Contractions and Hiccups

Jack is officially full term, or 37 weeks. 

Despite being in my third trimester, when things are supposed to be most uncomfortable, this might be the easiest part of the process. Something changed after 31 weeks. Somehow I accepted what was going on. I accepted the changes in my body, the weight gain, the part about slowing down and having fewer expectations for myself. 

Now with only 3 weeks to go I'm both enjoying relaxing yet very aware of every new change in my body that may indicate arrival. I can feel everything. The pushing, the pressure, the feeling of getting a period. Last night I had three contractions - each of which made me clench and hold my breath. So much for lamaze.

In the meantime, some of the things that I didn't quite understand before are now making sense. The doc says that his head is down and he is laying sideways so that his back is against the right side of my belly and his arms and feet are pushing against my left side. Understanding how he is positioned accounts for the different type of pressure I've been feeling all along. The mystery of his rhythmic movements on my right side have been discovered too - hiccups! 

It's been what feels like a long journey. One that has been full of ups and downs... curiosities, surprises, learnings, changes. Throughout the process my brain has been working out the changes taking place within my own body - trying to make sense of it all. As we round the corner my focus is sliding away from my own body to him. 

I'm appreciating our last days together as a single unit. He feels so much more real to me now. We do things together - like swimming and walking. When he moves I find myself saying hi to him or rubbing his back. 

We made it this far. We've just got a little further to go and I'm praying all goes well. There's no question that we're ready.

37 weeks

37 weeks

28 weeks