36 week update

How Far Along: 

36 weeks

Due Date: 

February 28th, 2015 (but scheduled c-section on February 24th)

Weight Gain:

Approximately 25lbs…yikes!

Boy or girl: 

It will be a surprise come February!  Ben thinks baby is a boy and Alethea thinks baby is a girl.  I really have no clue, but we will all be happy with either. J

Bump Picture:

Baby Development:  

Baby E is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He/she now weighs almost 6 pounds and is more than 18 1/2 inches long (about the size of a head of romaine lettuce). E is shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered their body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected their skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Baby E swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of his/her first bowel movement.

Symptoms:

The biggest symptom is hip pain. I am now regretting not seeking out chiropractic help this time around because it was so helpful during Declan’s pregnancy

Currently craving: 

Nope, I am pretty happy as long as I get food.

Currently Avoiding: 

Nothing.

Belly button status: 

Still in as expected. 

Movement:

Baby E is a party animal.  Movements can be very easily felt from the outside and both Ben and Alethea as well as several other family members have been able to feel E’s movements.  Baby E really enjoys kicking my bladder which doesn’t typically feel great and encourages many extra bathroom breaks.

Name:

Initials will be EBH if a girl and EMH if a boy

Any appointments?: 

We have an appointment on Thursday as well as an ultrasound.  At my most recent appointment my fundal height measurements were off so they just want to make sure that all is well.  Doc is not concerned and E is still partying inside so we aren’t worried either.  Doc thinks that E has just shifted and is sitting funny so the measurements were off.  We are looking forward to an extra ultrasound and praying for good news

Any baby related purchases?:

Memory book for the first year and then 5 birthdays, seat protector for under the carseat, big sis/bro gift and tshirts for kiddos.

Alethea and Declan: 

Alethea is still very excited about Baby E’s arrival and is always asking if Baby E will be doing this or that with us.  She is currently very excited about holding E and helping change his/her diaper.  She is very much convinced we are having a girl and if we don’t she has already said we have to have another baby so that she can wear all of Alethea’s old clothes, lol.

Declan doesn’t really know a baby is coming, but he is more aware of the big belly lately.  He will point to it occasionally and likes to push back on it unsuccessfully trying to make room to sit in my lap

Random:

Don’t know if my belly is bigger or my maternity clothes have just shrunk over time, but I feel like my shirts are not long enough this time around.