30 Weeks

And here we are, at 30 weeks, or 3/4 (or more) through pregnancy. This week is a big one not only for these momentous markers, but because alas, we have reached the end of summer. Next week marks the beginning of the fall semester for this doctoral student, who will be spending the rest of her pregnancy as a teaching assistant in a History of American Photography class, with a crop of eager students. I will no doubt have many adventures to report from this pregnancy-scholar balancing act (and even more once the Short Stranger arrives!). Among these: a comprehensive exam that I am taking in two weeks, at 32 1/2 weeks. Thereafter, I am to sure to post on the blog more often, since the preparations have been taking up much of my time. Incidentally, right now my biggest concern about the exam is that I will have to take too many trips to the bathroom.

This week marked yet another regular trip to the doctor's office, where I found out that I did indeed pass my glucose test. I also learned, to my delight, that I have great numbers for my iron count! So much so that the doctor asked me if I was taking supplements (I'm not). I felt especially vindicated as a pregnant vegetarian--at least once a month an acquaintance feels compelled to ask me just how I get enough iron and protein.

This week, the Short Stranger is officially a cabbage patch kid--and now has the eyesight of a legally blind person. Babycenter.com has this to say:

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

28 Weeks

At 28 weeks, we now have a cabbage patch kid--er, at least a "chinese cabbage" patch kid, since the Short Stranger now weigh approximately as much as one of these delectable vegetables. Since Mike has politely informed me that I've "grown since the baby shower last weekend," I don't really doubt that our little pumpkin baby is indeed this size.

This week I had the first of my 2-week doctor's appointments, where all went well. The main event this time around was the infamous glucose test for gestational diabetes, which all prego ladies have to take somewhere around the end of their second trimester. Although I've heard some horror stories about the sweet liquid that we have to drink for the test, I didn't think it was too bad. My only problem was that the drink was not exactly my favorite flavor--fruit punch. Ah, and I never appreciate having my blood drawn.

What I didn't know, though, was that they'd time me when I drank the liquid. "You have five minutes, here's the timer: go!" I felt a little like I was at a frat party and people were chanting, "chug." And I am proud to say that I finished the little 10 oz. bottle in less than 3 minutes! Needless to say, since I haven't heard from the doctor's office since my appointment on Wednesday, I'm fairly sure I passed the test.

As for the Short Stranger himself, here's what babycenter.com has to say:

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.