So emotional! Can I give birth yet already??

[raynelady]

I'm getting close to my due date--but not close enough to warrant all this physical and emotional turmoil! So I am hoping for some input from others.

I'm 35 weeks pregnant (maybe 37--my ovulation cycle was totally screwy, what can I say). I'm measuring a couple of centimeters over that. No sonogram to date. Planning a home water birth.

Braxton hix contractions are becoming increasingly strong every day, so that currently I have to stop whatever I'm doing (including standing), but they're not very long and there's no regularity to them at all. I think my body must have reached some critical boiling point, because I'm hotter than I've ever been (although my thermometer tells me I'm "normal"), and that's saying a lot, since I live in TX, and it's not even August any more!

Emotionally I'm a wreck. I'm just not generally an effusively emotional person--I cried twice this morning, over really stupid things. (Once when DH mentioned he was taking DD to church and once when DH asked if there was anything I wanted to get done around the house today.)

Please, someone, tell me, do these things indicate I'm moving at a nice, steady clip towards birthing this little babe? I can't imagine another month of living this way! But I don't want to be a silly about it and call my midwife (who is delightful, and I'm sure would talk to me as long as I wanted her to) unless all these things might add up to an early birth.

Thanks to this wonderful support group! What a delightful group to find.

[MonikitaUT]

2 Hang in there, mama!

I don't know if what you are describing will lead to an early birth, but I can at least sympathize with some of what you're going through! I'm 32 weeks and also planning a home water birth.

I go through the same emotional things that you mentioned. Sometimes I cry over nothing, or at least feel like crying. I've been "running hot" my whole pregnancy, but nothing compared to how I've been the last two weeks or so. I have these hot flashes that about kill me! My temp is normal, and my skin doesn't even feel that hot from the outside, but I'm burning up! Just today my SO came upstairs (where I have the a/c blasting) and said "It's freezing up here!" I apologized, but there is nothing I can do! Just when I've cooled off a bit another heat wave hits me from the inside.

Try and do something special and comforting for yourself, whatever that might be. For me that would be to take a long bath, or eat some comfort food. Your birthing time will come.

[raynelady]

Thanks, Monikita. It helps to know others are feeling the same way, late in pregnancy. Last time it wasn't anything like this--but then, I wasn't a mama last time, and had much more time/energy for myself.

I would love to take a nice, hot bath--but I only like baths if they're almost scorching hot, and I can't do that until after the birth.

But I'm all about lazing around as I can--happily my wonderful partner is all about me lazing around as I can too, and is taking on much more than his share of the household duties.

BTW, are you a student at UT? Or does the UT mean something else? I'm a UT student myself right now, and am loving finding other mamas around campus--there aren't many of us!

Karen