38 week appointment

I’m now on weekly visits to my OB.  This appointment was interesting because I found out that I had some progress and also because I thought I was having mild contractions all day.  I had been feeling a crampy/lower backache sensation off and on all week. I also had some timeable contractions on Monday night while trying to sleep.  I stayed home from school on Thursday as the cramping didn’t go away as I got ready for work and thought there was a chance maybe I was in early labor.  I knew I had my appointment so I wasn’t too concerned.  I did however make sure that everything was packed in my hospital bag and cleaned up my house in case I didn’t come back until after the baby.  Crazy, I know.  

While driving into Boston, the cramping became stronger and by the time I got to the office, I was feeling very uncomfortable.  I explained to my dr. the feelings I had been having all week and she said that all of those things are signs that my body is getting ready for labor.  It doesn’t mean that it will happen tomorrow, but that it’s coming fairly soon.  She checked and my cervix is still closed, but it is soft and has thinned out 50% (you need to be at 100% in order to give birth).  It was good news, but I knew that it didn’t mean much and that I could still be weeks away from having my baby.  In other news, my blood pressure was a little high and she sent me for blood work.  Also, I was down the 4 pounds I had gained last week.  I’m guessing I must have had some extra water weight at my last appointment.  My doctor also estimated that the baby weighs about 7 lbs which is a good size.  I hope he doesn’t get any bigger!

So here I sit almost 39 weeks pregnant and so ready to have this baby.  It’s not just that I’m horribly uncomfortable all the time and can’t sleep (though that’s a small part of it), but the fact that I’m so excited and can’t wait to meet our little guy.  I know he’ll come when he’s ready, but I keep telling him that Mommy and Daddy would like him to come out now :)