The Waiting Game Begins

Well, I guess it has begun a few weeks ago, but the real waiting game has now started. I had an appointment yesterday morning (39w3d), and my midwife stripped/swept my membranes. To be honest, I was really excited about this happening, although I had no idea what to expect. It really wasn't that bad. It just felt like a really uncomfortable cervical exam. I had some cramping while she was doing it though, and it felt weird because Cael's head was RIGHT THERE! I was 2+cm dilated, and still at 70% effaced. I also gained 2 pounds since my Friday appointment (2 pounds in 4 days - ugh!), so I'm currently at 148. I will NOT get to 150. It just won't happen.

Hopefully having my membranes stripped will do the trick, and I'll go into labor real soon. I'm actually not too hopeful though, because it's already been over 24 hours. She said to go home, and have sex - which we didn't do, so I'm afraid that the stripping will ineffective.

I did do a lot yesterday after the appointment. We went to JCPenny's, and finally bought curtains for our living room. We really need them, because the sun just shines in the picture window so brightly, and we're afraid of it ruining our leather couch, which is right in front of the window. We spent about $120 on curtains (and that's not including the curtain rod), but it will be worth it. They're light-blocking and noise-reducing, so they will also keep the apartment cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. We bought 4 panels, two of which they had in stock, and the other two that will be shipped within the week. Once we get the two panels in the mail, we'll buy the curtain rod and hang them up.

We also went to Lowe's to get some more painting supplies to finish painting the living room. Matt came home early today, so we finished painting the living room (despite me having flu-like symptoms since yesterday). I am so in love with the color, and I'll post pictures once we have all the furniture where we want it. So basically, we did a lot of running around after my appointment yesterday, and I did have some really uncomfortable/semi-painful contractions, so I'm really hoping I have Cael before his due date on Saturday - 3 days away.

If I don't have him by Saturday, we have a NST scheduled for 5pm on Saturday evening, and I have another appointment scheduled for Tuesday with my midwife and to have another NST done. If I don't have him by Tuesday, they'll strip my membranes again, and I'll have another appointment - probably Friday - the same week as well. My midwife yesterday explained that once I'm 40 weeks and over, they see you twice a week, and you have NST's with each appointment.

If I go to 41 weeks, they'll do another ultrasound (probably to check fluid, estimated weight and fetal well-being), and then talk about inducing. They really don't want you to go past 41 weeks. I REALLY want to avoid being induced unless it's medically necessary, so I hope he comes soon. I don't want to experience Pitocin, and if I have to, I'm afraid I won't have the natural labor and delivery I want. Pitocin contractions are much stronger, and I'm afraid I won't be able to cope with them like I would natural contractions. But Cael will be here before 41 weeks, so I can just stop talking about induction right now.

I just can't believe that my pregnancy has come to an end (almost). It's been such a long road, and felt like it's taken forever to get here. But I know once he comes, it's going to just fly by. Before you know it, he'll be 6 weeks old, and I'll have to go back to work, and Cael will go to daycare :(. It makes me sad to even think about that idea. Especially since as of tomorrow, it will be 9 weeks that I've been out of work. I wish I could be a stay at home mom, but we really need my paycheck AND health insurance. At least the daycare is at my hospital, so he'll come with me to work in the morning, and he'll be with me right after my shift ends.

Oh well, one step at a time. Let's deal with the labor and delivery first, and then think about the rest. I just can't wait to hold him in my arms, and see what he looks like, and see if he has any hair. I hope he has a full head of hair, and isn't a baldy-bean like I was. Soon though. I can't be pregnant forever, and the end is in sight.

:::Please come real soon, Cael. Mommy and Daddy want to meet you:::