Thirty-Seven-plus-Five

Almost there. Almost made it. Just another couple days, and we'll be technically Full Term. Not that anyone would panic if I went into labour today, I'm sure. Two days, at this stage of the game, is not going to make much of a difference. A month ago it would, but now, not so much.



I'm tired. I'm cranky. My hands and feet are puffy. I ache all over. I'm disinterested in food. And I've reached that point in the pregnancy. You know the one. The point of Get This Thing Out ALREADY. Most mothers who make it to full term get there.

For some it comes after 36 hours of labour, at which point the doctors usually agree, and start taking steps - generally toward a c-section.

For some, usually when prior children have come early, it happens as soon as that due date rolls around.

Some reach that point after some sort of complication crops up. High blood pressure, or PUPPS, or extremely hot weather, or any of myriad other things seemingly designed purely to make a pregnant woman's life uncomfortable.

Then there are those who never reach it, whose babies are desperate to come out early, and who spend weeks or months thinking Keep-It-In, Keep-It-In, Keep-It-In, hoping the baby will stay in just one more month, or week, or even day, getting stronger and stronger, and therefor be more likely to be healthy once out.

Last time round, I reached that point at either 39 or 40.5 weeks, depending on which due date you go by. My blood pressure was unstable, PUPPS was in full force, I wasn't sleeping, and I couldn't even step into or out of the shower (combined shower/bath, VERY DEEP bathtub) on my own. I wanted it out, and I wanted it out NOW. They made me wait another week.

Apart from the weather, nothing has been too bad this time. My blood pressure has stayed at a reasonable point, apart from a couple of high readings to begin with. Gestational Diabetes has not descended upon me (not that it did last time, but there's always the chance). PUPPS has (so far) not made an appearance, and apparently it is unlikely to. The bathtub is causing some difficulties, and sleep is a bit of a challenge. If I lie on my left side, there's a patch of skin on my leg that starts tingling and then it feels like I'm being skinned, and if I lie on my right side, my leg collapses when I stand up. Generally however, things this time are better.

So why do I want to Get This Thing Out ALREADY? Because people won't stop bugging me. Every time I wince, my husband thinks I'm going into labour. Every time I call my mother, she thinks the baby has come. Every time I talk to my sister, she asks if it's come yet (it's like she really thinks we're going to just not tell her for a week or something). I can cope with all the "How are you doing/feeling?" I understand. People are interested. That doesn't bother me. But honestly.

My whole body aches. I will occasionally wince when I move. This does not mean I am going into labour RIGHT NOW HUSBAND AND YOU MUST TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL. Nor does every phone call to my mother mean the baby is here. She lives a long way away. Am I not supposed to talk to her between now and when I am holding the child?

This has been happening for at least a week, and it's getting on my nerves. Yes, the baby has dropped. Twice. Once to basketball-under-shirt point, and then even further. Yes, this is a good indication that things are progressing. Yes, I am now having uncomfortable contractions almost every day. My body is practicing. It's normal. But the sprog could hold on for another 4 weeks yet.

I want my baby to stay safe and snug for as long as it needs, but honestly, I also want to just Get This Thing Out ALREADY!