41 Weeks and Counting
Ok, so at the most, this can only go on for seven more days. My induction is scheduled for the 20th. An end is in sight. I have to keep reminding myself of that. It helps to fend off the misery, the back pain, the pressure, the “nothing fits me anymore” business.
So does this:
Can you see what I see? Two closed little eyes, a squished nose in between and a little arm that is across the mouth and smashing into his little nose.
Today at the amniotic fluid index ultrasound, everything was 100% fine. He has plenty of fluid in there. He’s perfectly comfy and cozy. He may or may not be eating his arm. Once they were done measuring fluid, they moved in for the “fun” shots of his face. In 2D, they were pointing things out to me and asking me if I could see them. Honestly, it looked like a profile picture of Jesus with a long pointy and curled witch nose and possibly a beard. I told them so. They moved to 4D and it suddenly became clear what I was looking at; and boy was that part fun. Right away, I said, “He looks like Sassy!” and my Mom, who was there with me, agreed. The techs think that he is also bald. Usually hair shows up white on the 4D ultrasounds and nothing showed up on his head at all. This will be my second bald kid if that’s the case.
After the ultrasound was over, I went upstairs for the non-stress test. Right away, there were accelerations. In fact, there were so many that they just needed me to stay on a little longer in order to get a minute of baseline. I told my Mom he was so active because he is in there lining the exit with sandbags. He’s definitely cozy and not willing to come out.
I’ve been having lots of contractions since last night, many that have continued throughout the day. I’m trying not to get my hopes up and am instead just going with the flow. Yesterday, I considered going the castor oil route. Today, I decided it’s not worth it. He’ll come when he’s ready, or he’ll come when they induce me next week. For now, he’s healthy and I’m managing the best I can. That’s all I can ask for. I know the midwives think that ultrasounds are largely unnecessary; but I have to say, seeing that little face today gave me a definite mood boost. He’ll be here soon; I can wait.
Yes, I’m STILL Pregnant
Today I am 40 weeks and 5 days pregnant. I spent the night writhing around my bed because I was having some seriously strong contractions. Today, I’ve had some too; but nothing regular, nothing to call the midwives about. I am about ready to call a medical supply store and get a walker or possibly a wheelchair. My back and hips just simply can’t support this kid anymore. I need a zero gravity chamber or else I’m just not comfortable.
Everyone’s advice to me while I was at the mall yesterday was, “Keep walking,” like I hadn’t just spent three hours walking around the mall. When your hip bones have loosened so much so that the only thing keeping your legs from crumbling to the ground is the skin that surrounds them, “keep walking” is not what you want to hear. I also didn’t really want to hear the three women speaking Spanish who were clearly discussing my stomach. It wasn’t in a nice way either; it was in a snarky way and less than three feet from me. They also cut me in line as I waited to get another size for Big I. It made me wish I could say in Spanish, “Well, my belly isn’t nearly as big as your a$$.” I considered having a “Bridesmaids” moment where I just started rattling off Spanish words. . . “azul. . . hola. . . ” with an attitude. You can’t even imagine how much I wished I was standing there with one of my many Spanish speaking friends. Instead I just pretended I knew they were saying awful things and gave them evil, “I will follow you to the parking lot and take you out” glares. Some might say I was being paranoid or just miserable because of my current state of being; but when Big I, who lives in la-la land, notices, you feel validated in your wanting to kill and maim.
In case you haven’t figured it out, I’m pretty much over the whole “advantages of being 40 + weeks pregnant” thing. The positive outlook I had post massage the other day is long gone. You try having a killer contraction and sneezing at the same time. Bad things happen. Trust me. It’s hard to be positive when you feel like you’ve been reduced to an incontinent invalid.
My Mom’s friend had a really fantastic idea for me. She said that anytime someone asks me “Didn’t you have that baby yet?” I should charge them a dollar. At the rate I’m getting asked, I would have a college fund ready to go, enough for Harvard, by the time he’s born.
Today at the grocery store, where old people gawk at me like I’m Hester Prynne, I bought tropical fruit to eat. Tomorrow I will add it to the list of crap that’s supposed to send you into labor and doesn’t work. So far. . .
- Evening primrose oil (both ways if you know what I’m talking about, and if you don’t, please don’t ask)
- Red leaf raspberry tea (have consumed enough of the stuff to fill the Chesapeake Bay)
- The thing that got me in this predicament in the first place
- Walking, like a lot
- Massage with accupressure point stuff
- Foot massage
- Eggplant Parmesan
- Fresh basil
- Pineapple
- Baths
- Spicy food
- Excessive cleaning (mopping, dusting, vacuuming, reorganizing every closet in the house, etc. etc. etc.)
- Trying NOT to think about it.
- Trying TO think about it and telling myself I CAN go into labor on my own.
- Even prayer. . . hey God, what’s up with that???
Tonight is a full moon and tomorrow rain is moving into the area. Perhaps Mother Nature will have something to say about this inhabitant of my body. I’m starting to feel like Sigourney Weaver. You’re cooked baby; move out. At the rate I’m going, he may come out with teeth and possibly talking. Heck, he might even be able to walk.
The Advantages of Being 40+ Weeks Pregnant
Being overdue can really suck. Let’s face it. It’s pretty much like being a kid on Christmas morning. You wake up, realize it’s Christmas, run down the stairs expecting to find all kinds of awesome, when you really find someone sitting there that says, “Hey kid, not today; but don’t be discouraged. It could happen anytime within the next two weeks.”
On my due date, Mr. BBM sent me for a 1 hour pregnancy massage. It was all kinds of wonderful. I told her to hit any accupressure points that would help bring labor on and she did. She said that if it works, it would happen within 48 hours. It’s been more than 48 hours now. . . and nothing.
In an effort to keep a positive attitude, I’ve come up with a list of advantages to being overdue. Yes, you heard me. . . advantages. Believe it or not, there are some.
No one expects pretty much anything of you. What they do expect is that you will be a complete and total couch potato. Also, frequent naps are no longer frowned upon as laziness. They are necessary. I mean, who’s really going to wake a sleeping giant, especially one who is over-due?
There’s no need to find a coaster when you’re hanging out on the couch with a good book. Your belly makes a fine table-top. Also, it’s a great book prop. If I could just get the baby to use his feet to turn the pages, I’d be in major business.
I never have to look around for the remote. In fact, it’s right under my chin, pretty much all the time.
There’s no need for a table for the popcorn when watching a movie with the family. The belly also serves as a wonderful TV tray.
No time to find a table to write on when taking a quick phone message? No problem.
You don’t need to worry about belly button lint. Heck, you don’t have to worry about even having one anymore. There’s just a funny stretched out area where the belly button used to live, sort of like the artist formerly known as Prince. The skin formerly known as a belly button. . .
You can be as grumpy and miserable as you want to be, and lash out at anyone you want to without consequences. Who’s going to argue with a pregnant person who is about to burst? Unless they’re a complete idiot, no one.
Finally, tonight I’m going to Big I’s swim meet. Think I won’t have my pick of where to sit? Leg room too? That’s right. Who would be stupid enough to sit anywhere near someone who looks like me?
Miserable? Check.
Likely to have my water break all over you? Check.
I can pretty much clear a room, or at least a section on the bleachers big enough to accommodate me and any mess I might make. Besides the mess part, there aren’t that many people who want to be near me when they might have to help deliver a baby. And I happen to like my own personal space. It’s definitely a huge advantage.
Finally, when people ask you when you’re due and you say, “two days ago,” there’s no shortage of compliments on how amazing you look. I mean, if you’re two days overdue and you’re out in public, you’re practically a super hero. It’s nice to be admired (pitied. . . whatever).
No News is No News
Yesterday, Mr. BBM came upstairs from his office to find me sprawled out on the kitchen floor in front of my kitchen island. Surrounded by baking dishes, trays, serving dishes and cooling racks, I pleaded with him, “Help me.”
He told me he was just up for a quick break. He had another conference call and he couldn’t help me.
“No,” I whined at him, “not ‘help me’ with the cabinet; help me STOP cleaning and organizing. Make me STOP!”
“Why?” he said. “The only thing left to do is the basement and garage.”
And then, because I checked a little box on BlogHer that said I won’t swear on my blog, I said something that I can’t say here. Mr. BBM nearly lost it laughing; but I meant what I said. I have had it.
In the past couple weeks, I have organized two linen closets, a coat closet, an entire laundry room and every kitchen cabinet. My entire house has been vacuumed and steam mopped, dusted and wiped clean. I have broken fingernails to show for it and a back that is just killing me constantly, although I can’t tell if that’s from all the steam mopping or the torpedo of a stomach I’m sporting these days.
What appears to be just a thin layer of skin covering legs and arms and baby butt is stretched beyond all comprehension. I itch; I’m tired and I am so done.
Tomorrow is my official due date. Today I go to see the midwife. She said last week that I might be able to convince her to try to strip my membranes today (sounds like all kinds of fun, huh?). We tried this with Sassy six years ago (Yes, six. It was her birthday yesterday) and it didn’t work at all. Did I mention there were two attempts at that? So, you can understand why, even if they’re willing to try to help a girl out, I’m not optimistic that it will work.
After I was awakened at 5 a.m. with a contraction and killer need for a trip to the bathroom, I started looking up massage people on my phone. The thing is though, I can’t even really make an appointment, because who knows if I’ll be able to make it!
I have decided that the whole “Third babies come early and fall out” theory is just a complete and utter bunch of garbage. Whoever said that did not realize that my insides must be like the Taj Mahal. Why would any baby want to move out?
I was reading the “labor” chapter of one of my pregnancy books this week, to refresh my memory as to the pain I’ll be experiencing soon. In it, the author writes that you can tell you’re ready to go when your once round stomach, develops corners. I’m an octagon, and I am ready to go.
Giddy Up
A couple weeks ago, Mr. BBM had a dream that I had the baby. In his dream, the baby was 23.5 inches long at birth. We both laughed; ha, ha, that’s funny but entirely not possible.
Last night, I had a woman tell me that she gave birth to her son nine days past her due date and that he was over 10 lbs and 23 inches long. Then she went on to tell me how she used to get pummeled in the ribs and hip bones at the same times.
Check. I’m basically getting kicked in the throat with a headbutt to the cervix on a daily basis. It’s all kinds of fun.
And there are new symptoms that labor is just around the corner (or not). Lately, I’m worried people are going to address me “Howdy Cowgirl.” I am totally walking like I’ve been riding a horse and that is exactly how I feel. I don’t remember EVER feeling this way with either of the girls.
On Thursday, I will be 39 weeks. I have reached the single digits, only nine days to go. Yet right now, those nine days, seem like an eternity. I am fully expecting to be able to attend Big I’s first swim meets which will happen on the 8th-9th of October. Clearly, the eviction notice was ignored.
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