Learning Patience

39 weeks, 5 days

So we really thought Wednesday night was going to be the night. I started having regular contractions around 3pm. They weren't exactly painful, but more uncomfortable than all the other contractions I've been having. I started timing them, and timed them up until about 9:30 that night. They stayed mostly between 10 and 13 minutes, but every once in awhile, I'd have one every 7 minutes. I really thought that was the beginning. I even called my mom to make sure she had her phone with her at all times. I went to bed about 10:30, thinking that they would wake me up if they got any worse. I woke up a couple of times with strong ones, but by the morning, they were back to my "normal" not painful contractions.

I was really disappointed yesterday morning. Especially since they weren't still coming like they were that night. But I figured that I had a doctor's appointment coming up, and surely all these contractions were really pushing me along.

Early this morning, about 2am, I woke up feeling crampy. If I wasn't pregnant, I would have thought that I was about to start my period. My back was killing me, and I just generally didn't feel very well. I tried to sleep, but was quite restless the rest of the night, not getting very much sleep. This morning, the crampiness continued, and contractions started in. I didn't time any of them, but they were more painful than the ones the night before. My doctor's appointment was at 10:10, and I really thought he'd be sending me to the hospital from my appointmet. I seriously even took my packed bag. We headed off to the doctor, only to be disappointed again. Well, I shouldn't say disappointed because there was some progress. I am now dialated to a 3 1/2, and 80% effaced. Bad news, though, is that if I don't have this baby by 5pm tonight, chances of me getting my doctor to do the delivery are bad. He's not the on call doctor this weekend, and I found out today that he will be out of town next week. In fact, I had to make my next appointment with another doctor. He also let us know that they typically won't induce (since it's my first) until after 41 weeks. He stripped my membranes again, which didn't hurt as much as the first time, but probably because I knew what to expect this time. He said that he would be suprised if I didn't have her this weekend. But really, there is no way to know.

I know I just need to be patient and that she will come when she is ready. But it's hard when I just don't feel good. I feel queasy and crampy, the contractions are not comfortable, and my back is killing me. All signs that she might be here soon, though. I guess she is teaching me patience before she even gets here!!