Filling in for Pom here, and getting our weekly thread started 
.
Not too much going on here. Still getting lots of BH, that seem to be changing (maybe?) into more "real" contractions. Just a slight feeling of crampiness to go along with them. I've been getting the cramping the last two evenings / nights. I don't bother timing them, as I think it's just a "warm-up" stage. But I'm glad to see some stuff going on, and am hoping some "work" is getting done, lol.
Just finished Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth, and really enjoyed it. When I get my mini crampy contractions, I think about relaxing my throat/cervix, and letting it open up. I also jotted down some of the suggestions she has for doing this kind of work, so me and DH can have them handy during labor.
Also seems like babe has dropped a little. Not noticeable by looking at me, but I'm hungrier, can eat more at a sitting, and pee CONSTANTLY!!! I didn't think it was possible to pee this often, but apparently it is :LOL .
I'm 38 weeks, 3 days, and someone asked if I was ready to have her. I said not quite, but after thinking about it for a while, I realized it's more like I feel that SHE'S not quite ready to be born. I know 38-42 weeks is supposedly "normal", but it just intuitively feels a little early for her. I felt very strongly this way on Saturday, but less so yesterday and today, so maybe she's getting more and more ready :LOL (DH thinks I'll go this coming Sunday). I figured it wouldn't hurt to help my cervix along, so DH and I engaged in a little nooky last night. Surprisingly, it was a lot of fun and went off fairly well (except I had to take a pee break in the middle
). No pain like there was last time we tried. Hope to get that in a few more times before our lives change FOREVER (said in dramatic voice :LOL ).
I am so enjoying being off work -- it's amazing the change in my physical and emotional state. My back pain is greatly improved, and I am just so much more pleasant to be around!
Slowing getting stuff crossed off the list. Interviewed a ped today. We *mostly* saw eye to eye from a philosophical standpoint, and where we didn't agree, she seems willing to let me do my own thing (e.g., we don't offer the combination vaccines separately, but will refer you to the health dept if you want to do that). She's pro-bfing, doesn't push circing (said there's no medical reason), etc. But I sort of didn't like her, kwim? There's another doc in the practice (he's actually the owner of the practice) and the nurse told me that they're similar philosophically, but have different bedside manners. So I think I'll set up the first appt with HIM, and if we like him we'll stay with them. But if not, then I might look elsewhere. But I at least have them lined up to examine her at the birth center, which is a requirement for going there, so it's taken care of.
Made an appt to get the car seat installation checked on Saturday, so that's done (I told them if I didn't show up it was because I was in labor, lol!). Also cleaned up in the nursery -- it's almost done. Got the co-sleeper set up, and put the scat mat in it to train the cats to stay out of it (it will shock them if they step on it). I cried when I did this because I feel so bad about it, but don't see another way
. Only one cat (of three) has hit it so far, and she got some pretty good air -- so I laughed and felt bad at the same time. At least it doesn't seem to have scarred her permanently.
Still need to pack my bag. Haven't figured out why I'm procrastinating so badly on that one
.
The hot tub is repaired, cleaned and rinsed ... it just needs to be fully drained and then refilled. We found a mineral product that lets you cut the bromine needed by 50-80%. I'm not thrilled about sitting in any chemicals at all, but this seems like an acceptable compromise (I'm planning on staying at home for as long as possible before going to the birth center, and want to use my hot tub for pain relief). We don't want to let it sit empty, because it never really empties (water caught in hoses, etc.), and bacteria can grow etc. So we're going to keep it filled and treated, because I feel like this is the safest thing. We did a trial run the other night, and it heated 300 gallons from 55 to 95 degrees in 90 minutes!! That thing has one heck of a heater! So we're going to fill and treat it, but not heat it until labor starts (there's no controller, so we have to cycle the pump manually, and turn it on when the heater is on, etc., so not having to keep it heated makes things a lot easier).
So, we're getting there. Not feeling TOO impatient yet. Kind of feels like things are just right for right now. We'll see how I feel if I go overdue, though ...
Shana
EDD 7/29/05
.Not too much going on here. Still getting lots of BH, that seem to be changing (maybe?) into more "real" contractions. Just a slight feeling of crampiness to go along with them. I've been getting the cramping the last two evenings / nights. I don't bother timing them, as I think it's just a "warm-up" stage. But I'm glad to see some stuff going on, and am hoping some "work" is getting done, lol.
Just finished Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth, and really enjoyed it. When I get my mini crampy contractions, I think about relaxing my throat/cervix, and letting it open up. I also jotted down some of the suggestions she has for doing this kind of work, so me and DH can have them handy during labor.
Also seems like babe has dropped a little. Not noticeable by looking at me, but I'm hungrier, can eat more at a sitting, and pee CONSTANTLY!!! I didn't think it was possible to pee this often, but apparently it is :LOL .
I'm 38 weeks, 3 days, and someone asked if I was ready to have her. I said not quite, but after thinking about it for a while, I realized it's more like I feel that SHE'S not quite ready to be born. I know 38-42 weeks is supposedly "normal", but it just intuitively feels a little early for her. I felt very strongly this way on Saturday, but less so yesterday and today, so maybe she's getting more and more ready :LOL (DH thinks I'll go this coming Sunday). I figured it wouldn't hurt to help my cervix along, so DH and I engaged in a little nooky last night. Surprisingly, it was a lot of fun and went off fairly well (except I had to take a pee break in the middle
). No pain like there was last time we tried. Hope to get that in a few more times before our lives change FOREVER (said in dramatic voice :LOL ).I am so enjoying being off work -- it's amazing the change in my physical and emotional state. My back pain is greatly improved, and I am just so much more pleasant to be around!
Slowing getting stuff crossed off the list. Interviewed a ped today. We *mostly* saw eye to eye from a philosophical standpoint, and where we didn't agree, she seems willing to let me do my own thing (e.g., we don't offer the combination vaccines separately, but will refer you to the health dept if you want to do that). She's pro-bfing, doesn't push circing (said there's no medical reason), etc. But I sort of didn't like her, kwim? There's another doc in the practice (he's actually the owner of the practice) and the nurse told me that they're similar philosophically, but have different bedside manners. So I think I'll set up the first appt with HIM, and if we like him we'll stay with them. But if not, then I might look elsewhere. But I at least have them lined up to examine her at the birth center, which is a requirement for going there, so it's taken care of.
Made an appt to get the car seat installation checked on Saturday, so that's done (I told them if I didn't show up it was because I was in labor, lol!). Also cleaned up in the nursery -- it's almost done. Got the co-sleeper set up, and put the scat mat in it to train the cats to stay out of it (it will shock them if they step on it). I cried when I did this because I feel so bad about it, but don't see another way
. Only one cat (of three) has hit it so far, and she got some pretty good air -- so I laughed and felt bad at the same time. At least it doesn't seem to have scarred her permanently.Still need to pack my bag. Haven't figured out why I'm procrastinating so badly on that one
.The hot tub is repaired, cleaned and rinsed ... it just needs to be fully drained and then refilled. We found a mineral product that lets you cut the bromine needed by 50-80%. I'm not thrilled about sitting in any chemicals at all, but this seems like an acceptable compromise (I'm planning on staying at home for as long as possible before going to the birth center, and want to use my hot tub for pain relief). We don't want to let it sit empty, because it never really empties (water caught in hoses, etc.), and bacteria can grow etc. So we're going to keep it filled and treated, because I feel like this is the safest thing. We did a trial run the other night, and it heated 300 gallons from 55 to 95 degrees in 90 minutes!! That thing has one heck of a heater! So we're going to fill and treat it, but not heat it until labor starts (there's no controller, so we have to cycle the pump manually, and turn it on when the heater is on, etc., so not having to keep it heated makes things a lot easier).
So, we're getting there. Not feeling TOO impatient yet. Kind of feels like things are just right for right now. We'll see how I feel if I go overdue, though ...
Shana
EDD 7/29/05
I feel ok physically but I can feel myself getting depressed and irritable.
:
Oh I could cry. It's not really just for me but for any woman trying for a VBAC here it is almost impossible - I had no idea it would be so difficult, it's almost as if you're fighting a losing battle before things have even started. I also feel as if I've set myself up for a fall by reading all these books on natural birth and getting so informed and then it's all not working!! Nevermind - I've still got a week so we're working really hard at getting this wee thing out before our time runs out.
Ewe.
.
.
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