Week 38 - This week baby is the size of a watermelon 🍉 🍉 We've run into a few complications with high blood pressure but little man is going strong.
👶🏽 Baby Status: Baby is now 48-51cm long and 3.2kg (the size of a mini watermelon). Baby is now only a couple weeks from expected due date and making those final touches for his big debut. His head has now dropped three-fifths into the pelvis. He's continuing to add fat and fine-tune his brain and nervous system. To prepare for delivery he continues to shed vernix (cheese-like white substance found coating the skin of newborns) and lanugo (fine, downey hair that covers bubby's body for warmth). His lungs are still maturing and producing more surfactant, a substance that prevents the air sacs in the lungs from sticking to each other once he starts to breathe. Oh and another cool little fact is that baby's eyes right this moment are either blue, gray or brown - but once they're exposed to light they may change colour. By age 1 we'll know their true colour.
🤰🏽 Mama's Status:
I'm grateful to have had a pretty cruisy pregnancy so far. This week my blood pressure hit what is considered a 'high range'. Blood pressure normally changes during pregnancy due to the influence of pregnancy hormones and increased blood volume. Some women do develop high blood pressure in response to changes in pregnancy, which is called Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH). The good news is that most women with high blood pressure in pregnancy have an otherwise healthy pregnancy and the blood pressure drops after giving birth. However high blood pressure does increase the chance of other complications occurring such as Pre-Eclampsia, pre-term birth, problems with placenta function and baby lacking oxygen, blood and nutrients. Because of this, we've been at the hospital every second day for monitoring and the doctors have been keeping me under close watch as they believe I have early and very mild Pre-Eclampsia. Each hospital visit has consisted of checking blood pressure, taking urine samples, blood samples and checking on baby's heart rate. We had an additional Ultrasound to check baby's weight, organs and that the placenta was providing sufficient blood, oxygen and nutrients to baby. This was my biggest anxiety this week and kept me up at night - thinking that baby wasn't getting what he needed. But the Ultrasound went amazing - everything is working fine and he is a healthy, normal 3.2kg. I've started on medication to help manage blood pressure. It leaves me feeling drowsy, nauseated and sick - but a small price to pay for a healthy baby. This week came with a lot of worries and tears. It's not how I imagined my final weeks of pregnancy. For now, I'm just resting as much as possible and hoping this unfolds in a way that still allows bubby to come on his own watch.
Diet and Cravings: This week I've trying to eat as plant-based and unprocessed as possible to help with blood pressure, stress and anxiety.
Pregnancy Exercises and Yoga: I have been on bed rest most days and when swelling allows I'll walk to the beach with Guillaume.
Self Care Ritual This Week: Prenatal acupuncture to help with stress, anxiety and induction.
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✌🏽 Thanks for taking the time to read and connect. I'm sharing my pregnancy journey online for friends, family and other mamas out there. If you have any questions, tips or anything you'd like to share, please comment below.
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