"This one tastes like Sprite and this one like orange soda."

That's what the nurse told me before I made my choice on what flavored drink I'd rather down for my gestational diabetes test... Or the test which will tell me if I'm to give up yummy sweets among other things for the remainder of my pregnancy.

Monday was the day I'd take the test. The day I'd drink the infamous drink I've heard so much about since my first pregnant friend.

I love advice. I love wisdom from people who have been through it before. I love learning from the pros, and the passion that comes from someone who wants to share their life lessons with me. But I’ve noticed the enthusiasm behind moms wanting to tell me the best way to be pregnant, have a baby, and raise a child is at a whole different level of intensity.

The topic of birth I think is where I’ve received the most advice, feedback, and warning… Everyone I come into contact with face to face seems to have the same kind of idea: “Don’t be a hero, get an epidural.”

But it seems as though 90% of the people I converse with online are the opposite: “Don’t drug your baby -- have a beautiful birthing experience drug free!”

Then, it happened. A horrible contraction began, we did the pushing thing, and Dr. Silverstein shouted, “There he is!” Aaron leaned over me and said, “Taylor, I saw him! I saw his hair!”

(Read the entire birth story, and see more pictures, in the post).

I had my final pre-delivery doctor’s appointment on Tuesday. The ultrasounds have shown that the baby’s head has been down where it should be for a few weeks now, and I’ve been feeling little twinges in my lower abdomen—kind of like those I felt upon first becoming pregnant—for the past week or so. I was surprised when, after a brief internal exam yesterday, the doctor said nothing’s happening; my cervix isn’t showing any signs of preparation for labor yet. He added that this could change overnight, but so far—nada.

No matter what, we’re going in for induction next Wednesday night. It’ll probably be an all-night (and then some) affair, which is cool. I’ve been told I’ll definitely have my baby in my arms by lunch time next Thursday—how exciting! I’m glad to have a definite end date; I know some of you have gone far past your due dates— that must be torture.

I’m confused, though; I was sure that the twinges I’ve been feeling were the result of my cervix thinning or opening or doing whatever cervixes do to get the process rolling. I’m a total novice at this, obviously. Aaron and I dutifully watched a childbirth class DVD and I know all about the “mucus plug” (they’ve gotta give that a new name), the sudden bursts of energy, and the other early signs of labor—which according to the instructor don’t give you much more than a 2-week ballpark indication that you’re going to have a baby (um… duh?). So I want to know from those of you who’ve done this before: Did you know it before you went into labor, or did the contractions start—and not stop—and that was that? Did you experience any physical symptoms or, hell, inexplicable premonitions that clued you in sometime in the day or two before game time? Or was labor, to some degree, a surprise? And what’s up with these twinges?

Once I have my healthy, beautiful baby in my arms, I’m sure my memories of pregnancy will all be delightful. It’s such an exciting time, filled with celebration and anticipation, of individual and collective evolution (woman to mother, couple to family). Physically, pregnancy’s been fascinating, and far easier than I expected. Sure, I’m tired, and my back hurts… and yeah, I have that varicose vein in my right leg, but I’m almost there, so I don’t care.

I’m gonna state for the record, because in some way this is part of what makes pregnancy so personal, real, and even special, that the experience has also been intermittently terrifying, and pretty reliably nerve-wracking (not to a level I can’t handle, but nervewracking nevertheless). From initial screenings for weird genetic disorders, to bizarre symptoms prompting suggestions of other weird and dangerous maladies, I’ve felt for most of this ride like the end is far from sight, and like I ultimately don’t have a ton of control over its outcome. Of course I’ve taken care of myself and the baby inside me in every way I can. But ultimately, I don’t have a lot of control over this process. Perhaps coming to terms with that is a part of the journey, too.

Imagine my surprise (I wasn’t) when a nurse called last week to let me know I’d tested positive for GBS (Group B streptococcus), which they routinely screen for at 35 weeks.