first contractions

I woke up tossing and turning and was very sad to see that it was only about 2 am. Having gone to sleep after 12, that was not really a significant amount of sleep to start the 'tossing and turning' phase of the night. In addition, the extra spicy shrimp mei fun I ate at around 10 pm was creating serious heartburn. I tried to get comfy for awhile...left side...right side...left side.

Then I tried the 'when all else fails, maybe I can sleep sitting up against pillows', which would also help with the heartburn. I was sitting up, getting somewhat relaxed and comfortable. I started to hook up my earphones to listen to some relaxation stuff, when Donavon woke up and rolled over to say hi. I asked him if he would rub my back to help me go back to sleep - it is magic the way I fall asleep like a baby that way. He said yes, after he got up to pee and proceeded to start to fall back asleep with his hand on my belly.

I had my hands on my belly, also, when I realized that it was getting tight. This time I could feel it get tight and then subside, in a wave, as opposed to the Braxton Hicks I have been having. It also seemed like my belly was even harder. I tested against my forehead, then against my belly, and back, and it definitely seemed like it was very hard at its peak. I checked the clock on Donavon's side of the bed and it said 3:04, so I estimated that it started at 3:03. Then I paid attention for more. After two more of these contractions at 3:08 and 3:13, I mentioned them to Donavon. He started poking my belly, then my forehead, then my belly, then my forehead and agreed these were REALLY hard. (I've been making him feel my belly for weeks now when it gets tight, so his opinion is relevant.)

For the next hour I have had short, pain free contractions - they are maybe 30 seconds long - I have yet to seriously time their duration. Basically, they have been every 5 minutes. After the 3:13 one, they have come at 3:17-3:18, 3:21-22, 3:27, 3:31-32, 3:37, 3:41-42, 3:44, 3:47, 3:52-53, 3:57-58, 4:03, 4:07-8, 4:13, 4:18...and counting.

At around 3:30 I asked Donavon for some more water and a Tums from the first floor. I didn't want to move until an hour of contractions had past. After that, I got up to pee and sure enough, that didn't make them go away.

Now, I know we are going against the cardinal rule of 'get some sleep' when they start in the middle of the night. But I wanted to gather information and take it all in as it was a new sensation...and let's face it, it is exciting. I have been convinced that I wouldn't have a real contraction ever. Now at least I know what they feel like on a very mild level and I am revelling in the lastest progress. Even if they stop or taper off and we don't have him for a few days, I'm just happy that something new is happening.

4:24-25 - another one...I went downstairs to get my stopwatch and another glass of water and some red raspberry leaf tea...4:33 - another one. Either I didn't have one or I missed one while in the kitchen...4:43 - another one...they could be tapering off now or I am missing them in moving about.

So, despite how much I want to sit up and document every contraction, I am going to try to rest. Maybe not full on sleep but definitely rest as much as possible. I am going to wait to call the midwife until the sun is out at least. And I'll be making note of when and if anything gets more exciting.