Category Archives: delivery

40 Weeks of Pregnancy – Week 29

It is Monday. And we are getting closer to the end of my week by week pregnancy guide. Which means we are getting closer to delivery time! If you want to catch up with previous weeks, scroll to the bottom.
Week 29
I am sorry to say this is one of the most uneventful weeks of pregnancy. The same stuff that you have been feeling and dealing with are still around, but nothing new is happening.
You may experience some sudden weight gain. Don’t worry, it just so happens your baby gains the most weight during these final months. I think it is because we were not meant to carry that much weight the entire time, so the longer before it has to come in, the less we have to support it. But I am not a doctor, so honestly I have no medical back up for my theory.
Even though it is terribly uncomfortable, and most women don’t do this, it is important to mention that at this point you should not lay on your back for extended periods of time, or at all. In doing so you can inadvertently compress the vena cava, which results in dizziness, nausea, and a possible reduction in blood flow to the placenta. I was the most comfortable laying on my left side, thus taking the pressure off the vena cava, the baby, my legs, and my back. Try to find a position that works for you and is not detrimental to your health and baby.
By now your baby is probably kicking and boxing like a champion. He may even stretching. Ouch! Ducky loved to stretch, and it always made me wince. However, as much as it could hurt at times, I always loved feeling my baby move around inside.
What has been your favorite part about pregnancy so far?
If you want to catch up…  
 

Week 15 

Week 23 

40 Weeks of Pregnancy – Week 28

Welcome to this Monday’s edition of my pregnancy week by week guide. If you want to glance at previous weeks, scroll to the bottom.
Week 28
Congratulations! You are undeniably in the third trimester. You have made it through some of the toughest parts, and even though the last bit won’t exactly be a cake walk, you are doing great!
Around this time, if you are RH negative, your doctor will be giving you a RhoGam injection. Only about ten to fifteen percent of women are RH negative, but if you are, then your blood is most likely incompatible with your baby’s, and should your blood and your baby’s blood come into contact, especially at birth, you may form antibodies against RH positive blood and the next time you get pregnant your blood may attack your baby. The RhoGam injection prevents your blood from forming the antibodies.
Starting now you will be seeing your doctor more often. If everything is fine, and your pregnancy is progressing nicely, you will probably be seeing him every two weeks. Your baby’s development is so rapid at this point, you won’t want to miss an appointment.
As your energy starts to drain some, you may find yourself doing more sedimentary activities. This is a great time to sit down and really think about your baby names. Don’t forget Dad also has a say. I remember thinking what my son’s name would be. I had this notion since I was a little girl. Then Ducky came along. His real name what I had initially wanted. Hubby wanted a unique name with personality. I like generic names. If you too like generic, popular names, the best place to look is the Social Security Administration. They have a nifty list with all the most popular names.
Other options may be looking at family names, famous people’s names, or even some hybrid names combining ones you and hubby like. Cultural names are also in right now. So you may settle on a popular name from a different culture to mark your baby’s heritage. I have even heard of people who wait until the baby is born to name him. Regardless of how you do it, as long as you put love into picking the name, your baby will be happy with it (until they turn into a teenager).
Have you picked out baby names yet? How did you come up with them?
If you want to catch up….

Week 12

Week 15 

Week 23 

Week 27

40 Weeks of Pregnancy – Week 27

It is Monday! That means it is time for another installment of my week by week pregnancy guide. If you want to catch up with previous weeks, scroll to the bottom.
Week 27
When exactly the second trimester is over can be debated by several sources. However, everyone can agree that this week is the absolute latest you can claim to still be in your second trimester. As you come to the close of this week you will start feeling more tired, no longer being able to sustain the energy jolts you were having throughout the second trimester. For those of you who never had those energy jolts, you won’t feel any changes in this regard.
Should you go into labor early, you will have a wonderful preemie. Very, very few babies don’t make it when born from this point forward. Your belly is going to really start expanding now (as if it hasn’t been doing this the whole time). If you are getting a last trimester ultrasound (I didn’t the second time around), then you can totally see the baby. If you trying to figure out the gender, and your little one hasn’t posed properly yet, this may be your last chance. Some women I know have opted for the 3D ultrasounds. They are pretty interesting. But I didn’t go in for one because, one, my tech was verycertain of the sex each time, and two, I didn’t want to spend the money since I would be seeing the real thing in just a few months. But if you can afford it, it really nice, so go for it!
I am hoping you have told your work by now that you will be going on maternity leave. If you haven’t, I am pretty sure they have guessed. So this would be a good time to really start setting into motion your maternity leave plans. Who will cover you? Will your work be divided amongst other co-workers? Who is taking over what? The last thing you want to come back to after at least six weeks of being out is a giant pile of work and everyone saying “Oh, I thought so and so was doing that.” Do you perform any duties that are specific to you and others are unfamiliar with? If so, leave a direction sheet as to how it is supposed to get done.
You definitely want to start on all the prep work now. I remember it took me months to compile a binder that would help everyone while I was gone. Also, keep in mind, at this point labor can pretty much happen whenever. So it may happen earlier than you had originally planned. I went into labor a week and a half early with Munchie, and about a week early with Ducky (although I had wished it had been earlier with him).
If you have had a smooth pregnancy thus far, chances are not a whole lot will start going wrong all of a sudden. But if you have had a few bumps in the road (pun totally intended), then there may be a chance your doctor will put you on early bed rest, meaning you will be going on leave earlier than planned whether the baby has arrived or not. Some women chose to take leave before their due date. I literally went into labor at work with Munchie, and finished out my day before going home, running errands, making dinner, and going to the hospital at 10 p.m. And yes, I knew I was in labor, but by God I was going to wrap everything up before the baby was born!
Also, are you even going back to work? Around this time a lot of women are starting to consider not returning to work when they had previously not thought about this option. Obviously there are many factors that contribute to the final decision, like your financial situation, your desire for a career, your personality type, and numerous others. Take some time and really think about it. Talk to your significant other if they are in the picture, or your friends. Do your research.
And enjoy the rest of your pregnancy, because by the end of this week you are officially starting your third and final trimester!
If you want to catch up with previous weeks….
 

Week 15 

Week 23