Babycenter.com Update: Week 32

Went to the doctor's today. All is well! My doctor gave me a small lecture about taking it easy and remembering that I'm pregnant and not Superwoman. I'm trying to take that to heart.

Here's this week's update from www.babycenter.com:

How your baby's growing: By now, your baby is just shy of 4 pounds and is nearly 17 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

How your life's changing: To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often. You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor. Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

Busy Week

It's been a very busy week around here. Mom and her friend Norm arrived on Tuesday, and there's been a lot of action. Norm did a bunch of things around the house. I picked out a crib. P.C. and I went to our weekend-long childbirth class. My sister threw an amazing shower for me at her house. All in all, a good week. I go to the doctor on Wednesday for a checkup. My blood pressure was a little elevated last week, but hopefully it will behave at this upcoming visit.

Here's a picture of me at just about 32 weeks. Time is flying by...

Babycenter.com Update: Week 31

Mom's coming to town today with her sweet friend Norm, so it's going to be a busy week of crib shopping and doing some baby-preparation things around the house. I'm looking forward to getting some stuff done!

I am feeling very uncomfortable these days--like there isn't enough room inside of me to hold all of the space the baby is taking up! She is DEFINITELY making her presence known!

Here's this week's update from www.babycenter.com:

How your baby's growing: This week, your baby measures about 16 inches long. He weighs a little over 3 pounds and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Spike, today is your grandmother's birthday. Let me tell you some things that I love about your Poppy:

• First of all, she's called Poppy, in honor of her favorite grandfather ("Pop") and the poppy flower. You've gotta love a woman called Poppy!
• Her loyalty is VERY fierce. She is one of the most giving people on the planet. But if you cross her or her kids, watch out. She will NOT take that lightly. (I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when she had a few minutes alone with my ex-husband after he announced he was leaving.)
• Her strength has been tested many, many times, and she goes through adversity with lots of grace. That's very hard to do. I'm not saying she doesn't feel her feelings--she definitely does--but she is able to crawl out from under the wreckage and ultimately survive.
• Throughout my life, no matter how many awful choices I've made and no matter how many "why did you do that?" lectures she's had to give me, I always, ALWAYS knew that she loved me, no matter what. And more often that not, she was right--although I didn't always admit that to her. :-)
• She is constantly evolving as a person. Over the years, her political and social views have changed, and even though we don't always agree on them, I have the highest respect for her for being willing to change.
• She finds her own happiness. After her divorce, she spent a life-changing month in Italy that inspired her to write a book. She doesn't wait around for happiness--she seeks it.
• She is an incredible daughter, looking after her 92-year-old mother and making sure that her life is beautiful and dignified even though she is housebound and physically weak.
• She is a devoted grandmother. My niece Miriam has benefited from the close relationship they share. (And Spike, you might not know it yet, but Poppy adores you too and can't wait to meet you in person!)
• She is truthful. Whether I like it or not, I can be assured that whatever she tells me is the truth.
• I can honestly say that my mother, your Poppy, is one of my very best friends. And that's a really, really big deal. We are truly blessed to have her in our lives.

Happy Birthday, Mom! (And Happy Birthday from Spike, too.)

Grandfathers

Today would be my grandfather Cohen’s 91st birthday. He died 15 years ago after a battle with prostate cancer. (Ironically, he was buried on his 76th birthday.)

We called him “Za” because my sister couldn’t say “Zaydie” (the Yiddish word for grandfather) when she was little. So, Za stuck. (His real name was Nathan.)

And I adored him. I always felt that we had a very special connection. When he was nearing the end of his life, I went home from college regularly to see him. The last time I saw him, he said to me, “Jill, I‘m dying.” And I said, “I know, Za. It’s going to be okay. I love you.” I left him that day knowing that I’d probably never see him alive again, but feeling like it was the best thing for him to pass away—that he needed that peace.

Za was the kind of grandfather that every little girl should have. Yes, indeed, I had him wrapped around my little finger. And I think he liked it that way. I only have the happiest of memories when I think of him. He and my grandmother were married for more than 50 years, and they held hands often. I loved that. I’m not sure if he was the greatest father, but I do know that he was a terrific grandfather.

My other grandfather, Jerry Salkin, died in 1959, when my mom was 17. I never got to meet him, but I feel like I know a lot about him from my mother and grandmother. He and my grandmother, Bubby, had a relatively short but very loving relationship. I pray that people are reunited in heaven, for my Bubby has been waiting a long time for that.

Before I got pregnant, I had two very vivid visions. Za was in both of them, and my grandfather Salkin was in one of them. In the second one, Za handed me my baby. I swear it. It was a totally magical vision, one that I had while at the acupuncturist’s office, trying to relax during one of the treatments. I had been feeling down about going through another in-vitro procedure, especially after the first one hadn’t worked. This vision gave me the energy to try again and believe that it could work. I held onto that vision while giving myself hormone injections, while undergoing procedures, and riding to the doctor’s office. That vision was with me at night when I was trying to quiet my mind and in the morning when I was looking for the strength to think positively.

Both visions confirmed what I had always felt—that my grandfathers had been watching over me. Ironically enough, when we went through this recent (successful!) in-vitro attempt, the embryos were placed inside of me on December 4—the anniversary of my grandfather Salkin’s death. I just don’t think it was a coincidence.

Anyway, happy birthday, Za. And thanks to you and Grandpa Jerry for keeping an eye on us.

Babycenter.com Update: Week 30

Well, the info in “How your life’s changing” definitely confirms what’s been going on with me! Between the lack of sleep, tripping over my own feet and the crying jag that followed, I’m right on target!

I really should buy P.C. the t-shirt I saw that said, “My pregnant wife scares me!”

How your baby's growing: Your baby's a bit more than 15 1/2 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

How your life's changing: You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size.

Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious.

I Swear, I've Completed Three Marathons Without Tripping...

Last night, while taking the dog out for a stroll, I somehow lost my balance and tripped over my own feet. (Actually, I may have tripped UP a curb, but it's unclear.) In any case, I landed on my palms and my right knee, so my belly was uninvolved. But wow, did this shake me up. I started sobbing uncontrollably after I fell. I think I was so relieved that I didn't hit my stomach on the ground that I just started crying. Plus, those hormones of mine might be a TAD out of wack. :-)

So, I was glad to feel the baby kicking last night after I fell, but this morning before I got out of bed...nothing. Driving to work...nothing. Sitting at my desk...nothing...until about 8:30 a.m. P.C., who errs on the side of caution (interesting for a man, eh?) suggested that I call the doctor anyway to make sure all was okay.

The doctor told me to go home, drink a big glass of orange juice, lie down for an hour and count kicks.

For the first 10 minutes, Spike only moved once. Once. Oy! Trying not to panic, I took lots of deep breaths and repeated positive affirmations to myself. Sure enough, that kid kicked it into gear (literally) and gave my 32 kicks in an hour. I called the doctor's office, and they said, "You have quite an active baby!" So, Spike is fine. And I'm relieved.

Ah, yes...nothing like a child aggravating you in utero to remind you of what's to come!