Sympathy Pain

Jesus God what a weekend! I saw Sarah for about 3 hours. I hate that. She’s going through all these changes and I’m either building a set or freezing my ass off at a football game…which I’ll talk about later. I wish I had not agreed to do this show, but they are paying me and the arranged a pregnancy message for the baby momma to sweeten the deal. But we load in tonight so hopefully by Wednesday I’ll be about done.

This morning, Sarah text messaged me to say she felt weird today. I got excited and a little giddy. What if the Tony’s close to coming. In that moment I didn’t care that I had a set to load in. I didn’t care that now is “inconvenient”. I was overwhelmingly excited. Everything would be fine with the set. Nobody would even think twice about me disappearing. It’s almost done…and the folks I have been working with could get it up and running if needs be. And, I’D HAVE A BABY! How cool is that? I thought about the evening she told me. It seems a lifetime ago, but it all came back very clearly this morning. I’m very excited!

So, I got to looking into the “How to know when it’s happening” sites, and here’s a list of “Heads up! the baby’s heading out!”:

Signs of labor

Is there any way to predict when I’m going to go into labor?
Not really. Experts don’t fully understand what triggers the onset of labor, and there’s no way to predict exactly when it will start. Your body actually starts “preparing” for labor up to a month before you give birth. You may be blissfully unaware of what’s going on or you may begin to notice new symptoms as your due date draws near. Here are some things that may happen in the weeks or days before labor starts:

* Your baby “drops.”
If this is your first pregnancy, you may feel what’s known as “lightening” a few weeks before labor starts. You might detect a heaviness in your pelvis as this happens and notice less pressure just below your ribcage, making it easier to catch your breath.

* You note an uptick in Braxton Hicks contractions.
More frequent and intense Braxton Hicks contractions can signal pre-labor, during which your cervix ripens and the stage is set for true labor. Some women experience a crampy, menstrual-like feeling during this time.

Sometimes, as true labor draws near, Braxton Hicks contractions become relatively painful and strike as often as every ten to 20 minutes, making you wonder whether true labor has started. However, if the contractions don’t get longer, stronger, and closer together and cause your cervix to dilate progressively, then what you’re feeling is probably so-called “false labor.”

* Your cervix starts to ripen.
In the days and weeks before delivery, Braxton Hicks may do the preliminary work of softening, thinning, and perhaps opening your cervix a bit. (If you’ve given birth before, your cervix is more likely to dilate a centimeter or two before labor starts — but keep in mind that even being 40 weeks pregnant with your first baby and 1 centimeter dilated is no guarantee that labor’s imminent.) When you’re at or near your due date, your practitioner may do a vaginal exam during your prenatal visit to see whether your cervix has started to change.

* You pass your mucus plug or notice “bloody show.”
You may pass your mucus plug — the small amount of thickened mucus that’s sealed your cervical canal during the last nine months — if your cervix begins to dilate as you get close to labor. The plug may come out all at once in a lump, or as increased vaginal discharge over the course of several days. The mucus may be tinged with blood (which may be brown, pink, or red), which is why it’s referred to as “bloody show.” Having sex or a vaginal exam can also disturb your mucus plug and cause you to see some bloody discharge even when labor isn’t going to start in the next few days. In either case, if you see more than a few spots of blood, be sure to call your caregiver immediately because it could be a sign of a problem.

* Your water breaks.
When the fluid-filled amniotic sac surrounding your baby ruptures, the fluid leaks from your vagina. And whether it comes out in a large gush or a small trickle, you should call your doctor or midwife.

Most women start having regular contractions sometime before their water breaks, but in some cases, the water breaks first. When this happens, labor usually follows soon. If you don’t start having contractions on your own within a certain amount of time, you’ll need to be induced, since your baby will be at increased risk for infection without the amniotic sac’s built-in protection against germs.