Let's start out with 34 weeks. I didn't actually have a check up scheduled but went in for some issues I was having. She checked me and surprisingly I was 1cm and 60% effaced. I was kind of shocked, but didn't put it past this baby b/c he's been riding low for a while. So 35 weeks. My appointment was originally tomorrow (Thurs 19th), but last night I had STRONG contractions. These were not braxton hicks contractions. These were contractions with a purpose. At one point, I almost packed my bag for the hospital, but decided to ride it out, see what happened. Well, since they were so long and strong, I decided to call my OB this morning and ask if someone would check me. I wouldn't have been so paranoid except for the fact that I'm only 35 weeks and do NOT want a baby in the NICU. So they saw me this morning and I'm now 2cm and still 60% effaced. So, progress... I guess we'll see what happens by next wednesday to be able to make any calls about whether is even a possibility that I'll go into labor early. But for now, I'm expecting I'll go around 38 weeks with the way things are progressing. Now we just play the waiting game!
We went for my check up today and all is well! The baby's heartbeat was surprisingly strong (don't know why, but my OB looked shocked that it was that strong....????). And all my questions were met with, "Yeah, everything happens earlier the second time around." Yeah, I know, but can't you just sympathize with my pain for just a second? No really, she's fabulous (and she's right). So, I will have my next appt. June 19th and from then on, I'll go every week! Yay! 6 weeks left!
Hey, I know this is probably the last subject everyone wants to hear about, but I thought I'd pass along my findings. And no, that's not my underarm, thank you google images. A couple months ago, I started noticing my poor underarm skin really drying out, so being a stay home mom I thought, "Well, you stay at home. No one's going to smell you or see you sweating. Just go without for a couple days and see if your underarms get any better." And I haven't worn deodorant since. Its amazing. I don't stink; I rarely sweat except when exerting myself physically. It's crazy! I think I actually sweat LESS when I'm not wearing deodorant (except when doing something physically demanding such as working out - then its about the same anyway). I'm no hippy, but if I can avoid clogging my underarm pores with potentially harmful chemicals headed straight for my lymph nodes, I'm all about it. That said, you should just try it for a few days... maybe not in the summer. Maybe when it cools down a bit this fall or something. But I'm telling you - its probably not as bad as you think. And just when I think I'm even STARTING to smell a tinge, its about the time I'd get a shower anyway. And if you're out and you feel like you might be stinky, baby wipes work wonders. You can get unscented ones so you don't smell like a baby's bum. That will usually take care of it if you had to run a mile or something strenuous and you have some place to be after that.