The Home Stretch

At Thursday's visit to the doctor, she said I had progressed to between 5 and 6 centimeters! Since I've gotten that far without a single contraction, she was concerned that once I do go into labor the delivery could go really quickly. Too quickly... she was worried I might not get to the hospital in time if there were a snow storm or traffic accident.

So what does this all mean? It means she's going to induce labor on Monday! We have an appointment for 7:00 AM on Monday morning, and by that evening at the latest we'll have a baby. While I'm still hoping that labor will start on its own, the chances of that happening are getting smaller by the minute. The doctor assured me that labor would still be "normal" and that all I would need was a little "push" to get labor started.

Kyle and I are really excited to meet this little being who's been the source of so much discussion and planning over the last 9 months. Until then, we're enjoying our last few nights of uninterrupted sleep!

Rough night

Last night I woke up around 4 AM because of the pain in my hips. It was/is a general uncomfortable ache as opposed to a sharp pain. I tried every position I could think of (laying on either side, pillow between my knees, sitting up) but could not get comfortable. After doing some research online, it seems this is a pretty common problem for pregnant women and is caused by the relaxing of ligaments in the pelvis which loosens up the pelvic bones.

Here are some articles I found on the subject:
http://www.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/tn9115.asp
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/expert/546520.html

Also, here is an article on the "double hip squeeze" technique. Kyle and I learned about it in our child birth class. I got him to try this on me this morning. It helped, although only temporarily. One thing the article doesn't mention is the amount of pressure to apply. The more the better! I think Kyle felt like he was getting an upper body workout performing this technique.
http://birthingnaturally.net/cn/technique/hipsqueeze.html

Another appointment with the Doctor

At my appointment this past Thursday, I'd progressed to 4 centimeters and 90% effaced. However, I still haven't felt any contractions. My doctor assures me it's impossible to deliver the baby without having some contractions. Too bad! I was hoping she'd just sort of fall out one day!

Our bags are packed

Our bags are packed and we are ready to head to the hospital at any time. All we need now is a baby!

The colorful bag is our labor kit and the duffle bag contains the things we need for the rest of the hospital stay. The labor kit bag was originally used for our honeymoon trip to Hawaii and probably still has some beach sand in it. I'm hoping the happy memories will help during labor.


Contents of our labor kit:

• Lamaze magazine (handouts from childbirth class tucked inside)
• CDs
• Sourblast spray (to help with dry mouth)
• 2 tubes chapstick
• Scope mouthwash
• Massage oil
• Toothpaste and 2 toothbrushes
• Baby book (for footprints)
• Contact lens solution
• 3 massage tools
• Headband (the brown thing in the middle)
• Notebook & pen (for writing contraction times, also has list of phone numbers)
• Socks & slippers
• Ricebag (can be heated/cooled to help with labor pains)
  
  
  

(Lack of) Progress!

And the waiting game continues. This little girl hasn't even been born yet and she's already misbehaving. Come out, I say, come out!!!

She responds by kicking and punching ever more forcefully. Youths today! No respect for their elders.

Since the last post I've gotten significantly more uncomfortable. I shouldn't complain because my pregnancy has been so easy up until now... but I'll go ahead anyway. My hands were really swollen this weekend, so much so that I had difficulty making a fist. My mom recommended keeping my arms/hands elevated above my heart; this seemed to help. My waddle is much more pronounced because of how low the baby is in my pelvis. Any head movement she makes results in a sharp twinge there.

Despite this, a small part of me wishes she could stay in my belly. She's safe there, floating in her climate-controlled habitat, her belly always full, listening to the sound of my heart beat and the muffled voices of the outside world.

Progress!

Had an appointment with the doctor yesterday. To my great surprise, she said I'm 3 centimeters dilated and 80% effaced! I feel like I've made great progress with absolutely no work involved... my favorite kind.

Now the waiting game begins...

Top 10 Least Fun Things About 9th Month of Pregnancy

10. Constant burping
9. Fingers like little swollen sausages (no more wedding rings!)
8. Waddling
7. Having to dance like an 8th grader
6. Acid reflux
5. 2 AM sneak attack leg cramps
4. Grocery bill up 10% due to increase in toilet paper use
3. Lopsided belly thanks to baby acrobatics
2. Hours and hours spent in the black hole that is Babies R Us
1. That gi-normous gut!

(Peed once, burped thrice during the composition of this post)