Jenny Ford, founder of Monkey-Toes.com - Week 38

Week 38 –

Apparently in pregnancy once you are about to begin labor there are signs.  You know ladies, you’ve lost your “plug”, your water breaks, contractions, etc.  One of them that I found really interesting, in which I totally experienced last week when writing the post for week 37,  is that you can actually babble incoherently about really strange things like, “I know I’m in labor, but we haven’t gotten the bathroom painted yet, so let’s wait until next weekend to have her or” or “I’d really like to go pet the unicorn that’s sitting next to that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow”.  Well, my ramblings of a butterfly and chocolate rainbow filled au naturale labor and delivery was bemusing.  What the heck was I thinking?  The more I got to thinking about it, doubting myself and watching painful non-epidural filled episodes of “A Baby Story” on TLC, the more I thought gosh, I’d really like to just get to my 4 cm and then opt for the needle in my back with the good stuff.  The baby is going to arrive one way or another why not have him arrive after finishing up my US Weekly, not after 5 hours of excruciating labor pain only to then get to experience what it truly feels like when a big bowling ball passes through my body.  I had a temporary lapse in my own sanity.  But trust me ladies, I completely admire those of you who endure!  I can only assume now that I’ve admitted to wanting an epidural things will roll so fast that I won’t have the choice.  If that’s the case, then I think I could handle it.

Tim cannot seem to catch a break.  The poor guy, I just love the heck out of him.   He’s made his final escape from the snore-filled bedroom.  The first night he actually made his break he went to the couch in the living room, where he tried to get some zzzz’s on the really comfy couch.  To no avail, Tate was sawing logs.  Thankfully we have another couch in our family room in the basement, where he is able to get some rest – unless I begin snoring really loudly, then you can hear it through the vents.  Hold on baby, we’re almost there.  Then you can sleep soundly (ya right, plus a newborn) in your own bed.

I’m actually in a position (not literally, there aren’t too many positions I can physically be in at this point) to where I can say I am ready to have this baby.  His room is close enough to done, my shirts don’t fit over my belly any more (totally hot), the pain in my sciatic nerve is all consuming, the pain in my pubic bone is a pain I cannot even begin to describe, but hurts when I sit and hurts when I walk .  My Dr appointment this week revealed 3 more lbs on the scale (dang scale), awesome blood pressure, great baby heart rate and still 1 cm and softening.    This baby is sitting so low right now, looks like I’m smuggling that basketball in my pants,  I literally feel like the little butterball could drop out at any moment.  I’ve been trying to walk more to get the progress rolling, it’s not a pretty sight – it’s actually a very sloooooow waddle.  I cannot move fast, even though I feel like I am sprinting.  What will it be like to be normal again?  But then I think about normal for the next few months, it’s really not normal.

As a side note – as I sit here and type this, at a time I didn’t really know existed (approx 3:30 am), I have been having inconsistent contractions since about 1:30 am.  I am not sure what is happening down there – it might all go away, but I am trying to get as much done as I possibly can, plus sit up so gravity works in our favor.  It’s freezing outside, literally negative temps, or I’d go take a walk.  You can only walk around your house so many times.  Or maybe I’ll start doing some squats – Lord knows my butt could use it.  I really want that major tell-tale sign like a tangible note that arrives in the mail “You’re having him today” or please God, just let my water break already.  Then I will know for sure that this baby is coming out today.  This whole anticipation thing is really making me and everyone around me so anxious.  I cannot make a phone call anymore without the person on the other end starting off the conversation “are you in labor” – no, it’s just me darn it!  Just Jenny – sounds sad.  So I’ve started texting people, that way they know up front what I need and not to freak out.  Alright, enough said, I will keep you all posted, who knows you may end up with a picture of me from the hospital – in my lovely butt-revealing hospital gown*.

*Luckily I’ve got my own adorable hospital gown from Dear Johnnies (www.dearjohnnies.com).  I’ve been tempted to just wear it around the house (with my bare butt hanging out – kidding) it’s so cute.  Though I will probably wait until after the whole birthing mess to wear it – don’t want to “smudge” it up.  No, I was not paid to say this I just really like it.

 Hey MomToBeDepot Readers - when do you think Jenny will have her baby?  I'm guessing Sunday, December 13th!  Let us know what you think!