Welcome to Week #36!

The start of the 36th week brings along a lot of anxiety. Once I reach 36 weeks, it could be safe to have the baby. I'll find out tomorrow when my next ultrasound appointment will be. And that should be the last one. So, here's the growth that we'll see this week:

By the end of week 35, the average baby weighs around five to six pounds and measures about 16 to 19 inches in length. Your baby will begin to gain weight more rapidly than ever before…adding about one half to three-quarters of a pound each week from this point forward. And healthy fat is being deposited all over your baby's body, especially around the shoulders. Because of her size, your baby may move around less as her surroundings become more cramped. Her head may be resting on your pubic bone in preparation for labor and delivery. The central nervous system will continue to mature. The lungs will most likely be fully developed by Week 35. Baby is beginning to develop daily activity cycles. You may notice that Baby is often more active at night when you're trying to rest! Even thought they won't be considered “full-term” until the end of the 40th week, Baby's respiratory and digestive systems are nearly mature. Baby's immune system is starting to develop. The umbilical cord is now about 20 inches long and one to two centimeters in diameter; at birth, it will be about two feet long and a half-inch thick.

Dan and I are getting really ansy to find out what we're having. The element of surprise is becoming so overwhelming now because it is getting so close! How about the rest of you? Can you stand it any longer??