36 weeks

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

ok, I am just about done with this whole pregnancy thing. I really don't mind the belly, or the huge thighs, or stretch marks.... but seriously, the water retention is getting old! I am afraid of doing anything because of my intense day yesterday, after sleeping my feet/ankles/legs are still large.

We toured the hospital yesterday.. so now we have an idea of what to expect. Glad we did, because there are some differences from hospital to hospital. Right off the bat, my water broke with Owen, and we just walked through to bring me in. But at Fairview, if your water breaks you have to be wheeled in. Southwest had just one area for birthing and postpartum, where fairview, postpartum is a different floor. But it is also nice if the baby has any issues (hopefully not), that they are well known for the little ones care. It is also where Owen went when he had his febral seizure. Fun times are awaiting...