We're in the home stretch....

I can't believe we are already in the last trimester...time has been flying. Only 12 more weeks (give or take) until our little girl is here. I'm starting to get very excited! I think I'm starting to get what some call the "nesting" instinct. I thought this instinct usually hit pretty close to when you deliver, but I don't know how else to explain this strong urge I have to clean and clear out all the clutter in our house. I was even out pulling weeds in our backyard this weekend (something I hate too do!). I actually think I over did it with all the cleaning and clearing the last few weekends because my poor body feels like it's been in a bar fight or something and I'm so overly tired and irritable today, lol. :(

Last weekend we cleared out the garage. Went to Home Depot, got some shelving for the garage so we could take the boxes we had stored in the closet in the room that will be the nursery (our house doesn't have a basement) and put them in the garage. Then we cleared out everything from that room and had to rearrange it to fit into the guest bedroom. It was quite a chore!

Our little girl has been very active the last few weeks with her movements, getting quite strong. John is amazed at the strength she has, he's been able to REALLY feel her move for a while now. She's actually kicked my hand right off my tummy a few times, lol! These movements are starting to get a little uncomfortable sometimes too. Sometimes she feels like she's trying to push herself right out of my stomach, lol!

I go for my Glucose test Thursday, blah...not looking forward to that test! My doctor appointments have gone from once a month to now twice a month. I'm still measuring perfectly and baby's heart rate is always strong, around the 150's. Outside of a few muscle discomforts and the fatigue sometimes, this pregnancy so far has gone pretty darn smoothly (knock on wood!) I can only hope this continues all the way through to the end. ;)

Well, I think this is all I have for an update. Below is my Week By Week Guide for my current week, 28.

Your Pregnancy: A Week-by-Week Guide

You are 28 Weeks Pregnant!

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOU

Though it's something no mom-to-be wants to think about, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of preterm labor.

If you have back pain or menstrual-type cramping that seems to come and go, or if your uterus seems to be contracting four to five times an hour, drink two glasses of water and call your care provider immediately.

• Call your care provider if you experience any of these signs -- not all related to preterm labor:
• Leaking of fluid
• Discharge that seems to be abnormal in color, consistency or odor. Call your care provider if you have any loss of your mucus plug or any bleeding at all.
• If you are feeling lots of pelvic pressure. If your baby feels like he or she is pushing down quite heavily, you should let your provider know.
• Burning or pain when you urinate
• Fever and/or headaches that don't go away
• Pain in your upper abdomen
• Swelling in your face and upper extremities

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BABY

Your baby's eyelids, which have been fused shut, begin to open ... along with a new set of eyelashes! Your baby already appears a lot like he or she will look at birth. The skin, though, is quite wrinkled due to constant immersion in amniotic fluid.

EATING FOR TWO

Tonight, cook lamb or salmon and prepare this cool and refreshing salad:

Minted Cucumber and Pea Salad

4 cucumbers
2/3 cup cooked peas
1 cup mint, finely chopped
2/3 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoon white wine vinegar

Peel cucumbers, slice lengthwise, remove seeds and cut into half-moon slices. Combine cucumbers with the other ingredients and serve chilled.

FACT OF THE WEEK

One out of four pregnant women will have a cesarean. Here are a few facts:

• A cesarean section is major abdominal surgery. When a cesarean is necessary, it can be a life saving technique for both mother and infant.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) states that no region in the world is justified in having a cesarean rate greater than 10 to 15 percent.
• The four most common medical causes contributing to the increase in cesarean section rates in North America are: routine repeat cesareans; dystocia (non- progressive labor); breech presentation; and fetal distress.
• In 1989, a medical study done in Houston, Texas concluded that epidural analgesia is associated with significant increases in the incidence of cesarean section for dystocia in women having their first labor.
• Of 11,814 women admitted for labor and delivery and attended by midwives to 84 free standing birth centers in the US, 15.8 percent were transferred to the hospital and 4.4 percent had a cesarean section. Although the women were lower than average risk of a poor pregnancy outcome, their cesarean rate is one-fifth of the national average.