34 Weeks!

After a rough Week 33, Week 34 is starting off great!

Last week, my nasty stomach virus really took a lot out of me and it took 3-4 days to recover. While my stomach was hurting, my back was also hurting, I was having some cramping, and the little guy is stuffed so far into my lungs right now I can hardly breathe. I can't wait for him to drop in a few short weeks-- not only will I be able to breathe again, but maybe the acid reflux will let up a bit.

I have to be honest-- I've been blessed with such an easy pregnancy and I've tried to remember that during the times I've been uncomfortable... but when you are sick, exhausted, sore, and emotional it's difficult to keep your perspective. I was feeling particularly bad on Sunday evening and as Rob rubbed my belly, trying to soothe me, I started to cry. "I can't feel like this for another 6 weeks!"

Then, I started crying even harder because I felt so guilty for saying that. When Rob asked why I was getting more upset, I told him that every single day I am so thankful for this pregnancy-- and for how smoothly it has gone. A year ago, when we were struggling to get pregnant, I would have done anything to be in this position, no matter how uncomfortable-- complaining about any pregnancy symptom makes me feel horrible and ungrateful for this miracle that we've been given.

But through a little bit of talking (and a bit more belly rubbing), Rob helped me find that perspective-- and helped me see that a few days of feeling less than my best, doesn't make me ungrateful for my baby. Monday morning, I woke up feeling like a new woman.

Yesterday, at my 34 week checkup, when my doc asked how I had been feeling, I was honest and told her about my rough week. In addition to confirming that she had seen lots of cases of the stomach bug, she said, "Ahhh, you hit the 34 week wall. Even women with perfect pregnancies have to start being uncomfortable at some point, and it's usually right about now."

Enough said.

This week, baby is the size of an (amazingly creepy) American Girl Doll:

And looks like this (*gasp--head down!!*):
Baking Baby Blakely

"Your baby kind of looks like she's coated in a layer of cream cheese these days. The thick, white substance that protects her skin from pruning in the amniotic fluid is called vernix. When she's born you'll probably see some vernix lingering in her "hard-to-reach" places like under her arms, behind her ears and around her va-jay-jay, if she's a she...

Other news from the womb this week:

The soft fur, lanugo, that covered your baby's body for much of her stay in the womb is now almost completely gone.

Your baby begins to develop her own immune system, instead of relying solely on antibodies received through the placenta. This will come in handy when some grubby relative manhandles the baby without washing his hands first.

This week, your baby measures about 17¾ inches, as almost as long as an American Girl Doll (!) and weighs almost 5 pounds, as heavy as a bag of sugar, minus the cup you put in your decaf this morning."

34 Week Belly Pic
Other updates from my 34 week checkup:

• I lost 2 lbs from my 31 week appt-- doc is not concerned.
• Baby Belly is measuring right on track.
• I go back at 36 weeks, then start weekly appointments.
• Next appointment we'll do the Strep B test and I'll have my first internal exam.
• Baby's position will be determined then-- if she can't tell when she checks my cervix, she'll do an ultrasound. (I think he's already head down. Fingers crossed!!)
• TSH levels look good-- almost down to the level my RE considered ideal! I'm convinced that this is what's controlling my weight gain. I must be losing weight as I gain the baby weight. (Currently -3lbs from pre-pregnancy weight, +3lbs from lowest weight.)
• Started a new prescription acid reflux medicine-- hopefully this one works!!

I checked a lot of things off my To Do list from last week including tons of laundry--one more load and everything is washed. Plenty more to do, but I'm relieved to see that list getting smaller and smaller, as I get bigger and bigger!