From the Archives: 34 Weeks Pregnant with Dexter
Monday, June 6
This post is from the archives (April 2nd, 2009). Since I am 34 weeks pregnant as of yesterday with my 2nd pregnancy, I thought now was a great time to look back and remember what a miracle this pregnancy and the last have been. Hope you enjoy it as well:
Babycenter.com says:
What great news considering what they prepped us for 10 weeks ago at the hospital! 10 weeks ago they were giving me steroid shots to boost the babies lungs as they were concerned I was about to go into labor. It was a scary time and one of great uncertainty, but my how things have changed.
Through everyone’s prayers (probably more than I realize), I have slowly gotten better each week. I remember how excited I was to be able to sit up and eat! Of course I had to lie back down as soon as I was done, but it was such a relief. Then, I got to sit up at the table and eat and shuffle to the fridge and back. At that point I was so excited to refill my water bottle on my own. Week by week I was able to add a little more activity.
Bad days came and I felt like all my progress was for nothing and I was just right back where I started, but then the next week would be even better than the one before. Around 30-40 days on bed rest I began to get discouraged and thought it would never end and I wouldn’t ever get to be out around people again. Around that time the midwives released me to go to one outing a week – Sunday school – and almost immediately that need was met.
What has been hard and what has been easy about these past 10 weeks on bed rest really surprised me. Ever since that first day at the hospital I have been amazed at the unexplainable peace I have felt about the outcome of this little guy’s life. In the Bible it says: And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philipians 4:7). I’ve read that and “known” it in my head for awhile, but this is the first time I have really experienced it for a long period of time. For 10 weeks now I have felt like my heart has truly been guarded from fear. There are tons of times I would have freaked out and been consumed with all the “what if’s”…those who know me know I tend to do this anyway, let alone when a serious issue comes up. All I can say is the power we have through the Holy Spirit is bigger than what we realize…maybe we don’t ever realize it until we really need it. So, as weird as it may sound, I am glad in some ways that Sander and I have been forced to deal with bed rest and the fear of pre-term labor for as long as we have. We have learned that 1)we really aren’t in control of our bodies, 2)God is and will take care of us, 3)even if we have to deal with a “bad outcome,” our hearts have the capacity to be at peace.
I don’t say all this because in our situation we’ve had a “good outcome,” making it to 24 weeks. I really think I would be saying this even if our little guy was born 10 weeks ago. This peace that has guarded my heart isn’t a state of mind or a happy place I went to because I denied the reality of the situation. Each day I was aware of what could be wrong with my little baby boy should he be born that day. Each day I was aware of what I could be doing other than sitting on the couch all day. But each day I was given the peace that passes all understanding. Its real and I am incredibly thankful for it! Without it this would have been a really different 10 weeks. For one, I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the time it allowed me to become better friends with my awesome visitors and meal-bringers. You guys who have called, visited, facebooked, and brought meals have meant so much to us. We love you!
So now Sander and I are looking to the future and we don’t have to look far. I am due in 6 weeks, so in 5-7 weeks we should be in normal labor. My nesting instinct has certainly set in and I am trying as hard as possible to not run us both ragged trying to finish all our unfinished house and baby projects. I can’t sleep some nights because I want to re-organize a closet – who does that? I never have before, that’s for sure!
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.
What great news considering what they prepped us for 10 weeks ago at the hospital! 10 weeks ago they were giving me steroid shots to boost the babies lungs as they were concerned I was about to go into labor. It was a scary time and one of great uncertainty, but my how things have changed.
Through everyone’s prayers (probably more than I realize), I have slowly gotten better each week. I remember how excited I was to be able to sit up and eat! Of course I had to lie back down as soon as I was done, but it was such a relief. Then, I got to sit up at the table and eat and shuffle to the fridge and back. At that point I was so excited to refill my water bottle on my own. Week by week I was able to add a little more activity.
Bad days came and I felt like all my progress was for nothing and I was just right back where I started, but then the next week would be even better than the one before. Around 30-40 days on bed rest I began to get discouraged and thought it would never end and I wouldn’t ever get to be out around people again. Around that time the midwives released me to go to one outing a week – Sunday school – and almost immediately that need was met.
What has been hard and what has been easy about these past 10 weeks on bed rest really surprised me. Ever since that first day at the hospital I have been amazed at the unexplainable peace I have felt about the outcome of this little guy’s life. In the Bible it says: And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philipians 4:7). I’ve read that and “known” it in my head for awhile, but this is the first time I have really experienced it for a long period of time. For 10 weeks now I have felt like my heart has truly been guarded from fear. There are tons of times I would have freaked out and been consumed with all the “what if’s”…those who know me know I tend to do this anyway, let alone when a serious issue comes up. All I can say is the power we have through the Holy Spirit is bigger than what we realize…maybe we don’t ever realize it until we really need it. So, as weird as it may sound, I am glad in some ways that Sander and I have been forced to deal with bed rest and the fear of pre-term labor for as long as we have. We have learned that 1)we really aren’t in control of our bodies, 2)God is and will take care of us, 3)even if we have to deal with a “bad outcome,” our hearts have the capacity to be at peace.
I don’t say all this because in our situation we’ve had a “good outcome,” making it to 24 weeks. I really think I would be saying this even if our little guy was born 10 weeks ago. This peace that has guarded my heart isn’t a state of mind or a happy place I went to because I denied the reality of the situation. Each day I was aware of what could be wrong with my little baby boy should he be born that day. Each day I was aware of what I could be doing other than sitting on the couch all day. But each day I was given the peace that passes all understanding. Its real and I am incredibly thankful for it! Without it this would have been a really different 10 weeks. For one, I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the time it allowed me to become better friends with my awesome visitors and meal-bringers. You guys who have called, visited, facebooked, and brought meals have meant so much to us. We love you!
So now Sander and I are looking to the future and we don’t have to look far. I am due in 6 weeks, so in 5-7 weeks we should be in normal labor. My nesting instinct has certainly set in and I am trying as hard as possible to not run us both ragged trying to finish all our unfinished house and baby projects. I can’t sleep some nights because I want to re-organize a closet – who does that? I never have before, that’s for sure!
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