December 2005 Mommies: 3rd Trimester! [Archive] - Page 7

JRPAGV

11-29-2005, 07:47 PM

TODAY'S OB APPOINTMENT

Some of this is copied and pasted from my LJ:

Today's appointment went very well. I had lots of questions, and Dr. M was very helpful. Definitely an informative appointment. :-)

Weight: Up two more pounds in a week. I excpected it after Thanksgiving, though. ;-) Total weight gain of 37 pounds.

Blood Pressure: 120/70

Baby's Heartbeat: She said it sounds good.

Fundus Height: Measuring perfectly at 38cm

Dilation: Still 1cm! But she said it's a "loose 1cm", so there has been progress.

Effacement: Still 50%

Station: Still -3

Baby's Approximate Weight: I asked if she could guess the baby's weight just by feeling him from the outside. She said she thinks he's in the high 7 pound range (give or take about half a pound)!

Stripping Membranes: I asked her about stripping my membranes. She said there's really no risk, and that it's very unlikely that she's accidentally break my water while doing it. She said it's almost impossible to break someone's water with a finger unless they're in labor and very dilated (at least 6cm if I recall correctly). So, after she reassured me that the only real risk is it hurting, we decided to go for it. It was uncomfortable, and I felt a lot of pressure. But, it wasn't really painful or horrible. I'd do it again. ETA: I also asked if it could increase the length of labor. She said no, that the point of it is to decrease the length of labor.

Contractions: I told her about the pains I felt last night and how I've been feeling crampy almost constantly today. She said it's probably contractions. I told her that my belly doesn't get hard, though. That's when she got up and put her hand on my belly and said, "You're having a contraction right now". I was shocked. I felt my belly and it was hard, but I've been thinking that hardness was Nathan's back or something. Hehe. So apparently I've been having contractions the whole time and just haven't noticed. LOL.

I told her that I'm worried because I can't time these "contractions". It usually feels like one loooong cramp. Just a constant feeling of crampiness. She said she couldn't time hers either when she had one of her children. She just felt like something was different, and asked to be hooked up to a monitor. She ended up having her baby three hours later!

Difference Between BH Contractions and Real Ones: She said the only way to tell the difference is if my cervix is changing (progressing).

Engagement: Last time, she told me that his head is already engaged. I asked her if his head can become not engaged anymore (if he can back himself out of there), and she said no.

What To Do If My Water Breaks: I do need to go to the hospital if my water breaks, even if I can't tell that I'm having regular contractions. It *is* okay to take a shower after my water breaks, though.

Who To Call With Breast Problems After Baby's Born: I didn't know who to call if I have problems... for example if I get a breast infection. She said to call her. She's the one who handles that type of stuff, not my general physician.

Elective Induction: If I decide to have an elective induction, she'll do it from 39 weeks on. She said my cervix is favorable for induction, so that's a good thing. I explained how I'm worried that it could end in a C-Section, and she said it rarely does for her patients. She said the main reason why it ends in C-Section for anyone is because somebody (patient, doctor, or nurse) becomes impatient. She said if it looks like I'm not progressing within 24 hours, she'd probably send me home instead of doing a C-Section. The only reason why we'd really have to do a C-Section is if the baby is in distress. She said that Pitocin and inducing doesn't cause distress unless there's an underlying problem with the baby.

I have another appointment next Tuesday at 11:15am. I can decide then if I want to be induced, and it would be scheduled for the following morning (Wednesday, December 7th), which is her on-call day. She'd probably have me come in around 7am. She said right now she has nothing on her schedule, so we could do it then if I want to. But, her schedule could always change and get too booked up, ya know? Still not sure if I want to be induced, but we're thinking about it for several reasons. I feel like some people would think bad of me if I chose an elective induction. Maybe I'll have the baby before then and there will be nothing to worry about.

Sebski

11-29-2005, 07:58 PM

Nov 05 mom popping in to say CONGRATS to Elizabeth on Leo's arrival! He's adorable and I *love* his name!!! :)

Good luck to all of you in the upcoming month - you're in for the ride of your lives! ;)

ktdelsur

11-30-2005, 04:02 AM

Copied from my LJ:

Hmmm.

Woke myself up last night from a weird dream, in mid-sentence to someone. LOL - nothing new. But then when I tried to roll over and go back to sleep, every time I'd close my eyes, I'd get the spins like the room was moving. (You know, where you feel like your eyes are moving back and forth...)

If I opened my eyes or sat up, I was ok. I must have eventually gone back to sleep because the next thing I remember was the alarm going off...but for a bit there I was worried I was pinching off some artery or nerve by laying weird (when I was only laying on one side or the other).

I may call the doc's office and ask about it today just because I'm paranoid. I've had that happen before but it's because I had a bad sinus infection. I know I don't have that...but I do feel like I have the beginnings of a headache this morning, and I don't get random headaches...I can't tell if its headache or earache. Hmmm.

Last night I definitely was feeling more cervix pressure, and if I walked 'wrong' pain would shoot down the inside of my right thigh. My back is kind of achy this morning too but I can't tell if its b/c of the pregnancy or b/c our mattress SUCKS! hehe :D

oceanblue

11-30-2005, 04:29 AM

CONGRATS E&D AND WELCOME LITTLE LEO!!!! He is one handsome looking boy!

It's so exciting to see so many babies coming already, just wish one of them was mine :o I know, selfish me, but what can ya say when you feel like the Good Year blimp

Kami-Congrats on your c/s date! Yours is the day after mine (my official due date!). Although, obviously, I'm still hoping not to make it to next week!

It sounds like a lot of us are getting closer and closer with all these labor "symptoms". I hardly got any sleep last night. Was just pretty much crampy all over. Wonder if something is going to happen today. Or just wishful thinking!

I have another appt. on Friday where we're going to fill out all my pre-op stuff for the c/s, but I'm secretly hoping (I know it's terrible) that he'll look at my b/p or my carpal tunnel problems and have me head to the hospital. Sigghh. Like I said, terrible I know, but I'm just so over being pregnant now!

JRPAGV

11-30-2005, 04:46 AM

Mucus Plug Question: I know this is personal, but what color was your mucus plug?? This is TMI, but I just wiped and there was a "glob" about the size of a nickel or larger. It was more yellowish than anything. It's something I haven't been seeing, so I'm wondering if my mucus plug got loosened when she stripped my membranes yesterday.

I'll be back in a little while to do replies. :)

freckle

11-30-2005, 05:59 AM

JRPAGV - I just last mine last night and this morning. It was yellowisjh. Last time mine was yellowish too.

well, I lost my cool this morning. I planned to work up until my due date I am just wasted. I just wouldnt go in today. I sent an email saying that tomorrow or monday will have to be my last day.

Cookie777

11-30-2005, 06:05 AM

Congratulations E&D & Welcome Leo! :D

Kamileer ~

How exciting to know when your baby's coming! Wow on the 9th?! How exciting! Not too much longer now. ;)

****
Sounds like everyone's doing great! I got a little behind so I'm not going to try & catch up with everyone.

I had an appt yesterday. She says I'm measuring right at 36 weeks..which is normal for me, to measure on schedule. Normally I'm "on the big side of normal" as far as measurements..but she didn't say anything about that yesterday. What's strange is...the baby is a little bigger..so it seems strange to me that I'm measuring right. I would think I would be a little bigger...but who knows. Do you think that could be because she's not taking into account that he's dropped a little? My last ultrasound confirmed that he was really low..

I have another ultrasound on 12.13 at 38 weeks (2 weeks from now) to check growth..because I reminded her that he was a little bigger. He should be atleast 7 pounds right now...so I really don't see him being any smaller than 8.5...but I was thinking closer to 9.

I said "but can't ultrasounds be off?" & she said..."by a 1/2 pound.." & I said "That's all?" and she said.."Well they say 1 pound...but Paula (ultrasound tech) is usually 1/2" if she's off at all I guess. So if she was off a 1/2 pound & he's 1/2 pound smaller...he should be 8.5. We'll see! Ok enough of my speculation.

Are you ready for this ladies? Total weight gain = 43 pounds! :eek: My midwife though says that since I lost 5 pounds right before I got pregnant..& I was a little underweight..that I can subtract 5 pounds if I want. haha.. She said this months ago...but sometimes I think about that..I guess to make me feel better..:o

They said that I did pass my GBS test.. I figured since I hadn't heard anything. I didn't have an internal...so I'm not sure if they're planning to do that next time? Or what...

Wow..sorry to write so much! Hope you all have a great day!

Oh...just for fun...here it is.

36 Weeks

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y151/Cookie777/36Weeks.jpg

happygolucky

11-30-2005, 06:45 AM

CONGRATULATIONS E&D AND WELCOME LEO!!!

I had my OB appointment yesterday and I officially have nothing to report. No dilation, no effacement - just tons and tons of contractions. I'm having the baby next Wednesday though, so I'm not going to worry... about how much longer I have. I am, of course, going to worry about: having the c-section, recovering from the c-section, caring for the baby, being a failure at breast feeding, the crib showing up (it hasn't yet), the correct changing table showing up (the wrong one was delivered yesterday), not having enough clothes for the baby, a blizzard blowing in while I'm trying to bring the baby home, one of my ILs or my family being sick when I have the baby and giving it pneumonia, me or DH being sick when I have the baby and giving it pneumonia, the baby being allergic to Dreft, the baby being allergic to pets, the baby being allergic to air, and so on and so forth until I'm ready to lose my mind. I actually tried to talk my OB into pushing my C-section off by a week. Got a big old NO as an answer, but it seemed like it was worth a shot. I'm just totally frantic about the fact that no matter what I do, there is no chance in hell I'm going to be ready to be a mother when my time comes and that just scares the unholy crap out of me.

Gotta dash - laundry is done. Time to wash and fold. I have a feeling I'm going to be doing a LOT of that in the upcoming months... and years.

Oh, question - does anybody know what goes into a diaper bag? I have a very pretty diaper bag and NOTHING in it.....

kamileer

11-30-2005, 06:50 AM

happygolucky - ITA with your entire post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jaredsgirl

11-30-2005, 06:59 AM

happygolucky I agree too...seriously those are all my fears! It is nice to know you are not alone!!

No progress Last night I went to a Pampered Chef party at a friends and the girls that had kids were talking with me and I found out that one of the girls there that had a baby 5 months ago, went in for her 39 week appt and had no progress and her doctor had told her she was going to be overdue and she ended up having her baby on her due date. So I feel good to get that news. DH and I are going to the mall tonight to do some heavy walking (since the roads are just too nasty from snow and ice to do it outside).

JRPAGV

11-30-2005, 07:05 AM

happygolucky: I have most of the same fears too.

Diaper Bag Question: Here's a link to a CC thread that I found helpful: What do you carry in your diaper bag? (http://www.constantchatter.com/showthread.php?t=4200&highlight=diaper+bag)

kamileer

11-30-2005, 08:24 AM

Happygolucky, MrsBuw and anyone else c-section bound - Did you make a birth plan?

I am trying to put together a list to ask my doctor about at my pre-op tomorrow. Here's what I have so far. Please add any other suggestions as I want this birth experience to be the best possible considering the circumstances.

- What kind of anesthesia will be used?
- What will I get for pain relief?
- Can DH cut the cord?
- Can I eat anything prior to surgery? I've been told that there is NO food or drink allowed after midnight the night before. My c/s isn't until 2 pm and I am REALLY freaking out about this. What did your docs say????
- Can I have another support person in the room as well as DH (my mom)?
- Can the baby be brought to me immediately after birth?
- Can I have a hand free to touch her? (I hear that they STRAP your arms down....I HATE the thought of this)
- How will donating cord blood work?
- Can DH be present during entire prep?
- How soon will I be able to b/f?
- Can the drape be lowered for me to see birth?
- Can we take photos/video?
- Can DH stay with baby the entire time I am in recovery?
- Can my mom stay with me?
- Can you describe the events as they are happening?

happygolucky

11-30-2005, 09:00 AM

Wow - it is nice to know that I'm not alone in my fears. Sometimes I start to feel like a complete and total freak.

Kami - you've got way more questions than I had! Here is what my dr told me at my last appointment. Don't know if it will be helpful, but it's worth a shot.

-I'm scheduled for a 12:30 C-section. I have to be at the hospital at 10:30, but should expect to be bumped by emergency c-sections and that my delivery won't actually take place until 3:00 - 4:00.
-No food or drink after 6:00 AM (totally bums me out, especially in light of the whole no-food thing, but what can you do). I've been told I won't have an appetite anyway, but I find that hard to believe.
-I get put on a glucose IV right after I get there - anesthesia is local, not general.
-DH will be with me the whole time.
-Cord blood will be collected just like with a vaginal birth.
-Baby will be given to DH after birth and cleanup.
-I will be able to nurse the baby while I'm in recovery.
-If I'm not with baby, DH is. After I (try to) nurse, they take baby to nursery. DH, baby and I meet up in hospital room when I get moved out of recovery.
-Nothing was said about straps, but I never heard of that before so I didn't ask.
-Pictures are allowed, but I told DH forget about it because I don't want photos of my insides splayed all over the place.
-Mom isn't allowed into the OR, much to her chagrin.

I didn't ask about the drape being lowered because I don't think I want to see my guts.

The only other think I might consider asking about is how much time does it take to sew you up and get you through recovery to your room. I've heard everything from fifteen minutes sewing time to an hour.

ETA: I didn't make a birth plan. I had one for when I thought I was going to go through labor, but scrapped it along with my lamaze classes when I got the word on the c-section.

kamileer

11-30-2005, 09:24 AM

happygolucky - Thank you!

I read about the arms being strapped down on the internet. I am going to ask my doc tomorrow to see if this is true!!! :eek:

ali&dc

11-30-2005, 10:02 AM

kamileer - Congrats on having your c/s date scheduled. Hope you have a quick and easy c/s and recovery!!

kinaida

11-30-2005, 10:43 AM

Benjamin Jared!

You guys got the stats (thanks Janna!), so here's a picture:

http://images.snapfish.com/34565%3A5923232%7Ffp336%3Enu%3D3233%3E3%3A4%3E%3A4 6%3EWSNRCG%3D323335%3B%3A48%3A8%3Cnu0mrj

We're home. I'm sore from my incision (had a c-section) and my breasts are sore too. Latching can be excruciating, but once we get over that hump it's not as bad. Still painful, but not unmanageable. I move like I'm in molasses -- very very slowly. I'm exhausted too -- he likes to sleep during the day and then eat EVERY HOUR at night. Oy.

My L&D was basically nothing like what I had planned or wanted. But God had a different plan for us and I'm thrilled to have my wonderfully healthy little boy (he scored 9's on both of his apgars). I'll type out my birth story one of these days...

Congrats to all of the new mommies!!!! All of your babies are beautiful. Hang in there for those who are still waiting.

jaredsgirl

11-30-2005, 10:47 AM

kinaida He is the sweetest looking little guy! Love Jared as the middle name (DH's name if you couldn't tell by my user name). Can't wait for the birth story.

Jaycee

11-30-2005, 11:02 AM

Kinaida!! Benjamin is so adorable!!!!!!!!

Cookie777

11-30-2005, 11:15 AM

Kinaida ~

He is SO CUTE! Congratulations!!! :D

ktdelsur

11-30-2005, 11:57 AM

*gasp*
Kindra! He's gorgeous!

I'm sorry you had to deal with a c-section - I can't wait to hear your birth story. But, like my FIL always said - it doesn't matter how you get there, either way you get your precious baby!:D

ktdelsur

11-30-2005, 12:12 PM

Ok folks, I just went back to www.inababycarriage.com to browse the card designs again ( I pre-ordered envelopes for combo holiday/birth announcement cards a week or so ago and still haven't received them) and there is a note there that no holiday card orders will be accepted after 12/5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So if he is born later next week, we won't get our holiday cards! She states that it is because holiday cards have a two-week turnaround time. I don't mind sending out the cards at the last minute - we're having a baby, people will understand...but I really wanted the announcements to be a holiday theme!! :( :(

JRPAGV

11-30-2005, 12:18 PM

ktdelsur: I saw that too. If all else fails, I guess you could order those blue snowflake announcements (if you like them) and hope they arrive in time for the holidays. There shouldn't be a deadline on those. Of course, I'm not sure, though.

http://www.inababycarriage.com/designs/holidays/christmas/images/snowflakes2blue.jpg

I found another design on her site that I like. It's so hard to decide between them! DH and I like this design, but with navy writing maybe instead of chocolate brown. We would also get different font. It kind of bothers me that the numbers in the stats are lower than others.

http://www.inababycarriage.com/designs/boys/images/preciousboy.jpg

What do you ladies think? Would navy writing look good, or do you like black or chocolate brown better?

JRPAGV

11-30-2005, 12:21 PM

Just noticed the snowflake design is listed under holiday cards. You could always get them (or another holiday card) for after Christmas, though. Maybe you could still put "Happy Holidays!" or something and let it be for Christmas and New Years. :confused:

ktdelsur

11-30-2005, 12:23 PM

JRPAGV

11-30-2005, 12:26 PM

I just emailed Amber so hopefully I'll get an answer soon. The blue snowflake ones are the ones we want to get, and they are holiday cards...but I'll figure something out if we definitely can't get those. I'll be disappointed though....because I haven't bought any other Christmas cards! Let me know what she says, please! :) The snowflake cards are still on our list of possibilities. I just figured if we got them, they would be more of a winter-themed announcement than a holiday card/announcement. I was planning to have the saying/poem removed and just leave his name, stats, etc. I wouldn't necessarily have to have them by Christmas. I think it helps that they aren't red or green and too Christmas-y.

ktdelsur

11-30-2005, 12:44 PM

Janna: I'll let you know. That is a good idea. I don't necessarily have to make them say "Merry Christmas" or anything. They have so many cute ones but I really like the wintery ones.

ON ANOTHER NOTE...TMI!
Think I just lost part of my mucus plug a few minutes ago (noticed in the bathroom)...same deal as yours, Janna. No blood, but just a yellowish/white.

I also was really nauseous this mid-morning and my appetite has definitely lessened. Its not that I get FULL fast (although I do)...I just don't want as much food as I did.

I hope the doc tells me tomorrow to just forget the note that says my last day of work is Friday and just not go back anymore. That would be lovely. LOL

jengen

11-30-2005, 12:54 PM

kinaida He is too cute! :) Sorry to hear you had to have a c-section, but glad he is so healthy! Hope you recover quickly and can't wait to hear more!

holiday/announcements Can you guys pre-order your cards at inababycarriage like I did with mine at sonicstefdesigns? That way, all she will have to do is plug in the picture with the date, time of birth, weight, etc. Mine are all set and I plan to take a pic of him as soon as we get home to plug it in, have her finish the design and order them. I'm not having her do the printing, I'm actually going to send the completed design to an online site and have them printed like photo cards - that way I'll get them right away. I don't know if you have that option with Amber, but just wanted to throw it out there.

jrpagv I love the writing in chocolate!

PilotsWife

11-30-2005, 01:14 PM

Just a quick note to announce that Aidan Morgan and Ryan David were born at 10:02 and 10:03 PM on Friday, November 25th by c-section. Aidan weighed 4 pounds and 9 ounces and Ryan weighed 5 pounds and 9 ounces. They are absolutely beautiful (I'm biased, I know) and we are totally in love with them! We just got home yesterday - will write more and post pictures very soon! Right now, I need a nap.....:p

December2005Mommies

11-30-2005, 01:42 PM

Updated to here!

Does anyone want me to add a picture of their baby to the first page? I won't unless you request it. :)

Does anyone want me to add their scheduled C-Section or induction to the front page? I've already added aprilbride2002's and kamileer's.

kamileer

11-30-2005, 01:45 PM

CONGRATULATIONS, PILOT'S WIFE!

I can't wait to hear all the details. :)

jaredsgirl

11-30-2005, 02:13 PM

Congrats Pilot's Wife

Can't wait to hear more!!!! :)

QOTD I havent' done one of these for a while. I do have a question. My doctor and I talked about inducing me next week on Tues or Wed (won't be for sure until I go into my appt on Tues) and he talked about using gels on me. Now I know there is something bad with gels? Is this right? Any info?? Or threads to bump up? My SIL asked not to have it when she was induced, so just was curious.

jengen

11-30-2005, 02:31 PM

Congratulations, PilotsWife!! Glad to hear you and the boys are doing well!!! :D

QOTD Jaredsgirl, I really don't know too much about induction procedures. I think my midwife said our practice uses cervidil (a suppository put in the vagina) and pitocin. I don't think they mentioned gel...I'll be interested to hear what people come back with.

ajlanden

11-30-2005, 02:34 PM

A December 04 mommy coming out of lurkdom to say congrats to all the new mommies and good luck to the "soon-to-be" mommies. You bring back so many memories of this time of year last year.

This time is so special, so enjoy it!!! Before you know it they will be big kids turning 1!!!!!!!

ktdelsur

11-30-2005, 02:36 PM

Congrats PilotsWife!!! Can't wait to hear more about your boys!

jengen: I don't know about gels, but I know its probably similar to the cervadil or cytotek that they put up in your cervix to 'ripen' it. I'm sure a few google searches might give you a little insight - I don't know. Maybe search the parenting threads too...let us know what you find out!

krbb

11-30-2005, 03:06 PM

Kindra - He is so cute. Thanks for sharing. Sorry to hear you had to have a c-section, hope you heal quickly!!

Congrats Pilotswife!!! I can't believe there were so many babies born this past weekend!!

I am slowly loosing patience with being pregnant. I was telling people at work careful what you say to me. I don't know if I can go back next week. I have a Dr's appointment tomorrow so I will find out what she will say before I make a decision. Now I know why my mom cried every day when I was three weeks late! I am not even to my due date and it was moved up by 10 days!! As much as I am ready to have him also all those things to worry about (sorry I forget who posted them and too lazy too look it up) scare me at the same time!

If what I have been loosing is my mucus plug it is yellowish and has brownish/reddish streaks in it.

Cookie777

11-30-2005, 03:49 PM

Congratulations PilotsWife!!! I can't wait to see pictures! :)

AJLanden ~

I bet the last year has flown by for you watching your little girl grow up! I can't believe it's almost time for me & that so many of us have already had babies! :eek:

Jaycee

11-30-2005, 04:36 PM

Congrats PilotsWife!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to see pictures of the boys!!!

enjoy your nap :)

jaredsgirl

12-01-2005, 05:14 AM

Ok girls, wondering if I am in the beginnings of labor. I have been up since midnight. The contractions started then, they became regular around 2am at 12 min apart for a few hours. They are now 6-8min apart. The reason I wonder, they just aren't that painful. Now I'm probably jinxing myself...I mean they hurt...but barely. So could they just be B&H that are regular? I'm sending DH to work and told him that I would call him when the contractions are 5 min apart for an hour (I'm supposed to call my dr when they are 5 min apart for 2 hours). So confused.

jengen

12-01-2005, 05:20 AM

jaredsgirl Sounds like this could be it for you! :) I would call your dr/nurse just to let them know and see what they say. I was told by my dr not to call until they are 3-4 minutes apart, but I think I would still like to know their opinion of what was going on if I were you. Keep us posted!

Jaycee

12-01-2005, 05:36 AM

jaredsgirl mine didn't hurt until way after I had already gotten to the hospital, but they were regular and coming every 2-4 minutes.

The first time we went to the hospital when we had the false alarm, the doctor told me that next time, I think I'm in labor, I can take a warm bath to see if the contractions stop and if they don't then I'm most likely in labor. Can you take a warm bath?

jaredsgirl

12-01-2005, 07:56 AM

I just woke up from sleeping for 2 hours...needed that badly after being up since midnight. I'm still getting the contractions but they are feeling a little bit more irratic. :( We went to the mall last night and walked every square inch...maybe that did help.

If they stop I'm going to be so bummed!!!

JRPAGV

12-01-2005, 07:57 AM

jaredsgirl: I think you can have real contractions that aren't painful. My SIL didn't start feeling the contractions until she was 6cm, and when they put her on Pitocin and broke her water. My OB also told me the other day that the only way to truly tell if the contractions are real is if your cervix is changing. I guess you'll also know they're real if they are 5 or less minutes apart for 1 minute long for over an hour.

Good luck! I hope this is it for you!!!

Mucus Plug: I lost a lot more of my mucus plug this morning! :D I was so excited! TMI, but this time it was brown. Disgusting and cool all at the same time. :p

krbb

12-01-2005, 08:38 AM

jaredsgirl - Another thing they told us during our birthing class is to drink some water and lay on your left side. If they stop than it is just false labor. I hope this is it for you :D !

I had my appointment this morning. I went from being almost 3cm to a good 3cm and he is lower. Which I can tell because it hurts whenever I am walking. I haven't gained any weight and b/p and hearbeat were good. My next appointment is Dec. 5.

Yesterday I may have started nesting. I cleaned our fridge, pulled out the drawers and bins and washed them all. This is something I would normally do though! Hmmmm...

fwgirl

12-01-2005, 09:02 AM

Hi everyone! I've been MIA for awhile, but for a very good reason! Our baby girl arrived on 11.22.05. She's perfect and amazing and I'm completely in awe that DH & I made her. Just crazy!

Loren Nicole
11.22.05
7 lbs 4 oz
19 1/4 inches

Sorry I haven't had time to catch up with the thread, but I will. I just wanted to say congratulations to everyone who's babies have arrived. And good luck to everyone that is in the last few weeks/days of pregnancy!

I'm feeling a little paranoid/protective right now and won't be posting any pictures in our thread, but I will post in my lj. If you have one and would like to be added to my friend's list just let me know. My name is the same over there.

JRPAGV

12-01-2005, 09:04 AM

CONGRATULATIONS, fwgirl!!!!

I can't wait to hear the details! :)

ktdelsur

12-01-2005, 09:29 AM

CONGRATS fwgirl and welcome Loren!!!!

39 week OB appt today:

Well, girls, I am almost 95% effaced and 2 cm dilated already!

I think I had my first "real" contraction last night - it radiated around to my back. It wasn't fun but it was totally bearable. If I had more than one, I slept through it, but once I laid on my side and relaxed, I felt it slowly go away. The doc did confirm that it probably WAS a contraction.

My dilemma:
He has me scheduled to induce on Monday, Dec 5 at 6 a.m. He said DH and I could talk about it, but he said my cervix is 'perfect' for induction and they wouldn't even have to use the cervadil or cytotek because I'm already almost all the way effaced. I really didn't want to be induced, and I haven't decided yet. The doc also gave me his cell phone number and told me that if something happens over the weekend to call him and he'd meet us at the hospital. He said he knows I won't make it to my next appt, which, for fun, is Friday, Dec 9.

I am so torn. Should I wait it out? Just set the induction date and pray he comes sooner?! I don't know. Either way...by the middle of next week we'll have a baby!!!

jaredsgirl

12-01-2005, 09:45 AM

Congrats fwgirl and Loren!!!

OK, here is the scoop on me. The contraction stopped, and seriously I want to cry. I think I am the only person in here that is going to be overdue.

Strange things...as krbb said, if it is false labor, it would go away if I laid on my left side and/or drank water, when these contractions actually felt STRONGER when I did that. That is actually when I felt them all the best (hence the reason I was starting to think this was real). What made them go away was the warm bath.

We are going to walk again tonight and see if that was maybe what started things last night.

Maybe it is better that I am not contracting since it started snowing here pretty hard.

oceanblue

12-01-2005, 10:12 AM

Kindra-He is adorable!!!

CONGRATS TO BOTH OF YOU PILOTSWIFE AND FWGIRL!!!

jaredsgirl-Boo on the contractions stopping, and I hear ya on the frustration part, I'm just so ready for this to be over and the next step to begin!!!

I can't believe how many babies are here already!!!

oceanblue

12-01-2005, 10:13 AM

Cookie777

12-01-2005, 10:14 AM

Congratulations FWGirl & Welcome Loren! :D

How exciting!!!

JaredsGirl ~

Sounds like you a verrrrrry close! I bet more walking would get you going. ;)

happygolucky

12-01-2005, 10:17 AM

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE NEW MOMMIES!!!

Jaredsgirl - I can totally relate to how you're feeling right now. I woke up this morning at three with serious contractions - painful, every five to ten minutes or so, radiating around to my back, the whole nine yards. They even got regular at around four in the morning - every eight minutes like clockwork. I seriously thought I was going into labor... except that I haven't lost my MP yet. And my water didn't break. So I waited... and waited... and waited... for three hours. At around six, the contractions stopped and I fell asleep. Woke up at a little before eight, went to the bathroom, looked for MP and... NOTHING. Not a damned thing. I know I'm not going to be able to go overdue, since I'm having a C next Wednesday, but I'd kind of like to go into labor so that I can feel confident that the baby baked for as long as it was supposed to bake. That's probably crazy, but there you have it. I'm a crazy lady, so I'd expect nothing less from myself.

tgal

12-01-2005, 10:35 AM

e&d: If you are still out there, time escaped me and I noticed we are now in December. I can't believe how quickly time flies. I just wanted to wish you well on your last two weeks! Take care.

Jaycee

12-01-2005, 10:50 AM

CONGRATS fwgirl and welcome Loren!!!! I'd love it if you friended me on LJ. I'm WC_Jaycee over there.

Jaredsgirl..sorry the warm bath stopped the contrax..I'm sure your body is gearing up though. Keep walking..I walked for 45 minutes on the treadmill the day I went into labor..it worked!! :)

tgal e&d had her baby boy last week :)

AMC

12-01-2005, 10:58 AM

CONGRATS TO ALL THE NEW MOMMIES!! Your little ones are beautiful! :)

So what outfit are all of you ladies bringing your babies home in? I have not really though about it and its getting so cold outside. Anyways, just curious to what you all had planned?

tgal

12-01-2005, 11:15 AM

Jaycee: Thank you so much! Wow, she went early! I panned back to prior posts and all of your babies are so beautiful, congrats to everyone.

e&d: If you return and read this, congrats to both you and Doug. Leo is gorgeous! I hope to check back later, as you mentioned having a few wish you would have known xyz type of things and I could definitely use the information. Take care!

ktdelsur

12-01-2005, 11:40 AM

Hey girls...I posted earlier about the induce or not induce question b/c of my appt...any takers on giving me advice?!?

happygolucky

12-01-2005, 12:00 PM

ktdelsur - I lean away from chemical induction, but I'm not sure why. It's just a strange, gut thing. Then again, I'm having a scheduled C, so what the heck so I know.....

kamileer

12-01-2005, 12:10 PM

chemical inductions - I don't think I would go for it unless I was past my due date or making NO progress on my own. Just my personal opinion (coming from someone who is having a scheduled c/s at 38w2d...so I guess I could change my mind considering how impatient I've become. ;)). I don't have to think about it this time around but it is my plan to wait until labor happens naturally for #2. :D

CONGRATULATIONS FWGIRL!!!

jaredsgirl

12-01-2005, 12:11 PM

ktdelsur I would also lean away from inducing unless I am overdue. All the people I have talked said that if recieving Pitocin...it was really hard on them and painful. But of course I can't speak from experience.

JRPAGV

12-01-2005, 12:30 PM

ktdelsur: I'm not sure what to tell you. You know I'm considering an elective induction for next Wednesday. I've heard that Pitocin can cause painful contractions, and that wouldn't be a problem if you were getting an epidural. But, I know you're trying to avoid that. There's pros to an induction (convenience for everyone, having your fave doctor deliver your baby, getting to meet baby sooner, etc.), and there's also a few big cons (not really natural, labor can be long if your body isn't ready which can lead to a C-Section, etc.). If I were you, there would be two things weighing heavily on my decision. (1) You don't want an epidural, so induction might be painful. (2) It would be a good thing b/c your doctor would be there and that doctor is the one who knows about your history of back problems.

What does your DH think about it?

JRPAGV

12-01-2005, 01:04 PM

doubleR had her baby!!!! It's a BOY!!!!

Name: Brady Nelson
Birthdate: 11/26/05 at 2:18pm
Weight: 6 lb 15 oz
Length: 21 1/2" long

Congratulations, doubleR!!!

What's up with so many babies being born on 11/26?! :D

kamileer

12-01-2005, 01:13 PM

CONGRATULATIONS DOUBLE R! BRADY IS AN AWESOME NAME :)
I just knew it was a boy ever since that full body u/s you posted a while back. ;) So happy the surprise is out of the bag now. :D :D

December2005Mommies

12-01-2005, 01:17 PM

Updated to here!

happygolucky

12-01-2005, 01:18 PM

Congratulations doubleR!!!

Wow - 11/26 really *was* a popular day, huh?

jaredsgirl

12-01-2005, 01:28 PM

Congrats doubleR and Brady!!!

I was starting to wonder about her...she hadn't been around for a while.

Ok, now seriously, I am never going to have my baby.

ktdelsur

12-01-2005, 02:03 PM

CONGRATS doubler and welcome BRADY!

I love the name Brady!

DH likes the name we've chosen but insists I'm not open enough to "off the wall" names. He has come up with some doozies, let me tell you. LOL

Thanks for the advice on the inductions. I've been talking to my FIL too...(he's a retired surgeon and has delivered 300 or so babies) and he's promising I shouldn't be afraid of the pitocin, especially since I am already effaced. I don't know. We'll see.

jrbnj

12-01-2005, 02:24 PM

Congrats to E&D, FWGirl, Kindra, Double R, Pilotswife and any other new mommies I may have missed!

I had my 39 week appointment today and I'm 3cm dialated but still only 50% effaced (I've been 50% effaced for 3 weeks.) I had totally expected to deliver early and am sort of down in the dumps that I'm still pregnant. I'm so jealous of the other new mommies that are holding their babies. I know the baby can't stay in forever and I'm still a week away from my EDD, but I'm just so anxious and excited and just want to get this new chapter in our lives started.

ktdelsur: I probably wouldn't induce unless I was late. I'm a wimp and would be scared of having extra medicines in my body. But, I can imagine being very tempted by the option of a planned delivery. Good luck whatever you decide.

Have any of you started natural induction techniques? I bought red raspberry leaf tea but haven't drank it b/c I hate tea. Still not sure why I bought it. I bought pinapple yesterday and had some last night and will finish it tonight. I've walked a ton, but I've done so throughout the pregnancy, so I'm not sure if it will have an effect. I know they say sex and nipple stimulation are inducers but the thought of either of them sounds absolutely horrible.

Congrats again to all the new mommies and for the rest of us, I hope you're feeling well.

Jaycee

12-01-2005, 02:27 PM

Congrats doubleR !!!!! Welcome baby Brady!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jengen

12-01-2005, 04:29 PM

Congratulations, FWGIRL and DoubleR!!!

ktdelsur I am another that wouldn't go for induction, until maybe after my due date for the same reasons as previous posters. Then again, I'm also not even bothering with the red leaf tea or anything else, because I kind of just feel like this baby is going to come when he's good and ready! ;)

We had a holiday party tonight at work and I did my best to dress up and look "good" at 38 1/2 weeks pregnant! :) All I really want to wear lately are my sweats! All of the men were saying "oh, you will never go on time...first time babies are always late"...ugh! I hate when people say stuff like that! Hopefully, I will follow suit with the rest of you and go a little early, if not on time!

Cookie777

12-01-2005, 04:55 PM

Congratulations DoubleR & Welcome Brady! :D

Inductions ~

I don't have a good feeling about inductions...plus everyone I've talked to has said DON'T DO IT! Basically for the other negatives that JRPAGV mentioned...plus that you have to lay in bed the whole time. No shower...nothing. You can't move around at all. That might drive me crazy. I personally don't think I'll consider an induction unless I'm close to 2 weeks late. I have no plans to induce even if they tell me the baby is going to be really big. I'm expecting him to be good size as it is. Plus I have a Midwife..& she's definitely not into inductions. I'm sure she would do it if that's what I wanted though.

ktdelsur

12-01-2005, 05:07 PM

Cookie:

My doc (and my childbirth educ teacher) told me that w/ an induction at my hospital you can walk around just fine. They DO monitor you, but its external, and its 20 mins on, 20 mins off. I was told you could get out of bed w/ the monitor too (like be on the birthing ball, etc). As long as you don't have problems, you are not confined to the bed until you have an epidural, if you decide on that.

Cookie777

12-01-2005, 05:18 PM

Oh really? Maybe it's something that each hospital decides then? I guess that would make sense because probably most of the people that have told me that have given birth here. And the midwife said it too..so maybe she is saying that because this hospital won't let anyone do that.

Well that's good to know.. Looks like I would be confined to a bed..but I'm glad those that won't will have a much easier time with it! I mean atleast not be stuck.. That sounds horrible. :(

mamax2

12-01-2005, 05:42 PM

Welcome to all the new babies!!!

Hey girls...I posted earlier about the induce or not induce question b/c of my appt...any takers on giving me advice?!?: I guess I'm just really confused as to why your Dr. is even suggesting induction; it's not even your due date yet and you're 95% effaced and 2cms dilated - it sounds like your body is making excellent progress on it's own so why would there be any reason to induce? :confused: Basically, I'm only for induction in cases of medical need (and by that I don't mean the Dr's 'need' to get out on the golf course tomorrow :p ;) ) I also know that you're interested in natural childbirth or at least avoiding an epidural and I think subjecting yourself to pitocin makes either one of those less likely. Don't get me wrong, there are women out there that avoid pain meds w/pitocin, but not many. Your body will produce the right amount of oxytocin for you and your baby - no IV bag can replicate that. Even if you DID plan to get an epidural, I wouldn't suggest an unnecessary induction for a number of reasons, specifically that you don't get the epidural as soon as you're in labor, there's a good chance you could spend hours in a pit-induced labor before getting the epi. Then, there's the distinct possibility that the epi. could slow your labor, which means more pit, etc. vicious cycle that can lead to lots more interventions and complications and makes c-section that much more likely. Again, these are all things that many women are presented with at some point, but I wouldn't sign up for any of them, kwim? I'd give myself and my baby every opportunity to let things happen naturally first.

I can't believe how many babies are arriving early in this thread! I think we must be breaking some kind of record or statistic or something :p I'm fully expecting to be around for a few weeks. My DH is out of town until Sunday, so I guess anytime after that would be fine. My goal is just not to be in the hospital on Christmas, well, it's actually not to be pregnant on Christmas, but beggars can't be choosers, right? ;)

kinaida

12-01-2005, 07:50 PM

Congratulations DoubleR!!!! Welcome Brady!!!

ktdelsur -- I commented in your LJ already, but I agree with mamax and that's basically what happened to me...

How many babies are here now? And what's the total boy/girl count now that some of our surprises are out?

JRPAGV

12-01-2005, 08:01 PM

How many babies are here now? And what's the total boy/girl count now that some of our surprises are out? I think there are ten babies now. If you look on the front page, I have put all of the baby's stats on there and added their birthdates and everything in other places too.

freckle

12-02-2005, 04:10 AM

Im still here. I cannot believe it. My DH has asked me to stay home from work from now on. I cant say I blame him. Im really not looking forward to staying home believe it or not. Im going to get cabin fever!

My b-day is on Sunday and Im hoping the baby comes then! That would be cool. If not, I have an appt with the OB on 12/5. As Ihave said before if the baby doesnt come before 12/13, my ob has me scheduled to be induced on 12/13. I will be about a week past my due date and she wont let me go any later than that.

jaredsgirl

12-02-2005, 05:04 AM

Well now I am trying to keep this baby in me...crazy huh? Actually DH came home sick last night so I don't want to have this baby and not let him hold and kiss his child. But already he told me this morning he feels alot better (I forced Vitamin C down his throat last night). So maybe we will get back to walking tomorrow (have DH's Xmas party tonight).

freckle You will get cabin fever. I am going nuts here!!! As soon as DH gets home we go out every night. Doesn't help that my car was in the shop so I couldn't even run to Target.

malala

12-02-2005, 05:34 AM

Wow!! I've had a busy week and wasn't able to be here much, and while I was gone so many of you had your babies!!! It's amazing:)

CONGRATULATIONS doubleR, burkie, Camara, fwgirl, e&d and PilotsWife!!!!!

Thank you to those of you who shared pics of your little ones, they're all so cute and so precious!! Makes me wanna be able to hold my little one soon!!

I had an appointment on Monday, and the doctor said I'm tightly closed, but her head is low. She said I was the only 37 weeker who was happy to hear she's not making any process:p
DH leaves today and doesn't come back until the 15th, so no progress is good news to us.
We interviewed a pediatrician yesterday, he was recommended to us by our next door neighbour. We liked him and will go with him, he seems to be pretty laid back and open minded. The one thing we weren't happy about, was the fact that he was 30 min. late for the appointment, DH was really p'ed off.
We really liked his "philosophy" though, and we'll be living here for only 2 months after our baby's birth. So, we decided we'll go with him anyway.

I hope those of you who are still waiting, don't have to wait too long. And those of you who already had your babies are happily snuggling to them and getting some rest here and there.

Jaycee

12-02-2005, 08:24 AM

Hey girls..I got an email from Babystyle.com with a code for 25%off sitewide. If anyone is interested let me know and I'll post the code.

kamileer

12-02-2005, 10:26 AM

I got my pregnancy photos back. :) These were taken at 35 weeks.

A sampling...
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/kamileer/IMG_1907.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/kamileer/IMG_1842.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/kamileer/IMG_1722.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/kamileer/IMG_1416.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/kamileer/IMG_1268.jpg

JRPAGV

12-02-2005, 10:37 AM

They're gorgeous, Kami!!! :)

e&d

12-02-2005, 10:39 AM

Hi everybody! I am logging on here and there when I have a free minute...which isn't that often right now! :p

Every single baby born so far is just adorable! Congratulations, everyone! It's amazing how much in love we are with our little guy and I know you all feel the same. We could look at him all day. :)

kamileer, wow, those are the most gorgeous pg shots I've seen. You look absolutely fantastic! I can't imagine how adorable your baby will be.

I did type up the birth story and wanted to share it with you guys. I apologize in advance for the length! I'll be back in a bit to post some more pictures. He gets cuter by the second!

Leo Abraham – 11.26.05, 4:00 am
6 lbs, 14 oz.

I woke up on Thanksgiving morning feeling a little different. I didn’t sleep very well the night before, and had some brown spotting. We were planning to drive 2 ½ hours each way to my in-laws for the holiday, so I called the midwife to see what she thought. She said we should go and just take lots of breaks along the way. I got paranoid before we left and put the car seat in the car, just in case. :)

I was uncomfortable through the day on Thursday, and was so glad to get home that night. I was up a lot during the night, and at 5:30 on Friday morning, started noticing strange little gushes…I couldn’t tell if my water had broken, or if I had suddenly lost bladder control. I really thought it was the bladder, actually! I was also having a lot of cramping, which I started to realize were contractions. They started around 7:45 am.

The contractions continued and by noon or so I figured I was probably in labor. I lost my mucous plug, was still leaking mystery fluid, and the contractions were getting stronger. We spent the morning taking care of things around the house, and I started packing the hospital bag. We went out for lunch around 2:00 or so and brought everything with us, just in case.

I called the midwife at 3:30 or so and told her what was going on. She said I didn’t sound uncomfortable enough, and should stay home and take a bath and rest.

Contractions continued, getting stronger, and we made our way over to the hospital around 7:30 pm. At that point I was 3 cm dilated and 100% effaced. Things are a little bit of a blur from then on…

I moved quickly up to 6 cm. I LOVED the birthing tub – it felt fantastic. But I started having a lot of back labor because the baby was posterior, and things really slowed down. I felt like I was laboring forever in a lot of pain and didn’t progress at all. She wanted to me to stay in limited positions because of his position; I wanted to get up and walk, for example, but she said he would come down too quickly into the birth canal and she still wanted him to turn.

Eventually my husband asked her about pain management options. After a couple more super-painful contractions, I was ready for the Stadol shot. In my state, I didn’t realize that she said it wouldn’t really manage the pain; she said it would help me relax between contractions. I thought the pain would be numbed and was surprised that it wasn’t.

I’m glad I did the shot – I was pretty much out between contractions – but I was having really strange hallucinations that weren’t great. At one point I couldn’t take not being able to distinguish between reality and fantasy, so I said to Doug and the midwife: “Can you guys just tell me if there is anything at all going on in this room that has to do with Sesame Street?” I kept having these weird visions of Muppet finger puppets in kaleidoscope patterns and figured it was all in my head but I wanted to make sure. The bizarre thing is that the midwife said no, but it’s weird that you say that, because I’ve been thinking about Sesame Street for the last hour or so! We had been playing various CDs and she said there must have been something on there that triggered that thought for both of us. Anyway, her reply made the whole thing even more surreal!

Fortunately I progressed quickly after getting the shot. The weird thing was that, apparently due to his posterior position, I had no urge to push whatsoever and had no idea what to do. Everything I ever read said “you’ll know” blah blah…not for me. So initially it was really tough. I felt like the nurse and the midwife were yelling at me the whole time because I wasn’t doing it right. I also couldn’t push long enough; within each contraction, I could get about 3 pushes in. They wanted each push to last 10 counts, but for the first half of pushing, I think they lasted about 4! It was so rough.

The other factor was that as he descended into the canal, apparently he kept spinning around like a corkscrew. He didn’t come down a whole lot, but he would turn around like crazy. The good thing was that I could feel the movement and thought I was making progress; I’m glad I didn’t know I wasn’t.

Eventually the nurse and midwife were laughing because of this whole routine. They also thought it was really funny that he was still kicking the whole time, and his heart rate was exactly the same every time they checked it. He was a very happy and stable guy in there.

I felt like I was pushing forever; it was actually 2 ½ hours. For the last 7 contractions or so, he was crowning and was right there. Doug kept telling me he could see the baby’s hair. I just couldn’t get him out!

One of the big realizations for me of labor was how mental it all is. It was so hard for me initially because I felt like the first push was the only one that was going to accomplish anything; I was too tired for the last 2 and couldn’t push as hard or long. Finally, the push that got him out was totally different. I psyched myself up for it because I was thinking I just couldn’t do it anymore, and decided I HAD to get him out. The push that finally did it was actually the 5th one in that contraction! I have to remember that for my next labor so I can sustain the momentum more.

After his head made it out, I just had to do a small additional push for the shoulders and he came tumbling out. It was an incredible moment – a huge relief, and I was so astounded to see this little boy laying there wailing!

My husband was absolutely amazing during labor. He was a little squeamish about some things going in but he loved it and was SUCH a huge support to me. He also cut the cord, which he thought he didn't want to do. It is really neat to see him so in love with the baby, and makes me love him even more!

JRPAGV

12-02-2005, 10:53 AM

e&d: Thanks for posting your birth story! Congratulations again! I can't wait to see some more pictures of Leo. :) So, how long (overall) was your labor? Did you actually have him in the birthing tub? I can't believe that about the hallucinations! :eek: That's crazy. Note to self: Stay away from Stadol!

kamileer

12-02-2005, 11:06 AM

E&D - Thank you for sharing your birth story. I am SO IMPRESSED that you were able to do it without an epidural. You are an inspiration. :)

E&D and JRPAGV - You are making me blush. Thank you. :)

e&d

12-02-2005, 11:15 AM

Oh, I should have put in the times! Duh. I'll go back and add that. :)

In total, I was in labor for 22 1/2 hours, but pushed for 2 1/2. Most of the labor was through the day on Friday with intermittent contractions, and I didn't even know if it was really happening for sure...so 22 1/2 is kind of misleading in a way. :)

And no, I didn't have him in the tub; I just labored in there while I was waiting to become fully dilated. I highly recommend it if you have the option!

OH -- That reminds me JRP -- I was thinking of you (believe it or not) while I was in the hospital. I remember you hated your hospital bc of the lack of amenities etc. We had a choice between 3 hospitals; one was very flashy and cool looking and had lots of luxurious features. We didn't pick it bc they aren't as natural-childbirth-friendly, and we went with the hospital that around here is not very desirable. It's a little older, in a downtown area, and just doesn't have the bells and whistles. The bathroom was kind of grimy, stuff like that. But -- WE LOVED the hospital! The care was just phenomenal and the nurses were incredibly caring. I hope you have the same experience!

Jaycee

12-02-2005, 11:17 AM

Kami..I LOVE your pictures!! You look stunning, by the way!!:)

e&d Thanks for posting your birth story. I'll get around to mine soon! I felt like I was having hallucinations with the stadol too!! The room started to look reddish/orange ( in reality, it was light blue)to me and I felt like there were disco lights all over the place :eek: This actually haunted me for a few days after the birth, and while it's funny to me now, I was quite upset about it at the time. I don't know why it upset me so much but it did.

JRPAGV

12-02-2005, 11:22 AM

QOTD: Gross... but has/did anyone notice an increase in discharge all of a sudden? It's not "normal" discharge. It's more like EWCM... kind of clear and stretchy. I lost some (or all?) of my mucus plug yesterday and the day before, and it didn't look like this. I'm just wondering if this new increase in clearish discharge is a sign that labor is right around the corner. A girl can hope, can't she?! :D

kamileer

12-02-2005, 11:46 AM

JRPAGV - I've noticed that, however, I haven't lost any of my plug yet.

Cookie777

12-02-2005, 11:53 AM

Kamileer ~

Those pictures are great! My husband & I hadn't been interested in doing them because we didn't care for a lot of them we had seen...but yours are very different. I like them. I think he would like them too. :)

E&D ~

Thank you for posting your birth story! The closer I get the more interested I am to read everyone's stories. Ok so Stadol is a NO apparently! I have a feeling I'll be pretty anxious as it is...but hallucinations would probably really freak me out!

jaredsgirl

12-02-2005, 12:34 PM

kamileer I love your pics you do look like a model. I have been horrible about scanning my maternity pics...maybe this weekend! :)

e&d LOVE your birth story. Really helps with my thoughts on things for my upcoming birth. Even with a labor that lasted 22 1/2 hours, reading the story made me excited for everything!!! :)

QOTD I have a ton of discharge. TONS...so I'm guessing it is normal...maybe it lubricates everything to help the baby out???

ktdelsur

12-02-2005, 12:51 PM

e&d: THanks for posting your birth story!!!!!!! Note to self - no Stadol. I am allergic to Phenergan - it made me hallucinate when I took it after my surgery back in 1990. I was 12 at the time and I had been reading those Babysitters Club books - I was talking out loud to the characters as if they were in the room, and then I started cursing randomly (at age 12...growing up in a household where hardly a swear word was heard...). Soooo I don't want phenergan for nausea either. I don't like the out of control feeling. It's been over a decade but I still remember it. Yuck.

Janna: I've had a lot of EWCM-like discharge and I really think its part of the plug. I had more brownish "plug" stuff last night and more this morning. No bloody show though. I wish I was having more contractions but I keep telling myself that maybe I AM taking after my mom. Even though I'm already 95% effaced and 2 cm dilated...she never had any hard contractions until after bloody show and after they had to break her water.

ETA: KAMI< those pics are gorgeous. You look amazing!

jengen

12-02-2005, 03:33 PM

kamileer You look gorgeous! Those pictures are great! :)

e&dThank you for sharing your birth story! :) I will definitely be staying away from stadol as well.

QOTD I have had an increase in discharge and some EWCM lately as well. Haven't lost my mucous plug, but my Mom said she doesn't remember losing hers with any of her 3 pregnancies.

mamax2

12-02-2005, 05:49 PM

QOTD ~ I've only noticed slightly more discharge, but in my BabyCenter update yesterday, I read that increased discharge is really common once you hit full-term. I think I vaguely remember that from last time as well.

e&d ~ Sounds like a great birth experience! Did the hypnobirthing techniques help you at all?

Jaredsgirls ~ Try giving your DH some Zicam too - we have great luck w/that in our house to shorten/alleviate cold symptoms. Hope he feels better soon so you can get back on the birthin' train :D

kami ~ wow... that's all I can say. You are totally a model - you could sell those pictures!

jengen ~ i've been meaning to ask you how Roxy is doing. My dog has taken to 'spite peeing' the floor the past 2 days, so I was wondering if you'rs is still on her destructive rampage as well. hope things are going well.

UGH - so I finished my class today and yesterday was supposed to be my last day of work, but my boss has already called and asked me to come in next week to train ANOTHER replacement. I have been training his wife for the past month and yesterday she threw a hissy fit and stormed out of the office and told him to find someone else (after this was her idea that she take over for me in the first place :rolleyes: ) I am 9 months pg, w/a toddler and Christmas is right around the corner, I am so OVER work, but I don't want to be a witch about it either. I'm just so peeved over this right now.

jengen

12-03-2005, 05:39 AM

mamax2 Sorry to hear about your doggie and hope this is just a temporary thing! Thank you for asking about Roxy - she is still pretty whiny/needy, but I have been home more often as my due date gets closer and we've been giving her more walks, so I think that has helped. We have a very large basement and she now has her own room down there. It's got windows (that she can't reach), her favorite toys and mats and we give her treats and leave the lights and radio on when we are gone. Thank God, this has been working while we leave the house. I felt so guilty about making her a "celler-dweller" but she likes it and *knock on wood* we haven't had any problems. I think there was something/someone outside that she could see or hear upstairs during the day that caused her to do so much destruction to the windows up here...it is all we can think of. Hopefully, there will be no other issues when the baby gets here!

No news with me. I'm off to the hairdresser today...probably my last trip in a long time! :) I also got my dentist appt over with yesterday and my eye appt last week, so I am good to go for at least a few months with all! After this appt, I will really be "ready" to go into labor! It is a good feeling to have everything done. :) Now, Christmas shopping is a whole other story. I've only gotten one gift so far, so maybe we'll try to tackle that this weekend. Hope everyone has a good one!

around the world

12-03-2005, 06:30 AM

Congrats to the new mamas! Gosh, it's so exciting to come back in here and find news that so many of us are finally getting to hold our babies. Here's hoping that many more of the waiting mamas aren't waiting any more on my next pop into the thread!

I return with quite the experience under my belt. Wednesday, we experienced exactly what people mean when they say that a moment will come where you are completely and terrifyingly aware that you are Parents. We spent Wednesday evening through late Thursday afternoon back at the hospital. We had to admit Iris. She was jaundiced, progressing at a rapid pace from out of nowhere, and the doctors wanted to stop it in its tracks before it started to cause her real lasting harm. Those were easily the worst twenty-four hours of our lives.

I haven't yet been able to write about the experience. It's all too raw, I'm certainly not getting enough sleep to feel 'recovered' from the all-nighter in the hospital, and I don't think I would be doing it justice to write about it just now. Suffice it to say, Demetri and I are both fairly traumatized, though Iris seems utterly unaffected. Unless you count the fact that she seems thoroughly pleased NOT to have IVs and blood draws and heartrate monitors on her, to be stuck naked in an isolette with bili-lights hitting her from all directions while we tried valiantly to keep an eye mask over her face to protect her eyes from the lights, to be force-fed formula so that her little liver and kidneys would work overtime to process out the bili-ruben. Or the fact that she is looking, and acting, a lot healthier now then she was that night in the hospital. Otherwise, she lacks a care in the matter, it seems. I am so very thankful of this.

We have had it explained to us time and time again that this had nothing to do with her general healthiness, that we did nothing wrong, and that there was nothing we could have done to prevent it -- we just need to be happy that my instincts told me to have her checked by her ped on Wednesday when the whites of her eyes looked just the slightest bit yellow, and that there is such good information and technology available which helped her pull through. Still, as a first-time mom, you can't help but feel like a failure when you have to watch your baby (not even a week old!) go through that. Of course, I am so thankful that the doc took such aggressive action to stop the jaundice from progressing. And I am just as thankful that I was able to pump -- my milk had *just* come in that day -- and keep my supply up, and now we are back to breastfeeding like we never missed a beat. It turns out that, although I certainly had no control in the matter, the fact that my milk took so long to come in (4 days being on the late end of normal) played a part in the rapid progressing once the jaundice set in, but that the main reason Iris suffered it in the first place was our differing blood types. And I'm terribly thankful that she was so big and healthy at birth (even if my many tears might tell me otherwise!) so that she could weather this hiccup without much ill affect. It scares me to no end to think about her going through all that being even smaller and more vulnerable than she already was...

Anyway, we are all fine and relatively back to normal. Iris has to sleep on what they call a bili-blanket until Monday. It's basically like a heating pad, but with fiber-optic lights in it that continue to help her process out the bili-ruben, so not a big deal. But I wanted to pass on to y'all to keep an eye on your babies, and trust your instincts. I wouldn't want anyone to have to go through what we went through this week.

On a happier note, a quick pic of my gorgeous girl, enjoying her first sponge bath...

http://girlclassical.smugmug.com/photos/46818919-M.jpg

Jaycee

12-03-2005, 06:44 AM

Aroundtheworld Oh girl..I am sorry you had to go through such a scary and traumatic experience, but I am thrilled to hear that Iris is home and safe now and luckily she will not remember this whole ordeal!
Liliana also had Jaundice, but in her case it went away on it's own. I can't even imagine how I would have felt in your situation :(

That picture of her is so adorable!!!!!! :)

Speaking of baths...Lilianas cord fell off the other day and we were able to give her her first real bath. I ended up taking her in the bathtub with me and it was such an AWESOME experience. I filled up the tub with warm water, and got in. DH handed her to me, and as soon as her little body touched the water, every inch of her body and face completely relaxed, and she just layed back in the water, put her haed back, raised her arms over her head and floated. I swirled her around and she just layed back and loved every second of it.
I highly recommend trying it once their cords fall off!!

jaredsgirl

12-03-2005, 08:11 AM

around the world Wow...so scary. But I'm so happy to hear that you trusted your instincts and the drs were receptive and helpful. I'm so sorry you had to go through that...so incredibly scary!!!!

ktdelsur

12-03-2005, 09:46 AM

around the world: I'm so sorry you guys had to go through that with Iris. I can't even imagine how scary it was - I'm glad though, that she is taking it like a trooper and I'm sure she will be a-okay very soon! She's adorable!

Jaycee: So you have a water baby! That's great! I know I've heard all sorts of stories of babies screaming through first baths, but thats awesome that she loved it!!!!!!

STILL CONTEMPLATING THE INDUCTION AND AM VERY TORN:

I wasn't going to post about this again because I know a lot of you are very against inductions, but I really just can't make up my mind. I spoke with my childbirth teacher who assured me that even though there was only a slight chance of being bedridden for labor with this induction, she said that chances were EXCELLENT for me to have a good experience since I am already so effaced (maybe fully by now) and 2 cm dilated already.

I also spoke with my doc again and told him to go ahead and pencil us in for the Monday A.M. induction, but with the stipulation that we can back out at any time before then if we change our minds. He's completely cool with that, but spent a LONG time talking to me and reassuring me that he would not suggest this if he didn't feel 100% of my chances of a great outcome. To refresh, really the only reason he wanted to schedule me Monday - the day before my due date - was because he would be the one on call and could give me special attention. Also, that with my previous back surgery, we really don't want the baby to get too big otherwise it could make any kind of labor, natural or induced, go much more painfully for me.) I would NOT have to have any cervadil/cytotec/cervix ripening drugs. Pitocin only, and he said "this is not your grandma's induction" and reassured me he would start with the absolute lowest dose possible and go slowly because he doesn't think it would take long to give my body the kickstart into labor. He said I'm on the edge of starting on my own, but no one can predict what it will take to put me over the edge into labor, etc etc.

The size of the baby and my back issues do weight heavily on me (no pun intended...har har) - but deep down I have this fear that if something goes wrong (meaning, harm coming to the baby, especially) I will always blame myself for not letting him come COMPLETELY on his own. He could still show up tonight or tomorrow, we don't know...but...that is my big fear. DH says to seriously consider my own health w/ the back issues, etc, and not to NOT do the induction just because I'm scared.

I don't know. We still have a day to decide.....it'd be nice to be holding my baby Monday!

jaredsgirl

12-03-2005, 10:11 AM

ktdelsur I am not against inductions since I might be getting one next week. But why don't you wait until you are a couple days overdue since the statistics to have an overdue baby on your first one are very high. (I can't remember if there was a reason for not doing this) Then the baby might have time to come on its own. Friends of mine have just told me too many horror stories about inductions (and these are from people who had progressed further along) that make me fear my own, since that is looking highly likely at the moment. Just my own two cents...but once again, someone who hasn't gone through it yet to give my own personal spin...just info from others who have had it done.

ktdelsur

12-03-2005, 10:39 AM

Megan: Thanks for the post. I've heard equal amounts of good and bad induction stories - most of the bad ones though are from women who were not effaced or dilated hardly at all.

What is really attractive to me about the induction is that I am assured of having my doctor there. I haven't met any other docs in the practice and I think it would make me nervous to have someone I didn't know. My doc has been through it all with me (including seeing all my old back surgery x-rays, doing a lot of research on my behalf regarding how my back surgery would affect labor and delivery, knowing exactly what I want and don't want during labor/delivery, etc...) and I am worried that I will get irritated and annoyed w/ having to explain ALL of that to a completely new person. If something were to go wrong, it'd be my doc there and I would be more at ease.

I don't know.

jaredsgirl

12-03-2005, 11:34 AM

Ok, that would totally make sense to want your dr. Just like I don't know if I want to go into labor this weekend because my dr. won't be the one since he is not on call and I don't like anyone in the practice as much as I like him.

Hmmm...for every bad story I have heard a good...and my stories vary from totally progressed, to not at all.

I'm nervous about mine, being completely closed up...but they want to use Cervidil to get me moving and then Pitocin if the contractions don't start. So I'm nervous it will turn into a c/s...but they are worried because of my b/p and I know it isn't so good...*sigh* all of this stuff is just a pain...the two of us need to think good labor vibes and that our babies decide to come on their own...since my induction would be Tuesday.

fwgirl

12-03-2005, 11:49 AM

Hi ladies! Thank you for all the congratulations! :)

Congratulations doubleR!!

ktdelsur I already responded in your lj, but I think it sounds like you and DH have a good plan. You've looked at all the angles and in the end need to do what is right for you. The idea of having your doctor is very nice! I ended up having someone else deliver me (but I ended up loving her!) instead of my own dr. since she had to leave since she wasn't on call that night and I delivered at 3am. Anyway, I think inductions are different for everyone and since you are already progressing so much I would bet you won't be one of the horror stories that some women have to share. I know I'm rambling and I'm no help so I'll stop now.

jaycee I added you! The bath sounds wonderful! We need to try that next time. Loren was not a fan of her tub...but we got some really cute 'mad baby' pictures. We're mean parents!

AMC we had Loren wear a white 'Little Me' preemie outfit from Nordstrom home from the hospital. My mom gave it to us at my shower and it was the only thing small enough for her to fit into.

kamileer I have to echo what everyone else has said, your pictures are awesome! Seriously. They are beautiful.

e&d thanks for sharing your birth story! It's amazing how similar our stories are. I'll need to get around to writing mine. I felt the same way about my water breaking. I was sure I had just lost control of my bladder. And I was talking about weird things after my shot too! Apparently I thought we were at the zoo. Huh? And I was the same with pushing. DH said they saw the head, but I was still pushing FOREVER! Not what I expected, but so worth it. Anyway, I just thought the similarities between our deliveries were so funny. :)

aroundtheworld I can kind of relate to your experience. Loren's foot looks like a pin cushion. The doctors discovered she was jaundice before we left the hospital and wanted to monitor it. We had to go back the next day (Thanksgiving) and get her blood drawn (again!) and then they ended up putting her on a bilibed. We were lucky that a nurse set it up at our house and came over everyday to monitor it and draw more blood. But she was on the lights for three days. It was awful and I still don't really want to think about it. Also, my milk hadn't come in so we too had to use formula. Now we're doing both while I build my supply with pumping and bf. It's been the hardest, most emotional part of motherhood so far. I felt like I should have been able to hold her and bond with her and help her instead of watching her lay on glowing lights... (Even though in my mind I know that was helping her and the best thing for her.) It was so hard. So I kind of know what you went through. I'm happy to hear your little one is healthy and home now. What a sweet picture!

So ladies, if you think your babies might look a little yellow or are concerned I agree with aroundtheworld get it checked!

Yikes! I typed a lot! Gotta go now since I've got a baby to feed. Happy Saturday everyone! I bet we have a few more babies by Monday!!

freckle

12-03-2005, 12:00 PM

ktdelsur - I was induced with my DD after my water broke at 36 wks. It went very well. My water broke about 11:00 at night. They watched me through the night to see if I would progress on my own. When I didnt, they gave me pitocin around 8:00ish. I asked for an epidural around 10:30 am and had my DD at 7:58 pm. I think you are leaning against an epidural, right? I can say that the contractions with the pitocin can be very strong, but it really does vary from person to person. I have two friends who hardly felt anything with the pitocin until it was turned way up.

torch76

12-03-2005, 12:24 PM

Just wanted to stop by and say congrats to the new mommies!

aroundtheworld and fwgirl Sorry about the jaundice issues. That would be hard to deal with after just giving birth. I'm glad you are both trusting your mother instincts and things are going better. Both your girls are just beautiful!

kamileer You pictures are so beautiful. You are going to have one good looking kid!

ktdelsur Trust your gut feeling and trust your doctor. He knows how concerned you are and wouldn't have suggested induction if he wasn't confident in its success. Yes, it could be hard or not go perfectly but that could happen if you wait too. It sounds to me like you are leaning towards doing the induction. You have to make a decision that you and your husband are comfortable with even if some people might not necessarily agree.

jaredsgirl I hope that either your baby hurries up and comes on its own or that you can make a decision about induction that you are comfortable with too.

I had my last shower yesterday at work. Everyone was so nice. My mom and my husband came too. It was a lot of fun. Boy do people like buying baby clothes and baby blankets! We got some really cute stuff. We got the bouncer which I am grateful for and a giftcard. I just went to BRU and returned some things and bought the diaper champ, crib mattress and a couple other little things. I wanted to get on of those cool activity mats but they were upwards of $50! We also still don't have the pack n' play. I'm not planning on having the baby sleep in it but it would be nice to have. I think I can pull together a couple more returns and maybe a few more gift cards will come in. I think I have everything else. I have 120 swaddler diapers to start with. other than that I have spent the morning doing laundry and organizing. I will finally be full term tomorrow!

e&d

12-03-2005, 02:08 PM

aroundtheworld, I am so sorry you had such a scare with Iris. Leo has also been struggling with jaundice but we knew basically from the start, so it didn't sneak up on us...doesn't make it fun though. I don't even want to type my horrific experience the day after we were home from the hospital, involving rushing him to the pediatrician after his levels spiked again...ugh. I totally feel for you and fwgirl as well.

The good news with jaundice is that as long as it's treated they're fine. That's what I keep telling myself. Oh, and I also had the -/+ blood type problem with Leo, which they told us right away would mean he most likely would be jaundiced -- also he was not interested in feeding at all at the beginning. Poor little guy. :(

Also, just wanted to clarify about the Stadol -- I didn't mean to make it sound really awful! I am GLAD I had it, despite the hallucinations. It got me through the last part of dilation much more easily, and the midwife said it really helped me save my energy for pushing. And believe me, I needed it, after pushing for 2 1/2 hours!

Here are some pictures. JRPAGV, you are welcome to post whichever one you like at the start of the thread! :)

First bath!
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc23b3127cce95f6d1db0eb000000036108AbM27hi3ZND

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc23b3127cce95f6d1d90eb200000035108AbM27hi3ZND

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc23b3127cce95f6d1cd0ea600000036108AbM27hi3ZND

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc23b3127cce95f6d1cb0ea000000036108AbM27hi3ZND

ktdelsur

12-03-2005, 02:20 PM

e&d: Leo is so cute!!!!!!

Been talking to some more folks and I think we're probably going to go w/ the induction. Unless I get some lightning bolt of a sign NOT to do it...who knows.

Honestly, I think my biggest fear is...knowing we really ARE going to be parents, knowing we really WILL be bringing home this little being that is totally dependent on us...and as excited as we are, that is still really scary. :D ;)

Jaycee

12-03-2005, 02:53 PM

ktdelsur I am excited for you! Good luck! It's Monday right? Oh and yeah..It's definitly looking like we have a water baby!! We gave her another bath today and she loved it just as much as the first one!! :)
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc22b3127cce95fbebe3366e00000016108BbNmzNq1aA

I had to crop it to get all the private parts out :p

Jaycee

12-03-2005, 06:26 PM

e&d Leo is scrumptious :)

jaredsgirl

12-03-2005, 07:42 PM

Just went on a walk with DH for 30 min...hoping it got things moving again!!! But the contractions need to stay around this time. I'm guess I will be the first person to make it to their due date, since it is only about 2 hours away for me.

e&d Leo is so adorable!!!! :)

Jaycee Love that water baby of yours. So cute how she sprawls out in there!

happygolucky

12-04-2005, 05:25 AM

Hey all - Sorry I haven't been able to be around much, but I'm still here!

All of the new babies are adorable! It sounds like having a breast pump in hand when the baby is born is really important for successful nursing. I don't have a pump, so that makes me a little bit nervous. Maybe I'll try to get my hands on one between today and the delivery.

It's strange to know that this is my last Sunday morning breakfast as a non-mommy. Wednesday is D-day for me, and truth be told I'm not feeling entirely ready for it. I sort of wish I would go into labor, even though I have to have the C-section, so that I would know the baby is ready to be born. Stupid, I know.

After weeks and weeks and weeks of tons of discharge and BH contractions and everything else, I've had next to nothing for the past three days. I haven't lost my plug, I'm not discharging anything and I'm only having sporadic BH contractions. It's sort of disappointing. I was starting to feel like I was going to go into labor before my due date, but I just don't think that's a possibility. I guess I'll have to cross my fingers and hope that this baby is ready to come, regardless of what my body does. :-(

Then again, today wouldn't be a good day for me to go into labor anyway. It's snowing here, and I would probably get myself wracked up in a car accident while trying to get to the hospital.....

ktdelsur - good luck tomorrow! I'll be thinking of you!

Also, thanks to everyone for the jaundice warnings. It's good to know what to keep an eye out for.

Hope you're all having good weekends!

jengen

12-04-2005, 05:46 AM

aroundtheworldYour little one is adorable!! :) How scary for what you went through with the jaundice...I don't know if I would have had the good sense to rush right to the dr...now I will be sure to be extra cautious!

e&d Leo is too cute!

jaycee What an adorable pic of Lily! I hope my baby likes the water, too! :)

ktdelsur Good luck tomorrow!! We will be thinking of you! Sending easy labor vibes! :)

jaredsgirl Hoping you go into labor on your own! I'm sure everything will be just fine.

happygolucky I echo a lot of your post...it's so frustrating to feel like things are happening and then...NOTHING.

Well, after a ton of B&H last week and then a small break where I didn't have many, I've been getting a ton the last couple of days...they are more intense, also. But, haven't lost the mp. Also, this little guy has been more active than ever! We were watching my whole belly move around last night...I'm hoping this means he is ready to come out! :) On one hand, I am so eager for this to be over and on the other, I am nervous about actually having him here, so I'm trying to relax and enjoy the time DH and I have alone together as a couple. Even though I was miserable last night, we went to dinner and it was nice. He is hoping I don't go til at least this Friday, so that he can have the whole week of Christmas off. :rolleyes: I just can't imagine working this whole week...I'm so ready to be done!

jaredsgirl

12-04-2005, 06:18 AM

I'm the first one to make it to their due date!

Well no labor...but after our walk...I have had so much pressure. I don't know what that means. I did also have contractions...but nothing regular and they really haven't been around much this morning. We are going to a new members mass at the church we are becoming members of...so that the baby can be baptised. Maybe then I can finally go into labor? :)

malala

12-04-2005, 08:51 AM

kami: Those pictures are gorgeous!!! I agree with those who said, you should get paid and be a pregnant model!!

e&d: Thank you for sharing your birth story, and I'm glad you had a positive experience. I can tell from your posts you're a very happy person these days, and Leo is beautiful little boy.

mamax2: I'm sorry you have to go back to work next week. That sucks! I hope the week goes by fast, so that you can be done. I can barely do anything at this point, so I can only imagine what it must be like with a toddler.

jengen: I'm glad things are going better with Roxy. Sorry about the contractions but lack of real progress.

aroundtheworld: THat was a scary experience:eek: I"m sorry you guys had to go through it. But I'm very happy she's doing much better now. BTW, she's beautiful:p

Jaycee: I LOVE that pic of Liliana in the bath tub, she looks so relaxed!! I'll have to try that with my little one once she's here. I hope she enjoys it to.

ktdelsur: I'm sorry I'm late for your induction question. But I just wanted to say that you should follow your instincts and do whatever feels right to you and your DH.
I see you're going for it, so I wanted to wish you best of luck tomorrow and send you easy labor vibes. Enjoy your last day alone with your DH!! Can you believe you'll be holding your little one tomorrow? :p

AMC: I have 2 possible outfits to bring DD home. I got the second one because I realized that the one I got might be to big for her (0-3 mos). I'll bring both with me to the hospital, and I'll decide which one she'll wear, based on her size.
Here they are:

0-3 mos

http://images.snapfish.com/3456944323232%7Ffp335%3Enu%3D3266%3E382%3E639%3EWS NRCG%3D323336%3A7%3B4%3B87nu0mrj

Up to 7lbs.

http://www.gap.com/Asset_Archive/GPWeb/Assets/Product/316/316750/big/gp316750-00vliv01.jpg

http://www.gap.com/Asset_Archive/GPWeb/Assets/Product/317/317436/main/gp317436-00p01v01.jpg

malala

12-04-2005, 09:13 AM

contd

fwgirl: I'm sorry Loren had jaundice, but I'm very happy she's healthy now!!:p I can only imagine how scary it must be to have your little baby being sick.

torch76: Your shower sounds like fun. Yeah!! on the cute outfits, and for being able to exchange some of them for stuff you really need.

happygolucky: I don't think it's stupid of you to wish you'd go into labor on your own before your c-section. I'd probably feel the same way if I was in your situation. But, try not to worry, everything is gonna be all right, and you'll get a beautiful and healthy baby on Wednesday:p

jaredsgirl: I don't know if I should congratulate you or commiserate, for you hitting you hitting your due date. It seems like things should be happening soon for you, and before you know it, you'll be holding in your arms your little surprise:)

I'm hanging in there, I feel big as a house, have a hard time breathing, and I'm having insomnia on and off. I walk at 2 miles per hour, my ankles have been swelling up (they had only done it once or twice before), and sometimes have a lot of pressure in my lower abdomen when I walk.
I'm ready, just waiting for DH to get back home.
THere's still things I need to do/get, but I'm spacing them throughout the week. I'm afraid that too much running errands is gonna speed things up. DH wants me to stay home and relax as much as I can.

Here's a couple of pics I took today, playing with my camera:

http://images.snapfish.com/3456947923232%7Ffp335%3Enu%3D3266%3E382%3E639%3EWS NRCG%3D323336%3A7%3C%3A349nu0mrj

http://images.snapfish.com/3456947923232%7Ffp335%3Enu%3D3266%3E382%3E639%3EWS NRCG%3D323336%3A7%3C9566nu0mrj

Hmm..looks like I need to go dust my footboard:o

e&d

12-04-2005, 09:47 AM

I have caught up on the thread...thank you so much to Sebski and tgal for stopping by! :D

And thanks for all the praise of my cute baby...of course we are very biased but I love to hear it from others.

Jaycee, what an awesome tub pic. I'm going to try this w/Leo. Yesterday I gave him his first real bath bc his cord had fallen off, and it was really hard! At one point he was slumping down in the tub and I was trying to wash him, and I heard him breathing in water! :eek: Poor guy. I felt like a very bad mom, but he was fine.

For those of you who have delivered, question. I am still sore a week later and I guess I thought I wouldn't be at this point! Anybody else? When did your soreness go away?

Jaredsgirl, I hope you go soon! You've had so many false starts at this point. You WILL have this baby at some point!

ktdelsur, sounds like you're feeling good about your decision -- fantastic! Can't wait to hear how everything goes and see your new baby.

malala, you look great! Good luck holding out till your husband returns. Very smart to bring two outfits -- they are both adorable!

jengen, sounds like great progress. You sound happy & ready!

Wednesday is D-day for me, and truth be told I'm not feeling entirely ready for it.

happygolucky, I don't know that anyone ever feels TRULY ready. I definitely wasn't, esp. considering he was 3 weeks early...but when it happens I think you'll be fine. Also, re: the breast pump: I had planned to just get one of the big double, electric pumps, but a friend told me that they are hard to use in the beginning and I might not ever need it. I'm glad I listened to her; I got an Avent Isis hand pump for the early engorgement, etc. and it's been great. I've only used it once but it's good to know it's here if I need it. My husband is eager for me to pump more so he can feed too.

Have a great Sunday, everyone! My best friend is here to stay w/us for the next few days. We are going out to get our Christmas tree today -- I'm excited! :D

ktdelsur

12-04-2005, 11:15 AM

Thanks to all for the good labor vibes.

It's official - I'm going in at 5:45 (EST) a.m. tomorrow to have this baby! It feels very surreal...I just went around doing some light cleaning and neatening up, and I sat in the glider in the nursery for a little bit...trying to imagine how it's going to be with a little person in there. We are as prepared as we can be, but I still feel so unprepared! :confused:

Question to the new mommies: How did you handle visitors when you first returned home? So far, its only going to be our parents at our house (both sets are staying in a hotel but my mom and dad (mom, at least) may be staying at the house for a few days depending on how competent we feel after the first night or two. I have co-workers who already said they want to come up and see us in the room after we have the baby (I work for the hospital I am delivering at, so my co-workers don't have to go far to see me)...I have no clue how I'm going to feel but I also don't want to be rude. I've heard its best to have DH be the go-between and have no problems saying, "Come back later, she's trying to feed him," or, "She's sleeping..." whichever. Some folks have already said, "Call us when you have him and we'll come right over to the house later when you get home..." I have a feeling I'm just going to want to be with my family for the first few days. I saw how much it took out of some of my mommy friends when they had a steady stream of visitors from the second they got home. I don't know - I might be a huge ball of energy. (not for long though, i bet)

breast pump: I currently don't have one but will be renting the one from the hospital for the first 2 months or so. It will be a Medela electric pump (they provide you with the brand new parts, etc). I have to go back to work and hopefully will have the ability to pump, etc, for at least 6 months (that's what I'm shooting for), so the electric is the best thing for me to have right out of the gate. But, I have heard from friends that the Avent Isis Hand Pump or Isis on the Go are great pumps.

around the world

12-04-2005, 12:26 PM

Thanks to all for the kind words about Iris, both her jaundice scare and her picture. I agree with e&d, we are over the moon about her but sure do love to hear others gush as well. ;) We are hopefully on our last day on the bili-blanket. I can't wait to ditch that thing. Iris really likes to be swaddled, but the bili-blanket has to be right up against her bare skin, so we have to swaddle around it. Which means that we have to lay her down after she nurses or we rock her and she falls asleep, which invariably prompts her startle reflex, which wakes her up... Vicious circle. Anyway, we are trudging through this (hopefully) last day!

I am so anxious for her cord to fall off after seeing the pics of Leo and Liliana at bathtime! I just know Iris is going to love the water -- she is all over her sponge baths. Tho she doesn't seem to like having her hair washed. She got all angsty when we tried to sponge down her head. Just like her mama, doesn't want her hair getting messed up. Heh.

ktdelsur, I'm not really much help on the visitor thing since we didn't have any. Our families are all pretty far away (my mom is coming to stay with us starting next week, but otherwise they are all waiting until Christmas to make the trip), and our friends all live near us so they waited until we were home to come see Iris. But I think that having your husband be the go-between is the way to go. You'll need an advocate, you'll be feeling all kinds of emotions and won't constantly be ready to be "on". Plus, you'll be busy! I was surprised at how little time I had while in the hospital to do anything other than nurse Iris, eat my food, tend to myself physically, and fill out paperwork. You may have to turn folks away, just for lack of time. I also wanted to say that if my water hadn't broken, I would have ended up in the same situation you are in re: induction (well, with the exception that I would have been getting the epidural). I really didn't want to go that route, but at the same time, my doctors felt it was the right thing for me to do given my particular circumstances. I think that if I were in your shoes, with your particular back issues, I would really want to have my doctor be the one to deliver. And from what I have heard, inductions once one is already progressing are indeed different from those when the woman is still closed up tight. I'll be thinking about you tomorrow! Whee!

breast pumps -- I can now speak from experience on these. I had to pump the day my milk came in, since that was the day that Iris was admitted and put onto a forced formula diet for 15 hours. I have heard that it takes time to get accustomed to pumps, and my experience with my own Avent Isis hand pump certainly proved this right. I was able to pump, yes, but it took FOREVER to get out what the nurses were telling me to try to get out (2oz per pumping session, every 2-3 hours). I then switched to one of the hospital's Medela electric pumps, and it was *way* faster and *way* easier. So I would definitely recommend the electric over the hand, for anyone who is serious about pumping. That being said, I really have no need for one right now. Yeah, engorgement isn't comfy. But I want my body to regulate to the baby's needs, so going through occasional engorgement (my milk didn't come in dramatically, but I have had some bad engorgement when Iris sleeps past her normal every-3-hour feeding) is worth the pain, for me. At the most, if I needed the relief, a hand pump or even expressing by hand would be enough, I think. But everyone is different, and everyone's milk comes in differently. Sucks that we can't know how it's all going to play our ahead of time!

e&d, I am somewhat sore. I am actually surprised at how little my stitches/perineum ache considering the tears I had (yet-to-deliver moms, don't read this: a 2nd, a 3rd, and a 4th which involved repairing the sphincter muscle). But I do have a constant full-body achiness, and if I miss a dosage of Motrin, I definitely notice. I'm actually most surprised by how sore my arms and legs were for quite a few days after delivery. I guess the hours and hours of holding my legs up to push really got to me. ;)

BTW, I know what you mean about not wanting to type out the horrific experience. I try not to think about it, as much as I can, because it was that jarring. I'm sure yours was the same. Thank goodness our babes are doing so much better now!

malala, what cute outfits. And what great belly shots! Makes me miss mine just a bit. Though, not the pain and general discomfort that went with it!

fwgirl, oof, you know my pain. It is unbearable to see your baby, your tiny little newborn baby, with all of that intervention going on, isn't it? Man. And I can totally relate to what you were saying about not being able to bond. For the longest time, I couldn't even look at Iris lying there in the isolette with all of those cords and tubes running from her. It was too much for me. DH was a godsend, because he really stepped up and handled the situation. I just crumbled. Having so many hormones still surging through me didn't help, but man, I challenge any new mom to be able to rationally handle seeing their baby like that. I'm so glad Loren is OK too. You must be so relieved to have the whole thing over with!

Oops! That was WAY longer than I intended it to be! Gotta go get some things done before Iris wakes up!

happygolucky

12-04-2005, 01:21 PM

ktdelsur - Easy, smooth, quick labor vibes to you, and I can't wait to see pictures of you holding your beautiful baby!!!

jaredsgirl

12-04-2005, 01:40 PM

ktdelsur Good luck tomorrow morning. According to my dr I will be a day or two after you, so we are only 2 days apart on due dates and probably our little ones will be too! :)

Mrsbuw

12-04-2005, 02:10 PM

Hi everyone,

I have been trying to keep up without much success. Congrats to all the new
babies, they are all so adorable!!!!!
Good luck to those still playing the waiting game. Good labour vibes to you all. Get your sleep now cause you can kiss it goodbye when the little one arrives (at least in my case :rolleyes:

Quick question for those with boys, has anyone else had their little guy pee up his back. I can't figure it out, his little willy is pointed down yet he gets this wet spot on his back. I don't think it is sweat, I am very confussed.

take care everyone

krbb

12-04-2005, 03:19 PM

I'm still around and still pregnant, I feel like I will be forever. I just don't like not knowing when it will happen. Every little thing I am like is this it? My friend who is due a couple of days after me is all depressed because she still hasn't shown any progress. Her next appt she is going to be monitored to make sure the baby is ok, if it is the earliest her Dr said she would be induced is the week of the 19th. I think my Dr will ask me about induction at my appointment tomorrow. I think I will just wait as much as I am ready to have him. I am already 3cm and 75% effaced it can't be too much longer, can it? Hopefully this week will bring another rush of babies like last weekend!

fwgirl- Congrats and welcome Loren!!!

amc- We are bringing two outfits to the hospital. One my MIL got and didn't pay close attention to the size and it is newborn so if he will fit in that he will wear that if not we have another outfit. No pictures, but both are pants/onesies/jacket combo.

doubleR-Congrats!! Love the name!!

jrbnj- I know exactly how you feel!! I just have to keep thinking my time will come! I have tried the tea, pineapple, sex, and walking. Still nothing!

kamileer- the pictures are gorgeous!! You definitely could have been a prego model!:)

e&d- thanks you so much for sharing your story. The stadol sounds interesting, but so glad you were able to go without an epi like you wanted. Leo is so cute!!

jrpagv- definitely had an increase in discharge. Sometimes there seems to be so much that I think my water broke.

aroundtheworld- how scary!! Glad to hear that Iris is doing better!

jaycee - what a precious picture!!

ktdelsur- Good luck tomorrow!! I'm sure everything will go fine. I can't wait to hear about it!

ktdelsur

12-04-2005, 03:54 PM

Hey ya'll.

Thought I'd check back in...I just had the teensy-weensiest bit of bloody show on the TP about an hour ago. Nothing since...but I guess that means if my water breaks we might be going in before 5:45! It makes me feel good though because that means this boy is READY! :D

kinaida

12-04-2005, 04:33 PM

Quick question for those with boys, has anyone else had their little guy pee up his back. I can't figure it out, his little willy is pointed down yet he gets this wet spot on his back. I don't think it is sweat, I am very confussed.
Ben does the same thing -- totally confused me when it first happened. I'm wondering if it's because the diaper is full and it comes out the back? I have no idea....

I haven't been able to keep up in here either! I love all of the pictures of the babies -- we have some good looking babies in this thread, if I do say so myself :)

katie -- I'll be praying for you tomorrow! Hope you go into labor naturally before 5:45 am tomorrow!

family/visitors after baby is born -- it was probably one of the best decisions we made to have it be just me & DH for the first week home. I loved the bonding time that we were able to have, just the three of us. My parents are in town now, and while they've been a huge help, it's not the same feeling of closeness of just the three of us, kwim? I've felt very good this past week though, so I've been happy to have people visiting, for the most part. I think it just depends on how you're recovering physically & mentally.

I can't believe how much I love my baby. He is SUCH a good baby (not that I'd love him less if he was more difficult). One night he slept for 3 hours straight, woke up and nursed for 45 minutes straight, and then went back to sleep for another 3 1/2 hours! I can't believe how blessed we are. He hates having his diaper changed or changing clothes or being bathed (jaycee -- I love that picture of Liliana and am jealous that she likes the bath)! His cord just fell off today and so I'm hoping he'll like the tub baths better than the sponge baths.

around the world -- how scary about the jaundice! I am so glad that everything is okay.

freckle

12-04-2005, 06:51 PM

Well, Im totally bummed. I was hoping for a baby on my birthday. Oh well. I just cant wait to get him out now!

freckle

12-05-2005, 03:51 AM

Did anyone get bloody show? Im starting with some this morning and I have had light contractions through the night. How much time do I have?

jaredsgirl

12-05-2005, 04:52 AM

freckle I think that the bloody show can mean you are going soon, but not necessarily right away. I think it is totally dependant on the person. In my family, all the woman have the bloody show the moment before hard labor starts. So if I saw it I would be getting ready for the hospital, since my pregnancy is just like my mom and aunts.

jengen

12-05-2005, 05:08 AM

ktdelsur You are well on your way to the hospital, but good luck again! :)

freckle happy belated birthday! Hope this is it for you! :)

kinaida glad to hear Ben is such a good baby!

jaredsgirl hoping your time comes soon! I am impatient as heck and am still a week a way from my due date! :D

So, today would have been my due date based on my last menstrual period; the 9th based on charting. They've had it as the 12th since my u/s at 5 weeks. I am obssessed with thinking about when it will actually happen! :D I've been crampy the last few weeks, but they have been more intense and almost non-stop since Sat. morning. I just can't imagine going past my due date. This may be TMI, but I've also been getting a really bad diahhrea-like cramp, run to the bathroom feeling like I have to go, and nothing. I'm just hoping this all means something. I have my 39-week appt today, but I don't think they are going to do an internal as they do them every other week, so I don't expect to learn more. I hate the waiting game!

jaredsgirl

12-05-2005, 05:46 AM

There are alot of girls that haven't been in here for a while. Makes me wonder if there have been any new babies. The last one was 11/27, right? I know this week there will be some, like mine and ktdelsur.

ktdelsur I know you won't read this...but hoping for a good labor for you!!!!

jengen I know what you mean about the waiting game. Very long and hard...especially when you see your due date come and go. Based on charting, my due date actually would have been the 3rd...and then I have been 1/2 a week ahead when they measure now...so I'm totally at the point that I'm really overdue. It actually can get very depressing.

e&d

12-05-2005, 05:58 AM

freckle and jengen, sounds promising! Hoping you'll go soon. :)

Best of luck today, ktdelsur -- very good to know your timing was perfect and the baby is baked. I'm sure you're at the hospital right now!

Quick question for those with boys, has anyone else had their little guy pee up his back. I can't figure it out, his little willy is pointed down yet he gets this wet spot on his back. I don't think it is sweat, I am very confussed.
MrsBuw and Kinaida, we have had this happen a few times too! My theory is that the diaper wasn't on snugly enough, so it shot right through and kept traveling up the back. :confused: I'm really not sure! It doesn't happen consistently. Another theory: maybe the diaper was already really wet, and then he peed again, and it couldn't absorb it. ?

krbb and jaredsgirl, hoping you guys go soon!

aroundtheworld, I'm so glad you'll be able to ditch the biliblanket soon. I'm trying to imagine swaddling around it...what a luxury it'll be when you don't have to deal w/that anymore.

re: soreness: I was very lucky and didn't tear or have an episiotomy, but I've still been surprised at how sore the whole vag/labia area is. It feels a little better today. Yesterday I used some of those awesome cold pads from the hospital -- those things are incredible!

We got our Christmas tree yesterday and will do the ornaments today. So much fun with a new baby here for the first time! :D

Have a great day everyone.

sophiapb

12-05-2005, 09:11 AM

Coming in to check on Elizabeth but it looks like "Congrats" are in order to her and Doug! Leo is beautiful. I'm thrilled for you!
Edited to say that Alexa and Leo are exactly 6 months apart! Alexa was born May 26. They can celebrate birthdays and half-birthdays together!

Jaycee

12-05-2005, 09:48 AM

It's slow in here today..I wonder how many mommas are having babies today??? :)

jaredsgirl

12-05-2005, 10:11 AM

I wish I was one of those...but I think this baby may be just as stubborn as I am. Ugh, hope the doctor does just put me in the hospital tomorrow night after my appointment to start inducing!!!

Jaycee

12-05-2005, 10:14 AM

:confused: I wish I was one of those...but I think this baby may be just as stubborn as I am. Ugh, hope the doctor does just put me in the hospital tomorrow night after my appointment to start inducing!!!
Good luck!! Sending labor and/or induction vibes your way!! :p

jengen

12-05-2005, 10:21 AM

Back from my dr's appt. I had them do an internal, just b/c I am so eager to hear what's going on. :) No progress...I am still 2 cm/60% effaced, but the midwife who examined me this time (my favorite at the practice) said my cervix feels great - "soft and stretchy" and it is great to already be this progressed for a first-time labor. The baby's head is at -1 station, so he's ready to go! I would love to go tonight, because she is on call, but I don't think he's gonna budge yet. Of course, now I am bleeding again and even heavier than last week. What is up with me?

jrbnj

12-05-2005, 10:47 AM

Connor Benjamin arrived on December 3rd at 11:27 AM. He weighed 8 pounds,1 ounce and is 21.5 inches long.

I will post my birth story another time. DH and I are going to work on it together. Everyone is doing well and Connor has been breastfeeding like crazy. I can't wait for my milk to come in, which the nurses say should be very soon since he has been feeding so much so far.

Hope everyone is doing well!

JRPAGV

12-05-2005, 10:52 AM

CONGRATULATIONS, jrbnj and welcome Connor!!!!!

I love his name, by the way! Can't wait to hear your birth story!

JRPAGV

12-05-2005, 10:56 AM

It's slow in here today..I wonder how many mommas are having babies today??? :) Just wanted to add that I'm not one of them either. Oh how I wish I was, though.

I've been exhausted the past couple of days. I've also felt crampy for the past day or two, and I've had headaches off/on.

I'll stop by later to do replies/shout-outs. DH is on his way home. We have to go buy a new battery for my car. :rolleyes:

Jaycee

12-05-2005, 11:02 AM

CONGRATS jrbnj !!!!! welcome Connor!!!!! Can't wait to read your birth story.

Janna Hang in there girl!! Time flies!!

I can't believe that it's been 3 weeks for me already and although I am ready for the sleepless nights phase to end, I am in disbelief that the time has gone by so fast and that I actually have to go back to work in 5 weeks :eek:

e&d

12-05-2005, 11:06 AM

Huge congratulations, jrbnj! Welcome, Connor! Can't wait to read the birth story. I'm impressed -- you're posting so quickly after the birth! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by, Sophia! Did you get my PM a while back? I'm not sure I fully am using that right and it might not have gone through... ? Hope all's well w/Alexa!

JPRAGV, just wanted to make sure you saw the note I left for you (in this thread) a couple days ago about the hospital. I was thinking of you while I was there and hoping your experience is good too!

jengen

12-05-2005, 11:17 AM

Congrats, JRBNJ!! I am impressed that you are posting so quickly, also! :) Can't wait to hear more.

jaredsgirl

12-05-2005, 11:34 AM

Congrats JRBNJ and Connor!!!

So excited to hear your birth story!

kamileer

12-05-2005, 11:34 AM

Congratulations, Jrbnj and Welcome Connor!

I cannot get over all of the baby annoucements over here!

We are still scheduled for our c/s this Friday afternoon. My DH and I have been going CRAZY trying to get everything in order for the baby and Christmas. Is anyone else feeling tons of anxiety about Christmas this year? I can't find the time to get everything done and it is driving me batty!!!!

I'm working right up until the end which doesn't help either, so I may not be back to post until after the birth.

All of you are in my thoughts! :)

jengen

12-05-2005, 12:13 PM

kami how exciting!!! These next 4 days are going to fly!

Well, I just lost my mucous plug. How gross, but yeah for more progress. :)

sophiapb

12-05-2005, 12:14 PM

Hey Elizabeth. Yes I did get your PM and I replied. Gee, that was a while ago. Look in the upper right hand corner of the screen and it probably says you have 1 unread message sitting in your box. The info in the message is probably outdated now and I never did start a journal :rolleyes:. Onward to the next project.
So happy for all the new mommies in here. It's really such an amazing ride and I'm thrilled that all of you have jumped on board for it! :D

krbb

12-05-2005, 12:33 PM

Congrat jrbnj and welcome Connor!!

Not one of those having a baby either! I had an appointment today and I am a good 3cm almost 4cm and almost fully effaced. She had me do a non-stress test and everything was good. I will go back Monday and then she said she will discuss an induction. I wouldn't have to have my cervix rippened, hopefully he will come before then so I won't have to think about that! I also got a note for work basically saying I will be working whenver I feel like it. I may do a few more four hour days. I am just uncomfortable, today I was just wheeling myself over to the girl I am helping train.

kamileer - I hope everything goes well Friday!!

happygolucky

12-05-2005, 12:47 PM

I'm not one of the mommies out having a baby either, although I sure wish I was. I spent two hours at the hospital this morning having my pre-admission testing done. Actually, that's not true. I spent about thirty seconds having my blood drawn for my pre-admission testing. I spent an hour, fifty-nine minutes and thirty seconds sitting in the waiting room, waiting to be called to have the blood drawn. I can't even imagine what it's going to be like on Wednesday when I get there at 10:30 AM for a 12:30 PM surgery, then get bumped and bumped and bumped back to 3:00 or 4:00 PM. All that waiting and waiting and waiting, and I'm not allowed to eat after 6:00 AM, so I'll be hungry and cranky and all that jazz. Blech.

jrbnj - congratulations and welcome to Connor!

jengen - hooray for progress, whatever form it takes.

Kami - I am totally melting down in my mad attempts to get ready for baby. Bottom line - it's never going to happen, but that doesn't stop me from trying!

mamax2

12-05-2005, 04:51 PM

I just wanted to drop a quick note to jaredsgirl b/c I know from experience how depressing it is to go past your due date. Even if it's the 'norm' for first time moms, it certainly doesn't feel that way when everyone around you seems to be popping out babies. Anyway, over the weekend, I was reading my journal from my first pregnancy and I was thinking of you re: being post-date. I know you're planning on an induction, so your situation is a little different than mine, but it's still frustrating all the same. Try to spend the next day or so doing something wonderful for yourself - like getting a pedicure, massage, going out to dinner, etc. I firmly believe that anyone who goes past their due date gets 'bonus points' and should get to do something extra-special for each day they stick it out. Hang in there, momma!

Welcome Connor!

JRPAGV

12-05-2005, 06:30 PM

Trying to catch up. Forgive me if I miss someone or something. ;)

happygolucky: Sorry you had to hang out at the hospital so long this morning. Good luck on Wednesday! Hope your C-section goes well and that you recover quickly! Can't wait to hear all about your little one.

krbb: Congrats on the progress! I hope I hear that kind of news (3cm+ and almost fully effaced) at my appointment tomorrow!

jengen: Congrats on losing your mucus plug!!! :D

kamileer: Hope your C-section goes smoothly on Friday! Can you believe you'll finally get to gold your little girl in a few days?! I'm a little nervous about Christmas this year too, but mainly because I'm worried about Nathan being exposed to so many people during cold/flu season.

e&d: Those pictures of Leo are too cute! I did see your note. Thank you for thinking about me. I'm glad you had such a good experience at that hospital. I hope the same happens for me at mine. :) I'm hoping that the looks are just deceiving, and that we receive great care while we're there.

Jaycee: I can't believe it's already been three weeks since Liliana was born! :eek: It just seems like one week or maybe two! Love that picture of her in the bath, by the way!

aroundtheworld and fwgirl: Sorry about your scares with jaundice. I'm glad your baby girls are doing better. Thank you so much for warning us.

malala: Cute going-home outfits! :) And your belly shots look great!

jaredsgirl

12-05-2005, 06:41 PM

mamax2 Thanks for the words of support. It is really hard to be past my due date and watch everyone else having their babies. I think tomorrow I will defiantely be doing things for myself. I'm really nervous about the induction and if it wasn't for my stupid b/p, I would probably wait another week. So maybe relaxing as much as possible and doing things for me will make me not think about what is to come!

KeliAnn

12-06-2005, 07:22 AM

Sorry to hijack, but ktdelsur's mom called me last night to tell me that ...

Andrew Thomas is here! He arrived on December 5th, but I don't know the time. He weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces and is 21.25 inches long. And he has a full head of hair.

:D

I'm sure Katie will be back here soon to give more details, but I just wanted to let y'all know.

jengen

12-06-2005, 07:26 AM

jaredsgirl Just wanted to throw a little more support your way. I think all the ladies in this thread have lead us to believe we should've given birth by now, but the truth is, the average first pregnancy is around 41 weeks, right? I know how frustrated I am, and I'm still 6 days away from my due date!! :D I hope everything goes well for you today!

I talked to my boss this morning and today and tomorrow will be my last days in the office. Thurs and Fri I will work from home and then that is it, I think. Hopefully, he will make his arrival by next Monday, because I don't want to use my time off when he's not here!
I lost whatever little was left of my mucous plug this morning, but my cramping has actually subsided some. DH was so convinced I'd give birth last night that we did a dry run to the hospital, because believe it or not, we hadn't yet! It's only 10 mins away, but I'm glad we did it.

jengen

12-06-2005, 07:27 AM

Congrats, ktdelsur and welcome baby Andrew!! Can't wait to hear all about it! :D

jaredsgirl

12-06-2005, 07:27 AM

Thanks so much KeliAnn!

Congrats ktdelsur and Andrew!!!!

Wow...now that really makes me ready.

QOTD Ok, question, should I be worried that I am getting a cold today??? What if they want to induce, will they postpone? Also, should I be worried about being with the baby? I know my immunities will be passed on to the baby through my breastmilk but what about right away?

I'll be seeing the dr today...will give update later!

jaredsgirl

12-06-2005, 07:29 AM

jengen Thanks for the support. It is hard, especially with everyone around my due date having their babies. I just totally feel that this baby is not going to come on its own. Seriously, everyone that told me I would go early totally jinxed me. I kept telling me they would too! I'm cursed to be induced!!!

JRPAGV

12-06-2005, 07:34 AM

CONGRATS, Katie!!!!! Welcome Andrew!!!!!

Sounds like a good size baby! :) I am thrilled for you and your DH, Katie! Can't wait to hear all of the details and see little Andrew!

Jaycee

12-06-2005, 07:36 AM

Woohooo!!! Congrats ktdelsur !!! Welcome Andrew Thomas !!!

jaredsgirl and jengen Hang in there girls..you are so close. I am so excited for you!!!!!!

Kami Good luck on Friday!!!!

oceanblue

12-06-2005, 07:57 AM

CONGRATS TO ALL THE NEW MOMMIES, AND WELCOME TO ALL THE NEW BABIES!!!

I'm still in a bit of shock that we're already having our babies. It seems almost too soon, yet waaayyyy overdue!! ;)

I've been lurking along but haven't been writing much here, or in my journal, because of this carpal tunnel. But I wanted everyone to know that I've been around (or should I say, AM still around) and pregnant.

I'm starting to get very anxious and nervous and scared and excited and pretty much every other emotion you can have for my c-section this Thursday (the 8th). I can't believe it's only, well, about a day and a half away. But the boy is cooked, I don't think my skin can stretch much further, and he's still breech. Last Friday at my appt., the doc just for fun guesstimated about a 9 1/2 lb. baby. So we'll see. I think it all depends on how much amniotic fluid is in there as well. The main thing that I care about is that he will be out of me!!! Safely, hopefully, and healthy.

I'm so very ready to not be pregnant anymore and to sleep on my tummy once again. I swear I haven't had a decent night's sleep since I had to stop doing that. I wish I could say we have all our Christmas shopping done, but we don't. We've ordered a lot of things online though, and I have lists from pretty much everyone else, it's just a matter of going to get them. Hopefully we'll have time Wednesday night, if not, we'll just have to do it after the baby's here. I'm not really too worried about it.

Soooo, I'm scheduled for Thursday at 11 am, but they're going to call tomorrow night to confirm and give me yet more instructions, and then I think I still have to call them again at around 6 am on Thursday morning to be sure we're still ready to go for that time. It all just depends on how many/if any, emergency c-sections there are at the time, and since mine is the second scheduled one on the slate, I could go in earlier if the one before me already gave birth or something like that.

Kami-Good luck!!! Our babies will only be one day apart!! You're delivering on my official due date (Friday)!

jaredsgirl-I have a little bit of a cough and stuffy nose as well, but I've had it since last Friday. I never really thought about it, but I think I'm past the contagious part, I'm now just in that residual hacking part, kwim? But I'm interested in some answers to your QOTD.

And I think that's about it. I'll try to get back before Thursday, but I've been crazy with trying to get everything "just so" around here before then. If not, I'll be sure to get on and update ASAP!!!

Take Care everyone!

kamileer

12-06-2005, 08:01 AM

Congrats Katie !!! Welcome Andrew Thomas !!!

aprilbride2002 - How neat that our babies will be born a day apart. :) I am feeling all of the same emotions you are. I'm trying not to concentrate on the actual "surgery" part of the c/s, but it is soooooooooo hard for me. Our little peanut is still breech too (those stubborn babies). I can't wait to hear all about your birth. Hoping it is smooth sailing.

Thanks to everyone for your well wishes for this Friday! :)

kmmommy

12-06-2005, 08:06 AM

Congrats to my girl Katie! Welcome to Andrew!

sarahanna115

12-06-2005, 09:13 AM

Congrats Katie!! Can't wait to 'meet' little Andrew!!

kinaida

12-06-2005, 10:01 AM

HOORAY!!!

Congratulations Katie!!!!!!!!!! Welcome Andrew Thomas!!

I can't wait to hear all of the details :)

I hope that all of the scheduled c-sections go well this week! How exciting :)

malala

12-06-2005, 10:14 AM

CONGRATULATIONS jrbnj, AND WELCOME CONNOR!!!

CONGRATULATIONS ktdelsur AND WELCOME ANDREW!!!

Also I wanted to wish good luck!!! to aprilbride and kamileer on your c-sections. I'm so excited for you guys!!!

jaredsgirl and jengen: hang in there, your babies will be here before you know it. I liked mamax2's idea of pampering yourself until delivery!!

If anybody is in the market for a breast pump, I just ordered the Ameda Purely Yours with carry all from BreastfeedingExpress.com for only $137, free shipping and no tax. I thought it was a great deal, and I wanted to pass it along.
Have a great day everyone:)

kinaida

12-06-2005, 10:35 AM

Here's Ben & my birth story... (sorry, it's kind of long) I hope it helps someone -- I loved reading the birth stories in the November thread :)
____________________________________

During pregnancy, I wondered if it would be worth it. Everyone told me it would be and I knew it would, but couldn't understand it fully. It was. Every miserable day I endured of morning sickness, every stretch mark, every minute of heartburn, every minute of labor was worth it.

DH summed it up well last night when he said that had we only had one day to spend with Ben, he would be so thankful because it was such a wonderful day.

Friday, 11/25
I had quite a bit of bloody show and was definitely crampy & having contractions on Friday night. My IL's were in town and we went out to the suburbs for dinner. My contractions weren't very strong, but somewhat uncomfortable and about 5 minutes apart lasting for about 30 seconds. I was definitely thinking it would be that evening that we'd have to go to the hospital. No dice. I went to bed and the contractions stopped.

Saturday, 11/26
I wasn't really having contractions on Saturday -- one every once in awhile but nothing regular. My water broke around 4 pm. It was a small gush at first (thankfully I was wearing a pad). But everytime I went to stand up I'd gush out some more. I told DH that we had to go to the hospital and so we grabbed our stuff and went and left the IL's at home and told them that we'd call them after we found out what was going on.

We got to the hospital around 4:45 pm. I went to triage and they confirmed that my water did indeed break and that we "weren't leaving here without a baby." They decided to hook me up to pitocin since I wasn't contracting on my own., which they did around 6 pm when I was finally admitted and put in my room. At this point I was 1 cm dilated and 80% effaced (basically hadn't changed from my last doctor's appointment).

The rest of the evening was pretty uneventful. I was having some contractions, nothing really painful and they weren't very regular despite the pitocin. I had to have an external fetal monitor and an external contraction monitor since I was on the pitocin, in addition to an IV and a blood pressure cuff which took my bp every 30 minutes. That bugger HURT worse than the contractions! I still have lines on my arm from it squeezing me.

Sunday, 11/27
Since my contrax were still irregular, they kept upping the dosage of pitocin. And I wasn't progressing the way that I should have been, so they took the external contraction monitor off and put an internal contraction monitor in, thus further limiting my movement (I had to call the nurse to get out of bed as it was). By about 3 am, they contrax were 2 minutes apart, lasting for 1 minute. I couldn't talk through them, had to breathe. They were still somewhat irregular -- they would be regular for like 5 minutes and then I'd go a few minutes without having one. When I was checked at 3:30 am, I was 85% effaced and 3 cm. Yes, that's right. 9+ hours of labor and I had progressed 2 cm. That was discouraging to say the least. And I was exhausted and chained to the bed. Had I been 6 cm at that point and able to move, I probably would have been able to do it med-free. But I asked for the epidural because I needed sleep and wasn't able to use any coping mechanisms because of all of the crap I was hooked up to. I got the epidural around 4 am and that allowed both me & DH to get some sleep. I didn't love the epidural like a lot of women -- I hated continuing to be strapped in bed, I hated getting the catheter put in (I still had some feeling). It did take the pain of the contrax away so that I could sleep though.

DH was great through all of this -- there wasn't much he could do since I was trapped in bed, but he rubbed my feet & my back and was a great support to me. I couldn't have gotten through it very well without him.

We both slept until about 8:30 am (well, as well as I could sleep with that stinkin' bp cuff going off every 30 minutes waking me up). My doctor came in (she was on call -- hooray!) and checked me. I was 5 cm and 85% effaced! I was really encouraged at that point -- I was happy my doctor was there and I was making some progress at least (2 cm in 4 hours was better than what I had been doing).

Mom & stepdad had driven in the night before, so they came to the hospital, along with my IL's and we were hanging out in the room. I was uncomfortable, but not in pain. I didn't want to "push the button" to add to my epidural -- I liked that I still had some feeling in my legs and didn't want to lose even that!

The rest of the day was a blur -- I still wasn't progressing, I was at the max level of pitocin for hours and I was getting increasingly frustrated and upset. In fact, at one point, they halved the pitocin and brought me back up, hoping that my uterus would respond. no dice. At 4 pm I was 6 cm, 100% effaced and we started talking about c-section. DH & I decided that if, by 5:30 pm, I wasn't at 8 cm, we'd do the section. He REALLY didn't want me to -- I was surprised by how strongly he felt about it. I was so upset -- I was in tears for the last 2 hours or so because this was sooooooooooo not what I had envisioned for my birth experience. I was uncomfortable, I couldn't get out of bed, and I just wanted to hold my baby. Ben did wonderfully through the whole ordeal -- every time someone came into the room they told us how great the baby looked and was handling the labor very well. He was completely on the left side of my body though -- it appears that he was looking at my right pelvis bone rather than my tailbone, which is what you want. So we tried to get him to turn, which he would but then go right back to that other position. That was pretty uncomfortable too since the epidural was mostly working on my right side and he was on the left.

I was checked at 5:30 pm and was just about to 7 cm. We decided to do the c-section. At that point, I just wanted it over. I was mentally, emotionally, and physically spent. My doctor said that I could continue -- I was still doing well physically (i.e., bp was normal, was contracting, just very slowly) and the baby was just fine. But I wanted it over at that point -- the way that I was going it could have been another 10 hours until I pushed him out and I really didn't want that.

They prepped me for surgery -- my mom was crying, which of course made me cry. She had a c-section with my brother and didn't want me to have to go through that. I also talked to my doctor about taking out my ovarian cyst that they found at my 8 week u/s. She said that as long as she could do it fairly easily, she would.

I got wheeled into the OR and DH came in a few minutes later. The anesthetic they gave me made me shake uncontrollably from the chest up -- I couldn't stop. That was the worst part of the actual procedure. They pulled Benjamin out at 6:46 pm and my doctor announced that it was a boy! We weren't suprised but sooooo happy :) DH didn't watch them pull him out, but he went over to him afterwards and stayed with him while they cleaned him up. He brought him over to me and I got to see him for about 5 minutes before they whisked him away to the nursery. DH was in tears and said he was so beautiful... He had a conehead though -- I think it's because he was positioned incorrectly in my pelvis and endured 25 hours of his head being jammed in the wrong way. He is unbelievably healthy -- he scored 9's on both his 1 minute and 5 minute apgar tests. All of the peds in the nursery that came in said he was incredibly healthy.

DH went to the nursery with Ben while they took my cyst out. That hurt worse than the c-section b/c my anesthesia started to wear off and I was starting to feel more than I should have. Lots of burning, tugging and stretching. It was exquisitely painful. The anesthesiologist couldn't find my catheter to inject more meds in either and by the time he finally did, the surgery was almost over and I was completely out of it.

They wheeled me into post-anesthesia recovery where my parents & IL's were waiting. They had all gotten to hold him -- I don't remember much, I basically just passed out. I was there for about 2 hours and then they wheeled me into my room. They didn't bring him in for another 30 minutes, which frustrated both me & DH. They brought him in around 10:45 and I finally got to hold my son. I couldn't stop looking at him pretty much all night. He responded so well to DH, almost immediately. He knows his dad! Probably from all of the talking he did to him in the womb.

My recovery is going well. The doctors & nurses were amazed that I had just had a c-section because I really wasn't in a lot of pain, even though I had 3 painkillers prescribed to me. I've only taken the Motrin that they've given me so far. The most painful part of recovery have been the uterine contrax that I have had. The incision site has healed nicely and although it doesn't feel great, it doesn't hurt either.

While the birth experience wasn't what I had wanted or hoped for, I have come to terms with it. We did everything possible and my labor truly stalled. 6 cm in 25 hours is not normal and I needed to be on the pitocin because I wasn't contracting on my own. I know that it couldn't have been any other way and I have a real peace that God was watching over us during that time.

happygolucky

12-06-2005, 10:39 AM

Congratulations Katie and Welcome Andrew!!!

I can't believe that I'm going to have my C-section tomorrow. TOMORROW. Tonight will be my last dinner as a non-mommy. DH and I are supposed to go out to a nice restaurant for a fancy-schmancy dinner (I have a beautiful maternity cocktail dress that I never got to wear), but I'm so big and so tired and so nasty-looking, I'm not sure I'm feeling up to it. I'm also feeling a little bit overwhelmed again. I was out running strange, last-minute "errands" this morning. I did things like: (1) buy extra diaper rash salve, just in case having a one-pound tub and a 4 oz tube isn't enough; (2) buy Lasinosh, just in case the two tubes I currently have are beamed away by aliens; (3) buy extra pacifiers, just in case the ones I have are stolen by the aliens who took the Lasinosh; (4) go to the ATM, because I'm going to have so much need for pocket cash while I'm in the hospital.

Meanwhile, I got a bunch of gifts this past week and need to write thank you notes for them and I haven't done that yet, but thank goodness I've got more than two pounds of diaper rash salve on hand. :rolleyes:

Good luck to everyone who is having babies this week! I expect to be off line from tomorrow through the weekend, but I'll be back next week and by then I'll be a mommy!

ETA: Kinaida - wow! What a birth story!

kamileer

12-06-2005, 10:55 AM

kinaida - Thanks so much for posting your birth story. :)

happygolucky - I'll be thinking about you all day tomorrow!!!!!!

jaredsgirl

12-06-2005, 11:30 AM

jaredsgirl

12-06-2005, 11:31 AM

happygolucky I hope I am having my last non-mommy night as well and that there is a baby on the way tomorrow for me!!!!

Jaycee

12-06-2005, 11:34 AM

Kinaida, wow what an incredible story, but with such a happy ending!! Thanks for sharing. Oh and I had marks for days, maybe even a week or more from that stupid blood pressure cuff!! :p

Happygolucky You crack me up :D Good luck tommorrow!!

kinaida

12-06-2005, 11:45 AM

kindaida I love reading your birth story. It was very educational for someone who is about to have a baby. I think if I was in your position I would have done the c-section too. 25 hours of labor sounds like alot to take(since I haven't gone through it yet).
The moral of my story is that is to make sure you prepare for whatever may happen! I totally didn't even read the sections in my pregnancy books about c-sections because Ben wasn't breech, I had had an uncomplicated pregnancy, etc... I just didn't think I'd need one!

JRPAGV

12-06-2005, 12:09 PM

Cross-posted in my LJ (Sorry for the length!)...

Well, I just got back from my 39 week OB appointment. Lots to think about. And I have to make a decision this afternoon.

Weight: Up three more pounds somehow. That's a total weight gain of 38 pounds! Yikes! She also said that my face looks swollen.

Blood Pressure: 120/70

Baby's Heartbeat: Sounds good

Fundus Height: Measuring "perfect"

Dilation: An even looser 1cm. She said that she could jam two fingers up there (but she didn't).

Effacement: Up to 80%! She was very impressed with how thin my cervix is.

Station: -2 or -1. She was also very impressed with how low my bag of waters is. She said she was touching it and "could break it right now if we were somewhere else".

Stripped Membranes:I asked her to strip my membranes again. It wasn't uncomfortable AT ALL this time. Didn't hurt either. She said to expect to spot this time. I told her i didn't last time, and she still said to expect it this time around. She must have really stirred some things up in there then. It didn't feel like it, though.

Concerns About Hospital: I finally told her about our horrible hospital tour. She was very surprised at how bad it seemed and how bad the Childbirth Prep teacher made it seem. She asked me to put what i was told in writing, and she also asked if she could have the supervisor or director of something call me to talk about it. I told her that's fine. She also said there are actually four rooms with showers- not one like I was told. Hmmm. She said it's a community hospital, but she didn't have any problems while delivering her baby there.

Induction: Well, DH and I had pretty much decided against the elective induction. But, I told Andrew the details of the appointment today and everything my doctor said, and now we're rethinking it. My doctor didn't try to encourage me to do it. I told her about the hospital tour and how I almost changed doctors and hospitals because of it. I told her the only reason I didn't change was because I want her to deliver our baby. She then said that maybe I should consider going through with the induction tomorrow. She wants me to do whatever makes me the most comfortable. Before we even talked about induction, she kept saying that "my body is so ready", and that "I'll go into labor naturally on my own", and we can make an appointment for next week, but she doesn't expect me to make it that long. She also said that I may "naturally have this baby tomorrow"... meaning that I could go into labor any time now. She just seemed so impressed and pleased with how "favorable" my cervix is, how thin it is, how low the bag of waters is, etc. So, this brings me to the dilemma...

Do I wait and go into labor naturally or schedule the induction for tomorrow morning? I love my doctor and really want her to deliver our baby, but she's only on-call tomorrow. Next week, she's on vacation Monday through Wednesday and then on-call Thursday through Saturday. So, I could wait and probably go into labor naturally. But, chances are she won't deliver our baby. My next appointment isn't until next Friday. We could wait and schedule and induction sometime next Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, but then I'd be almost 41 weeks. I've only met two of the other doctors (I think there's at least two more), and I didn't care for their personalities.

My doctor seems to think my cervix is very favorable for induction. But, like I said, she's not pushing for it. She just said the offer is still on the table, even though she thinks I could easily go into labor on my own any day now. We're so torn!!!! I know some of you are totally against inductions, especially unless they're medically necessary. But, would I be a horrible person to consider doing this??

happygolucky

12-06-2005, 12:16 PM

I'm not usually in favor of inductions, but based on what your doctor said, I'd probably go for it. Anything to make you more comfortable is all good in my book!

jengen

12-06-2005, 12:23 PM

DH summed it up well last night when he said that had we only had one day to spend with Ben, he would be so thankful because it was such a wonderful day.

kinaida- that is so sweet! I loved reading your birth story - thank you for sharing! :) I am sorry that it wasn't what you expected, but so glad your little one is healthy.

jrpagvI don't think you are horrible for considering it, at all. I can't say what I would do in your shoes. Too bad we haven't heard yet about ktdelsur's experience since she was in the same boat! It might help you out. :) And as for weight gain, I gained 4 lbs this week and the dr said it is all the swelling. Even my fingers are puffy now.

happygolucky good luck tomorrow!!! :D

malala

12-06-2005, 01:22 PM

happygolucky: Good luck tomorrow!!! I'll be thinking of you, this is so exciting!! :D (your post cracked me up, by the way).

kinaida: Thank you so much for sharing your birth story.!! It's so good to be able to read all the different experiences. I guess, the moral of your story is to be opened to whatever might happen, because at the end you'll end up with a beautiful and healthy baby, and that's what really matters.

JRPAGV: I think you should follow your instincts. It's your baby and your body, and you should do whatever you and your DH think is right for you. Good luck making a decision:)

krbb

12-06-2005, 02:40 PM

Well I made it to my due date, like jaredsgirl, I feel I was jinxed by my Dr saying I wouldn't make it. Does it hurt anyone else to walk? He must be so low that when I am standing he puts so much pressure on my cervix and ligaments. It kind of feels like I pulled my groin muscle. Today was my last day at work, I wrapped everything up. It was kind of weird leaving because I am not sure if I am going to return and if I do it won't be until September!

I have been drinking the rasberry leaf tea, I took a walk today even though it hurt and was 20 degrees out, I have pinapple cut up in the fridge, and DH is getting some action tonight. Hopefully these things will work.

Congrats Katie and welcome Andrew!! I am interested to hear how the induction went, especially since my Dr was talking about me getting one next week.

jaredsgirl- I hope you are feeling better. My friend has come down with a terrible head cold and she is due Thursday and worried about the same thing. I think you should be ok with the baby, though labor might be harder if you don't have a lot of energy!

aprilbride2002- I hope everything goes well on Thursday!!

kindra- Thank you so much for sharing Ben's birthstory. Just shows how anything can happen during labor. I too skipped the c-section section, but I am going to go back and read those just incase. Glad to hear that you are healing quickly!!

happygolucky- Good luck with everything tomorrow!! Sounds like a fun last night without baby!!

Janna- It is such a tough decision. I think you just have to do with what you feel comfortable with. Everything could go fine with the induction or you could go naturally and like Kindra end up having a c-section anyways. My Dr talked to me about it yesterday and said since my cervix was already ripe they would break my water and see if that put me in labor, if not then they would start the pictocin. I feel horrible for considering it too, especially with how I always talked about how against it I was.

jaredsgirl

12-06-2005, 03:38 PM

krbb It is nice to have someone to commiserate with now. So I can feel your pain. I had everyone telling me that I would go early and now look at me! I don't think the baby is ever going to come out!!!

My last dr. appt...ahhh...so lovely!

b/p Still high, 138/89.

dialating I have a tiny bit more than last time, but not enough to get a finger in to strip my membranes. :(

inducing I go in to the hospital tomorrow night to get a gel to get my cervix to soften. It is outpatient, so I will be in for just an hour or so and then sent home. It is not Cervadil, gentler than that. Then Friday I go in for Cervadil and Pitocin some time after that. He wants to get the cervix dialating and softer before he does the harsher treatments to avoid c/s. Then this weekend he is on call all weekend, so it works out perfect. He likes to give the first gel a couple of days to work and then go for the big induction.

u/s Had to have a u/s to check he fluid around the baby, which was totally fine. They said it can get low at this time and if it was below 8 they would send me directly to the hosptial...well I was at 18...not even close to being low. Only one bit of good news, the baby's bladder was empty and the stomach had only a little bit in it, which means it could be getting close to delivery because normally babies empty out their system so that they can squeeze out. So that was positive.

NST I had to have a non-stress test too. Baby looks great by the h/b and there were no contractions. But I knew that...I didn't feel any. Also, it moved around the whole time.

So that is my news. I at least know that this weekend our little baby will be here for sure...but maybe we will be able to get it out before that.

JRPAGV

12-06-2005, 03:58 PM

Thank you so much for your input, ladies! After going back and forth all afternoon, I paged my doctor to ask more questions. I feel more confident about being induced after talking to her. And... we have decided to do it tomorrow morning at 7-7:30! :eek: :)

She said I won't need Cervadil or anything like that because my cervix is so thin and favorable. jaredsgirl: How effaced are you??

I can get an epidural anytime I want (even before 4cm since it's an induction). I will be confined to my room after they start the pitocin because of safety issues. They don't want me walking up and down the halls because they need to monitor me and the baby.

If my body doesn't respond to the pitocin... meaning if I don't progress, then she'll take me off of it and send me home. She won't force me to get a C-section.

I told her my biggest concern is the safety of the baby. I've read that pitocin can lead to fetal distress. She explained that babies don't know the difference between oxytocin (from the body) or pitocin (IV). If a baby goes into fetal distress during an induction, it's because he/she has an underlying problem anyway.

I'm *so* nervous. And now I know there's a lot to do before the morning! I sent DH to the grocery store, and we're going to clean and do some other things before bedtime. I thought we had everything ready, but now I feel like there's so much more to do! It's very weird to think that I will be going into labor TOMORROW MORNING! :eek:

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers! I'll update ASAP.

Oh, and when I get back, remind me to tell you guys about the phone call I received from the director of the hospital today regarding that horrible hospital tour I had. I think I accidentally got the Childbirth Prep nurse in trouble. The director was very nice, though, and assured me that the hospital is not bad like the nurse portrayed it to be. She said to please ask for her when I get to the hospital because she wants to come see me. Crazy, huh?

jengen

12-06-2005, 04:04 PM

krbb I was just telling DH that today was the first day where it really hurt to walk and feels like there is a bowling ball between my legs. I feel your pain! Good luck on your natural induction methods tonight! :D

jaredsgirl hope you are feeling better and that the gel gets you going tomorrow!

JRPAGV good luck tomorrow - we will be thinking of you! :D

krbb

12-06-2005, 04:05 PM

Janna - Oh I will be thinking about you tomorrow morning. Best of luck with everything! My Dr said the same thing about the pitocin. Also, that they will monitor it and only give you as much as you need. Crazy to think at this time tomorrow you will be holding your baby!! I also hope the hospital situation won't be that bad. That is nice of the director to call you!!

jaredsgirl

12-06-2005, 04:21 PM

Janna Good luck tomorrow!!! I'm really excited for you!!! Oh and I am not effaced at all. Lucky me huh? That is why I'm going through two different things to try and get me to efface and dialate. The baby is just too comfy!

malala

12-06-2005, 04:29 PM

JRPAGV: Good luck tomorrow and I'll be sending easy labor vibes your way. :)

December2005Mommies

12-06-2005, 07:24 PM

Updated to here!

It might be a few days before I'm able to update again. Hope everyone understands!

GOOD LUCK TO THOSE WHO ARE BEING INDUCED OR HAVING A C-SECTION THIS WEEK!!! AND GOOD LUCK TO THOSE WHO GO INTO LABOR!!!

postkalidurga

12-07-2005, 01:37 AM

Congrats to all the new mommies and welcome to all the new babies!

I'm still kicking around and getting bigger every minute. No baby yet but I'm not really feeling ready for one anyway so my midwives are doubting it will be here anytime soon. I just wish there was a way to take a break between pregnancy and motherhood - though I'm sure once the little one is here I won't be able to be with her/him enough.

My midwives recommend evening primrose oil suppositories to help ripen the cervix. Apparently EPO is a prostaglandin enhancer and encourages the cervix to soften and thin, encouraging the onset of labour. I just though I'd mention this as a natural method that likely mimics the cervical gels - though likely much more mild (and so much slower acting). We are told to start using it at 38 weeks. Basically, you purchase the gel capsules, puncture two with a pin and insert every night before bed. I thought this might be useful for those who are nearing or passing their due dates and feeling like nothing is happening yet. I will warn you it is messy though in the middle of the night...

happygolucky

12-07-2005, 04:39 AM

Good Luck Janna! Our babies are going to share a birth day! I can't wait to hear your birth story, and to share my own, when we get back!

kamileer

12-07-2005, 07:55 AM

Good luck Jana....good luck happygolucky!!!

Quick c/s question regarding manicures...

I have a random question for you all. I am having a scheduled c/s this Friday. I wanted to do a little pampering tomorrow (mani and pedi) to get ready for the big day. I was just told by my dad's g-friend that you cannot have any kind of nail polish on your fingernails for the c/s (something about an oxygen sensor). I had no idea! Is this true?

jengen

12-07-2005, 08:17 AM

Good luck today, Janna and happygolucky!!!

kami I have no clue about the nail polish question, but I imagine it's not true. I mean, wouldn't they tell everyone about it, just in case you end up having one unplanned/emergency? I've never heard that from my drs/midwives or anything I've ever read.

Still hanging in there here. I'm crampy again and had a lot of B&H last night. DH is done with his 3-day training course today, so he's given me the ok to go into labor as of tonight. :) If one more person tells me when it is convenient for them for me to go in labor, I'm gonna scream! :D
Today is my last day in the office, I start working from home til tomorrow until he gets here.

Cookie777

12-07-2005, 08:52 AM

Congratulations jrbnj & welcome Connor!

Congratulations ktdelsur & welcome Andrew!

I guess I've been gone a while. I'm trying to catch up with everything but I'm pretty behind.

For those that have had to deal with jaundice... I'm sorry to hear that. It must have been somewhat scary/unnerving..but I'm glad to hear that everyone's baby's are doing great now. :)

Jaycee ~

The bath experience sounds so cool! I can't wait! How cool that she loved it so much. Cute picture!

***

Well ladies..I had an appt yesterday. She didn't check me. She didn't really think it was necessary & neither did I. She's going to check me next week at my 38 week appt...& then I can decide if I want to be checked at my 39 week appt.

Nothing new here for me..which is fine. My little guy is hanging around..very comfortably.

My blood pressure is still good. I'm not sure if she mentioned it yesterday..but the week before & every other week it's right at 110/70 or so. So even though I'm a little swollen..my BP is low enough & everything is fine.

Total weight gain - 47 pounds! :eek: I know recently a decent amount is water weight because my hands have been sooo swollen & I have developed the nice pregnancy carpal tunnel syndrome..so I can barely use my hands. They're a little better this morning after downing tons of lemon in my water (helps to get rid of water weight) so the typing isn't bothering me.

I think that's it for now.. I hope everyone has a great day!

jaredsgirl

12-07-2005, 09:18 AM

Well all of a sudden this morning my attitude about everything changed. I have been very down in the dumps and scared as hell with this baby. But today I'm so excited. Maybe because I know the latest I will meet my little one is this weekend. The excitement is now overwhelming. I'm not sure if I posted this but DH told me how proud he was that he was going to be a dad and it just melted my heart. I know that having this baby is going to makeme fall deeper in love with him, and I don't know how that is possible!

kamileer I have never heard of that. I was going to go and get a manicure tomorrow and since my risk of c/s is going up because of being induced, I am curious if you get a difinitive answer.

JRPAGV and Happygolucky Good luck girls! Can't wait to hear from you, which will probablly be when I get back from the hospital. Hope all goes great for you!!!!

postkalidurga I tried the EPO and nothing...which makes me wonder if the gel that I am going to try tonight is going to work. Keeping my finigers crossed. My cervix is just like me...stubborn! :)

Cookie I am at 61lbs, so I totally feel your pain. I have a ton of water weight and am super swollen...I think my hands look like baseball mits and my b/p is super high I am normally 110/60.

kamileer

12-07-2005, 09:24 AM

jaredsgirl and jengen - I posted about manicures and c/s in the parenting thread and it looks like you CANNOT have polish on your fingernails afterall. Who would have thunk it?!

jaredsgirl

12-07-2005, 09:26 AM

Hmmm...there goes that idea of pampering, maybe I will do just the pedi. That is really weird, wonder what they would do for someone that did...do they have nail polish remover in there? Glad you found out.

oceanblue

12-07-2005, 09:36 AM

Kami-That's what my instructions for my c/s say for tomorrow. NO nail polish. Weird, huh? I would have loved to have gone and gotten a mani before, but ah well. I'm not sure what they would do if you went in with it on, but I figure I'll just wait till after sometime.

GOOD LUCK JANNA AND HAPPYGOLUCKY!!

More babies!!!!

burkie

12-07-2005, 11:45 AM

I have been gone so long that I cannot possibly catch up, but just wanted to say congrats to all the new moms and good luck to those of you still waiting. I am going to attempt my birth story before Hadley wakes up...(sorry it is long)

Tuesday, 11/22 - Dr. appointment. I had made no progress and dr expected to see me next week for my 40 week appt.

Wednesday, 11/23 - I woke up early with very irregular but uncomfortable contractions. This was not entirely different from what I had experieced previously however, the contractions continued all day. At around 8 p.m the contractions started becoming very regular at about 5 to 10 minutes apart. I tried to sleep that night, but couldn't as every time I was about to fall asleep another contraction would start. The contractions continued all through the night at 3-5 minutes apart and becoming quite painful. I woke my husband up at 6 a.m and told him I thought we should go to the hospital.

Thursday, 11/24 - After throwing up at home on the way out the door, we got to the hospital around 6:45. (I have been throwing up since day one with this baby and I wasn't done yet :( ) They checked me at the hospital and I was only at 1 cm. They checked an hour later and I was then between 1 and 2 cms so they sent me home. The nurse said that I would probably deliver sometime between 24 and 48 hours and to come back when things got more intense. She gave me some sort of sleep aid to take to help me get some rest. The sleep aid did not work and 3 and a half hours later we were back at the hospital as the contractions were becoming unbearable, which I figured meant things were "more intense." Back at the hospital they checked me and I was about 3 cm. They don't normally admit you until 4 cm, but they said they would check again in an hour. About 15 minutes later I threw up yet again, so they decided to admit me. By the time I was admitted the nurse checked and I was at 5 cm. She asked if I wanted an epidural. I said yes please. So now we had to wait for what seemed like forever for the lovely epidural lady to come while my DH watched the contraction monitor and felt the need to tell me every time I had a really big contraction, as if I didn't know. As time went on I had to threaten him to make him stop with the play by play :rolleyes: Finally got the epidural, which was absolutely heavenly. I was at 8 cm by the time I got the epidural and I have to say I have the utmost respect for you ladies out there doing it naturally. I was ready to kill someone when the anastegialogist (I just butchered that spelling) got there. Anyways, got the epidural and 2 contractions later I was a much happier camper. Afterwards the dr came in to break my water and now we just waited. At 9 cm things stalled a bit, so they started a low dose of pitocin to finish things off. When I got to 10 cm I started pushing and 40 minutes later we had a beautiful baby girl (our Thanksgiving baby). About one push before the head came out I got sick one final time so we had to take a little break and get me cleaned up :rolleyes: And so my pregnancy ended the same way it started. For you ladies who did not enjoy being pregnant, I hope it makes you feel better that I absolutely hated being pregnant, but compared to the pregnancy, labor and delivery was a breeze. And I am extremely happy to not be pregnant any more and have my beautiful healthy baby girl.

After delivery - I ended up with a second degree tear which was quite painful for the first week, but then started to get much better day by day. Now by almost 2 weeks I feel pretty good.

Breastfeeding - I was extremely lucky that Hadley was a good feeder right from the start. We have not had any problems whatsoever with her latching or anything else. We had her second pediatrician visit today to follow up with her weight and she has had excellent weight gain so no problems whatsoever. That being said it is still quite hard on me having to feed her all the time and all through the night, but we are getting through it and it is getting easier.

Well, I am glad I finally got to this as the inlaws are coming into town today for a week and then my parents are coming next week so I probably won't have a lot of time to get back here for a while. So good luck to all of you that will be having babies soon and I will try to get back as soon as possible to see all the new babies.

oceanblue

12-07-2005, 03:23 PM

Just got off the phone with the nurse at the hospital. I've been bumped up to the 1st c-section of the day! So we have to be there now at 8 am. I'm guessing I'll go into actual surgery at around 9:30 ish!! I can't believe this is happening!! I'll be back as soon as possible with all the info and pictures!! Wish us luck ladies!!

And good luck to you Kami since I really don't think I'll be back on before you go in!

It's baby time!!!! Oh, and his name will be Hayden Daniel. I really liked Hayden Michael better, but the DH really wanted to have the middle name after his grandpa, so I let him win! They are both nice names!!

jaredsgirl

12-07-2005, 03:27 PM

Grrr...so irritated, I hate being so clumsy, I just was going to get the sugar out of the canaster and dropped the canaster and spilled the sugar all over the floor. DH is cleaning it up.

We are just about to go to the hospital for the first gel...so I'm sure I will be around tomorrow!

burkie Love the birth story. Thank you so much for sharing. I really appreciate it!

aprilbride Good luck tomorrow!!! Can't wait to hear all about it and see the gorgeous pictures of your new baby boy!!

Cookie777

12-07-2005, 03:36 PM

JaredsGirl ~

Funny that you described your hands as baseball mits because that is exactly what I said to my husband night before last. I woke up & my left hand was so bad it felt HUGE! In the morning I told him that I felt like I had a baseball mit on. So weird. No fun.. Well hopefully you will have a baby here within the next day or so. I can imagine that you're probably pretty anxious/frustrated.

Burkie ~

Thank you for posting your birth story! And I think someone else did too but I can't remember who...but thank you whoever it was. :)

Kamileer & AprilBride2002 ~

Best of luck with your c-sections & congratulations on being able to see your babies soon! I can't wait to hear all about them & see your new little munchkins. :)

ktdelsur

12-07-2005, 03:50 PM

QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT! (just got home, no time to read yet but I'll be back to catch up on you ladies ----!!)

Andrew Thomas was born at 6:46 p.m. on 12/5/05, weighing in at 8lbs, 11ozs (girls, what would have I done if I had not been induced? He is already HUGE!) and 20 inches long, with a full head of hair. Here's a sneak peek:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/khpowell/Andrew003.jpg

Be back with details later when I can see straight - no sleep last night!

ETA:...those are forcep marks on his face - they are gone now but he was so close to coming out and just wouldn't budge...quite an ordeal but totally worth it (and uhm, I gave in and had an epidural...which turned out to be the best thing).

Cookie777

12-07-2005, 04:14 PM

Awwwww you look great & he's so cute! :D He looks like he's worn out...& I imagine he was if forceps were involved. Yes that's a good size baby! Congratulations!!! :) I can't wait to hear your birth story & see more pictures of that cute little (big) guy! ;)

jengen

12-07-2005, 04:19 PM

jaredsgirl My hands are huge, too! Good luck and hopefully you'll have your little one soon! :)

kamileer and aprilbride You must be getting so excited! Good luck!

burkie Thank you for sharing your birth story!! :D

ktdelsur Congratulations again! Thank you for sharing that adorable picture! You look so happy! :)

e&d

12-07-2005, 06:15 PM

Congratulations ktdelsur, and WELCOME ANDREW THOMAS! I love his name and you both look fantastic. Congrats!

freckle

12-07-2005, 06:34 PM

Well, Adam Jacob is finally here - unreal - I delivered on 12/5 at 8:32 pm, he was 8 lbs, 10 oz and 19 3/4 in. long. ktdelsur - our babies were born the same day and weigh the same!

I have to admit my labor was pretty easy - I had an epidural before the contractions became unbearable - had some pitocin because my labor stalled between 4-5 and once I started pushing it was over in about 10 minutes. crazy I tell ya. The ob said it was because it was a second baby.

torch76

12-07-2005, 07:00 PM

Congrats Freckle and Ktdelsur!!! Katie you look so happy in that picture! You have an adorable son.

Also best wishes to Kami and Aprilbride as you meet your babies tomorrow!

JaredsgirlYou are almost there. I hope the gel does its job for you tomorrow.

I had my 37 week appointment today and I had an internal. I was totally prepared to here that I had not dialated at all because I have now felt anything other than a bit a cramping every now and then. I have not dropped and I have not seen any sign of my mucous plug. Anyway I was shocked to hear I am already 3cm! The dr said sometime in the next 2 weeks. I am glad that he will probably be here before Christmas. DH graduates from college next Friday and I would hate to miss that but...oh well.

In other news I am kinda freaking out because I called the pediatrician that we picked and found out they don't take my insurance. So now I have to find a new ped. Fast. It sucks too because my insurance sucks and the baby will only be on it for the first 30 days which are included. I did look into private insurance and found one that is actually cheaper to have Dh and baby on than just baby. So I am excited about that. Would it be awful to just have the ped on call visit us in the hospital and do the circumsicsion?

There are at least 2 more babies coming tomorrow!! Yeah!!!

babylove

12-08-2005, 07:26 AM

Since I see that no one else has posted the news, I just thought I would tell all of Janna's (JRPAGV) fellow December mommies that Nathan Andrew was born last night!! I will let Janna fill in the details when she comes home. CONGRATS!!!

jengen

12-08-2005, 07:40 AM

Congrats Freckle and JRPAGV!! Thanks for letting us know, babylove and congrats to you, too! :D

torch great news on the progress! :)

So, I'm crampy again, but nothing new here. We are supposed to get snow tomorrow, so watch this little one decide to make his arrival then! :) My Mom was 2 weeks late with both me and my sister, so I'm getting really anxious about him getting here on time. I'm also starting to get bombarded with the "how are you doing/have you had him yet?" phone calls. Anyone else? I'm hoping to get some Christmas shopping done later today. Maybe the activity will help things to move along.

krbb

12-08-2005, 07:56 AM

CONGRATS ktdelsur, freckle, and Janna!!!! I can't wait to hear more details!!

Thanks babylove for stopping by with the news and HH pregnancy wished to you!! :D

torch76 - you may want to check on your hospital policies, during one of our classes they said they wouldn't discharge the baby without naming a pediatrician. I know my Dr said they could do the circ or the ped could.

jengen - We are supposed to get about 6 inches of snow this evening into tomorrow. MIL thinks that will put me in labor (I guess the low pressure coming through). I hope so, at least the hospital isn't that far. I was getting those comments at work, part of the reason I couldn't stand being there anymore. MIL has to be the worse with the phone calls and emails. She keeps having dreams the baby was born and we didn't call so she freaks out! Good luck with the shopping. I am thinking I will go get some groceries and make some cookies.

e&d

12-08-2005, 08:27 AM

Congratulations Janna and freckle! :D

I look forward to hearing the details and seeing pics. Congratulations!

kmmommy

12-08-2005, 08:37 AM

Congratulations Katie! Andrew is just adorable!

kinaida

12-08-2005, 10:28 AM

Lookit all of the new babies in here!

congratulations janna, katie & freckle!!!!!!!!

Katie, I said this in your LJ, but Andrew is gorgeous :) You look fabulous!

burkie -- thanks for sharing your birth story. Isn't it great to not be pregnant anymore? :D That ranks just below the joy of having my son :)

aprilbride & kamileer -- I hope all goes well tomorrow! How exciting, can't wait to hear all about it :)

Ben went in to get weighed yesterday (they want to make sure he's gaining weight since he's breastfed) -- he's up to 8 lbs 12 oz!!!! He weighed in at 7 lbs 11 oz 6 days before that! The nurse couldn't believe it, she kept checking his birth weight (7 lbs 14 oz) and then recalibrated the scale... I could tell he was getting bigger, but even I was surprised by how much he actually gained. My boy likes his mama's milk!

around the world

12-08-2005, 10:52 AM

Oh man, I am so behind! There are so many new babies! So many happy congrats to you all, my dears -- Janna, Katie, freckle, and am I missing anyone else? -- can't wait to read all the details from everyone! :D

Man, this thread is fun these days, no?!

Just popping back in to report that Iris is finally fully on the mend. We were continuing to struggle earlier this week. Her biliruben was starting to creep back up, so we weren't able to get rid of the blanket as I had hoped. AND, I had to start supplementing. My milk is in, but is just slowly but surely building up. But Iris is so big, and needing so much food to get her over this jaundice hump, that it was absolutely necessary, I believe. The good news is that I have a *great* pediatrician with a *great* LC on staff, and they have helped me through this. I was heartbroken to have to start supplementing, and panicked about this getting in the way of our BFing relationship. But the LC set me up with a makeshift Supplemental Nursing System, which is basically a catheter attached to a syringe, and we dose in the additional formula while Iris is already suckling, so that she continues to stimulate me to produce more milk and doesn't get any nipple confusion. I'm also on an Rx to help me boost my supply, so hoping that starts to kick in soon. I have now become an expert on this stuff, so if anyone is or ends up going through low supply issues, I'm happy to give any tricks or advice I have... :)

kinaida, that's such great news about Ben gaining so well! It is so rewarding to see them doing well with our milk, isn't it? Good for y'all!

kamileer and aprilbride, I'm so excited for you two! Can not wait to hear the details...! Best of luck!

OK, gotta get pulled together. My mom arrives later today -- the first help we've had since Iris was born, can you believe it? -- and OCD that I am, I'm cleaning so that the house will look great. For my mom, who is coming to help cook and clean. Ridiculous. Especially since I'm pretty sure she's really only going to be looking at Iris anyway, not my floors. ;)

Cookie777

12-08-2005, 10:56 AM

Congratulations Freckly & welcome Adam Jacob!

Congratulations JRPAGV & welcome Nathan Andrew!

:D:D:D

Jaycee

12-08-2005, 11:19 AM

Congratulations Freckle!!!! Welcome Adam Jacob!!!

Congratulations JRPAGV!!!! Welcome Nathan Andrew!!!!!

Goregeous picture Katie!! You are glowing!!

This is so exciting!! We are almost all mommies and we are stiil only at the beginning of Dec!!

kamileer

12-08-2005, 01:23 PM

CONGRATULATIONS FRECKLES AND JANNA!!!

I've been crazy today trying to get everything in order for tomorrow (I guess both an advantage and a DISadvantage of having a planned birth). I worked up until yesterday (wish I took an extra day). DH and I vowed to have a nice night together whether the projects are done or not. The housekeeper just left and the place is spotless, thank god! We are headed to a really nice dinner tonight in Boston to kick off the big event. I'll be back to share everything in a few days. :)

BAM 9-21-02

12-08-2005, 04:15 PM

Hello, I am Jaredsgirl's SIL. I wanted to let you know that she went in for the gel last night which was supposed to be outpatient, but after it was inserted the baby's heartbeat dropped and she was admitted. Today they gave her the cervidil inserts and she has progressed to 1cm and 60% effaced. Her water broke about 4pm today, so hopefully she will start making more progress. I will keep you all updated as I know more! I can't wait to be an aunt and find out if it is a boy or a girl!

BAM 9-21-02

12-09-2005, 03:31 AM

It's a BOY!!! Jaredsgirl gave birth to Owen Richard around 4am today December 9th. He was 7lbs 5oz and 20 3/4 inches long. Both Mommy and Owen are doing well!

Cookie777

12-09-2005, 06:04 AM

Congratulations JaredsGirl & Welcome Owen! :D

malala

12-09-2005, 07:15 AM

So many new babies!!! And they're all boys!! This is super-exciting:D :D :D

CONGRATULATIONS KATIE AND WELCOME ANDREW THOMAS!!

CONGRATULATIONS FRECKLE, AND WELCOME ADAM JACOB!!

CONGRATULATIONS JANNA AND WELCOME NATHAN ANDREW!!

CONGRATULATIONS JAREDSGIRL AND WELCOME OWEN ROBERT!!!!

It's crazy that's only the 9th, and there's not many of us left still preggers:eek:

aprilbride2002 and happygolucky: I hope your c-sections went well, and you're both happily holding your babes now:)

kami: thinking of you while you bring your little girl into the world:p

around the world

12-09-2005, 07:19 AM

Hooray! Congrats, jaredsgirl and welcome Owen! Can't wait to hear more about your birth and your baby boy. Hoping all are doing well! :D

jengen

12-09-2005, 07:44 AM

Congrats, Jaredsgirl!!!:D

kami Thinking of you today and hope all is well! :)

Well, today would have been my due date according to my charting. We are having a big snowstorm and everyone keeps telling me how people go into labor with the drop in barometric pressure. If only I were that lucky! :) DH did decide to stay home from work today, though. Normally, his commute into the city is over an hour WITHOUT traffic or snow, so it was just too risky for him to go in. I told him nothing will probably happen today, but if he went it, it probably would've. I'm glad to have him here, just in case.

daphne

12-09-2005, 10:37 AM

I had my baby boy one year ago today (and am feeling a bit sentimental), so I wanted to pop in to send my best wishes & congratulations to the December 9th, 2005 babies!!!

kinaida

12-09-2005, 11:22 AM

Hooray!!! More babies!

CONGRATULATIONS JAREDSGIRL AND WELCOME OWEN ROBERT!!!!

Can't wait to hear from aprilbride and kamileer!

AMC

12-10-2005, 11:08 AM

He's here !
Christian John
Born 12/8/05 @ 2:36pm
7.5lbs and 19.5in
12 days early but perfect as can be. Can't wait to catch up with everyone and I think a lot of babies are coming this weekend! :D

ktdelsur

12-10-2005, 11:49 AM

Hi girls!

CONGRATS TO ALL THE NEW MOMMIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would do shoutouts, but as all you mommies know...time is of the essence!

I typed this out in Word over a period of a few days, here's my birth story. I'm sorry I didn't get it in here fast enough for those of you who were going to be induced electively as I was...

Birth Story:
Sun night 12/4/05:
We were told to be at the hospital at 5:45 a.m. to be admitted and start pitocin....and I couldn't eat after midnight. We watched a movie, packed, and cleaned the house, and barely slept at all at the prospect of what was going to be happening the next morning.

Mon A.M. 12/5/05:
Drove in anxious silence to the hospital at the crack of dawn. We headed straight into a room and hopped into the bed. The doc came to check me finally, and I was still 2 cm and 90% effaced (but I'd had a tiny bit of bloody show the night before). They broke my water about 7:15. They hooked me up to the monitors (externally)and I actually was having contractions every once in awhile and not feeling them strongly at all. (So evidently I have been having contractions off and on for a few weeks.) It took at least two more hours before I could actually feel the contractions and they weren't that bad (then)! I was hooked up to the internal monitors then, which I was very unhappy about. One on the baby's head to monitor his heartbeat and one to monitor contractions. It was hard to get comfortable because the wires were taped to my leg, and when he'd move, the wire would move w/ his head. The weirdest feeling! The second time the doc came to check me...it hurt...BADLY. Holy crap it hurt. He tried talking me into the epidural...I still refused but started to consider IV narcotics! LOL (didn't do it)

After that second check - things got worse within a matter of hours (the pain, I mean). I was a little upset that I wasn't getting to be mobile like I'd been promised, etc...but honestly once the contractions got bad I didn't WANT to move. The doc came in for the 3rd check and I wanted to cry...they weren't bad until he checked me and it just kickstarted the pain. They lowered the pitocin dosage, and for a good while, they were coming about 1.5 - 2 mins apart which barely gave me time to recover. I was in the zone there for awhile with the concentration/relaxation/breathing techniques, and wondering how I was going to make it through. Luckily they were regular, they were just HARD.

Around 2 p.m. he came in to check me again - I had grown to despise these checks, because they hurt so badly. I'd be handling the pain okay but then once he'd move things around (his checking on top of the internal monitors already in there). He told me I was 5 cm...and again tried to encourage me to get the epi. I told him I'd keep thinking about it.

About 30 mins later, when they were still coming barely 2 minutes apart and I was completely unable of communication during them, the doc reminded me that I was 5 cm and it would be about 5 more hours before I'd get to start pushing. The thought of five more hours of that was totally unbearable, so I agreed to get the epi. I was TERRIFIED b/c of all my back issues, even though the doc had reassured me that it was possible and "ok" albeit it a little riskier. As they positioned me on the side of the bed and the anesthesiologist prepped me, I lost it and threw up, mostly from nerves and mostly from having to stay so still through the contractions. (I knew it was time for intervention when the contractions got so hard and so bad that I wanted to just start thrashing around on the bed - no lie.)

The anesthesiologist did a great job - although paranoid me kept wondering why it was taking so long (longer than it seems to take on TV....ha ha) and I kept saying, "If you are unsure about whether you can do this with my back, DON'T DO IT!! If you're not confident, I'm not....please be careful!" LOL...

But...shortly thereafter my legs started going numb. My right leg was definitely more numb than my right so they propped me on my left side to see if that would help - it did. Right side was still more than the left, but the left was numb "enough"...I could still essentially move my legs with my thigh muscles, but from the knees down I couldn't do much.

I was so happy to doze...I even had to say, "Am I having a contraction now?" I don't know how much time passed, but the doc came to check me and it was SOOO much more bearable. I was 8 cm! Barely an hour later I was 10 cm and ready to push. When he said, "You're fully dilated..lets get this show on the road!" I looked at Ben and we exchanged this, "Oh wow...this is IT!" look.

THE DELIVERY:
As I waited...the contractions were being felt a little more and my back ached. I figured it was just because I was just fully dilated and the end contractions are obviously harder. As I started pushing w/ contractions, we discovered that Mr. Andrew was posterior (face up). I got worried that I'd have hours of pushing ahead of me, but Andrew was cooperative and the doc was about to rotate him in the right direction in just one try (I didn't even really feel it, although I could feel the contractions enough to push). Pushing was actually GOOD. I felt I was DOING something and making something happen, and no, I didn't care that I did poop on the table (I could tell something was coming out that wasn't baby). Nor did I care that suddenly there were about 6-8 more people in the room that weren't there before, setting up for the baby. I pushed for an hour, and he kept just peeking out, and not moving fast enough out of the birth canal. Doc called for the vacuum pump...but it wouldn't stay on his head because he had so much hair! Then he decided to go for the forceps. I knew about all the "dangers" of those two things but I just wanted him OUT.

The whole thing was very surreal - and I was just in this other world from everyone else in the room. Once they got the forceps, things sort of sped up and I tried my damndest to push the little booger out. The insertion of the forceps was NOT FUN. On the next (last) contraction, Ben told me later that the doctor basically put one foot up on the end of the bed and slowly pulled Andrew out of me. He was here! and BIG!!!! He had some fluid in his lungs so they whisked him away to the other side of the room. He did make some noise so hearing a bit of crying made me very happy. My placenta didn't want to come out right away so the doc worked on me, and got me sewn up too
(no episiotomy - doc said my perineum tissue stretched nicely - I'm gonna contribute that to many nights watching tv bouncing on my birthing ball!)Minor 2nd degree tear, no sphincter muscle damage...no issues that most folks w/ stitches "down there" have with the first bowel movement after birth.

It got hectic because I bled pretty badly and had to have two shots of Methagen to stop it. Ben continuously tells me how scared he was that something would happen to me...I had the shakes REALLY bad during the whole thing, which was normal.

Andrew latched on right away when they handed him to me, and I honestly don't remember trying to get him to feed....I just DID it. The rest is history (a sleep-deprived one)!

BF'ing and baby jaundice:
Even though Andrew latched great, and we kept latching him on every time the nurses would bring him to us (we didn't keep him with us the first night - but we did the 2nd) and I anxiously awaited my milk supply. Now, five days later, it still hasn't shown up. Had him Monday, we came home Wednesday night, and Saturday, still no milk. Because of his jaundice, we have to have him on a bilirubin blanket all weekend and supplement each "feeding" with 2 oz of formula to help get rid of the jaundice. We feed it to him from a cup...and it takes FOR.EVER. Sooo, they said for me to feed every 2 hours to get my milk in, and we've pretty much resigned ourselves to the fact that it's not showing up. He has learned in the past day or two that he's getting that yummy formula after he feeds on mommy...and so he's stayed latched on for shorter and shorter periods of time. I had some progress, I thought (residue around his mouth, etc etc, signs he was getting SOMETHING decent) but in the past two days, those signs have diminished and he's been lethargic, etc. So, the pede has been very supportive in our decision to (probably) formula feed now since my milk has not shown up. I'm a little disappointed, but when I see how alert, active and "fun" he is after he's eaten and actually gotten nourishment, I hate having him feed and get NOTHING from me (besides a little comfort, which is okay). I'm still going to try and hand pump tomorrow morning and see what happens. There is still time for it to show up, but we'll see. Knowing it might not take nearly 1.5 hours to feed him anymore really has reduced the stress level in our house. My parents are still staying with us and they have been true lifesavers. Other than the jaundice and BF'ing issues, he's a GREAT baby. He doesn't fuss unless there's really a reason to, and he falls asleep pretty nicely and entertains himself (usually) if he's not QUITE sleepy enough to conk out. Here's hoping that sticks around.

Must go see if mah bebe is awake. He's napping adorably in his swing.

(pics in my LJ)

jengen

12-10-2005, 12:33 PM

Congrats, AMC!! Another one over 10 days early...you lucky ladies! :)

ktdelsur Thanks for sharing your birth story! I am so glad things worked out with the induction and epi. Sorry to hear about the jaundice and your struggles with BF'ing, but sounds like you made a valiant effort to stick with it and you just need to do what is right for you! :)

As for me, I am learning that being totally impatient and frustrated and sitting home looking at the clock is getting me nowhere. I had a sudden burst of energy today, so I've been running around all day. I finished my Christmas shopping, wrapped our presents, got my hair straigtened, made cookies and DH and I decided to go to an annual Christmas party our friends have tonight. Only thing is, we are now 45 mins away, but we figure we'll just throw my bag in the car and worst case scenario, rush to the hospital. Doubt it will happen that way, anyway and I just need to get out of this house!
In other news, DH's cousin, who was due 2 weeks after me, had her baby last night. We are happy for them, but a little disappointed she beat me in the race to have the first great-grandchild on his side. :rolleyes: Apparently, they had to induce her because the baby was so big...even at 2 weeks early, he was almost 9 lbs! :eek:
Well, I'm rambling. Better go rest before the party tonight. I am so hoping I go into labor by tomorrow because my favorite midwife is on call this weekend.

oceanblue

12-10-2005, 12:44 PM

Hey all! Just got home from the hospital!! Typing one-handed right now so I'll have to be back later with pictures and story. But for now:

HAYDEN DANIEL
BORN 12/8/05
10:16 A.M.
9 LBS 13 OZ
21 INCHES

He's big, handsome, perfect and healthy as can be. So far breastfeeding is a breeze. He latched on right away in the recovery room.I'm terribly sore, but happy as can be!! BBL!!

Cookie777

12-10-2005, 03:08 PM

Congratulations AMC & Welcome Christian! :D

Congratulations AprilBride & Welcome Hayden! :D

KTDelsur ~

Sounds like things went pretty good! That's great..& encouraging to hear. The epidural is sounding better & better by the day. :o Sorry to hear about the jaundice..but I'm glad he's already doing much better. I saw the pictures & commented in your LJ. :)

ktdelsur

12-10-2005, 03:36 PM

Whoohooo! New mommies every minute!

UPDATE:

Well, I thought my milk wasn't coming in. Turns out maybe once I resigned myself to relax about feeding, it decided to show up. I'm not totally engorged but they are harder and fuller, and when I was feeling around to see what the heck was up, I found a little knot, and all of a sudden my hand was wet. Whoops. Soooo, guess we're going to pick back up with BF'ing and hope Andrew catches on again - we had JUST given up and given him a bottle of formula around 4 p.m. today! Wish us luck!

oceanblue

12-10-2005, 03:39 PM

OK, a few pictures of Hayden:

http://images.snapfish.com/3457487923232%7Ffp336%3Enu%3D3236%3E273%3E%3A63%3E WSNRCG%3D3233385339%3B46nu0mrj

http://images.snapfish.com/3457487923232%7Ffp338%3Enu%3D3236%3E273%3E%3A63%3E WSNRCG%3D3233385339%3B58nu0mrj

http://images.snapfish.com/3457487923232%7Ffp337%3Enu%3D3236%3E273%3E%3A63%3E WSNRCG%3D3233385339%3B73nu0mrj

Cookie777

12-10-2005, 04:09 PM

AprilBride ~

He's so cute! Looks like he's very healthy & good size! :) I'm sure you must be enjoying him so much!

KTDelsur ~

That's great news! I've heard of it taking up to 2 weeks sometimes for milk to come in...which just seems like forever! So I'm glad it's all going to work out for you. I told my husband to remind me to relax since it appears that seemed to help you a lot.

****

So how many people are still pregnant? :confused: Jengen... & who else?

krbb

12-10-2005, 04:19 PM

Congrats AMC and Aprilbride2002!!!

I am still pregnant!! I am so uncomfortable though. I can barely wallk. We walked around the mall today and there were times I had to clutch onto DH becuase it hurt so bad. It is like he is just going to fall out. We did celebrate my birthday today (it is Monday), the ILs came up and took us out to eat and I got a birthday cake from Coldstone so that was yummy.

Thanks Katie for sharing your birth story. I am seriously considering an induction just because how I am doing mentally and physically. My Dr said since I was almost 4cm and almost fully effaced that she recommended it. That was last Monday. She said if I was a full 4cm she would have sent me to the hospital, so I may end up there on Monday. Glad your milk finally came in and I hope things pick back up with the bf.

jrbnj

12-10-2005, 05:08 PM

CONGRATS to all the new mommies!!

It's really long, but here is my birth story. I loved reading other peoples stories while pregnant so it's only fair that I post mine as well. (Sean = DH.)

Thursday, December 1st: I had my 39 week appointment. Was 3cm dilated and 50% effaced. I had been 50% effaced for 3 weeks and made some progress with the dilation from the previous week.

Friday, December 2nd: Had lunch with my mom and a lazy day of watching TV. I wanted to do some walking to get things moving so when Sean came home from work we went to the mall to have dinner and walk around. After a Taco Bell dinner, we walked around the mall for about 45 minutes before heading over to Staples to pick up a Christmas present. We had planned to go to the supermarket after Staples but decided to go on Saturday since we had nothing else to do. When we got home I went to the bathroom and felt a gush of water. I wasn’t sure if my water had broken or if I just really had to go. I called Sean into the bathroom to let him know that something weird was going on. I pulled up my pants and was still confused about what happened. Then another gush came out and I was definitely sure that my water broke. I called the doctor at 9:00 pm to let her know what happened. She told me to take a shower and go to the hospital around 10:00 pm. I couldn’t believe that it was actually happening. I had wanted the baby to come so bad but when it was actually happening I was so scared of what was to come.

We arrived at the hospital and they put me in the triage room to make sure my water had definitely broke and to ask me a ton of questions. My doctor came in to check me and I was 3-4 cm dilated and 80% effaced. She told me that they were going to admit me and that I should walk around to get things moving.

Saturday, December 3rd: At around 1:30 am I wasn’t making much progress on my own so my doctor wanted to give me Pitocin. She recommended the epidural before the Pitocin. I was absolutely petrified of the epidural. Sean and I decided that it would be best if he left the room since he’s a bit queasy. The epidural was not bad at all. I am a huge wimp and can honestly say that it was not a big deal at all. There wasn’t anything to do so Sean and I tried to sleep and gain energy for what was ahead.

At about 10:00 am my doctor let me know that it was time to push. It was the craziest feeling to know that I would be meeting my son very soon. Sean and I both started to cry. I was crying because I was very frightened about what was about to happen and because of the excitement of meeting my child.

I started pushing in the standard position. Apparently, the baby wasn’t moving down enough in that position so the doctor had me try a different position. They installed a bar above my bed for me to grab on to while squatting on the bed (like an exercise squat) and pushing. The gravity would help the baby move down. I had never seen anything like it. It was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do. The doctor left the room to check on another patient on another floor while I was pushing and while she was gone, I started to crown. They had me stop pushing which was extremely difficult as the contractions came. Once the doctor got back to the room, I pushed a few times and Connor Benjamin arrived at 11:27 am.. It was an amazing experience to see my son enter the world. I didn’t get to hold him for over an hour after delivery because there was extensive stitching that had to be done. I was so out of it that I barely knew what was happening. Sean was able to hold Connor while I was being worked on. I asked how many stitches I got and nobody would tell me but I did have a 3rd degree tear. When I finally got to hold my son, he looked just like his dad and was the most beautiful boy I had ever seen.

Recovery: I had no idea how tough recovery would be. I have been feeling better every day but it hasn’t been easy. I would do it all over again in a second to have this precious boy in my life.