Fingers crossed

I'm down to my weekly doctor visits, and so far they have both gone really well.  The first one (last week) she was still "head down" and I was dilated 1.5 centimeters and 80% effaced (at 36 weeks).  My doctor said this was a really good start, especially for a first time mom.  Even though I hadn't felt any contractions, I had been feeling period-like cramping, and I could feel her down in my hips, if that makes sense.  They did the strep test, and that came back negative as well.  My doctor said I should have my hospital bag and car seat ready because the next couple weeks will go by fast.

I was hoping my appointment today would show progression.  "At least 2.5 centimeters, just give me that."  I have still been having period cramps, but no contractions, so I was worried I'd be the same as last week.  I think the pregnancy gods are smiling down on me, because I progressed to "almost 4 centimeters", 70% effacement, and her head is at station -1.  Before my birth class, none of that would have made sense.  But now I know it means that my body is practically ready to go in to labor whenever the baby decides to come out.  I don't want to get my hopes up too high, but my doctor seemed pretty confident that she should come within the week.

I have my baby shower on Saturday, so I just need her to stay put until then.  Other than that, I'm super ready for her to come.  I can't really sleep on my sides anymore, even when I prop pillows everywhere.  I get stuck and it takes me a good 2 minutes to sit up because everything hurts.  That's one thing I didn't expect about pregnancy, being sore and not having my muscles work properly.  Sure, it's annoying having to maneuver with a giant belly, but I didn't know that equates to sore muscles and ligaments, and physically not being able to lift my legs to put on boots or pants.  I have to sleep sitting up, which apparently makes me snore really loud (poor Doug).  My feet have also gotten huge.  Even shoes that used to be slightly too big, are too tight.  I'm glad it's not summer, but in a way it would be convenient to be able to wear flip flops.  I can feel (and see) her wiggling all the time.  Usually it's not too painful, but every now and then she'll push on my ribs, hips, or back and that doesn't feel good.  She also gets the hiccups multiple times a day.  I don't mind the hiccups, it's good to know she's exercising her diaphragm.

As much as I might complain about the third trimester, it's also a blessing.  I'm so uncomfortable that I'm not so nervous about the delivery.  From this point I know that I'm going to get more uncomfortable and miserable each day until delivery, but once she comes I can start healing and feeling better, if that makes sense.  Kind of like when you have food poisoning and you can feel yourself getting sicker and sicker and you know that as unpleasant as vomiting is, you'll feel so much better after you do.  (Did I really just compare my baby to vomit?  I think it's time for bed).

Little Update

It's been so long since my last post, I don't know where to start catching up.  It felt like the holidays were taking forever to get here and now they're over.  And now that I'm on this side of the new year, it feels like my due date is right around the corner (which it is).

Nothing too eventful has happened in the pregnancy since the last post.  My appointments have all gone well, and I'm down to one more 2-week visit on January 15th, and then 1-week visits from that point on.  I feel her moving constantly, she has a tendency to poke out on my right side.  At my last appointment the doctor said she was head down, and that at this point she will probably stay that way.  I am feeling the sleep deprivation.  Between the heartburn/acid reflux, back pressure, and hip pain, I'm lucky to sleep more than 2 hours at a time.  I was sleeping on the couch for a while because the cushions were softer than my bed, and my tossing and turning wouldn't wake up Doug.  But on Saturday we bought a foam mattress topper from Costco, and it makes the bed so much more comfortable.  It seems like my first trimester nausea has made an unwelcome reappearance as well.  It's the same queasy feeling, but it's not quite as constant as before.  The good news is that I only have about 6 weeks left, and she could even come in 3 weeks and still be "full term".  We just about have the nursery all ready.  She could come now, and we'd be able to get by with what we have.  Here are some belly progression pictures in case you haven't been following me on Facebook ;)

25 weeks

30 weeks

34 weeks.  It feels like my boobs are small, but it's only because my belly is HUUGE.

Rag quilt mom and I made.  It was hard picking "girly" fabric, I was drawn to the boyish stuff.

Pepper claiming the quilt as hers

 In other news, my last day of work was December 31st.  My manager gave me a baby shower/going away/birthday luncheon before Christmas.  It was really sweet of her.  I'll miss some of the people I worked closely with, but overall it's a relief to be done.  My only fear with unemployment is losing a daily routine and becoming lazy.  I expect to relax for a week or so, but after that point I hope to have a new daily routine that involves: showering (makeup is optional), cleaning, personal development (reading, studying, journal writing), and cooking a real dinner.  We'll see how it goes.