Officially overdue

Still waiting on Lil G!

I'm nearly 5 cm now, but the contractions aren't strong enough for them to admit me. So I'm sitting at home, wasting maternity leave, hoping to suddenly be in pain. Messed up, huh???

Photo time

So I'm sitting here very, very pregnant and just a little miserable. By suggestion of the hubs I'm also struggling to consume the world's largest bowl of apparently labor-inducing pineapple. Have I ever mentioned that I seriously do not like pineapple? Like the smell makes my throat close up? So yea, this is fun.

Anyway, thought I'd break up the choking with a quick post and some photos of the nursery for you all. The room is no designer showplace, but we are happy with how it's modern and fun without being over the top. It seems more full in person than it does in the photos, but I'm sure once he starts accumulating toys and other items we won't have an inch of bare space to worry about.

View from the entry.

My old rocking horse and his dresser. His name will go above the monkey on the wall, but DH won't let me hang that until he's physically here.

Close-up of the bedding.

The glider nook. The photos on the wall are me and DH as infants, and Lil G will go in the middle.

The bureau/changing area and some of his goodies, including a place of honor for the Philly Phanatic.

There are more pics in an earlier post of the other artwork and the bookshelf for those who missed it: click here.

And here's a pic of me a few days back at 39 weeks. I made DH promise me it would be my last photo, but I fear I may be taking a 40-week shot on Monday. Sigh.

39 weeks and still nothin

Doctors are lying meanie heads.

I knew that progress early on could mean nothing, but then everyone got my hopes up, and now three internals later I'm still sitting on 3 cm and not a contraction in site. Unless the 8-minute whammy of pain this morning was a contraction, and if that's the case, I'm never going to make it through labor.

Come on, Lil G! You are driving your momma insane! Come out and play!

Tomorrow is my last day of work since my company has some random rule that you cannot work past your due date. So now he really has to show, because I do not intend to waste my precious maternity leave alone on the couch watching bad daytime TV.

We have an induction date set for 8/25 if he proves to be a really stubborn boy. Please cross your fingers for me that we don't need it!

38 weeks and not much to update

After a very interesting and eventful weekly appointment last week, I'm sorry to announce I got nothing for you this week. We had our 38-week appointment this morning and we're still at about 3 cm, 80/90 percent effaced. The doctor pretty much said I'm as far as I'll go without being in active labor, so now I'm just waiting for the contractions to start. And since I have no clue what a contraction feels like, I'm just sitting here questioning every twinge, cramp, and pain I experience.

With all the anxiousness of last week, I'm now pretty frustrated and down. I totally knew that last week's numbers didn't really mean anything, but it's easy to get wrapped up in the what-ifs and get your hopes up. And then your husband tells everyone and their mother (seriously, one of his co-workers called his mother, an OB, to share with her my stats), and you get the questions and emails 30 times a day, and it's a fast downward slope right into craziness.

Today's the full moon and DH is still convinced it could be the big day. I'd love for him to be right, but I may have to force myself into being a pessimist if only for my own sanity. 10 days until the due date, 17 until the latest my doctors will let me go. I can handle that...no matter what, he'll be here soon. Just not soon enough!

37 weeks and progress!

So I had my 37 week appointment today. They weren't planning on doing my first internal until next week, but when I described the pressure I have been feeling (like the baby is trying to swim south!) to the nurse she suggested checking in today to see what was going on. Sounded good to me, although I automatically reminded my giddy, anxious husband that whatever they said could not determine the exact day we would be having the baby. It could still be 3+ weeks.

So I was very surprised when the doc came in, checked, and it didn't hurt at all. That was my first sign that the pressure might have been more than I was allowing myself to believe it was. Yup: 3 cm, 80 percent effaced, baby at about 0 station. Totally wasn't expecting that. Neither was the hubs, who just finished reading about the stages of labor and blurted out, "Crap, you're in transitional labor!" and then asked the doc if we needed to be admitted. :)

I know this could be where I am for quite awhile now, but it's nice to know the little dude is making his way south and that things are already looking good. Even if I totally stalled here and we hit the due date or over, induction would be easier since I'm already primed to go.

DH will now be working like a mad man to get his projects in order, since he's convinced I can go into full-blown labor at any moment. I should probably update my status reports at work, too. Ya know, just in case.

36 weeks

Less than one month to go! Assuming we make our due date. I still have that "feeling" that he'll arrive before then, but I really shouldn't focus on it. I'd hate to start getting my hopes up only to end up with an induction at 41 weeks.

Had the first of my weekly doc appointments this morning, what a joy. Because it's totally convenient to skip out of work once a week to sit in a waiting room and then get rushed through the 30 second actual appointment. I am not complaining...each visit I love because I get reassured Lil G is doing fine and dandy. But it really does put a cramp in the day!

Today we were able to confirm that Lil G is head down and in position, which was a relief. I was pretty sure what I had been feeling was his rear end, but hearing the doc confirm was great. My practice doesn't do internals until 38 weeks, so I don't know if we have any real progress yet. I'm pretty sure he's starting to drop -- this weekend there was a marked change in my pelvic pain, lightening crotch, and bathroom breaks. I guess we just wait and see now. I assume he'll let us know when he's ready. :)

Here's the 36 weeks pic:

35 weeks and pictures!

I have soooo been slacking in the posting department. Sorry.

Not that much has been going on aside from me getting bigger. I'm officially huge and hitting the "uncomfortable" stage. I also have been assaulted by heartburn that can be described by no other word but evil.

But 5 weeks! 5 weeks!!!!! And DH is convinced I'll go early. Who knows why, but if this kid's nudging and bulging are any sign of his space constraints, I also wouldn't be surprised. I've told him he needs to hang on until July 27 for my own comforts on his well-being. After that, he's welcome to arrive when he wishes.

Now it's picture time. We finally got a new camera and it's amazing how horrid the old one was in comparison. Enjoy!

The 35-week belly shot.

The nursery! Here's the crib...

And his bookshelf...

And his ABC and 123 letterpress prints. Still working on the dresser and glider areas...I'll update soonly.

And for good measure, one of the adorable Ms. Fredo. :)