I had an OB appointment this morning. It was fairly uneventful. The doctor ended up doing a cervical exam. I was a bit annoyed, because she said, “We’re going to check if the baby is head down” without explicitly stating she would do a cervical exam. From the previous week, though, I knew what she meant and asked her about risk of infection (none, according to her, which I find hard to believe) or breaking my water accidentally (she has not done this in 15 years, which I found convincing). Anyway, I appreciate those who told me that I should push back and that cervical exams are not useful, but I guess it didn’t seem worth fighting about, so I let her proceed. She determined that the baby is in fact head down (hurray) and I am 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. I realize this doesn’t really tell me anything about when the baby will come, but I googled around anyway and tried to determine if it tells me anything. As far as I can tell, it’s really not very useful information, though the doctor said it indicates my body is getting ready and I will likely go into labor on my own.
My friend had her baby last night after 18 hours of labor. Ouch!
One thing that bugs me is when parents tell pregnant women they should sleep a lot because they will never sleep again. (Especially men.) Anyone who has ever been 8 months pregnant knows it is not easy to sleep and that “stocking up on sleep” – not really feasible at the best of times – is completely impossible when you’re very pregnant. If you’re able to get 7 hours a night (if you’re working or taking care of your kids) you’re doing really well. Anyway, I have two friends on Facebook who will give birth any day now, and I have seen people give both of them advice to sleep a lot because they’ll never sleep again. Seriously? I am very aware that having a baby results in sleep loss, and I’m terrified! There’s no reason to rub it in!
Other advice I’ve seen on websites is to go out to dinner with your husband or watch a movie. Eating anything other than gruel (ie mushy cereal) makes me sick, and I literally cannot focus for the duration of a movie. I like watching movies I’ve already seen, actually, because they don’t require as much focus. My husband and I watch the Bachelor as well (much to his chagrin) as that requires very little concentration.
My official guide the ninth month of pregnancy would be . . .
1.) Get in the water. Seriously. It’s the only place I feel human.
2.) Keep working. Otherwise you’ll have nothing to think about other than how uncomfortable you are. Reducing hours, though, if you can is probably a good idea.
3.) Get a comfy pair of maternity yoga pants.
4.) Eat like a monk and avoid heartburn.
5.) Get a massage.
23 days left.
{ 8 } Comments
With the caveat that I am not a mother, I think (having watched many women close to me have kids) that the sleep issue is both physical and psychological. Normally babies start sleeping through the night at 6 weeks (something about circadian rhythms kicking in at that stage of development). So it isn’t that you aren’t getting sleep, but you might never know in any particular night how much you are likely to get. Also if you are are planning on breast feeding it seems that this lack of sleep is combated by weird hormones. The psychological aspect seems longer lasting. My mother still suffers from not sleeping well being worried about one or more of her children — only one of whom is ever usually in harms way. So get a few more massages and try to stay comfy as possible
Let me know if you’d like any GT baby stuff.
With Peter, Virginia was definitely more comfortable and slept better after giving birth than being 9 months pregnant.
oh and be sensitive about calling your husband over the next few weeks, I remember jumping every time Virginia called thinking it might labor.
Funny. I’m figuring I’ve got a week and a half before we start worrying about that.
Good to know!
you are definitely on your way – I am in the same position re: dilation and effacement and I only got there last week (at 39 wks). I think my doc is a little worried that we’re doing to have to induce but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it will not be so
Well, I’ve heard most first-time moms go into labor the week after their due date, so hopefully that’s what will happen with you.
Will your doc let you go to 42 weeks?
We could go to exactly 14 days after the due date.