41+ club « Back to Group Discussions

[loveandgarbage]

Anyone else here yet and still pregnant? I'll be 41 weeks tomorrow. Up until yesterday I was completely fine with going later because my whole house was sick. But now that we're healthy I'm starting to get grumpy! So come complain with me. My crotch feels like it's sprained, my cervix feels the weight of a thousand bricks, I have to pee every 20 minutes, my belly skin aches, and I feel defeated at the end of the day knowing another day has passed without baby. This is the longest I've ever been pregnant for and I think I will celebrate this milestone with a gigantic chocolate cake tonight.

That said, I'M TRYING TO STAY POSITIVE I SWEAR.

[Teles]

I want to join the complaining club!!

I love all the mamas with their snuggly babies and I'm super happy for them but there's been a jab of jealousy every time I've updated the DDC Babies list since I turned 40 weeks.

I'm 40+4 and I HAVE YET TO HAVE A SINGLE CONTRACTION OF ANY KIND! I'm starting to wish that I was in some kind of discomfort, because then at least I'd be able to convince myself that something was progressing in there. Nope. Nada. Nothing. Feels like any other Monday.

I'm doing literally every bizarre thing that I can find on the internet in the hopes that SOMETHING works. I had a membrane sweep on Friday and I do feel like I'm probably dilating (was 3cm, 60% on Friday, probably 4cm now) and I'm 95% sure I lost my mucus plug, but everything is going so slow and I'm so impatient! I have another appointment on Wednesday where I'll probably get another membrane sweep. I'm trying to look on the bright side and put 4 days into perspective but every morning when I wake up and realize that another day has gone by I have a little temper tantrum in my head.

Everything is completely ready and I'm spending my days just wandering around my apartment, staring out windows and waiting for something to happen. I officially got cut off from my work email on Wednesday because I'm literally not allowed to do any work now, so I'm just trapped in this limbo between life before and after baby.

[joyriders]

41 weeks and 2 days pregnant over here.

over it.

haven't even had any contractions. i THINK i may have had a braxton-hicks for the FIRST TIME today, which is just a joke at this point. i've had some moments of feeling VERY sorry for myself.

i also had to undergo monitoring after experiencing reduced movement and high BP (pretty sure the first issue led to the second issue) and at that time i was given an internal check and i am/was (as of friday) completely UN-dilated and not effaced at all. pardon me for saying this way, but what the fuck? that is some bullshit right there.

i've been joking that i hope this isn't foreshadowing and my kid isn't trying to live in my basement still at age 30.

[Teles]

In my travels around the internet, I found a list of "Things to do when your baby is overdue" and included was:

"Watch workout videos from your couch. Preferably while wearing ratty sweats & eating potato chips. Laugh at how uncomfortable they look."

and

"When someone tells you to have sex to get the baby out, say something really inappropriate in response."

Thought I'd share, since it made me laugh

[Amor Rays]

Chocolate cake sounds like a great idea!  That would help me feel better.

I'll also be 41 weeks tomorrow.

I still have contractions all the time, which I sense are strong, but they always go away after a while.  so frustrating.

[loveandgarbage]

Teles and Amor Rays, that must be so hard to be having labor symptoms that seemingly go nowhere :(.

Lizz when my older kids were babies I used to cry thinking about them leaving the nest but now I have panic moments where I'm like... what if they're STILL living with me with they're adults?!

[becalive]

Still pregnant here........ but i'm not due till 25th Feb and I feel like all I am doing is complaining about being over it...... Hang in there ladies.

[josie423]

 Hope it's soon for you ladies!! I'm 39+1 and hoping I don't have to join this club, lol! My babies were all born at 38-40 weeks, but I've had a feeling this one is going to be later.

[kellybeth]

sorry mamas. i feel you. i'm 40+ now and i am so anxious to have my baby. of course i'm so happy for everyone who has had their babies but i feel the pang of jealousy too when i see another baby born in our group. i poke my belly and go "hey!" she is far too comfortable in there. i had 2 nights of random spaced contractions fri and sat then nothing. they were probably BH, since they didn't even feel like anything much to me, or what i'm prepared to feel. it would be nice to actually know what the hell i'm supposed to feel. and i lost my mucous plug over 2 weeks ago. lame.

[Brambleberry]

I'm 38w2d here, but I think that's the twin equivalent of being 41+, since they typically induce twins at 38w.  For the past 2 weeks I've been saying I don't think I can physically make it another week, and then another week passes and I'm somehow still standing (walking's another matter).  I feel like my pelvis is just falling apart (from the SPD), I can't walk more than a few yards without continual cramping and pain, it hurts like he!! to get in and out of the bed and I have to pee at least every 2 hours at night.  And I'm carrying around an extra 65+ lbs, which just kills my hip joints.  I'm having mild prodromal labor every afternoon and evening, but luckily it lets up by bed time.

I've had my membranes stripped twice now, with very little results.  I pumped for about 45 min on and off on Saturday morning with NO contractions to show for it, did manual nipple stimulation (with and without help from DH) throughout the day sat and sun to "turn up the volume" on my contractions - it won't start them but helps make them stronger.  And then last night I noticed that I had suddenly grown a cup size or two over the weekend, so I backed off on the nipple stim for fear of my milk coming in too soon.  I don't know if that's possible, but it would be super uncomfortable to be engorged during labor.  My LLL leader/doula/friend-next-door said she'd never heard of anyone's milk coming in before birth, but that if I wanted to be on the safe side, just to avoid the pump, since my body shouldn't make milk if I'm not removing any from my breasts.  I've also tried acupressure, DTD as much as DH is up for, and lots of RRL tea.  I'm considering the pros and cons of castor oil.  I'm scheduled for an acupuncture induction on Thursday, and agreed to let my doctor break my water on Friday.  I feel really conflicted about it, but between the (debatable) risk to the babies of going much longer and my SPD, I think inducing at 39 weeks is a reasonable compromise.  I really need to know that there's an end in sight too.  My doctor is convinced that if she breaks my water I won't need any further labor augmentation.  I've been 3 cm since 37 weeks, and am 4 cm now, and she says my cervix is about as ripe as it can get.  So why no action?!! argh!

[loveandgarbage]

Brambleberry, I'd say that you more than belong in this club! Wishing you a labor that starts very soon. You deserve it!

[Teles]

Originally Posted by loveandgarbage 

Brambleberry, I'd say that you more than belong in this club! Wishing you a labor that starts very soon. You deserve it!

Agreed, wholeheartedly!

You're one tough mama for carrying two little ones around for this long

[lovebeingamomma]

Originally Posted by Brambleberry 

I'm 38w2d here, but I think that's the twin equivalent of being 41+, since they typically induce twins at 38w.  For the past 2 weeks I've been saying I don't think I can physically make it another week, and then another week passes and I'm somehow still standing (walking's another matter).  I feel like my pelvis is just falling apart (from the SPD), I can't walk more than a few yards without continual cramping and pain, it hurts like he!! to get in and out of the bed and I have to pee at least every 2 hours at night.  And I'm carrying around an extra 65+ lbs, which just kills my hip joints.  I'm having mild prodromal labor every afternoon and evening, but luckily it lets up by bed time.

I've had my membranes stripped twice now, with very little results.  I pumped for about 45 min on and off on Saturday morning with NO contractions to show for it, did manual nipple stimulation (with and without help from DH) throughout the day sat and sun to "turn up the volume" on my contractions - it won't start them but helps make them stronger.  And then last night I noticed that I had suddenly grown a cup size or two over the weekend, so I backed off on the nipple stim for fear of my milk coming in too soon.  I don't know if that's possible, but it would be super uncomfortable to be engorged during labor.  My LLL leader/doula/friend-next-door said she'd never heard of anyone's milk coming in before birth, but that if I wanted to be on the safe side, just to avoid the pump, since my body shouldn't make milk if I'm not removing any from my breasts.  I've also tried acupressure, DTD as much as DH is up for, and lots of RRL tea.  I'm considering the pros and cons of castor oil.  I'm scheduled for an acupuncture induction on Thursday, and agreed to let my doctor break my water on Friday.  I feel really conflicted about it, but between the (debatable) risk to the babies of going much longer and my SPD, I think inducing at 39 weeks is a reasonable compromise.  I really need to know that there's an end in sight too.  My doctor is convinced that if she breaks my water I won't need any further labor augmentation.  I've been 3 cm since 37 weeks, and am 4 cm now, and she says my cervix is about as ripe as it can get.  So why no action?!! argh!

Castor Oil won't work if your body is not ready FYI, I tried it twice, almost 2 weeks apart.  Worked the second time.  I don't regret either time, to me it seemed pretty harmless, yeah, it gives you wicked diarrhea, then that stops, and you go into labor if your body is ready.  There are people who feel differently, but that was my experience.  I would not do it this time because I'm not too uncomfortable, but my sciatica was so bad last time that I couldn't function.  Castor oil unlike EPO and RRL Tea and such will actually truly induce you if you're ready.  Anyways...you're doing great, and those babies WILL come eventually without any prompting if you can make it, one day at a time!!

[waywornwanderer]

Joyriders, that is so some B.S.

I was avoiding internal checks because I was terrified that they'd check me and I'd be crushingly disappointed in whatever little "progress" I'd made. But now my mom's in from out of town so there's that really awkward "clock is ticking" type of vibe around the house and I'm suddenly just really really ready for the baby to vacate. Had my 40 week apppointment today (am 40 weeks tomorrow) and asked about some really watery discharge I kept having. The NP scoped it and it wasn't amniotic fluid, so I ended up caving and asking for an internal then and there. I'm a stretchy 1 cm and 75% effaced, whatever that's worth, and I did have my membranes swept. Hoping to have this baby like today. Or tomorrow. (My mom's birthday).

For now, I keep having the same cramping and painless contractions I've been having all week. It's bizarre not knowing what the heck is going on with my own body! I just want some clarity and closure on this pregnancy phase! Sending good vibes the way of all the Feb mamas and mamas-to-be.....

xo

[cierra159]

41 weeks TODAY! No complaints other than at night is a little uncomfortable rolling from side to side, and getting up to pee. Last night I must have been Very tired because I didn't get up to pee until 4am! I had a check on Saturday I was 75% or so and 2 1/2 CM. I told myself I didn't want any checks this time, but, I've had a few nights of contractions that faded so I was wondering if they did anything. My midwife would like for me to come in this week before our Saturday prenatal and have another check to see how my body is progressing. She also gave me an enema kit to try if Id like, mentioned castor oil if I'm ready, and B&B Cohosh. I did B&B cohosh with my first Lo and did a little more than I was supposed to one night, and that night, I woke up in labor. So, ill have to pick up some B&B and start that since I only have the black and Whole Foods doesnt carry the combo. My daughter was born 41.4 so I feel like it will be any day now :)

[loveandgarbage]

Also 41 weeks today! I missed out on my rescheduled midwife appointment AGAIN due to child illness :( so I'll have to wait til Thurs to see what she thinks about me trying a natural induction method. I'm just so grumpy I'm even annoying myself. Today while getting into the car one leg slipped on ice and now my groin feels even more sprained! My mother-in-law delayed her trip until Friday and will stay through most of the next week. I certainly hope I have a baby in my arms soon!

I am so thankful at times like this that my DH is so attuned to my needs. Last night I got a good cuddle treatment on the couch, tea made for me, and he ran out to the store to get me some chocolate.

[AnahataChakra]

Oh what a great thread I am now 42 +2 ...ugg  but we changed my due date because well I could have ovulated a week later than I thought but really I think it is just to allow things to progress without pressure, who really knows when a baby is late and yesterday at the biophysical she looked great with tons of fluid and so peaceful sucking away(it was our first ultrasound with and of our kids(this is #3) so it was really sweet to see her in there.  I feel conflicted   I feel like this is such a great lesson for me in patience and with my work(I am a doula) and then leaving the fear of baby never is coming behind.   I think it helps me because my other two came so close to their due date so I have more trust that this baby just needs more time.    I am also going kinda crazy really insane and my mom who is helping so much is leaving on Thursday, she came to help after baby came.   I keep having nightmares about things happening to my oldest child because I am distracted, the support for mamas these days sucks.

Repeat:

I will trust this baby and divine timing of her birth.

It helps that I did this rebirth process this pregnancy(of my own birth) and I felt this feeling of being forced out of the womb and no patience "just push through" kept going through my mind and I felt pain in my shoulders and head.  So now that gives me much more respect for the birth process unfolding at the baby's chosen time.

Good luck to all you ladies it is such a service we provide to these babies!!  Not much respect from the outside world for what we really do but it really is divine. 

[loveandgarbage]

Originally Posted by AnahataChakra 

Good luck to all you ladies it is such a service we provide to these babies!!  Not much respect from the outside world for what we really do but it really is divine. 

Also I think you win for being the most pregnant, moved due date or not! I actually just booked an appointment with my acupuncturist friend for tomorrow because why not. It's the least invasive labor help-a-long and I'm just... so done. And it's very convenient that I know someone who specializes in fertility/pregnancy/birth acupuncture so I should take advantage, right ;).

[typebug]

Originally Posted by loveandgarbage 

Also I think you win for being the most pregnant, moved due date or not! I actually just booked an appointment with my acupuncturist friend for tomorrow because why not. It's the least invasive labor help-a-long and I'm just... so done. And it's very convenient that I know someone who specializes in fertility/pregnancy/birth acupuncture so I should take advantage, right ;).

I've heard this works really well. Good luck!

[loveandgarbage]

Thanks! I had my treatment this morning and have felt a lot of cervical pressure since. Let's see if it goes anywhere! Also found out my friend is newly pregnant and poor thing is feeling MS like crazy. She's now the third friend in our loose mama friend group who's had a surprise pregnancy! Guess I started a trend. My midwife booked me for a scan at the hospital tomorrow to make sure everything's okay. I guess it's protocol with 41+ weekers though I could've opted out of it.