It's All In The Way You Moan

So I have a confession to make.

I've been experiencing pretty intense pain the last two days, in addition to the loss of my mucous plug. The pain (maybe I should rephrase this as "achy cramps"; not exactly pain) started two nights ago and cost me an entire night of sleep. Last night was a repeat performance. I officially started losing the mucous plug yesterday afternoon. I didn't want to say anything for fear that it was all a bunch of nothingness, and would get everyone's expectations up, only to have baby not arrive for another 1-2 weeks. In fact, we decided not even to tell our families, knowing that most people hear "achy contractions" and assume that labor is near. Since I didn't know for sure that I was experiencing true labor contractions, and had no idea how soon baby would come, Adam and I decided to stay mum about everything.

I had a scheduled appointment at the birth center this evening, so rather than make a special trip because of my discomfort, I decided instead to labor at home all day. As difficult as it was to go through a second day of achy contractions, it was also a special time, lying in bed all morning with Kika and House snoozing next to me. I half-listened to my favorite NPR talk radio shows while dozing all day, then got up around 3pm to wash a sinkful of dishes; I wanted to feel somewhat productive around the house considering Adam has been balancing his law firm, his Army JAG clients, house construction and taking care of me. I had 2-3 contractions while washing dishes, but I managed to get through them all, and I felt proud of my clean kitchen.

At 6pm, we made it to our appointment at the birth center. Immediately, my midwives came to give us big hugs; it wasn't long before they noticed my compromised gait. After telling them that I've been having repetitive pains (I was hesitant to call it contractions, since the pain was not accompanied by any squeezing feelings), they took Adam and me into consultation straight away. Luckily, I had a series of contractions in front of the midwives, and midwife Clarice was able to feel my uterus as the contractions were occurring. She sat and thought for a few minutes to digest the details of the last two days before diagnosing me as being in the midst of prodromal labor, meaning that the front-end of labor has been prolonged. I was just happy to hear that what I've been dealing with for the last two days has indeed been labor! The idea that the contractions I've been feeling could not even be a part of labor was an exhausting thought.

So, prodromal labor. This unto itself doesn't mean a whole lot. Clarice said that while it's likely baby will come in the next day or so, there are no guarantees. In fact, it could still take several more days, and we should be prepared for that. I am trying hard to master the breathing exercises I've learned by following the Bradley method of natural childbirth, in addition to the breathing and relaxation techniques I was taught in yoga. They really do help a lot, and part of me feels lucky to be going through this "practice labor" period that's allowing me to master the techniques before active labor begins. On the other hand, one can only have so many contractions before being really over it all. As it is, I've had to stop typing this blog post five different times to make way for contractions. I think Adam, while sympathetic, and really helpful, is also a little bit over all my moaning sounds, deep and throaty, that sound like I'm starring in the latest remake of "Debbie Does Dallas." He has a slightly skeptical look on his sympathy-filled face after each of my contractions. I've already told him that despite the extreme achiness of it all, there is a distinct sexual quality to the contractions, too. I said, "You know how you can get achy when feeling extreme sexual desire? Imagine that achiness multiplied about 1000 times, to the point that you are barely aware of the desire part anymore. That's what this feels like." He just shook his head, completely in awe that I could attach a sexual quality even to something as seemingly non-sexual as labor contractions. Hey, it's all the same body parts, right??

I guess I'm totally getting the "natural childbirth" experience that I signed up for. If I were working with a hospital, I'd probably already have been admitted and on the schedule for induction by now. So, I'm glad that the midwives are allowing nature to take its own course, even if it means a lot of discomfort along the way. Basically, I've just been told to conserve my energy, rest A LOT, eat well, and monitor the contractions for signs of a pattern developing. I'll admit that I'm not answering my phone at all these days so as not to have to tell the same details over and over again, and to conserve my energy (and sanity). I am overwhelmed by the love and concern from everyone who has called, e-mailed and facebook'd to find out the latest progress, though. Many thanks! Please don't take it personally if you don't hear from me; at this point, I only have the stamina to communicate with Adam's and my families. Friends and colleagues will hear details of baby's arrival via this blog or over e-mail as soon as we can post the news.

In the meantime, I'd better go for now...another contraction is coming on...