37 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 37 Weeks

Size of Baby: Swiss Chard (19.25 inches, 6.3 lbs)

Name: Braden Lee Samples (Bub, Bray, Critter)

Nicknames (Gma & Gpa W): Peanut/Grasshopper (will eat Swiss Chard)

Weight Gain: 47.6 lbs

Exercise this Week: Crazy house cleaning on Saturday (we shall see if this helps the dilating process)
Milestones: THIS WEEK BABY IS NOW CONSIDERED FULL TERM!!! That means all baby's organs should be fully developed and prepared for the outside world.  Boys will likely weigh more than girls of the same gestational age.
Symptoms: lots of aches in various places :) , heartburn (now starting to overpower even the Pepcid... I miss sleeping), tiredness (related to the previous symptom plus potty breaks), swelling (but not as bad as last week), pressure, cramping, spotting (doc says it's b/c of dilation & not the same as prior spotting I've had).

Cravings: eh, Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs :/ Easter candy kills me!

Aversions: meat in general

Recap of the Week:  Gonna have a recap of two Dr. Appts this week cause they fell 6 days apart & barely in the same pregnancy week:

[37 Week Appt]
Appointment this week was good but less eventful than the last one :)  It was Spring Break week, so Dr. Gorman was the ONLY one seeing patients.  Caused some long wait times for the appt but when he finally made it to me, I had the following questions to start:

Q: Having bad allergies/sinus issues & have seen that there are medications safe for pregnancy, BUT I also read that those can decrease your milk supply (for breastfeeding) if you don't get them out of your system before deliver day.  Suggestions?
A: True that they can decrease your milk production.  Stay away from taking them at this point unless you absolutely must.  [He then went into a lengthy discussion of breastfeeding.  In summary, many physical responses must work in your body for breastfeeding to be successful & should give it every chance possible to work, so try not to take any meds that will work against you]
Conclusion:  Suffer through the allergies & stuff which really does suck but I can do it!

Q: Had pretty heavy spotting after the check last time which Dr. Partridge said was normal.  But then I had none for a couple days and light spotting for a couple days and same trend for the rest of the week.  OK?
A: The spotting after being checked is normal (aggravates the cervix).  The spotting afterward was likely due to dilating/effacing as that is more aggravation and can break blood vessels as it's happening.  Nothing to worry about unless heavy bleeding.
Follow Up:  I had even heavier spotting after he checked me... kinda scary but it did stop.

After the Q&A, he proceeded to check me & determined I was 1.5 cm dilated, 80% effaced, and -2 station.  Not a huge change from last week, but still progress :)  I tried to force him to give me a guess on delivery date but all he would say is "any day" or "maybe 2-3 weeks".  LOL.  Not very specific, dude!  We talked about the cramping I've been having, and he said that is actually helping me dilate.  So, it's productive cramping :)  I will see him again next Wednesday (6 day wait this time).  Wouldn't have minded having a different doc (he was significantly rougher with the check, ow!) but the week to week scheduling is pretty tight!

[38 Week Appt]
More slow progress :)  At this appt I was dilated to 2 cm, still 80% effaced, and still -2 station.  I told him about my continued cramping & spotting and he said it sounded like more progress.  He said he expects me to stay at this level until I go into labor.  He also said he thinks he'll see me for one more weekly appt but if I go into labor this weekend, he will deliver since he's on duty :)  I really like that he remembers Baby B's name even though I rotate doctors but he is a rough "checker".  All in all, I really don't care who delivers.  I just want a happy & healthy baby boy.

Awwww, Baby Bell snuggles for Bray :)

Please notice a new list on the right side of the page (everyone's guesses for Baby B's Arrival!).  I'll be marking them off as/if we pass each date.  Thanks for the guesses everyone & if anybody else would like to guess, just let me know :)

36 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 36 Weeks

Size of Baby: Crenshaw Melon (18.75 inches, 5.75 lbs)

Name: Braden Lee Samples (Bub, Bray, Whatever His Daddy comes up with)

Nicknames (Gma & Gpa W): Lil' Loupe (type of Crenshaw melon)/Buba

Weight Gain: 44.6 lbs

Exercise this Week: Actually purposefully took it easy this week bc didn't wanna go into labor before full term. Wondering if the crazy overdoing last week contributed to the dilating/effacing...

Milestones: Baby is still gaining weight and becoming rounder in appearance. By the end of this week, he will be considered full term. Presentation is likely head-down.

Symptoms: lots of aches in various places :) , heartburn, tiredness, BAD and scary swelling (although improved over the weekend, at least ankle bones are somewhat visible again), pressure, cramping.

Cravings: OJ

Aversions: meat in general

Recap of the Week: Nothing too exciting happened this week which was actually pretty nice. Anticipating my next doctor appointment. I've been pretty sick with sinus issues this week. Tried to tough it out with no meds but finally checked out my preg-approved list and started taking some Claritin. BUT, after reading discussion boards today, it seems that you should not take allergy or cold meds for several weeks before delivery and after delivery because they decrease milk supply. So, planning to stop the meds now and will consult the doc in a couple days. :(

Been having a lot of pressure down low and several people have commented that he's dropped. I find it pretty funny that people actually notice that!

35 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 35 Weeks

Size of Baby: Honeydew Melon (18 inches, 5.25 lbs)

Name: Braden Lee Samples (Bub, Bray, Whatever His Daddy comes up with)

Nicknames (Gma & Gpa W): Dewey/Lemon Drop (both spelled from Honeydew Melon)

Weight Gain: 44.6 lbs

Exercise this Week: Crazy putting together and away of baby shower stuff and final purchases :)

Milestones: At this point, all of Bub's major organs should be nearly complete. Baby's kidneys are completely developed and his liver is functional and capable of processing waste products.

Symptoms: lots of aches in various places :) , heartburn (although Pepcid is helping me sleep a little better), tiredness, SO much swelling

Cravings: nothing I can really think of this week

Aversions: meat in general

Recap of the Week: I'm dilated to 1 cm and 70% effaced!! Dr. Partridge did my check today and the first thing she said was "wow, his head is RIGHT there". I was not super surprised by this as I can feel him really low and I'm definitely waddling. She said there is a very slim chance I'll actually make it to due date and that I should get the car seat ready and bags packed (way to diagnose it, Dr. April). I asked if she had a guess as to when I'll go into labor and she said she doesn't think this week but I could go into labor at any time now. We then heard his heartbeat which sounded really good and strong and in the 150's. I asked her about what I should be looking for. She described that real contractions should be a tightening of the entire stomach and you shouldn't be able to carry on a conversation while having one. My next appt is in a week and two days (they couldn't get me in on a Tuesday).  So we shall see how things look by then (stay tuned for 37 weeks update)!  I'd really prefer he make it to 37 weeks so he's technically full term.  Would make me feel a lot better.

Also had a fabulous shower this week and I finally feel like I am ready for little one to arrive! I took vacation on Monday and got everything done and put away. The shower was so so sweet with a ducky theme. :) The cake was adorable and the icing looked like actual water that the rubber duckies were floating on. It was Delicious too!! The punch was also so good and looked like water with rubber ducks floating in it. The diaper cake was fab too and the games! We played a game where everyone cut a string the size they thought my belly was and the winner got a prize. Well Haley was the ONLY one who guessed too small. Lol. Love her! Ash won the prize. We also played a count the jellybean game and a game where you lost your string if you said "Baby" or "Boy".  This was definitely a tough one and Sierra and Haley had the Eye of the Tiger!  It was such a great shower and it was wonderful to see people. Can't wait to introduce Baby B next time I see everyone.

Some shower pics:

The Lovely Hostess

Everyone one signed this sweet ducky for us!  I love it!

Cake Line :)

"Mmmmmm" says baby Kayden.  (his mommy didn't see until it was already too late)

PLEASE NOTICE THE NEW POLL TO THE RIGHT (BELOW HIS U/S PICTURES) & GUESS WHEN BABY BOY WILL ARRIVE!

34 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 34 Weeks

Size of Baby: Average Cantaloupe (17.75 inches, 4.75 lbs)

Name: Braden Lee Samples (Bub, Bray, Whatever His Daddy comes up with)

Nicknames (Gma & Gpa W): Rocky/Ford (Rocky Ford is a type of cantaloupe)

Weight Gain: 42.6 lbs

Exercise this Week: 4 times elliptical (3 times 30 min, 1 time 60 min). Not too sure what happened with the weight gain this week :/

Milestones: The waxy protective coating, vernix, is becoming much thicker this week as the lanugo continues to shed and may be almost completely gone by now. Lungs are continuing to mature in preparation for breathing in the outside world.

Symptoms: heartburn!!!!!, tiredness, not sleeping, swelling (extra!), headaches, belly itching, cramping, backache, hip aches, etc. LOL. Enough complaining? Guess I could just put general aches :)

Cravings: Honey Nut Cheerios

Aversions: meat in general, grease

Recap of the Week: Week of rest :) Had a lot less "scheduled" to do this week than last week which was super nice! I went ahead and ordered our highchair since it was online only and I figured we wouldn't get it as a gift. I just loved it so much that I couldn't settle for any in the actual store :) SO it arrived and is put together and sitting at the table as of last night! (pic below).

Love it so much!! I know Bub won't be able to actually use it for a while but I wanted it put together anyway :)

I can't wait for our final baby shower next week!! My sis has some great plans I've already heard about :) It'll be great to see everyone too :)

Enjoyed visiting with Grandma D this Sunday (as I do most Sunday mornings) and I am always amused by her thoughts that my belly cannot get any bigger and that it will surely just bust open :). She is so excited to meet Baby Braden. Every time I see her, she will tell stories about Grandpa and how happy he would be that Bub is named after him. She thinks he's looking down on us and knows about it. I think and hope she's right :)