I contemplated starting a blog after finding out I was pregnant. I knew that I would be really slack in keeping a baby book since I had tried my hand at scrapbooking in the past and failed miserably. A blog not only allows me to put pictures and memories together for our family, but it has allowed us to stay in touch with family and friends we don't get to see on a regular basis. This is definitely a win in my book.
When initially setting up the blog I didn't put a ton of thought into the domain name. I am not trying to start a business or become cyberspace famous. I just wanted to document our pregnancy and keep pictures and updates in one place. So, I nonchalantly chose the name "waiting on baby a". BOY, OH BOY! I had no clue what that title was truly going to mean nine months (or has it been years) later. Today marks 41 weeks preggers! This post has a ton of updates so buckle your seat belt... here we go!
How far along: 41 Weeks... also known as a bazillion days pregnant!
Gender: Better be a boy at this point. I have only said it enough times.
Weight gain: 28 lbs in total at last week's apt. I started at 119 lbs. and weighed in right at 147. That number was kinda hard to see, but I find comfort in knowing that a good chunk of that is going to be coming off of me soon.
Maternity clothes: I did find the energy to dress up a few times here and there this week. I am still loving my Victoria Secret pocket t's. (Which with the semi-annual sale are marked down big time right now!)
Stretch marks: THANK GOD NO! I am still slathering on that Palmer's multiple times a day. I am pretty sure you could have a slip n slide party on my stomach by the end of the day.
Belly button in or out: Flat
Sleep: Decent, but not the best. False labor has really screwed by sleep schedule up lately.
Best moment this week: Spending the day at the lake with the fur babies and hubby. We spent a whole day together and it was just what we needed to unwind.
Worst moment this week: Thinking I was in labor only to find that I am victim to this hellish reality known as prodromal labor. (*See labor update below.)
Miss anything: The feeling of not being pregnant. I can't quite remember what that felt like, but I do know that my clothing fit, body parts didn't stick to other body parts, and I didn't feel like I was about to be admitted to either a nursing home or insane asylum at any given moment.
Movement: Apparently da club opens up from 8 pm to midnight nowadays and Brady gets his mad dance skills on. We are definitely not going to be doing all that when he arrives.
Cravings: Water, water, water.
Queasy or sick: Nope. All infections are officially gone! YAY!
Looking forward to: Birthing this baby!!!!
Labor Update:
Friday started out as a great day! Brian's mom sent me a text that said "Today is a great day for a birthday." I couldn't have agreed more. I just knew it had to be today. She treated me to the BEST pedicure ever. The owner of the shop knew I was overdue and told me that he was going to have the tech give me a pedicure that worked specifically on pressure points that induced labor. So away she went rubbing certain points in my feet and ankles. IT. WAS. AMAZING.
Before she was done I began to feel light cramping. I was ecstatic. Maybe this was it?! We grabbed lunch and did a little bit of shopping. It was around 2 pm at this point and the cramping was ten times worse. All I wanted to do was go home and lay down. There were no contractions that I could tell, just continuous cramping. By the time I got home Brian was up and getting ready for work. He suggested I call the hospital and just see what they said.
I got an on-call nurse who asked me two questions. First, how far apart were my contractions? I told her I wasn't sure because I was just having this one big continuous cramp. Her second question was when was the last time I felt the baby move? I couldn't remember. That morning maybe? Definitely the night before. Instead of calmly suggesting that I come down to be monitored, she full on panics and tells me to get to maternal triage immediately! Cue my mini panic attack. I began crying telling Brian I wasn't ready. He basically told me to chill out and that we were going to the hospital. (This is why I love him so!)
At the hospital we were again the only ones in triage so things moved pretty quickly. My nurse was super sweet as she began to monitor me. Sure enough I was having contractions exactly 15 minutes apart. She checked my cervix and I was slightly over a 2. Neither of these were enough to admit me so we were sent home and told to call back when the contractions were 3 to 5 minutes apart. DUH! I already knew this. However, it was reassuring hearing that Brady was super healthy and in a great position.
As we approached home I just knew that we were going to be having this baby in the next day or so. Grandparents were informed and I settled in to the thought of laboring at home for as long as I could. Brian and I decided he should go to work since there wasn't going to be much action for the next few hours. I enjoyed the alone time to rest and pray and meditate on what was going to be happening soon.
I had my timer going and by midnight I could actually feel the contractions. They were 10 to 12 minutes apart. By 6 am they were 8 to 9 minutes apart. I started to get confused though. These contractions were getting closer together, but they weren't getting intense like everyone says. I was able to get up, walk around, and eat without problem. Maybe I am one of those lucky ones! Brian finally arrived home from work around 6 the next morning and I told him I still wasn't sure if this was the real deal or not.
Around 10 am I got up to take a shower and eat something. That is when I began to notice that they were spacing out more to 9-10 minutes. I called the doctor's office around lunch and told the nurse my whole story. She said it sound like I was having prodromal labor.(Click here for more information.) Huh? She informed me that sometimes in rare cases women can go into what seems like legitimate labor for hours, days, and sometimes even weeks. The contractions never get intense enough or close enough to lead to active labor. I was in shock! There was no way I just sat there for 24 hours thinking I was in labor to be told sorry, kiddo, false alarm.
After a mini meltdown I strapped my big girl boots on and got over it, but it definitely opened my eyes up. I have repeatedly told myself I wasn't in control, but the false labor made me experience the inability to manage the situation; therefore, making me realize how out of my hands Brady's birth truly is.
As of today I am week overdue according to my updated due date at 20 weeks and 35 week ultrasounds. (They both confirmed June 14 as my due date). However, I should have taken the advice of my very wise friend and went with the latest possible due date. The date was originally set for June 25 at my initial doctor's apt. My doctor has scheduled me to be induced Tuesday, but there is a good chance it will be cancelled due to the medically necessary inductions ahead of me. If that happens my doctor and I have decided that due to Brady's estimated size that it would be best to be induce no later than July 1st. I thought about choosing to be induced long and hard and it seems like the right thing to do if that time comes.
We are praying that little man decides to come on his own obviously, but we know that things don't always work that way. We are true believers in the medical profession and modern science. My doctors and nurses have been amazing so far and I trust their medical advice wholeheartedly. However, more importantly Brian and I know that God's provision will be fully present through Brady's entrance into the world. And so it begins... here is to waiting on baby a. He will be here before we all know it!
