Um, I think I'm having a baby soon

I just got back from the doctor for my 37 week appointment (technically, I'm 36w6d...but whose counting?!?!).

• Contractions: check
• Head down: check
• Mucus plug gone: check
• Softening cervix: check
• Dilation: check (2cm)

So let me start from my last post a week ago.

Hubby and I were at the beach from last Saturday until Tuesday evening with his mom and sister (also preggo...18 weeks), which was wonderfully relaxing. I'd been having more frequent contractions but nothing to write home about. Wednesday evening Hubby wanted a little action and I was feeling good so we had a little fun. Immediately after I noticed I was spotting. I didn't really think too much of it because it stopped by Thursday morning.

I continued on with my Thursday at work, but had to go to the bathroom a couple of times during the day. This third tri has brought the dreaded preggo constipation so I was a little surprised by this. I was definitely feeling more contractions, but they were still random and sporadic. When I was using the bathroom before going to bed last night I noticed a discharge unlike anything I'd seen before...it was incredibly thick, long and slightly darker color than the typical. Think EWCM but thicker, stringier and not white (sorry, TMI I know).

I woke up twice last night with a nauseous feeling but never actually got sick. Hubby and I got up early this morning and he went for a run while I went for a very slow walk. I had a couple of contractions while on the walk but still random and sporadic.

So, I head to the doctor this morning and tell him all this and he suggests we do an internal to see what's going on. The Woowoo has totally dropped, is in the posterior position (head down), my cervix is softened (he didn't tell me how much I was effaced) and I'm 2cm dilated.

Yes, you read that correctly...I'm 2cm dilated and tomorrow is full term for me. I know things could always stay this way for a while, but the doctor (Doc B for those who know my practice) gave me a 50% chance of delivering before my next appointment which is a week from today. (If it means anything, my mom delivered me 2-1/2 weeks early and I was over 8lbs. Hubby was a week early and close to 9lbs. We breed 'em big and get 'em out early:) )

I was shocked!!! I knew things were happening but didn't think they were happening so rapidly.

So, all the things Hubby and I planned to do this weekend are no longer optional...they will get done. Fortunately, it's lots of little stuff and should be doable.

In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the overwhelming excitement I'm feeling at meeting my sweet little boy soon...maybe sooner than I had planned:)

Again?

Ugh, I need new bras...again. I bought three new ones pretty early in the pregnancy because the girls were getting too big from all the IF meds. I only went up one cup size, but not a band size (went from a 34B to a 34C). Those three bras have been my life support (literally and figuratively) for the past 6 months or so, but I can't deny that my ribs and torso are expanding now and I need to upsize again.

I had to do a mini strip tease at work about an hour after I got in because I simply could not breathe. Breathing has been a challenge lately anyway because the Woowoo is invading my lung space, but couple that with a too tight bra (even on the loosest hooks) and I was near hyperventilation state. So, off came the bra and I can (kind of) breathe again. Thankfully I have on a maxi dress that doesn't necessarily require a bra, but I would have considered going bra-less even in a t-shirt just to get some relief!

I wanted to hold out on buying new bras until I got closer to the due date and then just buy some nursing bras, but I think my girls have other ideas. I know I really should get measured, but I'm being lazy and would rather order my old standby bras online in a larger size.

Thoughts? Do you think I should try to stick it out until August and buy nursing bras? Get measured and buy one or two properly sized bras to get me through the next 11 weeks? Or order my old standbys online in a bigger size?

So that's what it feels like

I've heard and read about round ligament pain, but haven't experienced any (that I know of)...until about a half hour ago.

I've had pains, twinges, pulling, stretching, crampiness and general pressure in my lower abdomen from very early on (pretty much from week 5 or so). It was everyday for the first few weeks and then slowly decreased to once or twice a week for a little while. The feelings have been picking up speed again during the last week. I'm 11w3d so I just figured it was more ute adjusting as it starts to move above my pubic bone (according to all the books and Dr. Google this is about the time when things start shifting up).

I was sitting at my computer tonight and got up pretty quickly to walk to Hubby's desk for more printer paper. Once I got to his desk I had a horrible tight pinching sensation on the right side of my abdomen stretching down to the top of my thigh. I sat down on the bed thinking I just got up too quickly. That still didn't help so I actually laid down. A few deep breaths (and anxiety-ridden thoughts that I tried to push away) and the pain thankfully subsided.

I was able to get back up and move about as though nothing happened. I actually wondered if I imagined it because it went away as quickly as it came. It was a really odd and scary sensation I'm going to have to get used to or I'm going to drive myself nutty thinking horrible thoughts every time I feel it. Does the brain of someone whose experienced loss and IF ever stop with the worrying?

A hangover...without any alcohol?

A hangover? While I'm 9 weeks pregnant? Yep, that's exactly how I felt Tuesday!

Since being on the TTC/infertile journey I haven't partied like I used to in my younger days. At least I thought that was the case until Tuesday afternoon. I was having a typical day, feeling good and getting stuff done at work. After I ate lunch I felt like I was catapulted back to 2004 with one of the infamous weekend hangovers. I was so horribly nauseous with a dizzying headache, my mouth was beyond dry and I was constantly hungry but nothing sounded appetizing. There were a few times  I really thought I was going to have to run to the bathroom, but I somehow held it together. I made it home on the train (wishing I had a plastic bag with me the whole time), made myself eat some dinner and promptly fell asleep for an hour and a half. I woke up feeling like a rock star...almost as though nothing had happened. I actually wondered if I had imagined how horrible I felt a few hours earlier!

So yes, apparently it is possible to have a hangover with having consumed any alcohol!

Snow day

I grew up in the Midwest, in the snowbelt on the east side of Cleveland, so the idea of a snow day isn't new to me. I lived in Chicago for eight years so wind and cold aren't a big deal. But I live in NYC now and the winters are supposed to be mild, a small amount of snowfall each year, temps in the 30s, basically - tolerable. I don't know why Mother Nature is so pissed off this year, but she's giving us a beating! We got another 19" last night. I live close to the subway and my office is close to the subway, so technically I could have made it into work, but it was easier to "work from home" and stay in my cozy clothes and watch the snow from inside. So that's what I'm doing...and maybe a little blogging in between working:)

I haven't posted in a while because I don't have a whole lot to say. My life has been comfortably quiet. And the things I do have to say are random and scattered, so I think a list will be best.

• In addition to my full time job I do freelance work. I haven't had much work since October, but my biggest client just gave me a new project that will take the next couple of months. The money will be good, but it will mean my lazy evenings and weekends spent lounging around are coming to an end.

• All is good with the Woowoo. I had another weekly ultrasound on Tuesday (7w3d) and the heartbeat was up to 150bpm and my bloodwork was great. I have one more u/s with the Doc this upcoming Tuesday then he's going to release me to my gyn (woohoo!). Which brings me to another point...

• I feel like an idiot for even admitting this, but apparently my gyn doesn't deliver babies. I don't know how I never knew this but it makes sense since if I really think about it. I'd never seen a pregnant woman in her office, she is a solo practitioner, there aren't any "mommy" magazines around the office, etc. I called today to make my first appointment with her and the receptionist told me she was on vacation until next week and then she would call me back and give me a baby doc referral. I did a little research on my own and found two practices associated with Cor.nell that I'm going to consider as well. If any NY bloggers have recommendations for a good baby doc associated with either Cor.nell or NYU hospitals I welcome them!

• I've been very fortunate to have minimal symptoms. I've only had a few days of mild nausea (and it usually hits in the early evening, thankfully not at work). But inteasd of morning sickness, I have been plagued with horrible indigestion...again, mostly in the evenings. The only thing that seems to relieve it is excessive burping. I swear its sounds like a frat house in my apartment some nights! The exhaustion comes and goes but the hunger seems to always be around. I want to eat constantly which might be contributing to the little buldge I have going on! I haven't gained any weight but some of my pants are definitely tight. I know it's too early to show so I can only attribute it to my food intake or the indigestion. I'm definitely not complaining...I do know how blessed I am to even be pregnant!

• The cysts are still hanging around which is really annoying me. Despite the crappy weather, Hubby and I have been going out to the park a couple times a week so he can run and I can walk. I really, really want to run with him but I'm being good and following the Doc's orders.

• In other workout news, I interviewed two pre-natal trainers over the last week and think I'm going to hire one of them to work with me once a week. He's fantastic, has vast amounts of experience with pre- and post-natal training and will come to my apartment! I've continued my swimming, elliptical and walking, but I want to incorporate some strength into my baby workouts as well as yoga, and I think he's the guy who can help me.

This post is getting too long (I'm starting to bore myself!), and I've avoided work long enough. Must get back to the grind.

A week of firsts

I've lived in NYC for three and half years. In that time I've never had a solo celebrity recognition. I've been with friends who have recognized celebrities, but I've never noticed one without someone else first telling me who it was. I just don't have that celebrity radar the way some people do. Well, on Wednesday I was walking out of my office building saw Bla.ke Liv.ely (Goss.ip Gi.rl and Siste.rhood of the Trave.ling Pa.nts) walking towards me. I was able to hold the door open for her as she entered my office building (there is a sound studio below my office so there are always celebrities going in and out, I just never see them). She was much taller than I expected, but her hair was as amazing in person as on TV. I was so excited to have had my first real, solo celebrity sighting!

Wednesday night I was getting ready for bed, taking my evening progesterone suppository and noticed some pinkish spotting. I immediately started freaking out and had a restless nights sleep while visions of what happened last time ran through my mind. Things were a little better Thursday morning with less spotting that had turned all brown. By Thursday afternoon all seemed to be good. But then Thursday night the redish/pinkish color was visible when I inserted the progesterone (sorry for TMI). This morning it was a brownish/red but still there. I'm trying not to worry about it because everything else is the same as it's been. I keep thinking this is a result of the cysties on my right side. If things get worse, I'll call the Doc and see what he says. Tuesday is the next ultrasound and it sounds sooooo far away. I was hoping for a quiet, low-key long weekend but at this rate I'm going to be a total basket case the entire time.

I had to attend a going away party for a co-worker last night. I have always been one of a small group of colleagues that goes out for happy hour a couple times a month, so I had to go for fear of raising questions. I wasn't sure how I was going to deal with the fact that I couldn't drink because it's still way to early to tell anyone from work about the WooWoo. I was surprised how easy it was. We were all seated at a big table and I snuck away to ask the waitress to order me a gin and soda with no gin. She smiled knowingly and did exactly as I asked numerous times throughout the night as the rounds kept coming. No one was the wiser, which is good, because there is a birthday celebration next week that I'll have to go to as well.

And one last first to round out the week is the beginning of some nausea. I can't really call it morning sickness because it happened at night. I was in a cab on my way home from the work party last night and thought I was going to get sick. I almost had the cabbie pull over but decided to just take a deep breath and hope it would pass. I eventually made it home, but still wasn't feeling great when I went to bed. Things seem to be settled down this morning, thankfully, and drinking my decaf green tea right now is feeling pretty good.

The week isn't over and it's already proving to be a crazy one. I really hope this trend doesn't continue into the weekend...