Labor Pains!?!?!?!

After deciding that the baby was going to arrive 2 weeks early with no luck, I decided that the child was either never going to arrive or would arrive around Christmas time.  The thing to understand is that I am not at all hormonal or irrational.  Once again, baby had his own agenda. 

Today, I am officially in labor.  My regular weekly check-up yesterday basically showed no progress - slight dilation (1.5 cm) and mildly effaced.  We scheduled another appointment for Monday and talked about the possibility of scheduling an induction at 41 weeks.  I also saw my chiropractor who did say that things are beginning to move...whatever time schedule that implies!

Perhaps my exam yesterday got things moving.  I don't know.  I had some pains last night that felt like the baby was burrowing his head into my back and pelvis.  The pains were uncomfortable, but not what I expected labor pains to feel like.  I went to bed with plans to go to work this morning.  During the night, I woke up several times with similar pains and kept getting up to go to the bathroom.  The pains passed, and I guess I fell back to sleep. 

This morning, I got up and started getting ready for work.  The pains were taking my breath away, and I started thinking twice about driving or commuting into D.C. for work.  As soon as Dallas woke up, I talked to him.  We decided I didn't need to drive into downtown, although we still hadn't pegged the pains as contractions.  I trudged downstairs to the office and sent an email to folks at work to let them know I was opting to work from home.  I then Googled "what do labor contractions feel like?"  After reading through all the oh-so-helpful responses of "you'll know it when you feel it," I found this:  "Labor contractions are felt low in the groin or in the lower back. They may radiate from front to back or back to front or down your legs. They are dull and crampy like menstrual or gas cramps." -from parentsplace.com

Uh-oh!  I disagree with the "dull" part, but the rest of it was pretty spot on.  Back upstairs to tell Dallas.  I was still not sure what I was feeling were contractions - even though they were cycling around every 15 minutes.  I convinced Dallas there was no reason for him to stay home from work and promised to call my doctor as soon as they opened.

I also decided that I had to get my hair washed just in case this thing was real because who wants to sit around feeling miserable with greasy hair?  Oh, and I seriously considered giving Nemo a much needed bath.  Still expecting my doctor to laugh at me, I called.  I was told to come in - now!  No I would not need to get an appointment.  I needed to come in immediately.  At last, I started to worry that this thing might be real.  So, I washed my hair, shaved my legs, finished packing my bags, and petted the dog.  With nothing else to postpone reality, I went to the doctor.

As of 10:00 this morning, I was 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced.  Well on the way to having a baby.  The doctor told me to go home and get something to eat.  Once the contractions hit 5-7 minutes apart for an hour, we will head to the hospital.  In the meantime, Nemo may still get that bath...