Labor Watch 2009: Update 1

Here's the latest: I've been trying all sorts of "natural induction" methods to prepare my body for labor. None of them are really meant to send me straight into labor, but they're supposed to do different things to prep my body so that when Maddie is ready to come, things will go smoothly (supposedly, anyway!)

So far I've tried things like walking (a LOT!), red raspberry leaf tea, evening primrose oil, prego pizza, spicy foods, acupressure, pineapple, relaxation/visualization, and a couple other things.

I've noticed a few TMI things going on with my body that are possible signs of pre-labor. For now I'm just trying to figure out my contractions. I've been having a LOT of them since last night's walk to Subway for dinner. Most are completely painless, but they're lasting about 50 seconds and get in solid patterns of 6-7 minutes apart. I'm not quite sure what to make of them because the description fits both Braxton Hicks and "real" contractions. I know that, obviously, if I were in full-on labor, I would be feeling pain and they'd be getting stronger, longer, and closer together. And I'm really not stressing about "is this it?!" or anything of that sort.

I suppose I'm just wondering if these contractions are actually early labor and causing me to progress and dilate. Here's hoping! :) Otherwise I guess my uterus is just getting a really good "pre-game" work-out.

Here are some photos from tonight. I would post those older ones I promised, but the new ones look exactly the same. *haha* In fact, I'm even wearing the same shirt because I only have a few that still fit me!