39-week update: Ready, Get Set, Go
Okay, I am now ready to have a baby. I still have a week, or possibly even more, but am hoping that this baby doesn't go too much past its due date. I was warned in my last appointment that most first time mothers don't go until their 41st week, but I am running low on energy and on things to do, so I am hoping that the baby decides to cut me a little slack and pop out by Monday. However, I know that the whole due date thing is a bit of a myth - in fact the average pregnancy for a first-time Caucasian mother is 288 days, not the 280 represented by the due date. Still, it's very boring to be on maternity leave when you don't yet have a baby!
I have started telling him or her every day that we are ready for him or her. The "nursery" is finally complete and we have all the gear that we need - at least everything we think we need. I'm sure we'll think of a few more things once the baby is born. So right now I am just sipping my raspberry leaf tea and trying to encourage this baby to be part of the world. I am also rolling around on my exercise ball in an effort to make sure she or he keeps moving down. Still, if it needs to bake a little longer I guess that's a good thing. At my last appointment I was measuring a little behind, so maybe s/he needs to get a little more meat on her or his bones before leaving the womb.
I have had some pretty intense Braxton-Hicks contractions that made me think that perhaps things were starting, but they all tapered off after only a couple of them. I also had some pretty intense back pains, so I am really hoping this baby is not in a back labour position. I will be asking that at my appointment tomorrow.