Tuesday, April 24, 2007

So, contractions kind of hurt

The best way I can think to describe this feeling is like a giant pressure/pain wave that starts low in my groin, and washes up and over my hipbones. I can see why women are reduced to feral, primal creatures by the pain.

Wow - and these are just the odd, occasional contraction that hits. No regularity, and I'm pretty sure these are more intense than the little "practice" Braxton-Hicks contractions I've been experiencing for the last month or so.

I'm still probably not going to have an epidural. I'm open to the IV narcotic pain reliever option, but something about the idea of a needle in my spine freaks me all the hell out.

Honestly, I kind of wish that my water would just break and this entire process could get underway. I'm eager to meet our daughter, but I'd really, really like to not be hurting every time I go to stand up. Until she dropped, I was getting around fairly well - no real problems with locomotion or doing things for myself. But now, I'm having the hardest time just getting up off the couch or out of the bed in the middle of night for the frequent peeing.

Last night, I had a series of contractions, all of them fairly intense. They never came closer than within 10 minutes of each other, although each lasted for more than a minute at a time. I think both of us were a little freaked out by the whole thing, even though we've read several different resources and attended multiple classes on what to expect. The reality (or, uh, not-quite-reality, as last night turned out to be) is a little different than the more cerebral "classroom birth". Technically, I still have a week and a half to go until the due date, but I'd rather she come a few days early than a few days late.

Such a crazy thing to think that we'll be parents within a couple of weeks, at the most. That the carseat in the back of Nate's car will be occupied; that the crib in the nursery (holy shit - there's a room in this house JUST FOR A BABY) will be occupied by a baby... *Huge* change. Awesome change, but also "awesome" in the non-colloquial sense. Inspiring of awe and extraordinary.

Holy shit. We're going to be parents.

2 Weeks Left!

We're a little over 38 weeks right now, and our little girl will be joining us soon. She has a room all ready for her, and even some toys to be distracted by. Both of us are nervous as hell, but the desire to not be pregnant anymore is eclipsing the fear of labor/homecoming.

Get her soon, kiddo. We can't wait to meet you.