The Misnomer of the Nine-Month Pregnancy

Here's the thing: society, pop culture, and the media have been perpetuating this idea that pregnancy is a nine-month process. And yes, while it occurs over roughly nine months, ten months is a more accurate timeline. Look at it this way: you know there are usually four weeks in a month, and that there are 40 weeks in a pregnancy. Do the math here, folks. Forty weeks is ten months. I became pregnant in November, I will have my baby in August (or late July...). November --> August is ten months.

Thus, at 36 weeks pregnant, I am officially nine months, with another month to go still. Not feeling terrible, but good gracious I woke up this morning to painfully swollen hands! I think they'll loosen up as I go on about my day and get my circulation moving (maybe typing this post will help?), but yikes!

Right on time, here's my 36-week pic:

My book says my belly is just about as big as it will get, as Peanut is pretty much at her birth weight and length. As I mentioned last week, my belly already feels huge, and rolling side-to-side in the bed is getting increasingly difficult. I'm also experiencing pain in my hips if I lay on one for too long, which means lots of switching sides (and did I mention how difficult that is??). It doesn't make for a seamless process or uninterrupted sleep. Luckily, I have no problem laying down for a daytime nap here and there. ;D

Little girl is still very active, even though she's running out of room. Her hiccups are killing me these days, as I find the sensation irritating, especially in the middle of the night! Besides hiccups she does lots of rolls and stretches, still exploring her ever-shrinking space.

At this point, the book believes she is roughly 19 inches and weighs about six pounds. Obviously at this stage, there is no way to know for sure, since all babies grow differently in the later stage of pregnancy. Any day now, she should begin to move down into my pelvis, hopefully making breathing easier and relieve some of the heartburn I experience sometimes. It's still surreal that we're going to meet our baby girl SOON!

This is "the book" I'm always referring to.
I highly recommend it if you're also pregnant!!!

I had my 36-week visit with the doctor yesterday, and while she said all is relatively normal and baby is growing as she should, Doc still believes she might come a little early. However, if Peanut doesn't show up in the next two weeks,  the doc wants to induce labor between weeks 38 and 39 due to my increasingly high blood pressure. The risks to baby and to myself increase should we continue the pregnancy beyond 39 weeks, and at that point Peanut should be developed enough to survive just fine on her own. We'll find out more about the induction at my appointment next week.

Am I super stoked about this news? No, not really. Labor is supposed to be a natural process that starts on it's own when baby is ready, and I have mixed feelings about forcing my body to begin labor. Some women also say that induction of labor is more painful than when labor begins naturally, which nobody wants to hear anyway. Of course I don't want to put Peanut in any kind of danger and I completely trust my doctor and her advice. If she thinks delivering Peanut between 38 and 39 weeks is the very best thing for her, then that is what we'll do, whether I'm thrilled with it or not. Jeff and I have always had the attitude that we'd cross each bridge as we came to it, not worrying too much about what will or won't happen. We're trying to be as laid-back as we can about the process so that neither of us stresses out too much if things don't go "as planned."

We want our daughter healthy and happy, no matter how that happens.

I told Jeff last night I was hesitant to share this news with you, since (like baby names) everyone has an opinion on what should or shouldn't happen during labor and delivery, and (like all other pregnancy-related situations) everyone is more than willing to share their own unsolicited stories, opinions, and medical advice from their own doctor. How did so many of my friends and family go to medical school when I wasn't looking? My point is, Jeff and I will decide what is best for our daughter and the labor and delivery process, and would appreciate nothing more than your unwavering support and encouragement. It's scary to think that you might be putting your child at risk before she's even born, and we can definitely use, and will immensely appreciate, your cheers and prayers.

So given this news, it sounds like July 28th may be induction day if Peanut doesn't show up sooner on her own. Don't hold your breath! Things can always change, and the 28th still may not end up being Peanut's actual birthday. Little girl may also decide she doesn't like to be scheduled and just show up on her own. However, July 28th is a heck of a lot closer (relatively speaking) than August 6th. It's pretty much two and a half weeks away. Luckily, with the exception of a few more things to throw into our hospital bag, we are READY! Now we just wait and see how things go and hope for smooth sailing from here on out!

That's probably enough updates for this week! Since I'm visiting the doctor weekly now, I'll have more news to share after next week's appointment, and perhaps more information regarding the possibility of inducing labor.

Have a great weekend everybody!