Well I’m sick.
If I were to track down the person who gave me this cold, I would flick his or her nose. Because what you don’t want to have happen to you at 39 weeks pregnant, when a component of your labor management includes deep breathing, is to get sick with one of your patented, awful head colds. The fact that I haven’t been able to breathe well for the past two nights is keeping me up in more ways than one: doing my hypnobirthing practice feels impossible, which of course makes me believe that if I were to go into labor, all of our work would go right out the window, and throws me into a little bit of a tailspin.
And so, of course, here I am right now at 4 a.m., watching Buffy, sitting in my chair.
Contractions have started more in earnest lately, though they show no discernible pattern so I feel pretty confident that we’re looking at false labor for the moment. Scott downloaded the Contraction Master app and while the contractions happen mostly at night, they come and go in spurts without any rhyme or reason. We’re still tracking them, just the same, because it’s a good habit to get into. And since we’re in that Nothing-To-Do-But-Wait stage, it also keeps us occupied. We’re like little children around here. All we need is something shiny.
I say this jokingly, but I do wonder how people had children before technology.
While we’re now in waiting mode, I’m growing more reflective about the pregnancy itself. I read something yesterday where a woman who had been pregnant three times mentioned that after you’re not pregnant anymore you kind of forget what certain aspects felt like. I mentioned to Scott that it occured to me that at this time next month the things I’ve grown accustomed to – pain in my hips, my daughter’s constant movements, the Braxton-Hicks, the discomfort in bed – will be all but gone. You spend almost a year growing used to all of this discomfort and before you know it? Poof. Done.
I’m ready to be done with being pregnant – I can’t wait to go running, I can’t wait to breathe easier, I can’t wait to be able to regain full use of my hands, I can’t wait to sleep in any position I damn well please – but I will miss some of it. It takes some time, I suppose, since months ago I wouldn’t have thought that possible, but there it is.
I like how nice everyone is to me. Honest to Pete, I have not encountered anyone who isn’t nice to this pregnant lady. I like that I can dress like an eccentric and no one bats an eye. Seriously. From the goofy hats to the galoshes, I’m just a stone’s throw away from being handed spare change off the expressway. There are ladies who rock being pregnant, but I am not one of those people. And for awhile I made a larger effort, at this point, with the cold and the snow and the inability to hang on to any dignity that remains, I don’t give a rat’s ass what anyone thinks regarding my appearance.
I like that my husband waits on me hand and foot. Make no mistake: he’s done that for a while now. I haven’t taken out the garbage in years and he’s insistent on me not doing much, if any, hard labor around the house, no matter how much I protest. But predictably since becoming pregnant, and especially in these last stages, Scott prefers I stay seated and at rest at all times, even if that means getting up to hand me my laptop that’s only a foot away, just so I don’t get up from the glider. That sort of horsepockey won’t stand, obviously, once I regain full use of my faculties, but for now? It’s sweet.
Ugh. I have no good way to end this blog post. I’m tired, I’m sick, I’m antsy and not everything is very hunky dory right now for myriad reasons, but I’m grateful as a person knows how to be. Now if only I could breathe…
Oh, a bad cold before a baby! I KNOW about that! With my 3rd child I had a c-section scheduled and 3 days before, I caught a horrible cold from one of my other kids and when they questioned me about my symptoms when I went for pre-op (they don’t like to operate if you are sick), I LIED and said, “oh, just season allergies” (it was late April) because I did not want to postpone the section, even by a day.
Of course the joke was on me because I had the worst cough after surgery and for days felt like my stomach was being ripped open. Figured it was because I lied. Darn Catholic guilt.
I feel for you. I have so many sick people around me right now and my biggest fear is catching what they all have. I’m much farther away than 39 weeks though. I hope this cold kicks itself to the curb faster than normal for you.
Dude, being sick while pregnant is TERRIBLE no matter how far along you are. But it’s worst near the end. I hope you get over it fast! I think I remember you have the neti pot already… but what about using some eucalyptus oil aromatherapy? Or a steam tent?
My sister-in-law had such a bad cold at 37 weeks or so that she broke a rib coughing. I think it was mended by the time she went into labour, but it can’t have helped. So, you know, be careful coughing, okay?
No, but seriously, I hope you’re on the mend and she sits tight for the moment. Has she dropped at all?
Take care, pumpkin. I am so excited about this baby and I hope you feel better.
When I had a c-section for my first child, I went from feeling very uncomfortably pregnant to recovering from major surgery. I felt like: “Why didn’t anyone warn me that having a c-section meant that i might still be prevented from moving around easily, sleeping easily, and all that?” I hadn’t counted on a whole different reason for physical discomfort for a few more weeks post-birth. I truly hope you have a lovely L&D experience and feel beautiful afterwards. I just wanted to mention something that took me by surprise! The upside of being so uncomfortable while pregnant? When it came time for my hubby to have a vasectomy, he “owed me one” in terms of physical discomfort!;)
I am only in my second trimester but have been fighting a cold for the last 2 wks-it completely sucks.
Watching Buffy is a good choice, Buffy makes everything better. Good luck getting healthy.
I’m getting so excited for you I can barely stand it. Just can’t wait to see her. I’ll cross my fingers that cold will soon be on its way out and you’ll be feeling really strong and ready when the time comes. Keep your feet up and feel better! Thinking of you.
I had a cold at the end of my pregnancy with my second. The worst part was the lack of bladder control associated with coughing and sneezing. TMI, perhaps. When I was in labor, I was just too miserable and unable to hold it in, so to speak. So every time the L & D nurse went to check on me, she’d announce, “Oh your water broke” and I’d say, “nope, just peed again. sorry”. Here’s hoping you’re breathing better soon.
In the category of “poof, it’s gone,” I’d like to mention that the night after I gave birth, I woke up in a panic several times that night worried that I hadn’t felt the baby kick of late. I missed feeling her little movements, not the shots to the bladder and lungs. You’ll do beautifully–hypnobirthing rocked both my labors.
Erin,
I hope you’re feeling better. I’m a longtime reader of your blog, and I wanted to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed all of your pregnancy posts, even the ones about the less-than-warm-and-fuzzy parts of growing and carrying a child. Actually, I’ve probably loved those more. I’m due a month after you, and reading about the pains, emotions and experiences of pregnancy, as well as finding a doula and taking natural childbirth classes, has really helped me in my pregnancy. Thank you. And good luck in the days ahead! I look forward to reading all about your new daughter and the ups and downs of learning to be a new mom.
I keep checking back hoping for news on Baby Girl Smith! I bet your readers are (almost) as impatient as you are right now….