Feelin' Birthy--come share your journey to Birth with the symptoms/changes you are experiencing! - Page 3 « Back to Group Discussions

[madis81]

 Feeling super birthy here! Wowsers! Every evening this week I've been timing contractions. They start at 10-15 minutes apart, get stronger and closer, but as soon as they hit 3-5 minuts apart they fade away. That's also usually right around bedtime, which for some bizarre reason has been somewhat chaotic. I did ask to get checked, just out of curiousty since babes head is so low and I get so much pressure when I do have contractions... I want a good idea as to where I'm at when labor does start. Anyway, head is obviously low and my cervix is 3cm dilated and 70% effaced. I'm hoping to make it through Tuesday... purely selfish reasons. My DH would get 10 days paternity leave AFTER I come home from the hospital, and they wouldn't start it until after his 4-day weekend for Thanksgiving. That means 14 days off at home! lol... Yes, I'm dreaming. If only I could really control that, so I could have that extra 4 days!

[phatchristy]

Madis....wow sounds like your body is getting ready!  Very encouraging signs.

I am already having some of those end of pregnancy waiting game feelings.  I do really need the time to get things ready though...I just want the little one to stay happy and healthy on the inside until it's the right time to be born.

Saw this March of dimes commercial the other day about waiting until 39 weeks for a baby to be born...when I saw it I had this feeling they were trying to change the general public sense of 'normalcy' around labor induction.  It's freaky crazy how people think it is normal to tinker around with when a baby is ready to be born and then when labor happens to augment it (make it quicker....like this is a race, yikes).  Was talking to someone the other day about my first going to 41W2D or so and she was like "wow, I've never heard of that before"....YIKES!

Anyhow, if you haven't seen it, it's here....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4t0oyT3KP8

Doesn't it feel like they *should* be showing this to OBs?  It totally screams "no non-medical induction"!  Like the mom herself can really force baby out early?  

[segolilymama]

Wow Madis - you are really getting ready!

Christy, I had seen this one. I saw a petition somewhere, too, that was "Let baby choose their birthday" or something. Again, this is not likely directed at the mama taking the occassional herb to help start labor. We need awareness that babies will come when they are ready - no one has ever been pregnant forever!

[annaka]

Originally Posted by segolilymama 

Wow Madis - you are really getting ready!

Christy, I had seen this one. I saw a petition somewhere, too, that was "Let baby choose their birthday" or something. Again, this is not likely directed at the mama taking the occassional herb to help start labor. We need awareness that babies will come when they are ready - no one has ever been pregnant forever!

This is just what I needed to hear as my weekend ends. :) I've been stressing about how much longer I have to go until my due date. Then Friday night I had my first official night with contractions uncomfortable enough that it was hard to stay on my side sleeping. I sat up and did some stretches and had a snack, but they still continued about 8-12 minutes apart. It went on from about 1:45 am to about 4:00am. Then I finally fell asleep and woke up in the morning with my lower areas feeling super sore. Kind of stressed me out! I'm only just over 34 weeks. I'm measuring a bit big, and can feel the babe very low with pressure. Internally as well, I can feel baby's head a few cms up. Though I have no clue what my cervix is, as I am new at checking myself (I used to be of the mind that its what doctors were for)... everything just feels super ripe and mushy. (TMI, sorry.) I suppose I could take it as a good sign that I can't feel my cervix based on the advice of a close friend/fellow mother/nurse and what I've read on the matter? Any advice from experienced women on this?

But the bottom line is: I need to keep telling myself not to want to have this baby too early! So part of me feels bad for stressing and checking! But then on the other hand, what if this is early labor, and is really actually being productive? I know I could go a few more weeks at this rate, but the what-if of it all makes me nervous! I've still got six until my due date! What is this?! I thought being my third baby, it wouldn't be dropping this early? Part of the worry is, the nearest NICU is an hour and a half away so the baby would likely be transferred there if its born earlier than full term. I'm torn. :P

Sorry about the vent, but MAN and I feeling emotional and stressed and I think my DH is exhausted listening to me go on about it. Sigh....

EDITED TO ADD: (I had missed reading a couple posts.) My son was born on his own time at 37w. My earliest go date is the 7th. So some of you mamas with a few kids, any patterns on how early/late you had them?

[phatchristy]

Originally Posted by annaka 

EDITED TO ADD: (I had missed reading a couple posts.) My son was born on his own time at 37w. My earliest go date is the 7th. So some of you mamas with a few kids, any patterns on how early/late you had them?

My first here was 41w2D, I think the second and third was around 40W2d.  The fourth was the 'fluke' 38w4d or something like that.  They tell me to expect that I'm more likely to go to the full 40 since my last babe started labor by breaking the water.  None of the other ones went like that!  If it goes like that I think I'm going to be more likely really close to new year.

[purposefuldoula]

I was thinking I had weeks to go up until yesterday, and now I'm not so sure. Last night, after I had my night cap of CALM magnesium and got in bed, I started getting really crampy contractions that came anywhere from 2.5 minutes to 5 minutes apart. These went on for at least 3 hours when I decided to try to go to sleep. They were also accompanied by that low back ache that sometimes comes with labor.  This morning I woke up still crampy and have been having them mostly 3 minutes apart. They are definitely more intense when I am up, moving around, but are not stopping when I'm sitting or laying down.  This morning, I also had some brownish mucus, which with both of my girls, that didn't change until it was really close to their birthdays.  

There is a slight chance that my dates could be a month off, which I think I've shared before. If that's the case, then that would put me a month early, making this week prime baby week (with my "going late" history.) 

I'm also just really exhausted today, feeling like my body is needing some extra rest for the next couple of days. We'll see what happens! Just wanted to share! 

[sweetestday]

How exciting! 

[darkblue0729]

Originally Posted by purposefuldoula 

I was thinking I had weeks to go up until yesterday, and now I'm not so sure. Last night, after I had my night cap of CALM magnesium and got in bed, I started getting really crampy contractions that came anywhere from 2.5 minutes to 5 minutes apart. These went on for at least 3 hours when I decided to try to go to sleep. They were also accompanied by that low back ache that sometimes comes with labor.  This morning I woke up still crampy and have been having them mostly 3 minutes apart. They are definitely more intense when I am up, moving around, but are not stopping when I'm sitting or laying down.  This morning, I also had some brownish mucus, which with both of my girls, that didn't change until it was really close to their birthdays.  

There is a slight chance that my dates could be a month off, which I think I've shared before. If that's the case, then that would put me a month early, making this week prime baby week (with my "going late" history.) 

I'm also just really exhausted today, feeling like my body is needing some extra rest for the next couple of days. We'll see what happens! Just wanted to share! 

So exciting Natalie!!!! 

[segolilymama]

Go Natalie! Can't wait to hear what happens!

I posted in the weekly I had contractions al day yesterday - they weren't too intense but definitely not BH, either. Still going today, too... of course painting the bathroom may have intensified them a bit....

[travelmumma]

Ahhh you guys!! So exciting!!!!!!!
Keep us updated!!!

[phatchristy]

Sounds like we're on the cusp of a few babies coming earthside...

Super exciting indeed!  Keep us updated ladies!

[madis81]

My prodromal labor contractions are getting worst, but not so bad I feel like birth is going to happen. Last night I was up until 3am with contractions 3 minutes apart. Nothing was making them go away. They finally relaxed enough where I could fall asleep, but now I am super tired. Lots of mucous being lost now too.

[phatchristy]

Originally Posted by madis81 

My prodromal labor contractions are getting worst, but not so bad I feel like birth is going to happen. Last night I was up until 3am with contractions 3 minutes apart. Nothing was making them go away. They finally relaxed enough where I could fall asleep, but now I am super tired. Lots of mucous being lost now too.

Well, if you're losing plug then you're definitely dilating!  So that's always a good sign that they're doing something :)

[mamaharrison]

how exciting, ladies--especially Natalie!! I can't wait to hear more birthy news now that cielo has ignited the flame!! I am sooooo excited to meet my baby and to see pics of all of your squishy little wee babes, too!!

Nothing new here. Feeling like the talk I had with baby about second week of december being a really good week for birthday has been heard ;)
So....we'll see!

[purposefuldoula]

A little sad to report back that nothing is really going today, other than being exhausted! Last night, after DH got home, contx picked way up and were coming about every two minutes. They did this for over an hour but when I sat down, they somewhat slowed. That's when I decided to do my "shower test" and take a shower to see what happened. After my shower, I was totally relaxed and they started to taper off. 

I haven't really gotten out of bed yet today, but I can tell that I'm definitely not going into labor today! After yesterday, though, it does feel a lot closer though. With either of my girls, I never experienced false labor that intense, so I'm hopeful that he's coming sooner than later. 

[annaka]

Wow! So much action! The time is coming for many of us! Mamaharrison, I took a note from you and did some deep relaxation, a good talk with the LO, and some soul searching on Sunday night before bed. Woke up yesterday morning feeling much better. The pain in my left hip has subsided and I have had to restful nights. (Other than the usual get up to pee 3-4 times, but I can handle that no prob.) I think the baby has changed positions and has decided that staying in for a few more weeks does sound like a good plan. Whew. Three more weeks until go time is sounding much more less stressful now, and possible. I'm feeling ready to take on the Thanksgiving week festivities and enjoy some family time! We'll be leaving in a few hours and I'm not sure I'll have internet access until Sunday night, so if any of you have some excitement happen: BEST WISHES AND GOOD LUCK!

[travelmumma]

Gonna bump this up by adding- lost some blood tinged plug this morning!
Midwife is outta gown for 4 days lol but back ups have been given a heads up.... Not feeling anything too soon tho. Maybe still a week or so away.

[lulubikes]

TM - so exciting!

[kaliki_kila]

I have been having moments of really bad lower back pain for several days.  It comes out of the blue and takes my breath away.  It usually lasts about 20 seconds and happens 2-3 times then stops.  I really hope this isn't a sign of a posterior baby and impending back labor.  I want to believe it's just the baby pressing on a nerve.

[segolilymama]

kaliki - I have been having bad back pain as well, and my baby is ROA/ROT. I think you are right about it being a nerve getting pressed on. Are you contracting at the same time? My back pains are mostly happening with contractions.