34 Weeks

Your baby now weighs about 4.9 pounds and measures about 18.4 inches long. Your baby is fully developed at this point, but is growing and gaining weight now. Baby’s chances of survival outside of the womb are very good now, with only the lungs needing further development.

Baby is probably in the head down position now and the skull is soft so that baby can move down the birth canal during birth. Pressure from the baby being head down can make you have to urinate frequently.

The immune system is continuing to mature now and preparing to fight infections.
Because your baby is rapidly building up fat, little dimples are forming at the elbows and knees. Creases are forming around the wrists and neck. Bones are continuing to harden now and the waxy substance covering your baby’s skin, vernix, is thickening.

There are several prenatal tests that your health practitioner may recommend at this point. One that you need to ask for, if your doctor or midwife doesn’t suggest is, is the GBS (or Group B Step) test. This test screens for harmful bacteria that you can pass to the baby at birth.

Still battling the heat but feeling otherwise good. Getting into a bit of a routine now. It includes spending time every day with my feet and lower legs immersed in the kids' pool, The Body Shop Peppermint Foot Spray, a rest in the afternoon, daily after dark 30 minute walk (it's still hot out, but at least it's not blazing hot). Twice a week instead of the walk I go to yoga from 8:30-10:00pm. I found the right class for me- nice and slow and gentle, mostly stretching and balance positions. I love balance positions. I feel like I make up for my lack of flexibility with my great balance. But can you believe they turn off the A/C during classes?!? Talk about Hot Yoga. So I just take it easy, don't push it, and fan myself a lot. My face must get so red. The advantage to doing yoga when it's hot, I must admit, is it gets the muscles and joints nice and loosey-goosey. I come out of there feeling quite relaxed.

Dr. Lopez didn't order a GBS test, but I suppose he might at our next appt (~37 wks). Maybe it's not standard here in Mexico? Part of me doesn't want to open the can of worms if it's not standard, but part of me thinks it would be wise to request it. Well I have a month to think about it and research it.

Micah told me today that he wants the baby to be a girl and so does Eva. Eva usually refers to the baby as "she", though if you ask her she will say she thinks it's a boy. I asked Eva the other day why she had changed her tune about the baby being a girl. She said because I told her that when the belly sticks out to the front it's a boy, and when it sticks out to the sides it's a girl. I took the opportunity to explain about old wives tales and how that might not be true.

I'm feeling good about this home stretch. I am glad to be more disciplined about eating and exercise again and most of me is looking forward to how this birth will unfold. Sometimes I wonder if I realize/remember just how intense active labour is. I know so much more now! So I think I will be able to relax all that much more than my first two births, and that will make a big difference. But who knows what will happen?? God may have other plans for this birth. Maybe even to give me insight into what it's like to experience complications. So we have been praying more than ever about this birth. God knows my/our hearts' desire, but we surrender it to Him and accept what may come.

Still agonizing over names. Nothing new there. We never had "aha!" moments with Eva and Micah's names either.