"I could learn more about childbirth, but let's face the facts: I'm a single, heterosexual, geek male. Is there a video game involved?"

- acidic jew at the wedding

At the midwife appointment this morning I found out that I seem to be in early labour. My contractions haven't started yet, but...well, let me put it this way: there are six signs that labour is progressing.

1. the cervix softens.
2. the cervix changes position (moves forward).
3. the cervix effaces (or thins out) from 1 1/2 inches thick to the thickness of paper. (This is measured in percentages of effacement, 0 being none and 100 being paper-thin.)
4. the cervix begins to dilate.
5. the baby's head rotates.
6. the baby's head descends in the pelvis. (This is measured as an integer. -4 = baby is floating; +4 = baby's head is against the perineum.)

Well, as of this morning, I was soft, moved forward, about 80% effaced, between 1 & 2 centimeters dilated & +2 engagement. I'm not having that many contractions, and they have yet to settle into a pattern so I still might be waiting for days. Then again, things could go really, really quickly now.

Exciting, isn't it?! A rocketbaby on the way!!

Diagrams from page 43 of Penny Simkin's The Birth Partner. (c) 1989.

Scherezade is coming! She'll be here in the New Year, and she has bravely offered to sleep in my little living room despite the proximity of a squalling infant. Her courage is astounding.

Booty Call: Day 269 - Dude, am I ever (ef)faced.

1 year ago today: sad