Dropped yet?

Its week 37 and all is about the same, as far as I can tell. About a month ago someone said it looked like I've "dropped" already. For those who don't know, when the baby settles into the pelvis its called "lightenment" or they say the baby's "dropped". You're supposed to be able to breath better but since she's lower, she's squishing the bladder. Yep, that means more bathroom visits. And that means the baby could come in 2-4 weeks or so.

I suppose after someone tells you that, you sorta go into paranoid mode... Its too early! She's not fully developed yet! I still have work! We still need to get some... We're not ready yet! Stuff like that. So I'd look in the mirror or ask Chris, "does she look lower?" I've always carried a little low, so I don't think so. My paranoia subsided after a while. My dr. said she doesn't think I've dropped yet but things are still going well, even if she did. And others give mixed reviews on the matter.

So now at 37 weeks I guess its possible that I'm lower now. I never really had breathing problems to notice them go away. Bathroom visits are more frequent but not like every 15 minutes. As of last Tuesday I was at 1cm and my cervix was softening, which means she's getting ready. It could still be a while, but I have weekly dr visits now so hopefully they'd be able to clue me in on my progress, in case my signs are too ambiguous for me to decipher.

Mothers ask me if I'm feeling uncomfortable now that I'm in my 9th month. Generally I'm doing pretty good. I'm not usually one to complain. Most often my response to the "how are you" question is typically, "fine". I suppose for me that means generally things are going well. For whatever might not be going well, its not a big enough deal to mention in the "how are you" answer. But if you want me to elaborate this time, here goes. This sleeping thing with the extra poundage can really suck sometimes. I've gotten to the point where flipping over requires physically moving the belly over from one side to the other. And with all the pillows required, sometimes turning over means scoot butt, move belly, scoot butt, move belly, scoot butt, move belly and make sure the pillow is in the right place to prop it up without any discomfort or strain on other body parts while adjusting the other pillow between your knees to maintain good spinal position so it doesn't strain your back but at the same time gently moving the legs over with the belly even though joints are still achy from a full day of all this extra weight plus gravity putting downward forces on everything below the waist and when you finally get flipped over from facing the wall to facing the bed, you realize your bladder is full again and you have to flip back over to get out of bed to use the bathroom. All this at 2am. If you're lucky, that's only the first time you woke up. And don't forget to add the fact that since you're stuck on one side, the limbs under your body start to get tingly or fall asleep which wakes you up and you have to try to shift or something to get the blood back into your fingers. And once you're bladder's gladder and your all comfy in bed and trying to go back to sleep, just hope the other occupant in the bed isn't a noisy sleeper. =) Throw in some edema or fluid retention and now you've got a party.

But I'm not one to complain about the little things.

Common questions for the 9 month pregnant lady...

• How are you feeling?
• Fine
  
• When are you due?
• Oct. 9
  
• Do you know what it is?
• A girl
  
• Are you excited?
• Maybe after I get past the labor part.
  
• Are you ready?
• Ready for labor? Umm, potentially 24 hours of pain leading up to the worst pain I might ever feel in my life... no.
  
• Ready for the baby? After labor, pretty much ready.
  
• Are you feeling uncomfortable yet?
• Nah... See above
• Is she moving now?
• Has been for the last few months.
• (for the current parents that ask) You should know there's less room to move now so she probably isn't moving around as much, but yes, she's moving.
• Do you see the knuckles move across the belly?
• If I see knuckles this late that mean's she's breech and/or facing outward which is bad, so no, I see feet, knees, ankles, and/or her back.
  
• Is the room ready?
• As ready as it can be until we realize we need a ton of more stuff that no one clued us in about beforehand.
• Natural or c-section?
• Natural if I can help it.
• Drugs?
• If I need them.
• Breastfeeding?
• Yep. If I can.
  
• Are you on maternity leave yet?
• Not until next week
• When do you go back to work?
• January
• Do you need anything else for the baby?
• Um... not that we know of, but I'm sure we'll be wishing we had cool baby gadget A that we didn't get cuz at the time we didn't think we needed it but later realize it would really really really help.
  

Interesting Comments:

• Whoa!! Did you swallow a watermelon?
• Nope, just half of one.
  
• You look bigger than last time I saw you.
• Umm... I'm 37 weeks pregnant, should I be shrinking?
• Hi. *blank stare* You look good.
• Thanks! I think.

More later =)