On Saturday, I had a set of contractions. I wasn’t sure if they were Braxton-Hicks contractions or pre-labor contractions. They definitely felt different from the few Braxton-Hicks contractions I had in the past. Moving around/changing my position and drinking water did not make them go away. They would last anywhere from 3 minutes to 8 minutes, and they were consistently 45 minutes apart over several hours.

I got so excited. E. could be here sooon! I double checked my labor bag. I updated my birth plan. I had a few more contractions in the middle of the night, and Sunday morning….. nothing. No contractions. I had three possible contractions of the course of Sunday. E. wiggled around, he kicked and punched, but no regular contractions. Gah!

His due date is still 11/15, based on the doctor’s estimate date of my last period. If you calculate the due date from the date of conception (which I absolutely know), his due date is 11/13. Because I have gestational diabetes, there was the possibility of being induced at 40 weeks. However, since my blood sugar has been stable and there are no signs of fetal distress, the OB is willing to wait until 41 weeks for induction. He wants to induce before Thanksgiving (and honestly, I’d like to see E. born before turkey day as well).

In case you’re curious, here’s the stuff in my labor bag:
- grandpa slippers: I couldn’t find girly slippers which were comfortable, so I picked up a pair of red and black plaid grandpa slippers. They are super comfortable and not too warm.
- stretchy skirt: I don’t want to labor while wearing pants, nor do I want to labor without any bottom coverage, or in a hospital gown. It’s a nice option because it’s easy to put on and take off.
- sports bra and bathing suit top: I want to be able to labor in the shower, and I wanted to wear something supportive and easy to change into and out of.
- two muumuu, 100% cotton nightgowns: Okay, these are hideous nightgowns, *but* they button down the front which means easy access for nursing, and they are not hospital gowns. I think I’ll be more comfortable and sleep better in my clothes which smell like my detergent.
- socks: to keep my feet warm
- old ratty underpants: Ok, my doula and I disagree on this one. She loves the disposable mesh underpants the hospital provides for post-delivery. I’ve been saving up my ratty underpants while I’ve been pregnant to treat them like disposable underpants for post-delivery. Not only will I feel more comfortable, but I free up some space in my underpants drawer, and once I’ve recovered, I get to treat myself to a shopping trip for new underpants!
- going-home outfit for me: Remember you’ll be about the same size you were when you were 4 – 6 months pregnant and you’ll be recovering, so pack something comfortable. I’ve packed a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt.
- going-home outfit for baby: I packed a sleeper, a hat, and a swaddling blanket.
- ipod with speakers (and extra batteries): I created a low intensity playlist and a high-intensity playlist for labor.
- kneeling pads: I picked up two foam gardener’s kneeling pads. The midwife told me these are really helpful for your knees when you labor in the shower.
- protein bars and hard candies: You never know how long you will be laboring in the hospital, and if your midwife/OB will let you eat during labor, it’s a good idea to bring some provisions to keep your energy up.
- nursing bra: If you’re breastfeeding, you may want to pick up a soft cup/stretchy nursing bra for post-delivery support. I have the Medela Comfort Nursing Bra and the Medela Seamless Softcup Nursing Bra. I’ve been wearing the Comfort Nursing Bra lately because my regular underwire bra is becoming uncomfortable.
- birth plan and phone list: I printed out multiple copies of my birth plan in case there is a nurse shift change.

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