37 Weeks

I'm 37 weeks along and still feel like I have another couple of months until the baby comes. I don't know why I feel like there's so much time, it still doesn't really seem real I guess.

I had a routine doctor visit today. They checked my weight and vitals and measured my belly and checked the heart beat. My weight jumped up 5 lbs since last week, which seems extreme but the doctor didn't say much, just asked if I've been eating a lot of sweets. (Which I kinda have in general, but not more than usual for this pregnancy.) Saturday after work I noticed my feet got swollen, perhaps my body is just holding onto extra water. I was measuring at 36 weeks, but the doctor didn't seem concerned about that either, she just said the baby probably dropped a bit.

I brought up an elective induction to my doctor in more detail today. I don't feel comfortable doing it, but I also don't feel comfortable going into labor naturally with all the variables working against me getting to the hospital in time, so I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. Generally speaking I am at low risk for needing a c-section if I get induced and the other risks that I am concerned about (fetal distress and infection) are low too. Anything is possible though and I have been heavily weighing my options and stressing about this decision for a month now. I am leaning more towards getting induced though. I wouldn't do it before 40 weeks and I would do it after my due date. Honestly I'm terrified and just want her to come early so I don't have to make this choice.

Anyway, after my appointment I went to visit Nat at lunch. I don't ever tell her when I'm coming, that way in case I can't make it she isn't bummed. She always asks me when/if I'm going to come to lunch that week but when I do come she is more interested in talking to her best friend than me, haha. The school staff is always so nice and everyone was asking how I'm feeling and suggesting ways to bring on labor, like walking and apparently hot water on your back.

I've been looking at my old post from when I was pregnant with Natalie and labor was even quicker than I remember. My water broke closer to 6 in the morning, I thought it was 5. Then the contractions started after that (what amount of time I have no idea) and I remember they became pretty intense pretty quickly. I got to the hospital around 8:30 am and she was born at 11:09 am. So if you count labor from when my water broke that is about 5 hours, if you count it from first contraction I will say about 4. I was 3 cm dilated at my doctor's appointment 6 days before she was born.

I really want to reassure myself that everything will work out one way or another. I think talking about it helps.One way or another I am going to be a mom again and I am so happy about that!