The Merkel Family: 38 Weeks

Friday, January 9, 2009

38 Weeks

14 more days until my EDD (estimated due date). I pray that I don't go over my due date because I'm already pretty uncomfortable - I couldn't imagine another 3 weeks! I haven't gotten a good night's sleep in a loooong time and probably won't for another 6 months. Tom wanted to start setting our alarms for every 2 hours to get prepared for when the baby will be waking up. No way was I on board for that plan. I mean as bad as my sleep is now, it would be much worse getting up every 2 hours. Bleh!

The baby's stretching all of the time, which is becoming kind of painful. I'm sure it's just stretching out because it's running out of room. I've been telling baby that it will have TONS of room if it would just make it's debut. We're both really excited and can't wait to meet our Mini Merkel.

Here's what the baby's been up to according to WhatToExpect.com:

Only two more weeks (or plus two more, max) before your baby makes his or her appearance. And what an adorable appearance that will be! Your little one isn't so little anymore — weighing in at close to seven pounds and hitting the height charts at the 21-inch mark (or less).

As you prepare (best you can) for baby's ETA, he or she is also getting ready, big time. Vernix and lanugo continue to shed from your baby's body into the amniotic fluid. Your baby swallows that amniotic fluid (yum yum?) and some of it winds up in his or her intestines where it — along with other shed cells, bile, and other waste
products (triple yum) — will turn into your baby's first bowel movement (meconium) and perhaps your first diaper change.

Your baby's lungs continue to mature as more and more surfactant is secreted (remember — it helps prevent the lungs from sticking to each other when your baby begins to breathe…definitely a good thing). At 38 weeks pregnant, all systems,
almost go!

Weekly pictures:
Parents.com - I guess everyone thinks the 9th month is the watermelon phase. Nice.