The Wednesday before last (the 11th) I was a good 1cm. This past Wednesday
(the 18th) I was a good 2cms. My last appointment on the 18th, my doc said
my stomach was very hard, and asked if I was having any contractions or
anything like that. I told her I didn't think so, although at times, my
stomach does feel kind of cramping. I kind of passed this off as a result
of being so very, very sick since Tuesday morning.

I have felt quite a bit better all day today (Thursday, although it's almost
Friday here now) and even N said that my stomach does feel a bit harder than
it ever has before. I still, however, have a fairly upset stomach. Not
pukey, but a very loose stomach where I *have* to drop everything to run to
the toilet often enough.

My OB said that there's no concerns about the baby's size. She said that
everything's looking good, she said she hopes to see me any time in the
hospital, so she's not discouraging a slightly early baby. I'm not due
until October 30th, and she said that we would 'have a date' on Halloween if
need be. I didn't ask what that meant, but it almost sounded like we'd talk
next week about what to do right after my due date. She won't let me go
more than 1 week over due, and if I'm over, she'll schedule a C-section due
to my history and previous section. I am NOT alright with this, nor is N.
I will do whatever I can to avoid a C-section and go in on my own.

Is there anything I can do to try and speed it up? Basically, at this
point, the baby's fully cooked and pretty much ready to go any time she
decides to come. The one thing that is my concern is that we do not have a
car seat at this point. I have one that is coming in, and it's expected to
be in next week - either Monday or Tuesday at the latest. If worse comes to
worse, I can round up a temporary car seat that my mom can borrow from her
work to use for a short period of time, so it's not a huge deal, I suppose.

Today, I've spent all evening doing laundry. N helped me carry some baskets
downstairs, and I've been carrying them up from the basement to the top
floor to fold and put clothes away as I go. I also took a little stroll
around Walmart earlier today, and I take the kids daily for a walk to the
store and back, at the very least. We've also tried the sex thing. I don't
know if that's helping, although I've heard and have been told that sex does
help with softening the cervix or something. I am definitely avoiding the
castor oil for so many reasons. I did try that as a very last, almost
desperate resort with DD. With that, I had the weekend to go in on my own
because I had already a C-section scheduled on Monday morning.

Is there ANYTHING I can do to maybe speed things along a little over the
next week and a half or so? Since my OB has encouraged me to go in to the
hospital on my own and avoid a C-section, and since she was already talking
about everything on Wednesday, I've realized how tired I am of feeling
tired, beat, sore, whatever. Any ideas at all? I'm not hoping for
something that will magically work and start labor today or tomorrow, but
more for something to keep in mind for the next week and a half, or so.
Something maybe that can help gradually over a short period of time?