Ninth month is here - week 36

Your baby is the size of a Coconut

 

Your baby measures approximately 18.7 inches (47.5 cm) long from head to heel (about the size of a head of romaine lettuce) and weighs just under 6 pounds (2.7 kg).

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered "early term." (Full-term is 39 to 40 weeks. Babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term, 41 weeks is late term, and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely your baby is already head-down - our baby is head down and has been for a few weeks.

The bones in your baby’s skull can move and overlap each other, allowing the baby to pass through the tight birth canal more easily. Don't be surprised if your baby arrives with a pointy or misshapen head. It will become more round once the bones move back into place, anywhere between a few hours or days after birth.

Week 35

Your baby is the size of a Honeydew

Your baby now measures approximately 18.2 inches (46.2 cm) long from head to heel and weighs almost 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg), or roughly the weight of a honeydew melon.

Although babies are considered preemies until 37 weeks, 99 percent of babies born at week 35 survive without any major complications.

The baby's organs are already developed and are becoming more and more defined each week. Its central nervous system is maturing, its digestive system is almost complete and its lungs are almost fully developed.

Week 34

Your baby is the size of a Cantaloupe

Baby Velez 10/2

Your baby measures approximately 17.7 inches (45 cm) long from head to heel and weighs almost 5 pounds (2.3 kg). This is roughly the weight of a cantaloupe.

His or her immune system continues to develop, getting strong in preparation for life outside your belly.

It is important to get enough calcium this week because the baby is hardening its skeletal structure. (Not a problem for me ever during this pregnancy since I drink almond milk like it is going out of style due to my constant heart burn.) Your baby will be fine if you do not get enough calcium, but you will not be because your baby will be taking the calcium from your own bones to supplement the development. So be sure to get that extra calcium (in prenatal vitamin and food form) for both of you.

Week 33

Your baby is the size of a Pineapple

Yay pineapple...something that got me through many nauseous moments.

Your baby measures 17.2 inches (43.7 cm) long from head to heel. At this point your baby weighs about 4.5 pounds (2 kg).

He or she's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Your baby will accumulate more fat, turning your baby’s skin from red to pink. This fat will keep your baby warm from birth until it can regulate its own body temperature.

There’s not much room in your womb for your baby now. You will feel less jabs and kicks and more rolling movements as your baby’s quarters become more confined.

The developing neural structure within the brain is helping your baby listen, feel and partially see. It is also allowing for REM sleep cycles, which your baby experiences often as it sleeps 90 to 95 percent of the day at this point.

Week 32 - eight or so weeks to go

Your baby is the size of a Bok Choy or a large jicama...huh?

          or      

Your baby measures approximately 16.7 inches (42.4 cm) long from head to heel and weighs 4 pounds (1.8 kg). Your baby has increased its chances of survival greatly. If born before this week, your child may experience problems sucking or nursing.

Although your baby is now sleeping for the majority of the day, movement will increase greatly, and fetal kicks will become more frequent.

You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Week 31 - little baby coconut

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3 1/3 pounds (about the size of a coconut) and is heading into a growth spurt.



He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. 

He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

The baby is moving a lot but so far s/he has not kept me awake, although I have never been one to have trouble sleeping. There are a few times during the day when the baby is very active - usually between 4-6 p.m. and then after 9 p.m. Now the baby has started to be active in spurts throughout the day. It has been fun watching the show in my belly.

We had our appointment with the fourth midwife on Thursday and all is on track. The baby is situated with his/her head down and his/her back on my left side and feet on the right. We got to squeeze to feel the head, the back and the feet. It was really amazing! The baby's heartbeat was strong and my blood pressure was good. My glucose screening came back normal too. We are both doing very well!

Week 30

         Your baby is the size of a Large Cabbage

Your baby now measures approximately 15.7 inches (39.9 cm) long from head to heel. At this point your baby weighs about 3 pounds (1.4 kg). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will shrink as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. 

Your baby is very conscious of its environment. Its becoming more sensitive to light and can distinguish between sunlight and artificial light. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.) Its eyes can also move in its sockets and your baby is more attuned to sound, taste and smell. His or her lungs are working at near optimal levels.

At this point, you will also be able to tell if your baby has the hiccups by the rhythmic twitching in the uterus.

Week 29

Your baby is the size of a Butternut Squash

Your baby measures about 15.2 inches (38.6 cm) long from head to heel. At this point your baby weighs roughly 2.5 pounds (1.1 kg).

Your baby’s sensory organs are well developed and he or she is beginning to regulate his or her own temperature. The bone marrow is now completely in charge of producing red blood cells.

Your baby’s lungs are also developed enough to breathe air, and it is urinating about half a liter of urine into the amniotic fluid daily.

Your baby has become more active and may give you strong kicks and punches. He or she should be moving at least 10 times an hour. If your baby moves any less, let your doctor know.

Week 28

Your baby is the size of an Iceberg Lettuce 

Your baby now measures about 14.8 inches (37.6 cm) long from head to heel. At this point your baby weighs roughly 2.2 pounds (997.9g).

Your baby’s brain is now developing its folds and grooves (called gyri and sulci, respectively), and he or she continues to add layers of fat to its body. Your baby’s muscle tone is also improving. This means increased movement, which might wake you up at night.

If your baby is a male, his testes will likely begin descending this week.

Your healthcare provider might tell you if your baby is head down (where the head is closest to your vagina, the proper birth position), feet first or bottom first, also known as the breech position. If your baby is in the breech position, you might need a cesarean section, or C-section, to deliver. However, your baby still has a few weeks to move into its final birth position.

Week 27 - we're in the home stretch

Congratulations! This week officially marks the beginning of the third trimester.

Your baby is the size of a Cauliflower

Your baby measures about 14.4 inches (36.6 cm) long from head to heel. At this point, your baby weighs roughly 2 pounds (907 grams).

Your baby resembles what it will look like at birth, except thinner and smaller. His or her hearing should be mature enough now to recognize both your voice as well as your partner’s.

Your baby’s retinas are developing more fully. Development in the brain will concentrate on the forebrain which deals with visual and auditory information. Your baby should be able to detect changes in light. If you shine a flashlight on your belly, your baby may move to or away from the light.

Daddy has been working hard

Work has been crazy for Herlie lately. Lots of long days and nights as evidenced by his collection of Wawa coffee cups... and that's only when he runs out of homemade coffee. Poor Daddy!

Week 26

Your baby is the size of an Eggplant                         

Your baby measures around 14 inches (35.6 cm) long from head to heel. At this point your baby weighs a little less than 2 pounds (907.2 grams).

Your baby’s eyes have completely formed and will open soon and he or she will begin to blink. Your baby will be able to distinguish between light and dark from inside your uterus.

Your baby’s oil and sweat glands are also functional. He or she can still respond to noise and has grown accustomed to the sounds of your heartbeat, digestion, and other bodily functions, as well as your voice. Your baby can even move in rhythm to music.

Your baby will also continue to gain body fat and develop its blood vessels. His or her veins are still visible through the skin right now, but the skin is quickly becoming opaque.

You should also have been able to hear your baby’s heartbeat at visits to your doctor (we have been able to hear the heartbeat each visit and my acupuncturist says the baby has a strong heartbeat based on our pulses). Your partner may even be able to hear the baby’s heartbeat by putting his or her head on your belly (he can feel and hear the heartbeat). Don’t worry if you hear a skipped beat. This is called an arrhythmia; it occurs often as the heart is developing.

Week 25 - I believe I am about 6 months along now or so

Sometimes I get confused converting between weeks and months but I think I am officially entering the final trimester this week. I feel lots more movement and even some kicks. If I have on a tighter fitting shirt you can actually see my belly move.

Your baby is the size of a Zucchini

Your baby measures about 13.6 inches (34.6 cm) long from head to heel. At this point, your baby weighs around 1 and 1/2 pounds (680.4 grams).

Your baby’s spine is beginning to form its structures as the blood vessels of the lungs start developing. Some small blood vessels are starting to form beneath your baby’s skin. As these blood vessels begin to fill with blood, the baby’s skin will take on a pink appearance.

Your baby also has fully formed fingerprints, its bones continue to harden and its nostrils are starting to open. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

July is the time for a nice ear of corn...

Week 24
I have mixed feelings about this baby size comparison to fruits and veggies since we seem to be going round then long then round, back to long again. This week however, they say the baby is about the size of an ear of corn, an image I can definitely relate to in the month of July.



Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at about 1 1/3 pounds. Since he's almost a foot long (about the size of an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Week 23...exclusive photos of pomegranate-sized baby revealed

Your baby is the size of a Pomegranate                                             

Your baby measures around 11.4 inches (28.9 cm) long from head to heel and weighs almost 1 pound (453.6 grams). Actually, today they estimated our baby to weigh 1 pound 5 oz.

Your baby continues to accumulate fat and drink in amniotic fluid (we think we saw baby "chewing" amniotic fluid during the ultrasound today). His or her sense of taste is maturing, along with other senses such as touch and hearing. The baby’s lanugo (hair that covers its body) is growing darker and its fingernails are also almost fully formed.

Over the next few weeks, your baby will gain significant weight and will almost double in size. The ears are also starting to develop as the three main bones (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) are hardening. This means the baby can listen to sounds but the brain is still developing rapidly.

Your baby’s important organs are also developing quickly. The pancreas, which helps produce insulin, is maturing, and your baby now has sweat glands. Today we got to view all 4 chambers of the baby's heart, and our tech said his/her heart was "beautiful". She measured it beating approximately 145 beats per minute.

Your baby will also be moving around a lot during this time, so the kicks and punches you felt before will continue. We watched the baby at the end of our ultrasound showing off and playing with his/her toes above his/her head. At this point, you might even be able to feel the movements from outside your belly! I started feeling movement and kicks a couple of weeks ago... 

Exclusive paparazzi photos of Baby Velez

Top picture - baby's right foot
Bottom - baby's hand and fingers

We're selling all we can to raise money to afford more paparazzi photos...stay tuned!!

Feeling lots of little kicks in week 22

      Your baby is the size of a Papaya

Your baby measures about 10.9 inches (27.8 cm) long from head to heel. At this point, your baby weighs about 12.25 ounces (347.3 grams).

Your baby is developing the senses it will use in the outside world. Taste buds have started to form on the tongue. The baby's brain and the nerve endings are also developed enough so that the baby has a sense of touch. Your baby may begin testing its sense of touch by touching its face or sucking its thumb.

Your baby’s reproductive system is developing. In boys, the testes have begun to drop from the abdomen, while in girls, the uterus and ovaries are in place and the vagina has developed.

You may notice your baby kicking and turning as well. His or her heartbeat can also be heard with a stethoscope. 

Week 21 - Baby Velez is the new orange since s/he's the size of a carrot

Your baby is the size of a Carrot                                    

From this week on, your baby will likely be measured from head to heel instead of crown to rump. Your baby should measure around 10.5 inches (26.7 cm) long from head to heel. At this point, your baby weighs around 10.5 ounces (297.7 grams).

Your baby’s digestive system has developed enough to start absorbing water and small amounts of sugar from the amniotic fluid that it swallows. Most of the baby’s nourishment, however, still comes through the placenta.

Your baby’s bone marrow has also developed enough to contribute to blood cell formation. Your baby’s liver and spleen have been responsible for creating blood cells until now. The liver will stop producing blood cells a few weeks before birth, while the spleen stops producing blood cells around week 30.

Your baby is also developing visible eyebrows, eyelashes and hair on his or her scalp.