Before diving into week 36 info, let me run down the weekend activities for you all. After unsuccessfully trying to link up with a friend to change Napi's rear brakes, we headed off to IKEA in hopes of finding what turned out to be a very elusive dresser. We could have gone all out and bought some fancy bedroom set, but considering the boy is going to be looking at the ceiling 90% of the time until we move into our first house (ETA around October/November of this year), it just didn't make sense spending all that money. The other thought (on my part) was that we would want to do up his bedroom once we move into our house and buying expensive furniture now without knowing how we wanted his room set up seemed premature. So off to IKEA we went and lo and behold they actually had the dresser in stock. Snapped it up, added some draw organizers to the cart, paid for it and headed straight home. If you've seen the news then you're probably aware that it has been raining almost non-stop here in the DC area. With Saturday scheduled to be a washout, we decided to get cracking on Peanut's room and basically spent the evening putting together the furniture. Despite cracking an important looking part (nothing a little duct tape couldn't handle!), we got the dresser together and Napi assembled his changing table.
Sunday was pretty much the same deal. After running around looking for a good tool kit for my future exploits as a mechanic, I finally made it home and after dinner (and watching the Yankees fail to score a run on a minor league player through 6 innings...) went back to tackling Peanut's room, which up until this point has been the storage/computer room. Mucho work to be done, but it's coming together. Final act of the night was assembling his bassinet. I'll take some pics later, but I think the room is finally starting to look like a baby's room. The bassinet was a gift from a friend's mother and it's pretty nice. An Eddie Bauer number in yellow and brown with music and everything. I'll probably try and wrap up the big stuff in the room tonight, but for the most part his furniture is good to go.
On to Week 36! Pregnancy Weekly tells us that:
NapiSoul, beginning this week, you will visit your doctor on a weekly basis. He or she will monitor your progress - as well as your baby's - and watch for early signs of labor. In some situations, a woman and her doctor may decide to induce labor. There are several reasons your doctor may suggest induction: if continuing the pregnancy poses a significant risk to you or your baby, or if your water breaks but you do not start laboring within 24-48 hours. Induction may also be considered later, if you have not given birth by your 42nd week. Some women also ask to be induced for reasons of convenience or comfort. However, there are significant risks to you and your baby if labor is induced. For example, if the induction fails, you may have to deliver by emergency c-section, which is associated with higher rates of complications, longer hospital stays, and longer recoveries. In addition, certain induction techniques can cause strong contractions; hyperstimulate the uterus, which can stress your baby; and cause placental abruption and uterine rupture. In any situation, you should discuss all the options with your doctor, ask questions, and weigh the risks and benefits to determine what is best for you and your baby.
I'm discouraging any talk of an induced labor - July 25th is still my preferred date and I'm hoping Napi and Peanut are in agreement on that!
Your baby has added another half pound and now weighs about 6 pounds, measures around 20.7 inches in length, and is almost ready to check out of "Hotel Mom." Your baby has moved downward towards your vagina; hopefully headfirst. However, at this stage it is very common for babies to be feet first, or breech. It is not until labor begins that you can know for sure if your doctor will need to manually turn the baby (ECV), or if you will have to consider a cesarean delivery.
We think he's already head down - ultrasound on Wednesday will hopefully confirm that. All indications suggest he's about ready to make his move!
As the PW email points out, this week marks our move to weekly prenatal appointments. Here's what we have in store:
OB Appointment Week 36
The big day is almost here and no one is more excited than you.Your pregnancy has been a most miraculous journey but you are ready to kiss your belly and maternity stretch pants goodbye and say hello to your new baby. You will spend most of these final weeks in some form of labor. Your appointments will continue to be weekly. For the most part unless you already have complications or develop any in the next few weeks, your appointment will be short and sweet up until delivery. Your doctor or midwife will discuss what to expect between visits and will instruct you regarding the onset of true labor.
In addition to all the routine physical checks you and your baby have had in the previous weeks, your doctor or midwife will do a palpation of your uterus to determine the position of your baby, an internal exam, and possibly even an ultrasound to determine the size and position of your baby. Your doctor or midwife will want to determine how your baby is presenting head or buttocks first, position? Facing toward the front or the back? On descent, is the presenting part engaged? You can begin to dilate at anytime and your doctor or midwife will track this change to help pinpoint when labor may begin or to decide if your body needs help getting started with labor. If you have had a positive Group B strep (GBS) vaginal culture in any past appointments, you will be retested and put on a round of antibiotics if GBS is found. As your due date grows near, it is not a bad idea that your partner go to each prenatal appointment from this point on with you, since depending on what your doctor or midwife finds during your appointment, they may decide to send you straight to the hospital.
Exciting stuff folks - believe we are for the most part out of the danger zone, though life can frequently unfold in unpredictable ways. We'll get some pics up of the sonogram Wednesday evening, but for now, I'll leave you with a pic of someone else's kid at 36 weeks!
