38 weeks

So here I am at 38 weeks and I went to the doctor. I go in expecting to hear some more fun news about progression. So he checks me and says the exact same thing as last time. "What??" Dang. That sucks. So I'm still 2 cm and 80%. I've been doing regular walks and everything too. So I don't know what else to try but to keep doing what we've been doing and hope that something changes soon. I've been having a lot of contractions too, so I don't know how there's no change. But whatever.
So today I go get a quick lunch and on my way back to work I have a contraction. So I look at the time and I figure they are usually aroun 15 to 20 minutes apart and really random, maybe only two or three in a row. Well the next one came about 8 minutes after the first! I was very surprised. I was really excited too. I didn't want to read too much into it because I knew it wasn't labor. But it went on for almost an hour of them being so close. I was really excited. They haven't ever been that close or regular. I'm thinking maybe that's where the progression is happening. They are getting more regular and ready for labor. And of course they help dilate and efface too.
So tomorrow is my last day of work. I'm so excited but sad at the same time. I'm excited because I don't necissarily have to wake up so early anymore haha, and because it means I'm that much closer. I'm sad because it's been nice to have something to do during the day that keeps me and my mind occupied. It's been a lot of fun working there, but I'm starting to move slower and lose my mind more often. I think it's time to be done for a little while. I'll need the time off to rest up for labor, and to get used to being a mom.

37 Weeks... Full Term!

Wow, I'm 37 weeks. That is considered to be full term, even though there is still 3 weeks left until the actual due date. The baby is definitely dropping much more as the days go on. I think she might be anxious to come out or something. I am starting to get Braxton Hicks ('practice' contractions that prepare you and your body for the real deal) more and more often. I didn't mind them so much before, but as they are coming more often, they are getting much stronger. It doesn't hurt, but it definitely isn't comfortable.
Speaking of comfort... there's almost no such thing anymore. My favorite is sleeping. Laying on my side is getting old though too. I am so looking forward to the day I can lay on my stomach again lol. It's not always bad, but there are the days where I just want to be done with all of it.
So I went to the doctor again. I'm going in every week now. It's pretty crazy. Everything is going well still. He started checking the progress this time. It wasn't really a fun experience, but whatever. At least it didn't hurt for me. He said that the baby is really low, I'm 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced, and her head is a 0 station, and the cervix is very soft and ready for whenever she is. That's pretty good progress. So basically I could go into labor now and everything is ready. He seemed to think it would be this week almost. He was pretty excited. So he told me he'd see me again in a week unless I start having contractions 5 minutes apart (which is the sign that your about to have the baby and you need to go to the hospital). So I walked away thinking, "oh crap, she's coming within days!" And I was laughing in disbelief the whole way home. Seriously.
But after thinking about it now, I could stay like this for a week or more and have very little or no progress (or a whole lot). So I really still could have her on her due date. But then I think again and with all the Braxton Hicks contractions I've been getting, I still think that things are progressing and I won't be like that for very long. I think she'll come early. Too bad there really is no way to tell. I wish I knew the date she'll be coming for sure. It would make things so much easier haha.

35 Weeks and a lot's going on

Oh wow. It's been a while since I've written anything. 4 weeks left! So close and yet so far. Since my last post I've been to the doc's a few more times, nothing huge to report really. We've started a childbirth class, I'll get to that in a bit. We also have had a baby shower, set up the crib, and started cleaning out the baby room more and more. And we've had a prediction about when she'll be here.
So the last few doctor appointments have been uneventful. I mean that in a really good way. It's the same thing as ever... go in, get blood pressure checked, get weighed, get measured, listen to the heart, then Q&A if I have any. This last doctor apointment I was really curious about a few things. So I came with my list of questions. The one that I really wanted to know is how big he thinks she will be. He said he can usually guess withing 20% and that he thinks she will be around 6 1/2 - 7 pounds when she's born. That's if she stays on the growth curve she's on right now. He said she is on the smaller side of average, but is still in the healthy range. I'm thinking 6 1/2 pounds sounds good for me! I mean it's definitely no adorable chunky fat baby, but she'll fatten up. So my next appointment is next week, then it starts every week. So strange! That means it's getting really, really close. I also had a warning that they need to run the group B strep test. I won't even go into details for that one. It doesn't sound pleasant.
This childbirth class is really nice actually. I didn't know what to expect, but it's been informative. It was kind of a last minute thing for us because we knew we wanted to do a lamaze class, but that one was canceled because there weren't enough people signed up. So the next best thing was this one. It's not what I wanted, but it's something, and it helps. I feel a little more prepared for the birth, which I'm still completely freaked out about. We have been to two classes so far, and have two more. The last class it talked about newer symptoms and things that happen when the baby starts to drop. For one, you can breath easier. Oh that's so nice. We also watched a few births. We talked about epidurals/spinals. We practiced breathing techniques and talked about distractions. Distractions are going to be one of the most important things to get through the contractions. And yes... through all of these classes Daniel has been there :). What a good daddy he will be. Hopefully he will be a good labor coach first though.
So the other day after I got home form the class I sat on the floor next to my mom. As I sat down, she said "you look like you've dropped!" She meant the baby of course. I immediately thought and said, "no way, it's too soon, it's just the gravity. I can still feel her in my ribs when she moves." The next day, someone else said the exact same thing... she looks like she's dropped. This kind of scared me, if she already dropping she could come early, or I'll have pelvic pain and lower back pain for weeks! The lady then asked when she was due, I said August 8th-4 weeks. She then said "she's coming in two!" I was excited but scared at the same time. Then as I was changing for bed, I looked in the mirror and the belly really did look lower. It was a strange realization that she might already be descending and getting ready for birth. I'm prepared for four weeks, I think, but two weeks... that's so soon! I do want her to come early, I want her to be a July baby, even if it's the very last minute of the last day, I want her to be born in July. But that's only a week early, and very unlikely for first time moms... but we'll see.