Am I having a stroke. . . .31 weeks

I am still counting down. 9 weeks to go! At 31 weeks baby girl’s height and weight hasn’t changed much but the big news is her brain has. Until now, the surface of her brain has been smooth. Now her brain is taking on the characteristic grooves and indentations (“fissures”). The wrinkles allow for an increased amount of brain tissue for baby to prepare for life outside of the womb and the street smarts she will need to deal with her crazy parents.  Connections between individual nerve cells are growing franticly and she should now be able to perceive information from all five senses. I know she is getting stronger as I feel her kicks, turns and stretches prominently. Now is her time to grow, grow, grow and grow.

I had an interesting event this week. I woke up in the middle of the night, after only sleeping for 2 hours and could not feel my arms. My arms were numb. I tried shaking them out and still couldn’t feel my arms. I was so exhausted and delirious from working a shift at the hospital that the only thing that could come to my mind was, “Am I having a stroke?” Now that I look back on it I can chuckle. Of course I wasn’t having a stroke; I am a 30 year old healthy pregnant female. It makes sense to me that that would come to mind as I work with stroke patients on my hospital floor. What ended being the case is that I was lying wrong in bed, cutting off the circulation to my brachial nerve. I can’t believe I really did think I was having a stroke. Numbness in arms and hands is just another pregnancy symptom to add to my list. I am sure there will be plenty more.

I had another OB appointment this last week. Baby girl and I are where we should be at this stage in development. My midwife said that baby girl will be somewhere between 6 ½ and 7 pounds. She said that I am a healthy small. She made the comment that it is almost unheard of for her to deliver babies in the 6 pound range. Most babies today are born in the 8 pound range. Just goes to show that women are either not starting their pregnancy at a healthy weight or are not taking care of themselves while pregnant and put anything they want in their mouths. It frustrates me. I have a real bone to pick with families that allow their children’s health to get so out of control that children develop diabetes. In journals I read it all stems back initially to the health of the pregnant mom and baby in womb for 9 months. Grrrr. . . . I could go on and on with that soap box but don’t want to ruin my blog with the negativities of society and my true opinion on children and diabetes.

What else can I report this week that has happened in our Muchow household. . . .Our roommate has finally moved out, so Johnathon and I can move forward with setting up a space for baby girl. I pretty much have everything I need for baby girl to arrive. I have been really diligent about getting hand-me-downs and stocking up on what I can over the last 7 months. There are just a few small last minute items I have to pick up but am waiting until I set up her room so I have a place to put everything. Diapers are the hot topic I am trying to decide on. . . . whether to go the Costco route and stock up on Costco diapers or just order them online with the convenience of having them shipped to our house with “no hassle necessary.” Hmmmmm. . . . decisions decisions.

Johnathon is doing really well in his student teaching phase of school. From what he tells me the kids at school have really grown on him. But really who wouldn’t. I know I am biased because he is my love but he really in all honesty is a personable guy. Who wouldn’t like and relate to him.