36w, 3d

I had my 36 week appointment on Monday.

I was actually nervous because I didn't want to leave feeling let down. Having gone through one overdue pregnancy, I am paranoid that this one will be overdue too.

As part of the appointment, I had an internal exam and was really PO'd to hear that the doc couldn't even feel my cervix to check for dilation or anything, because it's too high up. WTF. So due to that, he figures I've made no progress toward labor at all. I was miffed. So basically, baby is ready - lungs developed fine, all parts in order, he's ready to come out developmentally - just hasn't moved down far enough yet! However, I've heard that from a lot of people and from reading a lot of websites, that baby doesn't necessarily have to be dropped into the pelvis to go into labor. In fact, the most common information I'm getting is that with first babies, they drop before labor occurs - anywhere from weeks to a few days before. With subsequent babies, labor can happen without having baby drop. In that case, what's the big deal if he's up high? Cripes. I don't remember ever "dropping" with my first pregnancy - at least I didn't feel it anyway. I just figure, I may as well go through the steps and maybe TRY to get him to drop or help him along (exercise ball, lunges, stairs, walking, etc.) and then maybe I'll have better luck doing the other home methods to get this going. I might start with a chiro alignment to get my hips to open up for kiddo to settle in there, later in the week. We're hoping to get this rolling by late next week - fingers crossed! :)

And not saying the doc doesn't know his shit either - he's the doc after all. And he's a great guy - super level with you, not even doctor-like at all, more like a cool guy who checks your whoo-hah every now and then. :) He is very sympathetic to my pain with the ever worsening sciatica and the recent potential Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction disorder causing my pelvic bones to hurt horribly, and to my unfixable broken tailbone. So if nothing else, he knows I'm in pain and that I'm not just trying to be unsafe about delivering soon. He gave me the all clear for labor at that appointment and knows from watching me that walking is becoming impossible.

He did prescribe a few things to get this going:
- Treadmill waking
- Swimming
- Bouncing on my exercise ball while watching TV, etc.
- Sex.

So, I know what I'll be doing for the next two weeks til the 38 week appointment! :) All of those things, plus faithfully taking my Evening Primrose Oil capsules to help ripen the cervix. Let's hope it does something! I don't want to be pregnant anymore!!!!