34 Weeks Pregnancy Update

Baby’s gender:

Boy

Baby’s size:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (about the size of a cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long.

Baby’s development:

His fat layers– which he’ll need to regulate his body temperature once he’s born – are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever.

His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you’ve been nervous about preterm labor, you’ll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

My weight gain:

28 lbs

Craving:

Mashed potatoes and string cheese (so good!)

Feeling: 

Like my time to prepare is running out! It’s already getting close with each passing day and I keep thinking back to when I still had 6 months to go! Now it’s like I blink and a whole week has passed and I am posting the new weeks update!

Things of Note:

I no longer fit into any of my shoes. I usually wear boots to work in the morning then switch to flats while I am at work. By the end of the day however, I can barely get the boots back over my calves and my feet basically go numb while I’m walking down to my car. Luckily, I have two pairs of flats that I can squeeze into but they make imprints on the tops of my feet and hurt when I get up to walk around. So, bsesides my hunter boots and Uggs, I really struggle to find a comfortable pair of shoes. Many people have told me I need to just buy a pair of shoes that are a size bigger so I finally caved and did that yesterday.

My cute maternity dresses no longer fit me; super sad, I know. Basically, if it isn’t stretchy it is super uncomfortable to wear.  I finally decided I needed to update my wardrobe a little bit though so I bought this dress in every color available and alternate them throughout the week with different cardigans to change up the look a little bit. I have also outgrown all of my coats and can’t button any of them over this belly. My mom is such a gem and luckily had an extra coat lying around that is a few sizes too big so even though I feel like I’m wearing Hitler’s coat with giant shoulders it is wonderful to finally button a coat over this bump.

I can definitely tell this little guy is growing in there and already has a personality. He will jam out a limb as if to remind me he’s there and I can feel his bony foot or elbow sticking out of my side. I usually try to get people to feel it and it always freaks them out because it’s such a surprisingly hard lump. He always punches or kicks my right side and I jerk with an “ow” because it’s so strong it hurts. He especially loves to do it right when I’m falling asleep and laying on that side. Sleeping is becoming a definite struggle and it always seems like he’s wide awake in there anxious to get out.

Details from above:

• Inverted Fishtail Headband Braid – finished with ponytail
• MAC ‘Ruby Woo’ Lipstick
• Ily Couture Double Pearl Earrings – similar
• Forever 21 Necklace
• Abercrombie and Fitch Sweater – similar

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