37 Weeks, Full Term!!!

How is baby growing?

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, her lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)
Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

36 Weeks

I had resigned myself to not having a baby shower, since I really don't know anyone to invite, however a cousin offered to throw me one. I'm so happy! I had really wanted one. It just felt weird to ask for gifts from people that I barely know, and I barely know my family that is in this area. I can hardly wait! Even though it is kind of late in the game to be having a baby shower.

35 Weeks

How is baby growing?
Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

gDiapers

Just browsing about baby websites, I came across this, gDiapers. I had originally looked into cloth diapering, because they are more cost efficient in the long run, but decided against it. In the end it just looked like the initial cost to start up was too great. At least to start out with. But browsing I found gDiapers, which can be used as cloth or biodegradable disposables. I just think these are just too cute!

34 Weeks

How is baby growing?
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her 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.

SSA names

The SSA name lists for 2010 came out today. 

The total of boy names with the -ayden/aden/aiden variation is 91,077. The total of the -ayden/aden/aidan variations in the top 1000 is 41. Aiden is at the top with 28,606 (10 variants). Raiden at the bottom with 590 (2 variants).

The total of the Mad/Mck trend is 78,570. The total of girls with Mck/Mac/Mc- names is 19, 649. The total of girls with Mad- names is 12,478. The total of girls with -ailey names is 24,337. The total of -iley names is 22,106.

The total of the -lyn trend is 45,618. There are 11 total names, with 26 variants. 

The total of the -son trend is 36,009. There are 4 names, with 9 variants.

 The total of the boys-names-on-girls trends is 50, 638. There are 13 names, with 10 variants. 

PLUS for your enjoyment, there are 74 boys in 2010 named Unknown.

29 named Jessejames.

29 named Shooter.

26 boys named Olivia.

And a few boys named Jaydance.

5 girls named Yunique. 

On that note, babygirl's name Gwendolyn ranks on 566 on the SSA list in 2010.  Can we hear it for a unique name that isn't "yooneek" and "cr8tive" and overdone? :D

Follow Up to News

Well, as you know I finally was actually told something from my perinatologist. As it turns out only Scottish Rite Children's and Eccleston Children's Hospital does surgery. I have an appointment with my OB to talk about labor options; the pros and cons of an elective c-section vs a vaginal birth.

33 Weeks

How is baby growing?
 This week baby weighs a little bit over 4lbs and has passed the 17 inch mark. She's rapidly losing the wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.