Tuesday, April 22, 2008

The home stretch

I'm creeping toward being full term with this baby. Today makes me 36 weeks and 2 days pregnant. I need this little bundle out of me. NOW. I don't remember being this miserably uncomfortable with baby boy. Granted, I have about 30 more pounds on me now than I did when I was pregnant with him and I'm guessing that accounts for the discomfort, but Holy God in the Sky - it's awful being this big! I feel like a circus side-show and imagine that I look like one, too, when attempting to get out of bed, off of the couch, out of the car, etc. I don't remember what it was I did yesterday but it apparently looked pretty funny to baby boy, because he started laughing at the effort it took for me to do it.

I'm hoping to bargain with the doctor tomorrow to perform the c-section at 38 weeks instead of 39 if I haven't gone into labor on my own by that time. I thought repeat c-sections were typically scheduled for 38 weeks, anyway, but maybe that's just my wishful thinking.

As much as I'd like to avoid another c-section, I'm not confident in my ability to handle a vaginal birth. Any woman who has battled pregnancy constipation knows that some major effort is oftentimes required to rid the body of the poo - if I can't handle a little poo-removal discomfort, how in the world would I push out a whole person? Because I'm on a blood thinner, if I go into labor on my own I may be SOL as far as receiving any kind of anesthesia if so desired. It'll depend on the timing of the last injection with when active labor begins. There's always the drugs, I guess, but if I'm going to go through the horror experience of a true vaginal birth, I'd like to be coherent enough to remember the event.

I hope I'll know the difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and true labor contractions. Over the last 48 hours I've had some pretty good contractions of some sort. Not painful, more like my breath is being taken away and my insides are being squeezed. Seeing as though there isn't half of a fetus hanging from my va-jay-jay, I'd like to venture a guess that these are contractions of the Braxton Hicks variety. On a humorous note, there was a moment last week where I thought my water had broken. Turns out I just peed my pants. I pee a little every time I step out of the shower these days. Fun times.

I've changed my mind on the name for the baby. Again. Norah has been moved to the #2 spot. Elliotte's off the table. I'm keeping this one a secret, though. The only other person who knows of the name is Hubs, and he loves it, too. My faithful readers will just have to wait until the announcement of the birth to know the final decision. Speaking of which - the hospital has free Wi-fi, and I'm hoping to get my hands on a laptop for while I'm there. If I wind up going into labor on my own I would LOVE to blog through the labor process. If I wind up with another c-section then I'll need something to do during the baby's sleep time while I'm cooped up for 4 days. It's not like I'm going to have hordes of visitors. And, really - who can sleep in those awful hospital beds?

The bag is packed. The room is just about ready. The c-section is tentatively scheduled. I guess all I can do is sit back and let nature take its course or let the doctor slice me open. Either way, I know that life as I know it is going to change drastically and the feelings of excitement, some sadness (please be okay with all of this, baby boy, and know how much i love you and how much of my heart belongs to you. please.), and all-out terror are incredibly overwhelming.

And no, those aren't tears - the, uh...ceiling is leaking.

6 comments:

Mommyrella said...

Vaginal birth isn't all it's cracked up to be. When I have to jump around or if I sneeze while running I pee a little. My vagina is all stretched out like an old shoe. But, if it happens, there's always Kegels, right? Best of luck to you, mama!

Matter Of Fact Mommy said...

LMFAO at the post and at mommyrella's comment above. an old shoe, indeed. i joked recently with my first-time-pregnant friend that her vagina (ew, okay) "va-jay-jay" was no longer going to be able to handle one beer bottle, but 3 beer bottles! and then i put 3 beer bottles into the pitcher on the table in the bar. (she was our DD and we were 'celebrating' after her baby shower the same day. ahem)

yeah, i sometimes wish i had c-sections. my husband, on the other hand, claims that it's BETTER after children. i tell ya, while it may be better on the inside, it certainly doesn't look better on the outside.

*COUGH*, oops, i peed a little!

Elisabeth said...

You are going to be fine - no matter what. And Nat will always know how much you love him. I can't wait to hear the new name choice. I'm seriously going to have anxiety until you tell me. So, I'm thinking maybe you should just tell me and I won't tell anyone else. =) Please?

WORKING MOM said...

I remember wanting to deliver early. We had an Asian doctor who would say to me, 'Let cook to full term." yeah, yeah, yeah. Best luck to you.

Samantha said...

You are definitely at the hardest part! I am so excited for you though! And no fair keeping a secret from all your loyal fans!

And I will let you know that after 2 vaginal births, I peed myself just the other day. So you aren't the only one. At least I was at home!

Unknown said...

I wish I had the option of a VBAC
:(

Anywho, I too am anxious to hear your name choice. DH and I are telling people we are naming the baby Oscar if a boy and Berta if a girl, haha. We love to see their reactions. We do have a handful of names picked out but our final choice will also be a secret.