Picture and info from here.

I’ve been rather busy and lazy lately to update my blog and noticed that I was going to miss this week if I didn’t do it now. So with Arianna in bed and some peace and quiet to myself, the time is right.

What’s up with Pacman? At my last checkup, all is well with Pacman. It’s a norm for doc to check her heartbeat and it is strong which is always good. She is already facing downwards and her head engaged where it should be, another piece of good news for me. I tried to find out if she was right side up or not but doc couldn’t tell me then but we will find out in 2 weeks time as we go for my fortnightly checkups and get a final scan to see how things are in there. I am really looking forward to that coz I miss seeing what she looks like in there and wanting to have an idea what she WILL look like out here. Although doc said that it made no difference which way she is facing, I’ve read that if bub is sunny side up, it will be a painful labour as bub’s head will be pushing against our tailbone/backbone so we can but hope that she will be facing the other way around instead. He did mention that bub tends to turn themselves as they come down the canal so, here’s hoping that she does.

Belly got measures as usual too and Pacman’s growth is corresponding to the gestation weeks, also good news. So, nothing out of the norm on Pacman’s side. Here’s what BabyCenter had to say :

Your baby now weighs about 4.2 pounds/ 2 kilograms and measures approximately 17 inches/ 44 centimetres from head to toe. Your baby should already be getting ready for birth by turning upside-down — his head should be pointing down. [Yup, we're there!]

Your baby’s skull is still quite pliable and not completely joined, so he can ease out of the relatively narrow birth canal. But the bones in the rest of his body are hardening. Your baby’s skin is also gradually becoming less red and wrinkled.

If you’re a first-time mother, your child’s head may move into the pelvis this week and press firmly against your cervix. (This happens for about half of all first-time mothers.) If you’re a second-time mum, you can expect this to happen a week before labour — and for some this won’t happen until the start of labour.

What about Mum? On my part, I actually lost 400gm! I was shocked but the weight loss didn’t seem to bother the doc and since he didn’t mention anything, I’m sure it was nothing. I don’t know what caused it as I have been eating as normal and I didn’t know I had lost weight until I came home and was going through my file. Bizarre…you’d think I’d be putting on a ton a week from now!

Other than that, Pacman has been trying to run a circus in a space that is getting smaller by the day and most of today, I actually spent a lot of time rubbing the right side of my belly coz I would get these pains as if she was doing something in there but the pain is on the outside. Hard to explain but last week, it was on the left side. Weird….I am still sleeping rather well *touchwood* but the aches are not getting any less. For just a brief moment this afternoon I just wanted it to be over! Then she kicked and moved and I thought, nah…I like that feeling and want it to last for as long as possible. Plus I am not really looking forward to labour! *lol*

I got all my questions answered which was great so thought I’d share them with you :

1. If I need an episiotomy, will it be done on the opposite side of the previous one?
The episiotomy will be done on the same spot as that is the weakest point and most likely to tear again.

2. Seeing that I was induced the last time, the labour was more agressive and fast, and lasted about 6 hrs before I was pushing – how will it be like now if it was a non-induced [sp?] labour.
Induced or not, if I was meant to have a long labour, it would have happened so I was very blessed that it was a relatively short one for a first time mom and I can expect the labour to be halved this time around. YAYNESS!!

3. Does the perineal massage really work and can I start it now?
Apparently it doesn’t really do anything although many women have sworn by it and it can start now if I want to. However, he recommended me a special device that has been proven to work and it is called Epi-No [Episiotomy-No]. In short, it is a device you insert just inside the vagina and you use a pump to stretch the skin over a course of time. It is suppose to help with crowning and decrease the buring/stinging sensation as bub crowns as well as avoinding any tearing or getting an episiotomy. It is also suppose to help with the pelvic floor muscles as well. I am actually still considering getting one but because of the cost, I am still deliberating. Ted is ok with it if I want to get it AND I should have gotten it with Arianna. After all, you can re-sell it and that’s the problem. So we’ll see how it goes.

4. When should I start taking my raspberry leaf pills?
Although no one can confirm the benefits of these pills, I’m still taking it just in case and doc is fine if I take it.

[Asked 2 more questions while we were there.]
5. What are the chances of Pacman coming earlier than the DD?
It is most likely to happen as Arianna was born at 38.5wks which is full term so we can almost expect the same with Pacman which has me worried coz assuming she comes about a week early like Arianna, it will be the day that Mum arrives in Sydney! So it will be one heck of a nightmare if that happens….

6. Could we meet the doctors who will be on standby?
Apparently, my doc will be on holidays around the time of the birth and another will be in his place. Although some people may not like it, these things happen and I am not one of those people who MUST have their own doc deliver their baby. For me, as long as he can deliver her and everything is good, I’m happy enough. So, in case we don’t get our own doc, I want to know who will be poking and prodding me down there and that has been arranged as well.

Here’s what BabyCentre has to say about me :
You may notice that your feet and ankles are quite swollen by the end of the day. Water retention, also known as oedema, is often worse in warm weather and late in the day. Surprisingly, keeping hydrated helps reduce water retention. Your body — particularly your kidneys — and your baby need plenty of fluids, so drink up. If you suddenly feel swollen or puffy in your hands or face, however, call your doctor — it may be a sign of pre-eclampsia.

• Note: Experts say every baby develops differently — even in utero. These fetal development pages are designed to give a general idea of how a fetus grows in the womb.

So far, I have had no swelling anywhere so that’s all good too. Now I have to get back to my sewing.