Weekly chat april 2-9 « Back to Group Discussions

[flavorfull1]

Hi ladies! Well things are really moving along it seems for a lot of us.  I have to say, my patient zen mama feelings are long gone and I am a little jealous of those that are snuggling their little ones or at least have signs of anything.  I told myself to not get all impatient and to expect DD to come after her due date blah blah blah.  Honestly though, I am only 39 weeks tomorrow but I just want to meet her.  I am done being pg and I am ready to move on to the next phase.  Many emotional days this week so hoping that means hormones are changing and my baby is coming sometime soon. I do know it means I won't be pregnant forever but these weeks are really dragging by now.  It is just disappointing to go to bed wondering if I will wake up some time in labor and then I wake up in the morning grouchy bc no labor happened at all. bah

Anyone else feeling a little impatient? What are you doing to pass the time?  

[daylicious]

Impatience? Yup! I'm only 37 weeks, but already feel impatient. This is my first official day off of work (taking 3 weeks vacation before my mat leave starts on my due date)....hmmm not sure about this, thinking I could have worked a little longer. Im already twiddling my thumbs. I think it would be a whole different ball game if I had other children, but it's just me...alone...WAHHHH! I'm feeling very overwhelmed and impatient for baby to come.

I was cleaning out my flower beds earlier (spring has arrived!), and whoah! Tiring! How did pioneer ladies go it?!

[adoremybabe]

daylicious - I am my mom's first of 6 kids. She recently told me that she worked up until her due date with me and proceeded to go 2 weeks overdue. She hated every moment of waiting. She was bored to death. With her second, she worked right up until she went into labor.

I am still feeling pretty patient because everyday I'm getting a little more done but I have had it with my children. They started spring break and were so defiant and disrecpectful this morning. All I wanted to do was to call DH and order him home from work.  sigh....

[chiromama01]

IMPATIENT?!?!?! OMG YES!!!!! I have reached all time new lows lately in regards to emotional stability, and everyone looks at me like a ticking time bomb!  I'm SO READY but alas, ds is not! I am having trouble sleeping so i was desparate and thought about membrane stripping, but it's only 50% effective at 40 weeks, so i guess i'll hold out another week.  Dh and i did go buy a new mattress so hopefully that will help me get some more sleep in the meantime.  i'm still working, though at this point i've reduced my hours and am only working 4 half days a week, so hopefully i'll begin to feel a little less overwhelmed and a little more rested soon! 

good luck and happy waiting to all...

[CarlyVHT]

I'm still trying to hold out on being patient. I just don't want to get too anxious and then end up goinbg to 42 weeks, so I'm trying to prepare myself for the fact that it could be awhile.

I will be 38 weeks tomorrow. I'd ideally like to have this baby in about 1 week - like right after Easter. But likely that won't happen. After tomorrow, I will have everything finished up at work. Even though I am technically working until the baby is born, I have no idea what the heck I will DO at work since after tomorrow, I should have everything finished. I'll probably end up working A LOT less.

I am having some steadier cramping today, some lower back/hip "pressure" and some cramping that stretches down into my thighs. I am also pooping more the past two days (like a couple of times per day which is unusual for me) so I am thinking maybe I can take those things as good signs that my body is gearing up....?

I was induced at 38 weeks on the dot last time with NO signs of impending labor at that point, so I really don't know what to expect or what my body's norm is.....

[ReadingRenee]

Impatient?  NO!!! :)

I have had contrax on and off for the past few days and thought I might be going into labor the night of March 31st.  Dh and I got into a stupid discussion that greatly upset me and it was like the dam just broke. I  cried violently for a while.  You know, hiccups and breath hitching and all that.  Right after that I started getting contrax 5 minutes apart.  They only lasted about  an hour though and then left and I was GLAD.  Then the day after that was some contrax and last night I was cramping so badly it was hard to sleep, had to get up early they were so uncomfortable but after about 30 minutes of being up they went away.  And I was HAPPY. LOL 

I dont' know if I ever REALLY feel ready to go into labor.   Yes we get to meet our babies and that is so wonderful but the work required to get there is a little scary to me, no matter how many times I have done it.  I try to think positive but this morning was a powerful reminder of what labor feels like.  I just hope all these contractions have been doing something so that active labor goes a little more quickly. :)  Anyway, I am 38+2 today so Im in no hurry.  I would ideally like to wait til after DD1s birthday party and her birthday on the 9th. After that anytime is good.   

[justKate]

I swear some of my impatience is just hormonal--I'm so grumpy, and I hate it, but there's nothing I can do about it!  Last week I felt like things were warming up--more chunky plug-looking discharge, more discomfort in my cervix--but the past few days haven't felt productive at all.  I have a midwife appt tomorrow so I'll have her check me, just out of curiosity.  Expecting to still be 3 cm.

So I talked to my mom today, and she didn't mention Easter at all.  I told her about how I was just feeling grumpy and antisocial, and she, of course, said "yeah, I noticed...."  I reminded her that I'd be 40 weeks Friday and just wanted to lay on the couch and do nothing, so hopefully she got the point. 

I think we're going to dye easter eggs either this evening or tomorrow when DH gets home.  Wednesday is story time at the library, Thursday is pre-school for DD in the a.m., and then I'll be 40 weeks on Friday.  I'm going to try to stay caught up on laundry, keep the bathrooms reasonably clean, and be patient at least until 41 weeks.  After that, I'm not sure what I'll do!

[NicMom]

I am mentally thinking 41 weeks (aka May) so I don't get impatient.  I am definitely at the uncomfortable point with the lack of sleep and rib pain.  Chiro - I also have the problem of waking up in the night and not about to get back to sleep.  Mine is because my ribs hurt so much I can only sleep when I am exhausted enough to sleep through the pain.  I have no pain when I am upright or on all fours.  Unfortunately, it isn't easy to sleep in either of those positions.

So I have a new symptom of pregnancy.  I have been having BH since about 13 weeks.  Sometimes 6+ an hour for a minute or so at a time, but nothing worrying.  I just have an active uterus.  Well, yesterday it kicked into high gear.  I have started to have these BH contractions that last 5-10 minutes.  I am not kidding.  It is like having a charlie horse of the uterus but you can't stretch it or massage it out because that will just make it worse.  After a few minutes sometimes the baby will get a little peeved and start moving around a bit.  Who can blame him?  Seriously, 10 minutes!  I asked the midwife and it isn't anything to be concerned about because they are definitely BH but this might explain why both my mom and grandmother had such incredibly short labors.  I wonder if they had such wonderfully "active" uteri? 

[saudade]

I'm the odd one here, I'm not impatient at all. In fact, I'm hoping that I don't go into labor yet because I don't feel ready. In all rationality, I realize that I'm pretty ready and the "little things" that make me feel unready are really not that important in the big picture. (Things like not having a diaper pail or the newborn diaper covers I ordered yet, type of "unready" which is dumb because we'd make do just find without it) I'm really anal and perfectionist when it comes to having all the little details PERFECT. I understand this isn't really the most rational thinking. I remember when baby #3 was coming and I didn't have the strong nesting urge so much to clean the house or organize or anything...but I had this urgency to organize all my other two children's baby pictures in new albums, sorting all pictures perfectly from birth to present BEFORE I could have a new baby. I don't know why this was so important to me. It was a huge task, because I had so many of them that it became numerous albums etc... that is what I worked on in the days before #3 came along. Wouldn't you know that as soon as I put in the very last photo to complete the very last album...I began having stronger contractions than the prodromal stuff I had going on for weeks and I gave birth early the next morning! It's like I will hold on until I feel that I can let go and then when I do, it happens. Interesting...huh? I guess I'm odd that way. I don't sit around waiting impatiently with any of my kids. I never feel quite ready until I am and then as soon as I "allow" it, it happens.

Nicmom- 10 minute long contractions, wow! I've never heard of that. Hopefully they are doing some good work for you!!

[flavorfull1]

emotional- um yes. cue crying gasping episodes X 3 so far in the past several days. I feel like a jerk bc I am irritable and then feel bad bc I am for no reason and feel sad. Then, I am also just kind of teary anyway.  Really needed some alone time with DH and got to go on a date this weekend and just hang out with just us on the couch which really helped.

BH- yeah I have started having some of those really long braxton hicks but not as long as 10 min, more like 3-5 min and it feels weird.  They have changed to where they will kind of peak and then linger for a while. it feels weird but not painful.  I feel like there must be more "real" contractions mixed in there some times but they don't really hurt, just a lot of pressure, sometimes downward.

ready for labor- I dunno, within the span of an hour I can feel like I am definitely ready, then I think about it and decide I am ok with not doing labor at the moment, then I realize that it will happen sooner or later so I wouldn't mind now. Did I mention I am emotional? LOL

Also, it seems that I am obsessed with avocados today. I went to the third place to finally find some avocados that would be ripe tonight so that I could make a specific dish I had in Ecuador six years ago.  There are currently seven avocados in my house at varying stages of ripeness but two will be eaten by me and my family tonight.  The problem was I got hung up on making tacos bc I thought I wouldn't be able to find ripe avocados for the dish I want to make then I found some.....so now I have to figure out which I want to eat.  I am just glad food is still yummy :)

[tarabelle]

NicMom- I hear you on the long contractions!  Last night when I went to bed it felt like my uterus was in a constant contraction, it was very uncomfortable but not painful and eventually I relaxed enough to get to sleep, but was woken up again multiple times by BH.  I was moving all day (a lot of bending down, cleaning etc.) so I think I may have somehow 'irritated' my uterus or something.

 

Saudade- I like your story about finishing the photo albums.  My mom told me that with me she didn't give birth until the third because she needed to make sure the pay check came in on the first of the month all the payments on all of the bills went through before she could have a baby.  I guess she started having contractions just a few hours after she paid all the bills.

 

I am not too impatient yet, but I keep thinking it would be nice to go into labour just so that I could have an extension on all my outstanding school work.  Of course, that is an awful idea and I really should be rushing to finish everything so I can finally get down to business and have this baby!  Basically, I feel conflicted.  I am sooo sick of being pregnant but I'm really not ready for this baby to come out just yet!

[kaismum]

Impatience? - Not so much here yet. I am feeling pretty content with her on the inside. Though, I am sure this will be waning in the near future. I am starting to be less physically comfortable. Plus, she is so easy to take care of in there. And, I need to make it through my shower and get some more meals made and finish up gathering up all of the home birth supplies that were not in the kit and get our extra shower curtain down between two sets of sheets and....I've got a lot to accomplish yet, okay? ;) But, mostly I have been knitting and just trying to really keep on top of laundry and dishes.

Contractions - This is is the main reason that I am starting to feel less comfortable. I have them what feels like constantly. I keep telling myself that it is good to be doing some work in advance and maybe I will start labor at like 5cm or something ridiculous. This only helps marginally. I have started complaining daily to my husband about how irritating it is to have a contraction every time I do anything more taxing than sitting. And sometimes when I am sitting. 

Emotional - Yes. So much. I try to keep it under control because it is sort of embarrassing...like when I really started crying during the Titanic 3D preview this weekend. 

My sister came to town from DC to have a baby shower for me and see my big belly. And apparently to help my mom cook a bunch of food for our freezer (she told me today!). I am glad to have her here. She is coming to my weekly knitting group on Thursday and our kids are going to run around my hubs grandma's farm for a bit tomorrow morning. It is a really nice distraction from the constant contractions and the little freak outs I seem to be prone to lately. I think I should probably pick up some Rescue Remedy. 

I have been lanolizing covers and longies and blocking other knit goods for the baby. I have to get some pictures up on our crafty thread. I have been really, really lazy about picture taking in general since I have been pregnant. I really meant to take weekly bump photos and didn't accomplish even monthly shots. I sort of hate our camera right now, maybe that is why. 

Our home visit is on Wednesday and I am really looking forward to that. I really like both of our midwives, but I loooooove one a little better and my husband hasn't met her yet because DS has really not be into going along to appointments. I don't want to force him to hang out at their office, so they have stayed home together for all of my appointments. So, I am super looking forward to him getting to meet her. 

My MIL told my SIL that she is staying for a week and a half, not the five days that she told me last month. I have been so afraid of snapping at her about this or bursting into tears that I haven't called her to confirm her plans yet. But, she did say that she would email her flight info when she has it and I haven't received anything yet. I should probably call her tonight. We will see if I am feeling calm enough to do this without being bitchy in her general direction. 

[piratemere]

I'm definitely jealous of the mamas with babies in their arms.  I am trying to suppress the fear/anxiety I have over the upcoming birth.  I should just listen to my hypnobabies constantly, but can't really do that while trying to take care of two preschoolers.

Today I felt a sudden urge to get all things done outside of the home that needed to be done, so I spent the day dragging around my boys, returning, buying and looking for all sorts of things.  DS1 has just moved up a size, the first size I don't have a stock pile of.  So, I went to three different second hand stores looking for hoodies and shorts (I have lots of shirts and pants for some reason already) and found some great deals.  It feels good to know that I won't have to go out and buy anything for a while.

I can't seem to keep on top of my laundry or housework.  It just keep piling up. Argg.  As soon as I feel the house is clean, a hurricane seems to go straight through it.  At the same time, I have no desire to spend the last days with my family as it is right now harping on everyone to keep it spotless, as much as I would like it to be.  I guess once the baby is here at least I won't have to feel bad about the mess - I'll have a pretty good excuse.

[chapluqa]

I'm with the others who say they're not at all impatient. I was feeling impatient a few weeks ago, but now I think it's really dawning on me that this is all going to happen and I don't quite feel ready yet. I agree with what you said, Kaismum - I'm enjoying having baby inside, it's definitely easier to take care of her/him in there, and I've really gotten used to being pregnant. But at the same time I am really excited to meet my baby, I've been so curious about who I've got growing in there!

I'm also getting lots of Braxton Hicks contractions, so much that sometimes it seems like my belly is just hard most of the day. But they aren't uncomfortable most of the time. I'd like to think that all this warming up means I'll have a short/easy labor, but I know that's no guarantee. Especially since the main difference between BH and labor contractions are that BH aren't actually doing anything to the cervix.

I'll have the birth pool and accessories by this weekend, I need to finish lanolizing some wool stuff (including the blanket that will serve as a waterproof bed pad - I'd better do that today just in case).

I have my blessingway (mother blessing, an alternative to a baby shower) on Friday, I'm really looking forward to it as it will be a great emotional preparation for giving birth and becoming a mother for the first time. We're going to do cool stuff like henna on my belly, birthing blessings/affirmations prayer flags, and a birthing necklace for which I've received beads from friends and family who are overseas, as well as my circle of homebirthing women friends here.  

On Saturday DH and I will do my belly cast, unless I decide to wait a bit longer so my belly will be as big as possible (it's not actually that huge yet).

I think the nesting instincts are kicking in because for the first time in a long time I am much more motivated to keep up with dishes and laundry and keeping the house clean. It feels more satisfying than before, so I'm thinking it's hormonally driven.

My mom is coming over from California on the 21st. I'll be 39 weeks by then, I hope that baby waits to make her/his appearance until she gets here, it would be great to have her here for the immediate postpartum period (and I suppose for the birth itself, although I'm not feeling like I really need her to be here for that).

[thomatuttle]

Impatient--hell yes! I think part of it has to do with the fact that I am a few days overdue and DD was early. Part of it is because my parents are here and DH and I haven't had the house to ourselves since my mom got here almost 2 weeks ago. My dad just changed his flight plans too, so instead of leaving on Wednesday he is now leaving on Sunday. They are staying at a nearby motel, but they are still here all day from morning until night. DH is especially going batty about it. I know it will be a huge help having them around once DS is here, since I have to stay at the hospital for 48 hours and they will be able to watch DD, but I'm starting to go crazy! My mom has also been having family and friends texting or calling her constantly asking for updates which is starting to piss me off. I told her to send a blanket text to everyone letting them know that there is no baby yet and she will let them know when he comes, but she just won't do it! I think she likes the attention to be honest.

Contractions--DH and I DTD Saturday hoping it would help move things along. I did have contractions on and off throughout the day but didn't tell anyone because I didn't want my entire family staring at me wondering what every little movement I made meant. They weren't really regular though and felt different from last time. Probably because with DD I mostly had back labor. These feel like cramps beneath my belly that tend to radiate towards my back and my belly just gets hard like with a BH. Once I went to bed Saturday night though, that was it. I had a few yesterday and a few more today. My parents, DH, DD and I went for a walk on the beach for a while today hoping to move things along, but so far nada. I actually had a couple contractions on the way to the beach, but nothing since.

My ob is back from spring break, so at least I know he'll actually be at this birth! My next appointment is tomorrow morning at 8:15, which means we have to leave at 7:45 which drives me crazy because I am so not a morning person! It'll be interesting to see how far along I am now. A family friend messaged me in Facebook asking how long my doctor was going to let me go before intervening and I told her there would be no interventions with this birth and that he would come when he comes. I haven't heard back from her yet.

[prettyisa]

Hmm..I think I just crossed the line into impatient. Possibly because most of my to-do list is done and I feel like I can relax/let go. Also, I think the baby is moving down--my belly is a lot softer and getting a little lower, and my hips are hurting in a whole new way. No BH, I don't think Part of me wants to get to the weekend and be able to be rested (and let my DP rest up) and part of me just wants to get things over with. I'll be 39 weeks tomorrow, so it could be whenever, I guess.

[Aletheia]

I crossed the line into impatient-ville today.  I was walking the track, and really wishing to be running, and walking pretty aggressively-- and twanged something in my hip.  Now all I feel is a sore hip and a baby who is engaged and feels like it is ready to fall out.  YES, PLEASE DO I want to say.  Fall the heck out.  I feel like a hippopotomus and now I look like a penguin because I have to waddle due to my hip being so sore.

Gar.

But in other news, the crib is up, and DH is currently out picking up the second of two possible changing tables I'm considering.  Yay, craigslist!!  So that's progress!

[belacmsage]

Impatient: Yup, I am definitely wanting this baby out. I'm 38w4d and really uncomfortable. My hips and lower back are killing me. My cervix is achy and getting bumped constantly. I'm cramping and sleep deprived. At this point it would be easier to take care of her on the outside where others can help me out.

Emotional: Yup. I try not to think about anything upset or sad. Even the slightest thing can set me off and I will cry. I'm not normally an emotional person and I rarely cry so this is really upsetting in itself. It's a never ending cycle.

Contractions: Sorry to hear so many of you are dealing with these. I am sure I've had some but there has been nothing really contraction like in the things I experience. It makes me wonder how an actual contraction will feel and how I will know labor is really happening.

Hope all of you have a stress free week and those of you who are ready have babies to welcome soon!

[Countrygirl10]

Impatient - Yes 40 weeks tommorow but who knows really? I admit I am jealous of mamas holding babies ATM! I am so over this but DH wants another 2 weeks to finish the house so we can get in there for the birth but I am already an emotional wreck & lack of sleep hasn't helped, I really don't care anymore where I have it, everyone is getting over a cold - can you believe I have been so careful with suppliments & my diet I copped the cold the worst?

DH thinks its also because I am run down emotionally because of my mums behaviour . I am nearly over it now (the cold not my mother) & really praying I go over the long weekend.

I always seem to get contractions in my back  on Tuesday nights (all night) until Wenesday mornings Of course Wednesday being the ONE day of the week all of my older children are working with him & he is over 2 hours away makes it a bit stressful we keep telling bub anytime from Thursday nights are good (DH usually finishes his work week Thursdays).

Nesting I was doing it a couple of weeks ago but I am so disheartened with everything I cleaned was messed up by the next day (11 people & 1 bathroom) I have given up even my 10yr old can see how frustrating it is. As for Laundry I have a couple of very well trained short people the only downside is when they misplace my ONLY short maternity skirt & we have another run of hot days (like now)

Thomatuttle-  I had to educate some friends of ours why I don't welcome the questions at this stage or even answer the phone anymore & they have 8 children! Our MIL took the cake with needing to know with my SIL- she went to the hospy while SIL was in labor so she could watch! When she was not allowed she wanted her Son to leave his wife & keep her company.

You ladies with family staying are very blessed even if they do get on your nerves at least they care enough to be there for you & support you.

[carastar]

I'm 40 +1 today and I'm feeling pretty impatient, even though I know I shouldn't. My mom has been here for a week now, and will only be here for another week, so I'm really hoping baby comes asap so I have her help for as long as possible. Also, my husband travels a lot and will be leaving for a few days in a couple weeks. I'm afraid I'm going to be left all on my own too soon. So I'm worried about those things, plus I'm so uncomfortable (heartburn, severe pelvic pain, carpel tunnel in both hands which results in numbness for a lot of the day), plus I just am so excited to meet my baby girl!