Excitement!
Okay, I’m posting this at 2am because I can’t sleep, due to the fact that I’m feeling what I think are Braxton-Hicks contractions, or “false” labor. They’re short, mild-to-moderately painful cramps that come on irregularly and pass quickly. Even though I don’t think this is the real deal, it’s a totally encouraging sign that active labor might start soon. I’ve got a couple other signs of progress too, but if you’re of a sensitive disposition you might want to skip the next paragraph, as the details are both intimate and pretty gross.
We’re all friends here? Okay, good. I’ve had three bowel movements today and I noticed a little bit of blood-tinged discharge this evening when I went to pee. The “bloody show,” as it’s called, is caused by the cervix thinning, while the frequent bowel movements may well be sign that my gastric system is shutting itself down in preparation for labor.
If I don’t update this blog for a while it probably means that the Braxton-Hicks contractions passed and I was finally able to get some sleep. If we end up heading to the hospital we’ll definitely be calling people and we’ll also post something here. In any event, I’m very glad to be greeting my due date with some signs of actual progress!
