33 WEEKS PREGNANT! WOW!!

Dear Nevaeh,

Mommy can tell you are growing daily as her skin continues to stretch and accommodate you as she reaches the 33 week mark in this pregnancy! Stretch marks and constant itchiness are her new unwelcome friends! This week you might measure between 17 to 19 inches in length and weigh close to 5lbs. At your ultrasound last Tuesday, you weighed 4lbs 13 oz. , but they couldn't measure your length, because you were all balled up inside Mommy!  It will be interesting to see you during the 3D/4D ultrasound this coming Sunday....I can't wait to see your cute little round chubby checks and all that hair the ultrasound tech talked about!

Your central nervous system is maturing and your lungs are continuing to mature as well.  The level of amniotic fluid surrounding you has reached its maximum, meaning that Mommy's belly is mostly baby now! No wonder she sees many of your movements, even with an anterior placenta! You also have sleep and awake patterns with your eyes opened and closed.  You can also see light from the world through Mommy's thinning, tight skin differentiating day and night.  However, Mommy says you seem more active at night!  Hopefully your sleep and awake patterns straighten out soon after you are born!

You have also reached an important milestone about now: The development of your own immune system that (along with antibodies from Mommy) will be able to provide protection from mild infections.  If you decided to come early, Mommy can start breathing a little easier knowing that your odds of being fine are in your favor because babies born between 34 and 37 weeks (you are consistently measuring one week ahead of schedule) who have no other health problems generally do fine! But I prefer that you stay put for another month until your induction!

Mommy is starting to get self-conscious of her belly now that stretch marks have made their appearance.....I sure hope she continues to send me bare belly pictures to track both you and her growth over time......especially these precious last few weeks!  I love, love, love seeing that belly!!!!

Love,
Grandma Dason