39 Weeks

At this late point, I’m finally seeing pregnancy as something other than a means to an end — knowing my time left is short, it makes me appreciate this state of being so much more. All of the sudden, I’m in no hurry to have a baby, although I most certainly will in the next 0-14 days. Suddenly I’m remembering how I looked at women’s bellies while I was not pregnant, and wished to feel those kicks and rolls beneath my heart. I feel great, and this pregnancy has been largely symptom free, so it’s easy to feel like I could last much longer than this pregnancy will. But then again, I have one of the best days of my life waiting for me at the end of this, so I eagerly await my labor even though it means I’ll be leaving Maternity behind.

My midwife checked me this morning and she said I’m at a good 2, probably 3 cm dialated, and still 50% effaced (like last time). She also said that June is about a -1 station (she’s low!) and my cervix is no longer posterior but rather facing front, the way it should be for labor.

I definitely predicted that I’d have made progress from my last check 2 weeks ago, and I was not disappointed! It’s good to know that I’m working June out a little bit here, a little bit there … it will make my labor ultimately shorter and easier to get this part out of the way before active labor sets in. I’m definitely working to help it along, doing all the little homeopathic tricks that stimulate my uterus and ripen my cervix. Nice to know those things are working. That means lots of Red Raspberry Leaf tea, Evening Primrose Oil capsules, plenty of pineapple (yum!), accupressure applied to my uterine pressure points, nipple stimulation, walking, pelvic tilts, squatting, etc etc etc. It sounds like a lot when I list it all out like that! But really, it’s just little habits that I integrate into my regular routine.

Just when I feel like I could give birth any day, it seems like my workload has suddenly tripled, and I really doubt that I’ll be able to finish everything I have in front of me before June comes. I’m leaning on a lot of friends to watch El for me as I tie up loose ends … at least the time I spend working seems to be the most restful time I spend all day long! Design is easy compared to running after a toddler!