Daily 7/15

[JennaW]

I am up but luckily with good cause (I hope).

I went to the acupuncturist the other day and within an hour of leaving there I was having what I thought were some contractions but nothing really serious.

DH and I went to my Mom's house to have dinner, hang out. I had one painful contraction while I was there but then things petered out. Nobody saw me have the contraction but I told DH that I wanted to go home because I just needed quiet time.

Once I got home I nested a little bit, had a few more possible contractions.

Went to bed around 9pm. While I was sleeping I was waking up every once and a while with a contraction. Not really sure how far apart because I thought I was dreaming. Finally got up around 12:47 realized I really was having contractions. Tried to sleep for about an hour but I was concentrating too hard on trying to notice contractions. Finally decided to get up a little before 2am, walked around, had some pain. Went to go pee and there was a bunch of bloody show :

I just went again and there was more bloody show with some mucousy stuff on the TP.

I am still unsure about contractions at this point. Like, I'm not sure if they are really happening sometimes. It is hard for me to tell because it seems like my belly is tight all the time, so physically touching my belly isn't a very good indicator.

Oh well, I am really hoping this is it. I have a feeling I might be meeting my baby today.

Hope all you other Mama's are good.

[Spark]

Ohhhh, Jenna!!!! Ooooh, I hope this is it for you!!!! Sounds like your body could just do some easy laboring pre-labor for a day or two before kicking into high gear though, just fyi, so you conserve your energy. Remember to nap & sleep & just take it easy today. Eat food that sounds good, keep your DH home to rub your feet, go for an easy walk or two. Maybe a nice, but easy project around the house you want to do? You could go to a movie, too.

That said, I hope you're mooing and naked right now rocking through ctx!!!! But, it could still be a while for everything to build up to the mooing & rocking phase!

I'm going for a walk by myself today. I need some time to just be physical and solo. My feet are SO swollen this pregnancy (first ever summer pregnancy & first ever swollen feet). I hope they still work the way they're supposed to!

Contractions? Yes.
Crowning? No.
Labor? Must not be!

[lotusblossom9]

Jenna~I hope that this is your birthing day and that you get to meet your Caroline.

Spark~A little alone time sounds so nice!

I'm 39w5d today. Yesterday was DH's birthday. He wanted the baby to come so badly yesterday...but this little one wants one of his own! I'm still feeling nauseous and having what feels like dull cramps. I've only been able to eat refined carbohydrates and fruit for the last few days. It's like my first trimester!

I had one strong pressure wave (well, the strongest one I've had so far)yesterday at my in-laws house and a few more mild Braxton Hicks while swimming in their pool. The water felt so nice. I'm really hoping everything will work out and I'll be able to birth in the birth pool when this little one is ready to make his debut! Off to listen to some Hypnobabies...

[aprilsfools]

I hope this is it for you Jenna!!! I have my fingers crossed!!!

41 weeks 6 days here and I am feeling much better than yesterday. My MW visited last night and everything is looking good healthwise with the baby and me. She also helped me find my center by reassuring me that the baby will come when she is ready (something I already know, but needed to hear from her) and that she thinks it will probably be sometime this week.

I am still totally avoiding all calls except my Mom. It was so nice last night to see my MIL was calling and to look at DH and say, call your mother- and he was awesome. I couldn't hear her side, but I am pretty sure from his responses that the call would have killed my zen buzz, so it was a good decision.

Last night I made the famous labor salad I had heard and read about. It was pretty yummy, but of course didn't really do anything. I am going to try again today and add extra balsamic vinegar (the active ingredient)...and maybe extra cheese (even though the cheese isn't really the active ingredient- just yummy )

I just went to my chiro yesterday and am going back again today because I have found the past couple times I went I have been crampy with a couple of uncomfortable contractions afterwards and thinking maybe if I go every day, it will start something. Even if it doesn't, it feels good.

I hope everyone has a great day!!

Oh, and for those who want to try the labor salad here is the recipe:

Equal parts:

Romaine
Watercress
Red leaf cabbage

Toss and sprinkle with balsamic vinaigrette (1 part balsamic, 3 parts extra virgin olive oil) and gorgonzola cheese.

[xixstar]

morning ladies.. 40w2d and nothing exciting. I've actually been feeling better and better these past 3 weeks - so thats a big plus. I'm pretty patient at this point, which is a good place to be in. Just heard that a good friend, who was due the same day s me, had her daughter 5 days ago - I was sure we'd go into labor the same day because we'd been having these oddly synced up events happening all during pregnancy on the same day.

Spark, sorry to hear about the swelling - I had lots of it last week and before and for some reason it decided to take a break this week, thankfully. Hope yours gives you some relief soon!

Jenna, hope things are moving along for you!

Oh and on an odd note -- I've gotten really annoyed at the imagery birthing cd's this past week - listening too them really irks me for some reason. Heh, not sure what's going on there... just found it strange when I tried again to listen to them last night that it immediately sends these cranky vibes all over. Not soo good - but then again, at this point, I don't need to hear the tracks so much since my mind can play them on their own.

[calynde]

It seems like I am just one big walking Braxton Hick. I am constantly contracting, but so far am only getting the odd painful/uncomfortable episode during the night. Still, it feels good to know my body is doing something. Otherwise, I feel pretty darn good! And I think we have officially decided on our boy name, too...which is nice being only 10 days away from my due date and all.

Jenna...hoping this is it for you! Wishing you all the best!!

[mhaddon]

well no sleep yet again. My tooth hurt so bad I couldn't sleep and of course DH woke up and thought maybe I was in labor. He asked me if i was and I told him my contractions would have to be pretty bad for it to take the pain away from my tooth and he rolled over and went back to sleep. I finally got that pain away and then dd decided to drop down on my cervix and nudge, it hurts bad, she's did it yesterday too, but I can't tell she's droped or anything.
DS2 keeps waking up in the middle of the night screaming and wanting rocked and I was sweating so bad last night when she did her cervix trick It felt like I only got about 2-3 hours of sleep maybe. I feel like crap, but have some energy. I wish it wasn't going to be so hot or I'd take the boys to do something fun. I think I may take them to watch the county fair pig show tommorow...

[Materfamilias]

Jenna, I hope this is IT!!!!
Nothing happening over here, except I finally got the birthball blown up and am now sitting on it at the computer...

[finnegansmom]

Today is my due date. Still pesky BH contractions all the time. If the baby could have any room to move lower, it did yesterday. It's all I can do to hold up my belly when I walk, otherwise I can barely move my legs. My feet have started to swell pretty badly too, blah. I'm trying to keep them up as much as I can, although I need to do some cleaning (in addition to work my WAH job).
I'm starting to get tired of family calling asking me what's going on. I know they mean well, but my MIL and FIL took their vacation this week and are so bummed that they went to work so they can take the vacation whenever the baby comes. I guess they really wanted the week off. Oh well...

[RubyOrganique]

Originally Posted by JennaW

I am up but luckily with good cause (I hope).

I am still unsure about contractions at this point. Like, I'm not sure if they are really happening sometimes. It is hard for me to tell because it seems like my belly is tight all the time, so physically touching my belly isn't a very good indicator.

Jenna - I hope you know how so many of us are thinking good thoughts for you!

I'm 40w6d today and have an appt with my mw this afternoon. I still don't think the baby has dropped yet, so I'll be curious to see what she can feel.

I can relate to feeling like I'm constantly contracting - at night, that is. I've been having less ctx during the day (except with physical movement) and more at night that stop by the morning.

I, too, have really significant swelling - even when I stay off my feet. Which makes it hard not to want to go out and do things, seeing as hanging out on the couch doesn't help and I get bored... And someone mentioned yesterday feeling like a 90 yr old getting out of bed and periodic leg weakness. Me too! What is that about?

I'm starting to get annoyed with people calling to see how I'm doing. Especially close family - it's like, geez, we're going to contact you when things start to happen. I'm not ready to go underground yet, but it won't be long! I mean, when you see someone in person and they continue to say, "still pregnant?" I just want to say, "no, you're just imagining this enormous belly I'm carrying around."

I'm really looking to the moon. The sensations last night were a little more intense, so I'm hoping for some release of mp today (after a haircut!) to help me know we're only a couple days away.

Maybe spicy foods : and a little leg/foot massage tonight.

Hang in there everybody!

[HulaJenn]

37w 6d.
LOTS of discharge (do we even need the TMI warning at this point? LOL) and BH but nothing else. Swollen feet.
No plans for today.
ELV to those that need it!

[madiesmommy]

Still here. At least I'm 38 weeks now, and go to the mw tomorrow for a checkup. I went for a walk and, wow, that really brought on some ctx while I was walking. I even had a few before bed, but they must have stopped because I went sound asleep. I can't get enough sleep, I don't know what that is all about!

I've decided today is my last day of official work. I have some stuff I'll have to finish up as I drop in the next couple of weeks, but I just can't take client calls, nor sit at my desk, all day anymore. I had enough trouble getting up for one 11 am appt today - which I tried to cancel but they would not let up! Ugh.

Good luck to those starting/in labor - and congrats for all our babies. It is wonderful to come and read all the births every day!

[JennaW]

Well, I stayed up until about 4:40, I was having contractions but nothing too regular but they were a bit painful, much like intense menstural cramps. Finally I told my DH, we should try to get some sleep. I just woke up so I got a couple hours of sleep. I think I might have been having some contractions while sleeping. I am hoping for a baby today but understand it might take some time.

[newfiemomma]

39w 1d
I am resigned to the fact that I will go over due, but it seems like I will be in good company around here! The calls have started asking if I am in labor yet, though it seems like Mom is getting more calls than me!!
ELV soon to be Mommas!!!

[imsubrosa]

I was really bummed yesterday when I couldn't get on the forums. For some reason the page simply refused to load. IE kept telling me it was loaded but all that was there was a blank page.

Anyway... Now on to the complaints. I was really irritated with DH last night. I know its probably hormones but it just seemed like he kept second guessing me in front of the kids which I really hate and try hard not to do to him. On top of that the cupboards are like totally bare and I was having a hard time thinking about what to make for dinner let alone playing Hi-Ho Cherry-O with a 4 yr old. Unfortunately that's not a sign I'm going to be in labor soon. I just keep spacing out lately.

So I couldn't sleep very well last night and ended up on the couch so I wouldn't wake DH because he told me he was going to go for a 5 mile run in the morning and needed to get at least 6 hours of sleep. Well he didn't go on his run anyway... not sure why. So the few hours I thought I was going to sleep on the couch turned into a few more and this morning I'm kind of sore.

Oh... and get this, we still don't have an official name for the baby. So maybe I'll be posting about this later.

And last but not least we's broke. Any other broke mama's want to commiserate? I hate being so stressed about money. And its not like we are really very poor... I just don't know where its going and I guess I should. I guess we are trying to get my student load paid off ahead of time but still... I hate having to think about whether I can go to the grocery store and what I can buy when I'm there.

But enough of the complaining... mil said that she would take the kids for a few days next week (they live about 2 1/2 hours away), hopefully before the baby is born. Maybe I'll be able to get some rest and finish cleaning the house before baby comes.

I feel pretty good physically... just not emotionally at this point.

I hope everyone is having a better day than I am so far.

[delicious]

oh jenna, hopefully today is the day.

you guys, my mom is here. and i am now officially a watched pot that will probably never boil. i am so stressed.

i'm patient, though. baby will come when baby is ready. i am only 40+2 or something. i think ds and i are coming down with a slight cold, so i guess i'd rather wait a few days anyways.

[Tenk]

Good luck to all those with CTX today, I hope they pick up and do something!!!

On a lighter note, I hope mine DO NOT. No real ctx to speak of, but cramping instead. Had some MP come out this morning, not bloody tho, just snotty looking is all. Baby feels low, his butt is down by my belly button and not up under my ribs or anything, so maybe that's good for Thursday night then.

ELV coming your way mamas!!!

Oh, Jenna, exactly what the PP said, Good luck mama, and I hope this is it for you (soon at least)!!! :

[blessed_mama]

Originally Posted by delicious

you guys, my mom is here. and i am now officially a watched pot that will probably never boil. i am so stressed.

I'm sorry, I know that's frustrating! It's good you're positive about baby coming when ready! Hopefully you can get some rest before your sweet babe arrives and everyone can get better.

Jenna-I hope this is it for you!! lost my plug with bloody show the night before Noah came. Get some rest before the hard stuff starts. ELV!!

[hyz]

Well, I was the person who felt like a creaky 90 year old when I got up yesterday, but I'm pleased to report that I felt a little better this AM. Maybe only 87 or so.

BUT, last night we had a meeting with our doula to finalize our birth plan, and had a long talk about things to avoid so I wouldn't go into labor until at least Sunday (my internal exam last week showed that baby is definitely getting ready to launch, but DH will be out of town the end of this week, and so will my doula). I thought the instructions were a little over-cautious, because I hadn't been feeling labor-y, but wouldn't you know, when we got home after the meeting, I started having my very first kinda real ctx-y feelings. It seemed like standing up or moving at all caused tightening all around my middle and lower back pain, plus a painful feeling like the baby was about to pop right out through my cervix. So, I ended up reclining like a whale on our big chair, relaxing and fighting gravity and doing Kegels and trying to pretend I wasn't freaking out a little so that DH could study for his big test without any added stress. MUST LAST UNTIL SUNDAY!!

And delicious, that's so funny about your mom. Mine was saying on the phone that she wants to come up and visit one last time before we have the baby. Well, um, my dad and his wife are going to be here this weekend (to babysit me while DH is out of town), so she's not coming then--and if she comes after that, it might be too late! But then I was thinking that her presence would likely stress me out so much (she really means well, but we have some personality conflicts) that my body WOULDN'T go into labor while she was around--so maybe I should invite her to come up between now and the time my Dad gets here! She could watch the pot so it doesn't boil. lol.

[pazerific]

hang in there jenna! the bloody show and MP are great signs! it won't be long now!

s for all the mamas who are having things get started or having a rough time.

i'm still waiting. 40w3d. i'm not looking forward to the weather here tomorrow through saturday--like upper 80s to low 90s and humid. eewwwww! this is also my 1st summer pg, and while i don't have bad swelling, my feet and toes get a little puffy by the end of the day when it's hot out. i do not like the feeling at all!

anyone else feel like they want to avoid MAKING calls? i feel like when ppl see my name on their phone, they're going to be all excited that this is it. instead i'm just calling cause i'm bored, or i wanna talk, etc. i have noticed this bonus though--usually DH doesn't answer his phone if he's working a flight (he just calls me back when he's done), but these days he ALWAYS answers my calls no matter what, but he still can't chit chat if he's busy. silly as it is, i love it!

my dad is bringing dd home tomorrow evening. i can't wait to see her, but i must admit, having a couple days off from parenting a toddler has been like heaven! i've never been away from her for more than a few hours at a time, and i thought i would be a total basket case, but it turns out this is just the breath of fresh air i needed! yesterday i simultaneously got so much done and had so much time to do nothing. today i'm hoping to get some cooking done (kasha stuffed peppers, quiche, potato pancakes) so that i don't have to heat up the house too much for the next few days and then there will be even more yummy stuff in the freezer to fall back on whenever babe decides to arrive.

p.s. I CANNOT WAIT TO FIND OUT IF THIS KID IS A BOY OR GIRL!!!!!! it's just recently started making me mildly crazy. that "it's a...!" moment is going to be so absolutely fun and wonderful!