Dilating and Unconventional Early Labor Signs

It's funny how much can change in a couple of years. I say this because, if you had told me three years ago that I'd be blogging about my cervix I would have laughed in your face. Blogging - probably. Blogging because my husband's deployed to Afghanistan for the third time - meh, doesn't really sound too much like me...I have time to blog? Well here I am - blogging because I have time and because I'm pregnant and while I'm no longer blogging to update Brian (very lucky to have him home safely!) I do feel the need to update all those people who've decided to read my posts on this pregnancy up until birth... so back to my cervix.

I now have weekly appointments so at this past week's appointment on Thursday we were finally asked if we'd like to see whether or not my cervix is dilating and effacing. Music to my ears. Yes of course we'd like to know (I've grown a bit weary of being pregnant...). If you just missed the last sentence because you're focusing your brainpower on trying to remember (or perhaps guessing) what dilating and effacing are, don't worry - I'll explain.

Dilation refers to the opening of the cervix (the short tunnel that connects your uterus to your vagina) and is measured in centimeters. Effacement describes the shortening/thinning of that tunnel in preparation for birth. For example, by the time you're ready push the cervix is so short that it's not really a tunnel anymore as it's more of a sort of thin membrane between the uterus and the vagina. In dilation this thin membrane is stretched wide enough for the baby's head to come out. As of right now, I'm 1-2 cm dilated. If you're wondering how they check for this, it's as simple as it sounds (although it's not recommended, because it's so simple, that you try doing it at home), the doctor just sticks her fingers in there and 'guesstimates'. You may be thinking right now, wow 1-2 cm dilated (out of 10) - that's pretty good, she's making progress! Well, not really. I could stay 1-2 cm dilated for up to 3 weeks (and I know people who have...). But, at least I'm not closed up like a clam. At least I do have something to share!

As I'm writing I decided to reread the chapters on early labor in the book, "The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy", recommended to me by a friend who just gave birth to her second (Congrats Les & Anne Meree on your new baby girl!). The early labor chapter gives a couple of not-so-well-known signs that labor may be approaching, some of which I've actually been experiencing (unfortunately for Brian). Here are a couple of the signs that your doctor's not likely to not share w/ you:

1. Nesting Instinct: We've all heard this. Crazy pregnant woman uses her husband's toothbrush to scrub the grout between the tiles in the shower. Crazy pregnant woman cannot sleep one more night in a house whose baseboards are not freshly scrubbed with a scientific mixture of bleach and windex. Crazy pregnant lady... well, you get the idea.

I've been experiencing this, as I found myself cleaning the detergent container of my clothes washer this morning with a q-tip and organizing our pantry yesterday afternoon, and throwing anything that remotely looks a little bit dirty into the laundry to be cleaned and promptly putting it away. Brian, who likes to wear his clothes more than once, is perplexed to find the shirt he's just taken off and placed on the dresser to wear again smelling very fresh folded in his drawer an hour later. Sign number one, I'm all over you...

2. General Pissed-Offedness: The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy refers to this as "Stranger In a Strange Land Syndrome" - pregnant women "go through the motions of their usual business, but feel distanced from and uninvolved in it. Things that they would normally find amusing become trivial or irritating. They are sick and tired of being pregnant. They want to get the ordeal of birth going so they can stop dreading it, once and for all" and enjoy the fruits of their labor (literally). I've found myself becoming more easily irritated and moody. I was pretty good for a while and I think all would generally agree that I was a fairly cheery pregnant lady, but lately (even with my husband home) I've become increasingly emotional. I'm pretty sure it's abnormal to cry while looking at cartoon childbirth pictures...

So, while I haven't experienced all the telltale signs: my water breaking, contractions, the loss of my mucous plug (at least I don't think so...), we know he's coming relatively soon and we're trying to enjoy these last few days/weeks being Caitlin & Brian, before it's Caitlin, Brian & Case.

On a side note: Bruno is very happy to have the alpha dog home. He's taking to only listening to Brian as well (Frustrating for me, secretly pleasing Brian).