Full Up and Worn Out

Yesterday we saw our boy, kind of mushed and squished into his tight quarters, too much body to fit on a single ultrasound screen anymore. We have another picture of his foot (I’m starting to wonder what is it with u/s techs and baby feet) and a couple of his profile: head, eyes, nose, lips. I’m full to the brim with baby. They guesstimate that he’s about 7.5 pounds by now, with a 1 pound margin of error. And he’s definitely a boy. I made them check. (No more surprises!) My due date was moved up 2 days to November 3 – 2 weeks from today.

And then. . .

This morning I woke up around 4:15 needing to use the bathroom. I lay there too long, waking all the way up (which I usually try to avoid unless I’m in a sleepy, stubborn stupor and try to convince myself I can go back to sleep without peeing – it never works, I tell you) because I was remembering the dream I had just awoken from. Lately, I’ve had the sense that my dreams have been incredibly vivid, but the images flit and flee from before my consciousness and I can never remember them. Until this morning. . .

I dreamed that I was in someone’s bathroom – all green, glossy tile with retro-ish circular patterns – and I stood up from the toilet and felt something weird. I wiped down there and saw lots of pink. Then. . . my water broke. So I climbed into the bathtub, took off my socks and shoes (you know I’ve taken to wearing flip flops exclusively, right?) and my khaki shorts (?) and piled them up next to the tub. I ran some hot water and turned on the jets (jetted tub – fabulous) figuring that what my doc doesn’t know (i.e. water broken and sitting in what amounts to a hot tub) won’t hurt me.

Then I woke up. And couldn’t go back to sleep for several hours. My back was aching, and occasionally my abdomen too. Period-like cramping sensations, coming and going. I thought to myself how I should really pack up a “just in case my water breaks” bag – with garbage bags, a towel, a change of underwear and pants, a pad or two – and stick it in my car . . . Then . . .finally . . . back to sleep.

I was so tempted to stay in bed today. Instead, I’m wondering how imminent labor might be at this point. I mean, besides the obvious that it’s going to happen eventually. So, I looked up some of the “signs” I’m having and came across this:

Possible Signs Labor May Begin Soon:

·Backache: a persistent dull ache that makes you restless and irritable. (Check!)
·Cramps. abdominal cramping that is mild to moderate in discomfort. (Check!)
·PMS symptoms: crabby, irritable. (and wanting to cry. . . Check!)
·Nesting Urge. (in the form of cooking – who knew? – and helping with homework. . . Check!)
·Frequent, soft bowel movements. (tmi, but Check!)
·Flu-like symptoms. (feeling totally rundown. . . Check!)

Only time will tell, I guess. In the meantime, I can’t wait to take a nap. . .

~Nichole