Almost there.
Weighing in @ 121 lbs with tummy circumference of 40". Now without exaggeration, I really can't see my toes anymore when I look down and I have difficulty in wearing underwear, pants, shorts or anything which involves bending or reaching my toes. When I put lotion on my legs, I have to do it lying down. hihihi ΓΌ
Many say my tummy looks way bigger now, I guess they are right, my OB told me yesterday that this one may be a 6 pounder as opposed to my first born who was only 5lbs and 12oz.
Looking back on my journal; on my 36th week for both pregnancies I weigh more or less the same. Only 1 lb difference from the first pregnancy. My tummy's circumference is bigger now though. I've looked at my pictures from the first pregnancy and on my 35th week and up I started looking different. Mother told me I look different already. My face looks a bit bloated and I have dark spots
na daw. Que horror.
....and no, I would not share my pictures anymore. I feel and look huge, taking a self-portrait is depressing. Speaking of depressing, my stretchmarks have noticeably increased in number!! I've noticed new marks, still red and quite itchy too. I hate it. Oh well...a few more days to go.
Additional Info from
Pregnancy Hut:
This is the time when you must be very well prepared for your delivery. Note down your partner’s or husband’s number on the pager or mobile. Keep the phone numbers of the hospital or clinic ready and handy. Try and keep your vehicle ready with enough petrol. If your partner is unavailable, ask your friend or relative to accompany you to the hospital. Pack your maternity clothes and baby clothes and items in advance.
Baby’s development is nearly complete at this pregnancy stage and it can be termed as full term baby on completion of 36th week. The baby will now move and position itself for birth. The baby will move down now and its head comes to rest on the pelvic bone bowl of the mother. This is the most significant development at this stage. The baby is positioning itself for delivery. The head downward position is most common and is present in 95 % deliveries. The baby might position itself in many other ways like face, shoulder, traverse, brow, or breech presentation. The baby’s approximate length from head to toe is 20 inches and approximate body weight is around 2.8 kg or 6 pounds. At this stage the baby is storing as much fat as it can and the cheeks, knees and elbows start dimpling due to fat deposition. The baby’s brain is developing at a rapid pace. The baby is practicing the action of blinking. Baby’s gums become strong and rigid and there is full development of the sucking muscles. The baby swallows a certain amount of amniotic fluid daily and excretes it as urine. There is a balance maintained between the amount of fluid swallowed and excreted.
More info from
Baby Center:
You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes.
Surprising Facts: The stages of labor
For first-time moms, labor takes an average of 15 hours, though it's not uncommon to last more than 20. (For women who've previously had a vaginal birth, it takes eight hours, on average.) The process of labor and birth is divided into
three main stages. Here are the highlights on how childbirth progresses:
First stage The first stage begins when you start having contractions that progressively dilate and efface your cervix and it ends when your cervix is fully dilated. This stage is divided into two phases, early and active labor.
It can be tricky to determine exactly when early labor starts. That's because early labor contractions are sometimes hard to distinguish from the inefficient Braxton Hicks contractions that you may have been feeling for some time.
Unless there are complications or your midwife or doctor has advised you otherwise, expect to sit out most of your early labor at home. (Be sure, though, to check in with your caregiver to make certain.)
Early labor ends when your cervix is about 4 centimeters dilated and your progress starts to speed up. At this point, you enter what's known as the active phase of labor. Your contractions become more frequent, longer, and stronger.
The last part of the active phase — when your cervix dilates from 8 to 10 centimeters — is called the transition period because it marks the transition to the second stage of labor. This is the most intense part of the first stage, with contractions that are usually very strong, coming about every two and a half to three minutes and lasting a minute or more.
Second stage Once your cervix is fully dilated, the second stage of labor begins: the final descent and birth of your baby. This is the "pushing" stage of labor, and it can last anywhere from minutes to a few hours. (It's likely to be quicker if you've previously given birth vaginally.)
Your baby's head will continue to advance with each push until it "crowns" — the term used to describe the time when the widest part of your baby's head is finally visible. After your baby's head comes out, your midwife or doctor will suction his mouth and nose, and feel around his neck for the umbilical cord. His head then turns to the side as his shoulders rotate inside the pelvis to get into position for their exit. With the next contraction, you'll be coached to push as his shoulders deliver, one at a time, followed by the rest of his body.
You may feel a wide range of emotions now: euphoria, awe, pride, disbelief, excitement (to name a few), and, of course, intense relief that it's all over. Exhausted as you may be, you'll also probably feel a burst of energy, and any thoughts of sleep will vanish for the time being.
Stage three The final stage of labor begins immediately after the birth of your baby and ends with the delivery of your placenta. The contractions in the third stage are relatively mild.
Read more...
