Week 38

I just completed week 38, which means it's sooo close now!!!  After my last post in which I mentioned having some real contractions at work and how I hoped that they wouldn't be a daily occurrence from then until delivery... well OF COURSE they had to get even worse the very next day!  On Tuesday morning at work I was in tears from the pain and there was no way to fake my way through those contractions.  It was like the worst cramping ever (yes, I know they'll be worse when I'm in active labor) and shooting pains down my thigh which made it impossible to sit OR stand.  I'm sure the thigh pain was from the baby pressing on a nerve.  I asked if they could get a PM substitute for me and the secretary began working on it, but in the meantime, one of the other staff members was able to take over my class until a sub could arrive so I could leave earlier.  On my way home, I called the doctor to see what (if anything) I could do about the pain ad they asked me to come in at 1:30.  I am positive that I'm the laughing stock of the whole doctors office at this point and they all probably roll their eyes when they see my name come up in the appointments.  But what am I supposed to do?!  I figure that's what they're there for... to help me through my pregnancy and monitor my pain!  Anyway, I saw a nurse practitioner who said I was effaced about 70% but barely dilated a fingertip.  She said my pain sounded like early labor contractions and that the only things I could really do would be take a warm bath, take Tylenol, etc. 
I already had an appointment scheduled for the following day with my midwives, so I went and explained my work situation... that I was having to leave so often for pain or problems, that I couldn't really focus on my work at this point and she wrote a note for me to discontinue working.  Luckily, it should work out that I do not have to return at the end of the year and still keep my job and benefits.  It feels like an enormous stress has been lifted off my shoulders now that I only have to focus on getting this baby here!  I didn't even realize how stressed I was about work until I finished up everything there.  I went and met with my sub on Thursday evening to explain some last-minute things and I've been e-mailing her with other little things that have occurred to me, but man I feel sooo much better (mentally and emotionally that is... the painful contractions are still happening)!
On Thursday I had the last appointment with the specialist and he found the amniotic fluid levels were up a little bit (good news!) and he just wanted me to get at least another week in with this baby inside so she can put on more weight since she's still pretty little.  I wonder though how accurate these weight estimates are.  I always hear they can be a pound off either direction.  Watch me deliver a 9 lb. baby after all this concern about her size!  I hope not because then she won't fit into any of her newborn sized clothing :)  He did mention that it'll be best if my water doesn't break on it's own since I don't have too much in the first place. 
This morning around 5:30 I woke up to go to the bathroom and when I got back in bed, was having some horribly painful contractions about 8 or 9 min. apart, but after a couple of hours, they went away.  I'm a little worried that I won't know when the right time to call the hospital will be!  They say to wait until contractions are 4 min. apart, lasting at least 1 min. each, for at least an hour.  Well, how likely is it that the contractions will actually reach those times?  I mean I'm picturing it to start off far apart and get closer together, but what if they go from 8 min. apart to 3 min. apart and feel very intense?  Then do I call or do I wait to make sure they do that for at least an hour?  Who knows!  All I know is that I don't want to go in to the hospital only to be told I need to go back home because I'm not dilated enough.  I keep reading stories (on message boards) about women who have been having horribly painful contractions all day long, they get to be 4 or 5 min. apart, they can't talk or walk through them, but they get to the hospital and are sent back home because they're only dilated to 3cm.  They probably already have a poster with my name and picture up behind the check-in desk at the hospital saying "Do NOT admit this lady unless you can see a baby already coming out!"