The Home Stretch

A couple of weeks ago Beth went to the hospital with contractions.  She was only 34 weeks.  Ben had graduated from college the day before and they though that she was over tired and maybe dehydrated. They kept her overnight and did an ultrasound.  The baby looked very good and they said she was 'breathing on her own".  I've never heard that term applied to a baby in the womb; I guess it means the baby is using the muscles she will have to use to breathe.  Beth did not dilate so they put her on a medication to relax the contrations, put her on some restrictions and sent her home.  At the doctor's appointment the next Tuesday the doctor said once she got to 35 weeks she could stop the medication and she was off of all restrictions.
The next weekend she had a shower that Ben's side of the family gave her.  Ben's grandmother, who was with us at the graduation, asked if Beth had "dropped".  Beth had said she though the baby was lower.  She was hoping she could at least make it to the shower and then they could get the rest of the things they needed before the baby came.
Here is is two weeks later and Beth is still pregnant and having contractions.  She has had trouble sleeping because of the contractions.  She is definately 'nesting' and can cry at the drop of a hat, which is not usually like her.  Today (6/6) she came back from Ben's parents very early because she was having some fairly regular contractions.  They did let up a little after she took a warm bath and she was able to sleep a little.  After a couple of hours the contractions woke her up.  Now they are on their way to Champaign so they can walk the mall.  Hopefully this will make the contractions stop or get worse.  If they get worse she can go to the hospital and get checked.  I can tell she doesn't want to go to the hospital until she is fairly sure she is in labor.  She does not want to be sent home.
As a mother it is hard to see your daughter miserable.  We know that she has to go through this to get to the goal, a baby girl.  I pray that this baby comes very soon.  I don't think Beth can take much more of this.  I'm worried that she will have a lot of problems with the labor because she is so sleep deprived.