*this posting contains too much information, so don’t read it if you don’t want the gory details…

Midwife says I should have Baby in my arms in 24 hours. I am 3cm dilated, 50% effaced, and she can touch Baby’s head with her finger. I was so upset about an hour ago, with all the waiting and so forth that I wanted to cry but I am so happy now!!!

Every time you go to the midwife you have to give a urine sample, so I was doing that and I FINALLY popped my cork, right then and there at the midwife’s office. For those who don’t know but really want to, the cork is actually called the mucous plug or sometimes the bloody show, and its function is to block the cervix so no infections can get into the baby chamber. When you start to dilate significantly, the plug loosens, and then falls out. It is basically just what it sounds like, a really thick disgusting blob of mucous streaked with a little old blood. I went into my appointment and made a proud announcement of my accomplishment to the midwife and she said that is great and promising news. Then she asked if I still wanted the membrane sweep and I said absolutely!!! So she swept, and it wasn’t nearly as bad as I had anticipated. It didn’t feel GOOD, but I wouldn’t say it hurt. She said she could have broken my waters with her finger if she wanted to, and the baby is so incredibly low. Hopefully this means less pushing. Then she said she the bit about having the baby within about 24 hours. I am trying not to focus too much on that time frame, but I feel like things are really happening and I just want to dance around!!!
Will do my absolute best to get another post out before we go to the hospital, depending on how fast or slow things happen.
Oh, and the itchy belly is because my skin has started to separate right at the seam of the linea negra. Another week and the baby would have just climbed right out.