Weekly Thread 6/30 - 7/06

[xixstar]

I was pleased to see the last thread keep moving throughout the week - perhaps some of us are getting a little anxious at this point? And July doesn't even start until tomorrow!

Hugs and best of wishes to those dealing with p-labor and feeling very done. And also, to those not due until the end of the month - hopefully all the birth and labor stories doesn't make the month feel even longer!

-------

So, I'm officially due any day now (38w) and am getting excited. It seems all the nervousness from last week has just faded away -- even though we're still not ready. We've made lots of prep progress and if labor were to start, I'm sure we could wrangle everything together as needed - so that stress is fading.

I'm trying to get in two more dates with DH and DD this week - tomorrow is our anniversary, though DH doesn't sound interested in going out. And then next monday is a Girls Night Out at a restaurant dd and I love, so planning to make reservations there and it just being the two of us -- hopefully my body will cooperate long enough to enjoy the meal (eating out hasn't been fun lately)

I'm still craving any and every little tidbit of updates and birth news from others. I probably load this page 10x a day at this point, sheesh. I've been sneaking over to the June DDC just to get even more birth story fixes, anyone else?.

[Tenk]

I agree 100%, I absolutely LOVE hearing birth stories, even tho they are not my own. Keep em coming ladies!!!

Question for anyone that will listen.....Does taking or inserting EPO make anyone else cramp/contract for a bit after taking it? I do first thing in the morning (when I take it) and at night (after inserting it) for about 2 hours or so. Just wondering...

On a lighter note, My cervix feels lower and softer, and seems to have changed from it, and that's all I wanted. I just didn't want to get there on induction day and them say my cervix was long, firm, and closed....kwim?

I hope everyone is feeling well rested (yeah right) and has a nice ELV'ing week around here....tomorrow is July 1st!!!

[Materfamilias]

Nothing much new to report.
I'm 36.3 wks now, so I'm behind most of y'all.
I think the baby has dropped a bit. I still worry about her turning breech again. She was really active last night and I'm just hoping she didn't turn around. She gave one huge jump.
Also, I've started the last week or so having really numb fingers. Especially the middle finger of my right hand. It's not debilitating, just annoying, because I can't use it for some things, YKWIM?
I'm also hoping that when I go to the mw on Thurs the GBS will have turned out to be negative!
DH back from London tonight after one week away, thank goodness.
Other than that, I've worked out the arrangement of the crib and changing area in our bedroom and today will work on making the br presentable so I am not embarrassed when the doula comes!

[ekblad9]

I also very much enjoy the birth stories. I'm spending a ton of time *here* right now. I usually limit my computer time, especially during the homeschooling year. All bets are off right now. I'm tired and cranky and am basically letting the kids run the house, LOL. We'll all go through technology withdrawal a few weeks after baby arrives. But right now I just can't muster the energy to do much of anything. So I'm here alot, LOL.

I contract so much in the evening. Real, crampy, contractions. I don't know if it's related to the EPO or not. I do contract alot more when I drink my RRL tea.

I really wish I was one of those people that has their baby before 41 wks, LOL. I'm so done. I'm anxious to see if I'm dilated to a 5 yet. I'll have them check on Wednesday. I was a 4 last week. I wouldn't mind being at a 6 or so before active labor. It goes faster that way Although this time we have a 45 minute drive (w/no traffic) to the hospital. I'm a little nervous about that.

I think baby is still head down. I hope she stays that way.

Alright - should go clean up from breakfast.

[finnegansmom]

38 weeks tomorrow. I have a midwife appt this morning, I've been having lots of "menstrual" cramps so I might let her check me out. I know it doesn't matter, I mean I was 2cm for 5-6 weeks last time around. I just need kind of want to know... Nothing else happening and honestly I have the feeling I'll late anyway.

I feel accomplished in that just about everything off my "to do" list is done! We just have to put the new stroller together and I need to finish packing a few things in my bag.

I hope the new few weeks aren't a scorcher... We've been lucky up here in Maine so far...

[julesinottawa]

Wow! I can't believe it took me this long to figure out what this weekly thread thing was about! I too keep checking for birth stories several times a day. I'm starting to wonder how many babies will be left for the month of July there are so many already born!

Tenk, I do get a bit crampy after my EPO. I just started taking it on Thursday evening so I think it's new for my body to get used to.

I'm officially ready for this baby. My dh is back from Afghanistan and my birthday is over (didn't want to share, lol) so anyday now. On wednesday, my doctor will check my cervix (it will be the first time so far) and if it's favourable, we are free to induce anytime (I am trying to avoid shoulder dystocia by inducing before due date). I think I would rather wait til next monday for inducing in the hopes of going on my own. I will also get swabbed for GBS at this appointment. This wednesday after my appointment dh and I are going to test drive a few vehicles. Can you believe we are downsizing with a 3rd child coming??? It's gas prices. Anyway, we are going to test the Mazda 5, the Kia Rondo and the Dodge Journey. We won't buy just yet but it will be nice to test drive without having to bring an infant along.

[blessed_mama]

39 weeks today. I'm going to see my midwife today, but not going to have her check me. She checked last week at my insistance and I was really discouraged b/c I wasn't dialated and this is my 3rd pregnancy! I've always been a 2 by now...ugh I'm really ready to have this one, but will try to be patient and wait for this babe to come when ready.

I'm always checking for new July babies. It's so exciting to see all of the new births and it isn't even July! Honestly, it's making me even more anxious to meet mine. Wishing all you mommies a great week and hoping we'll see some more sweet July babes!


Happy Birthday, Julie! Hope you had a great day. So glad your dh is home!

[yvonnemlv]

I'm glad July is tomorrow... a baby and an 8 year wedding anniversary in one month is fun! :

[pazerific]

absolutely another birth story junkie here! it's kinda strange that we're all so close to having these babies. i'm right around the same time as xixstar--just got to 38wks on friday, but i just don't feel like i'll go before my edd. i went 2wks2d past with dd, and i'm just assuming i'll go over this time too, although i hope i don't go that far over again.

my babe still can't decide where it wants to sit. yesterday it was back to the left, and today it's totally posterior. i'm just happy it's staying head down, and i'm hoping that maybe it's going to pick a spot (not posterior) and stay there in the next week or two. i've spent so much time on hands and knees, or on my knees and hanging on to my birth/exercise ball, that i'm getting rug burn! now that's dedication to getting this babe in a better position!

we're skipping the MW appt this week since it's kinda a holiday week. we don't have any big plans, but the appt just seemed pointless since everything's going so well. so my next appt is on 7/11--the day before my EDD!!! it's so strange to look at the calendar and see my EDD on the page! i didn't mark it because i just don't want to feel driven crazy if it comes and goes w/o this baby making it's appearance yet. maybe i'll plan to do something special that day. last time when i was pg with dd, i went shopping on my edd, but it was the middle of winter, so there wasn't much else i could do. maybe i'll plan a girl's day with my BFF's and/or a date night with DH. that sounds distracting and fun enough that maybe it will entice the baby out!

[HulaJenn]

Maybe for July we should switch to a daily thread rather than weekly?
I was reading June's daily threads and found it a little easier to keep up with all the potential labours etc. (Maybe it's just me and my inability to keep up! LOL)
I can't believe all the July babies popping up! Makes it a little hard for us end of the monthers I'm sure, but encouraging all the same.

I am anywhere from 35 - 36 weeks 3days. My ultrasound had the earliest EDD of July 25th, my ovulation date gave me july 30th and my LMP said August 3rd! I am thinking my ovulation one may be the most accurate but maybe I should have the midset of an August baby? For my other 2 DD's I was not charting so their EDD would've been based on LMP for which my 1st was a week early and my 2nd was bang on her EDD. Anyway, it's hard to want to push my date farther away when I had something tell me it could be sooner! LOL
Heartburn is excrutiating. I have tried absolutely everything short of an rx.(both homeopathic and medicinal!) I have semi lost my ankles, but the heat has really picked up here so that could definately contribute. I can't imagine this belly getting another month bigger! It is definately the biggest i have been in pg (and it's all baby, not Dairy Queen!).
I went in the pool yesterday for the first time and aside from it being freezing still, the pressure off all the joints etc was heavenly. I just floated for like an hour!
So that's my update. Hope everyone else is feeling good!

[calynde]

I'm 36 weeks now. Still a bit behind many of you!

I had a weird episode of some kind of false/practice labor a couple mornings ago. I woke up around 5:30 with cramps....got up and had a glass of water and started walking around, which felt better. Then I started to notice a pattern. A minute or so of pain (which included my back) and then 2-3 minutes of rest. This went on for an hour...then stopped, and hasn't reported back since. It brought two things to mind. 1) How exciting! Something will happen soon! and 2) OUCH. I really hope I can deal...it was worse than I expected, and it wasn't even the real thing. (Didn't have labor with ds so it's my first experience with this)

Otherwise, I'm healthy, feeling good and very grateful. I've been scheduling millions of appointments for me and ds to get everything over with before baby arrives. I think this is how I "nest".

Oh, and we're STILL not set on a boy's name. Having such a hard time!!

[JunebugsMom]

I am 38 weeks as of yesterday and I'm still in shock! Everyone thought this baby was going to come early. I'm definitely happy that she's staying in until she's ready. I mentally feel like I'm already 3 weeks overdue, though! ugh. Not much going on down there so who knows...

I am continuing with my twice weekly NSTs due to low fluid and slightly elevated blood pressure. I am drinking lots of water and I've cut out the tiny bit of caffeine I was drinking.

Oh, and I cannot. stop. eating. I guess she wants to pack on a few last minute pounds!

[xixstar]

Originally Posted by JunebugsMom

Oh, and I cannot. stop. eating. I guess she wants to pack on a few last minute pounds!

I'm glad you're getting a good fullterm baby! And I hear you on the eating, i've not been hungry at all this pregnancy but this past week I'm eating all day long. Also, I guess baby moved down to give me enough room because I can make it through a whole bowl of whatever.

Hope that baby keeps cooking a bit longer, I owe you some cloth diapering stuff (dsd shower) and have been incredibly lame and haven't sent it out. My last order is done, about to be delivered, and then I am going to work on some fun stuff. I also just ordered some new supplies (ha, as if I need more!) and finally got some inspiration for what to send ya, versus the plain ol' boring thing I originally had in mind!

[logies-mom]

I think daily threads sound fun.

I also love the birth stories... especially the loooonnngg ones that include every detail! I love love love them! Oooh, and the ones with pictures too. I love birth everything I think.

As for the EPO making me cramp, no, it doesn't. Even when I was putting (totally on accident, I got confused) 2- 1300 mg capsules in vaginally I had no cramping. I also don't get anything going on when I drink the RRL tea. It's discouraging to me. I was wondering if my husband hasn't been making it strong enough. I can't imagine it being any stronger, but I just don't understand how it can affect other people so much and me not at all. Anyway, he put 8 tea bags in 2 cups water... I believe that 8 tea bags should have 8 cups water. Anyway, I was just wondering how everyone else makes theirs, because maybe we're just doing it wrong.

I too am swelling. I was swollen for a long time with my son, but I don't remember being as bothered by it. By the end of the day I literally have no ankles... it just looks like one big long calf. Ew... it's pretty gross, and it's kinda uncomfortable to not be able to move my toes. I also think mine is due to the heat... and also to the fact that I really don't rest as much as I should... and when I do I don't put my feet up. Oh well, just so it's not my BP, I'm happy.

We're ready for baby... other than the fact that my sister-in-law is getting married on July 5th. I'm hoping that either she'll (the baby) decide to come early this week or just wait until after the hub-bub of the wedding is over. I can't imagine how useless I would be if I had a brand new baby. I suppose I would just be non-existant, not useless. Anyway, I am 39w1d today according to my newest due date. If I was going by my LMP I would be 37w5d. Whatever... we'll see what happens. I definitely feel like the earlier date is more accurate, just by the way my body is feeling, but who knows.

Hope everyone has a wonderful week! I can't wait to hear lots and lots more birth stories!!!

[Tenk]

At my appt today, he checked me, didn't hurt, and nothing. Not dilated, not thinned, not soft (like I thought) and boo. He did say that they would induce me at anytime going forward if we needed, and would do an amino first to check his lungs. I requested the 16th as my induction date. Only 16 more days til he gets here!! that's my mini update for everyone.

Still cramping a ton tho, not sure why. It was funny, he said he didn't anticipate me going into labor on my own before being induced. I have never, and I've been induced 4 times now, so I was like, sure, what ever.

I do think it's exciting that I actually got to say, this day, this doc, etc tho.


Oh, i'm all 4 daily threads too...

[finnegansmom]

So I just got back from my midwife appt. I let her check my cervix, for fun, I have been having some menstrual type cramps. She said, sorry, not even a fingertip... LOL. But soft. I knew this baby wasn't coming early. But she did say, I had a wonderfully large pelvis. I cracked up, and she said from a midwife that is a nice compliment. It's actually what the nurse said when I had my son, followed by "I'm actually so surprised you had to push for 5 hours with a pelvis like that". Well, on my back with an epi? Come on...

My enormous pelvis and hips are getting bigger by the minute, I just ate 3 huge oatmeal chocochip cookies and 2 fake chicken patty sandwiches. Oh, and some chips. Apparently having my cervix checked makes me hungry!

My next appt is the 10th! Wow...

[delicious]

i, too, am enjoying reading all the birth stories. it's pretty exciting. i never handle the very end of pregnancy very gracefully, though, so i'm kind of like, why isn't it MY TURN??? :

does EPO irritate anyone else? it doesn't seem to bother me until the next day. I don't even know if i believe it helps so i am thinking about just taking it orally for now.

logiesmom, that sounds like some serious RRL tea to me. i usually do 2 RRL and 2 nettles for a whole pitcher of tea. i have not been making it every day though, because i'm a slacker!

[madiesmommy]

I have eaten like a pig this weekend - mostly protein (eggs, cheese, nuts, meat...). I swear ds isn't packing on an ounce a day, he is making me eat like he is putting on a pound a day!

I am 36 weeks today by my calculations, although the doc won't have me switch until Wed. I go for my GBS test today (mw doesn't do one, I'm doing hibiclens during labor if it is positive). I'm mostly doing this with the doc to have the "I refuse atbx" discussion...in case of transfer. I FEEL like things are moving down there, but I don't want him to check. It doesn't really change anything to know at 36w 1d I am ___ cm and ___%, as it will change so quickly once I'm in labor! But I am curious

[blessed_mama]

Just chiming in to say I'm all for daily threads too...

[DawnaRose]

hello mamas

Nothing exciting to report here. Been feeling pretty crampy and a few contrax that hurt, but nothing time-able. Didn't ask for the cervix check at my last MW appt, so no idea if I'm dilated or anything. Maybe I'll ask Wed at my next visit, just for curiosity.

I had a feeling last week that the baby could come THIS week, just a hunch, but I think I'm holding myself back, I've been having my own personal pity party around here today.

Yesterday was our wedding anniversary, BOTH dh and I forgot Like, it didn't even occur to me it was the day, I mentioned it this morning and we both had a lil laugh and giggle about how dumb we are for forgetting...

We have zero money in the bank till Thurs. I'm out of butter (and I'm dying to bake some damn cookies!) no bread, and the kids want a sandwich, no ice and our ice maker is broken and its 90 degrees out side! waaah!

Plus, what I think is holding me back, our stove is broken. I don't want to go into labor with ONE single working burner. We are planning to buy a new stove, this week when DH gets paid, but until then I've been kinda hoping baby stays put, cause how embarrassing is that, not having a working stove and needing to boil water for the pool... sigh. :

I actually broke down and sold some of my precious yarn stash, so DH could have gas money for work this week


Ok, pity party over... I'm going back to reading happy birth stories