The Big Day Approaches...

Just a quick update to the blog for the week. The big day is approaching... no, silly! Not the arrival of the Munchkin, but the baby shower! Can't wait to see friends and family who wish to celebrate this miracle. The shower is this Saturday... all the ladies will be getting together, while the men will be gathering at our house. Should be an interesting day!

Had our 32w check up on Monday. Brad was with me as we went over our Birth Plan with our doctor. So cool! I love my doctor. We spent about 20 minutes going over it and she's perfectly fine with it. Everything checked out well. My next appointment is May 12. Maybe if I don't forget, I'll ask her how big she thinks the baby is. Who knows... I hope she says only about 4.5 pounds... because I don't want to be pushing out a huge baby! Yikes!

No belly pic this week as there is so much going on this week with work and preparing for the shower. Next week I'll have a new picture. However, here's what's happening to baby and me in the 33rd week!
Baby - Your baby weighs almost 5 lbs (2250 g) and is 12.8 inches (32cm) from crown to rump and about 19.8 inches (44cm) long. If your baby were born now, she would be considered "pre-term" rather than premature. This distinction is based on fetal maturity, particularly the maturity of the fetal lungs. A pre-term baby, unlike a premature baby, is likely to have well-developed lungs and is less likely to need intensive care. Your baby is surrounded by a red glow when sunlight shines on your belly and may be aware of this as she is able to differentiate between light and dark. Your baby's hair is getting thicker, though it may be a different color when she is older. She is currently shedding her lanugo, the fine downy hair that previously covered her body. More vernix, the waxy coating that protects your baby's skin while submerged in amniotic fluid, is building up. Your baby's adrenal glands are producing more steroid hormone, the androgen-like hormone that indirectly aids your milk production. Your baby is currently producing ten times more of this hormone than a normal adult and the adrenal glands are currently the same size as those of an adolescent. They will shrink after birth.
Your baby is laying down bone. To do this, she will draw calcium from you. Your baby has taste buds and it has been suggested that she can taste and develop tastes for flavors found in the amniotic fluid, particularly flavors that you eat on a regular basis.
Mom - Your baby is beginning to drop in your pelvis and you may have noticed that the shape of your abdomen has changed because of this. This may also cause increased pressure in your pelvic region. While Braxton Hicks contractions are probably becoming more regular, you may also experience false labor. This is different from Braxton Hicks contractions because false labor, unlike Braxton Hicks, can be very painful. These contractions are irregular and usually last under 45 seconds and are not sustained. If you are unsure if you are experiencing false labor, you should contact your care provider. If your water breaks, you should contact your doctor immediately. You may have bloody show that occurs as the cervix stretches and dilates, especially right after a vaginal exam. You may also pass a mucus plug. Neither bloody show or passing the mucus plug necessarily indicates that labor will commence right away, but it will not be far away.

Mom/Grandma is in town now and will start painting the nursery. She said that it looks like I have dropped some. I hope so! She's really excited because she got to feel her grandchild moving around and got to feel her hiccuping. Will post pictures of the nursery as it's being painted... more to come!

P.S. Monty... she's mooning you again!