34 Weeks

Yesterday was my "32 week appointment," which didn't actually happen until 34 weeks since we were out of town. I brought up my only concern which is frequent, strong Braxton Hicks. The nurse did a cervical length check and told me that anything over 2cm was the goal at this point. The first measurement was just over 3cm, and the second was just under 3cm, so everything looks fine. Good to know, because I don't want to meet this baby until at least 37 weeks, and preferably not until 39-40. Other than that, my BP is staying consistent and everything looks good. Baby's heart rate was around 149bpm, still higher than Noah who by this point was low 130s. Still not sure that it means anything.

How Far Along: 34w2d

How Big Is Baby: According to BabyCenter, baby is about the size of a cantaloupe. Weight estimates at 34 weeks are 4.75lbs and length estimates are 18 inches. Again, I would guess this baby is measuring below both of those stats considering Noah was born at 40w2d and he was 6lb12oz and 19.5”, and I was only 6lbs8oz myself (8 days past my due date).

Sex: I am sticking with my boy prediction. Brian and Noah also think it’s a boy. My mom and dad are both saying girl.

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks contractions all. the. time. Baby often still feels super low. I have had a couple more ocular migraines. I am so over them. I wish I knew how to prevent them, but staying hydrated and resting doesn’t seem to do jack. I have on and off swelling in my feet, ankles, and calves.

Food Cravings/Aversions: Not much lately.

Belly Button: Yup, still out.

Sleep: Readjusting to high altitude after spending a month in MN has not been easy. The first couple nights I couldn’t fall asleep, and once I did I woke up all the time. The third night I fell asleep okay but then I woke up and couldn’t fall back asleep. (Side note, that night at 4:45am I heard mountain lions meowing and screaming outside. Very eerie, and didn’t help me fall back asleep either!) Last night I finally had a good night of sleep again. I hope it continues. My hips are getting achier and rolling over is becoming an Olympic event, one in which I am NOT medaling.

Stretch Marks: Nothing new, yet.

Weight Gain: Well, while in MN I indulged in a lot of peanut M&M’s, chubby hubby, and ice cream bars. Our scale this week showed me fluctuating between 139.5-141.5, which is officially the heaviest I have ever been. My feet and legs were quite swollen though. At the OB however, I weighed 137.2, so I’m up about 28-29 pounds. For the record, my final total with Noah was 28 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: All day every day. I have a limited number of tank tops and t-shirts, and although I would like more variety and less frequent laundering of what I do have, it seems silly to go out and buy anything this late in the game.

Movement: Oh yes, sometimes I think this baby is already training to be a gymnast or contortionist. And lately, s/he has decided that my bedtime is the perfect time to really go nuts! The nurse confirmed that baby’s rear end is sticking out to the left side of my abdomen. At my next appointment in 2 weeks they’ll do an ultrasound to confirm how baby is positioned.

What I Miss: Not having Braxton Hicks contractions all the time. Sleeping through the night every night.

What I’m Looking Forward To: Now that we’re home I am looking forward to getting things in order around here for the new baby. We have assembled the crib, but that’s about it. Lots left to do!!

Best Moment This Week: Nothing in particular comes to mind, but it’s good to be home.

Milestones: Another week down!

The Bump:

And for fun, a comparison between my two pregnancies.

Is it just me, or do I actually look like I'm carrying a little higher this time? That's incredibly hard for me to believe based on how I feel! Hmmm.