Complainy McPlainerson

Little girl’s clothes and blankets are washed and folded. J. brought the swing in from the shed and it’s cleaned. Car seat’s installed. Steady contractions last night that HURT. E.’s birth was entirely drug-free and the contractions last night weren’t in the realm of that kind of pain, but if those contractions were a 10, last night was a good 4. And then considering that just a few days ago, they were at a 1. Progress? Probably not. But at least I’m ready.

Today, my legs hurt. I’m tired. I’m cranky. I’m back to lightly contracting. I’m packing our hospital bag (which isn’t much, because after going through this a few times now, I know you don’t need everything they say you do.) I was supposed to have a midwife appointment today, but they couldn’t fit me in. Apparently, it’s a good thing I made my next 3 appointments in advance. Tomorrow, I am officially full-term.

When it actually is time, I hope my water breaks. Because with the way this is going, I’m not going to know until it’s too late and I end up with an unplanned homebirth.

Update

I’m at the point of this pregnancy where all I want to do is read birth stories on the babycenter.com boards of those due around my same time and wonder if I’ll be next. I know I won’t. The not-very-pleasant Braxton-Hicks are still here, along with the lower back pain and heartburn and swollen ankles and blah. But nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing that says NOW. Or, even, SOON. More like, this kid is going to stay with me until it’s time for her to enter kindergarten.

As of this Friday, I’ll be considered full-term by everyone’s calculation. For that reason alone, I’m kind of hoping she hangs out until then at least, anyway. I also still need to pick up a few things. As well as launder every baby thing in sight, sterilize everything else, drag the infant car seat out of storage, same with the baby swing, pick up some batteries for the camera, pack a hospital bag… Ugh.