Midwife is "dropping" me from care...UPDATED PICTURES....Post 274 - Page 9

[Funny Face]

Just wanted to tell you what an inspiration you are! You are working so hard and it sounds like you are doing such a great job. Sometimes natural labor means doing whatever it takes and you are definitely giving it everything you've got!

I'm praying for a smooth, quick, painless active labor mama!!!!

[allbrightmama]

Just popping over from our DDC to let you know we are thinking of you. You are so strong and your sweet baby is very wise. I hope the two of you are gazing into each others eyes very soon!

I have a question about the Benadryl. It is contraindicated for breastfeeding. It can sedate the infant. How quickly does it leave your system? How large or small a dose is okay?

[blissful_maia]

Wow, so if you were 42 weeks on September 26th, that means you must be...

43 weeks and 4 days! Impressive!

I will be anxiously awaiting your birth story and wish you a beautiful birth!

[beansavi]

Just another 43-weeker checking in (my ds1 was born at 43 weeks...he is 12 now).

He was my first baby, he was breech and they turned him by external version hours before birth...

and he was born naturally. He was 10 lbs 6 oz.

It can be done!

You go, mama!

[onlyboys]

Actually, according to Hale's, Benadryl is a L2 for lactation and pregnancy class C. Not the best, but not definitely not contraindicated. (If you were using the Bendadryl for it's antihistamine properties, it would be worth your while to seek out other options, ones that do not cause mother or baby drowsiness.)

I would certainly use it instead of a tranquilizer like Ambien or the like, which can cause serious side effects (like amnesia, sleepwalking, etc.) but is routinely prescribed for sleeplessness in pregnancy or even in labor!

Since the whole point of the Benadryl is to make a woman restful, then it would work--and certainly have some effect on the baby, unless there is time for it to wear off before labor begins in earnest. This is usually the goal--to sleep a good amount of time to get rested in order to approach labor with a good night's rest as well as a fresh outlook--without using narcotics to accomplish this.

[crazy_eights]

I'm a big believer in Benadryl for rest with prodromal labor.

[Broccolilover]

gravol works great too (for sleep with out side effects)

my thoughts are with you and i'm sending love through out the day.

[Gumby]

Originally Posted by Gumby

Girl.

The eighth.

:

[ziursrm]

Originally Posted by anudi01

she said later that she thinks giving a deadline, psychologically gets mothers communicating with their babies that time is of the essence.

I would be very frustrated with a mw playing that game. It's something I would expect from an ob. I went to 42 weeks and 2 days and my midwife never gave me a deadline. We just kept evaluating the situation on a daily basis. I felt great and she let me borrow a doptone so that I could check the baby's heartrate everyday (more for my peace of mind than anything). My baby was breech so I knew it was natural with the mw or cesearan at the hospital. No induction for me, they would have gone strait for scalple.
So I feel your anxiety. But I know you can do this. Just take good care of yourself, get plenty of rest and try every natural labor stimulant that you're comfortable with. We're all rooting for you.

[DBZ]

I just wanted to send you some positive thoughts. I've been following your story and can't wait to hear about the birth.

[twogreencars]

I've had 3 LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG prodomal labours. (1-2 weeks!)

But once labour proper kicks in - it's only 3 or so hours until babe is in my arms - all 3 born at home. My body just takes a while for everything to get where it has to be for the LO to emerge. #1 and #3 were born at 40w+13d and #2 at 40w+7d or so. With #1 I did the standard non-invasive things - curries, nipple stimulation, etc. Nothing speeded it up. With #2 I thought about what was stopping labour and dealt with my fears. With #3 I did the non-invasives - walking, nipple stimulation, etc. and then MW said Blue and Black Cohosh and Castor Oil as I was approaching 42 w and she was not comfortable. Reluctantly I did the Cohosh (nothing!) and then the Castor Oil - and then had DD and lots of diarhea! ICK!

Good luck!

[1Plus2]

Hmmmm....it's been 24 hours since January has posted. Could it possibly be....?????

January....this thread has become addictive to me!! I've been away all weekend with no internet access and the first thing I did this morning was check this thread. I have had two hospital births and am pg with baby #4. I am planning a hb. Just this thread and reading your posts and "hearing" the strength in your resolve to have this baby the way YOU KNOW is best for you and him/her is beyond inspiring!! Thank you from one Mama to another.

Come on, sweet baby! WE ALL WANT TO "MEET" YOU!!

[Jilian]

Ohh, I hope she is holding her sweet babe right now! I'm so excited for her. : You rock mama, keep up the good work! We're anxiously awaiting an update :

[amygoforth]

Originally Posted by 1Plus2

Hmmmm....it's been 24 hours since January has posted. Could it possibly be....?????

Oh, I hope so!!!

[ashesofyou]

I've been following this thread too... and January, I so admire your strength, and the way you are so in touch with your body and your baby!

I hope you are snuggling with your sweet one right now too.

Just know you have SOOO much positive energy being sent your way, and so many people are pulling for you! Myself included, I don't even "know" you online, but I feel so honored to have learned so much from you!

[mimiharshe]

Hey mamas. I am still here. Oh gosh. Quick summary: I started having contractions 3 minutes apart yesterday (sunday) early morning. I called my doula over to check on the babe's heart tones. So, for about 24 hours (until early this morning) my labor progressed great. Early afternoon things started picking up w/intensity. My sis got her finally to get the kids to bed. I got in the spa w/dh and the intensity picked up. I got to that point of not wanting to go on. We went inside so I could pee (again!). I was checked b/c I had to know that I was getting somewhere. I was a stretchy 6-7 and paper thin. This was AWESOME b/c I have never dilated like that before. Woohoo! However, after a few more hours, I was exhausted. I was having labor in the front lower uterus AND my back. I was super over sensitive and didn't want to be touched. I just didn't feel I could go on. I layed down and things slowed down a bit and then enough for me to get rest. I didn't know what to do. My DH is amazing. He said, you know January, you have to trust your body, it knows what you need and you need to rest. My doula agreed. So we all went to sleep. I'd get woken up w/contractions and applied counterpressure myself and realized it helped so much and I probably should have been letting someone do this for me. I was handling so much on my own. Well, I'm kind of a wreck, but my dh is such a strong support. He's been telling me all morning that my body knows what it's doing and now when labor kicks in again we won't have very far before our baby is here. I am being tested in every way possible here. I can't help but think maybe with some pain relief I could have gone on to have the babe. I am so sore and my back hurts so bad.

Thank you for all of your support, your kind words and your inspiration. I will keep you posted.

J

[Jilian]

Well that is great news! 6-7 cm is wonderful progress! You should be proud of yourself. Have you checked baby's positioning from the outside? A lot of start-stop labors are from malpositioning and the back labor kind of confirms that. Have you tried some hands and knees laboring? I had back labor and hands-and-knees with heat on my sacrum and counterpressure worked well. If you are in the water have someone pour warm water over your lower back during a contraction and see if it helps.

Hang in there, it won't be much longer.

[AKmoose]

Wow - great news! I can't imagine how frustrating AND powerful you must be feeling...after never dilating this far before, it sure seems your body needs the time to take it slooow. I am so excited for you...keep resting as much as possible - you are amazing! The end is close!

[RachelGS]

Wow, that baby is almost here! Your body is handling this beautifully. You're strong and amazing.

[wowbaby42]

Wonderful news January!!! You are doing great, just keep believing in your body and your baby...