Week 36

Weight: 136 lbs. (+23 lbs)
Fundal height: 35 cm (determined by measuring from the top of the pubic bone the top of the uterus (called the fundus) which is quite a bit above the belly button right now)

I can't write much now (need to get to bed), but I didn't want to put my 'fan club' (I'm so happy SOMEONE is reading this) into red alert like I did last week when I didn't publish on Monday!!

So quick recap...and then you'll need to check back for more details. Big events that happened this past week...

• Needed another day off from school to get better - which seemed to help!
• Had a wonderful shower (thrown by Todd's mom and sister-in-law, Kim) on Saturday. Todd's Aunt Donna as well as the Rassmans' closest friends, Craig & Fay, came in from out of town for the big event!! The best part was that it was like a big party all weekend - from Friday night to Sunday afternoon (thank goodness I was feeling better).
• Finally ordered the cloth diapers we are going to try out. For all those whose mouths are opened in shock, disbelief, and pity - I will write more about why we chose to go that way. One of the biggest reasons for trying is that cloth diapering is SO different these days and SO much easier (no more pins!!!)
• The baby's room is coming together more and more thanks to all the generous gifts we've received so far. I'll be taking pictures to post ASAP.

Check back for more details!!!

Baby's Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• Your baby is almost ready and most likely, so are you! The only organ still to mature is the lungs. While certainly you are both growing anxious to meet, remember that each day (up to 42 weeks), that your little one stays within your womb will multiply his/her chances to breathe on his own.
• If s/he hasn't already, this week your baby may drop into the birth canal. While breathing for mom becomes easier, walking may be the exact opposite!
• Fat is dimpling your baby's elbows and knees, and forming creases in the neck and wrists.
• His/her skin is growing smooth and, shall we say it, "baby" soft.
• His/her gums are very rigid. It won't be many months before you'll see his/her teeth.
• S/he has a fully developed pair of kidneys and his/her liver has begun processing some waste products.
• Your child's average size is now 18.66 inches and 5.78 pounds.
• Between now and birth s/he will gain about an ounce a day!

Week 35

Weight: 133 lbs. (+20 lbs)
Fundal height: 33 cm
(determined by measuring from the top of the pubic bone the top of the uterus (called the fundus) which is quite a bit above the belly button right now)

I know...I know...I'm late!!! I apologize for not posting on Monday. I have been fighting off some sort of illness. I'm not seriously sick by any means, but that's what I'm trying to prevent - especially with a weekend full of events coming up including my shower. So to do that I took Monday off and have been laying low. Laying so low that we ended giving up our club level tickets to the Sabres game on Wednesday. Of course, it had to be one of the most exciting games of the year - argh!!

Enough with being sick! Last week was a full week! Tuesday I had dinner with two of my girlfriends - Kendra and Michelle T. It was great to chat with both of them - there's nothing like hanging out with the girls! On Wednesday my kindergarten teammates and aides threw me a shower. How fun it was! I'm so lucky to be working with such great women! We had a wonderful sit down dinner, received SO many cute gifts, and then had a yummy cake. Todd joined us near the end and requested a tutorial on everything we received. We ended up staying at Maria & Russ' house until 10pm! Now we can officially begin the prewashing of all clothing and blankets stage.

On Thursday I had my 34 week appointment with Sarah, one of the midwives. Luckily, I gained back some of the weight I had lost in Florida - 5 pounds in two weeks! Other than that everything checked out. The baby is still head down and Sarah predicts the baby is at least 3.5 pounds.

I ended up calling two pediatricians last week - Town & Village (where Dr. Cavalieri (family friend) and Dr. Roehmholdt (my former pediatrician as a teenager) practices) and Suburban Pediatrics (where many of my students go to since it's right in Clarence). We have an appointment with Town & Village on April 1st where we will meet with Dr. Roehmholdt.

I then called Suburban Pediatrics (who has a great website). After choosing an option, the phone service hung up on me. So I called back and did finally get someone to speak to. Unfortunately, we cannot go during their Open House times (Wednesday evening) so all they could give us was a lactation consultant to talk to and give us a tour. However, when the receptionist tried to find us an appointment time, she couldn't find their schedule. So she asked me to call back on Monday. Needless to say, I haven't called back and not sure if I will.

After going through that with Suburban Pediatrics, I really appreciated calling Town & Village having a human answer the phone. Getting the answering options at Suburban reminded me too much of what I just left at Audubon Women's Medical. In the end, whatever decision we make isn't permanent.

This past Saturday, Todd's parents went with us to pick up the baby's dresser from Whites. We also placed an order for our glider and ottoman - thanks to Mom and Dad Rassman! It's going to be so comfy. We then came back to the house so Todd and his dad took the extra mattresses downstairs and brought the dresser upstairs. We ended the evening with a great dinner with all the Rassmans!

Unfortunately, I think it was all the exciting events of last week that wore me down and here I am today - home from school for a second time this week. So here's to getting back to my happy healthy self!

Baby Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• The average baby weighs almost five and a half pounds now.
• Most babies born now will survive and without many long-term problems.
• Fat accumulations plumps up the arms and legs this week. These layers of fat will help him regulate his body temperature. They also provide those cute little dimples on elbows and knees!
• His/her hearing is fully developed, so be sure to talk to your son/daughter. Do you find yourself speaking in a high-pitched tone? That's okay since some studies show babies respond better to higher pitches.
• It's getting crowded! Your baby is now taking up most of the uterus and you may even feel like your chest has run out of room! Soon enough though, baby will move down and you'll be able to breathe easily again (just not walk so easily! Ha!).
• Your baby is 18.2 inches long and weighs 5.3 pounds.
• The testes have completed their descent in males.

(pictures from Pregnancy.org)

Week 34

Well I made it...in a sense. If I go into labor from this point on nothing will be done in order to prevent delivery. For as much as that is positive, let me just explain that if I do deliver anytime soon we are NOT ready!!! We have the crib built, a pack of diapers, and some onesies. Oh and I received the valance that I ordered today - not that it would help us in any way. If the child was to come in the next couple weeks, everyone in close proximity to us (aka our parents) will be on RED ALERT to gather the goods needed to get us to the hospital and the baby home!

Luckily, I'm still feeling well in my eighth month although I'm starting to deal with some acid-reflux and backaches. I'm not sure I can get used to the feeling of a fire in my throat. However, I am trying to watch what I eat and when I eat. It seems to be helping so far or the baby is allowing my stomach more room right now. But if this is all I have to complain about, I think I'm doing pretty well.

The birthing class we were supposed to attend on Saturday ended up being cancelled due to a snow storm we had. Got a good 12+ inches of snow - yea!!! There's nothing like a good snow storm! It gave me a good reason to relax and read some more of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.

Unfortunately, Todd woke up sick on Thursday, so I was the one outside snowblowing and shoveling Friday and Saturday. It sounds much worse than it really was - I secretly enjoy doing stuff like that! Although I was glad that Todd was well enough to get up Sunday and do it. After being put on antibiotics on Friday to ensure whatever he had did not spread to his lungs, he is feeling better and went back to work today.

So to add to the red alertness if the baby comes early - we will not have had any child birth class preparation. Unless we find another one to attend, the class that was cancelled is rescheduled for April 12th - a mere 9 days before the due date. Now I'm really glad we decided upon having Cindy, our Doula, accompany the birth!

Looking forward to a shower my kindergarten teammates are throwing for me on Wednesday. It will be my first official shower!! I then have a midwife visit scheduled for Thursday. And on Saturday we are going to pick up the dresser from White's. So little by little, I guess we really are getting ourselves ready!

Finally, I officially have 4 weeks and a few days left to work - April 11th will be my last teaching day since we have the following week off for Spring Break. If I'm not thinking about getting our home ready, I am thinking about getting my classroom and substitute, Laura, ready for the big take over.

In the meantime, I am finding my kiddos' hands on my stomach more and more lately as they are trying to feel the baby move or looking for 'hard spots' (hands, feets, etc.). It's actually quite cute. I think I've only bumped into one head with my protruding tummy so far!

Off to bed. Need to get all the sleep I can to store up for the sleep deprivation part of parenting!

Baby's Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• Your baby acts completely like a newborn, with his/her eyes opened when awake and closed when sleeping. You may also find him/her settling into more of a routine for sleeping & awake times.


• S/he has learned to blink. S/he can also see more clearly when there is a bright light on your stomach and probably has the outline of all your organs memorized!


• Antibodies from your blood are being transferred to him/her. These immunities continue to build until birth. Then breast milk will add even more protection against disease.


• Your baby may have already turned to a head-down position in preparation for birth. If s/he is your first baby, s/he may be settling into the pelvis with his head pressing against your cervix.


• Fingernails have reached the end of the fingertips now. S/he may scratch her face even before s/he is born!


• Your little one's length is 17.7 inches and weight is 4.7 pounds.

(pictures from Pregnancy.org)

Week 33

Weight: 128 lbs. (- 1 lbs)
Fundal height: 32 cm (determined by measuring from the top of the pubic bone the top of the uterus (called the fundus) which is quite a bit above the belly button right now)

Well here I am...eight months pregnant!! I officially took my first (and hopefully last) fall today. It was everything I expected - awkward, ungraceful, embarrassing, and a little scary.

It was nothing exciting - I was walking and just turned my right ankle (maybe because of some water on the floor?) and there was no recovering so down I went onto my left side. Only one student saw and I don't think she knew what to do. I felt like a turtle on its back - I was able to get up as quickly as I fell but it was just the awkwardness of being on the ground. I officially realized what all the books meant by my center of gravity is off and my joints are not as strong. Anyway, I did all I had to - called the midwives and filled out the accident reports. In the end, I'm sure we are both going to be okay! If there was any week to fall this may have been the best since the volume of my amniotic fluid is at its peak, therefore, cushioning the baby from the fall.

We had an appointment this past week as well. Believe it or not, I actually lost a pound. I am assuming it's because I was not feeling all that great last week and, hence, not eating as much as I should have been. But neither the nurse (Kathy) nor the midwife (Sarah) were concerned.

Once again, the appointment lasted at least 30 minutes - which is a good thing. We discussed circumcisions (if it's a boy), cord blood collection/donation, anesthesia options (hopefully won't be needed), and even post pardum birth control. We don't want to end up like one of their 18-year-old patients who came back for her 6 week post pardum appointment and found out she was pregnant again!!!

So far Sarah is my favorite midwife. She's just SO thorough!! But then again I have spoken to Martha each time I've needed to call in and we seem to be on the same page. In addition, she's so helpful and reassuring. And then Elaine just has so much experience. So in the end I will be thankful to have any one of the midwives to deliver the baby!

This Saturday we will be taking our Childbirth course. It's a one day shot so I hope we take it all in!! We may also be picking up the dresser that day as well. With only 7 weeks to go, we would also like to take a Breastfeeding 101 class along with a 'How to Take Care of a Baby' course!!

And finally, my roommate and housemate from college, Breanne, gave birth early yesterday morning to Emma! Although I have not spoken to her, it sounds as though both momma and child are doing well! Congrats to her and Seth!!!

Baby's Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• Amniotic fluid is at its highest level during your pregnancy.
• Your baby's head size has increased 3/8ths of an inch due to rapid brain growth.
• Neurons and synapses are developing in huge numbers -- forming connections in your baby's brain will give him/her the skills s/he needs to thrive as a newborn. This week, s/he may be able to coordinate sucking and swallowing with breathing.
• While most of his/her bones are hardening, his/her skull is quite pliable and not completely joined. The bones will be able to move slightly to make birthing easier.
• You baby takes intermittent deep breaths -- of water! That's okay, though since s/he gets oxygen from the placenta. This breathing exercises muscles and encourages his/her lung cells to produce more surfactant (a protein essential for healthy lung development).
• If the baby is a boy, his testicles will be descending from his abdomen into his scrotum. Sometimes one or both testicles won't move into position until after birth.
• Your infant is now 17.2 inches long and weighs 4.23 pounds.

(pictures from Pregnancy.org)