You are 37 1/2 weeks pregnant. It is 10pm at night and your labor starts. YAY! Contractions are 7 minutes apart, steady and lasting about 45 seconds. They don’t feel like Braxton-Hicks contractions, so this must be the real thing! Steady, real, feeling like labor.
This goes on until 2am when suddenly, everything stops.
No contractions.
No labor.
The next night the same thing happens. And the next, and the next.
Welcome to prodromal labor.
Though not often talked about and poorly understood, prodromal labor is an important subject. Likely the cause of many early trips to the hospital, emotional and physical exhaustion on the part of the mother, and dashed hopes of natural birth, prodromal labor is something that needs to be talked about more and understood better.
What is prodromal labor?
Prodromal labor is usually defined as a labor that starts and stops, sometimes for days on end. Prodromal labor feels like real labor, it acts like real labor and in many ways it is real labor. Sadly, it eventually stops and doesn't result in a baby like active labor does.
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This has been my life the last, I'd say, week? It truly has sucked. My fear is now when I actually DO go in to labor, I will have no clue that it is the real thing until it is too late. Bathroom floor baby here we come! For the last few nights I have been hoping and praying that this false labor would turn in to the real thing. Except for tonight (and tomorrow). Zach finally interviews with the Fire Department Chief for Provo at 3pm. So no baby can come tonight because he needs a good nights sleep and no baby till AFTER the interview. I've already told Zach that I will NOT call him if I go in to labor during the interview, which knowing our luck, will probably happen.
My doctors appointment on Monday revealed that I have had no more cervical dilation since they last checked me in April. I'm stuck at a 2. Which is fine, nothing is progressing.
So in other words, this kid is DRIVING ME NUTS! Two trips to the hospital and labor like symptoms every night. Ugh, will you just come out already?! haha. I think what is even crazier is that I have now officially been pregnant longer then I was with Madison. So part of me has no clue how to handle being THIS pregnant and then part of me realizes how lucky I was to have Madi early before the last month of pregnancy hell kicks in. Plus little man has had a round of steroids while in the hospital so I can only imagine how big he will actually be. I am so excited to meet our little man but at the same time enjoying every last minute with just me and Madison, since I really have no idea when the last minute will be. For now I am planning for induction on June 15th and living my life like normal. No more bed rest, if I want to do something, I will go out and do it. My only fear is that my water will break in public. I'm not sure how embarrassed I will be if that happens so I wont go more then 30 minutes from my house and try to only hang out at places with tile floors. JK-- My plan is to always have a water bottle on hand and if it happens I just dump the bottle on the floor. Ditch the shopping cart, grab the toddler and waddle as fast as possible out of the store without anyone noticing.
Today I took Madi to the Lindon pool ALL BY MYSELF. Which if you knew what that all en tales you would understand what a feat that is. We played for a few hours and only got minimally sunburned. Gotta enjoy my last pool days of summer before I have 6 weeks of sitting on the side lines. We had a blast just the two of us. And though it seemed a little crazy to try and do it all alone, I really appreciate the time we had together. Madison is the sweetest kid. I am so thankful to have her in our family. She makes me smile every day. She is difficult and drama filled like most two year olds are, but I know she has a heart of gold and I can't wait to see her in her new role of big sister.
I also know its super cheesy but I am so looking forward to seeing Zach in his role as Daddy again. There is something so special about having your husband by your side as you go through labor and delivery. He calms my nerves and brings such a peace to the entire labor process. t's such a bonding experience for us as a couple and as parents. ....And to see his face when he holds his baby for the first time. Oh it just makes my heart skip a beat.
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