31 weeks

Saturday was 31 weeks....about 9 more to go!! I really am starting to think more about labor and delivery. It is a little frightening, just thinking about when he'll decide to come, where (hopefully I will be at home and not at work or somewhere like that), and how much pain I will go through. We will learn more in our child birth classes and through talking with my doctor, but I do know I am NOT against pain management. My hope is that I can get a good epidural so I can still feel when to push and be aware to enjoy the experience, but still have my pain managed. I know myself and if I am in too much pain, I won't enjoy it as much. I DON'T want to take drugs that will make me too groggy and out of it where I won't even know what's going on. So, hopefully this will be the case!

I'm still feeling really great and feel so lucky to continue to feel this way. I'm getting bigger and bigger and my belly button is almost popped, but not quite. He still is really active and likes to dance on my bladder at least once a day and occasionally decides to push up on my ribs, which is really fun. I get up every 2 hours at night to pee, change sides, and usually feel him move around a couple of those times. I'm really used to it now, so it seems to be on schedule: midnight, 2am, 4am, 6am. My feet/ankles are swelling more, due to the heat, I think, so that will probably continue. It's not unbearable, though, especially because I only wear flip flops/sandals now anyway.

Here is what babycenter has to say:

How your baby's growing: This week, your baby measures about 16 inches long. He weighs a little over 3 pounds 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.

How your life's changing: Have you noticed the muscles in your uterus tightening now and then? Many women feel these random contractions — called Braxton Hicks contractions — in the second half of pregnancy. Often lasting about 30 seconds, they're irregular, and at this point, they should be infrequent and painless. Frequent contractions, on the other hand — even those that don't hurt — may be a sign of preterm labor. Call your practitioner immediately if you have more than four contractions in an hour or any other signs of preterm labor: an increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge (if it becomes watery, mucus-like, or bloody — even if it's pink or just tinged with blood); abdominal pain or menstrual-like cramping; an increase in pressure in the pelvic area; or low back pain, especially if you didn't have it before.

You may have noticed some leaking of colostrum, or "premilk," from your breasts lately. If so, try tucking some nursing pads into your bra to protect your clothes. (And if not, it's certainly nothing to worry about; your breasts are making colostrum all the same, even if you don't see any.) If your current bra is too snug, you might also want to pick up a nursing bra. Choose a nursing bra at least one cup size bigger than you need now. When your milk comes in you'll be grateful for that extra room!

If you're having a boy, you and your partner will want to take some time to think about whether or not to have your baby circumcised. Find out the pros and cons, and what the procedure involves."

I think I have had some Braxton Hicks contractions, but not many. Mostly, Eli likes to move around and press his head, butt, back, whatever against my tummy and you can see one side sticking out more than the other and it is hard as a rock! Circumcision is a topic Eric & I have discussed. Haven't come to a final decision, but we probably will end up doing it. I think I'll leave it up to Eric since he would know more than me!! It's kinda a hard decision!!

31 week baby pic:

Have a great week!!