Pregnancy Weight: Didn’t look. Nurse said it was up 1 pound. ”Doing good”, she said.
Baby’s Heartbeat: In the 150s.
Baby’s Position: Head down, just like a good little boy.
Weeks my belly is measuring at: 37 weeks. I know this doesn’t really mean much, but it’s interesting to know because each week I measure the exact week that I’m currently in.
Internal: After hearing on our pregnancy blog and on twitter, I was nervous. I mean, really nervous. I’d heard some bad things about what is called the internal. I was telling the nurse what I heard and she laughed. Even my own husband, who does not have a vagina, giggled a bit and told me that it wouldn’t be that bad.
Guess what?
The nurse and Tarzan were both right. I’m not sure what determines whether a pregnancy internal exam hurts or not, but mine was a breeze. Seriously. There was a tiny (and I do mean tiny) bit of pressure towards the end, but that was all. Not even as much pressure as a pap smear. I was worried about nothing!
Internal stats: 70% effaced. -2 station. Cervix closed. No dilation.
Baby’s Momma: I’m hot and getting ready for many things: To meet my little boy and to have my body back. Everyone who has ever told me that pregnancy sucks in the summer time is 100% correct, especially when living in Houston during this ridiculous heat wave that won’t give up.
Stretch Marks: Still none.
Belly Button: Still in. (Thank you very much.)
Next appointment: July 2nd.
Big milestones this week: The nursery is finished with the exception of wall art. Since there is not a baby theme throughout the room it’s quite difficult to figure out what to put on the walls.
A/C is a must. All. Of. The. Time.
Checking things off of my “things to do before baby comes” list left and right. Today I bought some Size 1 diapers and that was such a fun experience starting at a bazillion diaper brands trying to predict the future and know what the baby will like.
My questions:
1. The past few days I’ve been having a crampy feeling, like I used to feel right before I started my period. It’s not full-on cramps, but just that awkward feeling that lets you know that bad cramps and a period are coming. What is that?
My OB said that it’s probably Braxton Hicks contractions. I was happy to hear this because another question I had was that I didn’t really think that I had felt any BH contractions and wondered if that was normal. (It is normal she said.)
2. What do real contractions feel like?
She said that they feel like really strong menstrual cramps, getting worse each time. She also said that I would “just know” when they were coming and that my whole belly would be hard to touch. She also said to call her after I’d been feeling contractions 10 minutes apart for at least an hour. Easy enough.
3. If and when my water breaks while at home, is it imperative to get to the hospital ASAP? Do I have time to take a shower? Take the dog to the boarders?
She said to give her a call if it does break. Chances are she would tell me to just shower at the hospital. She said that she probably wouldn’t recommend dropping our dog off first. It would be a better idea to have a friend or family member come over to do that for us.
4. Being that the weekend is here, what can I expect after the internal? Spotting? Bleeding? Cramping?
She said that since there wasn’t any blood on her glove after she did the internal, she didn’t think that I would have any spotting or bleeding. If I do have a little, it’s ok. If I have a lot, like to fill a pad when on your period, I should call. I shouldn’t have any cramping either.
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I asked my doctors what contractions felt like. I thought up until a 7 dialation that I wasn't having real contractions. Then when a 7 hit there was no mistaking it. I thought I was having braxton hicks contractions. The only thing that made it not braxton hicks is I was dialating my water breaking didn't make them more painful. I just had a feeling the baby was coming. Most of the time I don't have any problems with internals. I'm glad you didn't have any problems. They are going to check today I think and do my GBS. I thought they usually didn't do GBS test after positive with the first baby, but I guess I was wrong. Congrats
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