First Trip to the Hospital

On Friday, I went to the doctor's for my regular appointment. Since I was 37 weeks, getting checked was optional, but I'd been having some achy/crampy contractions in the night, so I decided that I wanted to know if I was dilated at all. It turns out that I was dilated 3 cm. and 75% effaced and the doctor told me I could have the baby that day... or in 3 weeks, but that my body was getting ready, so I better prepare myself. Later that day, I lost my mucus plug.

I was pretty shocked. I had just decided that I was going to have the baby late (like most first time moms) and was prepared for that.  I really wasn't ready to hear that I could actually have the baby NOW, particularly because I have training all week for my new job and Don has his huge prelim exam on Saturday that will determine whether he can stay in the program or not.  I really cannot have this baby 'til after he takes that test!  

So, I had a bunch of achy/cramp-like contractions over the weekend (particularly during the middle of the night) and was getting more concerned that the little guy was on his way.

I woke up this morning and felt fine (despite having a bunch of contractions in the night), so I got ready to go to training for my new Resident Manager job. I went to training at 9 am, and about 10 am, I felt some serious pelvic pressure and got a little concerned.  I called Don and told him about it, then called the doctor's office.  When I told the nurse that I felt a lot of pressure and like I had to keep my legs together so the baby wouldn't drop out, she told me to come in right away.  I left training, picked Don up, and went to the doctor's office (which is at the hospital).

When I got to the office, the nurse told me the doctor was in labor and delivery, so I should just go over there.  It ended up that I got fully checked in to a room and the nurse hooked me up and did fetal monitoring for about 2 hours.  When she checked me, she said that while I was still only dilated to a 3 and 70 or 75% effaced, the little guy had dropped down to a +1 and that was why I felt all the pressure.  I had a few painless contractions while we were there, and it was interesting to watch the monitoring system track my muscle tension and show the peaks when I had contractions. 

The nurse told me she really doubted this little guy would stay put until Saturday, so now we are waiting on pins and needles for full blown labor to start.  Don just really wants him to come before Saturday so he won't be worrying throughout his entire 6 hour test that I could go into labor.  I am worried about missing my training, but there isn't much I can do about this.  The little guy has a mind of his own and will make his grand entrance whenever he decides he's ready.  It is nerve-racking, but very exciting!