Ugh...Please tell me this is almost over (TMI warning)

Marsupial1022

It's definitely times like these when being a first-time mom is exceedingly frustrating. All the reading and birthing classes in the world just don't prepare you for YOUR pregnancy since everyone is different, and not having gone through this before makes me 2nd and 3rd guess myself constantly.

I started having contractions last night...they weren't painful, but they were strong enough to take my breath away. And, naturally, they'd start up again the moment I managed to doze off, so I barely managed any sleep last night. I've been having them off and on all day, and they've been progressively growing stronger and painful. They still have no true pattern to them (they'll come 10 minutes apart and last up to 90 seconds for about an hour, then I won't feel anything for another hour, etc). It's so confusing...Sometimes I'll have a powerful contraction that won't hurt, but it strong enough to tighten my entire belly, make it a bit hard to breathe, and put a LOT of pressure on my cervix. So I don't know what is what anymore.

I've been keeping an eye out for the bloody show, but nothing so far. Diarrhea all day (which isn't necessarily unusual for me since I don't have a gallbladder, but it's been more frequent today)...I honestly can't tell if I've lost my mucous plug again since discharge has been about that same consistency. Only more of it. 

We actually ended up in the L&D two nights ago when I could have sworn up and down that I was leaking amniotic fluid. They did the strip test, and it came back as half fluid-half urine twice. So they did the pooling test (for those of you who haven't experienced that joy, it is murder on your back because you have to lay totally flat for 20 minutes), and that turned out to be a big fat negative. I wasn't dilated, so they sent me home and told me to rest. So I have absolutely no idea what was going on with that. 

I'm just so worn out! I've barely wanted to eat today (normally I'm starving) and all I want to do is sleep. I'm just so ready to get this show on the road! I'm ready to meet our daughter, and the anticipation is killing me!

Marsupial1022

secondaryPULSE:

Well, of course everyone's body is different, but it sounds like your body is gearing up for labor. If I was in your shoes, I would try to speed things up by going for a walk, bouncing on a birthing ball, climbing some stairs, etc.

I would also start trying hard to hydrate and fuel up.

Like I said, could be nothing, but it sounds like your body may be gearing up!

GL!

I actually went for a walk earlier this evening while my husband groomed my horse for me (ain't he sweet? LOL), and I've been having more of those non-painful but breath-taking contractions and a LOT of pressure from LO on my cervix. So I think walking is definitely working!

I think it's gearing up, too. When they were monitoring me the other night, I was having contractions that I really couldn't feel, and the nurses were saying that it wouldn't be too long now. But we'll see!

Thanks!