And, best pre-birthday news ever – nothing has changed! Still not dilated, but soft, thick and closed.

The midwife I saw today said just keep doing what you’re doing and continue to relax as much as possible. I have another appointment in a week with John the Midwife to get checked again, but I’m still feeling pretty good and optimistic that everything’s going to be fine and I’ll probably go overdue in the end.

To celebrate, I day dreamed about a Sausage Biscuit from McD’s on my way to work this morning. And, instead of indulging in what might have been nothing short of a food-gasm, I had a blueberry muffin and a cup of fruit.

(I’m not scurred to admit that discussing the Sausage Biscuit is making my mouth water. BADLY.)

And in totally different news, the hubs and I have OFFICIALLY agreed on a boy name. For real this time. It’s settled and set in stone, as far as I’m concerned. Now to work on a girl’s name. And sorry to say, but along with the sex of the baby, this one will also be a surprise for the big day. Lo siento.

I jumped the gun on Twitter/Facebook and said that I’m now 8 months pregnant. Actually, next Tuesday I’ll be 8 months pregnant. But…technicalities. I feel 8 months pregnant so I’m going with it.

The past couple days I’ve been feeling okay. Today I feel okay too. A little crampy last night, and a little bit of an upset tummy, but I’ll attribute that to lack of relaxing. (We had birthing class #2 last night.)  I’m starting to not be so paranoid, and I’m becoming more positive that I’m going to make it to the end without too much dilating, bedrest or pre-term labor. I don’t know why, but I feel like that test was a fluke. Maybe I’m just being uber optimistic. Or maybe, like SC Rep Joe Wilson likes to charge – “You lie.”

I met with an HR rep today who explained my leave benefits and short term disability blah blah to me. It’s confusing, to say the least, but I feel like I understand it much more now. The sad part is that if I should happen to go on bedrest, my time off will come out of the 12 week FMLA business, decreasing the amount of time I would get with the babe after I deliver. I could get an extension, but it needs to be approved by my boss (which I don’t think would be a problem) but it makes me sad, none the less. I’m VERY determined to work till the end…no matter when the end might be.

Tomorrow morning is my next internal. Again, very optimistic that there’s been no change since Tuesday. I’ll let y’all know what the results are when I have a chance.

My appointment didn’t exactly answer too many questions, but I’m pretty sure my cervix did change over the weekend. This is basically what the MW said in a nutshell.

She said that there’s two layers (or openings) to the cervix, and that she was able to get a finger through the first but the second was closed. She said I was soft but thick, and the baby was at -3. She said she would expect to see this kind of cervix in a woman that was more like 34-36 weeks along. (The MW I saw on Thursday seemed to imply that my cervix was right where it should be for a 30 weeker.) So, I don’t know if I am officially dilated, but I have another appointment early Friday morning where I will get checked again. She thinks I have an irritable uterus, or something of that sort. Baby was good, heart rate in the 140s…ute was measuring on track.

Since I pretty much just sit at my desk all day, she said she wasn’t recommending bedrest, but if I have a lot of contractions in the evening or morning before work, that I should probably stay home.

So…still, no drastic measures, nothing alarming, but they’re definitely keeping a stronger eye on me. It’s all just annoying now.

Well, the obnoxious news that I tested positive for fFN was enough to put me on lots of rest, even if my midwife said “just don’t do anything out of the ordinary.” After talking to my mom & the hubs, we all determined that my “ordinary” is way more than most people’s (I can’t sit still anymore) so, I did a lot of couch and bed laying…and a little bit of walking around. The result? Lots of morning contractions (timable to nearly 3-5 minutes apart at times) and evening cramping…which was at it’s worst on Friday night, and had another bout of on Saturday night. It’s kind of scary- the cramping feels like menstrual cramps, but it radiates into my upper legs (which I read in What to Expect can be a sign of pre-term labor). The Midwife on call on Friday night recommended a bath and going to bed. It was 8:30pm. So, I took a bath and re-assumed the position on the couch. I felt better.

Overall, the weekend was mostly without alarms, but I’m totally on high-alert and it sucks. I was able to get in today to get checked again to make sure nothing is happening, no progress is being made (instead of waiting until Friday which was the earliest I could get in before). That will ease my mind. I’m pretty hopeful that I’m not dilating…but if I AM, I want them to start intervening NOW. I can’t go the next 7-9 weeks worrying daily that any contractions or cramping are dilating me and putting me more at risk of pre-term labor.

Good news is, the baby seems to be okay through all this – still moving and hiccuping like normal. I’d still wish they’d take a peek inside via ultrasound so I could get that reassurance as well…but I’ll take what I can get at this point. Well wishes and prayers are still being accepted! I’m hoping I don’t need them.

How far along? 31 weeks.
Total weight gain/loss: Up 25ish lbs or so.
Maternity clothes? Casual summer ended today, so I’m wearing my maternity style work pants, thanks to Mom! (I got 2 pair of pants and 3 shirts for my B-day, which is Sunday!)
Stretch marks? Belly is stretchie free!
Sleep: A little better. Was up twice last night to pee, and had my first kick that actually woke me up. That was new.
Best moment this week: I’m going to go ahead and say NOT going into labor over the weekend.
Movement: Oui.
Food cravings: (I’m going to leave this up because it still stands.) I would like a big slice of marble cake with vanilla frosting. (My birthday IS in 5 days. *cough*getmeacakehubs*cough*)
Gender: I’m back to girl. My Dad and MIL are the only ones thinking boy. Maybe the hubs too.
Labor Signs: See below. *sigh*
Belly Button in or out? Flat as all get-out.
What I miss: Not being scared of going into labor.
What I am looking forward to: Getting checked again. I might be the only lady on the planet who’s stoked about getting an internal. That…and making it to at LEAST 35 weeks.
Weekly Wisdom: If something doesn’t feel right – call or head to the doc. It can’t hurt.
Milestones: Making it one more week is a milestone enough.

I’m going through a weird time with this pregnancy…filled with odd anxieties and excitement. Maybe it’s just par for the course at this point in the 9 months…but yeah…freaking myself out.

I have this irrational fear that something is wrong. That I’m somehow leaking amniotic fluid or that the baby has developed some weird issue. Do I have anything to back up these feelings? No. Not really. I’m thinking it’s mostly due to the insane amount of braxton hicks I’m having and the fact that I haven’t technically seen the baby for 2.5 months. I’m all worried that I’m going to go into labor like, tomorrow. Again…unfounded. I’m worried that my belly doesn’t seem to have gotten any bigger in the past couple of weeks.

I don’t have another appointment until the 17th. I don’t know if I can wait that long to have someone reassure me that everything looks okay.

In other, less stressful news – our first birthing class is at 6:30 tonight. HOLY CRAP. And the baby’s room is coming along quite well. Still waiting to take some more pictures until a couple more prints have been hung.

How far along? 30 weeks.
Total weight gain/loss: Still about + 25 lbs, give or take a pound.
Maternity clothes? Yup. And my fav maternity jeans are getting a little tight. NOOOOOO!
Stretch marks? What stretch marks? (Still refusing to look at my thighs.)
Sleep: HORRID. The steady decline of comfort hath officially begun. I’m now sleeping with 3 down pillows, a body pillow and the boppy belly wedge.
Best moment this week: Seeing my parents!!!
Movement: Yes. The hubs got to see some pretty crazy stuff last night.
Food cravings: I would like a big slice of marble cake with vanilla frosting. (My birthday IS in 12 days. *cough*getmeacakehubs*cough*)
Gender: Most are leaning girl. I’m just going to stay neutral until the end.
Labor Signs: Effing Braxton Hicks. Hate you. HATE.
Belly Button in or out? Both. And it’s starting to look gross.
What I miss: Not having sciatica when I walk and an awesome night’s sleep.
What I am looking forward to: A full day at the State Fair!
Weekly Wisdom: Even if you feel like superwoman while pregnant…REST. Rest often and for long periods of time. I haven’t been and I pay the price for it frequently.
Milestones: Uh, holy crap. Only 10 MORE WEEKS. (70 DAYS PEOPLE.)