Lucidia Lohman

False Alarm on the Whole Labor Thing

So we had a false alarm last week. No labor yet. While I’ve been having some “possible labor” signs, there has been nothing definite.

I’m 37 weeks and 2 days pregnant, measuring close to 38 weeks, and the ultrasound today revealed that LuLu is weighing in at 7 pounds, 13 ounces (yes, you read that correctly). While ultrasounds can be off by up to 2 pounds each way (I shudder to think of an almost-ten-pound LuLu Bean coming out of me), the weight itself doesn’t surprise me. I can feel every ounce. That’s for sure.

And I’m only dilated 1 cm. So we have a ways to go.

We didn’t get any good pictures of LuLu because she’s so big and in the exact position she should be in. I can pretty much say, however, that she has a Gallagher nose, like me and my mom, and I’m pretty sure she has Lohman legs.

We’ll keep you all updated.

Possibly Labor!

Possible signs of labor (from here):

Here are some things to watch for in the weeks and days surrounding your due date.

More frequent Braxton-Hicks contractions
Lingering back pain
Noticing the baby’s weight has shifted downward (or the baby dropping into your pelvis)
Nesting urges - energy spurts or a restless feeling at any hour of the day
Some increased cervical discharge
Frequent and/or loose bowel movements
Possible queasy or mild flu-like symptoms

I have every one of the above. I have yet to lose my mucous plug or experience anything really telling like that, but I have had all of the above in the last 2 days. In fact, 6 and 7 just started last night, and I still don’t feel quite right today.

While labor may still be weeks away, I wanted to update everyone just in case. I have a prenatal appointment tomorrow morning at 8, so I’m going to request an internal exam to determine any cervical changes, and if there’s anything newsworthy, I’ll report it (or have Dad do it).

Bring it on, LuLu. I’m ready for ya, babe.

I Have a New Best Friend…

…and his name is Braxton Hicks.

Well, there is a lot of movement in my baby box right now. LuLu likes to slide from one end to the other and sort of pop an elbow or knee or some baby mystery body part out from time to time to say hello and remind me that there’s another human being inside of me (as if I could forget). She loves to do this at work at the most inopportune times. Yes, she really is her mother’s daughter.

My parents, when I was younger, used to threaten me often with “One day, you’ll have a daughter just like you.” Well, Mom and Dad, that day has almost arrived. I gave you both plenty of minor heart attacks throughout my tween and teen days, and even into college, but mark my words: I was a wonderful kid, and even though karma may be coming back to haunt me, I wouldn’t want it any other way. And the best person to deliver that karma? LuLu herself, in all her Gorski-Lohman glory.

So, between the baby-box movement and Braxton Hicks contractions, I think it’s fair to say I’m more than busy and freaking out every 10 minutes about whether I’m in Actual Labor or False Labor or Preterm Labor or Gimme Chocolate Labor—or maybe a combination!

Weight and blood pressure are excellent. LuLu is growing. She’s almost 5 pounds, if not there by now. I feel it every minute. The couch is my new best friend, and Thom has been nothing but an excellent support, making dinner, rubbing cankles, and locking me out of the house so I walk around the block every day to get my exercises in. He’s a doll.

If I have anything new to report, I will certainly blog here. For now, I’m going to wallow here with Braxton and LuLu and my cankles.