37 weeks - Week of July 1

[luckydog]

37 weeks today - officially full term by all the standards!! Woo!

Because I can't sleep in anymore anyway, I made up a little roll call based on the last thread. There are a LOT of us!

marziechar - July 20
meagansroses - July 20
partyofsix - July 21
mollybird77 - July 21
luckydog - July 22
bdavis337 - July 22
jee'smom - July 22
Momof3Nic - July 23
elvishlucky - July 23
becoming - July 25
addysmama - July 25
shelsi - July 25
racecar - July 25
bumblebena - July 26
BAU3 - July 26
newmommaamy - July 26
newmom22 - July 27
soybeansmama - July 27
jenh - July 28
dreamer - July 31

This is going to be such a fun week! I should have plenty of distraction to keep my mind off whether labor is imminent or not. We've got the holiday (and my 39th birthday on July 4). I'm skipping the fireworks this year, though. It's supposed to be hotter than hades (114F) and I just can't see getting comfortable enough to sit through that, not to mention being able to stay up that late (usually I'm asleep by 9:30 - no wonder I can't sleep in anymore ).

Then July 6 is our wedding anniversary. We have a plans to dine at a super fancy restaurant. I have no IDEA what I will wear!

For those whom it applies, what are your holiday plans? And isn't today Canada Day?

[~Demeter~]

Yesterday we went to a carnival that we go to every year. It's in my hometown and I love seeing people I haven't seen in ages there. It was hot but not too hot (read: not AZ hot) and I was definitely moving a little slower than I normally do. When I got home last night I ached EVERYWHERE. My pubic bone felt like it was going to crack in half... I'm not sure why that happened. Anyway today we are heading back out there for a parade and a picnic/cookout. My family house is in the process of being foreclosed (this makes me sad but as my grandma tells me and my aunt, the owner now, a house is just a house.. home is where you feel most comfortable) so this is the last year we (my aunt) will be hosting the fourth of July festivities. I'm hoping I'm not too uncomfortable!!

Only a couple more weeks until our due dates, how crazy. Sometimes it feels like we just found out and the past 9 months went by so fast!

[jee'smom]

We always host the July 4th party for both my and dh's family, but with being so pg and all, we are not doing it this year. (We didn't want to have to cancel it last minute, after people bought food, etc.) So, we're just throwing together an impromptu party, with just the in-laws, they live around the corner. and some fireworks for the kids. Should be fun!

[becoming]

We went to a swimming party for one of my DS's little school friends today, and it was so unbearably hot. I felt bad, but we had to leave 30 minutes early. I really thought I was going to pass out if I had to stand outside for one more minute! I know my kids will be as glad as I am when I'm back to being a normal, fun, energetic mama!

My in-laws are coming up for the 4th. They wanted us to come to their house, but it's a 2-hour drive for us, and I politely declined. I'm such a party pooper these days!

I have a couple of goals this week. I've been saying I have my hospital bag all packed and ready, but I was looking at it a minute ago, and it's pretty bare. So I think I need to go through a checklist of some sort and make sure I have everything. I still haven't decided what in the heck I'm going to attempt to wear home! I'm sure I'll still look about 6 months pregnant, so probably maternity clothes!

My other goal is to pull out the few prepregnancy summer clothes I saved/stored and hang them back in my closet. Hopefully it will only be a few more weeks until I'm starting to fit back into them. That's an exciting, happy thought!

Have anyone else's contractions and "labor scares" actually *diminished* in the past week or so? I think my baby's decided he's just going to live his whole life in here!

[bdavis337]

Big family July 4th party, typical bbq, parade and fireworks deal. My dad has decided that Baby Boy will choose to arrive on the 4th. Ok, works for me since my entire family and stepsisters will all be around to watch the kids!

Yep, Baby isn't going ANYWHERE anytime soon. He's comfy, no longer stabbing my cervix regularly and I only get contractions when I walk up the stairs carrying something heavy, like the toddler or a basket of laundry. Time to get comfy for a while longer I think.

[meagansroses]

big big big party here: I don't know what I was thinking agreeing to do it again this year. We usually have about 60+ people who come to our house for a huge barbecue, swimming, horseshoes, fireworks, the works!!! I figure I have enough irish in me to invest in the "murphys law theory" that since I have sooooo much planned---that will be the day she wants to come out. But as DH says "You're having her here at home anyways--we'll just lock the bedroom door and tell them when she arrives" and I'm like: I don't think so.

Anyways, Thats all here. Just patiently waiting or not!!

[meagansroses]

Bee--My due date is July 20th in case you wanted to update your post!!

[Racecar]

My midwife said that she would attend me even if I went into labor today. I mean, I am technically 37 weeks and "legal" on Wed. so it wasn't a complete shock but it was still comforting to here. Sometimes they get really tied down by state regs. but one of the great things about homebirth compared to the birth center is that the regulations are much more hands-off for homebirth. Same midwives, same equipment/monitors, but less piddling stuff. I'm totally psyched!

With THAT SAID, I don't want to go until after this next weekend. We are supposed to get our final batch of hurricane shutters installed (the swanky accordion kind) and I want the drilling and banging to be done before the babymooning begins!

[SleepyMamaBear]

its TOO hot and muggy right this moment. its 11:40 and i am sitting ehre SWEATING like a body builder!
ok. we are SO ready for when this baby comes. all is prepared.
so that means i will be a 43 weeker right?

[BAU3]

I've actually been having more BH contractions the past few days, i typically have one or two a day , and very mild, but yesterday i had 4 just lying in bed before sleep, and they're definitly stronger. Not that i expect anything to happen early ( but boy oh boy do I WISH it would..). It made me realize I need to pack a bag etc.

No daytime 4th plans dh will be working.. then we 'll go to the lakefront for music and fireworks..if i can stay up that late...

BTW.. my due date is the 26th..

heres some good labor vibes going out to you all...

[mollybird77]

Hi all! I haven't been around in ages. Can I still be in the club?

I'm feeling okay these days. I'm very, VERY swollen this time around, but my bp seems to be pretty stable and low, which is good. The heartburn is killing me though. It seems that my food just doesn't want to digest at all anymore and I end up throwing up by the end of the day (TMI, sorry). Anyone else struggling with that?

I'm not having any vaginal exams, but I've tried feeling my own cervix and it seems to have disappeared It's nowhere to be found since it's so high! I can usually reach it with no problems. Anyone else have a cervix that's unreachable? DS was born right at 37 weeks, and dd was born right at 38 weeks, so I'm thinking that maybe I'll be going longer this time around? It's actually fine by me if I do. This will be my last pregnancy so I'm trying to enjoy these last days as much as I can. I also have a hair appointment next week that I REALLY don't want to miss, so I've been sending mental messages to this babe that he can't come out until after my hair looks good

[~Demeter~]

Molly the few times I've tried to find my cervix it's been unreachable as well.. not sure if that's because my belly is awkward in shape so it's difficult to reach anything around it or what but usually I am able to find my cervix even when it's up high. Oh and it's definitely like mush in there.

I've been super emotional the past couple of days and I hate it! I think this is the worst part of pregnancy. To top it off Sage has been really sluggish.. I think she flipped her body around and now I'm not feeling her movements as much. I'm trying not to stress about it.

[jee'smom]

Molly~ Of course you can stay! The more the merrier!!! My cervix is totally unreachable also, although I did feel it the other day, but think I pulled a muscle trying to reach it all the way up there! and then couldn't feel it again; and like Nic said, it's all mushy in there!

[bdavis337]

I can never, ever, ever reach my cervix. EVER. Even when I'm NOT pregnant. And with both my previous babies, I never managed to find it either. Not for lack of trying, I sheepishly admit.....

Nic, Baby Boy has flipped over properly as well, and he's a lot quieter. A bit disconcerting, isn't it? I was so accustomed to getting punched and kicked all day long that the last few weeks have been a bit wierd.

[Shelsi]

My cervix is too high as well. My mw mentioned at my last prenatal that next week she would be showing dh how to do a vaginal exam on me : I didn't expect that at all since the week before she said they don't do any VE's, even during labor or when I get pushy unless I ask. So I was a little taken aback and didn't say anything but I think I'll tell them next week "no thanks, I can do it myself." Or I can tell/show him how later in private since I know how to do it.

I convinced dh that we still want to go see fireworks tomorrow...hey now they say it will *only* be 112 as compared to the predicted 114 so it should be nice and cool right? LOL. He's being a big butt this evening though. He keeps saying he's not upset about anything but he's had no patience with Jake at all. I hate that, it brings out the mama bear in me when I feel like someone is bullying him.

I don't really expect anything to happen for another few weeks but I definitely fantasize about it regardless!

[luckydog]

I found out when we had birthday sex this am that I am suddenly VERY swollen down there. Yowza - what's that all about??

[~Demeter~]

Bethany, so when they move into a more proper position you feel them less??

Bee I'm swollen as well.... no sex birthday or otherwise going on here. That's not from lack of trying either, dh just isn't interested.

[BAU3]

I think i may have dropped a bit... does it happen all at once or is it a gradual thing? (you'd think I'd know this by now, but i don't)I just feel like theres a bit more room in my stomach... it could be that i was constipated for a few days and am no longer (I know, tmi)... i just don't feel as "full". Again, probably wishful thinking.

I keep going back and forth between feeling that three weeks is a long way away.. and feeling like its no time at all.

Is any one else really looking forward to labor? The birth of my third was an awesome experience, and i'm so looking forward to making this (which I'm sure will be my last) an even better one... Is that crazy or do most feel that way?

[Dreamer]

Originally Posted by BAU3

Is any one else really looking forward to labor? The birth of my third was an awesome experience, and i'm so looking forward to making this (which I'm sure will be my last) an even better one... Is that crazy or do most feel that way?

I'm looking forward to labor, for sure... I honestly think it's not going to kill me (which is more than I can say about how I felt last time!)...that it will be severely intense and totally worth the pain in the end... I think the whole event is going to bigger than I can even wrap my tiny brain around right now... I just can't wait to be on the other side looking back! :

Alayna

[newmommaamy]

Our little guy (as DH has renamed him) has not been kicking or punching for weeks, he move and stretches a lot especially at nigh but almost no kicking. I haven't had any of the painful rib kicks that everyone seems to talk about, maybe it is becuase I am very tall?

I tried to get DH to DTD and he is NOT ready for the baby to come and wouldn't . He looks at me like he wants to, which makes me feel good. He said after we get into our new place next weekend then we can try. But, I have not been in the mood for at least the last three months, and now that I am he is saying no Ditto on being swollen, the last time we did it was kinda uncomfortable because I am so swollen, all I could think is "how is a baby going to get out of there"