Tuesday, May 13, 2008

33 weeks

82% of your pregnancy has passed, there is 18% left to go

The baby is using it's lungs to practice breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid. Your baby is drinking about a pint of amniotic fluid a day now and urinating the same amount.



Amniotic fluid is at its highest level during your pregnancy. If your baby is a boy, his testicles will be descending from his abdomen into his scrotum. Sometimes one or both testicles won't move into position until after birth.


Those uterine walls are becoming thinner, more light penetrates the womb, helping your baby differentiate between day and night (now if only baby can remember that difference on the outside!). And good news! Your baby has reached an important milestone about now: The development of his or her own immune system that (along with antibodies from you) will be able to provide protection from mild infections

Third Trimester Insomnia strikes more than 75 percent of expectant moms — very tired expectant moms. All the hormonal changes, the midnight treks to the bathroom, the leg cramps, the heartburn that won't quit, the fact that you can't get comfortable when you're in bed with a watermelon where your tummy used to be, and the anxiety you're likely feeling about the impending birth of your baby (and the fact that you still haven't decided on a name for your baby) all contribute to your inability to catch some satisfying z's.

The skin becomes a rosy color and the fine downy hair that was on the skin is replaced with vernix caseosa. This "baby cream cheese" prevents the skin from drying out. The fine downy hair (lanugo) comes off and floats in the amniotic fluid. Because the baby takes small sips of amniotic fluid, he swallows these hairs which then tickle and stimulate his intestines, which helps in their function after birth.


While there are many things you can do to limit swelling and bloating (like exercising and drinking water) you will retain some fluid no matter what you do. This is especially true if you are having your baby in the summer months when it is hot and your body retains water naturally anyway.


I am experiencing that third trimester insomnia. Man, I am up and ready to go at about 4:30 am every morning now. I usually watch tv or make myself lay still in order to fall back asleep. I have noticed a bit of swelling in my feet towards the end of the days. I prop my feet up and watch tv and drink water and they start to go down. By morning, they look fine again. (Although, I think my feet are flattening out or getting wider then before)


I thought I was getting sick last week but then I think we decided over the weekend it was lack of sleep making me feel bad. I got about 15 hours of sleep (not continuous) Saturday night/Sunday and realized that I am definitely trying too hard some days. I am pushing my limits and need to back off of some of the expectations that I placed on myself. I have not used any leave from work since January. I was trying to not use any time off until I go out on maternity leave. I have worked 10/12 hour days to make up for all of the dr's appointments. I was planning on working until the end of June w/o using leave to try and have as much leave built up for when I am out of maternity leave. I am having to give myself a break. This is far too much of an expectation. I need to take more time for myself to relax some. This is my last week that I will place this pressure on myself. I knew that May was going to be a rough month just by the calendar but I feel like I am starting to drag. We have alot of obligations this month and I may have to excuse myself from some.



I started he.par.in last night. I have read mixed reviews/opinions about lov.enox and hepa.rin and breastfeeding. The pharmacist I asked last night said that it was a safe drug for breastfeeding. My sugar reads continue to be good, so I canceled the appointment with the counselor and told them that I would reschedule next week. Let's hope that I continue to have good reads. THANK you for the emails I received yesterday about good birth stories that involve medication. I appreciate all the feedback. I left that class in a pretty weird place. I know that no 2 births are the same but it is nice to receive personal information. It just helps my nerves and anxiety levels so much.

Here's to another week down!

25 comments:

Rachel Inbar said...

I found I slept better during the 9th month (go figure). My feet definitely got bigger during pregnancy. Fortunately, they do go back to being normal later :-)

Adriane said...

Sorry you are not sleeping well. It sounds like you are super busy with work - I hope you are able to take it easier. You deserve it and your body probably needs it.

I just caught up with yesterday's updates. That childbirth class sounds terrible. I'm so sorry it wasn't beneficial.

33 Weeks already! WOW!

Kathy V said...

Woo hoo to another week. Glad Mini is doing so well. It is neat that you put your baby's milestones up too. It is amazing to learn what the baby is doing each week.

LIW (Lady In Waiting) said...

A BIG thanks for your comment on my post. It certainly has helped to put my mind at ease!!!!

WOW - so much going on for you. I am absolutely HORRIFIED by the instructor at the class you went to. How horrible! There is waaay too much agenda-pushing when it comes to childbirth and breastfeeding, don't you think? It's inexcusable, in my view. I am sorry you had to endure that. I also would have been incredibly uncomfortable with having to groan and get into all of those positions in a room of strangers. No wonder why you had a panic attack. Ugh.

Glad to hear that that annoying nutritional plan you have to follow is working. My fingers are crossed that you will have a safe vaginal delivery.

I am proud of you for deciding to take some of the pressure off of yourself. Pregnancy is intense (mostly good but still really emotionally draining, in my view) and the physical challenges must make it even more difficult. Taking care of yourself is your #1 priority.

XOXOXO

Mrs. Shoes said...

I can't believe how close you're getting. It's so exciting!

Anonymous said...

Wowza! It seems like 23 weeks was only last week, and here you are! Almost there! :)

Kate said...

I agree with LIW about the agenda pushing. I think that everything is going to be ok and you will do great! :)

Mazzy said...

The instructor story is HORRIFYING. Just remember that one person's story doesn't represent the vast majority of births in this country. I have had MANY friends go natural, get epidurals AND have c-sections and have not once heard a bad birthing story from a one of them.
I am so happy you are just progressing along so wonderfully! Be better about making some time for yourself. ;)
*hugs*

Unknown said...

Happy 33 weeks!!!! I hope you get some rest soon and you are right you need to take it easy :)

HereWeGoAJen said...

Happy 33 weeks!

I'm sorry that you can't sleep. I don't do well with not enough sleep.

Morrisa said...

82%! Holy cow!

christina(apronstrings) said...

i cannot believe that oyu are this close. xoxoxo

Topcat said...

My goodness .... 33 weeks!! How awesome is that! Way to go, Mini Van!!

I can't believe the baby drinks a PINT of amniotic fluid a day.

sara said...

I can't believe you're 33 weeks! Congrats mama :-) The part of the inhaling a pint of amniotic fluid is both amazing and crazy to envision. I hope you're able to take it easy and get a little shut eye soon. How's the heparin going? I know there are a lot of birthing options and I support everyone's decision to make their own choices. But I just wanted to say that if you do decide that you want an epidural when the time comes, the heparin is easier to allow a laboring woman to get an epidural than lovenox, so I'm glad that they switched you. The heparin they can discontinue so many hours ahead of time, and the blood thinning properties that make an epidural unsafe with lovenox are not present with the discontinued heparin. Heparin has a much shorter duration of action and doesn't stick around as long once stopped. And if you decide not to have an epidural, you'll be okay too! Sorry this is so long..word vomit..my downfall lately. Hope you have a great night sweetie!

Geohde said...

I have that insomnia now, at 25 weeks!

Happy 33/40

J

tryingin2007 said...

I also have insomnia (at 24w5d.) yikes! it's horrible. I hope this doesn't mean a sleepless 3rd trimester. we need all the sleep we can get -- before it's no longer an option.

E. Phantzi said...

Yes, please take it easy on yourself! Put your feet up and be kind to yourself.

Yetty said...

Put your feet up (literally) and relax girl. This is your time to be the queen bee. Even if the insomnia doesn't abate, you'll feel more rested and less overwhelmed

Kathy V said...

What web page do you go to for your interesting pregnancy factoids? I get updates e-mailed to me but I like how yours read better than the ones I get.

C said...

Hoping the last few weeks of your journey get better with more sleep and less-ickiness.

lub said...

I am still sleeping okay but I have never been one to struggle with sleep! I am glad to hear that you are going to lay off work a little. I have come to the conclusion that I just am not the same person I was not pregnant and I simply cannot do it all! Anyhow- can't believe we are at 33!!!

Anonymous said...

**hugs** and prayers continue for you, sweet Farah!

I've been thinking of you so much lately, just now when I have computer time... so here I am, continuing to read and think good thoughts for you... and pray that everything continues to go well.

sara said...

Thank you thank you thank you! You are simply the best sweetie! It's like I have a question, ask it, and you always know the answer or someone who can help. I so truly appreciate you taking the time to ask them to help answer my questions. I'm actually going to email the one and leave a post for the other right now. Thanks again for always being the most awesome support to me from the very beginning all way to now :-)

Hugs and some more hugs!

Rachie Pachie said...

Has it really been that long?! :) I'm sure that's easier for me to say, though... LOL

I can still remember on the myspace group when you announced it!

Glad all is going well, but hope that your sleeping will get better!!

Dr. Grumbles said...

wow! You are getting so close!

I hope the new med works out.