Just a little more time needed

[GinaRae]

I don't THINK I am going to go before Nov 24th, BUT for 3 days I have had almost non-stop Braxton Hicks which have moved lower than usual. Both the place and the amount are highly unusual for me. Today I am also having low crampy cx (again). The baby has been moving more through all of this too and there are some sensations reminiscent of when my water broke with Jack.

These BHs are driving me CRAZY! It's constant constant. Over and over more tightening. Blah.

If this is not just priming the uterus for a few weeks from now, and is actually a sign of impending labor (which I doubt), I just need a few more days to get the homebirth kit and pool in!

A week or two to get over this groin pain would be great too!

Now having said all this, I do think regularly how nice it would be to give birth before mom comes on the 15th. Or this week because my husband was supposed to be in Boston this week before I helped his nix that idea.

Anywhoo.. just a few more days!

[Kontessa]

Well if cracker is ready.

Really though, I get how annoying it can be. Thus me hiding in bed as I just can not take anymore contractions not full labor. I am more then happy to wait now. My pool is however ready and in my dining room and birth kit is here. I hope your baby waits till everything is ready though we all know the stuff is not really needed, just helpful!

Have you tried living in the bathtub? I have found it really really helps.

[GinaRae]

I HATE baths and wouldn't be able to get OUT of one right now.

And the MWs made it clear they EXPECTED the birth kit to be here. No excuses.


The BHs usually settle down when I am in bed, but that ticks me off because I want to do sewing and things sitting up this evening. Ahh well, I probably should head to bed.

I am on Contraction Master timing these because they seem excessive. They're over a minute every 2-7 minutes and highly annoying. Grrrrrr

[Monkeybutt]

I know its annoying but the little ones are much better than the big ones!! And the more little ones you have the better...at least thats how I look at it!

[AKmomof2+1inNov]

I've been having days like that since 37 weeks, and I'm 41 weeks tomorrow. But I have to say that if you have your birth before me Gina, I might have to cry! Not that I won't be happy for you, but being "passed" by someone not due until the end of the month might really try my calm! :

But I hope for your water birth it stops for a couple more days! Maybe we can both have babies before the 15th...

[brooklyn_warbler]

in the past week or so, i've had several bouts of regular, fairly uncomfortable contractions. monday night they stuck around for about an hour, but i didn't time them -- shower made them worse, laid down and fell asleep and they were gone when i woke up.

last night, same thing. they were pretty ouchy! again, i didn't time them but i probably could've (as opposed to when i started getting these crampier contractions and didn't feel like they had distinct beginnings and endings). i just went to bed and this morning they're gone.

i'm really surprised to be having these, for some reason, but i gather it's normal. i just really want til monday (oh, the life of a phd student -- four day weekends) to get some school stuff off my desk, an article that's due in to the journal (which i'm basically done with as of yesterday, just need to proofread one more time), and to wash dipes and pick up a few odds and ends. and then the baby can come whenever. i'm trying to be realistic though and realize i could still be pregnant a month from now (i'm 38w2d). luckily the only time i feel "done" is when i'm having those contractions and i know they're not actually 'real' -- that's sort of frustrating. otherwise i still feel good physically and content emotionally.

[marisa]

Welcome to prodromal labor land!

[GinaRae]

If these were actual contractions, I would be SO irrate. But it's just the BHs and every so often some crampy contractions.

I was right, as soon as I went to bed they all go away. No clue why.

You all scare me with all this contraction talk most of the time! I've never had them (besides BHs) and that would drive me batty having all those false starts.

[marisa]

What helps me is just to realize that your normal run of the mill BH are going to be increasing in crampiness from here on out. And this will usually occur at night. I don't distinguish between real and BH at this point, because they are all doing *something* even if it is not dilating the cervix. Just pre-labor contractions. They could be helping to rotate baby into perfect position, allow for more dropping, softening/effacing of the cervix, etc.

[chrysalis]

gina, is mom staying w/ you guys??? would she be willing to come any later than the 15th? well i hope you go before the 15th too, sweets. i would like to myself. i feel kind of ready... now i'm just looking for the 'signs'..... :

[oskie]

Yeah, after almost three weeks of this stop/start crap, I've just started trying to ignore them completely and go on with my day.

I figure they'll get bad enough for me to realize I'm in actual labor before a baby plops out.

Besides, I still have to finish my marathon!