40 Weeks- Last Update!

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 40 Weeks!!!! Fully Baked! 

**Christmas morning- Holy cow I'm HUGE!**

Last week I posted a bare belly shot which was taken 1 week before delivery, here is a side by side comparison picture of me with my mom one week before I was born. We were basically the same size pre-pregnancy and the same age. 

Size of baby: According to babycenter.com the baby is the size of a small pumpkin...yeah an 8+ pound pumpkin!

It's hard to say for sure how big your baby will be, but the average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds and is about 20 inches long. His skull bones are not yet fused, which allows them to overlap a bit if it's a snug fit through the birth canal during labor. This so-called "molding" is the reason your baby's noggin may look a little conehead-ish after birth. Rest assured — it's normal and temporary.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Looks like I'm going to end this in the 35 pound gain category which is good considering I started off very small and seem to be having a good size baby. I actually didn't gain any weight this week despite all the eating I did for the holiday.

Maternity Clothes: Now that I'm working from home until he comes I'm just wearing leggings and Kristian's shirts

Gender: BOY!

Movement: Still feel him throughout the day though I think he sleeps more, probably saving his energy for the big moment. My in-laws were able to feel a few kicks during Christmas which was fun. 

What I miss: not constantly wondering if every feeling/twitch/pain I'm having is labor starting.

Sleep: Still sucks though last night I decided to sleep on the couch since my constant getting up, tossing and turning have been keeping Kristian up as well and surprisingly I slept great. I might try sleeping on the couch again tonight. 

Symptoms: Contractions and cramping though nothing consistent or regular enough to go to the hospital for yet. Also, feeling a lot more nauseous which is the worst. 

Cravings: Sweet Tea from McDonalds. Drinking it right now in fact. 

Doctor's Appointment: I had my last official doctor's appointment yesterday and I made Kristian go with me so that he could meet the doctor that will be doing the induction and ask any questions he may have. It appears I've gone from a fingertip to 1cm dilated in a week and I'm 80% effaced. The doctor was even able to feel the baby's head!! Since I was finally dilated he was able to do a Membrane Sweep to try to kick start labor...FYI it hurts! So far it's just made me feel very crampy but I'm hoping I might be more dilated.

The plan right now assuming he doesn't come prior, is to go into the hospital tomorrow night to get a prostaglandin gel applied to hopefully help me start to dilate and contract more. They will monitor me for a while and depending on what happens I may get sent home for the night and then will go back in Friday morning to start the Pitocin.

Best Moment this week: Getting to spend Christmas with our families rather than in the hospital which has been my fear for the past 9 months. I can't believe next Christmas I'll have an almost 1 year old son!

What I am looking forward to: Getting labor over with and holding my sweet baby boy this weekend!!!


*I'm not sure if I will be posting again before the baby arrives so any thoughts and prayers you want to send my way would be greatly appreciated*