1 day overdue

  Well here we are, still pregnant. That's okay. Today I got a stretch and sweep, and I'm hoping it helps speed things along. Let me just say that a stretch and sweep (aka membrane sweep) freakin hurts. It's manageable pain though luckily. My midwife did the exam and brought me happy news that I'm dilated to a 3. I was elated to know that I'm not still between a 1 and 2. Then she did the stretch and sweep part. My wonderful husband held my hand the whole time. At the beginning, It hurt and was getting worse. I noticed my legs were tense, so I relaxed them. That made the experience less horrible, Then I closed my eyes and took slow breaths. That also helped a significant amount. Of course at the beginning before she started the procedure, my midwife told me I could tell her to stop at any time if it was too much for me. At one point, I felt my face get so hot and I was sweating like crazy. The pain was an immense throb, more painful than period cramps. Especially because for me, it brought on a contraction while she was still doing it. The words "okay I need to stop" were on the tip of my tongue, but I somehow found the strength to see it through to the end. I thought about how painful labor will be, and that this pain probably won't compare to that pain. I need to be able to cope and get through this if I am going to get through birth without medication like I want to do. So I took deep breaths, and focused on how good it felt to close my eyes. I focused on my sweet husband telling me "you've got this. You can do it honey." And at last, it was done.
  So overall, yes it hurt. A lot. But it was seriously a piece of cake after I closed my eyes and let my sweet husband help me through it.
  I'm hoping to have a sweet baby in my arms soon to kiss and snuggle. I just keep thinking about labor and when he's finally born and on my chest. That makes it all worth it. I hope and think that maybe tonight things will speed up. We'll see though.