Month 8 (Week 32-36)

I didn't realize it had been so long since I updated this blog.   Work and school have gotten so busy that I don't have time for much else aside from getting ready for Maia :)   Maia continues to get bigger and bigger.   Shortly after my last post, we went back to Womb with a View and we were able to get some good shots of her face: 

Maia at 32 weeks

Meanwhile, My belly continues to get bigger and bigger, leaving me not much room to move and I constantly have her head in my ribcage which makes it hard to breath.

Week 33

Week 34

Week 35

Week 36

We have been spending every spare moment trying to get ready for her arrival.   In addition to regular appointments, I also have to go to Kaiser twice a week for a fetal scan to make sure the amniotic fluid levels are okay and that her heart rate and movement counts are okay.   I also have had the preterm labor team from Santa Clara calling in once a week to check on me as well.   However being at 36 weeks today, I am officially discharged from that service because she is considered full term :) 

Josh has been busy nesting in his own way, putting things together, cleaning stuff out, etc.   

Our 2nd and 3rd showers were this month as well.  I don't have any pictures from the 3rd one that my work gave me, but I will add some pictures from the 2nd shower when I get them :)   We were showered with so much love and good times with friends and family.  Thank you Heather and Becky for hosting!  

Physically I have reached the very uncomfortable portion of the pregnancy as we head into the final weeks.   I have had a couple of bad back episodes, I cannot sleep very well and not in bed at all.   During Braxton Hicks contractions you can literally see her head trying to push out the front of my belly.   Painful but I'm handling it :)   The worst part so far is the swollen feet.  The tops of my feet are so swollen they feel like that first day after a really bad sunburn.  I can't fit into ANY of my regular shoes, including flip flops.   I went to buy a bigger pair to tide me over.   I usually wear a 7 1/2-8 but had to get  9-9.5!!! OMG!  Below is a picture I took of my feet last summer at Morro Bay. The other picture is what the same feet look like about a week ago completely swollen :(

We also got a couple nice gifts from Josh's aunt Laurie and my friend Kathi "Roo"

Kathi's gifts

We have also been working on her room and our hospital bags:

Her room about 3 weeks ago

Our hospital bag

Her carseat and hospital bag/diaper bag

Josh spent quite awhile adding all these decals, added the video monitor, installed a dimmer switch, etc.  We still have some cleaning up to do, but her room is pretty much done :)   Notice the monkey standing on the lion's head, placed by Josh.   

After our last appointment our doctor told us what I already knew...she is still in the breech position.  She has been there since late January.  They were hoping she'd flip eventually.   She's been going back and forth between breech and transverse over the past couple of weeks.    I believe that the shape of my uterus (heart shaped, sort of) has a narrow bottom and will not allow her to easily flip to head down.   The dr. said they could try to move her manually later on, but that it would be risky and probably not work with the uterus shape.   So that left us with planning out our c-section.   While I was hoping for a regular birth, it is nice to know that I will not have to go through labor (or very little if she comes earlier and we have to go in for an emergency c-section) and that family that lives far away can plan to be there.   Unfortunately the only date during week 39, when our dr. wanted me to to have it, was April 1st!   We tried for the 2nd (sorry Toby :)), but the first was the only date open.   So Maia will be born on 4/1/13, unless she comes early.  Many friends have mentioned that they think I have "dropped" and I do feel more pressure and uncomfortable.   I will start my maternity leave on March 25th, so hopefully she can hold out until then.    

So she will be here 3 weeks from today, or less! :)   I have began to ponder about whether those of you who read this will want me to continue after she is born since this blog was about the journey to get to the birth of our child.   I can continue into her development I suppose.    

We'll keep you updated on everything that is going on :)   

Thanks for checking in on us!!!