Week 32

This has been a busy week for us, which is why I am not updating with the 32 week entry until today!

Tuesday, we had an appointment for Kaylee's 32 week fetal growth scan to see how she was growing. Fetal growth is a major concern in women with gestational diabetes. Often, the baby's
rib cage and shoulders will grow too fast and large, making delivery a dangerous thing. The baby's head would deliver fine, but then the shoulders would get stuck. This is called Shoulder Dystocia.

So they wanted to make sure Kaylee wasn't getting too big too fast. She certainly is not. We found out she is a little thing! Only weighing in at a whopping 3 lbs, 17 oz. Putting her in the 19th percentile compared to other babies her age. At 36 weeks we will have another, more in-depth, fetal growth scan to check her size again closer to delivery. Along with the twice weekly non-stress tests.

Wednesday, I had my regular two week check up. My doctor is still shocked at my blood sugar levels being so low. In fact, she thought my glucose meter was broken, so she had her nurse come in and check my level. Still low! My blood pressure was good, Kaylee's heart rate was 136 beats per minute, so that's good as well. My weight, however, was not so good. I lost another two pounds this visit. I was scolded for it again, but honestly how do they expect me to gain weight when I am on a high protein, low carbohydrate—no sugar—diet? Anywho, I am supposed to up my fat intake, apparently.

I have also been having Braxton Hicks contractions pretty regularly. One or two per hour, right on schedule. My doctor says that is good news, it means my body is getting ready for "D"-day. She hopes I go into labor on my own before I reach my due date, otherwise she will need to induce labor.

Thursday, I kicked the cleaning into high gear (nesting perhaps?). I realized that it is already a full week into August and I need to have most, if not all, of the stuff I need to get done, done. I will be staying at my very generous in-laws' house for the month of September, since I will be having up to three appointments per week at that point, and for when I go into labor. Their house is much closer to the hospital, my doctor's office, and the outpatient clinic where I have the ultrasounds and the non-stress tests.

Update on Kaylee —

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At 32 weeks, the average baby weighs 4.4 lbs and is around 18.9 inches long!

By now Kaylee should be gaining about a 1/2 pound per week! In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next seven weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

As a preparation for breastfeeding, Kaylee has learned to root for the breast. She will turn her head if touched on the cheek and open her mouth if the bottom lip is tickled. By this time she can also suck and swallow in a coordinated way.

Thanks to their recently matured lungs and a remarkably strong immune system, over 90% of babies born in their 32nd week survive premature births. So it's pretty much a done deal. Even if our little monkey's planning on heading out early, her survival odds are in everyone's favor. Time to celebrate! No, no; we have to wait until after the birth to crack open the champagne. I am talking baby-showers and alcohol-free punch! Woohoo!

And in the latest womb reports, our amazing Kaylee has now developed sensitivity to temperature! This means I would probably get a swift kick if I put a hot pad on my ginormous belly.