During our 37 week appointment, I learned I am GBS positive. GBS is a bacteria in the birth canal that some women just have. It can be troublesome to the baby during labor and birth so, if present, the mama gets antibiotics every 4 hours during labor. Annoying? Yes. Disappointing? Slightly. End of the world? Hardly.
Thirty seven weeks also marks the "ok to deliver at the birth center" gestation! Yay!! Come on little dude!
Am I ready for this munchkin to come out? Yes and no. Physically, I'm pretty ready to not be pregnant anymore. Mentally and emotionally, I'm getting scared. I'm scared of a lot of things that will be coming in the next few weeks. Labor, first of all! I've been around my fair share, and lots of people's fair share, of pregnant and laboring ladies as an 8 year labor and delivery nurse. It definitely doesn't look like it tickles! I think this could be an advantage of sorts because maybe it won't be as bad as I think it may be. I might get surprised. I might get surprised?
I'm scared about being a mama too. All of the what if's keep coming to mind and consuming a lot of my thoughts. What if I seriously mess him up!? What if I'm really not a good mother? What if something horrible happens to him and he's taken from us (not by the child protective services...). What if he grows up and moves out!? What if he's a nightmare and ends up in jail? What if I don't know what to do to/what to say/how to be involved/push just hard enough...?
On the flip side, I'm so ready to meet this little creature. I'm ready to learn how to be his mother, how to comfort him when he needs it, how to nurture him to grow to be the kind of man many strive to be. I'm ready to look into his eyes in the middle of the night, exhausted, as he has a late night snack. I'm ready for his little fingers to curl around mine. I'm ready.
How far along: 37 wks
Total weight gain: 34lbs
Maternity clothes: Oh yeah
Symptoms: Ummm, being 9 months pregnant?
Stretch marks: Still just the one, thankfully
Sleep: Still challenging but I haven't slept in the glider in a few days
Best moment of this week: Turning 37 weeks
What's new this week: He's approximately 19 inches and 6.3lbs. His growth is starting to slow down just a little bit and he's busy practicing for life on the outside. I'm waiting for him to drop - I think he may have started a little bit but nothing significant. We're supposed to pack a bag...does having a few items in a laundry basket with the bag next to it count? And a list on the iphone?
Miss anything: Lots of things - sleeping well, good beer, normal shoes
Movement: I consistently have sharp jabs and kicks to my left side, right under (and sometimes way up in) my rib. Rarely is there any movement on my right side - almost always left. Sometimes I feel like he stretches so hard that I can grab his foot or knee, or whatever that is, from the outside.
Food cravings: The usual...ice water is new this week. Can't get enough of the chilly cold H2O goodness
Anything making you queasy or sick: Thinking about being pregnant for another 5 weeks!
Have you started to show yet: Nah, I just swallowed a basketball
Gender: Still a boy
Labor signs: Today, right on the 37 week mark, I did have quite a few Braxton Hicks contractions. They started to get a little more regular and pretty tight but nothing that caused cramps or anything close to real labor.
Belly button in or out: Definitely out
Wedding rings on or off: Off. I miss them.
Happy or moody most of the time: Tired
Looking forward to: Seeing that sweet little face!
They just keep getting bigger...not really fitting in the flops anymore. You know those surgical booties? Yeah, those have become my work "shoes"
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