9 MONTHS

Wow.  I can't believe I'm posting that I am 9 months pregnant.  I remember the day that Chris started this blog and how excited we were.  I also remember thinking how far away November felt.  Welp, Monday is November 1st and our first baby is almost here.  We want to thank everyone who has used this blog to keep up with the health and wellbeing of our baby and us and hope you continue to read it as the "big day" approaches.  I'm also toying with the idea of continuing this blog once McKenzie is born.  I think it would be cool to show her where she started (Literally!  When she was the size of a poppy seed in my belly).  So stay tuned!

NINE MONTHS PREGNANT!

Your baby's skull isn't the only soft structure in his or her little body. Most of your baby's bones and cartilage are quite soft as well (they'll harden over the first few years of life) — allowing for an easier journey as your baby squeezes through the birth canal at delivery (and less prodding and poking for Mom along the way). At 36 weeks pregnant, the skull bones are also not fused together yet so that the head can easily (well, relatively easily) maneuver through the birth canal.

So your little bruiser (who you've now learned won't be bruising you all that much with those soft bones) is now about six pounds in weight and measures slightly more than 20 inches in length. Growth will experience a slowdown now, both so your baby will be able to fit the narrow passageway to the outside and also so he or she can store up all the energy needed for delivery.



By now, many of your baby's systems are pretty mature, at least in baby terms — and just about ready for life on the outside. Blood circulation, for instance, has been perfected and your baby's immune system has matured enough to protect him or her from infections outside the womb. Other systems, however, still need a few finishing touches. Once such notable example: digestion — which actually won't be fully mature until sometime after birth. Why's that? Inside his or her little gestational cocoon, your baby has relied on the umbilical cord for nutrition, meaning that the digestive system — though developed — hasn't been operational. So your baby will take the first year or two to bring that system up to speed.



Less than a month until my due date!!!!!!