I’m 35 weeks 3 days pregnant–jusssssssssssst shy of being full term (I’ve read 37 weeks is considered full term, though I’d always thought it was 37). My first came at 37 weeks, and my sisters all delivered by 37 weeks, so that this little guy is knocking on the door before the party is supposed to start isn’t surprising.
Yesterday, I had annoying Braxton-Hicks contractions all day long–painless, but intense pressure that would make me suck in my breath if caught off guard. I’ve had them since 16 weeks, and it isn’t unusual to have these “practice contractions” as they’re also called; these were just more intense. Add to that my pelvis was KILLING me–I felt like I’d ridden my horse for 12 hours; it was that same hip-widened OUUUUCH–and that some of these BH turned painful, I had to wonder.
When I finally lay down to rest, I started timing them just out of curiosity…and, huh, looky there. There’s a pattern. I was having contractions lasting about 1 minute every 7 minutes. Bah, see if they change when I change position. Nope. Bah, see if they keep up the pattern for long. Hmm. 90 minutes later, I threw in the towel and called my OB at 9:30pm. Hie thee to the L&D wing of the hospital, he tells me. Boo.
I go there, and while the contractions definitely register, they aren’t as regular anymore (of course) and they aren’t increasing in frequency. Once making sure the contractions were happening on their own (and not stimulated by exam), they checked my cervix. Look, it’s no fun when hubby’s amply-endowed baby maker hits my cervix, but having two fingers poke and prod and scrape across it?? :eek: At least she found what she was looking for: nothing. I’m not at all dilated or effaced. (Last time with my first, I was 3cm dilated and 70% effaced at 36 weeks without having felt a thing, so that was another reason to come in.) The cervix is very soft, which means dilation and effacement is next on its agenda.
They gave me a shot of terbutaline to halt the contractions and orders to rest, stay off my feet, and no sex–aw, poor hubby–as this little guy needs to cook jusssssst a bit longer before his grand appearance. I’ve had a few more BH contractions this morning–several more, actually–but there is no pattern to them.
Even though my ultimate diagnosis was “false labor,” the nurse repeatedly told me I did the right thing coming in…it’s better that I come and get checked then stay home wondering (and risk things progressing). I still felt a bit silly for coming in, but I do logically know at least it was the right thing to do.
I didn’t have these false alarms with my first, but because everything happened so fast with that one (dilation/effacement without feeling it; most of early labor wasn’t felt at all; went from water breaking to birth in 2 1/2 hours), there is concern of a surprise factor. I do NOT want to be one of those Discovery Health ladies who feels nothing then suddenly gives birth on the kitchen floor.
At least 10 more days baby boy, mkay? And not just because bills are due, hubby’s winter concert (he’s a middle school music teacher) is next week, and I have Christmas shopping to do. Get those lungs fully cooked and then come scream your arrival, a’ight?
