Today I am 37 weeks, which is considered full term. Yikes! Sometimes I still can't believe we've actually made it this far...
New development this week: my belly button has disappeared! I was taking a bath the other day and looked down and realized it had completely flattened out. It looks really strange now! It also feels strange to have that part of my skin, which is normally indented, stretched out so that it brushes against my clothing. I did also have to remove my belly button ring recently, so maybe that allowed it to flatten out? Who knows. Paul thinks it's really funny and likes to tickle it all the time now, which also feels weird.
In other news, I've been having more contractions. I still think they're just Braxton Hicks, but they are definitely increasing in frequency and intensity. On Friday I was working from home and had them off and on all day. At one point, they were coming pretty regularly so I went ahead and started timing them just to see. They were coming every 10-12 minutes and lasting close to a minute each time. I tried doing what they recommended in our labor class, which is to pee and then drink a couple glasses of water and wait. They did go away, but I had a few more later in the afternoon and then another spell that evening. Yesterday was a bit calmer - just a stray one here and there. Today I had a few more in a row while I was out doing some last minute shopping, but still nothing super regular. I'd like to think that all this means something is happening "down there" but I'm trying to be patient :) I'll find out more at my next appointment on Thursday. I'd be happy with any progress at this point.
Other than that, not a lot of other news. Tomorrow (Christmas Eve) we are spending most of the day with my in-laws. There's been a lot of drama with that side of the family lately, so I'm hoping everything goes well and is relatively drama-free. Christmas day will be just me and Paul, and I'm SO excited. It will be so nice to get to spend the holiday together, just the two of us, doing whatever we feel like, whenever we feel like doing it. I will have to finish a bit of cleaning since I didn't quite get it done this weekend as planned. But Paul has already said he would help (such a wonderful hubby!) so it shouldn't take long. Then Wednesday I'm back to work for at least part of the day until my parents and brother arrive. I may not have much time to post this coming week while they're visiting, but I will at least do an update after Thursday's appointment.
Until then... Merry Christmas to all!
Hooray for being full term! Flash can come any time now and be a healthy little baby! My belly button was pretty much flat before I was pregnant...it has been completely flush with the rest of my belly for most of the pregnancy and is SO sensitive! If my husband (or anyone/anything) touches or bumps it, it is super uncomfortable! I am trying not to think of what it will look like postpartum! Probably really weird and permanently stretched out (oh well!). Hope you get encouraging news at Thursday's appointment! The Braxton Hicks contractions are definitley a way of your body preparing for the main event, so I wouldn't be surprised if there was some progress to report!
ReplyDeleteWe are visiting my Mom and siblings today (Christmas Eve) for Mass and first dinner, then swinging over to my in-law's for second dinner and exchanging gifts...it will be a LONG day! FOr Christmas, we are staying home, too! And we'll be cleaning (and probably working for both of our jobs a bit) but we are so excited to have the day together and take things at our own pace!
Merry Christmas!!