Any Day Now... but technically 8 days to go

Ok, so a lot has happened. No baby yet. But we're pretty much there. Quick background... Sunday was our ALL DAY class about Childbirth. Highly recommend it, but man, it wears you out! And I learned so much stuff. We covered contractions (which is what I was most worried about. Not knowing that I'm having them and then speeding to the hospital just in the nick of time..). We covered all the stages of labor, went through the hospital, different positions, etc. And I have come to realize people should have babies on Sunday. There's hardly anyone at the hospital! Ok, continuing on... Monday was my appointment with my doctor. Here's how it all went down.

Monday morning I woke up with my first ever contraction!!! It was all up in my back, oh it hurt so bad!! And then spread to the front. But mostly hurt in the back. I have no idea how long it lasted but it lasted a looong time. And as I was laying there I thought What if I go into the doctor's appointment and she checks me and goes "Oh my gosh, Let's get you to the hospital! You're in labor!" It sounded like a cool story anyway. Well, I just drank some water and it went away. Silly Braxton Hicks.

In our class, the teacher mentioned one part that I tried not to forget... for the next appointment ask the doctor 1. How far I'm dilated, 2. How far I'm effaced, 3. The baby's station, and 4. If my cervix is forward. In case you don't know... dilated is the measurement to 10cm. Effaced reminds me of a beanie hat with a tube at the end representing the uterus. When the tube folds up into the uterus, it means you're 100% effaced and you're water will break really quick and the farther you're effaced the faster you dilate too. The baby's station is measured by how far the baby's head is from a certain part of your pelvic bone. At zero, they're even, at -1 and -2 etc. they're farther up and +1 and +2 etc. the baby's pretty much out. And last if the cervix is back then when the baby comes down he or she will head bump your tailbone causing a tremendous amount of back labor pains... so a forward cervix is good.

Now to the good part. Aldo and I were driving to the appointment and we were discussing the questions that needed to be brought up. And he asks me what do I think I am. I say I don't know what I am, but I know what I want to be. 3 cm, 70%, I don't know... -3, and forward cervix. Wishful thinking. So we get to the appointment and go through the normal procedures. I weigh 202 lbs. Wow. Even though my feet look like tortas (pointed out by my very loving husband) my blood pressure is still fine.  We told her about our class and I told her I wanted to know the answers to those 4 questions. Get ready for this. It will blow your mind!

1. I was dilated to 3 cm.
2. I was 70% effaced.
3. The baby's position was -2.
4. My cervix is forward.

YES! I'm better off than what I wanted! And I can't believe I guessed almost everything perfectly! I'm like a psychic medical guru or something! She said I could go any day. I'm very favorable. !!!!
So ever since then, we've been patiently... or trying to be patiently... waiting. Monday night I was having contractions all night. Fake ones of course. Tuesday morning came and so I didn't go to the hospital. Then Tuesday night came. I was up every hour on the hour going to the bathroom. But I didn't have one contraction. And the baby didn't move as much either. Then this morning came. And all morning I kind of freaked myself out because I kept thinking that maybe my water broke and I didn't know it and so I'm slowly draining and my poor baby isn't floating around in his little baby cushion any more. Well, now I know that's not true because I'm still just as big as I was this morning. What a little tease though. I'm so worn out from all the anticipation. But now it's Wednesday night and I'm eager to go home and roll around on my exercise ball a little bit and dance or whatever and then go to bed. Might be going to the hospital tonight. You never know!
All I can say is... the next time I get on here... there's gonna be a SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT of a certain little man joining our family and entering our world! I can't wait.

12 Days to Go

I just looked at the number... !! Not even two weeks!!
And I really want to go to the zoo. But I know my ankles will swell. So I guess I can't.
Anyway, the whole reason I was going to write today was because we had our Newborn Care class. I'm a little less nervous about taking care of him after the hospital... when we're at home all alone and thinking.. Ok, what do we do now?? We basically covered the car seat, changing diapers, first baths, sleeping time, feeding time, and swaddling. And the lady was really great at answering our questions. I was most worried about taking care of his belly button and his not-belly-button. I've never had a little boy around, so all of this is new to me. But, I guess it could be worse. There were two ladies that were having their firsts also - which happened to be twins. Eeek!
I thought the bathing was the best though. It answered my questions, and I also found out that some of the stuff people bought us.. was useless.. like baby powder. So... I guess I'll be the one to use it. Baby smells are just lovely anyway. (I'm talking about the lotions and oils and stuff. Not the other kinds of smells. Gross.)
So yesterday we installed the car seat, finished packing the bags and put them in the car, bought my month's worth of groceries, and somehow I took like two or three naps. Tomorrow is our Birthing class. All day. Let you know more later.

Change of Date! (15 Days to Go)

So obviously something big has happened...
Yesterday we went for my weekly checkup and to get my first "measurement" (to see how far I'm dilated). It started off nice. Gained 2 pounds in the last week. My blood pressure is amazing... apparently a lot of people have a blood pressure that goes up in the last days of pregnancy... but mine has been consistent all the way through. It impressed my doctor. :)

Anyway, when the doctor came in we discussed what she was going to do and we went over my records. Then she "got the measurement". OH MY GOSH! I was so not ready for it. But at least I didn't cry. I think it might have surprised her a little bit because she kept apologizing. Afterward, I asked her if giving birth would hurt that bad. She said Well, are you going to have an epidural? And I look at her and say I am now. Oh man. She then explained that with birth your stomach is contracting and it can be pretty painful. As I was listening, I thought Dang, I can handle stomach pain.. Aldo says I might just be a wimp. We'll see.

So I learned that I'm dilated to 1.5 and that the baby's head is still down. And she can actually touch his head. And basically with any huge movement I could break my water and go into labor. YIKES! Just the other day I was telling myself how ready I am to have him come out already and now... I NEED MORE TIME!!! There's no way it's been 9 months.

Next we asked some questions like if I should take prenatals while I'm breast feeding (Yes.) and then my always-thinking-ahead husband asked what would happen if I had to be induced. She whipped out her calendar and said let's plan one now. How about the 17th? Yep. I'll have you come in the 16th and we'll get you prepared and then the 17th we'll induce. !!!!!!!!

I am so worried it's not even funny. This week feels like it's almost over. Then I have next week of nothing planned. I'll probably clean every single day just to keep my hands from shaking. And then bam! The day is here. Poor child... the reason he never stops moving is probably from all my adrenaline!
Wish me luck.

P.S. How bad would it be if I passed out after my water breaks?