june 19th - june 25th (good grief!) weekly... - Page 3

[sinsaratea]

oh karen!!!

Also will take some of those labor vibes. I would realyl like her to come in the next few days with the moon and solstice and all....

I have to get to working on the house tonight. Its dirty. I think she won't come until i get the house straightened up.

Awww! I just looked over and saw that my black cat is asleep curled up inside our tie dye sling. Pretty picture except the camera is downstairs in the post-delivery hospital bag in my car and I am not about to trek down there.

I got very excited when i realized that SOON I could go buy myself one Strongbow cider and melt into the bliss of a drink...... : i swear i'm not a cider junky.... i just want one!!

I'm going to go check and see who is left on this board to give birth. The few, the proud.....

[swedemom]

i think its not so strange to start having bad thoughts, there is a surge of hormones now, not unlike those in the begining, and we are vulnerable, a time when we let nature and our bodies decide everything, and for me, in a world where control is considered next to godliness, it brings fear.

my appointment went well. there was more protein in the urine then last week and bp was 140/95 (usually its 105/60) but im with a new midwife, and she didnt react at all just said, ok come back in 8 days....
so, no one pressuring me for a induction or NST and all that....im trying to be really cool about it, and use the mw confidence.

oh cidar.....yummm

[dynamohumm6]

Nancy--this might sound hokey, but control was a big big big issue for me, so I had to figure out how to deal. I am a huge control freak. When I was 4 days "overdue", I went for a pregnancy massage. During it, I thought of all the things I needed to let go of--the pain of Sam's birth, the stillbirth of my best friend's daughter, which haunted me more than I let myself ackowledge up til that point, my fear of this labor & all that came with it (Sam not being an only, for instance), and my control over this birth. I envisioned all these things in a form of some sort--my "control" became a black box--and I watched myself take these things, put them on a raft, said my "goodbyes" as it were, and let them go off into the ocean. It took a long time, and I actually cried a bit (thankfully the masseuse didn't notice), but I felt so much better after I did that.
I really think it helped my frame of mind, if not "allowing" myself to go into labor.

[miamommy]

Pepper: I was right with you on that debate, to check or not to check dilation! I ended up checking even though I told myself I wouldn't. I don't know if it helped or not since it turned out I was only 1 cm and I was pretty disappointed. Also, it helped to convince me that I would have a slow labor - HAHAHAHA we know that didn't happen!

But, on the other hand, I thought it would be helpful for me to know at what point I would be starting when "real" labor hit. Tough decision!

Abby is sleeping, she is an amazing sleeper and nurser, just wish she could get the pooping thing down! I can't believe that I don't have another high-needs baby, at least not so far and it was pretty apparent with dd1 by her first few hours of life that she was going to make us work! So I am hopeful that she won't take a high-needs turn on us. She is "colicky" due to the poop issues, but not high-needs at least!

[Pepper]

Raina, it seems we usually only get one high-needs baby--and it's often our first (mine was, too!). See, now if I did get checked and was at 1cm I really think that would be so upsetting for me. At my last appt my ob (who was a nightmare-medical-minded type) said it would be a good idea to "know where we are starting from" but ya know, I will know where my labor is just from knowing my body, how the contractions feel, their length and strength, my emotions...no one knows this better than me--no number or figure. Also, in a way I have to admit that I might not want the practice to know where I am as a way to protect myself from them--I'd hate to be at 3-4 cm or something and have them freak out and tell me to go to the hospital and have to deal with that pressure..

More talk about postdates: As I sit here and read all about it I keep seeing that the moms emotions may have something to do with labor not starting. There are some theories that a last baby or a mom with fears or issues about labor might be holding back on her labor starting. Part of me thinks that's a bunch of crap but what do you guys think? All along in this pregnancy I just knew I was going to make it to my due date. I just knew it. I'd like to think that I am just in touch with my intuitions about this baby, birth, and labor but perhaps I have caused myself to not go into labor by believing it so staunchly?

I recall vividly with both my previous pregnancies reaching a point of peace (after emotional breakdowns) where I let myself stop driving myself crazy over when I would deliver and then labor started within 12-24 hours. I haven't had any sort of release like that yet because I'm not at all going crazy with still being pregnant.

Anyway, thiis is long enough! Any thoughts?

[PatsGrace]

39 weeks

Well, we had kind of an annoying doc visit today.
My baby has been almost totally engaged for a while (-1) but for some reason it has moved back up and is totally floating now! Which explains why suddenly my tummy felt bigger. The first thing my OB said when she walked in was "hmm, your belly looks alot bigger".
Irritating, but my OB didn't seem too worried about it, she said it's not common, but it's not too big a deal.
The not-so good news though, is that my bp has jumped up about 20 points since last week and that puts my lower number in the 90's. Now I have to go back in 2 days to have it checked, and if it has made another jump then they will start talking induction, but if it's about the same, she days we can just let it wait and see. She really doesn't want to induce while the baby isn't engaged.
My OB is very relaxed, and not into any interventions if possible, so that puts me at ease in regards to feeling like she is pushing something on me, but it is still worrysome. I have been on watch for pre-e because of the major swelling I've had for the past 3 months.
So, I've been put on "official" bedrest, at least 4 hours a day of doing nothing, and lucky me, my pelvis is still on fire.

The good news (ok, I'm grasping at straws here) was that she did an us and measuerd the baby's "size" (I asked her too) and that came up with a 7 lb 13 oz kid. I know those things can be quite off, but I have really been thinking this kid is already 11 pounds and it made me feel better!
And we got to see the beautiful face and hand (flung across the forehead like a drama queen!) and it has hair!
So, I'm laying down all the time, AND trying to get the baby to drop. Hmm.

One other thing, I found out I have 3 different due dates (from u/s and stuff) and one was the 18th! The others are the 24th and the 28th. I think she went with the latest one so I could go "overdue" for longer without them freaking out as it runs in my family.

Send us happy, low-blood pressure, baby dropping vibes if you get a chance! I want my natural birth!!!!

--Grace
Due 6/28 with a :

[dynamohumm6]

Pepper, part of me also feels like it's a load of hogwash. I don't think that I went into labor *because* I "came to terms" with stuff--I mean, I was to term, I had to go into labor at some point, you know? But at the same time, it can't hurt, and it at least put me into a better frame of mind to face labor with. A far as the physiological aspect of it--well, I could say stress was preventing me from going into labor, but doesn't stress cause pre-term labor? :LOL

i don't know, I don't think anyone could really say either way, except anecdotally, which I don't give much heed to. It's interesting, though!

[PatsGrace]

Ok, check out the July board, they aer having babies already! Now I know how those May mammas felt when so many of us delivered in May...


--Grace

[Karennnnn]

Well "they say" that stress can cause you to go into labor. I never understood this since animals have a defense mechanism that keeps your labor stalled if you're in an unstable situation.
But then there are women who birthed in trees during floods...
There's no rhyme or reason, they just come when they're ready I think!!! Screw the mom lol!!!!

[sinsaratea]

Well I was pretty productive today, and my energy level is still there (good sign??) I have won an ebay auction for some dipes, received some dipes from the TP in the mail, got most of the living room clean.... hopefully i can keep this going! Also some rain finally came through, so that makes me feel good... got the temperature down a bit.

as far as those july mamas already going.... makes me feel like i will be pregnant forever
I hope all of us leftovers go on the same day! We will have a mass birthday celebration!!!!!!

Swedemom- i meant to reply on this earlier. I have a friend who has a friend in Finland and she says that summer solstice is super big there. That is so cool! I wish we had big celebrations for it. I will have to go have my own little circle for it tomorrow.

[Pepper]

Emmy & Karen, I think you're probably right.

Originally Posted by karennnn

There's no rhyme or reason, they just come when they're ready I think!!! Screw the mom lol!!!!

Just one of those things that if you think too much about it can mess with you. I talked with dh about it after dinner and that helped me sort through it...oommmmmm...letting it go...

I really cannot believe that tomorrow is my due date! I know I'm not the first woman to have reached her due date but it's a big milestone for me. I'm not sure how I'm going to feel after it...I did make a mw appt for Thursday, still undecided about getting an internal but leaning towards No.

Nothing at all going on today in the pre-labor department--hardly any bh at all. Just chugging along

Please check in June mama's if you're out there--it seems kinda deserted in here lately and those July births are not helping.

Grace, I hope your bp goes back down. I've read that it's normal for it to go up a bit in the last week or two before birth so perhaps it's not as big a deal as the ob's make it out to be. Have you done research on that? Maybe you can arm yourself with some info to stave off induction talk (if you feel comfortable doing that, that is). I feel like I've gotten a bit more swollen in the past few days, too...

[famousmockngbrd]

Pepper, my BH really pick up at night too, I think that's part of why I'm having such trouble sleeping lately. Good to know I'm not the only one. When not pg I am a total stomach sleeper - but at this stage of the game, I have to sleep completely on my side or I squish my belly. Unfortunately gravity and my own predispositions gradually drag me over until I am half lying on my belly, then I wake up with a really uncomfortable crampy feeling. Blah! I'm sure the baby doesn't like it much either.

We set up the fishy pool we are going to use for our homebirth in the back yard a few weeks ago (yes weeks) to check it for leaks. It has been hot so it's still out there, DS has been playing in it a lot. I really need to clean the thing out and bring it inside! If I don't watch out I will be giving birth in the back yard!

[swedemom]

happy longest day of the year!
so lots of things should happen over the next two days.

emmy: i think it cant hurt to mentally allow birth to occour. i was very stressed about my first birth, and went way over, and every time i get BH's instead of work with them and walk / squat and so on...i lie down and hope they go away....crazy at 40+ weeks
so last night i tried the dealing with each issue that was in my mind...but i keep falling to sleep! : maybe ill use my journal.

grace: thats about how much my BP jumped, my mw said to come back next week so she thought it wasnt so bad and its been warm this week. she said, the most important bit is that when you do a resting BP check that it becomes better. the BP checks you do sitting up are essentially not so helpful. just a thought

raina / pepper: good info on only one high needs child! DD was also high needs literally 2 hours after she came out.....which i remind my MIL of when she says the "lets hope you dont spoil the next one with co-sleeping and "

[Roseberry]

My due date was yesterday and I have been pre-laboring since 37 weeks. I just don't know anymore. First child was 4 days over so I suppose I am in keeping but I don't remember being so close so many times yet not quite there yet.

[sinsaratea]

Hang in there Rose! That full moon energy is coming... i think we should see some excitement here soon.

So i was looking at one of My horoscopes the other day (can't remember where) but there was a funny one for around this time that said i was going to find a lot of energy but that i would wish i hadn't wasted it! ummm maybe like the cleaning i have been doing? yesterday i said i was being productive... well, it continued. the living room and kitchen are clean for any impromptu visitors, laundry is getting done. i forced myself to stop around midnight last night! so i get a few hours of shuteye, then i'm wide awake at 5 something. wake up my DH for work and i've been up since. tried vaccuming the stairs, but decided to get on here instead. someone decipher this activity for me!!!!!!

I want to dye some baby clothes, but i'm afriad of making too big of a mess. might wait till my mom is here for that. i am taking some cheapo consignment sale onesies, NB wrap shirts and birdseye flats and dyeing some black and some burgundy. its just too expensive for me to seek out pre-made rock n roll looking baby clothes, so i'm doin' it myself. also just bought a black wonderoo to go with them. who knows, maybe i could start a little cottage industry?

Pepper-- you are due today!!!!

Ok ladies, i will return, sorry for

[organicbanana]

i think i'm just going to have to occupy my time by not giving thought energy to birthing today - just so i can get through without feeling so impatient.
i have a lot of cleaning to do (and not nesting cleaning, just ohmigod-there's-a-mountain-of-laundry-waiting-to-claim-a-victim cleaning...)
i just wish it didn't tire me out so quickly :LOL
which also means i'm not answering the phone today. i don't want any more check-ins. it seems like everyone has some agenda for me. my sister told me yesterday that i can't have the baby next tuesday, because she needs to 'borrow' our mom to watch her kids. (my folks are coming into town on friday) - and my mil yesterday made it sound as though they're postponing their departure for n.y. in order to be here but i "only have until thursday, and then it'll have to wait until the 4th". i know she was joking, but it made me feel somehow responsible for their vacation plans... feh.
so i really don't need any more input today - just as much peace as i can get. which is going to be simple, considering my 3 insane-o kids are already bouncing off the walls, and it looks like rain. bwaaaaaaaaaaahahahaha! the universe is playing some kind of sick joke on me this week...

i'm just going to scrub things, and channel as much solstice vibe as i can.

i have a dr. appt again tomorrow, hopefully not with dr. strange - i don't think it is though - i'm pretty sure he sees ob patients exclusively on thursdays - so i've got that going for me, which is nice. i just hate driving so far for 5 minutes of actual face time with the docs. oh well...

thanks for all the reassurance - i feel like such a whiner lately...

[PatsGrace]

Rose--Good luck! It sounds like your body is really preparing for this one, even if it annoying!

Nancy--They did a resting bp on me too and it wasn't any good either, I think that's why they want to try and check it again tomorrow. My OB is not into inductions at all, so I'm glad she is doing alot to avoid it for me. But I do understand that pre-e is pretty serious and I will do whatever I have to for me and the babe. My day of laying around yesterday did more damage to my mental state by making me feel so unproductive, it better have helped my bp!

Pepper--Happy 40 weeks!

Nanner--I know what you mean, it feels like people make their vacation plans when they've known your due date for, oh, like nine months. And then it's "hey, this is just not a good time for us, can you put it off?" !!! No! Not for you who can't remember my due date and plan ahead! :

Sara--Come clean my house! I'm stuck in bed!

--Grace
Due 6/28 with a :

[dynamohumm6]

Pepper, happy 40 weeks!!

Nanner--: I wouldn't answer my phone either if I were you.

nak

[PatsGrace]

I'm trying to remember...how many breech babies did we end up with? I can only think of one. I remember that there we lots of us who's babies turned the wrong way in the last few weeks before birth, but then righted themselves.
For how big a worry it is, I think it's kinda cool that out of all of us there ended up being so few breech problems!
I wonder if those in our group have been more proactive about it than some other cross-sections of moms (maybe a little more mainstream?) and that's what has made the difference?
Is anyone left with serious position issues?

Just a thought!

--Grace

[Roseberry]

How much pineapple is enough to get things moving?