Breathing easier in week 34

34 weeks or 8.5 months!
Only 6 or so weeks to go!

Baby Judge is starting to descend/drop. I feel like I have some of my lung capacity back although my bladder is not so sure about this trade-off. He is weighing in at about 4.7 pounds and is about 17.5 inches long. He will continue to gain about a half pound a week.

His eyes are opened when he's awake and closed when sleeping and he has learned to blink. His central nervous system is still maturing but close to complete and his lungs are nearly fully developed by now.

Other interesting developmental facts:
• Brain scans have shown that babies have periods of dream sleep (REM) starting around the eight month.
• Neurons and synapses are developing in huge numbers -- forming connections in our baby's brain will give him the skills he needs to thrive as a newborn. He may be able to coordinate sucking and swallowing with breathing.
• Calcium, phosphorus and iron are being stored and his bones are growing and hardening.
• The waxy substance covering his skin, vernix, that keeps him from getting "waterlogged" is thickening.
• His fingernails have reached the end of his fingertips now. He may scratch his face even before he is born!
• Amniotic fluid is at its highest level during my pregnancy.
• Antibodies from my blood are being transferred to him. These immunities continue to build until birth. Then breastmilk will add even more protection against disease.