Week 31
Thursday June 30th 2005, 6:00 am
Filed under:
Family
Your abdomen
swells and your rib cage and pelvis may be sore as the baby gets bigger
and fills up all the space you have available. While it is really great
that your baby is gaining weight and growing strong, you may be in line
for different discomforts at this stage of the game.
Some women will have more heartburn
as the uterus displaces the internal organs, leaving less room for her
stomach and its contents. This can be relieved by remaining upright
after a meal. Some women say that eating smaller, more frequent meals
helps their heartburn. Remember to ask your practitioner before using any medications, even over the counter products.
One of the most frequent complaints in pregnancy is back pain.
This can start at almost any point of pregnancy and can continue well
into the first postpartum year. Some of this can be relieved by
maintaining good posture, exercise, and stretching. And don't forget to
ask your partner for a back rub!
The
pregnant body produces a hormone called relaxin. This is what loosens
the pelvis making it mobile to help your baby be born. However, this
can also cause waddling! I also refer to this as “feeling like a Barbie
with her legs pulled off.” This is only temporary, and while it may be
a pain now, come birth time you'll be rather grateful!
A few
women will breeze by even this phase of pregnancy without any
discomforts. This does not mean that your body isn't preparing for
birth. It could be pain tolerance levels, exercise and agility levels
and many other factors. So, count your blessings if you fall into this
category!
Baby:
You may
worry that if you are breathless from walking or sometimes even just
sitting that your baby is in danger. This is not true. Your baby is
getting plenty of oxygen from your placenta.
The
baby's irises can now dilate and contract in response to light. Due to
the deposits of white fat underneath the skin the baby's skin is no
longer red but pink, and your baby weighs about three pounds and five
ounces (1.5 kilograms). The finger nails may reach the end of the hands. |
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Belly @ 30 Weeks
Sunday June 26th 2005, 9:53 pm
Filed under:
Family 
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Week 30
Thursday June 23rd 2005, 6:00 am
Filed under:
Family
Your posture
is still very important to your comfort. Maintaining a good posture is
a good way to decrease the strain on your body as your center of
gravity continues to change.
One of the things that you can do to help maintain your energy levels and to increase your stamina for the birth is to exercise.
It is important not to over do it, especially if you have not been
exercising prior to this week. Try taking walks or swimming short
distances. Getting out and stretching will help you have feel better
and reduce the numbers of pregnancy related complaints.
Baby:
The baby
is very aware of the surroundings. We tend to think of the uterus as a
dark place. The uterus actually can be light and dark depending on the
mother's environment. You may be able to distinguish sleep and wake
cycles in your baby. Although it usually seems as if the baby wants to
sleep while you are awake and vice versa at night. This is not
indicative of a sleepless newborn.
If you
are having Braxton Hicks Contractions use them to practice what you've
learned in prenatal classes, and know that they are a sign that your
body is getting ready for labor. The baby notices the contractions, but is not adversely affected by them.
Your sweetpea weighs a whopping 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms)! S/he measures about 14.8 inches (37.5 cms) in length. |
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29 Weeks
Sunday June 19th 2005, 9:29 pm
Filed under:
Family 
29 Weeks!
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Week 29
Thursday June 16th 2005, 6:00 am
Filed under:
Family
Mother:
Welcome to the third trimester! The home stretch! As your baby
is growing, so is your body. You may feel as if your internal organs
are crowded. They are. The best way to deal with the discomforts of
late pregnancy are:
Good Posture
Proper Nutrition
Exercise
Rest (When you can!)
Most discomforts will occur in your back, your legs, and the amount of air you can take into your lungs. Hang in there!
Baby:
Your baby is busy getting ready for the birthday! The baby
is beginning to regulate his own temperature and the bone marrow is
completely in charge of production of the red blood cells. The baby is
even urinating about a half liter of urine into the amniotic fluid
everyday!
The movements that you feel will probably begin to change at
this point. You once were the home of wild gymnastic parties, now as
the space becomes cramped you will notice smaller movements, such as
elbows and knees. Try monitoring the baby yourself, using fetal kick counts.
Your baby weighs in at about two pounds nine ounces (1.16 kilograms)! |
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