Holy moly, I’m 38 weeks pregnant today.
This past week has been crazy in pregnancy land. Last Tuesday, my OB said I was already {TMI alert} ripening and dilated. Thursday and Friday, my body was showing lots of other {gross} signs that we were gearing up for labor. And Saturday I woke up with pretty intense and frequent contractions to the point that we spent all day at the hospital monitoring baby and me. The contractions got as close as 4 min apart and I had more cervical changes - then everything just stopped. Cut to us heading home from the hospital around 11 pm with my tail between my legs feeling embarrassed.
Okay, who is this Braxton Hicks person, and where may I find him? Prodromal labor or practice labor, whatever you want to call it, is quite frustrating when you are ready to get this baby out of here. I know, I know…baby will come when she’s ready, but this momma is over this whole being pregnant thing.
{Credit: Belles and Whistles Photography}
And this is what I find myself saying pretty much all the time:
“Hey, will you tie my shoes?"
"Will you fill up my water when you get a chance?"
"Okay I need help off this couch."
"I have to pee AGAIN?!?”
“And there’s a foot.”
“Ouch, OW, OUCHIES, YOWZA, STAHP.”
“Is my uterus hard or is that the baby’s butt?”
Aren’t I just a ray of sunshine - a sweaty, cranky, fussy ray of sunshine.
I am so ready for this, the good and the bad. I’m ready for sleepless nights. I’m ready to not waddle around like a drunken penguin. I’m ready to change diapers with one hand in the dark while leaking breast milk. I’m ready to not feel like a watermelon is crushing my pelvis. I’m ready to fall more in love with my husband when I see him as a father. I’m ready to have no more money. And mostly, I’m ready to meet my perfect little girl.
{Credit: Belles and Whistles Photography}
HOW FAR ALONG? 38 weeks.
TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: 30 lbs! Hello weight gain catch-up.
MATERNITY CLOTHES? I’m repeating the same shirt-yoga pants combo. Sexy.
STRETCH MARKS? Nope.
SLEEP:What’s that? Between peeing every five seconds and my restless mind, sleep is a thing of the past.
MISS ANYTHING? Not feeling like a stuffed turkey.
MOVEMENT: All. The. Time. Clearly, this girl doesn’t sleep.
FOOD CRAVINGS: Pancakes and waffles with whipped cream.
SYMPTOMS: Same as always, heart burn, back ache, pelvic pain, round ligament pain, frequent urination, head ache, swelling of my hands and feet, anxiety, hot flashes, and nesting.
BELLY BUTTON IN OR OUT? Out and proud.
WEDDING RINGS ON OR OFF? Off. My fingers look like little sausages.
HAPPY OR MOODY MOST OF THE TIME: Very moody. Sorry to anyone who crosses my path!
LOOKING FORWARD TO: Welcoming our little one into the world.
Check out previous updates here.
We could be looking at another day, another week, or {gasp} another 2-3 weeks. I hope these lovely prodromal contractions turn into the full-fledged, real deal labor contractions.
As Peter, Paul, and Mary put it: All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go.