10 Months!

This is it- we are done 40 weeks. The due date has come...and is almost gone. 

Where are we now?


Aches and pains

Yep...plenty. Particularly in the front of the pelvis- who knew that such pain could occur? 

The pelvic pain is rivaled only by sudden pinched nerves in the butt, causing embarrassing leg paralysis. Which results in walking/falling with one jelly-like leg- often in public places. 

Who knew pregnancy could be so dignified. 

Oh yeah, and dry skin...and braxton hicks contractions... and an inability to sleep...and...you get the idea. 

Total weight gain

34 pounds. Make that 35...I just bought chips and chocolate pudding. 

Cravings this month?

ANYTHING.  FEED ME!

Judah's thoughts on baby now?

Judah, like his mother, has taken to shouting to the baby in-utero. Yesterday he screamed, "Come out baby! I have things to show you!" I hope those things don't include his obsessive toilet- flushing or dog- licking habits. 

Current state of the baby?

Baby's head is still riding pretty high in the pelvis. I am assured this is common is consecutive pregnancies and that she will drop when labour commences. Fetal drop zone, coming up!

Her heart rate is lovely, and amazingly, I can frequently feel her practice breathing. Super cool. 

As for her position, she's been stubbornly posterior - her back is to my back - meaning potentially late, long, back labour. This is what happened with Judah. His labour stretched out over 3 days. THREE DAYS!

In order to avoid this fate a second time, I spend much of my waking day crawling around, hanging over my exercise ball and generally creating a human hammock out of my stomach to get baby to rotate. Judah sees this as an excellent opportunity to get hourly horsey rides. My back should look like an Olympic swimmer's shortly. 

Induction attempts?

So far my induction techniques have been limited to drinking copious amounts of raspberry tea, taking long walks and willing baby out with my mind. All have proven lame. Monday, if I'm still pregnant (is there a reverse knocking on wood that can be done here?) I'll be at the midwife for a stretch and sweep. If that doesn't get the ball rolling then... I got nothing... I'll just keep waiting. 

"The whole point of woman-centered birth is the knowledge that a woman is the birth power source. She may need, and deserve, help, but in essence, she always had, currently has, and will have the power." 
Heather McCue