My due date is Oct. 28. I don’t think I’m going to be pregnant for that long, though. A few things are happening that make me think no. 2 is going to arrive a little earlier. First of all, for reference, I’m 35 weeks and 37 weeks is considered full term. Zoe was born at 38.5 weeks or so.
Last week I experienced contractions Sunday–Wednesday. They were real contractions, not Braxton Hicks. With BH the surface of your stomach tightens. It’s slightly uncomfortable but not painful. With these contractions I could actually see my stomach changing shape. It felt like a muscle flexing and I could feel downward pressure on my (just stop reading now if you don’t want to get into bodily things) cervix.
Sunday wasn’t so bad. They were very erratic. Monday night was steady and starting to get somewhat painful. At one point they were coming every five minutes or so. But I figured, if it’s really labor, I better get some rest. I’ll wake up if things are really happening. So I went to bed and Nate timed contractions for a couple of hours until I fell asleep. Tuesday I dropped Zoe off at school and almost immediately they started again (they get stronger when I am sitting straight, like when I’m driving, or standing for too long). They were fairly erratic but at that point I was on my third day and Nate wanted me to call the doctor.
The nurse said that unless I had six or more contractions every hour, or my water broke, that I didn’t need to call or come in. I kept getting five every hour and eventually I left work because I thought things were happening. Turned out they stopped. I followed the nurse’s advice and drank lots of water and rested on my left side. They gradually slowed to four an hour, then three an hour, and around 11 p.m. they were gone.
Wednesday they were all over the place but by then I’d figured out that when sitting at my desk at work I need to sit at an angle with my feet up and I need to stay off my feet as much as possible. Since then I get random contractions when I don’t adhere to those guidelines, but not more than one or two at a time.
I had an appointment with my OB/GYN later in the week and he believes it’s all prep. He said my body is getting ready; this is very common with second or subsequent babies. If it’s really bothering me, there’s some medication he can give me that is normally used to treat asthma but will make the contractions stop. So far I’ve been able to deal by resting a lot.
This past weekend I entered full nesting mode. I did loads and loads of laundry, including some baby clothes I may have previously washed but wasn’t sure about, so why the heck not? And I organized closets. The baby room is ready. All we need is a little munchkin to go in there. It got to the point that on Saturday night I made homemade laundry detergent (you know you are in irrational nesting mode when you find yourself doing things like that, but so what?). With Zoe the nesting phase preceded her arrival by about 10-14 days.
The other things that make me think he might be early: people keep telling me that I look like I’m about to have the baby any second now. He has dropped a bit; I commonly feel his head in my pelvis (so comfortable!). My hips pop when I do things like shift or get out of bed. And my stomach just feels huge and heavy. I don’t remember this sensation with Zoe. I do remember getting really big at the end, but right now it just feels like a heavy weight. The skin on my stomach hurts. I think he may be bigger than his sister. I’ve also started feeling his feet in my ribcage, so I think he’s running out of room.
No. 2 is a lot gentler than Zoe. He’s always done more body rolls and turnovers. In contrast, Zoe was a strong jabber and kicker. I wonder if this is any indication of personality? Even when I feel his feet in my ribs it isn’t too bad. I hope that remains the case.
If I had to guess, I would say he’ll be here the weekend of Oct. 8-10ish. I could be completely wrong, but if this turns out to be this case, this will be the third year in a row we’ve had access to free tickets to ACL but have been unable to use them. (First two years due to moving and this year potentially due to baby arrival.) By the time we’re finally able to go I probably won’t be able to get free tickets!
We’re all ready for munchkin to arrive. Zoe’s been talking to her teachers about the baby coming, Nate is ready to have a wife who isn’t huffing and puffing between cleaning out closets and making laundry detergent, and I’m ready to not feel like I’m carrying a watermelon in front of me all the time. I’m also just ready to meet this guy! I feel like I’ve been waiting for him for a very long time.
Monday
Reading List 2010
The Tibetan Art of Living, Christopher Hansard
Little Bee, Chris Cleave (book club)
Little Bee, Chris Cleave (book club)
Thursday
Reading List 2010
No Country for Old Men, Cormac McCarthy: Gorgeous
Fantasy in Death, J.D. Robb: brain candy
Wings to the Kingdom, Cherie Priest: Wanted to finish her first full series
Seek My Face, John Updike: can't remember how I heard of this but it is based on the artist Lee Krasner and I got interested
Fantasy in Death, J.D. Robb: brain candy
Wings to the Kingdom, Cherie Priest: Wanted to finish her first full series
Seek My Face, John Updike: can't remember how I heard of this but it is based on the artist Lee Krasner and I got interested
Tuesday
5.5 months
This was from a couple of weeks ago at Enzo's birthday party (super hero theme). I already feel much larger!