The Final Stretch

It's almost time. After 9 months of waiting, worrying, praying, hoping and anticipating, the baby will be here soon. Naturally, I'm still terrified. Not of being a mother. I think I'll be a good mom. I had an amazing example growing up. I want the labor and delivery to go well. I'm not afraid of the pain either. Looking at the big picture, I'd walk through the fires of Hell and back again, as long as the baby is safe, sound and healthy. I've yet to see the angelic face, tiny fingers and toes, chubby legs and the little eyes that will have me mesmerized for the rest of my life and I'd already give my life for him/her. I am wrapped in anticipation...I can't wait to be able to hold this gift from God in my arms. Pregnancy is not glamorous...at all. It's hard work. And most women are anxious to *get this baby out* once they've reached the point I'm at. And yes, I want the baby to be born, but only because the agony of not knowing how he is, is so hard. I will miss feeling the baby move inside me though. It is something that cannot be described. To feel life blossoming inside you, growing, being nurtured by nothing other than your own life forces. It is no wonder they call it "The Miracle of Life".

So I've mentioned that pregnancy is not glamorous. Yeah...haha. Swelling, peeing all the time, hemorrhoids (I'm sorry, was that TMI? :-P), back pain, heartburn, stuffy nose, bleeding gums and being unable to sleep (You think that is grooming you for *after* the baby comes :D?). I've been having my share of all of the above. Not to mention I'm at the point of seeing my OB/Gyn every week now. And I have some high blood pressure, and some protein in the urine occasionally. So every time the BP is up, I'm taking a trip to the labor floor of the hospital and getting hooked up for NST, bloodwork, BP monitoring and AFI. Glamorous. Nope. But, I see the light here...I've only 2 weeks left until my due date, so I really can't complain. At least the issues have resisted showing up until the home stretch. So now I'm seeing my doctor twice a week instead of once, and that's OK. I get reassurance that the baby is OK more often. :-)

During my appointment yesterday, the doctor checked me and was happy to report that although it's nothing to get overly excited about, my cervix is beginning to change and thin out and soften in preparation for the birth of the baby. So depending on how quickly or how slowly that progresses, it could be any day, or right up to and even past my due date. *Crosses fingers* I'm hoping for a little earlier! ;-)

-S-