It's Progress!

Well, my appointment yesterday was interesting. I am now "almost" 3cm dilated, completely effaced and the baby is head-down, very low and in the proper position. The doctor said that I could go tomorrow (which would be today) or 2 weeks from now, she just didn't know. So here I am, still waiting. Maybe even a bit more impatiently than before, since I know that I'm so close! Just waiting for Matthew to decide he's ready, I guess, because my body seems to be. I'm just dealing with all of the lovely pre-labor stuff still. Irregular contractions, not feeling so hot and weird stuff coming out of where I just wish the baby would come out of! I won't go into details...if you've had children before you understand and, if you haven't, then just know that if you ever do in the future weird stuff will probably come out of you before the baby. Not all that pleasant, but let's be honest, there really isn't much I can think of that IS pleasant as far as the physical aspect of pregnancy goes.

Anyway, just wanted to update everyone (if indeed anyone still reads this, which I guess I don't know!) Hopefully the next time I post it will be to report that Matthew is here! But I suppose it could just be an update about week 39 of pregnancy. Whichever...I just have to go with the flow these days. More than ever before! :o)

Blah

Is how I feel. Actually, I'm doing better than I was earlier this morning. But I still feel kinda yucky. Just tired and achy, basically. So completely normal considering that I am 8.5 months pregnant, but it's still not fun. I wish time would go a little faster! I know I've been saying it for weeks, but I sure wish this baby would just get here, already. Anyway, oddly enough my newsletter arrived today (just as I was getting used to it on Tuesdays), so here is the latest:

This is day number 262 and you're 38 weeks pregnant!
You have 18 days or 2 weeks left, and are 95.0% of the way there.
Baby's age since conception is 248 days or 36 weeks. You are due on 6/9/2006.
You will probably feel exhausted for about 48 hours after you deliver. You may not even notice how tired you are at first because of your excitement, wonder, and joy over the life you have brought into the world; but your body will need to recuperate. Discuss with how you can politely excuse guests who may not realize that they have overstayed their visit. Don't be afraid to grant them a five-minute visit and then invite them back at another time. Everyone should be very understanding, provided you word it right.
Your baby weighs about 6.5 to 7 pounds and is approximately 21 inches in length. You have been full term for a week now, so you might want to start addressing those birth announcement envelopes while you still have your hands free. Your long wait will be over any time now.

Wow, 95% of the way there. And notice that it doesn't say a darn thing about what I might be experiencing now, but what I will feel like after labor. Guess there just isn't much to say that hasn't already been said! I'm tired, cranky, and my contractions are bothersome. I was having one every 30 minutes or so this morning, but now they're about once an hour. That's what usually happens. If they follow my normal pattern, later this afternoon they will spread out to one every 2 or 3 hours. One of these days, though, they are going to surprise me and start coming more and more frequently. And they're going to hurt like a SOB. And then I'll know - FINALLY! But until then I'll just wait, I guess. Not much else I can do :o) I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, so I'll give a report on whether or not I am progressing any further. I hope so - if I am still at 2cm dilated 50% effaced I will be a bit discouraged. At least let me have effaced some more! A little encouragement these days can go a long way.

Still Waiting!

Newsletter was pretty boring this week, but here are the basics:

This is day number 256 and you're 37 weeks pregnant!
You have 24 days or 3 weeks left, and are 92.5% of the way there.
Baby's age since conception is 242 days or 35 weeks. You are due on 6/9/2006.
Are you finding it easier to breathe? If so, your baby has moved downward in preparation for birth. Your baby will "drop" right before you go into labor, easing the pressure on your lungs. However, the trade-off is increased pressure in your pelvic area. Make sure you know the early signs of labor. Most women have plenty of time, but it is not unheard of for the amount of time between labor and delivery to be relatively short. Consider staying close to home so you won't find yourself hours away when labor begins.
Your baby is now considered full term even though the 40-week mark is still 3 weeks away. He or she is probably about 6.5 pounds and measures approximately 21 inches in length, and has developed enough coordination so that he or she can grasp an object with his or her fingers.

Well, on Friday Matthew will be considered officially "full-term." Which means that he should be a completely normal newborn if born after that. Whew! It's so weird how you go from worrying about having a preemie for months, and then all of a sudden you just wish the baby would hurry up and get here already! The switch comes pretty quickly - just in the past couple weeks. And it's only going to get worse, now that I know he's likely to be pretty much ready for birth now. He's just in there, hanging out and getting fatter. Like me!

My doctor's appointment today was pretty boring. They did not check me again for dilation or anything, which I had mixed feelings about. I was glad because it hurts, but I was also irritated because I want to know if I've progressed any further! The doctor said that I would be checked when I go in again next week, though, so we'll see. Everything else is fine - I did have a contraction right on the table, though, when the doctor was poking around my tummy trying to figure out the position of the baby. He was like, "it feels pretty solid, here!" Or something to that effect. He wasn't concerned, though, because it wasn't hurting me and I've told them for the past couple months that I was having Braxton Hicks contractions. It takes a lot to impress these doctors! Well, anyway, I don't really have much else to say. Just hoping that things will start to get interesting soon - I'm just about to give Matthew an eviction notice. Hotel Mom is about to close for the season!

She's Gonna Blow!

Well, I did it. Here is a photo of me in all of my 8 months pregnant glory. Minus the face - it was bedtime and I was very tired! At my doctor's appointment today, I found out that I was 2cm dilated and 50% effaced. For those of you who may not know exactly what that means, dilation is the cervix opening up to allow for the passage of the baby (10cm is completely dilated - that's when you push!). Effacement is the cervix thinning out. Think of the cervix like a turtle neck sweater that you're shoving your head through. It opens up and thins out to accomodate your head. The doctor says that all of this means that I probably will not be going past my due date. Yay! That news did not make me unhappy. Guess that's it for now. Enjoy gawking at my belly!

No Rest for the Weary

Well here it is, another week. They're really starting to drag, now! But there was something rather exciting at the beginning of my newsletter. It said, "If you've given birth since receiving your last e-newsletter, congratulations and please click here. If you haven't had your baby yet, please continue reading." That means we're getting close, people! And thank God. I'm not sure how much more of this I can take while still maintaining my sanity (can't you just see the hormones raging from there?).

This is day number 249 and you're 36 weeks pregnant!
You have 31 days or 4 weeks left, and are 90.0% of the way there.
Baby's age since conception is 235 days or 34 weeks. You are due on 6/9/2006.
Beginning this week, you will visit your doctor on a weekly basis. He or she will monitor your progress - as well as your baby's - and watch for early signs of labor. In some situations, a woman and her doctor may decide to induce labor. There are several reasons your doctor may suggest induction: if continuing the pregnancy poses a significant risk to you or your baby, or if your water breaks but you do not start laboring within 24-48 hours. Induction may also be considered later, if you have not given birth by your 42nd week. Some women also ask to be induced for reasons of convenience or comfort. However, there are significant risks to you and your baby if labor is induced. For example, if the induction fails, you may have to deliver by emergency c-section, which is associated with higher rates of complications, longer hospital stays, and longer recoveries. In addition, certain induction techniques can cause strong contractions; hyperstimulate the uterus, which can stress your baby; and cause placental abruption and uterine rupture. In any situation, you should discuss all the options with your doctor, ask questions, and weigh the risks and benefits to determine what is best for you and your baby.
Your baby has added another half pound and now weighs about 6 pounds, measures around 20.7 inches in length, and is almost ready to check out of "Hotel Mom." Your baby has moved downward towards your vagina; hopefully headfirst. However, at this stage it is very common for babies to be feet first, or breech. It is not until labor begins that you can know for sure if your doctor will need to manually turn the baby (ECV), or if you will have to consider a cesarean delivery.

I have no idea if Matthew is head down or breech, but I'm hoping that they will tell me tomorrow at my appointment. I know that he was head down 6 weeks ago, but that means next to nothing. He could very easily have turned since then - several times! I do know that he feels HUGE now. Sometimes I'll feel him kicking me in the ribs and the hipbones at the same time, and when I stand up after lying down for a while he hits my bladder like a ton of bricks. He hasn't "dropped" yet, though. I've read and been told that when he does, I will feel like his head is about ready to pop out and I'll have to pee even more often, but I'll be able to breathe more easily and my heartburn might get better. I don't feel much pressure at all "down there" usually (although I've had my moments), and I still have constant heartburn and episodes of feeling like I can't quite catch my breath. So I'm pretty sure he's still floating around quite freely in there. Although I know he doesn't have much room. Every picture I've seen of a fetus in the last month of pregnancy has the poor little guy/girl with their knees and arms pressed up against their little chests (when they aren't kicking or punching something). I know that he gets tired of it, because sometimes it feels like he's trying to stretch out in places that my body just won't allow him to! I get little knobs (I think they're his knees) on my sides and sharp pains in internal organs when he's pressing against them too hard. While I am glad that he's moving around and seemingly doing well in there, I've just about had it with pregnancy. I'm ready to get my reward in the form of a cute, chubby little boy that looks like his daddy did, because I was an ugly baby. I keep picturing the moment of his birth and hearing that first cry. And then I get tears in my eyes, so I know that I'll be crying worse than him when I hear it. But I still can't wait!

Anyway, I know that I've gone on and on (and on). There's just been so much to say about this whole experience. And it's not over! Pregnancy has been so hard, and so cool, and so tiring, and so wonderful. But I'm ready to move on to the next stage. I'll give it 4 more weeks before I completely lose my patience and start to get nasty. Which nobody wants! Mean pregnant women are scary. Talk to you all later - I'll report in tomorrow if the doctor tells me anything interesting. If not, then I'll have another update next week!

Just Keep On Keepin' On

Well, I guess my newsletter is going to come on Tuesdays now, as this is the third week in a row that I searched in vain for it on Monday. It's ok, I guess. My whole life is just one big waiting game right now, anyway! Here is the latest:

This is day number 242 and you're 35 weeks pregnant!
You have 38 days or 5 weeks left, and are 87.5% of the way there.
Baby's age since conception is 228 days or 33 weeks. You are due on 6/9/2006.
Your breasts have probably increased in size and weight significantly, and colostrum may begin oozing from your nipples. This is your body's way of gearing up for breastfeeding. As your baby grows, hormones are released that trigger the change occurring in your breasts. You may also notice a significant change in your nipples -they usually grow larger and darker.
Your baby weighs about 5.5 pounds and will continue to gain about half a pound per week until you deliver. He or she stretches out to 20.25 inches as it approaches full term. Stem cells in the bone marrow continue to produce red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to maintain a healthy immune system, but there is not really any development remaining for arms, legs, brain or organs. Your baby will simply continue to grow in size as it readies for its big debut.

Well, isn't the talk about boobs pleasant? Sounds beautiful, doesn't it? Big, droopy, heavy boobs with big, dark nipples that leak colostrum (the milk that your body makes for your babies first few days of life - a nice yellowy looking substance). Actually, my boobs aren't that big and they don't leak too much, but other than that they have me pegged. Oh, except for the lovely reddish purple stretch marks that make each boob look vaguely like a wagon wheel. Can't forget that!

Matthew weighs over 5 pounds now, and is 20 inches long! Well, if he's average, which I assume he is. Just think - he was the size of the head of a pin 7 months ago, and when I had my ultrasound less than 4 months ago he weighed about half a pound. Now he could come out and look like you'd expect a normal newborn to look! Only he shouldn't come out quite yet, because he may still have a little bit of trouble breathing, regulating his own body temperature, etc. But in the next few weeks he'll get all of that worked out and be ready to face the world! Which is good, because I sure am ready for him to be born! We have all of his little clothes and crib bedding washed. He has a couple packages of diapers just sitting there waiting for his cute little bum. We have his carseat installed, his stroller ready to take him for walks around the neighborhood, and a little bouncer that one of his aunts bought him. His room is all decorated with his name on the wall, and the rocking chair is ready and waiting for all of those night feedings that I'll be going through soon. He even has a little bathtub, mobile, monitor, etc. We're ready for you baby! So whenever you are, come on out. Mommy will try not to yell too loudly! But I can't make any promises. I've heard it hurts like hell.