Early Labor Continues...

6:10 am: Early Labor Continues: 

from: http://howtocureisomnia.blogspot.com/

It's crazy to think that I'm technically in early labor...and it's crazier to think of how long it could last. I could be in early labor like I was with Caleb (a MONTH!) or I could end up like Tristan and it only last a day. It's hard to say. I thought with this being my third, it would happen faster, but here I am - sitting on the couch typing this, with my little kitten, Drama at my side. She's a 7 month old darling: my sidekick. 

My Drama Mama

So anyway....

I didn't sleep well last night at all. I think part of my problem was adrenaline...I'm just so excited about the birth of my baby. Another part was the fact that I was feeling very itchy, especially my legs, for some reason. I also had trouble getting comfortable, which has been the state of sleep for me for a week now. 

Last night I had a lot of contractions and pressure & heaviness that made walking difficult, but then things just sort of relaxed. I'm glad. I didn't want to go into labor last night. I'm so excited, but after my day yesterday, I was so tired I don't know if I could have handled the well, labor of labor!

My doctor's visit did jumpstart my getting ready...I did the laundry to be sure I had a clean nursing bra and to be sure K had clean swim trunks, in case I need him to get in the tub with me as I labor. I also want a variety of outfits to choose from to wear home. Silly, I know, but true. I have stuff packed, but I think I might make a few changes to my hospital bag.

I also added a bag of snacks. Power protein bars for K, and apple and granola for me. We have cold water ready in the refrigerator. I have two books I'm ready, so I can easily toss one in my bag. I'll probably go with In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner. It's an easy read that doesn't require a lot of thought or remembering where you were...which I'm likely to forget with all the excitement and the first night with the baby. It's a great book though and a great movie as well, if you like "chick flicks."

K goes to work today, which I'll admit makes me a little worried, but I'm sure things will be just fine. I actually slept through the night...well, I slept from 1:30-ish until the time of this blog, but I was contraction free, so that's a good thing. Today I have movies we picked up at the library, so I'll maybe watch a few and I might even lie down to nap some. I'm so happy I finished the work I needed to do around here so I can rest at this point. The living room is still not done, but surprisingly that doesn't bother me too much. N has to come over to look at a spot of plaster that won't sand (naturally, being plaster) and after that, K can get to it.

How I'm feeling this morning & how a mama-to-be might be feeling at this stage: 

1. No pain, really. Just discomfort.
2. Contractions...most are pretty painless, some take my breath away, most are just annoying.
3. Pressure in lower abdomen and pelvis.
4. Rectal pressure...I constantly feel like I have to have a bowel movement.
5. Lower back pain. Again, nothing unbearable, but it's there pretty much constantly
6. Restlessness - hence the time and the fact that I finished all the laundry, cleaned the kitchen floor last night, made sure the gerbils were all set for our departure, and worked on the hospital bag more.

Here's a link for your reading pleasure: Labor Signs/Symptoms

I guess I'm in what they call "Prodromal Labor:

Prodromal Labor
Contractions

• May begin irregular and become regular
• Usually stay five or greater minutes apart
• May feel strong, but usually do not get closer together
• Lying down does not usually make them go away
• May last 24-36 hours without significant cervical changes
• Resting and sleeping may be challenging
• It is common proactice to be sent home to rest or to await stronger labor

Cervix
May thin out but not dilate more than [not sure what was meant to be here, as it is absent from their page]

I've never heard of this type of labor...but here I am, knee deep in it. lol 

Here's an even better link on Transition to Parenthood! It gives ideas for things to do during early labor. I did several of these, including playing cards. We played Rummy 500 and I won the first game, but lost the second (miserably). Ha! 

So anyway, it's a waiting game. It could happen soon or not for a week or so. It's hard to know what to want...except that I want my baby girl to be totally healthy, completely developed and ready to scream her little lungs out when she is pushed into that cold hospital delivery room. 

I'll be considered full term on Monday, so things should be just fine. I'm really happy to know that despite the statistics showing that Hamilton County has an extremely high rate of premature births, I've made it this far. The county rate is one of the highest in the nation. They don't know what the reason is. It spans race, culture, and socio-economic status. They don't know "if it's the water" (the words of the hospital rep who pre-registered me) or what. 

I'm just happy my girl stayed in Hotel Mama as long as she has.