Week 34

Another week is upon us. It is going to be an interesting one. I had my usual bi-weekly doctors appointment today (Monday), Thursday Chris and I have our infant CPR class, and Saturday is the baby shower. Should be fun, though. I am looking forward to it.

Today's appointment went well. Kaylee is growing, her heartbeat was nice and strong and she continues to be a busy little bee with her constant moving around, despite her lack of space. My vitals were all good, blood sugars are still awesome. But I have again lost weight, making my total pregnancy weight gain at only nine pounds total, at 34 weeks. According to the pregnancy weight charts, since I started out in normal weight range, I should gain between 25 and 30 pounds. That's just not going to happen. My doctor talked to me about what the induction would entail, should I make it to 40 weeks. It did not sound pleasant, so I would like to avoid that. She told me she would like me to go into labor around 38 weeks, if I can. So that's only about 4 more weeks! Yikes!

My next appointment will be at 36 weeks, then I start seeing my doctor once a week. I also start the non-stress tests twice a week at 36 weeks. My next ultrasound is at 37 weeks to check Kaylee's growth. I believe that is all for the appointment updates.

My contractions on Sunday were interesting. I could literally tell the time by the contractions. The human body is amazing. I was getting them every half hour on the exact hour and half hour. Chris and I were walking back to the car from beach and I said, "Oh it must be 8:30." Chris pulls out his phone to look at the time and says, "Wow, yeah it's exactly 8:30!" It was funny.

Update on Kaylee —

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At 34 weeks the average baby weighs between 5.2 and 5.6 pounds and is around 19.8 inches long (about the size of a medicine ball). Her fat layers, which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born, are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever.

Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. Kaylee is no longer floating around. She now rests right on the uterus, head down. She has learned to blink, and can also see more clearly when there is a bright light on mommy's tummy, and probably has the outlines of all of mom's organs memorized!

Kaylee's lanugo hair is now starting to disappear. She now acts completely like a newborn, with her eyes opened when awake and closed when sleeping. She also may be settling into more of a routine for sleeping and awake times.

Her gums now have ridges, which may look like teeth. Her fingernails now reach the end of her fingertips and may even curl over the tip, making a manicure one of the first things mommy will need to do shortly after birth, so she doesn't scratch her own face.