Scrape the membranes? Sure!

I woke up this morning, and opened my eyes to see my husband curled up in the sheets and myself warm and satisfied in the comforter and blanket. This would not be a new occurrence in our household but it does bring up the question that we so commonly ask one another, "Why did you push the comforter on me?" or "Why did you take the comforter?". Either way, I covered him back up and he smiled. It's funny how something so simple can put a smile on your face. It's comparable to swaddling your newborn. It can make them feel so content in the world. It makes me think a lot about our son that will be arriving in this world in the next few days or hours. We learned how to swaddle the baby is our childbirth class last week. Pretty much exactly like you would wrap a burrito! I went to my 39 week appointment yesterday and learned I had finally reached 3 cm. It feels like a milestone to me since for the past 3 weeks I've been two centimeters. Needless to say, I was elated! The doctor asked if there was anything she could do for me and jokingly I said "yeah, you can induce me!" She said "Well really if you want to get this process moving along I can scrape your membranes." Now, let me begin by saying that for the past 4 weeks or so, I have been so over being pregnant. The taunting braxton hicks contractions, the peeing every five minutes, leg swelling, hand swelling, heartburn, backaches; do I need to continue? So when she asked me if I want her to scrape my membranes, regardless of whether I had any idea what that meant or not, I said YES! Little did I know it would hurt like hell! I started scooting back on the table and she said "oh sorry, sorry!" I couldn't see my husbands face, but I think he was laughing. Would've been nice for her to warn me! I sat back up, or waddled back up, whichever is easier to picture, and she begins to tell me he should be here before the weekend is over. I think I may have had the biggest smile that my face has known in the past month. She also said that if by chance he hadn't arrived by Sunday morning that I could call the doctor on call and ask him, just ask him, if he would consider inducing since I was already 3 centimeters. No problem here! After she left the room, my husband looked at me and said, "Do you know what she just did?" Before I could answer, he said "I really think you should have known what that meant before you just let her do it." Now wait a minute, I hadn't even answered the first question. So I said, "Yeah", all nonchalant. He looked at me with that, no you don't face. To me, if the doctor was asking, must have been safe for me right? And plus she did say, to get things moving along, right? So I was all about it! I went out to my car and googled it. First all this stuff started coming up about cat scratch disease....now I know that's not right so I kept scrolling down. Ah-ha, found it. "Another method occurs in your doctor's office. There she will strip your membranes to sensitize the uterus to begin contractions. (This was done to me with my first, and I delivered the next day.) It feels like an extra rough pelvic exam where your caregiver inserts her gloved finger into the cervix to "scratch" the surface of the membranes." According to another website I found, labor usually occurs within 24-48 hours. So I told my husband what I just read and we both started laughing. Then of course, I got totally freaked out. That means my baby would be here that soon! Wow! So I began asking my husband what we needed and what we'd forgotten. He right away calmed me down and told me we had more than we needed and everything was fine. He's pretty good about that. Anyway, so now its just a game of waiting. As I think about the day ahead it's pretty exciting to think that he could be here before the day is out. 38 weeks are behind me and I'm certain I've done the best I can to prepare myself mentally for what's ahead. I'm so grateful that God has given Joshua and I the opportunity, and ability to have kids. We're entrusting in him to take care of everything that lies ahead in Jackson's life. I'll keep you updated on when our little guys arrives. For now though, prayers are appreciated!!!