Thirty weeks! Even the nurse at my doctors appointment said "you're in the home stretch!" I'm so excited! My comments today are in Red!
How your baby's growing:
Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half (I think I have more than the average Mom. My belly is huge.)of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. (Odd that there is so much talk of a out-of-womb baby!) When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)
How your life's changing:
You may be feeling a little tired these days (um ya! I've been sleeping like a rock lately! The whole house could burn down around me and I'd have no idea.), especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal (Not that clumsy yet), which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier (Yes, thanks.), but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. (Also, this causes the pregnant woman to waddle. I learned this in my L&D class the other night! ) Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size. I don't care now that I'm not going to a wedding in 6 hours!
Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? (Mood swings? What mood swings?)The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. (I'm really not worried about either to quite frank.) But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. (I'm sure it's the Prozac but I feel just fine. The only thing that seems to really bring out the devil in me is constipation and I do try to avoid that like crazy.) You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious. ("Nervous and Anxious" is not really my style. Not when it comes to baby stuff anyway.)
No comments:
Post a Comment