Any day now...

We had a good doctor's appointment today. Everything is looking healthy as usual and we're only two days away from Ellie's due date!

From the exam, we learned that I'm still only about 2 cm dilated, almost a 3 but her head is engaged and has nowhere to go but out! Last night, I was experiencing a lot of cramping. It was extremely uncomfortable and not easing up with movement. It felt like a combination of menstrual cramps and needing to make a bowel movement. I figured I just needed to use the restroom but Steve was a little worried so we called the doctor on call to be sure nothing was wrong. After talking with him, he determined that I was likely having mild contractions and if they intensified to head in. They did ultimately subside though. This morning, I spoke with our doctor about them and while explaining how I felt, he had his hand on my belly. When I finished, he informed me that they were in fact contractions, I'd likely been having them for awhile and that I had just experienced one at that moment. He said it's possible I haven't noticed them much due to my high activity level. Crazy!

He also mentioned that I'd lost my mucous plug already but that loss of that is often overrated. I had no idea I'd lost it! My sister-in-law had lost hers at 34 weeks and still had a scheduled c-section at 39 weeks so again, overrated.

I'm now scheduled for an induction next Wednesday the 29th, roughly a week after my due date. Initially we'd discussed the 30th so I tried to convince him to induce me earlier---primarily because I'm so anxious to meet her but also I will need to complete payroll around the 5th and would love to have as much time with her and to rest before doing so. I was honest with him about the payroll issue so he responded with honesty as well---he's off duty on the 30th and would like to keep it that way, ha! He did say that inducing too early could cause complications and lead to a c-section, which we'd both like to avoid. Even after scheduling the induction, he told me he believes I'll go before then. As is the case with any pregnancy, I could go into labor in an hour or next week. There's of course no way of determining for sure when she'll be born but we're all hopeful she makes her arrival soon!