36 Weeks and Check-Up

Craig & I went to my check-up today. I am 36 weeks and 3 days today and we are attending weekly appointments now! As of the last appointment, my almost 35 week belly was measuring 36 weeks and the doctor confirmed again today that "this is going to be a big baby" for me. She and Craig are guessing 8 1/2 - 9#. We shall see... But she did do the first internal exam to check for any progress and found that I am 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. Sophia is head down at -1 station. All that means nothing other than that my body is making it's way towards delivery. I could walk around like this for several weeks yet. But with Will coming early and the projected size of this baby, we are just guessing she could be about a week early too. I still stand by my feeling that she will come when she's ready and I can wait till whenever that is.

Here is my belly shot from Friday at exactly 36 weeks:



And here's 34 weeks for comparison:



I can see a definite change and the scale can guarantee it with 3 more pounds between those two pictures! :) I'm just under 27# weight gain now!

Here is a frontal shot from 36 weeks. This is wear it really looks huge:


Since last week, I've noticed that if I'm not sitting completely upright or if I'm slouching at all, I must be crowding Sophia's space, because she starts squirming and digging her head down into my cervix. It feels like a menstrual cramp, but not like a contraction. So I get up and walk around as much as possible at work and try to sit with good posture when I'm seeing patients.

It's gotten really uncomfortable to roll over in bed at night and I'm still waking up about twice each night to pee. And working full time has gotten more exhausting so that by the end of the day, my pelvis is pretty sore and I feel like huge, immobile blob. But! I'm chuggin' along and MOST of the time I feel pretty good. Just heavy.

So far, no stretch marks! Knock on wood. And I'm continuously amazed at how cool the body is to just keep accomodating this fast-growing, little being. I do love being pregnant, but I also look forward to the end when I get to finally meet our baby girl.