Roll Call for Sept. Mama's who haven't birthed yet

[Kenai]

I thought I'd start this new thread to try to see who is here that was due in September but is still waiting (like me!). I though about posting this on the Sept. board, but it looks like most of us found the thread Indie started. Or did we? So who hasn't had their baby yet, and what, if anything, are you thinking/doing/feeling about it?

Me, I was due 10 days ago. I know, I know, I'm not even really "overdue." But every day that goes by with no change is getting me kinda freaked out, ya know? And to top it off, last weekend me and dh and dd went hiking to try to encourage baby out, and peeing in the woods I got a bad case of poison oak on my backside (as in the part normally covered by undies...) ! Now besides lumbering around feeling like hiding out from all the inquiries from friends and strangers alike about when the baby is due, I can barely walk from the huge rash and stiffened skin from the poison oak! Earlier today I finally broke down in tears. Nothing is wrong in the big sense, but it's so hard just waiting every day wondering when. Sorry for feeling so sorry for myself. Just had to release.

Take care all,

Kenai, waiting for my third homebirth!

[allgirls]

Welcome mama! I am an October mama scared to death I am going to wind up on the November board....my last baby was due June 16 and born July 2, this baby is due October 16...hope we don't have a pattern here.

I so get where you are coming from and so well remember the stress of waiting and waiting.

I am sorry about the poison oak...one day it will be a funny story to tell the new little one(I really have to apologize but I chuckled a bit when I read that : )

anyway...hope your little one makes an appearance soon

[MamaFern]

us november mommas are pretty nice but i can understand if you dont want to join us

sending you gentle birthing vibes Kenai..

[lovnbnhome]

Not a September mama but wanted to wish you well! What a horrible case of poison oak...it will be a funny story in about 10 years though! I'm due Oct 20th...and could go till November, so I know what you and allgirls are talking about!! Don't want to bc I'm ready NOW!

[Godiva]

I hear ya about the poision oak. I got poision Ivy when I was about 5 months along. I have severe allergic reactions to poision ivy to the point where had I known that poision ivy can kill you I should have been hospitalized every time I get it (if it covers more than 30% of your body you should go to the hospital since it can make you go into shock, I always had it cover 100%) Thankfully pregnancy helped so i didn't get it as bad as I usually do, it only covered both legs, but I couldn't take any medication for it. The regular hydracortizone cream doesn't do anything for me since it's not actually the rash, it's my body's reaction to the rash. The regular medicine I take for it wasn't safe for pregnancy so I got to suffer for about 3 months, I still have scars on my legs from it. I just can't avoid the stuff, I love being outside and poision ivy loves me.

[mamabeth]

Kenai, I think it's you and me from the September board. You were due on the 26th, right? That's my EDD too. I have cried, oh, every day for about a week now, so please don't feel bad about that. It's just so hard to be still waiting. I'm doing a VBAC too so there's kind of some extra pressure, although my midwife is awesome.

I wish I had gone on a hike...we were stuck with walking the mall today because it's hurricane-ing again here, but whatever, right? That is the worst that you got poison ivy. I'm so sorry.

I went for acupuncture yesterday and had really strong contractions until I decided to lie down at 11 p.m., and then I fell asleep and they stopped. I was so disappointed...there is nothing like false labor at 41.5 weeks to bum you out.

Anyway I do think we are the only two left, indie had her baby yesterday I think! Feel free to PM if you want...I can honestly say that minus the poison ivy, I know kinda how you feel.

[movingon]

I can definitely feel your pain. I went 42 weeks over with my first. Not sure if this one will hang on that long, but I can still remember those last few weeks, even though they were almost 6 years ago.

I'll make you a deal - I will send you strong and TRUE labor vibes, if you can send some back to me, if I don't give birth in the next three days.

Welcome to October, by the way!

[Kenai]

Thank you all for the commisseration. I do appreciate the been-there-done -that stories--I have been feeling alone, but obviously that's ridiculous. It's interesting to hear about other poision oak/ivy pregnancies. I broke down and went to my regular doc, who's pretty cool but she's still a doc, you know? and got a prescription for cortisone. It is a class C drug, which means that there are definite risks for pregnancy so only use if the benefits outweigh them, but my midwives' research could only find evidence of teratogenic effects in the first trimester, so they thought it was okay to go ahead and use the topical cream for a few days. I wouldn't even go there but its sooooooo bad. I was up for two hours in the middle of the night crying and pacing because it itched so bad. My poor dh. He's been so wonderful. I cracked up my friends by saying, in all earnestness, that I think labor pains will pleasantly distract me from the poison oak!

Mamabeth, I'm not sure how to PM--I've been lurking but am sort of new to working the controlls on MDC. Well, I do hope you go into labor soon, and I think that's awesome that you are having a VBAC and holding your ground. Yea for your midwives! I send everyone birthing-on-time vibes, and especially you Mamabeth for a healthy and smooth birth.

I'm going to go and shake my rashed-up bootie at some live music tonight with a friend, get my chi flowing a different direction (or at least provide a distraction!).

Thanks again y'all--

Kenai

[Godiva]

yeah I was suffering so bad, I went to the dermatologist and she gave me a prescription for the extra strenth hydracortizone cream (probably the same stuff you got), she said to use it as little as possible because of the possible effects. Well it only made it worse!! The second I put it on me, my skin started to crawl and the itching got 10x more intense. I usually take a pill to help ease the suffering and I guess this is why. It really isn't the rash that bothers me, the rash from the plant was only a few inches across my ankle, the rest of my body freaks out like it's under attack though and I get a different rash all over. Apparently putting a cream on it stops the air flow to my skin so it only makes my reaction worse. I couldn't take the pill form of the medication because the risk was just too high. She said she would prescribe it if I absolutley needed it and she said it seemed like I did, but I really didn't want to put my daughter at that much risk. After that the only thing that helped was letting scalding hot water run over my legs for hours at a time. HAHA mabye I was just burning all of my nerve endings so I couldn't feel it :LOL I hope your baby comes out soon! I haven't even reached my due date yet (tuesday )and I'm already screaming for her to come out! I couldn't imagine going over my due date, although I'm sure with my luck the little booger is still gonna be in there for thanksgiving! She doesn't seem to want to come out at all.

[mamabeth]

Just wondering if Kenai is still around? Maybe the dancing put something into motion (other than the rash? :LOL) FYI you can pm by clicking at the top right where it says "Private Messages." It's a little complicated but useful sometimes. Hope you're in labor today!

I caved to the castor oil last night but only a tablespoon...the bathroom part wasn't too bad and then I had contractions for three hours, and then they went away again. What is going on? I'm so frustrated. We're going for a NST this morning which we have put off several times but at this point I'm fine with it. So, just still waiting. I was sort of supposed to go to work tomorrow but am not going, I just can't deal with the questions, ya know?

[Kenai]

Hey there--yes, I had my baby (boy!) at around 3 in the morning Sunday--he's wonderful and we're all great. Despite starting to wonder about dates, he was definitely a little "overcooked"--no vernix, red wrinkly skin and long nails. Guess he just came when the time was right for him!: I think the dancing did do something, because I came home and had a little bit of show. The next day I started doing the cohoshes at about 5, 8 drops every half hour as Susun Weed recommends, and went into labor at about 10. Who knows--was I going to go anyway, did the herbs tip the balance, did they make no difference...? At any rate, once I figured out I was for sure in labor (that was about 11:30) it went pretty intensely and constantly! I had a wonderful homebirth, dd slept through the labor and one of the midwives went to get her to bring her out as I was pushing so she wouldn't miss it. 8 lbs 5 oz. I'll post a detailed birth story later.

Mamabeth, how did the NST go? I bet it was fine, and I would've done the same thing if I had gone into this week. I totally understand about work--it was such a relief to get to finally change my answering machine message from "no, we haven't had the baby" to dd announcing her baby brother. You sound pretty level compared to how I felt two days ago, but I know it must be hard. Thanks for all the birthing wishes and they're right back acha

Best,
Kenai

[mamabeth]

Congrats Kenai! I'm so glad everything went well for you! Looking forward to hearing your story soon.

Guess I'm last then of the September mamas...I might post a thread just checking but I'm pretty sure. The NST was totally fine as we knew it would be. We had to go to the hospital because it was on a weekend and the nurses were incredibly kind and helpful, imagine that. I have a BPP today which we have put off several times but I am okay with doing it today. After we talk to our midwife we are going to try to make a plan for this weekend as (after I have researched *very* thoroughly) I don't want to go past 43 weeks, just too many risks. So hopefully I'll go into labor before then but after all this I can't hope too much, ya know? Anyway take care and enjoy that baby!

[onlyboys]

Beth, happy, healthy baby and laboring vibes to you. I really hope you go into labor soon!