Development- 32 weeks

Week 32: Fetal Postion: Preparing for Birth
This week your baby weighs almost four pounds and could be up to 19 inches long. And though that's a head-to-toe length, your baby is actually back to a curled-up position in preparation for birth (you try standing up in those cramped quarters!).
This week your baby weighs almost four pounds and could be up to 19 inches long. And though that's a head-to-toe length, your baby is actually back to a curled-up position (you try standing up in those cramped quarters!). You're likely feeling tapping and squirming instead of your baby's signature rocking and rolling. That's because, while comfy, your baby is a bit tight for exercise space right now. Your baby has also probably settled into the head-down, bottoms-up position in your pelvis in prepartion for birth. That's because the fetus's head fits better at the bottom of your inverted, pear-shaped uterus. It also makes it easier during childbirth if your baby comes out head first. Fewer than five percent of babies prefer the bottom-down (or breech) position by full-term. Don't worry if your baby hasn't assumed the head-down position yet. There's still a good chance he or she will flip head-side-down before birth — even in the tight confines of your uterus.And because your baby is accumulating more fat, his or her skin is finally turning opaque (like yours), which means those see-through days are over. Though weeks away from D-day, your baby's looking more and more like a newborn.

And speaking of that big day, hope you're resting up for it — because your bambino certainly is. In preparation for that big first date with you, your baby is sleeping like a baby — with sleep cycles of 20 to 40 minutes long (which would also account for the decrease in movement you're likely feeling these days).

(pic: Babycenter.com, article: Whattoexpect.com)

So Excited to See You!!!

Hey you- you're getting your dad and I wondering... What will you look like? Here are a few pictures of your mom and dad as babies. I'm thinking you're bound to look more like your dad. But cuter, even. We really can't wait to meet you.

Development- 28 Weeks

Your pregnancy: 28 weeks

How your baby's growing:
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

How your life's changing:
You're in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester.

Kick Count

We are doing a 'kick count' right now - we have to count you kicking 10 times in one hour, otherwise your mom gets very worried. I have been poking at her stomach and telling you to wake up. So far we have counted 7 kicks.

The Belly- Big, big belly!

So I've been putting off posting this for awhile, mostly because my arms and face have gotten bigger along with my belly! But you should know, you've been taking up a lot of room and making yourself obvious since pretty early on! I didn't tell the people at work until I was about 14 weeks along with you, and by the time I was about 17 weeks, it was harder to hide! You HATE most pants I wear- anything with a waistband gets kicked all day. Thank goodness they make the "secret belly fit" that goes all the way up and over, so we're both comfortable. Your dad took this picture on Saturday, the first day of the third trimester for us (week 27). Saturday was also my 29th birthday! Next year, you can help me celebrate 30.

The Claim: Mother’s Heartburn Means a Hairy Newborn

Grandma Terri says she had no heartburn, your mom was born bald.

Your mom has horrible heartburn right now and takes several Tums every night.


From The Claim: Mother’s Heartburn Means a Hairy Newborn

The Claim: Mother’s Heartburn Means a Hairy Newborn


By ANAHAD O’CONNOR
Published: February 20, 2007
THE FACTS It is an odd adage that has stuck around for ages: women who suffer heartburn during pregnancy will have babies with full heads of hair. But doctors have long shrugged it off.


Leif Parsons
Until now, that is. In December, researchers at Johns Hopkins University conducted a study intending to put the claim to rest. To their surprise, they ended up confirming it. The study, published in the current issue of the journal Birth, followed 64 pregnant women, about 78 percent of whom reported having some heartburn. After the women gave birth, two outside observers looked at pictures of their infants and rated their levels of hair.

Of the 28 women who reported moderate to severe heartburn, 23 had babies with average or above-average amounts of hair. Conversely, 10 of the 12 women who reported no heartburn had babies with little or no hair.

Other studies have shown that in pregnant women, high levels of estrogen and other hormones can relax the sphincter at the bottom of the esophagus, causing heartburn. The same hormones, other studies show, can influence fetal hair growth.

The lead author of the study, Kathleen Costigan, who runs the fetal assessment center at Johns Hopkins, said the findings came as a shock.

“We’ve heard this claim hundreds of times, and I’ve always told people it’s nonsense,” she said. “Since the study came out, I’ve had to eat a lot of crow.”

THE BOTTOM LINE Heartburn during pregnancy may mean a greater likelihood a baby will have a lot of hair.

Development- 27 Weeks

So, how you doing in there? I look forward to getting my emails every week that tell me how you're growing. Here's the latest! (from babycenter.com)


How your baby's growing:
This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

I actually have felt the hiccups a few times. It's nice to know you're getting bigger and stronger, but we want you to stay put for now. And it's interesting that your brain is very active, but we wonder what the heck you could be thinking about?!

Your Family- Grandparents

Your grandparents are so excited you're on your way- they've been waiting too long to have a baby to brag about!
Here's your Lola and Lolo- Dad's parents... Lola Elma is going to take you shopping and dress you like a doll, I think. Lolo Jerome is probably going to take you golfing. You'll be visiting them all the time, because they live nearby. Lola Elma is an amazing cook, and you'll get to look at their fish, play in the park, and maybe say hi to the dogs, if they play nice.


This is Grandpa Lenny and Grandma Terri Ann. They've been waiting patiently for you to come along- we're going to try to keep Grandpa Lenny from buying you a rifle, but he'll be allowed to take you fishing when we go visit them in the U.P. Grandma Terri Ann has been showing off your ultrasound pictures already. It's going to be a lot of fun to go visit everybody in Mom's family- you'll probably get to wear an apron and help out at the Mill Town Inn.

Ultrasound Pictures

We had our first ultrasound in February, when we met Dr. Lin. He figured you were about nine weeks, and you were already in motion! We couldn't believe it- you were a little bean, with squirmy limbs already... Cousin Amber joked that you and Annika look a lot alike at this point! She'll be just a few weeks younger than you...

Then we had to wait until April to "peek" again- this time we were wondering if you'd be a boy or a girl, and we had a really hard time waiting! You'd been around for 20 weeks at this point, and looked perfect. It was amazing to see your toes- I'm afraid they're going to be long monkey toes, as your dad and I both have them. Don't worry, though, we'll make sure you have super-cute shoes! I smile every time I see your profile.

First post

In December 2007, your mom and dad were engaged, we found out in January that we were already pregnant with you. Your mom was shocked. Your grandparents were thrilled. I've been watching you grow in your mother's belly for almost 7 months. Sometimes I read to you at night before we go to sleep. Sometimes we listen to your heartbeat with our doppler. We don't have to use the doppler too much anymore, we can feel you moving around. Today I held my ear up to your mother's belly and you kicked me in the head. We've had two chances to see you already, once when you looked just like a bean with arms and legs, and once when you looked like a real baby weighing almost a pound. It was exciting to see your hands and your feet. We fought for a long time about your name - Nina was lola Militante's idea, grandma Lindeman loved it. I thought of your middle name because I liked the sound of it. We did a lot of research about your name - there are a lot of famous musicians named Nina, which we liked. We can't wait to meet you. We love you. I hope you are not early and are born sometime in early September so you have a nice birthstone.