labour – The Great Pudding Club Hunt

PC Diary @ 32W 6D

For some reason I have had little reminders of the Brussels airport terror attacks…perhaps it is because it is my last transatlantic flight before I go on maternity leave…or perhaps it is my hormone overloaded glass cage of emotions more as I get closer to R-Day*. I get very brief moments of re-experiencing events of that day. The feeling of my heart in my mouth, the feeling of not knowing if I will see Chris again, the feeling of the heat from the blast run over the back of my head, the feeling of the aches from all the shaking and shivering. These thoughts have been fleeting as my eyes well up with tears for just a moment, but then I get a kick or a contraction and I remember where I am now and where my near future will be, the tears don’t flow and I move on in my thoughts.

I am very excited to not have any more work travels ahead of me, I think flying transatlantic at almost 33 weeks is a little too much for me. First of all, I got the all clear from the doc to fly to Luxembourg this week, however, I didn’t know that flying with British Airways they would want a doctor’s note to say I am fit to fly after 28 weeks pregnant. Whoops. I discovered this the day I was die to fly. American is who I normally fly with, they don’t need anything until 36 weeks so I didn’t think to check the third leg of my flight would be OK. So I wore my black baggy sweater and didn’t do up my big black coat…you could only tell I was pregnant if I waddled or stood with my bump out. I managed to hide it both ways and no one noticed I was pregnant and I was never asked for a doctor’s note! Phew! Got away with that one. I had read online of women who had been turned away for not having a note when flying with BA.

Secondly, because of what happened last time I flew, I have been conscious of all contractions, pains, and strange bodily behaviours as potential indicators of labour. I had several nights of terrible sleep because I couldn’t get comfortable in the hotel bed, the pillows and mattress were terrible…and one night I got the shivers, shakes and bad upset stomach, as if I was coming down with either the flu or had food poisoning. I was exhausted after several nights of bad sleep. I started to worry that Rocky might be suffering…although she has been extremely active the past week. She has definitely shifted head further down and legs up. If I am not lying down or sitting laid back I can feel her pushing down a lot more into my pelvis and my poor bladder is suffering. Also, my hemorrhoids have got worse, they haven’t burst (fortunately), but they have got bigger and sorer as I had constipation followed by upset tummy. Quite frankly my bum is totally fed up with my bowels!!!!

So that is all my negative thoughts for the day. Now for some more of the positive to keep balanced….

My travels took me briefly to the UK with two layovers at London Heathrow meaning I got to see my parents, brothers (one of whom is about to turn 18!!! OH MY how did that happen??!) and a friend. I was reminded of all things British and Christmas! I love all Christmassy food and drinks! I know it’s quite a way away, but I felt festive. Rocky was also spoilt with some lovely gifts, my bag barely closed!

I discovered Le Tote! A little late….but it is a great source of maternity clothes. I think I will write a separate post about this because it is well worth explaining some more why I like it.

32 weeks 3 days

*Rocky’s expected delivery due date!

Rocky – keep baking in there please!!!

PC Diary @ 31W2D

What exactly is a mucus plug and who needs one anyway? This was the question I asked myself about 8 hours into flight on my way home to the US. With 40 minutes left until landing I made a final dash to the toilet. When I wiped, I paused because I felt something warm and smooth stuck to my inner thigh – not like pee or liquid – rather it felt like one of those big blood clots I had experienced when I lost Huckleberry. I took a deep breathe then looked at the tissue. I breathed a sigh of relief…thank goodness it wasn’t blood, instead it was a globby palm sized cloudy mucusy blob.

What the hell??!

That looks like my mucus plug that I had read about in my pregnancy book. From what I could recall it was a potential indicator that labour may come any time within the next two weeks. The other thing I had remembered is that this mucus plug is the thing that protects the cervix from infection. But I had just turned 31 weeks, it is way too early for Rocky to make an appearance!…As I returned to my seat and waited to land, I convinced myself that this was not a good thing! With no communication to the outside world, it was a long 40 minutes to worry myself up into a head storm.

As soon as we landed I switched my phone on and googled ‘mucus plug 31 weeks pregnant’. After a few minutes of searching I discovered that it probably was my mucus plug, and that there were many women out there who had lost it, worried, but never gave birth until much later into their pregnancy. I figured that if I felt any other signs then I would call the doctor, but as I had an appointment scheduled for Monday, I wouldn’t worry. So I didn’t worry. Much.

I told Chris about what had happened. He worried even more, and I still had one more flight to catch before making it home! But the rest of my journey was uneventful.

Monday we went to the OB for my (slightly late) 30 week check up. I mentioned that I thought I may have lost my mucus plug. But without any other signs of preterm labour – bleeding, contractions, pain or signs of infection – smelly discharge, then she wasn’t too concerned. But to be on the safe side as I was flying again next week back to Europe she checked my cervix. It was completely closed! Great news! She could also feel Rocky’s head very low. Yup…that is what I had thought too!!(Although I’ve been trying to figure out her orientation because I get kicks over the the very far right and kicks to the top left under my ribs. I think they are feet anyway. So maybe we have a little yoga baby. Or maybe she can do super one inch punches and will be a little ninja.

I digress….So what is a mucus plug? There is a whole website dedicated to it here where you can find out more! http://www.mucusplug.net/