37 Weeks... thought we were having a baby last night!

On Monday we had our weekly doctors appointment.
I was measuring 1 cm dilated and 60-70% effaced.  I asked the doctor when she thought I would have him and all she said was "You'll still be pregnant next week."  Which I am totally fine with because I want him to cook as long as he needs.
It has been really hard for me to finally say "Okay, I want to have him now" since I have tried so hard for 11 weeks to keep him in with bed rest and all of the medicines and shots.  Plus I'm freaking out that he will be here soon!

I've been slowly coming off bed rest, since my muscles are so weak, so I try to get up and get around the house more, do some chores and things around the house, go out and do things (ie. got some makeup at the mall, got a pedicure, went to Barnes and Noble) but then I come home and take long naps because it wears me out so much.  But it is getting better and I can do a little more each day.
For Father's Day, we went over to Mom and Dad's house and grilled out and watched the Thunder game.  I had to go lay down in Mom and Dad's room because the big recliners in the theater room were making me have contractions every 5-6 minutes.  They got better once I laid down.
Harry had a good Father's Day.  I was going to get up and make him cereal, lol, for breakfast but he beat me up and actually made me blueberry pancakes.  What a sweet hubby!
I got him a board book, Daddy Hugs from Ramey and also got him an International and Domestic Beer of the Month Club for a year.  He always likes to try out new beers or if we are on vacation whatever the local beers are, so I thought it was perfect for him!  I can't wait for him to get the first shipment!

Warning TMI: Yesterday, Tuesday, I thought I might be leaking amniotic fluid.  I wasn't sure and it wasn't all the time, but it was freaking me out.  Then last night as the Thunder game was starting I had a few contractions about 4 minutes apart, so I thought well I'll call Labor and Delivery and see what they say to do.  Of course they told me to come in.

So we grabbed all of my stuff and headed to the hospital.  I had read online that if you are leaking fluid they will probably induce because if you are leaking there is a chance of infection.  I was okay with it because I am full term as of today!

So we got there and they put us in a real room, not the normal non-stress test room I normally go to.  They had me change and the nurse said, "Well if you are going to breastfeed, leave your bra off." And I thought, okay this could really happen!!!  So they did a little swab thing to see if I was leaking an hooked me up to the monitors to see if I was having contractions.  Harry was fine with everything because he was in a big rocking recliner and was watching the game.  But he was freaking out a little bit too.

Well the test came back negative so that was good, I wasn't leaking amniotic fluid but I was having contractions every 2-3 minutes.  They weren't too bad but started to hurt more the longer I was there.  The nurse checked me and just couldn't tell what I was dilated too.  She didn't even want to tell me what she was thinking because she wasn't sure.  She did say that she could feel his head because he was so low.  And she also said she couldn't feel the sack.  She finally told us she thought I was at a 6!  That is when Harry started freaking out!  He said "I didn't shave!"  Because I have been telling him to shave his gross beard for weeks!  So I have a pretty good feeling he will shave tonight!  Anyways,
she went to get another nurse and had her check me.  This nurse said she was really stingy.  She said I was actually a 2, that made me feel better, and said the other nurse was accidentally measuring the outer cervix?  I have no idea what that means, but I am glad the 2nd nurse checked me.  She also said she felt his head and he was really low.
So they wanted to monitor me longer and then would check me again.  A Thunder loss and an hour later, they checked me again.  Still a 2.
She said the doctor said I could go home or be monitored for another hour.  I chose another hour, just to be safe and to see if there was any more change.  The contractions were hurting pretty good but weren't that consistent.  So we waited until midnight and then she checked me again.  Still a 2, so we were allowed to go home.

She said to come home and try to get some sleep and relax.  I am still having some contractions but not many at all.  I am wondering if the monitor that was on my stomach was making me have so many contractions because any time someone touches my stomach or I stand or sit or change positions I have a contraction, so I am thinking the monitor was really upsetting my uterus and making me contract.  I have no idea, but I had never had so many and that close to together.  I have had them 5 or 6 minutes apart for 30 minutes or so, but not 2-3 minutes apart for 3 hours and then just go away.

But today I am feeling fine.  Just alot of pressure since he is so stinkin low!  But I am just glad I made it to 37 weeks!  At one point my goal was just 29 weeks, crazy to imagine!  So glad he will be a full term baby!

Thanks for reading!
Meredith

36 Weeks on Wednesday!

Not much has happened in the last 2 weeks.  I did have a fabulous baby shower on Sunday.  I got to see so many of my great friends and family.  It was fabulous.  I will post pictures on facebook later.  The pictures are on Harry's camera and I don't know where the cord is and he's at work.  Anyways, Ramey is pretty much set on the things he needs.  There were still some essentials that we needed so I made a very detailed list (with pictures) and Mom and Dad went to Target and Babies R Us and got the rest of the things we needed.  I am realizing throughout this pregnancy how Type A and anal I actually am.  I don't like not being able to do things on my own the way I want it done.  That has been one of the hardest parts of this bed rest.  Letting other do everything for me.  But I couldn't have done this without the help of my family and hubby!

I went to the doctor today.  

Two weeks ago I was a fingertip dilated and 10% effaced.  

Today, I am 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced and he is at -2 station.

ON WEDNESDAY, I AM OFF OF MY MEDICINE AND GO OFF OF BED REST!!!!!

At this point if I go into labor they aren't going to stop it or do anything, so he could be here any day, especially since I am going off my medicine.  I have been having a lot of contractions the last 4 days, like every 10-20 minutes but they haven't been too painful.

Now I will be off bed rest because 37 weeks is full term, but I'm still going to take it pretty easy since I have been confined to a bed for 70 days my muscles have really weakened and I get so tired doing nothing, but need to get some of my strength back before the baby is here.  But I do have my priorities straight and have a hair appointment scheduled for Thursday since it is been forever since I've had a color and cut, and I would like my hair to look decent when he does decide to make his appearance.

Since he could be here any day, I finished his baby blanket today, finished writing my thank you cards from my shower and finished reading my 3rd baby book!  My bags are packed for the hospital, his swing is up and running, got my diaper bag and monitor in the mail, and we are good on diapers and wipes!  I feel a lot more prepared for him to come than I did a week ago.

I would like to keep him cookin until 37 weeks or more, but it will be okay if he comes at this point, but keep praying that he stays in a little while longer!  Thank you all of your prayers, kind words and support throughout this whole pregnancy!!!  I have felt very loved!

Meredith