Daily Thread, 2/11

[Nature]

I woke up early this morning and as I tried to fall back asleep, realized I'd been laying there very uncomfortable through some pretty hard contractions. I figured they'd go away, but they haven't yet. I've actually had to stop what I'm doing and lean against something because these ones hurt. Curl my toes hurt.

[Nature]

Yep I think I'm headed to the hospital.

[snozzberry]

Wow!!! Happy birthing vibes your way, mama!

[slgt]

Yipes, Nature! Sounds like an exciting start to the day. Hope these are going somewhere! Tomorrow is your EDD, right?

Me, still here, still pregnant, 39w or 39+1. This cold is really blowing my mind. 3 weeks after I first got it, I'm still incredibly low on energy and very congested. The congestion I can partly blame on having lots of extra fluid to begin with, but the fatigue is really getting old! I did FINALLY manage to get the entire upstairs cleaned, tidied, organized, vacuumed, and mopped. It made me very happy to walk through all the clean rooms up there this morning. But I tell you, the mopping almost killed me. I was so overheated that I ended up stripping down to my bra, and had to take a long breather between rooms. This morning I woke up with the definite feeling of having overdone it.

Mopping did not seem to induce labor.

Decided to work from home at least for the morning, will see how the day goes if I wander into the office or not. Lots of errands to run on the way if I do go in - further motivation to stay HOME...

[gerlassie]

My baby and I are still hanging in there. My contractions are getting much stronger but they are still all over the place. We had a pretty uncomfortable night due to 2 power outages from extremely heavy winds and didn't settle in until after midnight. When I did get in bed, I couldn't move my legs. My baby's head was pressing so far down and so hard that I literally could not move. I finally sat up and was able to get them moving enough to stand and when I did, I had a heavy pressure sensation and I thought my water was going to break. So, anyway nothing happened and I crawled back to bed and put 2 pillows between my knees and was ablt to get some rest. My in-laws, who came in for our birth ( I invited my MIL to attend ) informed me that they will be flying home on Thursday 2/14 unless of course I am in the hospital that day. I'm pretty hurt by her selfishness since she seemed honored to be here. Isn't that rude???

gerlassie

[lincap]

WHOHO NATURE!!!!!!!

38w6d here. Busy day, LLL meeting at my house in an hour.. I just got up!

Appt with midwife 1:30!

[Gunter]

yay nature! will be thinking of you all day today and checking back in to see what happens through your gentle labor and fantastic birth.

today i am so happy b/c i am the most pregnant i have ever been! ezra was already born at this point in my pregnancy! she would have been born around 3am early morning today. i am just thrilled to keep this babe in and let it grow, grow, grow! so, even though i have had bhx all night for the past two nights, i am still preggo! woo hoo!

my mother's blessing was yesterday and it was the most fabulous event i have ever attended. my best friend worked her ass off to make it so special and rich for everyone. i feel so supported and loved and just held together by my friends. i started crying even in the beginning as we went around the circle introducing ourselves by saying who are grandmothers, mother, and children (including losses and future hopes and currents and those in the womb!) are. my mil went first and i cried as she said the names of my family b/c i just love all of them so much. stuff with mil has been wacky but she is really good-hearted...just really confused and mixed up about lots of things.

after intros, we started by playing some music to break the ice. then, each person washed my feet with symbolic herbs/sea salt, lit their lil candles from a unity candle placed in sand from the string of island beaches we love (near the town of Buxton, which is the babe's current name). my friend got her mil who lives near their to get the sand for me b/c it's four hours away from here! then they said a blessing directly to me, then strung their bead after telling me about why they chose it, and gave me the written blessing so i can add it to my scrapbook (ez has one that we read on her birthdays). then we created this web of string and everyone tied a piece to their wrists to pray/remember me. i thanked everyone through my tears of joy. we had a fabulous vegan potluck spread, tie dyed onsies and some for ez while some people henna-ed my belly. such a celebration!

here are some pictures from my friend's flickr site.

[phillybama]

Tomorrow is my EDD. Nothing happening here, except still feeling pretty crappy.

slgt--I feel your pain.

I suspect my cold turned into a sinus infection:, which then went into my throat, ear and chest. I am taking antibiotics now, and I am slowly feeling better. Again, this is on top of my regular pregnancy complaints--swollen everything and horrible carpal tunnel, to name a few. Come on baby!!!!

Woohoo Nature! Sending ELVs!:

I know it is horrible to feel this, but I am SOOO jealous of those already with their babies and those having signs of labour. I have had really no contractions (that I know of), no loss of plug, absolutely nothing. Although, I wonder if I would even know, because of being out of commission with this nasty cold/infection/flu/who knows what.

Anyone heard from Writerbird?

[lilyblossom]

NATURE, YAY! This news following me posting on your thread about not feeling like this baby is coming soon and being content to wait . ELVs to you mama ::.

To all those mamas who are sick - healing love sent your way. Just think of all the anitbodies your breast milk will have for your new bundle. Hang in there!

Gunter - I LOVE the pictures, absolutely love them! It looks like it was a very special event.

gerlassie - ug. tough situation...well, if she doesn't want to wait for the baby to be born, it will be her loss for certain. My MIL would love nothing more than to be there and catch the baby if I'd let her (luckily she's quite understanding ) so I guess it could be worse, she could be in your face and meddling. I can see why you'd be upset though.

As for me - I'm still hanging in there...39+2 and counting, no real signs of anything yet .

[lilyblossom]

Ummmm....yeah...I'm obviously not all with it yet this morning - I was replying to NamastePlatypus, not you nature . Perhaps I should have started the day with some caffine!

[Avarie]

Still here as well ... my EDD was Thursday, so I'm 40w4d now. I've been losing mucous all weekend (nothing bloody, but a big marble-sized clump last night). I have an appointment set up for this Thursday, and if I make it that long, I know my OB will want to discuss how long to wait until trying to induce. So I'll be on all night tonight finding every natural induction method I can think of! So far, I know about

--eating lots of pineapple (try to get those bowels going!)
--nipple stimulation with a breast pump
--sex (DH loves this idea)
--black/blue cohosh (though I'm not familar with strength/dosages)
--castor oil (bleargh, is what I've heard)

Anything else I've missed? It's been really really cold here in Indiana lately - right now it's 8 above, and our highs are forecasted to be below freezing for the next three days, so outdoor walking is out of the question! :

I think a big part of it for me is mental/emotional. This last month has been really rollercoaster-y for me emotionally, and I think I need to do a fear release before babe feels "safe" enough to come out. So we'll see if that helps. I started one on Thursday (I like to type mine out) but my mom got here faster than I had expected for our cleaning/nesting fest, so I just stopped, and didn't keep it. Then I slept all weekend (it sure felt like it!) and I'm going to work today. (It's got to be my last day ... I've got hang-ups there too about not getting things "done" before I go.)

Hmmm ... maybe just clearing out my HEAD will be enough! I can only hope, right??

[Teenytoona]

OOohhhh hhooo Nature, you go momma! :::ELV's to you!!

Slgt, for being pretty sick, you've been so productive! All I was was tired yesterday and got nothin' done! You're an inspiration!

Gerlassie, who can say what's up with in-laws, I guess they're always hard to read, but what happens will happen, right? Sounds like you have a rough night though, hopefully today you can take it a bit easy?

Gunter Woohoo! for your most pregnant self! What a milestone, huh?

Phillybama, Momma, you need a little and some r & r. I hope these infections/colds and blech go away soon!

Today I'm 40+1, by many folks' standards, overdue (duh, duh, duuuuhhhhhh!!), but hey, that's the way it goes. I'm doing ok, I know the baby's lower, but not in that bowling ball way, which makes me think, well it's a while yet, ain't it.

Everyone at work is "surprised" I'm here today. Dude, I told them all Friday I would be. heh. I think I want to start my leave, but I don't want to waste with baby time, so maybe this baby will come during tomorrow's snow storm? I'm taking tomorrow off anyways due to an irrational (maybe irrational?) fear I have of driving home in a blizzard and having to call the staties to help because I'm having the baby. I just know people will flip when I come in after that (if the baby did not come). I've been so convinced it will come during a snowstorm, that if it doesn't come tomorrow, I might be a little bummed, just because I think it would be ideal. Maybe then it will wait til the next storm. Truth is, though, there's very little happening, so likelihood of tomorrow is nil. Ahh well... it will be fun to at least toy with the folks at work when I come back in the day after the storm. ha ha!

[Jujubie]

Hope to hear good things from Writerbird and Nature soon!

Hugs to those of you that are sick! Aimee, I hope your time is soon, you must be getting frustrated!


38+3

Same old stuff. Babe woke me up a few minutes ago kicking hard on the side I was laying on, I probably could have slept at least another hour. Lots of sex dreams last night, does that mean anything?!

DH's work is having a luncheon/shower for us today, so I'm off to shower and get ready to head down there.

[trizzle]

Might be right there with you. . . . .got those curl the toes contractions too, though not so regular. Hanging out and waiting for now. I will be thinking of you mamas on the way....

[bloominmamas]

40+5 and still here. Lost a bit more mucus yesterday as well as some bloody show, and some major stabbing pains in the cervix and contractions I actually had to concentrate on.

Before 40 weeks I was obsessed with making it to 40, now I am just so impatient for the baby to come. I really want it here before Friday, 'cause my parents are planning on coming and they sooo can't be here while I am in labor. I would have to send them away to a hotel or something if it got started while they are here. then I want the baby before next Monday 'cause dh is leaving for 2 days then. Ugh! Had the dc rub the belly and tell the baby they want it to come out so they could see it...maybe some sibling persuasion will work? Anyway, seriously considering doing castor oil on Thursday to hurry things along if they haven't got going yet. Ugh...

Good luck and easy labor vibes to all the mamas in labor today!!

[smokeylo]

Yay, Nature!! More babies are on their way today.

A friend of mine who has the same edd as me (2-28) is in labor right now. NOT FAIR!! I officially hit SATURATION POINT sometime this morning, lying in bed completely unable to move, my hips screaming at me, my feet asleep and my hemmrhoids (which up to now have been present but benign) feeling all poky in my butt. My baby seems to be so cramped that movement is not even worth attempting. We'd both be sooo much happier if he/she was earthside. I'm READY.

Midwife and chiro appts today -- that should help, maybe I'll be able to mellow for another week after this!

Anyone else STARVING?? I have the appetite of a 2nd tri mama! Every 3 hours!

Gerlassie, what a bitchy thing for your MIL to say. It's not like you are deciding to hold the baby in. This is why I told people NO VISITORS until AFTER the birth, even though my MIL wanted to be here. Ugh, I would hate having her here, or anyone, with that pressure.

Well, I'm off to try to to do some homework and call my cab so I can get to my appts (yes, a cab, how silly is that?? We only have 1 car and with the ice/cold me walking 1/3 mile to to the bus makes DH freak, so every Monday I take a CAB to campus which feels absurd!).

[lovetobemama]

Yea to Nature, and possibly trizzle and bloominmamas! Can't wait to hear updates! Happy baby vibes!!!

Thinking of everyone this morning!

I went to bed last night thinking that today would be a good day for baby, (39 weeks and 4 days) then woke up this morning with congested sinuses, an achey body, and a chest cough.

Now I am praying that this little one is happy to stay in a few more days. I'm all about my natural labors, but I've never done one sick, and don't want to try it today! It takes enough energy and focus when you are in good health!

[True Blue]

Lauren! We're due the same day and I feel the same way. Can't wait to have the baby now. And I'm starving all the time, too. And on top of it all I can't sleep. FUn fun fun!

Had a decent weekend, DH was home so I got a massage and took a 3 hour nap Saturday...that was heavenly. I actually felt human after that for a little while. I really can't wait to return to my normal self. I mean, I love feeling the baby inside me and having a beautiful belly, and I'm going to miss it terribly. But I really want to be me again. I don't know how moms having their 4th, 5th, etc make it through those pregnancies! : We did make my belly cast last night, that was fun. There's a pic in blog.

But, DH is gone for the week now. It's going to be a long week. I just want to crawl into bed even though I also want the house all clean, just in case baby comes. But gosh I hope it doesn't come this week bc then I have to get in touch with DH, he has to get to port, and drive back here. Which could take as little as 3 hours but gosh up to maybe 8 or 10 if he's far away and the weather bad? Labor hasn't been more than 12 hours for me so that's a bit scary!

[zulupetalz]

Nature Good luck mama! Wishing you a peaceful and wonderful birth!

Gunter Your Blessingway looked so special and wonderful! You are so lucky to have such wonderful people in your life who could create such a beautiful ceremony to welcome this babe!

I'm 39+2 today. All of the prodromal stuff that I had going on over the weekend has stopped altogether. There is NOTHING happening now, which is kinda nice in a way, but it also leads me to ask when the heck will this baby make an appearance? I delivered at 37 weeks last time, so I'm not used to this waiting.

I made some baby announcements (or started them, at least) over the weekend to kill some time. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2187/...bb855a.jpg?v=0

I also made a birthy belly necklace. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2312/...166062.jpg?v=0

And then, there is all of that unfinished knitting to deal with. Maybe the baby is waiting for her sweater to be done.

[AlwaysByMySide]

Good luck to those of you who are on your way to having a baby!!

smokeylo - I am also hungry constantly. I can't get much in, because my stomach has run out of room, but I feel like I'm eating every other hour.

I'm 38 weeks today. Still nothing indicating baby is coming anytime soon. I need to get the infant seat installed. I washed all of the new baby diapers, and got all the clothes out of suitcases so I am basically set.

I shipped the "big" baby stuff over here from Hawaii, and I'm missing two screws that hold the bouncy chair together. So on my list for this week is to hopefully find some screws that will get the job done.

I STILL haven't packed my hospital bag...hopefully I'll get around to that sometime in the next day or two.