6/20 Update Thread

[Halfasianmomma]

I'm always up so early, so I might as well get used to starting these every day

I'm 7 days until my EDD. Wow. Scary.

Last night, on my doc's instructions, DH and I tried to do a perenial massage....yeah, can I just say how much it was a bad idea? It totally hurt and all it did was make my labia all swollen. DTD afterward was sort of painful too. :S I guess the only good thing about the massage is that it gave me an idea of the kind of pain to expect down there when baby is crowning. Aside from that, I'm not doing it again; I swell so easily, and it would be dumb to go into labor with already swollen parts.

Afterwards DTD though, I lost flecks of something mucus-y and brown. Perhaps it was from the internal exam the doc did yesterday afternoon. I'm wondering if she didn't stretch me out...

Aside from that, I had some pretty intense BH contrax going after DTD, and MAD mad heartburn all night long, as soon as I laid down. Needless to say, I slept poorly. I think I took 7 Tums throughout the night and drank a bunch of milk. I had indigestion all day yesterday and heartburn all evening...it's not getting any better today. Anyone else have this?

[berkeleyp]

I've been having killer heartburn, especially at night. Thank god for Tums though.

I tried perineal massage with dh with my first pregnancy and wasn't impressed. I didn't do it more than once or twice and I did tear so maybe I should have but it just wasn't good. Haven't done it at all with #2 or #3 and basically resigned to re-tearing the same tear like last time.

Sounds like DTD was good for you getting prepped for labor though if it caused lots of BH ctx. I think I'm a freak but I actually enjoy sex more when pregnant (and so does dh) so we do it a lot. He was disappointed the other night that I didn't go into labor after - oh well.

Last night, I thought I might be in labor - had lots of bh ctx, some stronger ones but then they petered out and I finally fell asleep. I woke up exhausted though because all night I dreamed I was in labor and kept waking up to realize I wasn't actually contracting but just dreaming it.

Have an apt today. I dreamed that I got checked and was only 2 cm dilated despite these last weeks of bh ctx - I hope I'm more than that.

[SunnieP]

if i got brown flecks after i dtd, id dtd a few more times to see whatr happened...haha. we're doing the massages too, i don't find them esp. painful, the idea is that they'll hurt at first, then the burn is supposed to subside. i think if you drink a bunch of milk for heartburn, your stomach produces more acid to balance it and its a viscious cycle.
do i sound like a know it all?
5 days away from my edd and no signs of anything except hard to walk pelvic pressure, bladder pain and my midwife refuses to speculate on any time frame...i knew she wouldn't but i figured i could ask. does anyone know how much weight a baby gains in the last coulple of weeks before birth? she said she thought he or she was about "8 and three quarters" right now......so what could i expect next week? the week after?
i am not taking it easy today, we're going out and about!!!! ill check you all out later.

[Eloise1980]

40 weeks + 2

Been having prodromal labor since the 16th sometimes really intense. I didn't really have this too badly with DS so I don't really know what it all means. However so far today all is quiet on the western front. Keep trying to focus on other things but it's really hard. I wish I had internet in the house I have to waddle down a dirt track to my inlaws and most days I just can't be bothered. One of my sisters arrived yesterday to look after DS when things get going so that's nice, I have someone to moan at.

[butterfly1001]

Well, the brown tinged mucuous sounds like it could be from your internal exam. Even if she didn't stretch you (you probably would've felt that, it's kind of uncomfortable), your cervix is probably a little irritable right now and it could've just stirred it up a bit. Or it could be part of your plug!
I don't like the perineal massage at all.... I didn't do it with DS1, doctor (after I denied him doing an episiotomy) did some stretching while I was pushing (I had an epidural so I have NO idea what it felt like), and I had barely a brush burn tear. He did have me slow down my pushing and ease up a bit once his head was crowning so I didn't tear.
I tried doing it with this one (darn Hypnobabies for suggesting it!), and I didn't like it. I'm just going to take my time pushing and maybe try pushing in between contractions (we'll see what happens) to avoid tearing this time. I figure if I can feel what's going on, maybe I'll know when to slow down or ease up. But that's just me! I also don't like doing Kegels either and refuse to do them, so I'm just a rebel like that!

Ok, for my update...

39w6d. Tomorrow is my due date... I'm kind of sad because DS1 came the day before his due date, and I went into labor the night prior to that. And here it is, the day before my due date and nothing.... well... not nothing, but nothing enough to get me excited. I came to work today...

Yesterday, DS1 and I stopped at the playground after work/daycare, and the whole time there I felt crampy and my lower back was very achey. A lot like I felt the day my water broke last time! So I felt a lot of deja vu. Well, we went home and I could feel cramps and contractions (definitely not BHs) all evening, but not bad, so I didn't time them. I had a hard time concentrating on DS's book at bedtime. I watched TV last night for an hour with DH and timed my contractions. 7 min, 4 min, 6 min, 5 min, 10, min, etc... and for the first time they felt like contractions, not just major tightening. They wrapped around to my back, I had to concentrate a lot through them. So I really thought it was happening. I went to bed so I could get some rest... woke up a few times to pee, had weird dreams that were half dreams/half reality (berkeleyp!!!!) where I thought I was definitely in labor, but realized it was just dreams.... woke up this morning, and not much to talk about except for some cramps that I've been having for 3 weeks now. Darn...
DH and his dad (we all work at the same place, 45 minutes from home) and brother went to a car show today an hour or so away. So if I go into labor at work... I have to drive myself and DS home and call DH to come home. Then my FIL would have to come home, as he is the babysitter for today if it happens, since MIL and SIL are going to an appointment for my niece in Philly, which is over an hour away. So today would be the worst possible day for it to happen. And I really thought that it WOULD happen today, just because it would mess up everyone's plans. No such luck... darn! Well, not yet anyway. We'll see!
If I'm still pregnant tomorrow and not in labor, DH is taking me to a restaurant down the street from our house. It's in an old B&B and was built in 1746. It's so cool, and has the BEST food. And they just opened up the balcony to serve food on last week, and I'm excited to eat there. So that will be the start of my "list" of things to do each day I don't have the baby.

[kltroy]

41 + 1 today

It really should be MY turn to have a baby next! (esp. after seeing 2 new ones last night). Woke up at 5:00 AM with some crampy ctx every 10-15 minutes that seemed different enough that maybe they'll be something. (Heck, at 41 weeks they certainly SHOULD be!) So today *might* be the day for us!

I have a NST at 10:30 this AM and am planning on doing that and all of the other regularly scheduled activities today until it seems like a good idea not to.

Updates later if there's any news...

[beanmakes3]

butterfly, your post totally gave me deja vu! wonder what that means?

anyway. 38+4 today. really feeling like sticking close to home. went out and did a few things yesterday, nothing happening. baby was v. quiet and I laid down after dinner to see if I could get a kick count (I don't even know what I was count to, lol.) but he/she was just hanging out. moving but not the usual.

major fit of nesting ensued around 7 p.m., crampy bh off and on all night, no regular pattern. took an extra strength tylenol last night b/c it only took me 3 babies to realize that there's no point worrying/wondering if "this is it" I should really try to sleep as much as possible. worked for a while, then crampy bh returned. now that I'm up and around, they've petered out, but I had a talk w/ myself in the shower this a.m. and said, "self. whatever these are, they are crampy enough to be doing some kind of prep work. rest when you can, be busy when you can, and above all, be patient. still 10 days to go." It sorta worked.

oh. and I'm irritable again.

[*mama moose*]

39 weeks today!
I officially am more pregnant than I was with DD1 Its silly for me to be proud of that, especially since it would really help if DD2 would come out now, but I was induced with DD1 so I feel a bit proud to have been able to keep DD2 in there a bit longer and let her pick her day.
I have a MW apt today, then Elmo Live tonight (), I think we're going to try another stretch/sweep, so hopefully it doesn't make going to the show tonight miserable.
BP this morning is 135/82, despite trying the cream of tartar thing the past few days and last night I started taking garlic capsules......we'll see what its like at her house, and what she says, I guess.....

[butterfly1001]

Originally Posted by beanmakes3

butterfly, your post totally gave me deja vu! wonder what that means?

Weird.... maybe it means we'll both go into labor tonight! I don't know, that's wishful thinking... We'll have to see what happens in the next few days, maybe it'll make more sense then...

[elfinbaby]

IMO peri. massage is a crock. We've never done it. I've torn 1 out of 3 times and I believe that was because I had a speedy birth, pushed waaay to fast (didn't give my peri time to stretch) AND I was on a birthing stool (which is not a good idea for fast births).

There are a lot of factors that go into tearing. I think the best advice is listen to the position your body wants to be in, no laying down on your back, let your body push/listen to your body/try not to push too fast (I know - it's hard in the moment), and I think the mama supporting her own perineum instinctively is the best guard against tearing. People swear by plenty of other things and they could very well be right. I just get the feeling that keeping hcps fingers out of there as well as any "Push" chanting and predetermined positioning will give you better odds of not tearing.

I just got up so I don't really have an update. Nothing exciting. I'm going to try and do a little cleaning today but I LOST my to do list!!!! It's maddening!

[sunmamma]

Happy Solstice! Wonder if we'll have any solstice/cusp babies today....last call for babies wanting to be gemini!!! You have until 4:59 PDT to be born! Then it looks like we'll all be having cancerians!

Went to the movies as planned yesterday and fully enjoyed my "date" with my ds. I had intense contractions during the entire movie! Strong enough to wonder about driving the 20 minutes home! As soon as I got in my car they petered out to mere crampiness. I think the position I was sitting in the movie seats and the extremely loud movie got things going! More crampiness later that night and throughout the night but leveling off this morning.

Thinking about getting a babysitter and going to a double feature with dp tonight!

41 weeks today.

[BirthFree]

Sunny and kltroy, you're next darn it!!!!

Me, I'm 39w 5d.
I couldn't sleep from 2 - 5am (almost just got up to start this thread and give up on "sleeping" but I knew HAM would probably beat me to it )... I had a mini breakdown during those hours too. I am trying EVERYthing I know how to do to get the baby to turn out of being fully posterior and they *won't* turn - at all. I think they're going to stay that way and it's so frustrating... I just know that's going to cause things to be so much harder and maybe for me to go way over date wise (OP babies don't put moms into labor very well)... and I had a pretty big baby last time - which doesn't guarantee a big one this time too - but every day that passes I think about it more.

I'm just frustrated today. If someone asks me about pg stuff today I'm going to kindly tell them today just really isn't the day to discuss it... but thanks for thinking of me.

If you think of it, I'd love a prayer or vibe for baby to turn the right way if they safely can...
Thanks ladies...

[BlueMoonBean]

39+1.

Nothing happening here. Looking forward to a low-key weekend... dd1 will be home (finally) from Gma's tonight, but is heading out to another relative for another visit Mon evening. Honestly, it would be tons easier to have the new babe while she's away (she's *very* high maintenance), plus it would give us a lot of time to focus on her this weekend, since she's been gone so much.

So, I'm updating my prediction... no solstice babe here. Maybe the 24th or 25th??

Belly rubs!

[BlueMoonBean]

Originally Posted by BirthFree

If you think of it, I'd love a prayer or vibe for baby to turn the right way if they safely can...
Thanks ladies...

On the way....

[elfinbaby]

BF - mine isn't perfectly anterior either. I make dh check every morning. He's so tired of it I don't know what the issue is - I wonder if it's an emotional thing since this has never happened before. I just keep telling myself that he'll turn when he's ready Or I'm ready.

[BirthFree]

I'm trying to decide if I should pay another $55 to do acupuncture to try to turn baby again, $30 to go to the chiro and $12 to go swimming - or if I should just resign that after doing the acupuncture, a massage, pulsatilla and all of my doula and my MW-friends' ways of turning a baby and this one is STILL OP, that means they're going to stay that way...

Before this one would swing to the left or the right (facing the other hip) depending how I slept or was sitting (so with gravity) and then 2w ago firmly planted in OP and won't budge... no matter what I do.

It might just be the way it goes.
But I really don't want it that way if possible - but I'm so discouraged if I do all the above things and pay for them and all and baby stays, I'm just going to get more discouraged. : sigh :

Can I skip today??

[StacyL]

Originally Posted by Halfasianmomma

Last night, on my doc's instructions, DH and I tried to do a perenial massage....

Studies show perineal massage actually contributes to tearing.

I had this done to me (against my will) by a MW in my only hospital birth (my first birth) and it felt utterly, and horrifyingly violating.

I don't think your body needs any help, yk?

ETA: I had a 10 lb. 2 oz. baby with a 15 1/4" head last time and had only a superficial tear that needed no stitching.

Also, I am 39+5 - WHAT.EV.ER. :

[Halfasianmomma]

Originally Posted by BirthFree

(almost just got up to start this thread and give up on "sleeping" but I knew HAM would probably beat me to it

Awww hehe that's cause I've got no life and I hardly ever sleep anymore I'll wait for you to start it tomorrow!

Originally Posted by BirthFree

If you think of it, I'd love a prayer or vibe for baby to turn the right way if they safely can...

: Turn baby, turn!

IMO, I'd just go for the swimming, because it can be relaxing as well as help baby turn. You could use something to get your mind off all this stressful stuff...

Many hugs Birthfree. I'm thinking of you today!

[*mama moose*]

to you today birthfree!! I agree with HAM, I'd go swimming, at least its relaxing and gets your mind off things, you know? I've really loved swimming lately.

[beanmakes3]

Originally Posted by BirthFree

I'm trying to decide if I should pay another $55 to do acupuncture to try to turn baby again, $30 to go to the chiro and $12 to go swimming - or if I should just resign that after doing the acupuncture, a massage, pulsatilla and all of my doula and my MW-friends' ways of turning a baby and this one is STILL OP, that means they're going to stay that way...

Before this one would swing to the left or the right (facing the other hip) depending how I slept or was sitting (so with gravity) and then 2w ago firmly planted in OP and won't budge... no matter what I do.

It might just be the way it goes.
But I really don't want it that way if possible - but I'm so discouraged if I do all the above things and pay for them and all and baby stays, I'm just going to get more discouraged. : sigh :

Can I skip today??

FWIW, DS1 was stilly,fully stubbornly posterior when I went into labour, too. I could hardly tolerate the positions that are supposed to encourage them to turn during labour, so as a last ditch my MW suggested a warm bath after being "stuck" at 7 cm for about 1.5 hrs (i think). I got in the tub, had 2 contractions, he kicked me in the sternum - ow - turned right around and I was at 10. voila.

so, get you in some water during labour...