Another week over! Again not much to report except that my belly is getting bigger. I’m not getting swollen ankles very often, which is good. I am definately slowing down though. I’m puffed after climbing a single flight of stairs, I don’t walk as fast as I used to and get tired more easily. It’s getting harder to bend down to pick up something off the floor, and rolling over in bed requires a bit of effort, though it’s been like that for a while now.

At the Birth Centre appointment my blood pressure was 110/76, fundal height was 35 cm, and the baby’s hearbeat was fine.  The midwife had trouble trying to work out the orientation of Bugalugs, but I think the final verdict was that it’s probably head down with it’s back sitting against my left side.   Doesn’t matter, we’ll find out for sure next week when I have the ultrasound.

Info from Birth.com.au:

You are now 32 weeks pregnant, which is the beginning of week 33. Your baby is about 44 cm long and approximately 1,900 grams in weight. Your baby’s lungs continue to mature, producing increasing amounts of surfactant. This is a fatty liquid (phospholipid) that lines their lungs, assisting the tiny sacs within (called alveoli) to expand efficiently for breathing after birth. Your baby’s sucking and swallowing action (required to drink milk) fully coordinates between 32 to 34 weeks. However, if your baby is born this early, they may still require fluids and glucose through a drip in their vein and/or be fed milk through a fine tube to their stomach, because suckling tires them quickly. Nearly 80% of preterm babies are born between 32 to 37 weeks gestation and are regarded as ‘mildly preterm’. If born at 32 weeks, they have about a 95% chance of survival and need to be cared for in an intensive care nursery.

Many women start feeling heavy and large now and may feel the need to slow down. Physical tasks can require more effort as the weeks pass by and you may consider stopping work (if employed) over the next few weeks.

Haemorrhoids or piles are essentially varicose veins of the anus or rectal canal. They can appear as small lumps around the opening of the anus during pregnancy, often during the last few months. Haemorrhoids can be painful (although not always) and quite itchy. They can also bleed, especially after a bowel motion. At times the bleeding can be quite bright and heavy.

Constipation. Difficulty opening the bowels or passing motions is a common complaint during pregnancy and is thought to happen because the progesterone hormone makes the gut movement slower. The longer food stays in the intestines, the more water is reabsorbed from the bowel, making motions harder to pass. Direct pressure on the intestines from the growing baby can also slow the passage of food through the bowel. For some women, constipation also contributes to causing haemorrhoids.

Emotional reactions Pregnancy heightens your emotions and senses, with many woman wondering “What type of world am I bringing my baby into?”, particularly after watching the news. Scenes of suffering children and relationship separations can be particularly difficult, often reducing you to tears. You may also be sensitive to who you have around you, perhaps becoming more selective about your companions, or not socialising as much. This is all quite normal.

Wow, 30 weeks already. About the only things that are different to last week are that the swelling of my ankles has reappeared some days, and my nipples are leaking a tiny bit of fluid. I guess my body really is getting ready for this baby.

Info from Birth.com.au:

You are now 30 weeks pregnant, which is the beginning of week 31.   Your baby has grown to be about 42 cm long from head to toe and approximately 1,500 grams (1.5 kg) in weight.   Your baby’s brain is increasing in size and complexity and the pupils of their eyes can now respond to light, allowing your baby to focus more readily and see dim shapes. Your baby now has definite sleep and wake patterns, although they may sleep up to 95% of the time and have noticeable rapid eye movements (REM), which indicates they may be dreaming! Many women notice their baby tends to be more active when they are resting, perhaps because when you move your body naturally rocks your baby to sleep.  Did you know?  Scientists have recorded the brain waves of unborn babies. At 7 weeks they are sporadic, but become noticeably more consistent by 10 weeks. Unborn babies have one continuous distinct brain wave pattern by 22 weeks and 2 distinct patterns (similar to adult brainwaves) by 30 weeks.

Swelling.   About 65% of healthy pregnant women develop fluid retention or swelling (called oedema), even though their blood pressure is normal. This can happen in the legs, feet and hands and is generally more noticeable at the end of the day, although it may be worse on hot days, after a long trip or if you are on your feet for long periods of time. NOTE: If you notice sudden swelling, you should have your blood pressure checked by your caregiver or local doctor to make sure it is not related to high blood pressure.

High blood pressure. Your caregiver normally checks your blood pressure at each pregnancy visit to make sure it is not abnormally high (called pre-eclampsia). Be aware though, that about 10% of pregnant women have at least one ‘above normal’ blood pressure reading at some point during pregnancy. This is quite normal, as a one-off high reading does not really indicate a health problem.

Emotional reactions.  Most pregnant women become very excited as their pregnancy draws to a close, especially if motherhood has been a long-term goal that is finally being fulfilled. Making preparations for the birth, talking with other mothers and holding other people’s babies can heighten this anticipation. Some women even buy a puppy or kitten to help disperse their motherly feelings! The excitement and joy of meeting your baby as their birthday approaches can bring a whole new purpose to being alive.

Other considerations. Nappies, cloth or disposables. You may be thinking about the type of nappy you would prefer to use and are perhaps purchasing some in readiness for when your baby arrives. Some people have set ideas about using either cloth or disposables, but others remain flexible until their baby starts to use them. Many parents combine the use of both for various reasons.

All is still going well here. I haven’t had swollen ankles for a while now, even though the weather has been a bit on the warm side at times. Sometimes when the baby kicks I can actually see my belly move, though it’s not like I can see an outline of a foot or anything. I got a certificate from my GP a few days ago that says I’m pregnant and what my due date is. I need it to apply for maternity leave. It seems odd to be thinking about sending a letter off for leave, when I don’t even have a contract that goes past December 31.

The birth classes are quite interesting. I think that they have given us a much better idea of what to expect during labour. Don’t get me wrong, there is still such an unknown factor associated with labour and birth, but it is nice to have some ideas of what to expect and what we can do to make things a little easier. I guess time will tell as to whether any of the information is useful or not! The next couple of weeks are about caring for a newborn baby.

One of the things we talked about last night was cord blood donation. I just automatically figured that we’d do that if we could. After all, I’m happy to donate anything I don’t need….anything anyone wants after my death they can have, and I do try to remember to give blood whenever the blood bank is on campus at uni. Having been pregnant for most of the year, though, I haven’t managed to donate once this year! Anyway, I’d also figured that we’d have delayed clamping of the umbilical cord so that bubs can have everything it’s meant to have as far as mother nature is concerned. It seems, though, that these two ideas are mutually exclusive. To donate the cord blood you have to clamp straight after birth. I guess I hadn’t really given it that much thought, because it really makes sense!

A couple of times I have felt a regular sort of movement from the baby. I’m wondering if it was hiccups….

Info from Birth.com.au:

You are now 29 weeks pregnant, which is the beginning of week 30.

At this stage your baby weighs about 1,350 grams and measures about 40 cm in length from head to toe.  Your baby is now developing a special layer of fat called brown adipose tissue (or BAT). BAT is your baby’s main source of heat production after birth (similar to the fat of hibernating animals). Newborns have a limited ability to shiver, sweat or move to regulate their own body temperature. By 40 weeks, BAT makes up 2 to 7 % of your baby’s total body weight. Premature babies have trouble keeping warm after birth because they lack BAT. This is why they are cared for with overhead heaters or humidicribs in intensive care nurseries. About 11% of all premature babies are born between 28 and 31 weeks gestation and are regarded as being moderately preterm. Babies born around 29 to 30 weeks have about a 90% chance of survival.

Occasionally, a pregnant woman will describe a distinctive ‘click’ or ‘pop’ coming from inside her uterus, usually when her baby is moving during middle to late pregnancy. This is not very common, and it is hard to know what really causes it. One plausible explanation may be the baby’s joints rubbing or ‘clicking’ as they move, but we cannot be certain. In our experience, women who have noticed this clicking sound have gone on to have normal healthy babies, so we do not think it is anything to be concerned about. Perhaps it will remain one of those strange mysteries of pregnancy? 

Bleeding during pregnancy is always of some concern. Significant bleeding (soaking a pad or more) after 20 weeks of pregnancy is referred to as an Antepartum Haemorrhage (APH). Lesser amounts of blood loss may be referred to as spotting.

A woman’s body changes dramatically during pregnancy. When looking in the mirror it can be hard to believe how your body has accommodated your unborn baby so far and if you will ever be ‘normal’ again. Some women (and their partners) love the look of pregnancy, finding it beautiful, sensual and fascinating. Other women just feel tired, big and uncomfortable.

Some parents choose to have their baby boy circumcised (removal of their foreskin). This may be for personal, religious or cultural reasons. At present there is no strong medical evidence that supports the routine circumcision of baby boys and rates are declining. However, parents who do choose to circumcise their son should find an experienced doctor who uses proper anaesthetics in a surgery or hospital that can deal with any possible complications.

Birth plans for labour or Caesarean. A birth plan is a written plan or verbal agreement outlining yours (and your partner’s) preferences for the environment and procedures pertaining to the birth of your child. A birth plan can range from a few ideas, to an extensive plan covering many contingencies and may also include requests unique to your philosophies or beliefs.

The process of labour is traditionally divided into 3 different stages. The 1st stage being when the woman’s cervix dilates, the 2nd when the baby is being pushed down the birth canal, and the 3rd being the birth of the placenta. However, prelabour is a phase that can precede 1st stage and some caregivers also refer to a 4th stage, being the recovery period for an hour or so after the birth.

A Caesarean birth is always a possibility if complications arise. Some women already know they will have a Caesarean birth and are planning for this. Others have had a previous Caesarean but would like to plan for a vaginal birth (called a VBAC – Vaganal Birth After Caesarean).

The Australian Cord Blood Donation Scheme is conducted by various Cord Blood Banks in most capital cities. They devote their resources to the collection, processing, storage and distribution of cord blood which is voluntarily donated from the placentas and cords (or afterbirths) of mothers who give birth to healthy babies over 36 weeks gestation. Donated blood is processed and stored for up to 20 years for use as a treatment to cure compatible children and adults suffering from leukaemia and some cancers. There are also a few private companies in the US, UK and Australia (totally separate from the Cord Blood Banks) who offer a service to collect cord blood from babies to store for fees (generally thousands of dollars).

We had an appointment at the Birth Centre thismorning.  All is going well…baby’s heartbeat was nice to hear, fundal height is good, blood pressure is fine (120/80) but the midwife (Katie) couldn’t feel the baby’s head yet, to work out it’s position.  Katie was surprised that the obstetrician had requested that I have my wee tested for protein, but we did it all the same and she said there was a small amount but nothing to be worried about.  I got the results of the blood test I had done last week, and everything was fine.  I don’t have gestational diabetes, and my haemoglobin was normal.  Appointments at the Birth Centre are now scheduled fortnightly, so I’m back in another 2 weeks. I weighed myself thismorning, and I am 6 kg heavier than I was 28 weeks ago.

Info from Birth.com.au:

You are now 28 weeks pregnant, which is the beginning of week 29. Your baby has grown to be about 38 cm long from head to toe and approximately 1,200 grams (1.2 kg) in weight. Your baby’s bones are now mature enough to start producing their own blood supply from their bone marrow, taking over this task from their liver and spleen. Their liver also starts to store iron, supplied from your body. This is Nature’s way of meeting their iron requirements for the first 6 months after birth, until they start eating solids.

This week marks the beginning of the 3rd trimester (the final 12 weeks of pregnancy). Your baby is regarded as being born ‘on time’ if they arrive between 37 and 42 weeks, but only about 5% of babies are born on their actual due date! During these final weeks, your baby’s main task is to mature their body systems, grow stronger and put on weight. Premature babies born at this stage of pregnancy have a good chance of survival. However, the closer they are born to 37 weeks, the more likely they will be well and healthy and not require advanced medical treatments.

During the last few months, most women start to feel heavy and tired, as their baby increasingly takes up more space in their belly. This contributes to many physical signs of late pregnancy, such as heartburn, varicose veins, fluid retention and backache.  By the time your baby is due, you may be feeling fed up with being pregnant and just want your baby to arrive soon! Your pregnancy visits will now be scheduled a little more frequently. However, the timing of each visit can vary, depending on when your last visit was (26, 27, 28 or 29 weeks), your individual needs and your caregiver’s preferences.  Most women have a blood test around this time of pregnancy to check their haemoglobin for anaemia. If the level is low, your caregiver may suggest taking an iron supplement for the remainder of your pregnancy.

The weeks are still flying past, and another week is over!  My swelling ankles have been annoying, but the last couple of days have been cooler and so there has been no swelling.  I also had another night with leg cramps a  few evenings ago.  I think both times I’ve had cramps I’ve had busy days and haven’t drunk enough water, so I’m trying to remember to drink more when I’m busy.  Anyway, we’ll see how that goes.

Tomorrow night we start our birth classes.  They go for 3 hours on Wednesday nights, and run for 5 weeks.  I guess I should go for the glucose test sometime this week too, since I was told to do it between 26 and 28 weeks.

Info from Birth.com.au:

You are now 27 weeks pregnant, which is the beginning of week 28.

Your unborn baby is about 37cm long from head to toe and weighs about 1,100 grams. Your baby is now developing their immune system, as natural antibodies pass from your blood stream to them through the placenta. Your baby is now capable of coordinating a suck and swallow action, needed to drink milk after being born. However, this reflex does not fully mature until about 34 to 36 weeks. Your baby may look around and is capable of distinguishing light from dark and tracking movement. Babies born at 28 weeks or less are regarded as extremely premature. However, only 9% of all premature babies are born this early. Babies born around 27 to 28 weeks gestation have about a 75 to 85% chance of survival, if they have access to specialised care and a fully equipped intensive care nursery. Rib pain. Your uterus eventually starts to encroach on your ribcage, often causing pain and discomfort, due to strain on the muscles between the ribs. Sitting more upright and giving your baby a gentle ‘push down’ with your hand may help take the pressure off.

Leg cramps. Nearly 50% of pregnant women experience leg cramps in their feet, calves or thighs, generally during the last few months of pregnancy. Leg cramps often occur at night, jolting you awake (and often your startled partner), perhaps adding to insomnia and tiredness.

When to stop work or study. If you are currently working and/or studying, you may be making plans for when you will stop. Depending on your circumstances, this may be several weeks before your baby is due, or perhaps as close to the due date as possible. If you are feeling well and coping (or even thriving) with your commitments and the pregnancy is progressing normally, when you stop will essentially come down to your own personal choice. However, bear in mind that sometimes health concerns (for yourself or your baby) could mean finishing earlier than anticipated. Also, your planned ‘2 weeks off’ may turn out to be a couple of days if your baby decides to come early! Try to be flexible and factor in these unforeseen circumstances.

The weather has been quite warm lately, and my ankles and lower calves have been swelling a bit most evenings. So far this is the only discomfort I’ve experienced as my cramping calves haven’t returned. I’m sleeping through the night without any problems, so most of the info from Birth.com.au this week doesn’t apply yet. It does seem like my belly has just exploded in the last couple of weeks! I weighed myself thismorning and found that I’ve now put on 5 kg, which is a massive 3 kg in the last month!!!

Andrew has made up a couple of CDs to play to the baby, and we are trying to play them regularly. They are mostly made up of classical music.

I had an appointment with the obstetrician yesterday, and after another doctor from his surgery did all the routine stuff I saw Dr. Buist about my blood test results. Apparently I carry a gene that means that I could be more susceptible to clotting than the general public. This means that he wants me to change the vitamins that I take, so that I’m getting a high dose of folate and vitamins B6 and B12. He also wanted me to have another ultrasound to check on the fibroid in my uterus, so at 34 weeks (just before Christmas) we get to see Bugalugs again!!! That was unexpected!

Info from Birth.com.au:

You are now 26 weeks pregnant, which is the beginning of week 27. Your baby has grown to be about 35 cm long from head to toe and approximately 950 grams in weight. Your baby now recognises your voice and may be calmed by the sound of it (observed by their heart rate slowing). They may also recognise your partner’s voice and different types of music. When observing unborn babies with ultrasound they can respond to relaxing music by turning towards it, and curl up and away from very loud rock, rap and pop type music. Studies have also shown that newborns may be soothed by particular sounds after birth (as long as the baby is not hungry). One soothing sound is ‘white noise’, a mixture of low, middle and high tones from the full spectrum of the human ear. White noise can be created by the sound of a vacuum cleaner or the inside of a car travelling! Your newborn baby may quieten when listening to songs played regularly to them during the last three months of pregnancy. One study showed how a group of babies were calmed when they heard the theme song of the TV soap show “Neighbours”, presumably because their mother watched it daily during pregnancy!

Backache and sciatica. Many women now find their posture noticeably changes to compensate for their increasing belly size. This can affect your centre of gravity and balance as well as possibly leading to back pain. Around 50 to 75% of pregnant women complain of backache at some stage during their pregnancy, with 33% finding it a problem, inhibiting their lifestyle. Pain may be felt in the upper or lower back (or both) and is sometimes complicated by sciatica (a shooting nerve pain down the buttock and back of one leg).

The later months of pregnancy can bring tiredness and insomnia, perhaps with difficulty getting to sleep, or waking frequently because of pregnancy discomforts or needing to urinate. Lack of sleep can be quite distressing for some women, although it is generally Mother Nature’s way of preparing you for caring for your new baby!

Many women experience mood swings and sometimes cry for no apparent reason during pregnancy. Having a baby is an amazing transitional life change, along with birth, puberty and menopause. Life changing times often involve immense emotional release. Think back to puberty and all the emotional and physical changes you may have experienced along the way. Pregnancy is very similar, even though we often feel we must be rational and predictable. It helps if you can ride the roller coaster and surround yourself with understanding people. For partners, it can be hard at times to understand why she starts crying uncontrollably while watching the news or a video, or why she is more sensitive about your relationship or insistent of having things ‘just right’ for the new baby. This is her natural maternal instinct (hence, the ‘nesting’ process begins).

Another week has passed. Thankfully I haven’t had the leg cramps again, but I do feel like my ankles are starting to swell slightly the last couple of evenings. The baby feels less like it’s kicking and more like it’s just moving around these days, though there are times when it obviously kicks (or punches).

We had our second appointment at the birth centre today. My blood pressure was 130/70 even though I was unexplicably nervous in the waiting room and could feel my heart pumping. The fundal height was spot on, and the midwife (Amy) said that the heartbeat was perfect. She couldn’t feel the baby’s position yet, but she said that was because I was only at 25 weeks (she said by 30 weeks she’d be able to tell what’s what). Amy also said that slightly swollen ankles is perfectly normal, particularly given the weather has been quite hot lately. She gave me the paperwork to do the gestational diabetes test, but that’s done between 26 and 28 weeks so I don’t need to do it straight away. It’s the 1 hour test that doesn’t require fasting before it.

At my last appointment the midwife had looked at my blood results that the obstetrician had ordered to test me for blood clotting, and said that there was nothing abnormal. However, the obstetrician thought differently, and wants to see me. So I’ve made an appointment for Monday next week.

Info from Birth.com.au:

You are now 25 weeks pregnant and at the beginning of week 26. Your baby measures about 33 cm from head to toe and weighs about 800 grams. Your baby’s eyelids are no longer fused, so they can now open their eyes and blink! It is also possible for your baby to respond to bright light (such as shining a torch through your belly). Newborns have vision that is perfectly focussed from about 20 to 30 cm, usually as far away as the face of the person holding them!

Your baby’s movements are generally more regular now and they may physically respond to you if you press on parts of their protruding feet, bottom or hands. Some parents play games with their unborn baby when they seem awake and alert! Your caregiver can now probably hear your baby’s heartbeat with a Pinnard’s stethoscope now (rather than just an electronic Doppler), beating at around 110 to 170 beats per minute. Babies born between 24 and 26 weeks are regarded as extremely preterm, but have a 50 to 70% chance of surviving if they have access to a fully equipped intensive care nursery.

Your growing baby is much larger and now big enough for your caregiver to feel where their head is lying. Your caregiver may even be able to guide your hands during a routine pregnancy visit so you can feel your own baby’s head. Ask them to do this next time you see them.

Babies change position frequently during this phase of pregnancy and are quite often in a breech position (bottom down) or lying across your belly in a transverse position. Your caregiver may start to write your baby’s position on your pregnancy record card.

Between 26 and 30 weeks your caregiver may recommend some further tests. Depending on their preferences and/or the hospital or birth centre’s policies, these could include a glucose tolerance test (GTT) to screen for gestational diabetes; a full blood count (FBC) to check for anaemia and to see if you need iron supplements and perhaps a vaginal swab to screen for Group B strep.

Another week has flown past.  My belly has certainly now popped out now, and I would assume that most people would now think that I’m pregnant and not just fat.  Last Friday night I had terrible cramps in my calf muscles, worse in my left leg than my right.  It’s horrible to wake up with such cramps!  I’m hoping that this doesn’t become a regular thing.

Info from Birth.com.au

Your baby has grown to be about 30 cm long from head to toe and approximately 700 grams in weight.  Your baby may now be big enough for others to feel your belly and sense them kicking and stretching! Babies at 24 weeks have been noted to increase their breathing patterns (by expanding their lungs with amniotic fluid), after their mothers eat, especially if the food contains sugar! Your baby’s lungs now start to produce a substance called surfactant, which lines their lungs and assists them to breathe after birth. Even so, babies born as early as 24 weeks (or less) only have a very small chance of survival. 

Breathlessness. Many women complain of feeling breathless during pregnancy. This is very normal and will usually come and go. You can be short of breath even while sitting and having a normal conversation. You don’t have to exert yourself at all!

Palpitations. This is a feeling that your heart is ‘racing’ or beating strongly and rapidly in your chest. Palpitations are very common during pregnancy, due to the extra workload on the heart pumping up to 50% more blood volume around your body. Palpitations can be felt for no apparent reason, but may be associated with exercising, being stressed, feeling anxious or excited. However they usually subside on their own after a few minutes or less. Palpitations may also be associated with feeling breathless. NOTE: Occasionally palpitations can indicate a heart condition. If you are concerned that they are not going away and you are feeling unwell, contact your caregiver.

Many women have fantastic or scary dreams during their pregnancy. These may involve being abandoned or losing your partner, giving birth to a baby who has an abnormality, having a ‘painless’ birth and discovering the sex of your child, or experiencing an out of control situation. The things you dream about are not likely to merge into reality when the time comes, but they may reflect some unconscious concerns you have. 

Lying on your back. During the later months of pregnancy (after about 24 to 28 weeks), a few women find that if they lie flat on their back for a few minutes or more, they start to feel light-headed, dizzy and possibly breathless and nauseated. This can happen because the growing baby is placing pressure on one of the major blood vessels, called the vena cava. However, not every pregnant woman experiences this. Usually by lying on your right or left side, sitting in an upright position, or even in a semi-upright position you can avoid vena-caval compression.

Another week over!  Time is flying right now.  There’s not much to say about my pregnancy in the last week.  The baby doesn’t seem to be kicking as hard lately.  I still feel it moving around, but all Andrew’s attempts at feeling it lately have been unsuccessful.  Andrew complains that it’s getting harder to cuddle me face to face because my belly is growing and getting in the way. He’s incredibly excited about having a baby though.

On the weekend we picked up the change table that we bought on Ebay a week or so ago.  It’s in good condition for a 2 year old piece of furniture.  I’ve also bought some really cute materials for nappy making.  We are trying to turn the study into a baby’s room, and so we’re in the process of getting quotes for an airconditioning unit, a door and a small wardrobe to be built into the alcove in the room.  We desperately need more storage.

Info from Birth.com.au:

You are now 23 weeks pregnant and at the beginning of week 24.  Your baby has grown to be about 28 cm long from head to toe and approximately 600 grams in weight. Your baby can now rotate their head and may experience hiccups. Hiccups are caused by the sudden, irregular contractions of your baby’s immature diaphragm (the muscle that supports their lungs), and while unborn babies may be capable of sporadic hiccoughs as early as 12 weeks gestation, they are generally stronger and more rhythmic by this stage of pregnancy. Some unborn babies hiccup quite frequently, others not much at all. Many newborn babies continue to hiccup after birth. You may sometimes sense regular ‘jumps’ in your belly every now and then for short periods of time, if your baby has hiccups. A very strange sensation! Your baby is now covered with a thick layer of white vernix cream, which protects their skin in their watery environment and they now have sweat glands. A fine layer of fat is forming between their muscle tissues and skin, covering their blood vessels and making their complexion look less translucent. 

Restless legs. A few women experience restless legs during their pregnancy. This can include sensations that your legs have to move all the time, or that they feel jittery or like they have ‘butterflies’ in them. Some women’s legs ache and feel like they have to be constantly walking. Restless legs can make it difficult to sit for long periods and can stop you from sleeping well at night.

In January you existed. We, your parents, were very excited to have you with us. The pregnancy went well, you gave me very few problems, you just made me tired and super hungry. We don’t know what happened, but by the end of March you were gone. Today was your estimated due date. We haven’t forgotten you.