Hi NapiSoul,
Have you started to experience the nesting syndrome yet? Many women report the urge to clean, organize, and decorate their home right before they go into labor. Just be careful to not overexert yourself or climb on high ladders from which you could fall.
Hasn't happened yet - I think poor Napi is just too tired!
NapiSoul, you will probably feel exhausted for about 48 hours after you deliver. You may not even notice how tired you are at first because of your excitement, wonder, and joy over the life you have brought into the world; but your body will need to recuperate. Discuss with Soul how you can politely excuse guests who may not realize that they have overstayed their visit. Don't be afraid to grant them a five-minute visit and then invite them back at another time. Everyone should be very understanding, provided you word it right.
I don't think either of us will have a problem telling people to get the heck out. Of course, we'll be a lot nicer than that, but I have to believe our folks will know that Napi needs a break and the baby isn't a puppy...
Your baby weighs about 6.5 to 7 pounds and is approximately 21 inches in length. You have been full term for a week now, so you might want to start addressing those birth announcement envelopes while you still have your hands free. Your long wait will be over any time now.
That's about where I've pegged his weight. Based on our last sonogram, Napi thinks he's approaching 8lbs by now. I still think in the end he'll come in at around 7 pounds.
Our next appointment is scheduled for this Wednesday. Napi is looking for serious progress - me, I've always expected the boy to arrive on the 25th, so the 25th is still my date. I'm in no rush to test out my parenting skills - scared out of my mind as it is right now. Delaying the inevitable I suppose, but hey, everyday that passes is a day for me to get prepared (if you can truly prepare for such a life-changing event). According to PW we can look forward to the following at our next two appointments:
OB Appointment Week 38-39
You have done a great job and you only have a few more weeks to go. In addition to all the 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 to the front or to the back? and descent is the presenting part engaged?
You can begin to dilate at anytime and your doctor or midwife will track these changes to help pinpoint when labor may begin or to decide if your body needs help getting started with labor. If by this week, you have not begun to show signs of the start of labor, your doctor or midwife may want to see you again before the week is out.
Being so close to your due date it is a good idea that your partner go to with you to each prenatal appointment from this point on, since depending on what your doctor or midwife finds during your appointment, they may decide to send you straight to the hospital or discuss the possibility of inducing labor at some point in the coming week depending on your progress.
We already know he's head down, but I can't recall the doctor mentioning whether he was facing forward or not. As mentioned previously, Napi is already 1cm dilated - she's looking for serious progress on that front at our next appointment. Starting tomorrow, my "go bag" will remain in the car, just in case things "pop off" and I have to scramble to the hospital. Exciting times folks, exciting and nervous times. Here's a PW provided pic of a baby at 38 weeks - wonder what our Peanut is looking like in there...
