you've just entered the single-digit countdown (only nine more weeks to go!).
-Your baby weighs about 3 1/2 pounds and measures a little over 16 inches, about the same length as that miniskirt you used to wear (and will again someday!).
-From this week on, your baby will continue to gain around 1/2 pound a week until shortly before birth (even though it may feel like a whole lot more with every step you take).
-Due to increasing space constraints, your baby's arms and legs stay drawn up close to the body now, known as the fetal position (oh, so that's where that name came from!).
-Your baby can now process information from all five senses—so she'll be all set to smell the pureed peas, taste them, feel them as she mashes them into her hair, hear you crack up and then see the flash as you grab the camera to snap picture after picture.
-By now, your baby's lungs are the only system not fully mature. And by mature, we're not saying that the rest of your baby's systems are mature enough to be out past 10 PM with the neighborhood hooligan, just that her lungs need a little bit more time to bake before they can kick it in the outside world.
-Your mind may not be anywhere near ready for your baby to arrive but your body is already making preparations. One of the ways it's getting ready is by "practicing" for labor in the form of Braxton Hicks contractions. Luckily, these are generally painless, although somewhat annoying as they can occur frequently (the middle of the night, during an important meeting, while you're trying to focus on Access Hollywood, etc).
They forgot to mention... your legs, feet and hands are swollen. Your back is terribly achy and don't even think about sitting on that tailbone! You're losing precious hours of sleep due to heartburn, not being able to breathe, restless/crampy legs, restless arms, lack of circulation to arms/legs and you're unable to roll over without sitting all the way up to switch sides. You take up ALL of the bed at night. You cannot wear your purse on your shoulder of you'll lose all circulation to your arms. You feet beg you to get off of them after 10 minutes. You bump your beautifully round, new belly into everything! You feel exhausted (even with the easiest of tasks) which gives you minor bouts' of feeling depressed and pathetic. Your skin is dry, your face looks tired and your hair is stringy/flat.
Oh I could go on and on, but the major point they failed to make is:
This little guy will be totally and completely worth it all!
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