Every time I go to the OB, they always ask, "Have you been feeling any contractions?" and I always kind of shrug my shoulders and say, "I don't think so?"
I'd always have random pains here and there and wonder if maybe they were the famous "Braxton Hicks contractions" that everyone talks about, but I've never been sure... until Friday.
OF COURSE the day Kyle leaves to go camping in the middle of nowhere is the day I start feeling contractions for the first time. Around Friday afternoon at work, I started to feel some tightness around the top of my stomach. It was getting pretty uncomfortable to the point where I ended up leaving work around 3:30. As I drove home, it got worse and worse. Then once I got home I had to take my dogs out and spent ~15 minutes walking around with two crazy, leash pulling pups. The pain was still getting worse, but I still didn't think much of it. I decided to cook dinner and lay down, but by 6:00pm my stomach was SO tight and I keep feeling this sharp stabbing pain - nothing like I'd felt before.
Finally I decided to call my mom and tell her about my symptoms. She said right away I was probably having contractions. Cue the panic! I cannot have contractions this weekend of ALL weekends!!! The only thing I kept thinking though was, these couldn't be labor contractions (thank goodness), because there was no pattern to them (it was more like a constant pain rather than a on/off timed pain) and also, although they were painful, it wasn't like I felt the need to rush to the hospital or anything. I realized I hadn't drank much water that day, and being dehydrated can cause contractions, so I decided to chug some water and rest. After about an hour they stopped for the most part.
Luckily, I haven't had them since. Although, I think he's just taking up so much room in my stomach that just him moving around can be painful for me. Yesterday he seemed to be all balled up in one spot and I was super uncomfortable. Everyday is exhausting!!
I pretty much look at the calendar every day at work wondering how much longer it will be. I'm just dying to be done (with work mostly, I still feel like I can deal with housing this little guy for a few more weeks). Luckily even though just getting ready and coming to work sucks, it's been pretty calm for the most part which has been a nice change. Also, Kyle is off weekends now and now that his camping trip is over, we have no big plans other than checking off last minute things from our baby to-do list and enjoying some pre-holiday down time together :)
Other things... I had a dentist appointment yesterday (no cavities - yay!). It was funny too because the last time I was at the dentist I was just 9 weeks pregnant - so crazy! This Friday we are taking a "Baby Care Basics" class at the hospital to learn how to take care of a newborn. It's from 7-9:30pm - woo hoo thrilling Friday night! Not to mention also wayyyy past my bedtime, so that will be interesting. Then Sunday afternoon we are taking a 4 hour birthing class (also at the hospital). I'm hoping between all these classes we can do some other things like pack our hospital bag, get the carseat installed, etc. So, this weekend will be all baby prep and I'll be glad to check some to-dos off the never ending list!
Our 36 week appointment is Tuesday and hopefully we will get some indication on how far down his head is and if I've started dilating at all. Will post an update next week after that appointment!