So I had my 37 week checkup last Wednesday. I go back for my 38th week tomorrow afternoon.
As I’ve said before, these checkups have been pretty uneventful, very quick, in and out visits. This past week I saw that sweet nurse practitioner, Amy, who’s super nice and also very pregnant, so it’s nice to have someone to relate.
She felt around my tummy and told me that the baby’s head is now “engaged,” which basically means her head is now in the birth canal and I assume it means she’s not going to flip around anymore. I thought of it as a bullet waiting in a gun chamber, although let’s hope she won’t shoot out as fast. HA.
Everything else went very well. We went through the protocol as far as what I would need to do if I feel I’m going into labor. I would need to call up to the office and they’ll put a call into the hospital to let them know I’m coming. We discussed the probable signs of labor and I was instructed to call as soon as I see these signs.
Not too much longer now! I CANNOT BELIEVE THE END IS ALMOST HERE. Or should I say, the “beginning?” Yes, I think beginning is more appropriate!!
Now for the 37-38 week WTFs…
- I’ve been having some more contractions, and they aren’t what you’d think. I always thought they’d be an actual “contracting” of my stomach muscles but I guess in the beginning they don’t necessarily have to be. Mine are coming in the form of crampy stomach pains and sharp twinges of “period” crampiness in my uterus. Also, of Avery moves a certain way, my stomach will tighten up and become instantly sore all over.
- Sleeping has become more and more of a problem. Sheesh, don’t you think it would make more sense to get the best rest of your life right before you have a baby who will keep you up at all hours for months? You’d think Mother Nature would be kind enough to let you stock up on sleep since it becomes a rare and precious commodity after the baby is born. Nope. Not so.
- I’ve begun to swell really bad, and retain a ton of water. Thankfully, this has only happened within the last week or so; I know some pregnant women have to deal with this as like, 5-6 months, so I’m grateful for that. But this recent gain of fluid has swelled everything so bad that even my flip-flops (the only shoes I’ve been able to wear) cut into my feet a little if I’ve been walking or standing for extended amounts of time. For instance, mom and I went to Target the other day and by the time we got home, my ankles were missing and my flip-flops wouldn’t fit me anymore. My feet were the feet of a 500 pound woman. BLECH. I spent the rest of the night propped up on pillows and whining about how I couldn’t do anything.
- Nocturnal peeing has reared its stupid head again, only worse than ever before. I’m up every hour only to dribble out about an ounce and its back to bed.
- My joints have become really sore. Not only the obvious ones like my ankles and knees and lower back, but even my fingers and wrists and elbows. It’s like, everything’s filled with fluid and is just sore for no reason.
- Not only are my arms sore, but they numb up and fall asleep a lot, especially when I’m sleeping. I’ve woken up in the morning before, and had to use both hands and my face to shut the alarm off. Seriously?
- Not that its starting to get really hot outside, I’m finding I’m sweating more than ever. Of course the heat’s not helping with the water retention and I’ve started to waddle a bit more. I’ve developed a taste for all things cold and sweet and I’m turning the air down more than ever at home. There’s too much of me!
The best news though, is I won’t have to seal with any of this too much longer. My “roommate” will get her eviction notice very soon, and I will finally have my body to myself again for a while. It’s going to be such a relief!!!
They’ll check my cervix fro effacement and dilation tomorrow afternoon for the first time. I’m SO anxious to see what they say. Stay tuned!
