Labor: Real or False??

Ok, so I am already frustrated with this labor business!! Not that I am the only person to feel this way, but I REALLY wish there was some way they could tell you if you are having false labor or real labor. Let me explain......
In the middle of the night last night I started having pretty consistant contractions. They got to about 8 mins apart for at least an hour. So, I called the dr to find out what to do. The on call dr called me back and said that if you are between 5-10 mins apart and for at least an hour to go to the hospital and get checked. So, we did - at 1 AM!!! When I got there, the nurse hooked me up to an external monitor to monitor the baby's heart and my contractions. She checked me internally and I was 1 cm dialated. She had me walk around the floor for 2 hours before checking me again to see if I was going to progress. Those 2 hours seemed like forever, but by the end, my contractions were closer together as well as stronger. She hooked me back up to the monitor for 20 mins before checking me again. This time the monitor showed my contractions more consistant at 4 mins apart and more intense (just as I was feeling). BUT when she did my internal check, I was still between 1-2 cm.... which compared to Monday's 0, this was good. However, as far as progression for labor at the moment, it was not fast enough. SO, the nurse sent me home and said she was really confident that I would be back either this afternoon or evening. She said that SHE believed that I was in labor (not active labor) but that my early labor was going to take a while.
This afternoon I went to my OB to get checked again. The news was a little different this time around. She did say that I was dialated to almost 2 cm, but again that isn't fast enough to consider me in active labor. I was still having a lot of cramping and pressure, but my contractions were no longer consistant. She sent me home with some sleeping pills to take if needed because the pain sometimes causes me to not be able to fall asleep. She said that she really couldn't tell us if this is false labor or still the real thing. Ugh, again, I know I am not the first woman to say this.... but WHY can't there be a way to tell. I don't like this not knowing stage. My dr said that all of these internal checks could also cause me to have close intense contractions tonight, so I guess it will be a while before we REALLY know what is going on. She said to go to the hospital when my contractions reach 5 mins apart for at least an hour. BUT, again, doesn't mean it is the real thing - I could be contracting because of all the internal checks. This just seems like a vicious (and torturous) cycle. Now that it is getting late and reaching about the time that my contractions started last night, I am wondering more and more what is going to happen.
Ok, I am done venting now. Thanks for listening :-) Will post again when I know more.

My "fat pics" are here :-)

YEAH!!! Our "belly pics" cd just arrived in the mail today. The lady who took our pictures did an AMAZING job. There are several pics on the cd, so here is just a few of them (ok, a little more than a few :-) )

36 week appointment

This morning was our 36 week appt and it was an interesting one. She did the standard strep b test on me and we will get the results next week. She did if I test positive for strep b, it is not a big deal, I just need to make sure the nurses know during labor/delivery so they can give me an antibiotic in my IV so the baby doesn't contract it during delivery. My dr also did my first internal check. She said that I am not dialated yet, but my cervix is extremely soft. I am 50% efaced which she said was really good. AND she was able to feel the top of the baby's head. She said that baby Sarah's head is extremely low - "her head is right there" is what she said. She was pretty impressed with that. She said that depending on the baby, she can really come at any time. Good thing my hospital bag is packed and ready to go :-)
Michelle is here a couple days helping me finish up the last minute things in the baby's room. She is soooo excited to FINALLY be an auntie!! She says it feels like forever that I have been pregnant.... she doesn't have to tell me twice!
Sleeping is getting a lot harder to do, although I physically and mentally feel a lot more tired than I have. I am having a lot more and stronger contractions, pressure, and cramping. My drsaid this is all normal and my body is preparing me for the delivery of this baby. Feels like torture to me :-) We are definitely feeling the reality that time is getting closer and closer and is just about here.

It's a Girl..... AGAIN!!

Well, yesterday was another ultrasound day. Always exciting when we get to see our little one on the screen. It has been confirmed (for about the 4th time) that it is still a girl. So, here are a few of the stats:
- she weighs approx 5 lbs 7 oz
- she is measuring exactly on her due date
- her head is already really low (not engaged quite yet)
- her head is measuring in the 50th percentile (YEAH, we won't have a big head baby)

While the ultrasound was being done, little Sarah got the hiccups. We were able to see it on screen and it also showed she was still practicing her breathing in between hiccups. The sonographer said this was very impressive to see because it shows great brain development. It tells them that despite the fact she had the hiccups, she was still practicing breathing (as opposed to holding her breath). Oh yeah - another piece of good news... I have gained 2 pounds this week. This puts my total weight gain at 7 pounds now :-)

At my next appt (the Mon after Thanksgiving), I will be getting the strep B test done as well as the dr doing the first cervix check. This appt will be my 36 week. It's too bad they cannot tell us when approx the baby will come. They just come (or don't - hahaha) whenever they want to. They must like to keep everyone in suspense and the anticipation growing :-)

Welcome to Our Blog!!

Hello and welcome to our new blog! We have decided to start one so everyone can check in and see what we are up to/how we are doing whenever it is convenient for them.

To start off, on Monday we received some exciting news from our dr. It has been scheduled with the hospital that I be admitted for induction on Thurs, Dec 13th at 7:30pm. We are still hoping that she decides to come a little early on her own so we won't need to induce. We also have an ultrasound appt on Friday morning to make sure she is still growing ok. This will be our last ultrasound before she is born. They have been VERY exciting for us!!

Please check back this weekend as we will have another posting regarding the info we receive from the ultrasound on Friday!