Week 36

The Week 36 checkup was on Monday. I'm 60% effaced and 1 cm dilated! Dr. Sloan thought that this was good news that my body is starting the work of labor already. It hurt like hell when she checked in there. My pain tolerance must really suck. She guessed Nico would come a little early, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is true, as long as he's healthy! I asked her a few labor related questions and she reassured me that none of her patients have become paralyzed from an epidural. 

Other details of the visit: Heard a heartbeat of 141 bpm, belly size measured normally, got a routine test for Group B Strep with a cotton swab, and found out that I only gained a few more lbs.

  

A picture speaks a thousand words. Picture B is normal. C is mine! He's getting closer...

I'm continuing to have abdominal uncomfortable pressure/cramps, plus a throbbing, more intense low back pain has started this week. Fun! By the end of the day, I can barely walk. I've dropped a handful of hours at work but this hasn't seemed to help much. Next week will probably be all I can handle, and then I'll start using vacation days. I'm actually using my 1st personal day of the year today (Friday) because my back is hurting so badly. Bummer.

I've entertained myself a little with the online, "Is labor coming soon" quizzes, and according to these goofy tests, I am starting to have a majority of the signs. Besides low back pain, I can just feel everything has been looser this week down there. My bathroom visits have doubled or tripled this week too. Such exciting things to share- ha!

I am slightly "over" the traumatizing breastfeeding class now! I have asked a few people the reality of it all, and it seems that the 3 hour feeding interval doesn't last too long. It may stretch to 4-5 hr. intervals after a quick while, and I may not have to get up multiple times in the night to keep my milk supply running after all. Phew. I apparently was pretty stressed on a subconscious level about all of this, because I had a dream/nightmare earlier this week that I was practicing breastfeeding already with Miley. What the heck?!

I feel that everything is about ready for this little guy to pop out. Just a few minor things left that don't have to necessarily be done. Gotta hang a couple things on the nursery wall and that room is done. Clothes, blankets, and bedding could be washed. David said he would figure out the car seat base too. That's all I can think of for now!