Posts Tagged ‘contractions’

A Watched Pot

Friday, October 24th, 2008

One week left. To both my due date and Halloween! I feel like I’m practically shaking with excitement. 😀

Though, I have to admit, I feel like a watched pot already. Last night, right before 4:00 AM, I awoke to painful contractions – the real kind. The ones that radiate from the back forward and make it hard to concentrate on anything but how to deal with the sensation. They were a regular 10 minutes apart and lasted about 45 seconds, on average.

I resisted waking up Kevin, because I remember what our birthing class teacher told us: “Let your coach sleep as long as possible.” So, I did. I let him sleep.

I was able to sorta drift in and out of sleep between the contractions, which was nice. Then, around 6:00 AM Kevin woke himself up and asked if I was okay. I let him know I was doing fine, but that I was having regular contractions.

He’s been working on something important at work and he asked if I thought it would be okay if he went into work then to get some stuff done before I progressed further. I was completely okay with that, after all, not much was happening except for the regular contractions and I could still handle those with relative ease.

After he left, I sorta drifted back to sleep and woke up an hour later. I only then realized that I had either a) slept through the contractions and/or b) the contractions had lessened. I started timing them again and they were now 30 minutes apart! What gives?

I called Kevin and let him know. I also called the birthing center, and they said that it was normal for first-time moms to have several “rounds” of irregular contractions before actual labor starts. Super.

So, here I am again, back to square one, and since Kevin texted his family that I was having contractions (he’s since texted “false alarm” – argh), I now feel like a watched pot. And you know how that goes. 😐

Three Weeks Left! Eek.

Friday, October 10th, 2008

Great news! Binary Boy is definitely still head down, confirmed via a quick ultrasound today at my 37-week prenatal appointment. Also, for all 2 of you who know “pregnancy speak”, here’s where I’m at:

  • Baby has engaged or “dropped”
  • He is at -1 Station
  • I am 1/2 centimeter dilated already*

Also, my normal Braxton Hicks contractions have been more often, much longer, more uncomfortable and somewhat painful. In addition, I’ve been having false labor pains in my back. On the tune of about 1-2 an hour. Sometimes, they migrate to my abdomen, which is a good sign and means I am more than likely continuing to dilate.

In a nutshell, and for those of you who read this and felt like they were reading Greek, it means everything is going accordingly! w00t! Probably time to get that bag packed sometime soon, hmm?

*I know 1/2 centimeter doesn’t seem like much, but considering that Binary Boy has been breech up until this past Wednesday, the fact that I’m dilated at all is a super great sign. Typically, the baby’s head pushing on the opening of the cervix is what helps dilation occur (in conjunction with contractions, and, of course, hormones), so it means that during the past 2 days his head has helped in dilation. If it continues at this rate, well, he could be born right on time. :heart: