33 Week Baby Update

I am about 33 weeks now and although I am not "miserable" yet, life has gotten a little more difficult. Simple daily tasks, like getting the girls dressed in the mornings, taking the clothes out of the dryer & getting up from a laying position on the couch are all starting to be a little more difficult. But, I am super excited that my best friend Crystal is throwing me a shower and can't wait to see all of my friends and family. I decided to have Skyler and Madison be a part of the shower so that they would feel included and they have both volunteered to help open any gifts and "help eat the cake". {grin}

At 33 weeks I am about 4 weeks from being full term and about 6 weeks from due date. Time sure has flown by this time around and I sure hope that it keeps on flying by as I know 1st hand that the last month can be very tough and time seems to slow WAY DOWN. Here is how I look today.

And below is a progression photo. :o)

Here's my weekly e-mail update from babycenter.com

How your baby's growing: This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his 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. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

How your baby looks:

How your life's changing: As your baby fills out even more of your belly, lots of things might start to change: Whereas before you were sashaying, you may find yourself waddling. Finding an easy position to sit in — let alone sleep — is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course.You may be feeling some achiness and even numbness in your fingers, wrists, and hands. Like many other tissues in your body, those in your wrist can retain fluid, which can increase pressure in the carpal tunnel, a bony canal in your wrist. To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often. You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back.