« Baby Shower - Thank You | Main | Quick note »
January 12, 2004
Week 37 – Full Term
According to most baby journals, pregnancy websites, and books that I’ve read, week 37 marks that the pregnancy has reached “full term.” If Little R were born anytime from now until February 13th, s/he would be considered having reached that “full term” landmark. Now, let’s be clear… that means that the baby has fully developed and simply continues to “pack on the pounds” until s/he decides to grace us with his/her presence. In the meantime, Little Rhody’s parents continue to get everything ready for his/her arrival! The baby shower was very helpful in getting us started on the path to preparation. Within 24 to 48 hours of the shower, everything was out of the boxes, put together, installed, and ready for baby. Now, we’re just doing the diaper shopping and medicine cabinet preparation.
Still, there are a few more “non-baby” things that we’re hoping to get done before the baby arrives. I have to finish working on a grant, preparing for a new-teacher orientation in the Freshman Writing office, and complete chapter 1 of my dissertation. Jason also has a good bit on his plate. Between work, his dissertation, and baby classes—not to mention how helpful he’s been by picking up all of the extra slack around the house—Jason’s probably ready for a good long winter’s nap himself!
We had our first of 4 regularly scheduled doctor’s appointments for month 9. There is, of course, no real way to tell when labor will happen. As we’re learning, it’s all in engagement, dilation, and effacement. In terms of engagement, the baby’s head “drops” into the pelvis for first-time moms about 2 weeks before delivery. The cervix needs to dilate (get bigger) in order for the head to fit through. It also needs to “thin out.” Our birth class instructor demonstrated this concept by pushing her head through a turtleneck sweater… I’d have to say that it was a much more pleasant concept before the visualization.
To put this in more tangible terms, Little Rhody has 1 of 3 things going for it. The cervix has dilated to 1 cm. Nine left to go there. However, his/her head is “low” but not “engaged,” and the cervix has not yet begun to efface (a measurement done in percentages). Apparently “effacing” is really the key sign in a first-time mother’s progress in labor.
The good news: It doesn’t look like Little Rhody is going to make his/her appearance right away. The bad news: It doesn’t look like Little Rhody is going to make his/her appearance right away—and despite the practical reasons for waiting until February 1… we’re still very excited to finally meet Little R. Still, everything’s on its way to being ready… I suppose Little Rhody’s just letting his/her mommy “catch up” before s/he makes his/her grand entrance. Such thoughtfulness in a child this early certainly must be a good sign!
Posted by Lisa at January 12, 2004 7:00 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://wordherders.dreamhosters.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/4312
Comments
Everyone within shouting distance(whether they know J & L or not makes no difference to this exuberant grandmother-to-be!)now knows that Lisa is now 1cm and birth is imminent--at least within the next 3 weeks or so. My staff and most of my patients have been placed on alert status and I'm packed for the trip to the hospital--how 'bout the rest of you?? Hang in there Jas and Lisa, I love you!
Posted by: Nana at January 12, 2004 9:52 PM
Would love to say my bag is packed and ready for a trip to celebrate this birth but unfortunately the trip is only in my heart and mind! Love and prayers continue for you all.
Posted by: Debbie at January 12, 2004 10:28 PM