I know there must be a bunch of us still waiting. There were a lot of due dates around this week if my memory serves me.
How many weeks are you?
What crazy things are you doing to usher in labour?
Any early labour signs?
Are your midwives/doctors, doulas and partners being supportive?
Post-partum mammas, share your updates!
How are your babies doing?
How is breastfeeding going?
How are you feeling?
How many weeks are you?
40...
What crazy things are you doing to usher in labour?
Food stuff: eating tons of pineapple, chillies, papaya and mangos and drinking raspberry leaf tea. Tomorrow I'm trying saffron.
Bodywork: I just did a very intense session with a Chinese foot reflexologist today who is known for his labour inductions. I also went in to see my osteopath to try to jump start things with some adjustments. My osteopath said most women go into labour within 24 hours of him doing these adjustments. I hope he's right.
Any early labour signs?
Last friday I had back pain and lower abdominal cramping that later morphed into steady promising labour for 4 hours and then it stopped. That was followed by random contractions mostly at night on Saturday and Sunday despite my desperate walking and squats and yoga moves.
Are your midwives/doctors, doulas and partners being supportive?
Midwife is very chilled out about due dates and is being very supportive. I have a Dr's appt in a few days so I'll find out what he thinks then.
Thanks, typebug! It's getting a little slow around here, for obvious reasons!
How many weeks are you?
39w3d, although (as I just recalled!) exactly 40 weeks if I were going by LMP (I ovulated Day 18).
What crazy things are you doing to usher in labour?
Nothin'! I still "need" baby to wait until Thursday evening to clear a few purely personal/social (not medical) hurdles, like having another prenatal to satisfy my insurance, DH's immigration thing, my mom coming into town.
So I am counting down... Let's see, 3 days and 7.5 hours and then I'll really feel the green light.
Not just that, but it's not really in my mind to do anything to usher labor in at all... though I might start thinking about mild stuff (like DTD or whatever) after 41 weeks or so.
Any early labour signs?
I have been having contractions more days than not-- but by that, I mean maybe 2-8 irregular contractions in the evening, generally after exerting myself, since I'm trying to wrap up that last little bit of baby/home prep. That's it, nothing big, but it's definitely enough to get me off my butt and finish that prep! Not that I was previously lazy, but I was doing slightly less-critical business stuff most of the day and wasn't completely prioritizing the things that would make me feel really "ready" for baby, just in case.
Though I've successfully convinced myself I'll go to 41-42 weeks, if I'm being honest, my mom had her babies at 40w1d and 39w5d (both by LMP), so I have to admit that it could happen "anytime." Especially since I'm 40w by LMP today!
This weekend, I did a lot of little things-- DH and I really got the bedroom (which is also baby's room) 95% of the way we wanted it, we did another test run of the birth pool with the heater turned up, I solidified my online business shutdown procedures, packed my just-in-case hospital transfer bag, blah blah blah. Right now I feel like the only things I REALLY "need" to do are...
-Check out camera set-up and figure out if it will be practical to tape the birth from some unobtrusive place.
-Finish the bedroom-- just need to transfer a few things from one set of drawers to another and finish setting up the diaper changing area...
-Somewhat clean up our sun room, which I have been using to take business inventory, and which is a semi-disaster right now (but this won't take more than 30 minutes), and put some more stuff (currently in the dining room) in the basement.
Wow! That's awesome! Although there is ALWAYS more to do or that I'd like to be done, that will wrap things up to a point I'll feel not-panicked.
Are your midwives/doctors, doulas and partners being supportive?
My MWs rule. I think I have said this before, but with my mom a doctor who always did her research, I have had some AWESOME docs over the years. My MWs are providing me at LEAST as good care as I've ever had.
FWIW, they have no formal cutoff for postdates. I will have NSTs (not u/s/BPPs, though) every 3-4 days, starting at 41w3d, if it comes to that.
DH similarly rules-- I am so blessed. He was cute and had a little freakout moment that he intentionally amped up for (semi-mock, jokey) drama last night. I was having a few contractions and that got him to finish up his own organizing responsibilities in the bedroom with a quickness, LOL.... while babbling "Baby is coming, baby is coming."
He is definitely also feeling the "Wait! OMG! It could actually happen soon!" but I think we're both feeling all right about it since we got a lot done this weekend.
I'm getting so discouraged.8 days old now!
How are your babies doing?
Lydia is doing great! She nurses well, sleeps well, is growing well and is a very calm, chill baby. I've never had a calm, chill baby so this is a treat. ;)
How is breastfeeding going?
It is going really well. I'm still a little sore and she has a shallow latch, but most of the time I can get her to latch pretty well and it doesn't hurt too much. My supply is great and overall she seems very satisfied with our nursing relationship.
How are you feeling?
I am feeling pretty human again, lol. My hemorrhoids have shrunk and no longer hurt, my lady parts are no longer sore and I'm not too terribly exhausted. Since day 2 or 3 (I'm 8 days PP now) I've had some kind of bug and I wish it would go away already. I'm taking ibuprofen so most of the time I feel fairly good, but when it wears off my body aches like crazy and I get a low-grade temp. I have a feeling it would go away faster if I'd stop taking the ibuprofen, but I can't take the body aches.
Hi everyone! Mamas with babes still in tum, hope your labor starts soon! Except Buko, of course ;). And hope all the PP mamas are feeling good too.
Lou is pretty great. He's been on and off gassy/colicky but that seems to have calmed down the past couple of days. He's a big sleeper during the day AND night which is pretty amazing. I don't feel sleep deprived at all. But if he's like my others he'll be nursing every hour during the night soon enough! Breastfeeding could be going better for us. I'm in a lot of pain. I had an OT/LC come to the house last week to see what was up and turns out he's a little tongue-tied. So now we're trying to get in with our ped to see what to do next. The LC also gave me some exercises to do to loosen his jaw and also stretch out his tongue. I think my nipples are getting used to the extra pain as they've been feeling better, but I'd like to get a good latch for this kid going forward! OW! Other than that I'm feeling more human every day. My labial tears are still healing and I'm still using a numbing spray so that I walk around and pee. I can't wait until I'm fully healed. It's hard for me to be sitting/lying down all the time.
How many weeks are you?
41 weeks 2 days
What crazy things are you doing to usher in labour?
Nothing but sex at this point & that hasn't been regular
Any early labour signs?
NOT a single one!
Are your midwives/doctors, doulas and partners being supportive?
Yes...I went to 42-1 with baby #3, so they were expecting this...I wasn't though.
Hugs to all of you mommas still waiting. It can be so hard towards the end there. Get yourselves some mani/pedis or some kind of treat! CamoShades, I am so sorry that you're having a rough birthday. I hope it looks up and that DH makes up with you and treats you well today.
We are doing well over here. Violet is a good nurser, and pretty efficient...she only wants to nurse for a few minutes at a time. That's fine except that I wouldn't mind if she nursed a bit longer and a bit less frequently, mostly because it is hard to time outings in the car around her random nursing. I way prefer walking places because then I can nurse her in the carrier if needed, but it is still a bit cold out to walk everywhere. But I really can't complain about frequent day time nursings because she gives me some good stretches at night. She is a sweet calm baby thus far.
My nipples have felt pretty good since my milk came in, but I do get a bit sore in the evening as she tends to cluster feed. We do use a paci some, as I have a bit of oversupply and sometimes she gets frustrated at the boob when she wants to suck but not get milk.
I feel really, really good. She's two weeks today, and I think I might start some gentle exercise soon (already been walking and doing household stuff quite normally). Is there any reason that might be a bad idea? I'm bleeding a bit still, but not much.
camoshades-thinking of you 
How are your babies doing?
naomi is amazing-she'll be a week old tonight!
hubby and i are constantly in awe of her. i seriously stare at her for hours and hubby loves taking pictures. she's always wanting her mama and does not appreciate me putting her down. i can now pee while breastfeeding.
How is breastfeeding going?
great! she has a great latch and some serious suction. my nipples were SO sore at first, but they've healed and are toughening up. she does like to pull on them a little when she gets those newborn twitches which makes them look all national geographic but they go back down eventually.
How are you feeling?
i'm feeling better today. i am seriously tore up down there, but have just been cleaning and using that water bottle thing when i pee. cold water feels best. i decided to not take any meds for the pains since i don't want baby to have any of that stuff in her, so it's been tough at times and there have been times that i cry in pain. that spray stuff scares me, but i used it on my tailbone yesterday and it felt okay, definitely isn't 'numbing' in the slightest though. psh
i'm feeling really frumpy and down on my nasty body. i really miss not looking dumpy and gross. i honestly wanted at least 3 kids, but i don't know if i could ever go through this all again. it's been really hard.
below is a pic hubby took of naomi and i sleeping yesterday.
And tomorrow is the anniversary of my first miscarriage last year. I am really OK with that and have gotten over it, but of course I would rather not have the baby that day.
Miss Freya is doing great, she's 3w2d today.
She still sleeps a lot during the day and has a very cranky, gassy time some time during the night. Fortunately not every night, but maybe every other. So I end up with some zombie mama days and some normal days. We all just adore her and I know my boys are going to just die when she starts laughing. DH and I thought we wanted another boy when I was pregnant but we were wrong, we wanted this sweet little girl! She has done great in the car so far which is wonderful, since we have a 45 minute drive to town. Ds2 hated the car and it was so tough, hopefully my girl will continue to use the drive for naps.
breastfeeding is going great. Nipples doing good and baby getting some chub on her.
I'm feeling great as long as her gassy night time phase doesn't happen at 4 a.m.
I'm still trying to get the hang of nursing with her in the ring sling or wrap. And I really don't know how I'm going to get grocery shopping done with 2 wild boys and a nursing babe. DH helped with it this weekend and the whole time I'm thinking there's no way I could do this alone. At least not with her being so young and all of a sudden needing to nurse immediately and me fumbling with the sling.
CamoShades: Having a pity party for yourself is absolutely allowed and you're entitled to snarl quietly at people due after you who have babies while you're still waiting. I did a whole lot of both of those things when I was overdue.
How are your babies doing?
Mila is fantastic and we're really getting into a good groove now. The first couple of nights were a bit of a mess since DH has never dealt with a baby before so I spent a lot of time trying to reassure him that crying is normal while working off essentially zero sleep for 48+ hours. We seem to have things worked out for now though and are now co-sleeping, which is something that I really never thought I would do. She hates to be put down, so she sleeps on my chest at night, which works out nicely because when I try to put her in her napper beside the bed I end up sleeping less due to constantly jumping out of bed at every little noise. She wakes up every two hours to eat like clockwork, so when she's sleeping on me I get to catch her stirring to eat before she works herself up into a cry and needs to be settled first (plus she nurses way more aggressively when she's pissed at me)
How is breastfeeding going?
Really great. Mila has a beautiful latch, though I had a serious problem with engorgement that made me pretty miserable over the past couple of days and had some blisters on my nipples that were taking their sweet time to heal, but as of this morning everything seems to be on the upswing and I no longer feel like my breasts might explode if I sneeze too hard. I have a ton of milk though, way more than my poor little girl could ever drink, so sometimes she chokes a little and I feel kind of bad (but I have to laugh). I also drip like a faucet whenever I think of her, hear her crying, or get out of the shower.
How are you feeling?
I'm actually really happy. I had been bracing myself for the worst in every area but I seem to be pleasantly surprised with how everything is going down. I had a third degree tear but I've been taking Tylenol and stool softeners regularly while using the peri bottle and sitz bath that the hospital gave me and I've found the pain to be very manageable. I think I'm a bit more swollen and sore today than I have been so far but it's because I've been less regimented about the Tylenol over the past day or so as I ease off it.
In terms of labour and Mila, I'm extremely satisfied. She's very healthy and happy (and went from 8lbs 7oz at birth to 8lbs .07oz at discharge on Wed and was up to 8lbs 7.5oz at her doctor appointment today) and I've had time to wrap my mind around everything that happened and I'm really pleased. DH is doing really well with her as well and has been trying really hard to be as involved as he can by taking her to the grocery store with him every time he goes, making us food, and changing poo diapers.
How are your babies doing?
found a local pedi and my big boy was up to 9lbs 11oz at 12 days postpartum, and his head was up to 15 in. so he's fattening up nicely. he sleeps well (better during the day of course) and is pretty jolly as long as he's nursed and changed!!! i'm soooooooo in love.
How is breastfeeding going?
we're old pros. i'm also glad i found someone to share with as i have an oversupply issue and having the pumping to relieve as well as being able to see another mama and share w/ her is a real blessing for me. he loves nursing. his latch has improved dramatically and he doesn't slurp me anymore!!!!
How are you feeling?
like kellybeth, i was thinking 'never again!'- as well as 'i've done this HOW many times before? what kind of crazy person am i?' but today i realized other than bleeding (which i aggravated today by doing too much) and feeling fat and floppy, i actually feel really good. my lady parts are really healing and don't hurt much most of the time!!! my breasts are insane. my hormones are crazy. and i need to sleep more!!!
So great to hear everyone's updates!
Questions: has anyone dealt with insane leg swelling PP? This was the only pregnancy that I didn't have really swollen legs (maybe because it's winter?) but now I'm a little more than a week PP an my legs are retaining water like mad. Should I be worried? I've been off my feet recovering and in the past couple of days have been moving around/standing up more, so that might be it. It's so bad it hurts to walk. I think I'll call my MW in the morning just to check in.
OK totally odd thing that's been happening the past few weeks. If the baby kicks a certain way I can hear a click sound in my pelvis. Gah! What is that?
So great to hear everyone's updates!
Questions: has anyone dealt with insane leg swelling PP? This was the only pregnancy that I didn't have really swollen legs (maybe because it's winter?) but now I'm a little more than a week PP an my legs are retaining water like mad. Should I be worried? I've been off my feet recovering and in the past couple of days have been moving around/standing up more, so that might be it. It's so bad it hurts to walk. I think I'll call my MW in the morning just to check in.
I've never had an issue with swelling PP but this time I have. A couple nights ago I noticed I actually had pitting edema in my legs. :/ So yesterday I drank a lot more water and I think I peed off a lot of the retained water. My legs look normal today!
ETA: I weighed myself this morning and lost 4 lbs since yesterday, so I definitely let go of some of the water I've been retaining!
OK totally odd thing that's been happening the past few weeks. If the baby kicks a certain way I can hear a click sound in my pelvis. Gah! What is that?
I get this sometimes, too! As far as I can tell it's just her joints popping, like when yo crack your knuckles. It sounds so weird though!
40w exactly tomorrow, and still feeling great! After my midwife reassured me last week that that doesn't mean I'll stay pregnant forever, I'm feeling much more zen. 
Still patiently waiting (for the most part, haha). No crazy techniques called for yet, which is easy for me to say because I'm still very comfortable: EPO, RRL, walking, and sex... If I get to 41 I will probably look into more!
53 hours before my Big Thursday Stuff is done and I am feeling the Green Light!
53 hours before my Big Thursday Stuff is done and I am feeling the Green Light!
whoooooohooooooo!!!
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