31 Weeks Down......9 Weeks to Go

Wow!  I'm 31 weeks today.  Time is definitely going by too fast at this point.  Today is starting the first week of the 8th month.  I can tell Mr. Cayden is getting bigger because the pains are getting better :)  Thank you Jesus for my awesome husband!  He has definitely held my hand every step of the way......even through the hormone rollercoaster.

Your First Trimester:

1st Month = Weeks 1,2,3,4  

2nd Month = Weeks 5,6,7,8  

3rd Month = Weeks 9,10,11,12,13 Your Second Trimester:

4th Month = Wks 14,15,16,17

5th Month = Wks 18,19,20,21

6th Month = Wks 22,23,24,25,26 Your Third Trimester:

7th Month = Wks 27,28,29,30

8th Month = Wks 31,32,33,34,35

9th Month = Wks 36,37,38,39,40

Weighing in at three-plus pounds and measuring 18 inches long, your baby is quickly approaching his birth length — though he's got to pack on another three to five pounds before D-day. Also developing at an impressive clip: your baby's brain connections (he's got to make trillions of them!). He's now processing information, tracking light, and perceiving signals from all five senses. He's also putting in longer stretches of sleep, which is why you're probably noticing more defined patterns of wakefulness (and movement) and rest (when he’s pretty still).

Stay tuned for updates.  We have an appointment before travelling to Nashville for Thanksgiving.  After this week, we start seeing Dr. Stutes every 2 weeks.   

Jones Party of 4 

I Passed the 3 Hour Glucose Tolerance Test

I passed the 3 hour glucose tolerance test. 

Items for Hospital Bag (suggested list......not mine) What did you pack?

·      Admissions paperwork

·      Baby – blanket

·      Baby – car seat - safely installed

·      Baby – diapers, diaper bag (at least for the car ride home; hospital will have what you need while you are there)

·      Baby – emery board, clippers

·      Baby – going home outfit

·      Baby – mittens (prevent scratching)

·      Baby – onesies, socks, hat, receiving blanket (if you don't want to use what the hospital provides)

·      Baby – snow suit if cold (on the ride home)

·      Baby book – record firsts, stamp your baby’s feet

·      Bag - extra bag to bring home gifts, hospital supplies & new items

·      Bathing suit

·      Birth announcements (if you are feeling productive)

·      Birth ball & other birthing tools

·      Birth plan

·      Blanket - something cuddly & warm 

·      Books – birth, breastfeeding, newborn

·      Books, magazines

·      Breast pads

·      Breast pump – if you have your own, you might want to bring

·      Breastfeeding clothes - Shirt, gown, robe

·      Breastfeeding items - nipple cream, pads, nursing pillow

·      Calling card for long distance phone calls, pre-paid phone card

·      Camera, video camera – batteries, cables, film, memory card, accessories (charge up camera & empty memory card ahead of time)

·      Camera - a disposable camera for an extra or backup (when your camera battery goes dead)

·      Candles

·      Car ride to the hospital – if in labor – garbage bag to sit on, barf bag, towel

·      Cash, change

·      Cell phone

·      Cell phone – charger & extra battery

·      Clothes to wear home – comfy, roomy; flat shoes

·      Drinks & snacks

·      E-mail addresses for friends & family, digital camera to send photos

·      Eyeglasses or contacts, case, solution, cloth to clean

·      Fan – handheld

·      Folder for new paperwork

·      Hair band, barrettes, clip, scrunchies – keep hair out of your way

·      Hand mirror – watch your baby being born

·      Hair clips, ponytail holder

·      Hard candy – suck on during labor

·      Hospital paperwork

·      ID or driver’s license for mother and partner

·      Insurance card

·      Items for your spouse/partner/labor coach during labor – clothes, snacks, book, money for vending machines/parking, toiletries, medications, swimsuit, video game

·      Journal – record your thoughts

·      Laptop

·      Lip balm

·      List of last minute items to pack

·      Lotion

·      Magazine

·      Makeup

·      Massage items – tennis balls, rolling pins – for back pain during labor

·      Massage oil

·      MP3, iPod or personal stereo

·      Music – CDs, tapes or MP3 files

·      Nightgown or t-shirt to wear while giving birth

·      Nursing bras

·      Nursing pads

·      Other items that your hospital or physician recommend

·      Pajamas to wear pre-delivery and post-delivery

·      Paper & pen – take notes, write down questions

·      Pediatrician name and number

·      Phone number for services to cancel, depending on day (milk delivery, …)

·      Phone numbers/address book - family, friends, insurance, ObGyn, pediatrician, neighbor

·      Photos of family members or favorite place

·      Pillow – if you need a special or extra pillow – put it a patterned or colorful pillowcase so it doesn’t get mixed up

·      Puzzles - crossword, Sudoku

·      Pre-certification papers

·      Relax – anything else you need to help relax

·      Rice sock - warm in microwave & use on back pain

·      Robe

·      Sanitary pads

·      Scissors, tape – if you want to cut out the newspaper or other items for baby book

·      Siblings – if there are older children, pack items they will need – to bring to the hospital, and/or to send with them wherever they are staying – present for the big brother/sister, change of clothes, special items (stuffed animal, blanket), gift the older sibling can give the baby, snacks, drinks, extra underwear, books, games, toys, medicines

·      Slippers

·      Snacks

·      Toiletries - hairbrush, cosmetics, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, facial cleanser

·      Towels

·      Underwear, bras

·      Valuables, jewelry, credit cards – do NOT bring these, leave at home

·      Video camera

·      Warm socks

·      Washcloth – colorful so you can spot yours vs. the hospitals (if you don’t want to use what the hospital provides)

·      Watch with second hand – to time contractions

·      Water – bottled 

Keep Calm! I'm 30 Weeks Pregnant

30 Weeks…………..

Cayden is about 15.7 inches long now and weighs almost 3 pounds (size of a large cabbage and long as a large cucumber).  A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will shrink as he gets bigger and takes up more room in my uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

This Week's Activity:

Assemble any baby gear: This is the perfect job for your partner or a friend who wants to help. Cribs, bassinets, and strollers are notoriously tricky to put together, especially when you're sleep deprived, so get started now. Swings, mobiles, and monitors can all require batteries, so make sure you have enough on hand. Tip: Consider getting rechargeable batteries and a battery charger.

How is my life changing:

You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off.

Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size. Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious.

Ultrasound Appointment

This appointment went so well.  Got to see our little Cayden today.  He is weighing right at 3 pounds and estimated arrival is January 30.  Heart rate was 141bpm.  But the most exciting news was finding out he is no longer breech.  Cayden is head down, feet kicking the left part of my abdomen, and his booty is resting on the right part of my abdomen.  

My heart was filled with so much joy after leaving today's appointment.  Stay tuned for more updates!

Jones Party of 4

*My baby sis, Jasmine, said Cayden's profile looks like his father's!  What do you think?????  Me or Thomas?  Who will he look like the most??  Ready, set, go! 

Failed Glucose Tolerance Test

Failed Glucose Tolerance Test

Yes, I failed my glucose tolerance test.  Am I upset? NO!  Our pregnancy has gone very well thus far, so there is no need to "freak" out now.  I just have to follow my doctors orders, re-take the test on Thursday morning and roll with it.  Life & this pregnancy does not stop here.  I just thank God I have a support system that doesn't badger me for eating a piece of chocolate cake or a Dr. Pepper.  So stay tuned for updates!

How is the screening test done?

When you arrive for the test, you'll be given a sugar solution that contains 50 grams of glucose. The stuff tastes like a very sweet soda pop (it comes in cola, orange, or lime flavor), and you have to get all of it down in five minutes. Some centers keep it chilled or let you pour it over ice and drink it cold.

An hour later (bring a book or magazine!), your practitioner or a technician will take a blood sample from your arm to check your blood sugar level. The idea is to see how efficiently your body processes sugar. The results should be available in a few days.

If the reading is too high, which happens 15 to 23 percent of the time, your practitioner will have you come back for a three-hour glucose tolerance test to see whether you really do have gestational diabetes. The good news is that most women whose screening test shows elevated blood sugar don't turn out to have gestational diabetes.

 Jones Party of 4