How is your body getting ready?

[MonP'titBoudain]

I thought it might be fun to see what changes people have begun to notice in their bodies as we all start to move towards the final stretch here. Cause IRL, you can only talk about mucous so much! So, how is your body preparing for labor?

In the last week I've started having strong contractions of and on all day, up to 7 or 8 an hour then I'll go a couple hours with nothing. I also think I'm beginning to lose my mucous plug (lot's of big stringy globs) but I'm not sure because there isn't the barest hint of pink in it. And my cervix is very squishy and ripe, somewhat effaced and somewhat dilated but I'm doing self-checks so I can't tell accurately how much of either. I'm hoping all of this means I've only got another 2 weeks at most, but we'll see!

[rmzbm]

Like you I have had contrax, pretty intense and numerous, for a week or so. I'm kinda glad, let's me know things are happening...but at 34 weeks I hope they happen a BIT later, rather than sooner.

[lilkat]

Not too much going on here yet, except the babe spends more of her time in my pelvis than before. I have noticed a slight increase in discharge, but nothing that seems to be bits of mucous plug... Last night I noticed for the first time that if I squeeze my thighs together, my pubic bones "click" together painlessly; I guess that means they've really loosened up, I've certainly had enough pain to account for it!

I have a feeling I have a ways to go, though. I don't think this little one is coming before her due date, or at least until I hit 40 weeks!

[DBZ]

Other then getting contactions when I am nursing my DD, my body is doing absolutely nothing. I haven't lost any plug. The baby hasn't dropped or anything. If they did that bishop score on me right now, I'd flunk .

[watermama05]

Baby has dropped down (DD did this 5 weeks before she was born though, so I don't take it as an imminent sign for me, I just have a big pelvis ), and I'm feeling a lot of cervical twinges and plenty of BHs. Other than that, nada. No mucus plug lost, no softer stools, nothing.

DD was born at 38 weeks though, without a single solitary sign of labor coming early- shocked the hell out of DH and I, we both though we had another 3-4 weeks for sure! So I don't really take the lack of signs to mean anything, though I'm also not expecting to go early again this time.

[Smokering]

Nothing much to report! I'm 36 and a half weeks (but who's counting?), and I've actually had fewer BH contractions this last week or so than usual. None that I can recall, actually! Any clues as to why? The baby's still kicking and its heartbeat was fine at the last m/w appointment, so I'm not worried, just puzzled. I'll up my dosage of RRL tea once I hit 37 weeks, and probably start taking just one Evening Primrose capsule a day.

Baby isn't quite engaged yet, but is head down (thankfully!); pelvis is sore and creaky; everything else, pretty much status quo. I think my tummy's grown a lot recently, though! My friend saw me after an interval of a few weeks and told me I was huge. Charmed, of course.

[cicely_m]

well, yesterday I started having some pretty noticable contractions in Trader Joes, which have continued off and on all day and night... but when I say "noticable," I mean "uncomfortable but not painful enough to be real labor." Still, I'm making sure the hospital bag is ready.
I have no idea what my cervix is doing.
I have had some gloopy white discharge over the last few days, but nothing pink....
I'm hoping she comes sometime next week!!

[CherryBomb]

I have strong contractions very occasionally and menstrual like cramps sometimes. Very irregular though. I feel a lot of cervix twinges and she's getting lower. I've lost a little bit of my mucus plug but nothing major.

I'm guessing about 3 more weeks before she makes her appearance

38w2d

[jillybeans]

I've been having pretty regular contractions since 26 weeks, so I'm getting used to those. But they've really picked up in the strength the last week or so. Lots of cervical pressure, and I'm pretty sure I've lost most of my mucus plug this weekend. I think a tiny bit of it was tinged, but it was hard to tell. Loose stools too. I am guessing I'll go this week, maybe the very beginning of next week.

[jayell79]

I don't know, but feel like I'm getting close! 38 + weeks, and my LO has been moving up and down for the past month. It's funny to hear people say "the baby's dropped," because I know in a few days she'll move back up. She hasn't been staying there, which makes me think she's not quite ready (just practice.) I have a LOT of pelvic pressure and cervix zaps when she's low. I started having BH about a month ago. A couple weeks ago they turned into irregular contractions. I seem to have many (about 4-10 min apart) for a few hours in the evening or early morning about every day. At last check my OB said my cervix was very soft and about 1 cm. My hips seem to click out of place when I squat or spread my legs. It usually doesn't hurt, but sometimes makes getting up a little tricky. I've also been having a lot of clear discharge, but no mucus or anything. Also my breasts have been tender and cold, much like in the first trimester.