37 weeks

*I am mildly horrified at how I look in this picture and am only using to save time since I will be too lazy to write this blog later.  Your welcome.*

3 weeks until due date.  The chances are more likely that baby will be here in 2 weeks... Obviously that doesn't mean it will happen that way but the chances are more than likely. 

This week was ok.  I came down with a nasty bad head cold and that really rocked our rhythm.  I haven't been sleeping well because I can't breathe and I have had horrible heartburn again.  Tossing and turning in your third trimester is more grunting and heaving.  We had a lot of couch time this week because of this cold.  Well, as much couch time as a 3 year old and two almost 18 month olds will allow.  Since they have come down with a version of this cold as well, we all have been enjoying some extra movie time and earlier nap times. 

I'm losing track of what I'm talking about.

Cold.  Yes.  So with the addition of the chest/head cold and the baby being so large, I am having a hard time getting a nice deep breath.  I miss being able to take in as much oxygen as my lungs can hold and letting it out.  I'm waiting for the baby to drop so I feel that sensation of finally being able to breathe again but I think this cold wouldn't allow for that to happen anyway.

I have been  having so. many. Braxton Hicks contractions.  Anything I do makes them come on.  Coughing, sneezing, laughing, etc. all makes for a good bout of Braxton Hicks.  I have been having regular contractions here and there as well.  Yesterday I had quite a few.  I woke up to a very strong, painful contraction and spent the whole day with Braxtons coming every few minutes to every 5 minutes.  When I took a shower at nap time, I had 5 real contractions right in a row.  They weren't as painful as the one I got in the morning but enough to blow out a little extra breathe in the midst of them.  They stopped once I got out of the shower.

This reminds me, I had my 36 week doctor appointment.  Baby's heartbeat was at 144 and I was measuring at 37 weeks along.  I had my cervical check and I am about 3 cm dilated and was 70% effaced.  I know a lot of women are in labor when their bodies are at this point but my body doesn't work that way.  This means almost nothing.  My appointment was on Monday so my next appointment is this coming Monday and we will see what progress has been made.

Much to my dismay, I tested positive for GBS again.  This was expected but still disappointing to happen.  It means I will be positive for every pregnancy.  Max and I are extremely against having my water broken again to buy us the 4 hours necessary for the penicillin (which is what we had to do with Simon) and want to go into labor naturally.  We are trying to determine the best course of action since we also are very against our newborn being on antibiotics straight out of the womb.  There are natural ways you can treat GBS but is sounds like they need at least 2 weeks to see results and I don't think we have that time.  I am so bummed about this.  I am happy though that Max and I are in agreement to let labor come on naturally this time.  I guess I can only hope that my labor will last longer than 4 hours from when I enter the hospital. 

We got to take a look at the water birth room and ask the nurse some questions.  I feel much better now that I have a visual in my head of how things are going to be set up.  One less thing in the unknown category.  I am trying to to be scared of the pain but it's natural and I can only just tell myself to relax and what will be will be.  I can do this.  I am made to give birth.  The pain is only for a small period of time and I will get to meet my baby.  Uffda.  Men have it so easy.

We are ready for baby.  Hospital bag is as packed as it can get, we have some freezer meals cooked and ready for post baby, the kids bag is packed in case Grandma wants to keep the kiddos at her house instead of coming to ours, the car seat is decked out in all manners of warmth so baby doesn't freeze in these frequent sub-zero temperatures.  This weekend will be devoted to cleaning the house so we can bring baby home to a cozy, clean environment.  Normally I would take on all the cleaning as I do a better job of it but Max will have to do a good part of it as some of it is tedious, bending over scrubbing work.  Too hard on this gal's back.  While he is scrubbing away, I will make some more wool diaper covers for our wee little one.  We plan on disposables in the hospital but as soon as baby is home s/he will be in cloth.  So we need those bad boys. 

Alright, I think this is long enough.  Until next week!  Maybe :)