I am 37 weeks pregnant. I have cramps all the time but they are not normal enough for me to be in labor, my feet are swollen and I'm either hungry or feel like I'm going to throw up. My ever growing baby likes to elbow me all day long and eventually I say STOP IT because my belly simply cannot stretch in that one spot anymore.
With the element of hormones I go from loving the movement I feel all day long to googling ways to induce labor. In the mornings when I talk to my sister I hear my nieces in the background. The sleepy good mornings, the frustrating cries, and the need to be attached to their mom like there is a crack in the earth and if you're not holding onto her you'll be lost forever are all things I long for and know they cannot happen until this baby is no longer in it's protected home in my belly.
As much as I love how self sufficient our soon to be 9 year old is he only calls me when he can't find something or like last night, when the cat threw up in his room and he wanted me to clean it up. Snuggling tends to only happen when he isn't feeling well or when he has a fart locked and loaded and wants to trick me into smelling it. I love him unconditionally, will cry the day I don't get to tuck him into bed, and am thankful he knows how to do his own laundry.
The baby stage that I am about to embrace is something I am ready to begin knowing the challenges that are in front of me. The diapers, hospital bills, and recovering from pushing what I assume is going to be a 10 pound baby with a giant head thanks to a swirl of our DNA are things I want to embrace and soak in knowing the support I have from my family and friends.
As I finish this I am wondering how effective a power walk through Target will be at turning these random cramps into contractions and how to tell my husband that I'm in labor that wont send him speeding across town to get to the hospital. Wish me luck, pray my husband doesn't pass out, and if you see a pregnant lady with swollen ankles just don't comment on them.
Yes I'm wearing my husbands socks, yes they hurt, yes I've tried ice, and no I obviously haven't had the baby yet.