38 Weeks ... So much for March 20th!

37 Weeks and Counting

We've reached the full-term mark this week! Last week we really thought that we were going to meet Charlotte after having multiple days of 5-10 minute apart contractions that lasted for 8 hour stretches. But no... this baby apparently is not only stubborn but has a flair for the dramatic as well! At the doctor appointment today I found out that I'm 4-5 cm dilated. Hooray for at least a little progress! Her heartbeat measured 152 bpm and she had hiccups during the whole exam. I'm also more than 80% effaced and she's moved to station 1+ meaning she's dropped pretty darn low in my pelvis. It's hard to pull my shirts all the way over my belly now that she's so low! I had no clue what station 1+ meant so for all of you who also aren't familiar with some of the baby labor lingo...

"Progress in labor is assessed by means of several parameters, namely cervical consistency (soft to firm), cervical effacement (shortening), cervical position (posterior, anterior, or mid), cervical dilatation (0 to 10 cm) and station (-4 which is just coming into the pelvis to +4 station which is ready to be born). When the top of the fetal head (or other presenting part as in a breech presentation), arrives at the level of the ischial spines, the baby is said to be at 0 station or "engaged.” Primigravidas (women having their first baby) typically engage before labor and may enter labor at -1, 0 or even +1 station."

So all in all... things are moving along! As much as both of us have loved every minute of our pregnancy and have had the best time being surprised and excited by each new stage of the baby's development, now that early labor has begun, life isn't too comfortable. Thomas has been awesome at keeping me positive and encouraging me to continue to enjoy the last few days of pregnancy. As frustrated as I was last week, I know that without his positive perspective I would have gone completely bananas. This week I've been much less discouraged and we've been enjoying our last few days of 'family of two' time by going to the movie theater, eating out and running other miscellaneous errands that might be tough in the first few weeks after she's born. Thomas has bet that she'll be born on the 20th so wish us luck!

35 Weeks... Coming so soon?

Starting Wednesday, I began to have a lot of contractions that I thought were just Braxton Hicks contractions along with a backache and stomachache. Come to find out at my weekly ob appointment on Friday, these weren't just false labor contractions! I'm 3 1/2 cm dilated already! Our doctor would like for us to at least make it to 36 weeks, which is Monday, before she is born. At that point, they won't stop labor from progressing. What happened to April 6th?!

Since then, we've been going about business as usual - Thomas had been wanting to play paintball so we spent some time doing that last night. There might not be many other opportunities in the near future! Today, I ran a few errands and had a lunch date. Somehow my errand ended up with me buying house plants. Apparently, that's how I nest. :o) Thomas has reserves this weekend but is on high alert in case things start moving along. Tomorrow I think I'll just take it easy and hopefully get some extra rest. That's if I can stop myself from obsessing about cleaning the house. Maybe I'll paint my nails... Goodness knows when I'll have time or energy to do that once she's born. Still having a few contractions and the backache hasn't gone away. No baby yet! I guess we're not getting that April baby though... This little girl is all about March.