May mamas, it's MAY!!!! - Page 9

[fiddlefern]

I'm still here, still puttering

So I guess this is what happens when you have no BH contrax. You start labor, but not really.

I've had at least one contraction an hour since 1:30 am Tuesday. This morning I suddenly kicked up from every 20 min. through the night, to 15 min, to 10 min, to 5 min.

This is it!, I thought.

Sigh.

My doula and Bradley teacher tell me I've made progress- spotting Tu and W from the cervix dialating, lost the mucus plug late this morning, and I'm dropping.

But this whole process is happening S L O W L Y.

I just hope that slow means rested and ready, not totally exhausted.

I'm gonna go eat some more, drink something, try another nap, and then walk to the corner store to get ingredients for a Birthday cake.

[KKmama]

He's here!

This is a copy of the e-mail I just sent friends and family:

Our brand new little boy, Ezekiel Judah, arrived early Wednesday morning (~3:30 am May 19th), He was 9 lbs, 4 oz, and 21 1/2 inches long. He has blue eyes (will probably stay that way), and to be honest, we're not entirely sure what color his hair is... dark blond? strawberry blond? He hasn't had a bath yet, and he hasn't been in bright light without a hat on.

He's very healthy and nursing well. The birth was a VBAC and went very well.

Theodore seems to be adjusting well so far. Cross your fingers...

Pictures will be up within a day or two. I'll post a link.

[TurboClaudia]

Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome baby Ezekiel Judah!!!!!!!!!!!!

And many hugs to you KKmama!!!!!!! I know what a journey this has been for you and I can't wait to hear all the details of the birth story when you are ready to share!

warmly,
claudia

[PattyCakes]

Congratulations KKmama!!!

[Mama Faery]

Awww! Congrats new mamas and welcome new babies!
I love it when I don't check the site for a couple of days and then see all this good news.

As for me...here I am at 40 weeks and 2 days. I am trying not to be disappointed but these doubts and fears keep creeping up, like what if I don't ever go into labor and they have to induce, and then it spirals into needing more and more intervention until I am under the knife, before I even had a chance to know what labor is truly like and my only labor experience is this (We're only planning on the one pregnancy)??
:
See how my brain goes? *sigh* I am trying to calm down and as soon as I finish this update I am going to go and listen to my Hypnobirthing tapes and then take a shower and get all refreshed. Showers always make me feel better. This afternoon I have an appointment with my OB and hopefully she won't find any reason to try to induce. Baby's still groovin' in there, as far as I can tell. He squirms around ALL the time. It's funny. My appetite comes and goes, and I can tell my body's gearing up for something...it's just taking it's sweet time. I have to be okay with this.
Yay pregnancy moodiness! Heh. I'm up and down.

Anyway, not much else going on with me. I'm trying to find things to do to occupy my brain and body while I wait for my baby to come to me.
Hope all you mamas are doing well!

-Renae

[pamamidwife]

OH, YAYAY!!!! I had to go searching for your posts because I was wondering! I was going to post a "where is KKMAMA?" thread!!

Congratulations, mama!! xxxooo

[Marco Esquandolas]

WOO HOO, KK!!!! CONGRATULATIONS to you and your family, and welcome to the world baby Ezekeil. I have checked back in so many times waiting to see your birth update! I'm tickled you got to have your vbac too...awesome!

[mittendrin]

kkmama, yeah! congratulations, finally!!! send leftover labor vibes this way....

[merpk]

It's a girl.

More later ...

[Sarah'sMama]

nak

congrats new bAbies and mamas

[scbegonias]

congrats kkmama and merpk!!!! happy baby moon!

[kittymama]

HOORAY KKMama and Merpk! : to your new little ones!

All you mamas actually giving birth gives me hope that this baby WILL actually come out of me one of these days! I'm going totally nuts, and my due date isn't even until Sunday. Renae, I totally hear you on the fear of induction and spiraling interventions. I'm just trying to keep a positive attitude and remind myself that two weeks is a long time. I'm sure (or telling myself I am) the baby will be born by then.

Fiddlefern, how frustrating. I hope this means you're making lots of progress now, and that your birth experience will be quick and painless. Hang in there.

I keep having crampy feelings with a little lower back pain now and then, and a few times it's been strong enough for me to suspect contractions. So far they haven't been closer together than a few hours, though. Trying not to get my hopes up, and to get some last minute errands and such done while I have the time. Yesterday, DH surprised me with an appointment for a prenatal massage, which was absolutely HEAVENLY! I had more energy after that than I have in a long time. I was also surprised by how good it felt just to lie on my stomach. What a great man I have to do that for me. I've been thinking just lately how wonderful it has been to be a couple with him. I'm so excited to have this baby, but at the same time, it's wierd to know that it will never be just the two of us again. Sappy, I know, but that's what's on my mind. Just thought I'd share.

[Mama Faery]

Kittymama, I totally know how you feel. I get all wistful sometimes thinking about how Joe and I will no longer be a twosome but a three ...which is wonderful, I get all teary-eyed thinking about how lucky I am to have such an amazing partner in life, but tonight, as we shared a milkshake all date-night-style with each other, I just thought "wow..soon our lives will totally change!" Good, but wistful.
Other stuff: went to the OB today, got very discouraged because NOTHING has changed (1cm, 50% effaced) which she reassured me could still mean labor ANY day now...but she also told me she is NOT going to be around all next week! She's going on vacation! The doctor that is on call this weekend and taking her patients next week is really nice and I like him a lot, but he's NOT my OB, so I left the office almost in tears. Also, because I've gone over my EDD, she wants me to take a NST next week, and get an ultrasound just to make sure my fluid levels are a-ok. All stuff I'm fine with, but I just want to have this baby!!! She asked me if I wanted her to strip my membranes again (hey! She asked this time! ), but I declined, but part of me wishes I had just said "sure". I know it's bad but well...she also doesn't want me to go over 42 weeks so if I am still pregnant by June 1st or 2nd, she wants me to be induced. Arg!
I know it's a long time from now and chances are a baby is in the VERY near future...it's just hard to relax and not worry about the possibilities. I am going to sit quietly with my son tonight and ask him to come when HE wishes, but please, come soon before someone feels the need to force him out.

In happier stuff: WELCOME babies and CONGRATS mamas! It's true, reading about all the births is making me feel better, so I am going to go and check out the birth stories section and see if there's anymore inspiration in there.
Take care, everyone.

-Renae

[Jacqueline]

wow! Congrats to all the new babies and mamas. It's wonderful to hear the babies do actually come out

Renae & Kittymama, I know how you feel about realizing it's almost the end of you & dh as a couple. I started crying over dinner Thursday night thinking about the same thing! We've been "just us" for 13 years, so this is huge. But, dh was so sweet and said he thinks it will just make things better. I'm feeling better about it now, but I guess I had to get it out there.

I'm now at 39 weeks and had my appt. yesterday--it was the home visit by my midwife. It went well. BP has been really good at the last two visits (surprisingly since I stopped workin!) and she's very pleased with all the changes I've made. We talked about setting up the water tub and when to call her, etc. It's all getting so close. We made an appt. for next week, but I wonder if I'll be there or with a baby!

Have a great weekend everyone. Happy labor vibes to anyone who wants them.

[mcsarahb]

Hi all-

Welcome to all the new babes and congratulations to the mamas! I am so happy things are going well for everyone. And for all still waiting, I wish peaceful and wonderful labors.

I just caught up on this thread - I was busy with babe, then my mastitis flared up again and I ended up in the hospital for two days with a severe systemic infection. Had to be on mega-antibiotics for 48 hours. Yuck. BUT, I'm apparently all cured now, feeling about 800% better. The hospital staff was great, let dh and babe room with me the whole time. Unfortunately, I had to discontinue breastfeeding for about 18 hours because I had a CAT scan (long story) and the dr. said the contrast dye stuff they used wasn't good for the babe. Originally they said 4-5 days of no breastfeeding (eek!), then 48 hours, then at 18 hours post-scan, the lactation staff said I could have been bf-ing the whole time. ARRRRGH!!!! Fortunately, my mws just HAPPENED to have some frozen breastmilk in their freezer from another client, so we bottle-fed with that for those 18 hours. Anyway, long story short, after that it was fine and baby took me back no problem. She actually hated the bottle .

So I am home, doing well, able to focus on babe finally and be up and about. I am so in love with babe and dh, my mom's here cooking all our meals, and I love not being pregnant anymore!

Go Fiddlefern, hope to hear about a new babe soon!

Sarah

[pamamidwife]

yay, merpk! I've been thinking about you!!

[Marco Esquandolas]

CONGRATS, Merpk!!! I can't wait to hear your story when you have time to share.


Mamas-Warning: I'm gonna whine now. Edd was Monday. Padded edd is/was today. Lost plug on Thursday. Sick of the contractions. I mean really sick of them. Could I have an irritable uterus or an infection or something??? I mean, I get regular contrax that last for about 5 or so hours EVERY freaking day!! (just let me whine thru this). I know baby will come when s/he's ready, but sheesh, I am sooooo whipped, just exhausted from handling a 5 yo and a 2 1/2 yo all day long while I'm cramping and tightening up into a big ol' jumbled mess down south for hours on end. Guess this baby also knows it is my last so it is giving mama plenty to think about, feel, and remember, eh? I am sorry to be such a downer but at times like right now when I just finished a marathon of contrax all at or under 6 mins apart, I just don't know how much longer I can do this. (ok, I do know-I'll be doing this til baby comes!) At least I'm not vomiting everyday anymore, though I am still nauseous. Thanks for listening. I just needed to get this out and if I'm on the puter then MIL can't possibly be calling for the umpteenth time with "has Julie had that baby YET?!" Ok, off for a good cry and a soak in the tub now.

[mommasuz]

Overdue no longer! At 41 weeks 3 days our daughter Ava Katherine was born after an easy and relatively short labor. The labor and recovery was so much better than my first time we are still shocked at how nicely things happened. I feel pretty great and my 18 month old is adjusting just fine. Ava is a very easy baby so far and life is good!

Phismama lots of hugs to you. I know exactly how you feel, I was in the same situation and hated that it was bringing me down but it is absolutely exhausting. Lots of lobr vibes your way too. It can't be far of for you.

[mittendrin]

mommasuz, congrats!!!
glad to hear things are going well...

gee, i haven't even hit my edd yet and think i cannot get more impatient. today would be a good day...

[Mama Faery]

Congrats mamasuz!! Yay for you and little Ava Katherine!

As for me...DH and I had some really good emotion release last night...we talked about what could be holding me and the little one back, and I cried in his arms because though I am not fearful of the labor or delivery at all, I am afraid of the possible induction and what will come after (whether I will be able to take care of a baby, will I be able to handle overzealous family members, and what on earth are we going to do about money!?)...and he held me and told me to just enjoy what we are experiencing NOW, just feel our baby move inside of me and let go of that stress, and know that everything's going to be okay. We listened to my birthing affirmations tape, took warm baths, had some tea, and just enjoyed each other's company.

This morning after we went to church (I love the UU church we found--but we're still shy about meeting people there so we always just sort of duck out when it's over ) we stopped at Whole Foods and picked up some Raspberry Leaf Tea, Castor Oil, and Blue Cohosh tincture.
NO, I'm not going to try all this at once! :LOL The Raspberry leaf tea is for after the baby's born too (it helps with milk supply and I like it besides. ) and I'm thinking of trying the Blue Cohosh this afternoon. I really don't want to experience what the castor oil promises. : But an herbs book I looked through in Whole Foods mentioned you can rub it on your belly and it is soothing.
I'm willing to do what I can to relax, and also to avoid what the doctors want to subject me to next week. If anyone needs prodding, it's ME, not my baby and I'd rather do it myself. It's something I realized last night. I do keep getting contractions...they go away as SOON as I take notice of them, and then I start worrying/wondering "is this finally it? What will we tell people? how will we get through this?" (mind going overtime!) and it's like the baby goes "uh, fine, I won't come yet, you're freakin' out!"
I really don't want to get my membranes stripped, or to be subjected to all the tests and things my OB wants me to go through starting Tuesday. I would rather take my birthing into my own hands.
So.
Today, I relax, and think happy thoughts and just be; with DH, my kitty, and my baby...and myself.
I would really like feedback on the possibility of the use of the Blue Cohosh though, if anyone knows anything about it. I'm a little nervous and I know it's used all the time, but I just want to know if anyone knows anything more about it.
Thank you all so much. Wish me luck!

-Renae