend to clench in the cold, but my back and stomach and groin muscles tend to contract painfully, often setting off some Braxton-Hicks, such that I don't desire to leave the warm home into the cold.

And, really, I do feel as if I walk like a penguin. I'm just so... baby big... these days.

And to think, my little sister is but a couples of days less than three weeks away. Wow. Change really is on the wind.

Or maybe that's just snow. And bitterly cold, record-breaking low temperatures. ;)