The Scoop- We're Post-Due Date

Well, dear friends and family, the baby has not yet arrived! We really thank you for all the phone calls and emails and comments on the blog which are always full of so much love and support and reminders that you are praying for us!

I spent my due date vacuuming the whole house! I never give up, do I?! The middle of the night last night brought some more contractions, and as of this morning they haven't stopped completely...after a couple days of no Braxton-Hicks, I hope that these will turn into something...? Nothing to do but wait it out! oooo, there's one right now...

A Conversation

Dr. P, M.D.: Well, it looks like you're due in...two days...it's routine to have an exam at this point, unless you'd rather not?

Very Pregnant Heather: YES!!! PLEEEEASE!!!
...

Dr. P: Okay...yup...looks like you're favorable.
H: How favorable?? Like "tonight" favorable??
Dr. P: haha, well, I can't tell you that. It could be any time.

...

Modern medicine can't even tell me if I'm "favorable" enough to go into labor in a few hours!! Hearing that it could be any time is reassuring, though.
I did need to ask what the high-tech medical term "favorable" means. It's a way of saying that I'm a little dilated (a couple centimeters...this is not an exact science), and all other things that have to change in order to permit labor have begun to change.

I have another appointment set up for next Monday, and if I still have not progressed any further by that point, I'll be induced on Wednesday or Thursday (7 or 8 days overdue). It's a relief to have a definite birth date on the calendar, but we are hoping and praying that things happen on their own before then!

Still Pregnant!

I may look happy about reaching the 40 WEEK point, but my smile will be a lot bigger if the doctor tells me this morning that I'm dilated to 4cm and I'd better check in to Labor and Delivery!!! This is one tired momma.

After a little more than a week of experiencing contractions-- some weak, some with more umph; some at random times, other coming 7-10 minutes apart-- I'm finding it harder to stay patient. My doctor appointment is at 10am today, so I'll be sure to update once I'm home again.

Steve and I planned on spending yesterday afternoon "hiking" around Patuxent Wildlife Sanctuary to take some pictures...oh yeah, and induce labor; but our camera battery turned out to be dead just as I assumed the "nine month belly shot" pose in front of a scenic wetland. And we discovered that we had 20 minutes before the park closed. The best laid plans of mice and men...

So we settled in at home for the evening and I tried the "red raspberry leaf" herbal tea regimen that is said to start contractions. Two hours of cramping later, I was still with child. (Ladies, a warning: avoid red raspberry leaf tea unless you want to cramp, like me! Stick to the raspberry flavored variety.) I may have to stop all the fruitless attempts at controlling my body and be content to wait!

I've Reached Week 39

Talk about live updates...as I write this, I'm experiencing one of those tricky contractions. Is it real or is it just another practice round?! There's not much news to report for the 39 week milestone except that the baby is growing, which means a bigger head and shoulders to deliver! The poor little one is so crowded in there. Come out into the big, beautiful world where you can stretch out your little legs and arms!!

Just wanted to let the faithful readers, who are at their work computers trying to do something other than work, know that I'm still hanging in there. Thanks for the continued prayers! I'm going to go drink some water and put my feet up...

Signs

The baby is in the ideal Occipital Anterior Position (head down, spine facing my abdomen).
I'm having semi-regular false labor contractions.
I lost 3 pounds since last week (and NOT because I'm eating less!)
I've "nested".
I need more naps.

All signs that labor is in the near future!
I went to the doctor today, and although I have to wait until next week to get examined (bummer!), all the external signs point to the end. That's no real news considering my due date is next Wednesday...but let's all get excited anyway, shall we? Maybe it means tomorrow...

False labor is such a bittersweet thing. Bitter in that it loves to trick you and play with your already fragile emotions; sweet in that it means the real thing is on the horizon. Keep praying for our nerves!

"Ouch": A Quick Update

Since 4:30 am this morning I've been "enjoying" getting to know my new friend, Braxton-Hicks (a.k.a. practice contractions) which are coming more regularly then they have in the past, some as close as ten minutes apart.

I suppose all those brisk laps around Annapolis Mall last night told my body that I mean business. We'll have to see if my day full of pains means that we'll have a baby in a day or two...but for know I'm meditating on the words a sympathetic soul spoke to me at church this morning: God's plans are bigger than ours! He knows what's going on, and nothing will progress until the time is perfect...

Thirty Eight

We're doing well...there's still only two of us! It's been fun spending the last few days with Steve going on walks, getting ice cream in downtown Annapolis, renting movies, and spending late nights playing cards with Josh and Mandy-- all thanks to the invigorating warm weather and my pre-labor bursts of energy.