39 weeks. About to pop!

Went to the doctor last Thursday, I was 38 weeks 2 days. Was 2 cm, 60% effaced. The nurse talked about "vaginal lightning" which I would like to touch on.... As no one ever told me about it before I was pregnant. I don't get why only contractions get all the credit for pain. Vaginal lightning feels like how it sounds; like bolts of 10 out of 10 pain starting in your low belly and out your crotch. Apparently it has something to do with cervical changes (in particular effacement). Soooo there is the warning for anyone who hasn't been pregnant/experienced it. It sucks and is real lol. Also, the doctor wrote me out of work starting Wednesday 12/11, per my request. He also said it would still be a little while before I had the baby, like it wasn't gonna happen within the next couple days but "soon."

Anyway over the weekend I started to feel "different." We did a lot of shopping, and I wasted more money buying Christmas decorations. Went to dinner with some family Saturday night. Then made Christmas cookies with family Sunday... by "made" I mean I showed up, ate food, then had to leave to take a nap, and come back to at some pizza lol. By last night I was kinda just achey in my lower belly/back/legs and knew shit was getting serious. Also was having a ton of braxton hicks contractions. Oh, last night I tried to roll over and got stuck on my back, like a turtle. Lol it was so damn funny. Eric and I were laughing so much and he had to get up and help me because I could not move (and really had to get up to pee!!)

Sidenote: Late pregnancy and childbirth is a gross process. I never know how detailed to get. I mean a baby comes out the "birth canal" aka vagina. Not exactly dinner party conversation. Also there's fluids and blood and all kinds of junk. but this blog is for me, and I have things I want to remember, so don't read it lol if it grosses you out. Also I'm a nurse... so of course I'm a little biased when it comes to gross things.

I woke up this morning and was nervous my water had broken. Also I thought I got my period. Stumbled into the bathroom at 6:30am and was like "oh I got my period" because I was also having menstrual-like cramps. Well, then I remembered no... I am pregnant lol. I woke Eric up and was like should I call the doctor?? I decided to get my butt to work and just call the doctor's when they opened at 9. When I got to work I gave them a heads up and the NP was like, I'm just gonna go ahead and get a sub set up for tomorrow. I couldn't concentrate on anything there either... I am just so focused on this impending birth thing.

Called the doctor and they wanted me to come in. Long story short - Dr. Tripp checked me and my water had NOT broken. Lol he made me cough hard and I wasn't coughing hard enough and I was like sorry I don't wanna cough and pee on you!! lol He said i was losing my mucous plug, aka "bloody show." He said I am now 3cm and 90% effaced and it's gonna happen soon. Woo I'm glad all that "lightning" in my crotch has been effective at least lol.

Here is a diagram of dilation and effacement. Since most people IRL have no idea what I'm talking about. My sister was saying I was 90% "in faced" LOL. Obviously, this drawing is not to scale. Also, apparently, all my Spanish readers can also understand it. 

Source: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/

 He moved my appt that was supposed to be Thursday to Monday 12/16 and said that he doesn't think I'll make it to then. My due date is Tuesday 12/17. He said he's usually not a fan of inductions, but if I do happen to go past my due date he would consider it with me, if I wanted, because of how much progression I already have. But that he really really doubts it'll come to that. He also took me out of work starting then... so I worked a half day today and then my maternity leave started lol. Oh he checked baby's heart beat and it was perfect :)

I have been having lots of pelvic pressure.. Sometimes it's really really painful, like I can't talk all I can do is moan through it. I make so many moans and groans. It's like if I make noise louder than the pain, it doesn't hurt so bad. Actually I just went to pee and as soon as I sat down I got all this pressure and then a HORRIBLE cramp that wrapped around my whole pelvis. Eric came running into the bathroom because I was was yelling so much and he was asking what was wrong, but I couldn't talk or explain until it passed. Now I'm having just random cramps and pains. I still don't even know what a contraction is "supposed" to feel like. And I have no idea how to time what I feel. It just hurts.
My lower back is super achey, and sometimes it feels like the baby is about to fall out.  I definitely just feel "different" and I'm starting to panic because I just KNOW this is going to happen soon. I'm scared to leave my house and have to b in the hospital, and to go through labor, and get IVs and all that crap, and give birth, and then have to take care of a baby and be someone's mom!

Also don't have a baby around Christmas, especially the first one in your first house. Trying to buy everything for baby, AND buy christmas decorations, AND buy christmas presents, AND go out on maternity leave (aka interruption in pay) is so stressful!!