Weeks 34-36 Pregnancy VLOG, baby number 5 by Teresa Palmer

Weeks 34, 35 & 36! 

What’s baby up to? 

Week 34
Size: Around 31 cm long (crown to rump)
Weight: About 5 pounds (2.3 kg)
Comparable to: A cantaloupe 
Development: Baby’s central nervous system and lungs are maturing rapidly now. Fat stores continue to build, giving them that adorable chubby McChubbo look, and their fingernails have reached the tips of their fingers. Movements will feel stronger but a little less roomy with more rolls and stretches than sharp kicks. Pelvic aches, lower back strain and heartburn and ewwww reflux can ramp up as we are getting closer to go time! 

Week 35
Size: Around 32 cm long (crown to rump)
Weight: Close to 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg)
Comparable to: A spaghetti squash 
Development: Kidneys are fully developed now yay!, the liver is working away, and our little ones are getting better at regulating body temperature. Baby is likely in a curled-up fetal position (mine is currently undecided whether it’s anterior or posterior…) baby is practicing its breathing with lots hiccupping as well as sucking. At this point hearing is sharp and bub can recognize our voices (they always move when Mark talks to the belly) they also recognize their siblings’ chatter, and even your favourite songs- (they always respond to the “Om” chant bedtime song we play) Braxton Hicks is getting more noticeable and the “waddle” is real now with all that extra pressure down low.

Week 36
Size: About 32.5 cm long (crown to rump)
Weight: Around 6 pounds (2.7 kg) actually my baby at 36 + 5 was estimated to be 6.6lbs (2.991kg!) 
Comparable to: A bunch of kale! Yummm
Development: Baby is officially about ready. The digestive system, lungs, and circulatory system are developed, while the immune system is still strengthening. Most babies are head down by now (Baby Palmer is apparently “engaged”) practicing breathing movements and gaining around an ounce a day. Theres more pressure in the pelvis as bub settles lower, and this can bring on lightning crotch (multiple times a day for me!) more bathroom trips (at least 4 per night!!) and even the start of cervical changes as your body gears up for labour.

Anything new these weeks? 
Reflux ugh! Hit me like a ton of bricks from 36 weeks and ohhh the pain. Only at nighttime though which is weird. Some little bouts of pregsomnia too which have been sporadic but enough to exhaust me. Also newfound energy!!! After getting an infusion at 34.5 weeks but 35.5 week I felt like a NEW WOMAN!!! I have to say I highly recommend if you have chronically low iron in pregnancy. I’ve had an infusion before (with my third baby- Poet) and it was also just so helpful then too. 

Challenges 
Reflux! Ha I hate it. It makes me feel so uncomfortable at night time. Also if I’ve had a big day of walking and doing chores or say for instance Prairies birthday party which we had on the weekend, then my feet are completely SPENT, it’s like they’ve just given up on life and I can no longer walk. I have to just ‘take to bed’. My back is also so messed up if it’s been a long day too, thank god I bought one of those crazy jackhammer type back massagers as I’ve been using it a lot! 

Reflections 
Getting so much closerrrr ahhh it’s funny though you hear so much about how those last few weeks “drag on” but I feel the opposite. It’s really gone by very fast to me and I kind of want time to slow down so I can cherish these last few weeks even more. Who knows if I’ll get the opportunity to be pregnant again?! I certainly hope so but there’s no guarantees and I’ve been so blessed so far. So anytime I’ve feeling tired, big or just a bit sorry for myself, I remind myself that this will be the time I’ll look back on and long for another day feeling this baby on the inside. It’s such a beautifully spiritual experience and I am lapping up each and every moment.