What is a crenshaw melon?

Oh, OK. She's the size of a crenshaw melon.

I totally WON'T miss the fruit comparisons. It was totally cute at first, but now it's just annoying. And no, I'm not grumpy and it's not a hot day or anything. I just didn't know what a crenshaw melon looked like, and so the comparison was not helpful.

Still, a look at what I/we are expected to experience in week 36.

From BabyCenter

"How your baby's growing:
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

"At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly."

She has been head down since week 32. We are steph B-free. She might still be facing forwards, which can lead to back labor and an all around tougher labor. But I've been doing the cat/cow postures to convince her to roll around.

Two nights ago, she was absolutely rolling around! Limbs sticking out against my belly flesh, head grinding into my bladder (I describe it as a pinching or a pinging, 'cause it's sharp and really should make a noise, feels like a high-pitched noise) fists punching, feet kicking. My belly did some strange stuff.

And in the morning when I walked by the mirror (naked, of course!) I gasped! The belly looked different. A bit lower. Much more like a beach ball than a thorax. Maybe she turned over and she is facing back?

That would be good.

More of the 'posed to.

How your life's changing:
"Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs!

"You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes."

"Even if you're enjoying an uncomplicated pregnancy, it's best to avoid flying (or any travel far from home) during your final month because you can go into labor at any time. In fact, some airlines won't let women on board who are due to deliver within 30 days of the flight."

BH contractions: Constantly!
Has she dropped? Not much.
No leaking, no bleeding, nothing persistent or painful.

So, I'm thinking, no baby til week 37 or 38. Which would be right on MY schedule. We'll see!