12 Jan 2004 - 2:30pm - Dropping

This is, of course, the very technical term to indicate that the baby has lowered in the womb to engage the birth canal. In first pregnancies, this often occurs 2-4 weeks prior to labor. In subsequent pregnancies, you often don't drop prior to going into labor.

My very high tummy is not so high anymore... though it's still huge.

They call this "lightening" as well, because most mothers often feel as if the load has lightened now that the baby is not carried so high, and can often breathe easier. Certainly I've noticed that I'm not as short of breath (though, don't get me wrong, I still can't walk up a flight of stairs without huffing and puffing), and the baby's feet don't get quite as high up under my rib cage anymore (yay!).

But for me, at least, this dropping is more like "hello, welcome to painville." I believe the baby dropped Thursday evening, since that's when the intense pain started - my entire pelvic area, including lower back, hips, lower abdomen, and groin, were just screaming in pain. I suppose it's good to get the muscles stretching now, but owww-weee did it hurt. As a result, I pretty much got no sleep at all Thursday and Friday night. My beloved husband tried his best to make me comfortable (because my discomfort meant he didn't sleep either), by giving me massages and the like, and while it helped me to feel better, it didn't make it go away. But without his tender touch, I doubted I would have slept at all, and I'm very grateful for the sleep - and the massages.

I am, however, feeling better though I get achy very easily and muscles hurt a lot. I'm definitely in that "old woman" stage of the pregnancy, where I must move careful to avoid taxing any muscles. It's also really hard to bend over (the baby is lower and thus really prevents me from doing so), and it's more difficult to sit and stand. I provide no end of amusement for my husband when I'm struggling to flop my way out of bed, or get up from the futon. I do think he rather enjoys - perhaps too much - having to help me get to my feet. And it was all he could do not to laugh when I had to ask him to cuff my pants for me on Saturday. ;)

We actually had a surprise doctor's visit today, in that my mom was panicking over my pain and a few mild Braxton-Hicks contractions, and afraid I was experiencing preterm labor (which I was not, as it turned out). But my doctor decided we should play it safe, and in I went. It meant we got to hear the baby's heartbeat again (the new recording is up under heartbeat!) as I got strapped to the monitors once more. But all is perfectly well, and no need to worry.

I do wonder if my due date will be adjusted, or if I'll remain "on target." My next full check-up is next Monday, so perhaps they'll be an update then. Dropping usually indicates labor within 2-4 weeks, but like the old wives tales of how to predict the gender of the baby, all that really means is that I could be early, could be on time, or could be late. ;)

Good to know, that. :)