33 weeks - 11th August 2008

Howdy!

In all honesty, starting to feel a teensy bit apprehensive about what's around the corner. I have 3 weeks to go today till 36-week gynae appointment....and anything could happen between now and then! AND also that DOC said I might not be able to go longer than 36-weeks....which means 2nd September birth etc etc....so many factors!!! However am positive all will be fine and that I'll go twin full-term to 37-weeks. The girls are moving around A LOT and in one way I want them to stay in as long as possible to get strong, but also can't wait to meet them. Brad feels his whole life is on hold waiting for their arrival, so we can move on to the next step in this journey together as a new family unit. He's going to be the best Dad (I just know it) and these girls are going to wrap him like play dough around their itsy bitsy little fingers :)))) (something I think he'd deny..haaa haaa haaa ;) )

Here are 2 pics I took this morning....one the side profile you have all come to know so well, and the other a full frontal.....which is not for sensitive viewers....so I've put that one right at the bottom of this blog....my belly button doesn't look healthy with all the veins and stretched to it's poor limit. For me that had an "inny" of note and super-sensitive at that, even I wonder if it'll ever go back to normal :)



This is what's happening this week:

Your baby is now about 5lbs and 17 inches long, and getting more active in the kicking and punching department, although their starting to feel a little cramped as they have less space to somersault in.

You might feel at this stage that you just want to get on with it, and to get the baby out. Its normal. You will also need to start planning the details of the big day, what to pack in a bag, the route to the hospital, what birth you would like, etc.. The motto from now on is Be Prepared.

about your body
You're quite possibly experiencing a strange, aching feeling in the pelvic area. The weight of your uterus is now putting pressure on the ligaments supporting it, which makes these ligaments sensitive and uncomfortable. You are possibly wondering how you're going to make it through the next few weeks. Behave like a prima donna if you have to. Rest is the best gift you can give to yourself. This is not a luxury it is a necessity.

your growing baby

Your baby spends 80 percent of his time breathing amniotic fluid. He is fully formed and just getting bigger and stronger in order to cope with the outside world. The pupils of your little one's eyes can now detect light, constrict and dilate, allowing her to see dim shapes. Her lungs are now almost completely mature and she's moved into position for delivery. The next time you go in for a check-up, your health care provider should be able to tell whether she's facing head down or bottom first.

Carrying The Load

No doubt you're starting to feel rather house-like.so you might want to know exactly where all that extra weight is actually going (based on a typical 13kg pregnancy):

• Uterus 1 kg
• Placenta 1 kg
• Amniotic fluid 1 kg
• Breasts 1 kg
• Blood 1,3kg
• Retained water 1,5 kg
• Fat 3 kg
• Baby 3,4 kg

Do remember that every woman and every pregnancy is different - but a rough guideline says shorter women should expect to put on between 10 - 12 kg and taller women 12 - 15 kg