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Well, my OB was examining me and actually felt my uterus contract, so I'm spending the next 20 minutes on a monitor.

@MrsADS: At least your OB will know exactly what you were talking about - hope everything is normal and healthy!

I'm home - the monitor didn't show big contractions but a few little blips, I guess (?). So next I got a transvaginal ultrasound to check the length of my cervix. At my 20 week ultrasound it was 4.2 cm, today it was 3.7. My OB said that's still within the range of normal (and the cervix DOES shorten as the pregnancy progresses and the baby gets bigger), BUT she was a little concerned that it had shortened 0.5 cm in only 3 weeks.

So she wants to see me next week for another ultrasound and a fetal fibronectin test (apparently it is a vaginal swab and shows whether you are likely to go into preterm labor). She also wants me to take the rest of today off and take it easy, so that's what I'm doing.

So, I guess everything is probably okay but to be honest, my OB seemed kind of worried which made me worried. She's usually like, it's fine, no worries, but today is the first time I have seen her not like that. I asked her if I could fly home Memorial Day weekend for my shower and she said "right now, I would say no." But, she said she'd reevalute next week. AND I am supposed to go to Disney in 2 weeks for a few days... I didn't even ask her about that!

So, everyone please cross your fingers that this issue totally resolves!

@MrsADS: Awww, good luck - crossing my fingers for you!

@buttermilk: I was going to comment on your post about gas pains, just offering sympathy but saying that I hadn't had anything similar. But then early this morning, I almost had to call DH home from work because I was having so much stomach pain! I'm guessing Taco Bell at 9pm the night before was a bad idea. I'm actually really glad I know what labor feels like, because I think it would have freaked me out otherwise. It came and went at regular intervals similar to contractions. It was awful! So I hope neither of us have that again!

@MrsADS: Before I read your follow up, I was going to say that I started having BH's at 18 weeks last time, and 11 weeks this time, so you're definitely not very early for it. I get them throughout the day, all day, every day. Last time they regularly got down below 5 minutes apart. My doctors/midwives just said that some women just have a "contracty" uterus, so as long as there was no pain or signs of labor (like loss of mucous plug or water breaking, etc) to not worry about it much. I'm supposed to get off my feet and drink a lot of water if they get bad. Now I'm curious what about yours were enough to make your doctor concerned in the first place. Maybe the not responding to hydration and rest? It is normal for them to be worse when you need to pee, since the bladder is right up against the uterus. Anyway, I hope everything resolves itself and you're able to do everything you have planned! Stay in there baby!

@MrsADS: I'm really hoping my tendency to have a ton of BH's will make for a shorter labor in the end. The induction part of the termination last time went almost too well (they had to give me drugs to stop contractions the night before, and had to turn the pitocin all the way down almost immediately once they started it), so that gives me hope for a short labor this time. So maybe it will work out that way for both of us!

@Buttermilk I am up 16 lbs at 23 weeks so don't feel bad!! My OB hasn't said a word to me either!

@Torchwood I also forgot to mention that my mom had an incompetent cervix/preterm labor with my sister and had her at 28 weeks, so I think family history may be another reason for my OB's concern.

Thanks everyone for the good wishes. I don't know whether to be worried or not. It seems weird I've gone from NO contractions (or *maybe* one or two over the past week or so), to today, in the past 8 hours I'd say I've had about 13-16. Not a ton but still seems weird to me.

Hi ladies, is it ok if I join even though I'm quite late to the party? I've been reading the boards for a little while but haven't gotten around to making any posts until now!
I'm a high school teacher, 30 years old, from Australia. This is my first and I'm due on August 26.

How far along: 23w
Total weight gain: I have no idea, we don't have a scale!
Stretch marks:None yet
Gender:
Names picked: still haven't picked any! We do have a middle name though.
Nursery theme/progress: I'm thinking of going with a blue and grey theme but haven't actually started on it yet.
Birth plan: Mostly go with the flow, although I'd like to keep it as natural as possible.
Are you taking classes: We will take some classes soon, I am just waiting on the booking form from my hospital.
How long are you taking off: 1 year. My maternity leave starts when I'm about 32 weeks because I'm a teacher and I h ave to finish at the end of semester. It won't be full pay for the whole year but I will have a sufficient replacement with my work maternity leave scheme plus the government family leave scheme here.
Baby shower plans: My friends have planned it for 19 July and the theme is a surprise! I'm excited
Where did you register (or plan to register): I won't register, I'm not sure if that's a thing here?
Milestones: I'm just super pleased to be in the second trimester and have the anatomy scan come back all clear, especially because I had to have a repeat NTS and screening for toxo, parvo and CMV.
Struggles: I can't bend over anymore to pick things up off the floor! I get nosebleeds now too, from time to time, which I have never had.
What are you most fearful/concerned about: early labour, and not being able to breastfeed successfully. There's no indication that I won't be able to, but I just know it's not uncommon and I really want to be able to!
What are you most excited about: Cuddling my newborn and settling into our new routine together at home.
What else is going on in your life (non-baby): We just moved house 2 weeks ago - so hectic!

@MrsADS: I hope things are better today!

@kitty: welcome!! nice to have a new face!

@MrsADS: Crossing my fingers for you! I really hope you get to fly home for your shower.

@kitty: Welcome!

@kitty: welcome! We need more boys in the lineup

@MrsADS: I hope your next appointment goes well, and you'll get to go on your trips.

@kitty: Welcome!

So extra exhausted this week. Maybe baby is having a growth spurt! Anybody have fun weekend plans? There are a few food festivals in Philly this weekend which I hope to hit up. Also gonna work on the nursery a bit!

So I just had a great (routine) appointment. It's so fun not having an anterior placenta! They were checking Izzie's heartbeat with the doppler and she kicked it until he moved it!!! So fun to feel AND hear it. And the best news... turns out I've lost about 10 lbs since my first appt! I was for sure that I had gained almost that much. Which really only tells us that I was way fatter than I thought, haha. I do wish I started this pregnancy where I was last pregnancy (40 less) but it's nice that I'm not gaining like I did last time!

@Buttermilk meee! I'm exhausted this week. And last week, and the week before that, LOL. I just feel like my sleep needs are a lot higher being pregnant and a regular day at work exhausts me way more than normal. That whole growing a human thing!

My contractions were somewhat better yesterday, but this morning they have picked up again. I've had maybe 7 in a little less than 2 hours. Not awful I guess, so trying not to worry.

I'm so irritated with my OB's office. When I saw her on Tuesday with the contractions, she said she wanted me to call before the weekend so she could see me if I felt like it was getting worse (I do have a follow up appt scheduled next week).

Well, I called this morning because I was having a lot more, plus some achiness/crampy feeling in my back and really low down in the front. No one ever called me back. I just now called and the secretary who answered said "Oh yeah, I talked to the nurse, she said just keep your appointment next week. And you're not having contractions, you're only 21 weeks [I'm actually 23]. You can't believe everything you read on the internet."

WTF!!!! I don't know if the secretary even ASKED the nurse. I am pretty sure my OB would have wanted to see me. I wish I had been more aggressive, instead I just got off the phone and started crying. Thankfully the contractions have been a little better in the last hour or two so maybe things are calming down. I feel like now my only option if things get bad is to go to the hospital. And my husband is out of town until next week so I'd have to go alone. Bahhh. Sorry for venting. Just so frustrating!

@MrsADS: Wtf? I would be VERY impolite about that receptionist next time I talk to the doctor. Hope you don't have to go to the hospital!

Thanks all, I am feeling better My OB will DEFINITELY be hearing about it at my appointment next week!!