Surprise doctor appointment!

Warning: This may have too much information. If you decide to read it, you decide to get over it. Thanks!

I've prided myself in my first pregnancy as not being one of those new moms who calls the doctor at every tingle and twinge. I called when I had such horrible morning sickness that I was afraid to go into a public place, when I started having the first contractions, and today. Today I called because so much has changed since my last doctor's appointment and I thought that I should check in before my next appointment, which is the 15th. I was even reluctant to call because of me not wanting to be one of those first times moms.

(Here I want to point out how amazing my doctor's office is. I called and asked to speak to a nurse, and I spoke to a nurse not even 2 minutes later. The nurse had my chart pulled up and was able to respond to me with my own medical history as the conversation was going on. I love it.)

When I did tell her what was going on, the fact that Jude dropped, that my blood pressure was higher than normal, and that my contractions are sometimes regular and painful (Last night, I timed them and they were about 7 minutes apart for an hour, then tapered off.), she asked a couple questions and then put me on hold. I just wanted to get some perspective and to see if my appointment should be moved up a few days, so I was surprised when she came back with, "Can you come in right now?"

With wide eyes, I said sure and quickly jumped into the shower. (There is something just wrong about being funky when at a doctor appointment.) I grabbed my aunt's van and drove to the doctor's office. (Effectively leaving her with no transportation because my car was blocking in the other vehicle, and I took my keys with. Sorry Mik!) I was so proud of having a full bladder and not getting lost that I wasn't even upset about the wait, unlike Scott who told me to yell and get someone fired if I wasn't seen soon. (He's so cute.) After about an hour, I got called back.

First of all, they sprung something new on me. I expected to get my cervix checked and I believe I may have yelped, "You want me to swab what WHERE?" when they handed me the swab to test for Step B when I went to go give a urine sample. After that, it was just like another appointment. They look my blood pressure (normal) and asked me all the normal questions. After that, the doctor came in and talked to me before she had me strip, which is always a bonus.

I talked to her about my concerns of the lack of control I have in this situation. We talked about what birth plan would be right for me, what the chances were that she would be my doctor for the actual delivery (she said that she delivers 8 out of 10 of her babies), and what I should expect from the staff in general. I explained the strange situation that I'm in with my husband being gone and she let me know that although it's not the norm anymore, it will be no problem to have the baby without him. She let me know how my nurses will be my absolute allies and how I will be so focused that nothing else will matter but my son. (All of this and I didn't even have an appointment. I love my doctor.)

After this, she handed me a paper robe and told me to undress from the waist down. I was waiting for her when she came back about two minutes later and she quickly checked my cervix. (My first time. Irritating, but not as bad as a pap smear, which isn't bad at all.) She pulled me up and explained that I am 1 cm dilated. My eyes kind of widened, knowing that this could mean a lot or nothing at all, as many women go weeks being slightly dilated. (When you push the baby out, you're 10 cm dilated.) For me though, this is the beginning, and I am very excited.

She told me that any guesses she gives me are just that, guesses, because Jude is in charge. I nodded, and asked to hear the guesses anyway. She said, "I don't think you'll deliver tomorrow, although I could be wrong. I definitely don't think you'll deliver after July, although there is a small chance I could be wrong. In my experience, with the baby being in position and dropped like he is, with you starting to dilate, and with all the uterine activity (contractions) you're experiencing, I give you two weeks. Feel free to call or even come in if you're concerned about anything, and keep the appointment on the 15th."

So there it is folks. At this point, I'm taking it easy because I want to make it to the 21st. (Which is, funny enough, in exactly two weeks.) After those two weeks, my aunt and uncle will be done with the instructor's course and my husband will be back from Germany. Also, in 2 weeks, I will be 37 weeks along. Although Jude has fully developed organs at this point and is staying in only to put on weight, I would like to give him a little more padding for his first time into the world.

Operation make it two more weeks!