He's here!

As promised, I will post a birth story, it just won't be right now. Right now, I feel a nap coming on. Hunter, that's a great idea.

It's come down to this

6:00am Monday. That is my scheduled induction date, assuming that there is a bed available of course. Now having a date and time, I'm actually kinda scared. One way or another, I should be in labor trying to push what could be a 9 pound baby out of me in the next 3 days. Then, after that, I will be responsible for another person. I will be a mom.

What have I gotten myself into?!

2 weeks to go

How far along? 38 weeks

Total weight gain/loss? Something tells me I was up more last week. I'm now pushing the 25 mark. I'm at 24 pounds gained.

Maternity clothes? Every thing full time now.

Stretch marks? :( Yes. I have 2 that are towards the bottom that are raised, not flat on my skin. They hurt or itch a lot though, especially at the end of the day. 

Sleep? Officially horrible. I am up every hour to go to the bathroom. I can't roll over so I have to change sides when I try to climb back in bed.

Best moment this week? Canceling the c section and scheduling an induction for 8/9/10

Movement? He is still moving, but I don't feel it. With his movements being restricted now and the placenta in front and all the fluid I have, I can barely feel him now.

Food cravings? Warm chocolate chip cookies

Gender? It's a BOY!

Labor signs? Still yes. I'm getting very frustrated as to when I'm supposed to go to the hospital. I'm now dilated to 5cm for goodness sake!

What I miss? The cooler weather, sleeping through the night, no heartburn, and still sex. Oh, and my feet being a normal size!

What I'm looking forward to? Not being pregnant!

Weekly Wisdom: Don't expect the office nurse to be on the same page as the doctor. Mine was quoting exactly what the hospital would say and not what the doctor told me yesterday. It is so frustrating!

Milestones: Making it as far as my mom made it with me and my sister.

Emotions: Get this guy out! I'm so frustrated by feeling contractions that are doing stuff only to have them go away after I panic thinking I have to go to the hospital because of how much progress I've made. Can my water just break already so I know and I have a clear sign?

Time's a comin

Had my 38 week appointment today. I am nearly at 5cm. Still 80%. Our doctor was surprised to see me today, she didn't think we would make it another week. She offered to strip the membranes today before we even asked! It wasn't too bad, more just the pressure to get in there and do it. I am feeling pretty crampy now though, so we'll see what it does for me.

While there, we did ask why she says no to inducing because of big babies. She said we are a different story though because of how far along I am (to the point where if I start having serious contractions to pretty much not wait and just go in!) and so we talked inducing. It just so happens that she's on call on Monday and is willing to induce us if we don't want to wait until next Wednesday with the scheduled c section. Well, Monday is 8/9/10. Induce Monday? Yes please! Then, we don't have to worry about insurance covering for the c section that's pre planned. And, did I mention that it's 8/9/10? That is, assuming of course, that we go until then.

Confession

So, yesterday I had a few hours of more serious contractions. I could feel them up front for once. The late ones even made me pretty nauseous. I go downstairs to sit them out while seeing if they get worse. Tears coming down because I'm frustrated with how I feel but knowing it's not yet time for the hospital. Jason makes me some tea and I head to the bathroom. After coming out, I reach into the closet and grab out a stuffed animal Donald Duck. I head back to the couch with Donald in hand, put on a blanket, and just sit there with my tea. I was back in bed 30 minutes later. Jason says he loves it how when I don't like something or don't feel well, how I'll still go for a stuffed animal (these days it MUST be Donald) to make me feel better.

Hey, whatever works.

Stages of Labor

I'm in the early stage of labor. Well, I decided I am at least. If I wasn't, I wouldn't be having contractions that would truly be dilating me or effacing me. And, they wouldn't be coming around every 5 minutes. I read on What to Expect's website that this stage can last from several hours to several weeks. I apparently am in the several weeks category as this has been going on since at least July 12. I hope I don't have much more of this "early labor" stage. It is funny wishing for pain that will be some of the worst pain (I imagine at least), but it's for something great. Plus, due to his size, if he doesn't come on his own, then August 11 I have a C Section scheduled to get him out. Doing the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February means that I need to train as soon as I'm able to and a C Section would certainly delay that.

Come on out Hunter! You'll have more room and we live in Phoenix, so, you don't have to worry about being cold!

3 Weeks Left!

At week 37, your pregnancy is considered full term, meaning baby is likely to thrive after birth. Baby spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world… meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale. Meconium, which you’ll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. If (okay, as) you worry about giving birth, consider what it’s like for the little one. During the journey out of your womb, baby will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life

How far along? 37 weeks

Total weight gain/loss? Up 2 from last week, up 17 total. I thought weight gain was supposed to slow down/stop towards the end of pregnancy? I feel like I'm starving all the time now and seem to eat a lot.

Maternity clothes? Every thing full time now.

Stretch marks? :( Yes. I have 2 that are towards the bottom that are raised, not flat on my skin. They hurt or itch a lot though, especially at the end of the day. 

Sleep? Still waking around every 3 hours or so. But, I can still generally fall back asleep pretty quickly. However, the late pregnancy insomnia has started. Twice this week I couldn't fall asleep initially then woke up wide awake at 5am.

Best moment this week? Seeing my boy at the ultrasound again.

Movement? He is still moving, but he's running out of room now so it's not too much now.

Food cravings? Warm chocolate chip cookies

Gender? It's a BOY!

Labor signs? Yes. Still having contractions. I've been having them ever since Thursday, I just don't always feel them. Hopefully I won't show up at the hospital too late!

What I miss? The cooler weather, sleeping through the night, no heartburn, and still sex.

What I'm looking forward to? Labor and finally not being pregnant!

Weekly Wisdom: If you have a big baby, don't go into an appointment expecting to hear anything about what the course of action will be. Go in with no thought out plan so you won't be disappointed by what can or cannot be done.

Milestones: Full term!

Emotions: Starting to cry more. And, I'm also getting really irritable. Just get this guy out!