Tuesday, April 29, 2008

31 weeks and another Mini

As far as growth goes, your baby's still on a roll, measuring an impressive 18 inches and weighing in at more than three pounds. You can still expect your baby to gain at least three to five pounds, possibly more, before you two meet.
Your baby's brain is working overtime these days, developing faster than ever. Connections between individual nerve cells are growing at a frenetic clip, and your baby can now perceive information from all five senses. Sure, your baby can't smell anything right now, but that's only because he or she is still submerged in amniotic fluid and needs to be breathing air to get a whiff of anything. Lucky for you — and your baby — yours will be one of the very first scents your baby breathes in, a scent that will quickly become his or her very favorite.
So what's your little dove doing all day while you're busy feathering your nest for his or her arrival? Making faces, hiccupping, swallowing, breathing, pedaling with little hands and feet along your uterine wall, and even sucking his or her thumb. In fact, some babies suck their thumbs so vigorously while in the womb that they're born with a callus on their thumb (what a little sucker!).

Your uterus can now be felt four inches above your belly button, which means that it's pushing all the internal organs that used to be there somewhere else. That could explain why you're feeling a little spare on air lately, don't you think?

I have also found that the shortness of breath is very true for me this week. On Sunday Mini decided he wanted to beat the heck out of my right ribcage. Wow the pinching and hard to breath moment lasted about 15 minutes but all in all - it eased up. I was just glad to have read that tidbit before it happened. I would have thought the baby was trying to come out the wrong end.

I am told that less frequent movements start this week. I can definitely still tell there is something in there. The movements are not as strong as they were originally - but now, you can watch the bulge move around the stomach. So I know things are still going on. I just tend to get kicked less hard.

Sleeping is getting really uncomfortable - It is still pretty manageable but noticeably more difficult.

This week marks an incredible milestone in your baby's lung development. Before now, the air sacs and branches in your baby's lungs were present but not functional. The lungs were not able to inflate properly. However, now there is surfactant being produced in your baby's lungs. Surfactant prevents your baby's lungs from collapsing outside of the uterus and the baby is able to take in air and breathe properly. The fetal ear is almost completely developed both inside and out. Your baby can hear your voice and other familiar sounds that s/he will recognize after birth. Your baby is putting on white fat under the skin and the skin's color is pink instead of red at this point. Your baby's fingernails have grown to the end of her fingers and s/he may scratch herself while s/he is in the womb.

Ok onto the GD nutritional appointment: as promised a new mini:Photobucket

I am now a proud owner of a 1 To.uch Ul.tra Mi.ni. The meeting with the nutritionist was fine. I found out that I should be eating about 2400 calories a day. I was not eating neither enough. We have mapped out what looks like a pretty good schedule (that I have to stick to- I am going to develop more o.cd tendencies) I also have to write down everything I eat. That is going to be the challenging part for me. I also found out that I failed the fasting results by 4 points and the 1 hour by 2 points, They were able to find my 4th draw and it was w/in the normal range. What I am hoping all this means is that by eating every ~2 hours I will be able to control my sugars pretty well. This mornings monitoring has gone well so far. keeping all fingers crossed and lot of good thoughts and vibes going to my sugars. The dietitian was impressed with what I was already doing and we just added about 1000 calories in my daily diet.

The nurse was surprised my sugars were as good as they were based on the pc.os, m.etfor.min and family history. She has high hopes that I can manage this with monitoring and more food. Let's hope. They gave me free range on peanut butter ... I can eat peanut butter on anything I want... Silver lining.

I go back to see them May 5th. I go and see my OB May 9th. Let's hope that I get good reads this week and ease into writing everything down.

I have 24% left to go. I can make this happen.

19 comments:

Cibele said...

I remember how unconfortble I was at 31 weeks , fun fun... I am glad to hear that you are keeping GD under control! You're almost there my friend, how exciting is that?!!

LIW (Lady In Waiting) said...

What a challenge!!! And I can't get over the fact that the lab lost your blood draws. WTF??!! You handled it MUCH better than I would have.

It sounds like you have everything under control. And you are right that you are almost there...you can see the light at the end of the tunnel at this point.

XOXO

Hilary (Maya Papaya) said...

Farrah you are getting so close!!!

This is so exciting, I am so happy for you.

Unknown said...

You are getting so close girl. Good luck on writing down all the food stuff, I know that will not be lots of fun. But, I am sure like anything else, once you get used to it, it won't be bad.

Anonymous said...

31 weeks! Holy shamoly! Here's hoping your eating schedule will keep those sugars in check! Better you than me with the peanut butter, bleh! :)

Kathy V said...

I am glad that things are under control with the new diet and the help of the new Mini. I have to say though, I was disappointed. I thought you were going to post a new belly picture or a new internal picture of the little guy. I am sure he is getting cuter and cuter.

Courtney said...

Farah! 31 weeks, 63 days to go??!?? You ARE so very close. :)

Your new mini is cute, but not nearly as cute as THE Mini!

C said...

I'm so glad to hear it's going better. As always, positive thoughts coming your way.

Jendeis said...

Your new mini is so cute! I love that it's pink for girls!

Glad that you have been so great at keeping your sugar under control. I wonder if they hadn't been so incompetent with your draws if you never would have had to go through this extra stuff. Anyways, yay for peanut butter!

Jendeis said...

Your new mini is so cute! I love that it's pink for girls!

Glad that you have been so great at keeping your sugar under control. I wonder if they hadn't been so incompetent with your draws if you never would have had to go through this extra stuff. Anyways, yay for peanut butter!

Anonymous said...

Holy Cow!! You've got to almost double your caloric intake? Wow! I'm sure with that change, you'll have no troubles with your blood sugar. I'm betting that if they found that final blood work that you'd pass the test.

I can't believe that you're 31 weeks...it seems like only yesterday that you posted your "What If" post. You're almost there!!! <3

I'm with Courtney. I think Mini is much cuter than the mini. :-)

Adriane said...

31 weeks!! Sorry it's getting more uncomfortable.

Sounds like you really didn't fail by much - hopefullly the additional calories help. Peanut butter on everything sounds like a big silver lining. Yum!

RBandRC said...

It sounds like things are headed in the right direction and you've got the GD under control--and that is AWESOME! Hang in there! HUGS! :)

Searching said...

Glad the GD will be moderately easy to manage. It will be a change for sure, but you CAN do it. Mini needs you to and you are an awesome momma already so I have complete faith in you. Yay for peanut butter!

Leah said...

I am still in shock that they lost your 2 draws. The only thing more amazing was the grace you displayed in handling it.

Thank you for the comment. You are usually the first one to comment on any given post, so I always know I can count on you and your support. Please know I read every single entry you write and, although I'm not as good at commenting, I pray for you each and every day. xoxo

Jackie said...

I clearly remember the feeling of suffocation. It lasted about 2 weeks for me. Changing position helped a lot, esp leaning forward to let the belly flop out of my abdomen. Good luck! All the best with your new nutrition plan!

Jen said...

You are doing great! Your due date is just around the corner! I love your baby milestone updates too.

sara said...

31 weeks, wow time has flown! I'm sure it hasn't quite felt as fast for you as it has for the rest of us watching your journey. I'm hoping the rest speeds by and mini (the human) is here before you know it!

Morrisa said...

31 weeks! I can't believe it! I am sorry you are feeling bit uncomfortable. I'm thinking about you.