October Mamas Roll Call :belly

momtol&a
Yoga mama
snugglebutter 10/01
mirthfulmum 10/03 BOY! Harrison Eliot Smith
*prediction: last week of Sept, 8 hrs labour*
*Born 10/6, 12:30 pm*
TracyK 10/04
mhurst 10/04
kraftykathy 10/04 *prediction: Oct 4, short labour, girl*
Jillerina 10/04 *prediction: Oct 6, 6 hrs labour*
water 10/06
KateMary 10/06 *Ruby Ava born 09/25*
Proudly AP 10/08
MamaEmerald 10/08
nikwik 10/8 GIRL!
mayasmama 10/08 GIRL!
FutureMama 10/09 BOY! Miles Rocket
bluehalo 10/10 BOY! Noah Daniel
mellybean 10/10 GIRL! Willow
jamaicanmom 10/10
allformyboys 10/11
Lucysmama 10/12 *prediction: girl, Oct 8, 16 hrs labour*
bendmom 10/12
ashleepurdie 10/12 *prediction: boy, 12 hours easy labour**Ella Lucille born 10/6, 10:22 pm, 7.5 lbs, 21.25"*
momadance 10/13 BOY! Reed Jezmund
*prediction: Oct 23rd*
Mandi 10/14
rhemp 10/14
wannabmommie 10/15
MTBto5 10/15
krnflwr 10/16 GIRL! Emma Grace *prediction: Oct 16th, 10 hours labour*
gmvh 10/16 *Twins! Owen and Gwynnen born 9/25*
Piglet68 10/18 BOY! Sasha Adam scheduled cesarian October 8
MommyMuse 10/19
JenDoula 10/19
BeansMomma 10/20 GIRL!
Mom2Lily 10/20
CourtneyandLogan 10/21 BOY! Zander Julian
*prediction: Oct 18 or 28*
OakEmber 10/21 BOY! Oakley Kai
*prediction: Oct 6 - 10, 6 hours labour*
mtnjenny 10/22
Ekatherina 10/22
Momma2Liam 10/24 *prediction: boy, 10/31, 9 hrs and 45 min labour*
Stanleymama 10/23 BOY! *prediction: Oct 18, short easy labour*
gottaknit 10/24 *prediction: Oct 31 - Nov 4, > 9 lbs*
3boyz4us 10/24 *expected Oct 22*
Ctmom70 10/24 BOY! Alex Richard
*prediction: Oct 14, 5 hrs labour*
Kim22 10/24 BOY!
aspiring mama 10/25
sunshinegal 10/25 Fiona
AngelBee 10/25 BOY! Angelo Richard
truebluexf 10/27 *prediction: Oct 11, 8 hrs labour, boy*
Soogie 10/27 *prediction: Oct 27 or 28*
ameliabedelia 10/29 GIRL! Greta Marie
*prediction: Oct 17, 10 hrs labour*
flitters 10/30
BeauGeek 10/30
AnnR33 10/31
guinnessinu 10/31 TWINS! BOY! and BOY!
BlueMoonTime 10/31 GIRL! Alexis


Hello ladies. I've decided to start this now while I'm here on the computer, in case I forget again tomorrow morning (and to give those of you on the East Coast a head start in the morning). I have updated the list to reflect our births so far: KateMary's DD and gretchen's twins. I've also add our latest newcomer, Ekatherina, to the list (finally!).

Well, it's officially october, and seems like we're a bunch destined to see our due dates.

Question of the Week: any last minute plans for something special before the birth? date night with DH? night out with the girls? visit to the spa? something to let you savour these last precious days before adding to your family....?

On the advice of all you ladies re: dh and I squabbling, we are going to take my mother up on an offer to babysit DD so we can go on a "date". our third wedding anniversary is the 20th and we know we won't have a chance to do anything then. So that will be my last "hurrah" before baby comes.

I think I'm finally ready for baby. We're giving the car a good cleaning inside today, installing Emily's new seat and putting the infant seat in. Everything in the baby's room is done except for one thing I need to hang up. Clothes and diapers are all washed, sorted, and folded. Slings are hanging to dry as we speak! Mum finished the pouches and wraps she was making (I can't really play with them right now, however, b/c my belly is too big!). All that's left on my list is to put together a hospital bag. Wow, can I be this organized??

Let's see some babies this week! :baby :baby :baby

37 weeks and 1 day

Had a fun weekend and am now relaxing the day away. We had a porch party last night with dh's side of the fam and some friends. Then there was a light parade that went past our house in the evening. The kids got to take a swing at a pinata...tons of fun!!! And I didn't have to do hardly a thing to prep for it. I did do some cleaning today and now that the house is back in order I plan to catch up here and then read a book.

QOTW: I think dh and I will try to go out for one more date. I would like to do a little something with just him for his birthday, which is the 17nth.

I do still need to pack my hospital...think I will do that tomorrow. Once that is done, I am all set :thumb

Piglet..is your c-sec this Friday already?

Have a good week mamas!!! :D

Well, I don't know if I could have asked for a more relaxing day! I had a tough night. First I woke with some cramping, was up about an hour. Then I woke with some weird intense pain on my right side. That kept me up for about another hour. Just when I was getting ready to wake dh and call the hospital, it must have let up b/c I fell asleep on the couch and it was gone when I woke 3 hours later. Crawled back into bed for another 3 hours! Then I just layed in bed for an hour with dh, my dreams, and thoughts b/c I realized that it could be a long time before doing that again if baby comes this week. Made a yummy breakfast of oj, coffee, and cinnamon buns (from the can). Surfed the net for a while, took a nice long walk, a nice long shower....ahhhhh. I wish I didn't have to go back to work tomorrow.
The walks don't seem to be bringing on any labor, but they are good for my state of mind, so if you can get out ladies in waiting, get! The change of scenery, the movement, the fresh air...I think it's what we all need.

It's officially my due date today, but no sign of Harrison wanting to move out of his comfy little home. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to be patient, that's what parenting's all about anyway right?

I've been having a really nice weekend. My mom took Alias out for the afternoon yesterday so Dh and I went out for a nice walk, lunch and a matinee (I love going to see movies in the afternoon but it's a very rare treat). And today my mom has gone to visit my grandpa so the three of us (Dh, Alias and I) spent the earlier part of the day at the beach. Oh how I wish I had more energy to have been more of a playmate at the beach, oh well. As Dh kept reminding me that the whole point of this excursion is for the three of us to have one last outing together before we become four, and it was so nice to sit back and really relish these last few moments. And now Dh and Alias went to the pool for a swim and I have the whole place to myself. I'm going to ignore the toys scatered around the apartment and pretend like the vacuuming dosen't need to be done and I'm going to go sit my big ol' pregnant bum down on the couch with a big glass of juice and watch a movie.

39 weeks :)

qotw: every time we go see a movie (my husband works at a theater so we get to see movies for free!) we think it's going to be our last date before baby comes! just saw "The Forgotten" today, wow it's got a damn good story.

i feel really weird, i had been feeling more energy every day and nesting a lot, the last 2 days i feel like i'm slowing down, down, down ... i'm sleepy all day, sleeping better at night, and basically feel like molasses. i wonder if my body is just telling me to rest up for the upcoming marathon :)

i keep wanting to crochet for some reason, sleepy nesting i guess :D i only know how to make ne thing: granny squares! if i start a baby blanket it'd be a potholder by xmas perhaps *lol* my hands are way too stiff to crochet anyway. and they took Vioxx off the market, which is what i had been taking before i was pregnant! not every day, but once a week when it got really bad. although quite a few moms have told me their arthritis stayed better after pregnancy *knock wood!*

my new mantra is "start your journey Willow" :D

peace,
meli

Melly, that's so funny you brought up crocheting! I haven't done it since the start of this pregnancy (i made a bib) Last night I picked it up and crochet a soaker. It's so cute, but I don't know how to do leg cuffs. I'll post a pick on our yahoo group.

Piglet, a nice date sounds perfect...Hopefully we'll swing one befor Reed comes along.

Wow, we're starting early this week. We'll have 15 pages befor the weeks done :D

Had a nice chill weekend. Did the laundry and let it all hang in the sun and nice breeze. Man our sheets smell so nice. Off to bathe Miles, and myself!

Oh we went to the fair on Sat. my pelvic area was THROBBING after walking around there. And we were only there for 2.5 hours :eyesroll

Piglet, FYI you have Gretchen's twins listed as being born on 10/25, not 9/25 in your list.

QOTW: I haven't really thought about doing anything. DH and I have both been spending lots of time with dd and we do stuff together as a family all the time, but I can't think of any last hurrahs. We don't know anyone to be a babysitter up here, so we can't really go out. My mom is coming up to stay with dd when I go into labor, but they live 2 hours away, so it isn't practical to use her just for a date.

We took a tour of the hospital today. It is alright, just a small community hospital so it seems that everyone gets a lot of attention from the nurses. There are things I like and things I don't, but overall it isn't bad. From what the nurse said, just about everyone rooms-in and the babies don't spend hardly any time in the nursery. While we were there, the nursery was empty although the nurse did say there were 3 woman in the postpartum rooms, so I guess they all had their babies with them. :thumb

Oh, and the other good thing is I am almost positive that babe had turned head down. I can feel her hiccuping down low, and I am pretty sure she is facing the left. Facing left is optimal birthing position, right??

Mirthfulmum - Happy Due Date to you! :belly

Amelia -Baby's back to your left is optimal. :)

I was getting pretty sure last night was "the night" - I almost had dh filling up the tub. My contractions were about 10 minutes apart, and getting pretty darn uncomfortable. My lower back was throbbing, and I had 2 loose bowel movements. But, (and maybe this was really moronic) I decided to lay down and see if I could sleep. I feel asleep after an hour or so of laying there, and when I woke up, my contractions had stopped. :rolleyes I wish I would have stayed awake and moving, maybe I would have my baby now! I had them all day today, too....but they just aren't going anywhere. I swam for an hour, and took a hike, and nothing. Just this backache and BHs and I lost another glob of mucous tonight. This is making me kinda tired and very irritable. I'm still not "due" for 8 days, so I really should relax, but this pre-labor is rough on me. I am trying not to do anything to rush things along, but I'm getting kinda burned out over here. The thought of going to another prenatal is so depressing right now. I would appreciate any labor vibes anyone wants to send me!

I talked to my half-sister and she said this is how she was, too.....she had LONG pre-labor and walked around 3-4cms dilated for a couple weeks. Then, her OB broke her water accidentally doing a vaginal exam, and she had her daughter 2 hours later! (Same with #2) I have read you labor most like your sisters....maybe that's how I will go?

39 weeks

Ugh, my family is driving me crazy already. Everyone calling "just to check in" ... but anxious and wanting details and some even asking "haven't you had that baby *yet*?!" ... I'm not even freaking due yet. Geesh! My mom asked if I was dialated ... never mind the fact that I haven't had an internal exam yet, and I can't reach myself. Sorry, can you tell I'm crabby about this? Heaven forbid I "go overdue". I think I'll hibernate until the baby's born so I don't have to talk to anyone else.

Anyway ... (sorry for the vent there ;) ) ... Same ole, same ole here too ... lots of BHs, crampiness, etc ... but no real action. Seems to be most prevalent from 5pm till I go to sleep. It's was exciting at first, but now that it's a regular thing w/o any "real" action, I just try to be think positively about my body doing it's work it's own way, etc. etc.

I'm excited to meet this baby, but honestly, I don't feel in any hurry. I'm enjoying this last little bit of time with Ethan (although, my goodness, what a handful he's been lately!) and trying to stay on top of stuff around the house, etc., so that when the baby *does* decide to make his grand entrance, I don't feel like I have to run around and clean like maniac.

I got to hold my new nephew today ... he's 8 weeks old and was a preemie, and is now just about 8 pounds. It's crazy to think that I could be birthing a baby that size pretty soon! It was fun to watch Ethan meet him, and check out all his new-baby-sweetness :love

QOTW: I would like to try to have one last date w/ DH sometime this week maybe ... probably just dinner out somewhere. It's nice just to have something fun to look forward to when you're so distracted by imminent due dates, you know? We're getting preggy pictures taken tomorrow afternoon, and that's been my "look forward to date" for a while now.

I would appreciate any labor vibes anyone wants to send me!

I've had this feeling all night that someone is going into labor, and have been itching to get online and find out how you all are doing. Lucysmama, sounds like it might be you. I'm sending you lots of good labor vibes!

I have read you labor most like your sisters....maybe that's how I will go?

Anyone else have any sister stories to compare with?
My sis had a c-section the first time, and a very long labor w/ #2...that ended in her hemmoraging and loosing lots of blood...says she saw the "white light" and all... very scary for all of us. So I'm hoping not to emulate either of her experiences, frankly.

Karin - nuthin' going on over here....must be someone else laboring! :D

36 wks
Every time I check this board now I expect a new arrival :) soon....Mirthfulmum :hug hang in there!!

QOTW-Oh yes, I have some definite plans! My B-day is Oct 5 so I'm going to hire myself a doula (meeting with her this week), get a pedicure (I've done this a week or 2 b4 my due date with the previous babes) and buy myself some ess oils to make some of the great stuff posted for labor.

My Dh has been against the doula since he thinks "he helps me enough" and it's a waste of $-he's a tighta$$ and I told him he can decide when he pushes a baby out-so too bad. I've heard such wonderful things about this woman that I just have to have her since this may indeed be my last babe-I want it to be the best possible experience.

I can't see my feet so the pedicure is a must!!

Will be checking in to see who's next-sending you all positive birthing vibes!
Ann

Oh and my predicition for me...Oct 25-28-6 hrs labor

Hello ladies! I have some time here in the middle of the night to post so...
QOTW: I think I'm going to get a pedicure / manicure. How much should one tip for a pedicure? I've only had one before and that was like 4 years ago. I'd love to go on a date w/ dh but we really don't have a babysitter right now, so... I guess when we all went to see Shark Tale on Saturday will have to count as one. Oh and I took a bath for the first time in 2 years tonight, complete with candle light. It was nice, but our tub is a little small, I really couldn't submerge my belly.

I've been cleaning like crazy today with more plans to clean the rest of the week. I also bought organizing bins and stuff for Logan's room and got that mess picked up. I went for a long brisk walk on top of all that, so my hip / pelvic area is so stiff and sore.

Amelia - yay on the baby being head down! That's great. You know my midwife said facing left was really good. In her experience she said they come out really fast if they're right anterior...but either way as long as they're anterior it's good. Mine keeps flipping back and forth, I think.

Oh and apparently I am GBS positive...the m/w made a mistake looking at my chart or something, so yay I've got that to deal with now. I was really tearful about it at first, but I'm feeling a little better. I'm so conflicted as to what to do...though I really think I'm just going to go the antibiotics route. I just keep thinking how could I be positive now, when I was negative last time?

Hugs to all you mamas getting close, it sounds so exciting! I don't feel close at all.

Piglet - I can't believe you're gonna have your baby on Friday! You shoud post a belly pic! ;) I hope your itchiness has subsided and that things get better with your dh. It really is no wonder that you guys have been squabling with all you've been through recently. I think I'd go crazy if dh was home all the time. Especially now that I'm nesting, I'm like, "why are you just sitting there! There's work to be done!" - on the weekends.

Lucysmama sending you much much good birthing vibes...:dust...and to mirthfulmom too....it must be so stressing to pass ur due date....:hug
i have done with the baby loundry too and cleaning of the house which was terrible...:hide: and now thinking about knitting.... :eyesroll but since i took a leave from my univeristy (doing research) i think i should do some research at home..:scratch: but have no wish to....:(
very anxiuos for this baby to come out not to feel giulty to be away from school for a long time....but have no signs at all..:(
i think we are not going on any dates with dh before this baby will be born...since he has to finish up his article this month..:angry....
have visited my 70-year-old mw today and felt very happy about the visit...:) she bought for me many useful things and didnt accept to take a penny...:shy....but there are things that bother me: im not doing much exercise....(almost not at all), no perineal massage ....didnt gain weight this month...:crying....not a single kilo!!!! mw seemed very positive about this...even that there was almost no increase in baby's size.....(measured by ordinary centimeter)....she said not to worry at all...but dh worried...and made me eat liver that i hated!!! :crying....is there somebody else having problems with food or its just me???? :confused:

Ann, that's funny, I had the feeling someone was going into labor too last night. I wonder who is is.

Anyway, lots of :dust and :baby vibes to you Katie. I hope it is soon.

Court, sorry about the GBS positive. I am sure you will do the right thing. I am being tested for it on Wed, and am really nervous. Saying lots of :1praying: that I test neg.

but dh worried...and made me eat liver that i hated!!! :gross :Puke

I'm having trouble sleeping so thought I'd check in to see if there were any babies born yet...

It seems our group are the slow cookers. Guess that means we got a lot of really strong, healthy and plump babies joining our group soon.

Court - I'm sorry to read about your GBS test. :hug

So no babies this weekend? Even w/ all the Mt. St. Helen's activity. ;)

qotw: Well this weekend was my time for that. I had a fun Saturday haning out with my sister. Our hubbies had daddy day's so we could just hang out all day and not worry about having to take care of our boys. I went with my sister to get her haircut at this cute lil shop downtown. Then we went out for lunch and chatted and drank coffee. It was so nice. We haven't had a chance to do that in ages. Then we just strolled around looked at some of the shops. Then we went to a mall and stopped in at Victoria's Secret. Picked up a few things. :thumb It was so great just to have some long alone time with my sis we don't get that becuase we are always bringing our boys along. Thankfully the 2 guys are like brothers. They are both our first (my sister's last too) and are only 5 1/2 months apart. Totally unplanned that way it just happened. :)

Sunday we went to his place called The Elegant Farmer. Some of you cheeseheads might know about this place. My sister and her family came, our good freind and her family came, and my Aunt & Uncle. It was a great time except for when I saw my Aunt the first thing she said was "You're Fat!" I said that's very nice. :eyesroll I know she was just teasing and being sweet but come on don't say that to a big bloated preggy lady! So that had me peeved but I still enjoyed my time apple picking and pumpkin picking with everyone. The kids had a blast! Liam loves tractors and they take you on a tractor ride to the apple trees. It was so nice and realaxing. Except for the fact that DH said he watch Liam so I could just realx and well he did a good job but sometimes got too involved with chatting that he wasn't watching Liam. :angry Drives me nuts when he does this! I yell hey where's Liam to get his attention and I know where Liam is but I want DH to wake up and pay closer attention. Then he is getting peeved because we are sitting on these hay bales eating our lunch and Liam is just up and running. DH is getting peeved he won't stay still for more than a minute to two. I just sit and don't say a thing. I'm thinking well hello!! he's a toddler they all don't sit still and eat. They are very distractable! :hammer So needless to say DH was in a pissy mood for the rest of the day until we came home and napped then he was better.

So that was my special time before the baby gets here. It was nice to have it!

Sounds like everyone else has nice things planned.

Sending lots of Labor Vibes of to all! :dust

I'm :1praying: too that i'll be GBS Neg. I get the results of that and my ultrasound on friday. Needless to say I'm super anxious.

Ekatherina- What a wonderful m/w you have she seems so nice! The whole food thing I'm dealing with too! That is so icky DH made you eat liver. Espically being preganant and sensitive we are too things now!! :gross

Piglet- How exciting your lil one is going to be here Friday!! YEAH!! Hope the itching is getting better.

Amelia- You just remineded me I have to get a tour! I haven't been to this hospital yet! Oops! :)

Ann- Good for you for getting a doula!!! I used one last time and am going to this time. Sure our hubbies are good supporters but the Doula is just so much more and is there for both of you! I know some hubbies feel like they will take over but any good one will not! Sorry I just feel very passionate about using doulas since they are so wonderful!

Sorry for the long post!!! Just feeling chatty today!
Carrie

QOTW: well, dh and i don't hurt at all for time together...we have always made it a point to get out often just the the two of us...just went out a couple fridays ago with my sis and her dh...the boys stayed at mom's overnight since it had been almost a month since she had seen them...we always go out for supper the night before we go in for the c-section...the boys will stay over night somewhere the night before so we don't have to deliver them the day of delivery, plus we have to be at the hospital at 6:00am. i'm going to let them miss part or all the day of school on the friday of delivery....just have to see how things go...my mom ususally keps the boys while i'm at the hospital, but she just had rotator cuff surgery on fri, so there goes that. my sister will help out for sure, but don't know who else yet.

good luck to all those with pre-labor...hope it amounts to something for you soon....

Carrie

oh Court im so sorry you tested GBS pos...:( but i would advice please dont rush into taking antibiotics...and Carrie i will pray for you too that you test neg...:1praying:...please read this site it is very good and it helped me to argue with my mw (old one whom i changed now) about not doing GBS test at all....but anyway you can use it to argue about IV antibiotics at least....except maybe for extreme cases...i dont know long labor, water broke.....
http://www.preciouspassage.com/treating_group_b_strep.htm
Well...yep i know eating liver and not liking it very hard indeed...:( and just now dh made a deliciuos meat supper (only to make me eat i know) but i couldnt put a piece of meat in my nouth...:crying....i dont know what is that about me and meat....i just can't see it these days...and dh wants me to eat it everyday for the iron levels...(i have normal hematochrit by the way) anyway....its really hard....i want to eat sweets but im convinced its so bad for me and the baby...and also makes dh very upset...and i hate to see him being upset like that...:( but what can I do with this "can't see healthy food" mood ???? :bang....sorry for being so depressing....:innocent

Court ... that sucks about the GBS :hug i keep going back and forth on the antibiotics, my thinking is if i can prevent Willow from getting extra tests or an IV, it's worth me getting antibiotics. so we'll be discussing it further when we get to the hospital (time permitting of course).

i was having pretty substantial contractions all night, felt owie but great :D no other signs really.

today is an NST and the last level 2 u/s ... if my placenta is overly calcified for its age (not uncommon for diabetes even with good control) i know they're going to schedule induction :( last u/s it was calcifying at a faster rate. at this point i fear induction so much, i wonder if my fear could actually block me from going into labor? (was re-reading Birth From Within which talks about women being blocked by fear.) i don't fear labor or birth, or even pain, i feel very welcoming of those things. i do fear unnatural, pitocin labor however!

peace,
meli

i don't fear labor or birth, or even pain, i feel very welcoming of those things. i do fear unnatural, pitocin labor however!

Meli, I hear you about your fears. I just want to toss in my $.02, see if it can soothe your nerves a bit. I was induced at 40wk2days with Hannah, due to gest diab and raising bp. I had been having lots of BH contrax and was slightly dialated when I went into the hosp. I labored on pitocin for 8 hours, drug free (besides the pit) and it really wasn't that bad. I had heard horror stories about being induced, but this wasn't nearly as bad or painful as I had been expecting. Other, experienced mothers told me that I had a very fast, smooth labor. Besides all the interventions of being induced, it wasn't very scary and I feel like I handled things (pain) very well.
I think if your body is already getting ready, then the pit just sort of gives you a little push in the right direction. Not that I'm advocating its use in anything other than a true medical need, but I just don't want you to go into it thinking that having the Pit is going to cause you immense pain and a long horrid birth. You can have a positive birthing experience, even with inducement. HTHs.

What is with these stubborn babies of ours?

Well, as I settled into bed last night, I had my first real contraction. It honestly felt good. As if my body was saying, "yes, this is what is supposed to be going on, we can do this." So, I layed there all hopeful...then I fell asleep. Just one contrax...bah hum bug. I didn't even have cramps bad enough to wake me up last night. That doesn't mean I wasn't up though. Gee, I am tired today! And very grumpy sitting here at my desk at work. And I have just realized it stinks in here...I wonder if the heat has turned on for the first time, that is kind of what it smells like. Ewww.
Well, someone was just so kind and saved me a trip to the mail room. I have a stack of mail to go through, guess I should get moving on it.
I hope someone is making some progress today!

I have hats! Pumpkins, trees, stripey hats.
See pics:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/karinlivin/album?.dir=1149&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

Those of you who ordered specific hats, please contact me to arrange shipping and $$. PM or email me.
Thanks for your patience, karin

OMG Karin those hats are precious!!

OK, a little slow this morning IMO-who's in labor??? ;)

Having tons of BH yesterday and today and sharp pains in my groin but it's not time yet...for those that wonder "how do you know?" It's hard to explain and it won't help much as you sit and wait but you "just know" when it's time. Too bad for me this ain't it!

Off to crochet/nest/laundry...
Ann

krnflwr...I pm'd you about the hats :)

Katie..sending you labor vibes :thumb

Sorry I can't remember everyone's posts but I wish you all easy labors soon for those who are due or almost due :)

39.4 weeks pregnant

Court, I'm gbs positive too, and I was really bummed about it at first. I just got this whole feeling like my plans for how I wanted to labor would have to change and I'd have this stupid IV and feel like a patient, not an empowered birthing woman, and then they'd think it was so great and easy to give me IV fluid cuz I'll have the lock in place anyway and.... blah.

But I thought about it a lot, and considered not taking the antibiotics. But I decided to let time be the determining factor. I'm still going to labor at home for as long as possible--til I'm ready to push, If I can make it that far--which is what I wanted to do in the beginning and will avoid the possibility of many interventions that increase baby's risk of getting sick. Once I get to the hospital, I'll take the antibiotics. If I have time for the two doses, then I'll get them. If not, I won't worry. I also will make it very clear that I do NOT want my membranes ruptured. If my water doesn't break on its own, that baby will be born with it intact.

It's a tough thing, because the risk is so small but the sickness is serious. The reason why I decided to go with the antibiotics--time permitting--was twofold: I can't imagine my baby being taken to the NICU, and I'm not going to expose him to that risk if I can help it; but more than that even, I am birthing in a hospital, and I don't want the midwives, doctors and nurses treating my baby and I like we're in danger, and I don't want the added stress of their judgment. As unfortunate a reality as that may be, it is still the reality.

And actually, what my midwife said about refusing antibiotics was that if I really wanted to do that, the best thing to do would be waiting as long as possible to come in to the hospital. She seemed concerned about hospital staff freaking out on a mom who refused the antibiotics.

:banana :carrot :banana My last week of Work!!! :carrot :banana :carrot

Just turned in my FMLA forms listing Friday as my last day of work. Hopefully I won't go into labor Friday night before I get a chance to rest up!

Met with the midwife yesterday and baby has dropped and is engaged. So this means I'm getting close.... right? But not too close; we have an Ikea run planned for Saturday. ;)

DH finished the Portland Marathon yesterday in 3 hours 57 minutes! I am so proud of him. :love He said the last 6 miles he felt like he was gonna die and just wanted to quit, but he thought of me going through labor in a couple of weeks and that gave him the strength to keep going. (Or maybe he's just really competitive with me... :LOL )

Still having lots of BH contrax, and it's getting very painful to get up out of bed. Sitting up and then standing is so intense... my whole belly seizes up and my pubic bone is screaming out in pain.

Oh!! I had a baby shower on Saturday. It actually went really well. I only got one package of disposable diapers - and from someone who knows I plan to CD. She said, "I know you plan to use cloth, so I thought you'd need these." :scratch And they're in a bigger size, not newborn... So I guess she thinks I'll quit..? Anyway they are scented, so I left them in the car and plan to give them to charity. I am really sensitive to artificially scented products (detergents, perfumes, etc.)

I also got yet another vibrating bouncy chair thingy. People are just crazy for these things, aren't they? Just don't think I need one in every room. So it went back to Target and I got a fancy digital thermometer and the cutest Winnie the Pooh nightlight.

Got lots of super soft and cute clothes, and also tons of useful stuff (bathtub and Burt's Bees products, Lands End diaper bag, etc.) It was fun.

One more thing: One of DH's coworkers called me last night and said his office is planning a surprise baby shower for DH! They want me to show up, too. Isn't that sweet?! He will be soooo surprised and probably embarrassed. He's one of those guys that doesn't even like anyone to know when it's his birthday. He also didn't tell anyone at work he was running the marathon, so I'll get to announce that too. ;)

MamaEmerald - I think we feel the same on the GBS subject. To me the benefits of antibiotics outweigh the risks of my baby getting neonatal sepsis. I'm having a homebirth and I just can't imagine after all that having to go to the hospital and admit my baby. The m/w said when I'm in active labor or if my water breaks, then they will offer me the antibiotics. After the bag drains in, I'll just have the lock in, so it's not too horrible I guess. I can still walk around and stuff holding the bag. But I just didn't want to have to hassle with anything like that. I keep thinking it's so weird because people who test negative at 36 weeks could theoretically be positive at 40 weeks and not even know it. blah, I know it's a dead horse around here. Thanks for the hugs everybody, I needed them.

Nancy- congrats to your dh for running the marathon! That's awesome. And I'm glad your baby shower went well. The surprise shower for your dh sounds so sweet. About the vibrating bouncy chairs - we had one with Logan and just didn't use the vibrating feature cause it freaked him out a bit. But it was useful when I needed to take a quick shower and he was awake - I could put him in the chair with the little seatbelt on and he would bat at the little toys while I showered. I had the curtain half open so I could look at him. Anyways, for moments like that and going potty and stuff - it came in handy....but you're right, you certainly don't need one for every room.

What with all my me me me blah blah blah, I forgot to comment on everyone else's news!

Courtney, sorry to hear about the GBS + test. :hug

Piglet, you're having your baby this Friday? That is so exciting!! Hope you're getting some rest and enjoying your last few days as a mommy to one. I wonder if anyone else will have one this week....

Bluehalo, time to take the phone off the hook. ;)

Mirthful, hope you're staying comfortable. Any day now... :)

OK that's the limit to my preggo brain memory! Everyone else - let's have some babies already!! I need to hear some birth stories! :wink :LOL

Still pregnant, still staying busy! I didn't manage to post last week because by the time I had a chance to check in on the boards there were already so many posts that I just found it too overwhelming! Silly of me, eh?

I'm still working full-time- I have four daycare kids now who ask me everyday, "Is the baby coming out?" One little boy has been especially sweet, wanting to rub and kiss my belly everyday. He just happens to have been born at home himself and was caught by the same midwife that I am using.

I can kind of empathize with all of you mamas with toddlers at home, only in my case I at least get a break when they all go home at 5:30!

Just had an appointment with my midwife- all of my prenatals have been at my house and scheduled during the kids' nap time- how's that for convienance? Anyhow, everything is looking good- I still feel great, eating normally, sleeping just fine, no real complaints to speak of. DH and I just feel like we're in a holding pattern- everyday we're just waiting to see if something is going to happen.

QOTW: DH and I went to see a movie this weekend, The Forgotten. A relative suggested that we see a movie together before the baby is born because it will be a while before we're able to do that again. It seemed like a good idea so we went to the theatre, but had to laugh when we realized that it had been at least 6 months since we'd been to the movies anyhow, baby or no baby...

Gotta go check on the kids- someone is waking up...

Hi all! I haven't posted in ages, but I've been extremely busy!

I have a client due.. well, she's 41 weeks today, so all my brain energy has been focused on her, and I had an NFB party yesterday for my MOMS Club, I've been nesting like crazy. I'm trying to take it easy today, but I did bring a Rubbermaid bin up from the basement to store all my birthing stuff in, so it's all in one place.

In the last few weeks, DH and I have made some pretty big decisions! We decided to do a homebirth - we've met with the midwife once, and DH was sold immediately. We've also decided to give cloth diapering a try - yes with the THIRD child, LOL.

QOTW: No, nothing really. We went out on a very special date on our anniversary (9/20), and that was our last night out together for a while. We try to enjoy nights in, especially right after a new baby. I can never bear leaving a new baby with someone right away, and plus it's much easier to just rent a movie and make popcorn at home, then we can be here for the kids if they need us, and the baby who will definitely need ME. LOL.

I'll be 38 weeks tomorrow!

Well, as I settled into bed last night, I had my first real contraction. It honestly felt good. As if my body was saying, "yes, this is what is supposed to be going on, we can do this."!

yes, that's exactly what i feel also! :) my contractions do feel really good :D i wonder why they seem more common while lying in bed?? i mean, since bedrest is supposed to prevent them ;)

NST and u/s went well today. my placenta is "less calcified" than my date indicates, baby is doing great (est. 6lb11oz give or take 1.2lbs in either direction), great heartrate and all that, so there are no longer any diabetes complication worries other than what her blood sugar will be when she's born :) and breastmilk fixes that no problem :D

BUT! the first question the nurse doing the NST asks me is "so when are we going to induce you?" :eyesroll then the dr. doing the u/s says, first thing, "so when are we going to deliver you?" that pissed me off, i said "i'll be giving birth when my body says to." he kept talking about inducing for diabetes, even with all the great test results, i finally asked "do you know something i don't?!" he said they "have to" recommend inducing me Thursday since i'm due Sunday. i said "i'll discuss it with my dr. on Thursday." he was genuinely shocked that i wouldn't want to "hurry things up" :scratch

i got to educate a nurse, for lack of a better word. the NST nurse was chatty, nice but too mainstream for me ... we were watching the another woman's contractions on the big monitor and i was like, "whoo, you GO girl!" *lol* the nurse was like, "don't get excited, you'll be in so much pain when that happens" and i said "i know, i look forward to it!" we ended up having a nice talk about how perception of pain can create a fear cycle that makes the pain worse, how great endorphins are, and so on. she said "you're going to do really, really well" :D

krnflwr, thank you :)

peace, and labor vibes :D
meli

Boy am I waddling! And what a big round belly!
I am trying to enjoy this last month because it is going to be such a whirlwind change when she does finally get here. I remember with my other 2 thinking that I was so prepared, but when they finally arrived, everything just seemed to change and was so different from what I expected. And I don't mean by routine, but just having a new person in our lives left me sort of half dazed, and trying to get a real feel for who this little one is and who I was to them. I am so very much looking forward to her birth as is everyone in my family, but I have also been at the point where I longed to be pregnant and feel the movements of a special person growing inside. It is so very special that I just keep giving my belly hugs!!
Sending along major positive labor vibes and healing vibes (for those c/s mamas) to all that need them :dust
QOTW- Acutally I am nesting and hibernating as much as possible. We've been in our house for 3 years and this pg has given us the motivation to get all the stuff done we always wanted. Also, I am enjoying having a family of 4 and trying to do lots together. I don't want to be away from the kids. I am at work all day still and that is too much time away from them already!
Had my appt last week and got tested for GBS even though I told myself that I wouldn't. I don't really have a good relationship with any peditrician in the area, and the ones that our insurance covers are extremely main stream. If I test positive and don't take the antibiotics, they say the babe has to stay in the hospital for 48 hours. I'll be in again on to see them on Friday so we will see what happens. I hope this birth goes very well so that my next one can be at home with out all this mandatory :cuss
Can't wait to read some birth stories from you wonderfull mamas. :love

Hi all! It's so nice to be home! I'm trying frantically to get a zillion things done, but at least we are here. Had my home visit today, that went really really well. Did the GBS test, was pleased that the mw had me swab myself. :thumb If I am positive I'll do the hibicleans thing, since it works as well as antibiotics and I'm allergic to some antibiotics anyway, and I passed that on to DS. I figure the less antibiotics baby is exposed to then the better. Baby is waaaay low and I still measure 33cm. BUT I asked the mw to give my a weight guess for fun...and she thinks the baby is about 8lbs already! Sooo getting our butts in gear and working on getting this baby OUT before it can hit 9 or 10lbs! The mw was actually pretty surprised I haven't had the baby yet.

QOTW: DH and I had our what will probably be our last date Sat night. I also went and got my pedicure (bday gift!) that afternoon. I feel backwards, bc the house isn't quite where I'd like it to be so my last minute plans at the moment are all based around getting everything ready!!

Hey everyone! How's everyone's Monday gone so far? Any new babies?

I saw the midwife today. I was planning on not having any cervical checks but I was completely overcome by curiousity and asked her to check me. (She won't even offer,but if you ask her she's more than happy to :) ) I wasn't expecting anything except maybe some effacement since I haven't had any good bh to speak of. But I'm 80% and 2 cm! WOOOHOOO! I know it doesn't mean anything about when labor will start, but I've read some birth stories where women labor hard for a long time just to make it to 2. So I feel like I kinda got a headstart on things, ya know? ;) Baby is still not engaged though. Anything besides sitting on a birth ball that will help engagement?

MW hasn't even mentioned GBS yet, and of course my preggo brain forgot to ask again. But I have issues with antibiotics so we'll probably just see what happens.

QOTW: Dh and I went to see Bela Fleck and the Flecktones last Tuesday (anyone that hasn't heard them, look them up- they're great!) so that will probably be our last date. Money is quite tight right now too so we'll just be taking it easy. Sex is out though since I don't need his help ripening the cervix :eyesroll . That was going to be my leverage when he was feeling uneasy about it, now he says there's no way since the mw felt the head. He really thinks he's going to poke the baby! He is well-endowed but that's still giving himself a little too much credit... ;)

Hope everyone's feeling good (relatively speaking) and has a good week!
Sorry for no personal replies but I can't remember anything right now. :hug to everyone that needs one!

I am completely exhausted. Amazing what a day of desk sitting will do to you. One down, four to go...to the weekend anyways, unless baby comes sooner! (oh please oh please!).
I am looking foward to bed tonight, aside from sleep, I am really curious as to whether I will have more contrax or not. I do have a dr appt tomorrow afternoon. I don't know exactly what will go on. They don't do internals, so that won't tell me anything (even if they did, it wouldn't tell me anything right?). They will measure my belly, but the baby was in a weird position last time, so that doesn't mean anything either. The only thing I can think of is that he will want to talk the I word (induction). I will be 40 wk Friday. They don't like to let anyone go more than 41. BUT, I am pretty sure of when I concieved and know that this baby might be a little younger than they think, by about a week. BUT, I also know that baby is running out of stretching room. So, what will happen tomorrow, I don't know.
Well, labor dust going out to ya'll tonight....

I'm getting that feeling that someone's in labor... :dust

Anyone else getting thoughts of just induce me!! I'm so tired and my feet are swollen I just feel like that. :D

I'm not going to do it unless medically necessary. I'm just feeling that way today. :)

Thanks for letting me vent. Just having one of those evenings.

Carrie

I know I said I would be patient, but I sure wish that person in labour was me!

" He is well-endowed but that's still giving himself a little too much credit..."


LOL, that gave me a good laugh! Thanks Ashlee! Hee-hee !

Kathy

38 Weeks Tomorrow!

Howdy, all. It's been a roller coaster emotionally - I wonder where in the world all of these emotions could possibly come from. Yesterday I was pretty depressed; laid on the couch all day and cried at night because I was so darned tired of being huge, achey, encumbered, emotional, blah blah blah. Kinda freaked out DW - oops. :crap I attribute this to not having enough protein / iron so I had cow for lunch; hopefully that will help my spirits!

Meli - have you checked into accupuncture to get things going more naturally? I've heard great things about that being successful.

Nancy - The shower for your hubby sounds great. We received disposables too - but thankfully they were the organic enviro-friendly kind. Congrats on setting your last day for this Friday. Your posts from last week inspired me; I've set my last day for next Friday. I'd go today if I didn't have a big project I'm working on for my boss... But, if that wraps up any sooner, I'm outta here.

I'm feeling oh so huge too. I went to my chiro today; I hadn't seen her in 1.5 weeks and her jaw hit the floor. Apparently I'm not the only one that recognizes that Little Bean has been through a growth spurt. (I gained 6.5 pounds in 2 weeks!) :yikes: Back and neck are doing well - she did a minor adjustment and says to call her if I need to; I suspect things will shift when the baby drops.

I finally packed for the hospital this weekend and we finished our birthplan (Link (http://sanfordanderson.com/birthplan.htm)) - open to suggestions for changes - we're trying to keep it to one page. Now all we need to do is decide on an outfit for Bean to come home in and we'll be set.

Howdy, all. It's been a roller coaster emotionally - I wonder where in the world all of these emotions could possibly come from. Yesterday I was pretty depressed; laid on the couch all day and cried at night because I was so darned tired of being huge, achey, encumbered, emotional, blah blah blah.

You're not the only one who feels this way Susan! :hug DH has to listen to me whine, "I'll never look/feel normal again!! I want my body back!" whah whah whah!!! I imagine this is pretty normal stuff at this stage. Except for those few women who :love being pregnant and never feel discomfort. And you know who you are... better :hide:

:wink :LOL

gottaknit, that's exactly how I've been feeling. I was looking in the mirror last night and said "you know, I like being pregnant, but I'm ready to, you know, not be." My partner said, "what do you mean...you want to have the baby already or you wish we weren't having one?" hahah. I had to explain that this time it wasn't about the baby. It's about MEEEE! I'm ready to not have my skin stretching anymore, to not have to fight to get comfortable or maneuver myself.

I know I sound complainy, but I know you all know how I feel! I've been getting some good contractions though!

And trueblue, I don't care for antibiotics at all and don't want to expose my baby to them, but if given the choice between antibiotics and a hibiclens douche, I'd definately go with the antibiotics. Hibiclens burns! I know it would be diluted, but damn! That stuff is harsh. I would not let it ANYWHERE near my vagina!

LOL Kristin....I guess I haven't actually tried it!! It would just be a wipe-out with it though I think...I don't know we'll see. I could have the baby before the results are even back anyway!! I was negative last time so I'm not too worried...though I know it doesn't mean much. As long as I don't have any infection symptoms though I'm not too worried. I guess we'll see what happens!! I've just been kinda leary of antibiotics lately since I have a reaction to so many, and then when I saw DS break out in hives for 4 days from his...it scared me. I'm not anti-antibiotics in general, they are wonderful things when needed :) I'm just worried about anaphylactic shock!

Haven't seen Flitters around for a while, and she did have the pinkish tinge on her tp the other day!!!

Re. GBS~ The hibiclens is not to be used as a douche. You dilute it 1 part hibi to 5 parts water in a peri bottle, and do a vaginal wash one time at the onset of labor. Much better IMO then anti. I have a GBS sob story though. (see what's everyone doing about GBS testing thread in the october 2004 forum)

Anybody else totally anoyed by the slow loading pages ever since the mothering face lift?

on my 2nd soaker, should've been doing this a long time ago... You still knitting strong Truebluexf?

much love mama's!

:grouphug to all of us going for the emotional roller coaster rides. I was there last weekend (dropping the F bomb on Dh :eyesroll ) It seems to have passed though...

40 weeks

Its Monday night and I'm still preggo but it feels like I am barely holding this baby in! I went to the Midwife today and consented to an internal (first one this pregnancy). She checked me, smiled and said "weeellllll..." seems baby is "extremely low", and I'm about 70% effaced and 3-4cm dilated! I was expecting at least 2 cm dilation so I was not disappointed. Midwife went on to give me a serious talking to about calling her as soon as anything feels different with my contractions. She said we have to be prepared for a very fast birth because I am so favorable! Yay, of course this could go on for another week but I'm feeling really positive and comfortable with how things are going.

I am so happy that I waited to be checked, it was good for my morale these past weeks. I hope everyone else who is feeling low can find a way to boost their morale, it is so good for you physically and emotionally. Enjoy those last few days of work Mamas, you deserve a wee break before your bundle arrives if it is at all possible.

OK, I'm tired and ready for bed. I'll try to post some replys tomorrow!

Night night.

:crying...I thought it was just my internet access acting up or something, I'm pulling my hair out here with these slow loading pages...sure hope it's not gonna stay like this, I lost a post already which is making me more frustrated! Sorry but now I am not gonna go back and try to respond invidually...I just wanted to make an appearance so you aren't all thinking I'm in labor ;)

Jillerina- Just had to say though that that is awesome news :thumb Hope your turn is soon!!

im lost i keep on miscalculating the weeks...:hide: its so stupid but i can't find out excatly which week i'm in... :LOL my mw wrote 37 and 5 days....but me and dh were sure im in 38th week... :angry but my due date is 22 october....so i should be 38 weeks right??? but some of you their due dates are before me and they are 37 weeks...how can that possibly be??? ....:scratch
birth vibes toyou Jillerina :dust...hope we hear ur birthstory soon....:)
:hug Susan, I feel that way too...today i sat and cried to my dh that im tired of being not able to eat meat and crave only chocolate...:) that made me feel better....but dh felt very upset and i guess will now bring me chocolate when he comes back from his calligraphy class.... :eyesroll ...
I have read somewhere someone has said that he can know which position baby is in by his hiccups....:scratch...my baby hiccups a lot...is it if i feel hiccups at my right side it mean that baby is facing the left side??? it is good??
much :hug to all of you who are still working full time...:( it must be sooooooooo tireful...im sitting on the sofa all day long and compain complain complain ....:blah

I have also been a total complete emotional wreck lately. And, my toddler has been driving me crazy! A little part of me is GLAD I having a hospital birth. I had thought about trying to go home early, but at this point the 2 days in the hospital is totally starting to look like one great vacation, I just get waited on, get to lie around in bed with my baby, my mom and dh get to watch dd and take care of her. Plus, in some ways I am also glad that dd will not be around for the birth as would happen if we were giving birth at home. I do think she will make things harder for me. She is a total mama's girl if I am around and I know that she will want to be touching me or nursing or something the whole time. I just think it will be better for my mom to have her and do something fun with her than have me labor and birth at home with her around. But, if I am not around, she is fine with dh or with my mom or whate. t is only if I am around that she only wants me.

I am also feeling really stuck on my predicted date (Oct 17th - 12 whole days before my acutal due date). For some reason I just keep thinking thoughts like two weeks from now, I will have had my baby, or two weeks from now I will be getting ready to go home from the hospital. I know that isn't good, since I really have no reason to think she will be born on that date and I know I will be disappointed if that day comes and goes and no baby.

Ekatherina - If your due date is the 22nd, then you'll will be 38 weeks on Friday. So technically you are in week 38, you just haven't completed it yet. Mine's the 21st, and I've got my calendar all marked up, so trust me. Every Friday you go up a week. :)

Amie- these slow loading pages make me wannna cry too.

Yay Jillerina on your progress! That would boost my morale too! I get my first internal next Wednesday and I can't wait to see where I'm at.

39w 5d
I went to bed at 8:30 last night and aside from peeing every two hours, I slept through. Ahhhhh. Very nice. Of course, it didn't make it any easier to drag myself from bed at 7:30. At least I feel I can sit at my desk without wanting to rip someone's head off. That is a good thing.
No more contrax last night, that was dissappointing.
Dr. appt. today although I kind of wonder what the point is. The point is that it gets me out of work early right? LOL. No, the point is that I am going to present my birth plan, ask for dr initials on it. I might have to do some arguing/bargaining over it. I think the first point will be the hep lock. But, I feel pretty confident in my argument.
Yesterday we had a surprise. My grandparents had ordered us the stroller we wanted. Dh opened the box up and put it together as soon as I got home. I am still hoping that someone will get the sling I want, but I may have to do that myself.
Boy has the weather turned! It was freezing this morning! Literally. I think this kid takes after his/her father and loves warm weather. Hope s/he hasn't decided to stay put until spring. I do need to go pull a warmer going home outfit out though, just in case. At this rate it will snow before baby comes.
Ug. My heartburn is acting up. I forced myself to eat breakfast b/c I know I need to eat. Followed that with some tums real quick.
Oh, I too am disapointed with the page loading time. Takes forever. I hope it is something they can fix!

I'm with all of you, these slow loading pages are maddening!

I have a midwife appointment in a few hours and I hope, I hope, I hope she is able to inspire labour today. I have got to have this baby by Thursday! My mom is scheduled to leave Firday and if Harrison hasn't been born by then then she ain't leaving! And I don't think I can survive her staying here for longer than that (or perhaps I should say she might not survive ;)). She is helping with dinner and some cleaning and is very good with Alias but she is driving me absolutly crazy! We are just to different of people to be living in the same space together, especially a 2 bedroom condo. Yesterday she asked me if she could take Alias for an over night visit to her friends house. That way she could go over there for dinner (and take him of course) and not have to worry about finding a way home. Yeah right, I'm really going to have a 2 year old, who has never slept a night away from his mom, sleep over at some strangers house that is an hours drive away :eyesroll. Oh and did I mention that she wouldn't be leaving here until 6pm (Alias has dinner at 6 and goes to bed at 7:30) and would not have a way to get back until morning. Not to mention the 2 times we have tried to have my mom put him to bed here at home has not worked and required either Dh or I to take over. I've said no, but I don't think she's really heard me. I expect it'll come up again today.

So send me your labour vibes. :dust I really need them!

:splat I get so irritated by these slow pages!!! We have a cable modem so I have gotten so spoiled to superfast internet, and this is driving me nuts! :bang

Thia, good luck at your dr today. I hope they don't argue with you too much about your birth plan.

Isn't it exciting Jillerina? I didn't think I'd be this happy about being dilated, but you're right, it does boost morale! :)

I don't know if I'm just getting anxious or being optimistic, but I have a feeling I'll have this baby very close to our due date. I've had lots of BH contrax the past few days, a big change from not having hardly any. Plus a low deep backache that is just like what I get when I have my period. Ha! Now I'll definately go 2 weeks over! :duh

OakEmber, thanks for sending me that labor-aid recipe!

Ok, I have to get off my lazy butt and do something. I am so lazy!

Mirthfulmom...sending you :hug and plenty of labor dust :dust

I too have gotten annoyed at the delay of the pages loading. I have been opening an extra screen and jumping back and forth between the two because the wait drives me nuts.

Anyways just wanted to post a quick note and send hugs to you all who are at the very end and feeling frustrated. Hang in there, won't be long now at all :)

I just read over my last post and I sound like such a whiner!

I guess my patience has grown rather thin with the waiting. I was 10 days over due with Alias and I was realy hoping that I woldn't have to wait that long for this little guy to be born. It really depends what time of day it is... sometimes I'm feeling calm and like I am mentally prepared to wait as long as I need to and at other times I feel like if labour dosen't start soon I'm going to loose it.

By the way... where's Lucysmama? Oh Katie, are you out there or have you gotten to use your Aquadoula?

Mirthfulmum*~*~* Sending you TONS of Labour Vibes~*~*~ (not even attempting to use a smilie here because they take too darn long!) What is your mom thinking?!! Hope Harrison makes his big entrance very soon!

Oh Thia- One things for sure, your baby will be born before spring! Hang in there...I am sure it will happen soon for you! That's awesome that you got the stroller you were asking for!

I had the worst night sleep ever last night, argh, insomnia sucks! Today all my joints feel achy too, don't want to wast too much time griping though...with these slow loading pages I'd hate to think you all waited 2 mins for this page to load up just for this.

Amelia- I am right there with you thinking I will be early for some unknown reason, hopefully our mothers intuition is working for us and we don't make ourselves miserable.

Mirthfulmum*~*~* Sending you TONS of Labour Vibes~*~*~ (not even attempting to use a smilie here because they take too darn long!) What is your mom thinking?!! Hope Harrison makes his big entrance very soon!

Oh Thia- One things for sure, your baby will be born before spring! Hang in there...I am sure it will happen soon for you! That's awesome that you got the stroller you were asking for!

I had the worst night sleep ever last night, argh, insomnia sucks! Today all my joints feel achy too, don't want to wast too much time griping though...with these slow loading pages I'd hate to think you all waited 2 mins for this page to load up just for this.

Amelia- I am right there with you thinking I will be early for some unknown reason, hopefully our mothers intuition is working for us and we don't make ourselves miserable. I still feel strongly that it could be this week or next...we'll see!

Still here, mirthfulmum, still pregnant! I am just sick with this freakin cold and haven't been on much. Baby flipped into a weird position a day ago and now I am not having as many BHs. I suspect baby isn't putting the right pressure on my cervix anymore. I am going to go for a long solo swim today, and a nice walk with dh to try and get the baby settled back in. Lucy is going to the zoo with her Grandpa, thank goodness. Kid is driving me so nuts! :nut I feel bad, but I have no patience for her right now.

I have a prenatal tomorrow, and I think I will ask my mw to check me then. I hate vaginal exams, and I am kinda friends with my mw, so I feel weird spreading 'em on her couch, but it's nothing she isn't going to see at the birth, so I guess I should just get over it. She's seen a thousand yonis.

Jillerina - Congrats on being so ready!!! That must be so encouraging! Keep us updated, too!

Mirthfulmum - Sending you "come on, Harrison" vibes and "go home, Mum" vibes! Hang in there!

hi mamas!

momadance, thank you so much for thinking of me!!! :love it really made me feel all warm inside! i'm still pregnant (a very good thing, since i'm not full term until this saturday being due late in the month). i don't think i'll go quite to 40 weeks, but i hope to go at least 38 and think i will. i also really don't want to go before 10/12 when our aquadoula gets delivered. i get lots of BH contractions and i checked my cervix a couple days ago - it felt very squishy, definitely shorter and slightly dialated but not even a finger tip. i can also feel the baby's head right there, hard and round and what seems low to me, but i don't have any basis of comparison. no loss of mucuos or bloody show yet but i do feel like things are getting closer. some of those BH contractions feel pretty stong, not painful, but productive in some way.

QOTW: i just started maternity leave yesterday (yay!) so dh and i have been spending lots of quality time together. it's really wonderful.

so i'm sending labor vibes towards all the mamas who are so close now! how very exciting!!! it sounds like some of you are getting pretty uncomfortable, especially sleeping, and i hope that is relieved soon!

we are going to go walk the dogs now.

:love :grouphug :love

Can it be! Can it really be! No, I'm not talking about labour, :LOL, I am talking about the boards being fixed! Seems to be loading fast now, thank goodness! Sorry about my double post earlier!

I just realized that I didn't answer the QOTW yet :duh Nope we honestly don't have any plans for a last hurrah before the baby comes...we have both have lose ends to tie up in other areas it seems, Dh is working on a project with an Oct.25 deadline so that's the priority right now...for him to be on top of things so that he can slack off a few days as will be necessary. Luckily he is working from home though so even though he will have stuff to do he will still be able to lend a helping hand. We are really just waiting and don't feel that there is time to plan anything...Thanksgiving weekend is coming up here in Canada so we will be spending the weekend with family (I am most looking forward to having a yummy meal that I haven't had to contribute to at all :) ). I think we feel like we are just ready and waiting now, nothing feels undone. Dh even had his own nesting urge last night and finished up the wipes, so now we have 20 custom made wipes to add to our collection. Ok, so I guess I went a little off topic!

Susan/Beansmama - Your birth plan looks great. So organized! :)

Regarding the Hibiclens: I wash my hands with this stuff about 5 times a day at work. (I work in a laboratory and handle human body fluids.) It completely strips the oils out of my skin. If I don't moisturize constantly, my hands crack and bleed. Even diluted, I can't imagine using this on a sensitive part of my body. Ouch. But I suppose it is probably the lesser of the two evils. ie better than intravenous antibiotics.

So I went on a little online shopping spree. :love I figured that since no one got me anything off my registry, I'd just have to do it myself! So now I've finally got a hotsling on the way, and I ordered a bunch of stuff from Kelly's Closet. She's got free shipping! http://www.kellyscloset.com if you're feeling in need of retail therapy.

OK I have some positives to list about these last weeks of pregnancy. First, since the baby dropped, my ribs hurt much less and I can sleep without all those pillows propping my belly up. Second, I can EAT a lot more! :D And the heartburn has definitely lessened. Sure I have to pee constantly, but that has been an issue the whole nine months.

On the downside, my belly is so low that my pants don't fit at all anymore. I can't get the big panels over the top in a comfortable spot, and the lowriders are riding waaaay too low. Like I would need a bikini wax if I wanted to wear them. :eyesroll

Well, sending labor vibes to everyone who needs them! :dust

Nancy- you reminded me of something I wanted to say when you guys were talking about your registries...I am such a shopping junkie that although I may purchase something off a registry I probably wouldn't end up actually getting the item from where the person registered...the fun for me is looking around to see if I got the best price ;) So maybe you'll end up with some surprises from people like me.

Nancy- Your post made me laugh so hard about the bikini wax for low riders! :D I'm in the same boat as you with the pants. I'm living in comfy maternity strech pants (leggings) all my other pants don't fit and hurt too much. I have too much junk in the trunk and front to fit into anything else. :innocent

I love Kelly's Closet!! I order all my diapering stuff from her if i can't find it second hand.

Yeah the boards are loading better. I don't have to wait 30 mins for the page to load!!!

I got a hotlsing too for the new baby. I really love it. I got a cappacuino fleece pouch perfect for this chilly weather.

Ok sending out more labor vibes. :dust

Like I would need a bikini wax if I wanted to wear them.

LOL...I did that weeks ago!! :D

QOTW - No last hurrah for us. I just feel like sitting on my couch and not moving for the next couple of days!

Actually, we did get out for a nice little walk around our farm on Sunday. but other than that I really don't feel like going out at all.

I'm also not looking forward to our Thanksgiving weekend, this weekend, if the baby is not yet here! My family has started big time with the 'You're still around?" and "The baby's not here yet?" . Ugh, I can't stand it! My in laws are so much nicer about it. My sister in law told me out right that she would not be calling to ask because she remember how that feels. Wish my mother could remember!

I had a mw appointment today and I think I've decided that if this baby is not born by my next one, I might go for the stretch and sweep. They don't push it, but they offer it if you ask.

I had more contrax last night that felt stronger than bh contrax. Like clockwork, every 15 minutes for hours. Went to bed, woke up to pee a couple of hours later and nothing!

Labour vibes to those of you looking for them and to mee too please! Time to head to the couch and knit!


Kathy

Yipee for maternity leave! It must be nice for you!

I'm jealous of you ladies with help with the wee ones, although MIles has been pretty low maintnence lately, it'd be nice to have a day to maybe take a nap, or a night away...ah to dream... :eyesroll

Kathy, when I read your posts I have to say it sounds like you have my dream life! A farm in Ontario? The pumkins, your knitting circle, I could go on forever, references all your old posts! :thumb I ask my hubby all the time if we can move up to Ontario, get a farm, and he can do architecture on the side or in the winter. Granted I know nothing about it, it just seems so romantic to me :love My family comes from a long line of farmers who came over to ontario from france in the late 1800's and settled in/around Zurich/St. Josephs area.

I've felt today like I could start my period at any time, the bachache, and slightly crampy feeling. I'm in no hurry though! I'm hoping to surpass my due date, so I'll forward my symptons to you ladies wanting to get things going.

Is anyone NOT going to have their cervix checked? and not checking their own? I don't want it EVER checke, unless maybe i'm feeling the urge to push.

:dust to you ladies who want it, and :sticky for me~!

Still no new babes?!? Nothing going on here. More BH, but that's it. I've been sleeping better, baby is even lower and finally I've had some relief from the dreaded heartburn. I have my home visit with my mw tomorrow. I'm getting really excited about that. Just having her here, going over the birth kit, and our wishes for the birth...I can't wait. I think I have everything we need. And tomorrow I'm going to start taking some labor prep herbs. It will be interesting to see if they have any effect on my onset of labor or duration. Both of my other babes were late and I had long labors. So this is my own little science experiment.

QOTW: No last hurrah for DH and I. I'm ashamed to admit, that we haven't been out alone in about 3 years. We've been to 2 weddings without the kids, but I don't count that as good quality time together. DH isn't comfortable with leaving the kids with a babysitter and we are 1400 miles away from family, so there isn't much opportunity.

Glad the boards are loading faster again...it was getting painful. Labor vibes to all the mama's who want/need them.

That' s funny, what someone said about feeling like they are going to start their period. That is how I feel too sometimes and it is enough to send me running to the bathroom to see if that is the case. Usually I am halfway there before I realize that I am NOT getting my period. Feel like I am 11 years old again. LOL.
As for the bikini wax thing, I can't ever imagine putting myself through that, but let me tell you, I can't get far without hitching my pants up. Some of my friends at work are laughing at me today b/c I stop in their office to put myself back together. I can just see my pants falling completely down while I am in front of the ceo's office or something...
Well, I am leaving work in an hour, supposed I better actually get some work done...lol. Maybe, oh just maybe, I won't have to come in tomorrow....
wishful thinking :)

Some of you may have read Mellybean's mention (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showpost.php?p=2093477&postcount=76) of mandalas last week:

I thought it was such a good idea that I've arranged all of these mandalas into a couple of large MS Word document for easy printing. If you're interested, I've posted those docs on our Yahoo board (under the Files tab) - if you don't have access to the Yahoo board, email me and I'll send a copy on over. Be warned, they're each about 4MB, so let me know if file size is an issue and if so, I'll try and get them into .pdf later this week.

As for the bikini wax thing, I can't ever imagine putting myself through that, but let me tell you, I can't get far without hitching my pants up. Some of my friends at work are laughing at me today b/c I stop in their office to put myself back together. I can just see my pants falling completely down while I am in front of the ceo's office or something...

Meee Tooooo! Nothing stays up on me! I am constantly adjusting my pants. It must look so weird to everyone else, but I am way past the point of being self-conscious right now.

My boss just asked me if I've "got a delivery date yet". :scratch He said, "Why do you need to stop working Friday if you haven't scheduled the delivery yet?"

Umm.... OK... I'm not sure if he just doesn't know how labor works, or if he assumes everyone schedules inductions. I wasn't about to tell him about our homebirth, so I just said, "Well....uh.... it's all a mystery when babies decide to be born....." :LOL

Hi everyone!

Today my best friend called me up and said "I'm taking you out for a pedicure!". It was lovely. I was so embarassed at my rotten toenails: I had cut them all short thinking I wasn't going to get a pedicure for ages, and had actually broken one of the small ones in half. I'm sure the pedicurist was horrified. But all the massaging and callous-removing and cuticle-shaping felt so wonderful! It was super sweet of my friend to think of me that way, and it really put me in such a better mood.

I'd had a lot of insomnia last night, and I simply cannot get comfortable these days. At one point I was trying to change positions and pulled something in my groin - it hurt so much I cried out. DH thought my water had broken or something! Anyways, I was very emotional today, broke down in tears over something trivial...I just read all your posts, girls, about the moodiness, the general discomfort etc and I feel so much better to have you all to commiserate with. I feel like all I do is whine to people. The other day my Dad asked how I was, and I realized I was sounding like those old people who list all their aches and conditions whenever you ask them "how are you?". So I'm trying not to complain too much.

I did use the insomnia to come to a decision however, I'm letting go of my paper until after Sasha is born. I was hoping to have it ready for submission before Friday. Yesterday DH was out all day with DD so I could work on it, then I had a two hour phone meeting with my boss in the evening, so DH was watching DD then, too. It was stressful for him, and stressful for me, as me and boss tried to fit in more phone meetings, etc. In the middle of the night I realized that this paper was taking over everything, and the baby's birth was becoming an unwelcome deadline. I realized that I just can't get it done, and decided to just let it go for now. I want to savour these last few precious days, not be stressing out about something work-related. I'm supposed to have a phone meeting tomorrow evening, but that is my "date night" with DH and frankly, it's a priority for me!! So I'm gonna cancel with my boss. He may be disappointed but oh well...this is a very special time in my family's life and it's not worth getting stressed out over something to do with work!! I have felt a huge load off ever since I made the decision.

gottaknit: your boss's comment made me laugh. my mother adopted me and my brother, so has never been pregnant. when we were discussing her flying out to boston for emily's birth, she was upset that I couldn't give her a set date. she thought the due date was "it" (like the baby can count exactly 40 weeks, lol). When I explained to her that babies can come any time around the due date she said (and this is a direct quote) "Well how does anybody plan these things then??" :LOL

No bikini wax but I did try to give my self a "trim" down there. Forget it. I can't see a thing and with my luck I'll slice off a peice of my labia, lol. I'm tempted to ask DH to do it, but god only knows what things look like down there these days. I'm almost afraid if he sees it he won't ever want to go back there! :eek

I envy those of you whose babies have dropped. Sasha feels so incredibly low to me, and I'm getting poked constantly in my cervix and my groin...but I have been getting lots of shortness of breath, and heartburn (had a Maalox shooter last night) so I'm guessing he's still not dropped. Which is moot for my birth, but might make me feel a bit more comfy!

I think I felt my first contraction today. I was walking to the store around the corner and my whole lower back got tight. It felt alot like a menstrual cramp and it lasted a while. I haven't even had BH in ages now, just the sharp, quick (painful!) pokes from Sasha. So this was interesting to me. I sort of want to feel some contractions just to say I have!

On the toddler front, thank goodness I can report that I have my kid back again. I guess teething is over, because she has been her usual wonderful self lately. She reads to herself alot, entertains herself alot, and has just been generally wonderful. What a relief!!! I was starting to freak about handling her and a new baby when she was being so clingy and teary, etc. My heart goes out to those of you whose toddlers are still making life rough. I know the little dears are having a rough time, but it sure doesn't make it easier for us!

ameliabedelia: I think I posted earlier that my hospital stay was starting to seem like a pending holiday, so I can relate to your feelings. I was so sure I'd be checking out early if I could, but now I'm thinking I might not, lol. It's thanksgiving weekend here and we are planning a dinnner on Sunday night b/c we have friends visiting in town (they just had their first baby two months ago), but now I'm thinking I probably won't be there for it. We'll see how it goes...I guess it mostly depends on how Emily is handling being away from me. If she's fine I might take advantage of the break. Sleeping all day with a newborn sounds heavenly right now!!

Okay, I think I've babbled enough for today. DD actually went down early this evening and DH is out at soccer practice, so I'm enjoying this time to read and reply thoroughly! Only three more days until my baby is born...unbelievable!!!

Big labour vibes to you, Mirthfulmum!!!!

Oh, Piglet!!! You must be so excited to get to meet your little baby in 3 days! I am a mite jealous that you know when you will hold Sasha in your arms! :)

I had to laugh when you talked about trying to do a little trimming...I can't really do it, either. I am wild and crazy! In my last pregnancy, I asked dh to give me a little haircut down there once I got to 40 weeks. I didn't like the idea of going into labor all overgrown. Well, you should have seen what he left me! Virtually nothing!!!! :eek I was kind of embarassed.

I took this amazing walk today in the park. It was one of those incredible fall days....cool and crisp and the leaves were falling all around. I wandered around the woods alone, and eventually I got tired and sat in a small clearing. I was just relaxing there, when a mother deer and her fawn wandered into the clearing, too. I sat perfectly still, and to my amazement, they walked right up to me. I sat just a couple feet away, and the deer and I just stared at each other for a long time, our faces only maybe 3 feet apart. The mother was trying to figure me out....what was I? Why wasn't I moving? Was I going to harm it? It eventually bowed its head and licked the grass in front of me. It was a friendly sort of thing. The deer walked across the field and back to me a few times and eventually wandered off, looking over its shoulder at me the entire time. It was such a cool experience, I felt so blessed. :love

We all seem to quiet tonight.... I hope this is a good sign that some babies are on the way tonight :D

Piglet...dh and I are going on our last date tomorrow night as well. We will be celebrating his upcoming b-day as well. I love spending time alone with him. We have soooo much fun! We try to go on a date at least once a month which I think is very important to do in a marriage.

Got some comfy yoga pants yesterday.. I just want to live in them!!! They do slide down a bit, but not to bad. I was a bit desperate especially now that the weather is turning cold here in WI.

Well I just wanted to chat. Good night :)

Our internet was down all day today and it was driving me nuts because I wanted to see if any babies had been born! I can't believe it is the 5th and still no more babies.

I envy those of you whose babies have dropped. Sasha feels so incredibly low to me, and I'm getting poked constantly in my cervix and my groin...but I have been getting lots of shortness of breath, and heartburn (had a Maalox shooter last night) so I'm guessing he's still not dropped. Which is moot for my birth, but might make me feel a bit more comfy

Well Piglet, I know for a fact that my baby has dropped and for some reason my heartburn is at its worst! I thought I'd bought too much Gaviscon two weeks ago but as I shot it last night I realised the bottle is almost empty!

No change with me... just wanna send Mirthful some labor vibes and Piglet some relaxing vibes and Lucysmama some get well vibes KraftyKathy some enjoyable time on the couch vibes and everyone else big hugs. Lets get this show on the road!!!

Piglet- That's great that you made the decision to let go of your paper until after Sasha is born...WTG :thumb You really do need to just focus on you and your family these last few days! What a sweet friend you have :love

Man those comments you guys are getting are funny...but at the same time scary...just think, if this is the view after just a few years of inductions and scheduling babies imagine what it will be like for our children. :eyesroll

So all of a sudden tonight I have been hit with a menopausal like heat wave, I am roasting! And now I am starting to feel stuffy. I'd like to hear that this is a sign of impending labour, :LOL but it is more likely just a cold that will hold things off for a few more days.

Sending out labour vibes that hopefully someone will catch!

Yay! I hired a doula today-it was my birthday present to myself :) I know she'll be great, she has that warm comfortable aura about her. My DH is still "humpfing" about paying $350 but I told him that was cheap!
Went to Ikea to get some last minute things I was wanting-like storage bins for dipes and baby stuff so feel like things are settling into place.

Swelling like crazy all of a sudden-never had any problems until the last day or 2 and I've been trying to drink alot of water. Hoping that doesn't get worse-I hate that stuffed sausage toe feeling LOL

Piglet-can't believe it's coming so fast-only 3 more days!

Take care everyone
Ann

Court, thank you so much for helping me to figure out what week im in...:shy..actually dh was telling me the same thing yesterday over supper but i didn't want to belive that im not 38 weeks yet!!! :crying...
Piglet, that is a wonderul decision!!! :thumb your baby and ur family are the priority and these last days (only 3 days i can't belive it :love) should last forever in ur memory...i did the same thing too last week...well have to admit not comletly by myself but after dh's long talk with me that "my family is number one priority" :innocent...
mirthfulmom, much much birth vibes to you :dust ...and much :hug that ur mom is still there with you...:) i live in Japan and my mom tell me each time over the phone that she wants to come to "help".... :eyesroll...everytime i tell her "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO we will go when baby will be born....:LOL
Congratulations to all of u who got their maternity leaves!! :thumb and much :hug to those who still have to wake up at 7...:(
today was really awful...i went to buy some knitting stuff and bought it for really expensive price only to find later on that they sell the same (well almost) stuff in a 100 yen shop (1 dollar)...:bang....and then my freind wrote me to say that they used the name we chose for the baby (if she is a girl) which is petra....so her sister had a baby and they called her petra!!!! :angry....:splat...
and when i was typing this message my neighbour came, she has been worried for weeks about her 1-year-old dd not eating...so now she has a habit to come and feed her in our house...:hammer....and she screams a lot and her dd too so i thought my head was going to explode....:crying...and then i wanted to send the reply in the middle of all this screaming and it was deleted!!! :hopmad....
hope you all had much better day than me here...:)
P.S. oops sorry Ann...:innocent with all this talk about mememememe...:blah...forgot to tell you : HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! :snap :guitar :carrot :violin

I just knew from the other thread that MDC will be closed for some days for repair...Cynthia said...:crying...
and im feeling something now...i think it might be contractions but im not sure....dh is saying that im fooling him...i have bad bad ache in the lower of my abdomen as if before my period...and it comes and goes...maybe just gas...:shrug

MDC will be moving to the new homepage i guess....

oh Ekatarina, that sounds a LOT like early labor! When I had DS, it started out with a small tightening in my belly and a crampy feeling in my lower back like when I get my period, and it came every few minutes. :twothumbs Keep us posted!!

Heartburn? Hmm I wish that really went away bc the baby dropped. Part of the reason we have heartburn is from teh baby pushing on our belly....but the other part is because of the relaxin in our bodies relaxing our sphincter valves, including the one in our esophogus. Only way to fix that is to have our babies!! Oh and I am still short of breath too at times and my baby has been low for weeks and weeks. :irked:

MDC is going down? What?! Where does it say that?? This would be very bad timing!

So I'm FINALLY 37 weeks now, and quite frankly surprised I am still pg....DH says the baby will come today. We'll see right! I've had less and less contractions sadly so who knows! Just can't believe my plug's been gone for 10 days now and no baby!

:birthday: Ann!!

Happy Birthday Ann!!! :birthday: :balloons
Hope you had a wonderful B-day!

I'm with all ya ladies about the aches and pains. My darn feet are swollen and my ankles look like grapefruits!

What is it with our DH's helping us shave because we can't see and we wind up with next to nothing! Who has the time or energy to maintain something like that!

Ann- tell your DH $350.00 is a really good price for a Doula. I paid $850.00 for the one I used with liam and my current one charges $400.00. Hopefully after he sees what she does for you guys during the birth he will see how worth the money it is!

Hey if MDC is going to be down we can keep in touch via our yahoo group. I don't know if I can go through a couple of dyas w/o posting or reading any of your posts! :)

Piglet- That is so good for you to put aside your paper and just take the time to relax a bit. I'm still so excited and a bit envious you have an exact due date! It's so awesome on Friday your lil dumplin will be here and we will be reading your birth story.

Okay ladies it's tiem for someone to have thier baby. Here are some more labor vibes. :dust

This was posted by Cynthia in the thread called "slow loading pages..."
It keeps me in tune with what you're all experiencing as I don't have that much of a problem myself. I convey the info to Laura, our webmama, and to our host as the need arises. We thought we resolved the problem yesterday by removing that huge log that had built up and sapped our memory. But it seems the slowness is back somewhat for some of you. It's late night/wee morning USA time right now and things seem fine on my end.

We have signed a contract and put into motion our new server setup so we will be moving to a new home within 2 weeks I think. That means a bit of downtime for us but we'll be setting up in a more powerful server and hopefully be comfy and speedy for everyone.
We are growing so fast!!

Truebluexf, I really dont know what is going on...but as pain doesnt go away im starting to worry...it began one hour ago and i sat in a warm bath for half an hour...cramps are better...but pain doesn't go...its there in the lower part of my abdomen and i can't tell if its contractions or no because i really feel like one cramp getting smaller and bigger over times...but nothing regular i guess....i really can't tell....:confused: now dh is saying i need sleep and we should sleep early...but i dont think i can sleep!!! :eek

Yeah it's hard to sleep when the baby could be coming...my labor started off in the evening last time and I really should have gotten a couple hours rest while I still could...so try your hardest, at the very least lie down and rest!! Things not stopping after a bath are a good sign!! :) Go relax and see what happens.

still coloring mandalas here, i've got 20 or so done and many more to do :) i notice that if i color one when i'm having a lot of hip/back/groin pain, time passes quickly and i forget about the pain entirely! which bodes well for labor :D

re: shaving ... i plan to grab a shower, shampoo and shave my legs while in early labor *lol* if i can't reach my legs, my husband can do it for me. TMI he shaves the muff for me, since i can't reach it anymore! he's got a full beard so i know i can trust him, if he can keep his face looking so good i figure he's a good bushwhacker ;) the only problem is he has to stop and start because when the baby gets the whole belly moving he cracks up :love

his sister's birthday is Friday, so now we're wondering if Willow wants to share Auntie A's birthday! i keep bribing her all day, "come on out and you can have all the booby juice you want!"

i want to get a pedicure tonight, if $ permits. i wonder if those big massaging/vibrating chairs could cause labor to start?! :D

peace,
meli

OK here's a funny story for you all. I think DH is getting a little too involved with the whole pregnancy thing, or he's just read too much or something.

This morning I was in bed and he called out for me to come in the bathroom and look at something. He was pointing at the shower floor and said, "Honey! I think you lost your mucus plug!" But I hadn't been in the shower yet - I was still in my pj's. So he said maybe I lost it yesterday. Um... I didn't shower yesterday. :blush Last time I was in the shower was Monday morning, and he's had like three showers since then....

But he was completely convinced it was my mucus plug and it got there somehow!! Turns out it was the last sliver from a bar of soap that had fallen on the shower floor and melted into a little gelatinous puddle. So now I'm having fun teasing him about my sneaky mucus plug. As in, "Honey, look! I found my mucus plug in the fridge!" and "Honey! Is that my mucus plug under the sofa!?" :LOL

Nancy - :rotflmao

Nancy :LOL

Thanks for the birthday wishes! I'm afraid to say how old I am-I think I may be one of the oldest! :blush

If the boards do go down I think we should keep in touch via the yahoo group too!

Gotta go...check in later
Ann

that's so funny, your sneaky mucus plug.
I'm having a super lazy day. Finished another soaker this morning and started on an earthy, soft poncho for a friend. Her b-day is the 23rd, so I figured I'd better get cranking. My hands keep falling asleep though... I love the look of it so far, I want to keep it, good thing I love my friend so much :love

Not much to report. No sign of baby yet :thumb Although I've had alot of discharge through the night... No biggy though.

It totally helps to have a reason to not want baby to come early, It would suck if there wasn't one, I'd totally be over the prego game. my only complaint right now is getting out of our bed to pee at night.


Anyone know anything about placenta printing, or stamping? My mw suggested it, and I'd love to find out more, and see some examples befor we bury ours under the rose bush.

OOps!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANN!!! Does this make you annr34 instead on annr33?

39w 6d
Had a dr appt yesterday and it didn't go well. I am okay and so is baby. The dr is induction happy though. They scheduled me for a nst for Monday (which I am changing to Tuesday) and I was told to "bring a date" in mind for induction. Basically, I hate confrontation and am easily intimidated when the other person is a man, so he steamrolled me. I tried to fight back, but it didn't go very well. I just left with the "two can play this game" attitude. Hence, I will change my nst date, I will bring a date....my husband...and as for an induction date...won't go any earlier than the 21st. I found out today that other women have had similar problems with this same dr. Sigh. Really, that is the short version of what went on.
Here's something for everyone to laugh over...I was trying to get across to him my idea of "ideal birth" and said: "if I had my way, I'd be doing this at home." His reply, "women who have their babies at home watch them die." :eyesroll :blah schmuck!
I left there pretty ticked off, did my usual walk in 15 min instead of 20! I also decided to start Evening Primrose today, so we'll see if that does anything. I was crampy through out most of last night and for a couple hours (so far) today. In fact, some of those cramps last night were the toughest I've had so far. Maybe things are getting started. Due to cramping, I didn't sleep very well last night, so I am really tired today, but I'm hanging in there.

Oh...have no clue where our yahoo board is. Can I join the fun?

Ann: Happy Birthday!
Lucysmamma That story about the deer is awesome! Such a gift to have an experience like that! I can picture the whole thing in my mind too. Very relaxing and peaceful in your little glade...

Thia-

It's hard but stick to your gut feelings. I was in the same postion as you my first time around. Don't let them talk you into being induced before 41 weeks! I had to fight for a natural childbirth and a Doula!!

If nothing happens before your induction date get going a few days before on all the natural things. Accupuncture, Accupressure, I forget the herbs suggested, and a last resort Castor Oil.

Good Luck!
Carrie

Thia -- yes please stick to your guns, we are all here to support you! :hug

Piglet -- wanted to let you know I got my I'm Still Me bag and it is BEAUTIFUL....I can't wait to use it!!! I feel so special that I get to carry around such a nice diaper bag!!!

"women who have their babies at home watch them die" :splat :bang :rant: :hopmad :censored


Thia - :Hug Good luck to you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANN!!! Does this make you annr34 instead on annr33?

Shows how long I've been on the boards...it would be AnnR36!!! ;)

Hang in there Thia-just be strong!

Testing for GBS today...hoping it's negative!
Ann

Thia, I am so f@#ing angry right now reading your post about your dr.s comment! What an ignorant A@# hole, and to think he'll make oodles of money off of you and the birth of your baby... UHHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGG I am so ticked....


I can't believe people are so DUMB.

Dh told his mom last night she's not welcome at the birth. He's not comfy with the idea of her lurking. She said to him "well I just hope everything goes ok, and if theres a need to transfer you'll do so" Nice thing to say... People can KISS OFF today! Man, she doesn't even know what a normal birth looks like, and she acts like she's a freaking expert for being a labor and delivery nurse.... Good ridance. " I'm just concerned for the safety of Mo, and the baby" really? no sh#$ WE ALL ARE... ohhhhh I better log off right now, I'm raging!

Thia ... grrr on the dr's attitude :irked: i'm intimidated in the dr's office as well, although having my doula go to the last 2 visits with me has helped tremendously. i have an appt. tomorrow and if the OB talks induction again i'm just going to say "is there an actual medical reason to induce?" because i just had an NST and u/s Monday and everything is going great. i'll probably just end up repeating my question stubbornly if she starts to tell me horror stories. stay strong, Thia! *vibes*

happy birthday Ann :)

my OB said something similar about homebirth a few months ago, before i had read all about it. but i assumed of course dr's are against homebirth, they can't make any money off it :eyesroll

peace,
meli

Well, Ann, I've got you beat. I'm 36, turning 37 in January. :D

Lucysmama: that deer story was SO beautiful. What a wonderful moment to savour before the birth!!

Nancy: your plug story cracked me up! at least your DH is on the ball...I don't think mine knows what a mucous plug is, but I'm quite sure he'd be horrified to see it in the shower, LOL.

Feeling good today. It's gorgeous out, and although a walk in the woods like Katie described would be wonderful, I'll settle for taking the car to WalMart, lol. Realized we need a waterproof mattress cover for our new king size bed. It gets delivered tomorrow. Yay! When I get home from the hospital, DH will have the frame stained and set up (we got a platform frame from a futon store). No more hauling my butt up off the floor!

DD had a rough night last night, due (once again) to not eating enough dinner, then waking up hungry. An hour after fussing she asks for food. Why didn't I think to ask her? Oh yeah, cuz it would have meant GETTING UP. lol....anyways, we had a little midnight snack (at 2 am!) but the interesting part of all this is that when we went back to bed she didn't ask for milkies, and although it took her some time (and a few renditions of "twinkle, twinkle little star" for DH and I, lol) she fell asleep without nursing! Lately she's been much more receptive to me saying "no". I discovered that if I just count down to "no milkies" she gets upset. But if the countdown is "five more minutes then mama's going sleepies" that seems to be okay with her. Anyways, all this to say that I'm feeling so much more confident about being away from her at night. I hope it goes okay!

Thia, hope you can find the strength to "just say no" to induction. What an awful attitude your doc has? Well you know what? They aren't going to send the police to haul you off to your appointment, so if it makes you feel better (I hate confrontation, too) just smile, set the date, and then don't show up! LOL

good luck on your GBS test, Ann!

I haven't heard back from my doc re: gestational cholestasis, but damn was I itchy last night!! thank god for my Body Shop body brush...it really feels good.

mellybean: I have to admit that during my pedicure yesterday, when she was massaging the soles of my feet, I felt funny things going on in my belly. i wondered if this was going to induce anything...it didn't (I just think i'm not "there" yet) but it made me think that if one were close, this could trigger something!

Amy: i'm so glad you love your bag...you got the imperial butterfly one, right? I got the "purse party" one in a large tote. i had her change the pocket colour from black to a creamy beige so the whole inside of the bag isn't black. she said she started sewing yesterday, so I can't wait to get it!!! this has been the real "treat" to myself (well, I got dad to pay for it, lol) and I can't wait to start using it!

well, everybody, I'm off to go tidy up for the cleaning lady :LOL

btw, I agree that if the boards go down, let's take this to the Yahoo Group. (thia, PM Court and she'll add you to the group)....wouldn't that suck to have them down right while we are having babies!!!

thia- that dr's comment! :bang :cuss :cuss -
Stick to your inner voice and everything will work out just fine :thumb
mellybean- thank you for the laugh!!

Ann- happy birthday :birthday:

I spoke with my boss today and I still have some vacation days that are left before I go on leave, so she was pushing me to take them. So different than a male boss! She said go home and put your feet up. There are so many people out right now I feel a little guilty about taking days off, plus I plan on being out permanently so I am really going to miss some of my friends and all the office gossip! But hey, I've got to give it up sooner or later. So tomorrow and friday I am off (just in time for my DS birthday :D ) and I am taking next friday off too- that is if I make it that long!!!

I have been cramping too- and even though they are short bouts, THEY REALLY ARE DOING SOMETHING! because this baby is moving down, slowly but surely. She can't stay in there forever.

So I have been having cravings for sweets so bad lately. I even have gotten into baking again, which I almost never do! I made 2 loaves of banana nut bread last week and this week it is something my mom calls Chocolate Delight- it is a walnut crust, with a layer of cream cheese on top, then a layer of chocolate pudding and then whipped cream! I swear it is almost all gone. I think I am making cup cakes next :)

It is so very cold now, I miss summer already and most of my maternity pants are capris so my chubby ankles are freezing.
Brrrrr...

Thia- I thought of a couple helpful things. I agree setup the appt for the induction don't show up. :) Don't answer the phone either in case the doc calls. :) Also do you have a doula. She would be perfect to help you in this situation. When you do go into labor make sure to ask for a natural childbirth friendly nurse. That way you won't get an epidural/pitocin crazy one. Remember you can always ask for another nurse if you don't like yours. Get your hubby to do this! Just have your hubby help you stick to your birth plan. Tell everyone else to piss off! :thumb

When you go get pregnant the next time you'll have learned what type of things you want in an OB. I learned so much from the first time. My old ones came so reccomended well geez they are great for the whole epidural induction type birth.

You can do it Thia!! Just be strong. It's super hard but you can do it!! If I can have a natural childbirth with docs like yours you can too! :thumb

Just hearing this reminds me so much of how much my olds docs pissed me off. You are in charge not them! Don't let them intimadate you becuase he thinks he knows all. Let them run thier NST & Ultrasounds. If everything is fine there is no reason to induce! so do this to him :moon :raz

Carrie

Grrrr...doctors can be such arses! I don't know if I would have been able to keep myself from slapping your doc silly Thia for those comments. It reminds me of when I was pg with ds #1. I was all excited about going to our first prenatal appt and had set it up with the gyno that I had been seeing. After the exam, we talked in her office and we were talking about exam schedules and hospital classes and such. And I mentioned that I was very interested in taking Bradley classes and trying to keep my pg as natural as possible. Well, she told me that "those people" who take Bradley, and don't want interventions, don't care if their baby lives or dies. :dropjaw Then she went on to say that it was barbaric to watch women suffer the pains of childbirth and that most women are too weak to have a completely natural childbirth. :cuss She seemed proud stating that most of her patients receive an epidural. Well, I left there in tears, completely horrified by her postition on birth. Later that day I called the Bradley teacher in our area, signed myself up for classes and got the name to a wonderful pro natural/no intervention doctor. I *loved* him. And I had a wonderful pg and a very satisfying natural birth.

I had my homevisit today. Went over the birth kit items and had my first internal exam. My cervix is still high but it's super soft and squishy, about 50% effaced and I'm 2 cm dilated! I know this means nothing, but never before in my other 2 pg's have I had any cervical changes prior to labor. I think it's because this babe has been heads down for so long. My others weren't vertex until 37-38 weeks. I also declined the GBS screen.

Ann - :birthday: Hope you are having a great day!

Katie - I love the deer story...what a tranquil moment for you.

Nancy- I'm still lol about your Dh and the mucuous plug. That's classic!

I know there was more that I wanted to comment on, but my memory has failed me again.

I am new to this, and late posting, but I am due on Oct 16th. I am hoping to go this Thanksgiving weekend. Friday I was put on bedrest due to preeclampsia and have a home care nurse in every morning. I want a natural delivery without drugs so I am hoping to get some much needed rest and get my blood pressure down. The pregnancy has been great up until these last two weeks. Since I have been taking it easy my blood pressure has lowered, but today it was up again, and I have a headache and I am seeing spots. My protein level was also elevated so tomorrow I have to collect my urine for 24 hrs for testing-fun. I had an ultrasound on Monday and the baby is doing great but the placenta is showing its age. I am already 1-2 cm dilated and my cervix has thinned out so hopefully I will start labour naturally and soon. We have an adopted 2 year old daughter so it is hard to rest with a toddler. Also not sleeping well at night-up every hour or two.

Still nothing new here. But I'm in a good frame of mind for the moment at least. The best way to stay in a good mood, I've found, is to completely avoid all humans outside of my own little home, lol! Works for me!

Thanks momadance for the nice things you said about our farm life. So nice of you! You can come be my neighbor anytime! Maybe your hubby could build me a gazebo for a hot tub like yours, lol! I would love that! It's nice to be reminded of how good we got it once in awhile. Sometimes we get so fed up with how hard it is to make a living here, but it's all about the lifestyle in the end! :love

Happy Birthday Ann!!! I'm not far behind you. I turned 35 this summer. Good luck with the gbs testing!

Katie -Wow, I loved hearing about your walk in the the woods! The deer around here are so shy that I only get to see them way in the distance. It must have been so beautiful to see them so unafraid of you!

mellybean - :LOL about your husband the bushwhacker!!!!

gottaknit - :LOL about your husband the finder of lost mucous plugs!!!

Thia - :irked: Your Dr sounds so awful! I also say try putting off induction for as long as you can, though I understand how you feel, I'm also very non confrontational! Good luck!!!

Okay, I'm about ready for a nap! Labour vibes to those who want them! Talk to you later!

Kathy

Kathy - What kind of farm do you have? I want a farm, too! :)

Ok, I've been having contractions w/ period-like cramps and backache all day, strarted out slow, went and got my massage that I already had scheduled, they didn't stop, got stronger; I went to see dh at work and started timing them- 2-4 min apart and 30-45 seconds long! For over an hour now! And they are starting to hurt! OK, I'm calling the midwife- I've had 3 since I started typing this! Wish me luck!

Since I'm coming in late, I'm bound to sound repetitive...
but wanted to say I was fuming reading about your doctor Thia! I also don't understand why he's saying all this when you aren't even 40 wks yet. Isn't normal full term between 38 and 42 weeks? How do these arrogant doctors think the human race survived when they weren't around.

Momadance- glad your MIL wont be at your birth, she sounds really negative. My mom talks down to me like that too...always asking if the mw does normal prenatal stuff (which I've explained before)...and I'm like, "uh, yeah." She sighs with relief, "oh good." Like I'm just so irresponsible and I need her to remind me how to take care of myself and my family.

OMG Nancy I laughed so hard when I read your "plug" story!

Piglet- I'm glad things are going well with Emily re: sleeping and nursing, etc. That will be so good not have that worry while your in the hospital. BTW - Logan and I have had a 2 or 3am bowl of cereal together many a night. He has to have a filling snack right before bed or else he's up later - just like his mama. :)

MMM we've been eating roasted pumpkin seeds around here cause I carved a pumpkin for Logan last night. He LOVES halloween stuff. He's so obsessed with this pumpkin and talks about it constantly. I guess we're a bit early for carving pumkins, but I don't know when this baby will get here.

Kathy - I'll admit your life sounds so romantic and ideal to me too. I told dh about your farm in Ontario cause it sounds so beautiful - dh always talks about how he wishes he had a farm. Be watching your mail ;)

Welcome kmoroziuk! Sorry you're having such a rough time lately. Sending you labor vibes and hope you have a baby in your arms soon!

And Happy Birthday Ann! I hope you have a great one!

Thia - I'm PM'ing you with the yahoo info.

whoo hoo Ashlee! Keep us posted! :carrot :banana :carrot

Here's some good happy labor vibes and wishing that this is it for you! Hopefully it will be birthday! :love :love :thumb :twothumbs :dust :fingersx:

Ashlee-sending you lots of good labor vibes!! :dust You go mama!!! :thumb

Yay, someone might be in labor!!! Stay relaxed Ashlee and rest as much as you can.

Good Luck Ashlee!!! :thumb

:carrot :banana :carrot :jumpers: :banana :carrot :banana

This is so exciting! I suppose it would be a bit much to ask for hourly updates, huh? :wink :LOL

Good luck, Ashlee!!!

And happy birthday, Ann!

kmoroziuk - welcome to the group and here's wishing you lots of peace and patience while on bedrest.

Thia - OMG - what a moron.

OK - is it my turn to rant? Yesterday I went to have my teeth cleaned and the hygenist took it upon herself to tell me all kinds of childbirth horror stories from other patients while she had my mouth pried open. Of course, there I was, at her mercy with no ability to comment since she was working on my teeth. It was all I could do not to start screaming gurgly things at her. She finally said, well, I suppose you don't want to hear all of these emergency c-section stories to which I exclaimed - that would be nice. Then she proceeded to call in the receptionist who offered her own stories - such as how C-sections aren't as bad as they used to be and how some relative of hers had an elective c-section and had I considered that, blah, blah, blah. It was like a scene in a bad horror movie. :bang

I've also rediscovered the emotional roller coaster ride from the first trimester - last night it was uncontrollable crying for no reason. I swear, my DW thinks I'm going bonko.

Anyone else have thoughts on the flu vaccine - is this a good thing to get incorporated into our babies / breastmilk at this stage in the game - or are there thimerisol issues there too?

How do these arrogant doctors think the human race survived when they weren't around.
:nod :nod
Exactly what I was thinking. I had an OB when I was preg w/ Hannah just like this, although he liked to think of himself as very progressive and forward-thinking. His arrogance was astounding, and I can't believe I have friends who still see him. Ugh.

He's so obsessed with this pumpkin and talks about it constantly.

Hannah is totally obsessed w/ pumpkins right now, too! She has managed to collect an entire family of pumpkins already, and they all have names and personalities. I don't dare carve any of those!
Toddlerhood has been *very* stressful lately, and it's just been exhausting exsisting and staying sane. I've been reading and mentally conversing w/ you all...just haven't had the energy to respond. Sorry for being a lazy lurker. I loved the deer story, and the mucus plug one, too. We are a funny and blessed group of women!

Ashlee, I'm so excited for you! We'll all be thinking positive baby thoughts for you. Let us know what's going on, if you can!
:hug :jumpers: :Hug

OK - if it's not one thing it's another. Just found out; GBS positive. :cuss

Another tough decision to make - another possible battle. sigh.

Ugh, I've got TWO DAYS til my due date and boy am I getting anxious. I started out my pregnancy sure that baby would come around 42 weeks, but then as time got closer I really started to believe that he would be early, or would show up at least by my due date.

And here I am, still waiting. I wish I hadn't started expecting him early! I get some pretty good contactions here and there, but most are hardly noticable. I just keep thinking it could be today....but then nothing happens. :( I want something to happen!

And Thia, I'm so sorry to hear about your doctor! Blah. That's a horrible thing he said! Stay strong and don't get talked into anything you'll regret!

So frusterated! I had a huge case of preterm or early labor last night. I had contractions for months with my first two and was on bedrest..........no problems with this pregnancy however. I purposly waited until birth hugs were just over 3 mins apart for over an hour. It was 3am (hugs statred around 6pm) so we headed for the hospital. On the way there...........it was like everything stopped! It is only a 15 min drive! Any way..........I was still having hugs 3-5 min apart, but they were not extremely productive. Diolated to almost two and like 70% effaced. I got sent home. I was so upset because I know my body was in labor.........I couldn't even talk well during hugs. And then nothing!

How does that happen? I had alot of complications with my first two preg. I am going to deliver in a hosipital with a midwife as a result. Now I am concerned that I wouldn't make it in time because I don't want to go to soon and be sent home.
Oh and to top it off..................our only vehicle overheated and blew the motor on Thurs(with no warning)

Now I am a little nervous that I won't be able to make it back to the hospital. I am just soooooooooooooooooooooooooo disappointed. Any advice?

Should I attempt to induce labor naturally and stop this long drawn out early labor phase or should I just wade it out?

Sorry to complain! Love to all of the mommies!

welcome, kmoroziuk :) coloring mandalas is great for bedrest, here are some: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/rickylasouris/mandalas/mandacacilia/Page.html
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/rickylasouris/mandalas/mandanico/Page.html
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/rickylasouris/mandalas/mandaani/Page.html (animals)

i'm so sorry to hear that, BeansMomma! i still keep going back and forth on the risks/benefits of IV antibiotics.

i wish we had deer! we have a LOT of squirrels ... i'm the "Squirrel Lady" around here, whenever i sit outside they gather round and i hand-feed everybody peanuts. tonight it was about 20 squirrels and 3 male bluejays, ooh are they pretty!

peace,
meli

Good birthing vibes to Ashlee! :belly :hug

Thia - I agree with everyone else, your doctor sounds like a real piece of work. Just remember something my midwife says: "They can't throw you an induction party if you don't show up." DON'T be tempted to get induced without a valid medical reason! Trust me, being induced when you are not ready is NO FUN! (This is how I ended up with a cesarean.) At least make your doctor tell you your Bishop's Score if you are considering it.

So, I had my prenatal today, and I decided to go ahead and get checked. My mw couldn't reach my cervix! :( She could just barely get her one longest finger into the hole, so she knows I am dilated some, but she couldn't tell how much. I am around 50% effaced and she said I am very soft, and she could feel the baby's head right there. I had originally wanted NO cervical checks, but the more I thought about her checking me, the more uncomfortable it made me, because I have known her for a while and it isn't like a clinical relationship. I thought about being in labor and having to bare my yoni for the first time. I don't want to do anything that will make me uncomfortable in labor, so I decided to just get it over with now, and ask for an exam. I am thinking now that she's seen it all, I won't be so shy and nervous during labor. Plus I was curious. :)

Beansmama - Sorry you are GBS+! What a bummer. What do you think you are going to do?

Ann - Happy birthday! :banana I think buying yourself a doula is a great gift, poo on your dh. If he had to push something the size of a watermelon out of a hole the size of a lemon, he'd probably want all the help he could get, too!

Court - can you PM me our yahoo group's address? I lost it.

:carrot :banana :balloons :sunshine :sunshine :balloons :carrot :banana

Want to let all you wonderful mommas know that Harrison was born today at 12:30pm, and much to our surprise, at home! Midwife was present but he came so fast we couldn't make it to the hospital!

I'm feeling great, labour and delivery went so quickly, Harrison was born pink, healthy and strong, and we are all so thrilled to have our little guy here with us!

I'll post my birthstory in a day or two.

:love :love :love :love :love :love :love :love :love :love :love :love

Had my mw appt today and she has to go out of town for a week on a family emergency-no biggie to me since I've got 3 weeks left but she begged me not to have sex... :LOL She didn't want to risk me starting anything while she was gone. Isaid I think I can sacrifice for a week... ;)
Measuring 38 wks even though I'm only 36 wks/3 days but I did this with the last one at the end too sonot worried. Waiting on that damn GBS test now!

Beansmomma-sorry to hear about the GBS but it's just a minor thing in the big picture! Try to stay positive.

Katie-hang in there! I was thinking the same thing about birth being the first "exposure" LOL Not sure if I'll do any checks or not, we'll see.
Ann

OMG! Congrats, mirthfulmum! I had a dream last night you were in labor!!! :banana :banana :banana Congrats on the homebirth! Can't wait to hear the story!

:balloons Welcome to the world, Harrison! :balloons

Congratulations Mirthfulmum! I'm all teary for you! Can't wait to read your birth story! I'm so glad it all went so well for you!

:jumpers: :balloons

Woo hoo! Way to go mirthfulmum, can't wait to hear your story! How nice to have baby in your arms! :clap

Go Ashlee! :jumpers:

CONGRATULATIONS!! :w & :birthday: Baby Harrison!! :banana :snap :twothumbs

WELCOME HARRISON!!!
:jumpers: :balloons :birthday: :champagne

congratulations mirthfulmom!!!!

good luck ashlee!!!

Yay Mirthful!!! Congrats... I can't believe you ended up with an unplanned homebirth - what a story you must have to tell and I want to hear ever detail of it!

Welcome to the world Harrison :)

Hello...just thought i tell ya that i put a picture of dh and the boys on the yahoo site...it's from last fall, but it's my favprite picture of all 4 of them. i'll try and get a profile shot sometime.


Carrie

congrats mirthfulmum :balloons and welcome Harrison!!

:thumb :jumpers: :balloons way to go mirthfulmum!!! :D

peace,
meli

Welcome to Earth, Little Harrison!!!

Congrats on the smooth birth, Mirthful!

Welcome little Harrison :jumpers: :jumpers: :birthday: :balloons :champagne :carrot :banana :carrot :banana

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRISON!!! :) :carrot :carrot :carrot :violin :violin :violin
can't wait to hear ur birthstroy...:)
Hold on ashley...:thumb...birthvibes to u and everyone who needs them...:dust...
my contractions stopped today morning when i got up from bed....:( i think dh was right that i just needed to sleep...:)
Nancy, mucus plug story was really funny and when i told it to my dh he said: "well...if i felt morning sickness i guess soon i can feel im losing my mucus plug too..:) " He really felt morning sickness with me....:)
Court, please PM me too about the yahoo group.....

YEAH! Welcome Harrison!!! :love Congratulations Mirthfulmum and Dh (and Alias too) :)

Oh my goodness, you have me so intrigued....you did predict a fast labour ;) I can't wait to hear the birthstory! Congrats, Congrats, Congrats! I am so happy for you! I am so tired and should be in bed but I just KNEW I had to finish reading the thread tonight!

Ashlee, I hope that you are having your turn right now too!

Sending labour vibes to everyone who needs to catch them!!!

So happy birthday to Ann and Harrison!! :balloons

Sorry guys, I seem to have gotten a cold and have to hit the sack!

BeansMomma- yep, there is thermosil (gee, my head is too foggy to know if I am spelling this right...in other words Mercury, much easier :LOL) in the flu vaccine....you couldn't pay me to have one but that's just MHO.

:birthday: :balloons :champagne :carrot :banana :guitar :boypin :storkboy :2bfbaby:

CONGRAGULATIONS!! WELCOME TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD, HARRISON!!!

That was an awesome birth story. Thanks for sharing. I was so excited to get on this morning and read that.

Congrats Mirthfulmom!!!! :banana Can't wait to hear your story, how exciting!!!!! Finally more babies are arriving!!

I can't wait for mine to get here....I want to know what he/she is, what they look like, their name...and I want to be comfortable when I lie down to sleep! I moaned and groaned each time I rolled over last night, and my hips seem to be getting sorer earlier each night! Send some of those labor vibes over here!!! :thumb

A little late on on this, but happy birthday Ann!!

Beansmomma, sorry to hear about the GBS+. As far as the flu vaccine goes, I am not getting it. For one thing, the baby will be very well protected by your breastmilk. She may very well be the healthiest one in the family! LOL. I know there were a few times when DH and I both got sick with a cold during the winter, but dd didn't. And, I personally don't think they offer much protection and I would rather get the flu than be exposed to chemicals and other things in the vax.

Ashlee, I hope things went well with labor and you are holding your sweet baby now :).

AngelBee, sorry about the false labor, labor staring and stopping and the car problems. I dont' really have any advice for you. Since you aren't due until the 25th, I wouldn't worry about getting things started naturally, but that is just me.

Amie, I hope you get healthy and well soon!

:love :love :) :D :thumb :) :wave :w :jumpers: :hearts :balloons :birthday: :banana :carrot

Welcome to the world Harrison!! Congrats Mirthfulmum, DH, and Alias.

Thanks for sharing your birth story. I loved it! You had a great birth! I love the part when Alias came home and started showing all his toys to his new brother. That was so sweet it made me cry. What a great big brother!

Congrats!!
Carrie

As far as the flu vaccine goes, I am not getting it. For one thing, the baby will be very well protected by your breastmilk. She may very well be the healthiest one in the family! LOL. I know there were a few times when DH and I both got sick with a cold during the winter, but dd didn't. And, I personally don't think they offer much protection and I would rather get the flu than be exposed to chemicals and other things in the vax.
:nod when i was doing medical lab at the university they have warned us much against flu vaccines...i think its the worst vaccine in the market...here in Japan they give it almost to everyone....they say if u get flu symptoms and u are vaccinated they will be sure its not flu but SARS... :huh

Great story Mirthfulmom!!! :love Congrats again....

No flu shot for me either. I had one while pg with DS, my midwife actually recommended it. But I wouldn't go near it last year whie I was trying nor will I ever again probably. Too much yucky stuff we don't need and it's good for our immune systems to get real practice anyway. I think there was a lot of hype last year over nothing. My friend and her son got the vaccine last year and we didn't...they still both got the flu since they didn't have the right strains of flu in the shot (and mind you they could barely afford the shots on top of it all) and no one in my family got the flu. I think the best you can do is keep your immune system sharp, take probiotics etc.

woo hoo Mirthful!!!! Congrats and welcome to Harrison! What a great story!!

Hopefully things are going to start moving now!!

Flu vaccine~ yucky

Welcome little Harrison!!! We have all been anxiously waiting for you. Congrats mirthfulmum and enjoy your time babymooning.

-susan

Wow, Mirthfulmum what an amazing experience! It is so cool that your team was really able to rally around you with such short notice. Your life sounds pretty idylic to me right now... I want a newborn too!! :)

Rest up mama.

39/6

WELCOME TO THE WORLD LITTLE HARRISON!!!!!!!!!!!!! :wave

Susan: That is a nightmare...stuck in the dentist chair, unable to speak...You probably wanted to jump up, grab the suction hose and suck her dry.
Angela: Thinking of you and the car situation. Hope a solution/fix can be found asap.

I am doing okay here. The farther I get from that bad appt, the better I feel. You guys have been great with your support as have other people I know on/off line. I have decided to ensure that I don't have to see this dr again for the rest of this pg. I found out he is an induction happy guy and very schedule oriented once he does have you "hooked up." Amazing what happens when you ask around and ask blunt questions. I started epo yesterday, don't know if it will help, but it can't hurt and I feel like I am doing something. Haven't really been crampy much the past 24 hours. Oh well. I was telling baby this morning what a slavedriver s/he is to not come and make mamma go into work! Didn't sleep last night. Been very tensed up and my tmj is acting up a bit and my jaw was aching soooo bad I couldn't sleep for a while. I even used some lavender lotion last night which usually knocks me right out!
I'm probably rambling, but I don't feel like working. Gonna be a long day. Thankfully, my boss has said I don't need to stay the extra hour we all work on Thursday! Wahoo! :)

mirthfulmum, what an awesme birth story! :D

flu vaccine: i'm allergic to it, but my husband has had it every year for years with no side effects and no flu. we're wondering if he should get it this year even though he's not in an "at risk" group, since i'm at risk and the baby might be? i get the flu 3-4 times a year *bleah*

i have a few weird questions! baby care books and websites of course talk about all of the essential stuff, and i have experience caring for babies 3 months and older. what the books never mention is the little things, though! like, what do you do with your newborns when you're going to the bathroom? (i.e. is it ok to leave them in a safe sleeping area for that space of time? i know i'll be paranoid at first!) is a Maya wrap ok for newborns? (i've read that slings are great after 1 week or 3 weeks, but nothing about at the hospital, or first few days home, for example.) what if i can't sleep without a body pillow and a lot of blankets, is it so relaxing co-sleeping with the baby that you can overcome any other sleep problem? anyway y'all see where i'm going with this? *lol* it's all the stuff that's not written about that is the true wisdom of women :)

peace,
meli

Mirthful, oh wow! I'm so happy for you :) Welcome little Harrison!!!!

:twothumbs :bgbounce :wave :jumpers: :balloons :champagne :birthday: :snap :banana :jammin :D :w :thumb :)

Congratulations Mirthfulmum!! Welcome, Harrison!!

Ashlee - Can't wait to hear how things are going....! :)

flu vac - I've always had the flu vac every year because I work in a hospital and am surrounded by sickness. I also didn't know/think about the thimerasol until I started researching vacs when I got pregnant. I plan to avoid it for me and the baby now. I guess it would possibly be different if I were returning to work (I'm not) and the baby had to go to daycare. Then there would be lots of missed-work and baby excluded from daycare issues... I figure if the baby gets sick, I'll be home to take care of it anyway, and the flu will be an inconvenience and a little misery, but it only lasts 10-14 days... BTW, influenza is supposed to be pretty "light" this year - not nearly as bad as last year. Something to do with global weather patterns...

Got my Hotsling yesterday!! :love It's so pretty! It even fits DH and he liked it, too. I'll confess I waited about 2 minutes before attempting to sling both cats and my mini schnauzer. Warning: Only sling the willing (and clawless)!!

OK off to read Harrison's birth story! :D

i have a few weird questions! baby care books and websites of course talk about all of the essential stuff, and i have experience caring for babies 3 months and older. what the books never mention is the little things, though! like, what do you do with your newborns when you're going to the bathroom? (i.e. is it ok to leave them in a safe sleeping area for that space of time? i know i'll be paranoid at first!)


I left DS in his bassinet and he was ok. If I had to shower then I had him in a bouncy seat w/ some kind of musical toy to entertain him. (he would be in the bathroom with me.)

is a Maya wrap ok for newborns? (i've read that slings are great after 1 week or 3 weeks, but nothing about at the hospital, or first few days home, for example.)


They are fine to use right away!

what if i can't sleep without a body pillow and a lot of blankets, is it so relaxing co-sleeping with the baby that you can overcome any other sleep problem?
It took me a little bit but then I got used to it and all was fine. My adjusment took me about a week and I had him up by me in the middle of me and DH.

anyway y'all see where i'm going with this? *lol* it's all the stuff that's not written about that is the true wisdom of women :)


Just ask away any questions and if you don't have it my lifesaver was The Baby Book by Dr. Sears

Warning: Only sling the willing (and clawless)!![/B]



Nancy- That is too funny! You had me laughing so hard when I read this. Take a picture if you can. :D

Carrie

Mirthful - What a beautiful story! I'm so happy for you and your DH and Alias and Harrison!! :D

Mirthfulmum- that was so awesome! I am so glad that things went the way they did....what an awesome memory for your family :love I think it is so cool that your labour pretty much ended up being 8 hs like you predicted!And I know that you are gonna be too tired to get on here much over the next few days but when you are feeling up to it I'm dying with curiosity to know how similar the start was with Alias birth, time of day, etc....something all of us second time moms are probably wondering about ;)

Amelia-thanks for the well wishes, I am feeling quite a bit better today...my throat is just a little scratchy now. Speaking of which, I wanted to add re: the flu vaccine discussion that I have a really good immune system while pregnant and nursing...even though I did catch this cold my symptoms are nothing compared to those around me (people have been sick for 10 days or more) and a day later I am feeling almost fine. So Beansmomma, if you have been noticing good health during your pregnancy it is pretty safe to assume it will continue while you are nursing...and if you do get the flu it should be mild. And one of the problems with vaccines in general is that the mom does not pass on her immunities through breastmilk in the way that she would had she naturally aquired the illness but I am not sure how this works if you had just recently had the flu vaccine. So if you do get the flu the best thing to do is nurse, nurse, nurse and provide the true immunities of the actual strain that you have to your baby.

Meli- I think those answers will just come to you naturally :love Yes, it is perfectly fine to leave your baby in a safe sleeping area while you go to the bathroom, or bringing your baby into the bathroom with you. As for co-sleeping you will have to just see what works for you I believe...we always continued to use our blanket and pillow, without excess of course and I never felt uncomfortalbe at all about it, I always was aware of where Ember was, etc. I don't think you will have any problems as long as you follow your intuition.

Soogie, blech that denist experience would be enough to have made me start kicking and screaming at this point :LOL

Thia :hug I am glad you are starting to feel better! Everyone has already offered great advise.

Oh my-I've only been away for 11 hours and look what I miss!!
Blessings Mirthfulmum and welcome Harrison :) :)

MellyBelly-I know what you mean about all the little questions. Most of it you'll just figure out what works best as you go but I asked lots of ?s too. I also just put the babe in a bouncy seat or car seat when I showered-which seemed to be mostly when DH came home those first few weeks LOL
A shower only takes 5min but you'd swear he/she would wake up then so you'd keep putting it off!

Off to read the new birth story!
Ann

Wow, I can't believe that mirthfulmum has got her birth story up so quickly! Sounds like a perfect birth. Alias sounds like he is going to be an awesome big bro! Congratulations once again, mama!

Hope Ashlee has her little babe right now! I can't wait to hear the news. Isn't it great to finally have our October babies start making their appearances, lol!

About our farm. Our main income is from layer hens. We sell eggs from our family run farm. It is actually my father's farm, which was his father's farm. I'm hoping to carry on the family business. I'm also hoping to convince him to go organic one of these days. He's not easy to convince on that issue.

My husband and I also have sheep and are experimenting with some of our own business ideas with sheep's milk (dh is experimenting with making cheese), wool (I spin wool and knit) and other related products. We really don't make a living from that part of our farm though. But we aren't putting that much time and energy into it yet. So, maybe someday!

I finally started to lose a bit of mucous plug this morning. I know that doesn't mean much, but at least it's something different. I sure feel like this babe could arrive at any moment.

I just feel oh so achy-crampy- bh contractiony

We don't do flu shots anymore either. I've also had to rethink the whole vax thing. My son went through all kinds of autism/adhd screening in the last few years. In the end we found that he has a learning disability called central auditory processing disorder, which is when a child can hear but has trouble processing the sounds to interpret their meaning. He acts like a child with hearing loss and has trouble understanding certain words and sounds. I often worry that his MMR vax was the cause of his problems. (Autism, adhd and CAPD are all due to nuerological immaturity and /or damage) I know there is no way I can really be sure or prove in any way that there is any connection between his CAPD and his MMR vax. And I still feel confused about the whole issue! I just know I feel nervous about vaccinations that aren't absolutely nessessary, like the flu shot or the one for chicken pox. I'm not completely sure what I will do about vaccinating (or not vax-ing) this baby, but I will be very cautious and do the research first.

My boy is doing well though. He's starting to get the help he needs at school and he is always such an affectionate sweetie at home. (LOL, I hear not all boys of almost eight years old are cuddle bugs, hee-hee, I'm just lucky I guess) He also has his big sister who is his defender and protector, she is awesome too! She is my small adult.

Wow, okay, I'm rambling. Sorry about all the me, me, me stuff. I better head back to my couch and my knitting. Ya know, I actually did a little work yestarday. I just couldn't sit still, but today I am just going to relax! I'll check in later though to see if there are any new babies out there!!!!

Kathy

:twothumbs :jumpers: :flyby2 :sunshine :flower :birthday: :balloons :champagne

Yay!!!! Baby Ella Lucille was born 10/6 at 10:22 pm. She is 7.5 lbs, 21.25 inches long and beautiful! I'll post the birth story soon. It was a perfect home waterbirth that went VERY quickly!

:) Yeah Ashlee!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations and Welcome Ella :dust

Now we're cooking....who's next! So exciting!
Ann

YAY! Ashlee, congratulations to you too! Aww, I can't wait to hear your story!!! Sounds like a great birth though! What an inspiring day for October mamas!!!!! Welcome new little October babe!


Kathy

Yay congrats Ashlee and welcome little Ella :jumpers: :balloons :birthday: :carrot :banana

:) :love :D :thumb :wave :w :jumpers: :hearts :balloons :birthday: :carrot :banana

Congrats Ashlee! I can't wait to read your birth story. Thanks for letting us know that Ella has made her arrival. HOORAY!!!!!!

So who is next??!!

Ashlee, congratulations!!!!! :banana :balloons :baby Welcome to the world, Ella! Can't wait to hear the birth story!

Letia, where are you? Are you off birthing your baby? :)

Another congrats to mirthfulmum, and what a great story. How are YOU feeling? Is your bottom sore? Is it nice to not be 9 months pregnant anymore?

Piglet, just one day left and you will get to meet your son! How wonderful!

I'm trucking along. Don't think I am having a baby anytime in the next few days, though I had predicted tomorrow as my delivery date. I have always had a feeling about having the baby on a Sunday, so maybe this weekend? Last night, upon the recommendation of my midwife, I deep some deep squatting. OW! I must have pulled some pelvic floor muscles. I can barely walk it hurts so bad!

Dh and I are going out to a movie today, all alone! Dd's grandparents (she has 4 grandparents and 3 great-grandparents) have all wanted to spend alot of time with her lately - she is the only grandchild (well, for the next week or so!) and I think they want some quality time with her before the baby comes. Dh and I have been taking them up on their offers. It's nice to spend time alone and as a couple before the birth.

Take care, mamas! It is so fun to pop in here a couple times a day and see who might be in labor, who is MIA, and who had a baby! :love I am so feeling the love here!

How wonderful!
Congrats!!!!

:thumb :w :banana

Congragulations!! Happy Birthday Ella!! WOO HOO

:birthday: :balloons :champagne :carrot :banana

Yay!!!! Congratulations!!!

:thumb :D :bouncy :bgbounce :wave :jumpers: :balloons :birthday: :champagne :banana :carrot :snap :jammin


Yay Ashlee!! Congratulations!! Ella Lucille is such a beautiful name. Can't wait to read the birth story. :D


BTW, starting to lose the mucus plug... :D Better call DH and tell him to be on the lookout... :LOL

So now that I have a beautiful diaper bag, I found these two amazing sites!! :rolleyes Not that I'm unhappy with my choice, but I didn't know there were even more amazing ones out there!! http://www.diaperbags.com/ http://www.babyoliverboutique.com/designer-diaper-bags.html

and mine which I :love www.imstillme.com

Yay Nancy! Yes please call your DH and tell him to keep his eyes open...

Two babies born on the same day!!! Woo Hoo!! Congratulations Ashlee! Welcome little Ella!! Yipee!!:balloons

Nancy...getting closer, how exciting!! Sounds very promising for you too Kathy! I predicted the 6th-10th but now the 11th keeps popping into my head....I keep TP checking, worse than when TTC, :LOL, but so far nothing, but then again I didn't with Ember either.

Amy..quit looking :LOL Just kidding...I do the same thing to myself all the time!


Katie- enjoy your outing to the movies :thumb

Kathy- :hug sorry to hear about all that that you had to go through, it must have been really stressful...I am glad that he is doing good now, he sounds like a real sweetheart :love I am sure you know or will find out that the Vax board here has a great wealth of information....please listen to your intution, whatever it decides to tell you. If infact it was vaccine related than there is most definately a risk factor for any of his siblings, :hug

woohoo congrats ashlee! :jumpers: :jumpers: :jumpers:

strange day so far today ... my blood pressure was a bit high today so the OB started talking induction seriously. the dr. did an exam and i was at -3 station, 0% effacement and closed, i said no way will i agree to induction with an unfavorable cervix, the dr. agreed wholeheartedly. anyway, i got an NST while waiting for the results of blood tests. my blood levels are normal (i kept saying my BP was high because i was dreading induction talk). but, while in L&D for the NST, i started having contractions 5-7 min. apart ! :LOL they're still going, not fading away when i sit, walk or lie down. "fear of induction" labor? well, whatever works! ;) i'm going to nap for a while :D

That's great Meli! :thumb Wow, when it rains it pours around here! :)

Oh Meli! That's great news! Take that nap and hopefully we will get more of an update later :thumb

40 weeks 3 days

Ashlee - congrats!!! I love that babies are being born!! I'm glad the experience was what you were looking for, and I can't wait to hear all about baby Ella's arrival. Enjoy your little bundle of love!

OK, who is next - can it be me??? Good luck Meli...

Thanks Oakember. I'll check out the vax board definately!

I was also wondering where Letia has been? Hmmm . . .

Wow, sounds like you might be starting Melly!

Dh is being soooo selfless. He's offered to get my labour started in any capacity he is able to offer ! :LOL :Sheepish: :love

What a hero!

Kathy

Kathy - I wish my Dh was as selfless, I've been begging to DTD but he doesn't want to for some reason. He says it is fake, and not a turn on to be used for his hormones. I'm actually kinda bitter about it. Our sex life has pretty much sucked for the entire pregnancy and I don't imagine it is gonna get any better soon... whats a girl to do????

I am enjoying reading everyone's posts. My blood pressure is good today, but I had another sleepless night, and not much rest today so more tired then ever. I am also stuck close to the bathroom collecting 24hrs of urine-fun. My protein count is up again. Nine days to go until my due date, and now I really want to go into labour this weekend. Dr's appointment tomorrow. It will be interesting to see what she saids. It is nice having the nurse visit me every day. If anything happens and I am questioning if labour is beginning I know that she will be here bright and early in the morning.

Nancy...how exciting. I hope this is it for you :thumb

I am getting pretty anxious. Trying not to, but I can't help it. Had another appt. today. A bit more dilated, cervix is little softer, but that is about it. Had a little action yesterday but nothing today.

I hope those of you who are due before me go soon. This waiting is the hardest part.

Krnflwr...I got my hat today and I :love :love it!!! It is so adorable. Dh said we can now officially have the baby now that his little hat is here :D

Ok off to watch a movie and relax.

Congratulations Ashlee, and welcome baby Ella :) Yay!

:birthday: Welcome Harrison and Ella! :birthday:

Wonder who will be next?

Thia, I'm chiming in late but just wanted to say that your OB sounds like a real SOB! Grrr!

Good birthing vibes to Meli...

I'm just two days away from my EDD but my instinct tells me that it is still going to be a while. I've kinda suspected from the beginning that I would go to about 41 weeks...we'll see!

DH would just die if he knew I was telling you all this, but we tried to "do the deed" a few days ago and it just didn't go too well...during the actual act itself DH cried out, "Ouch, stop! You're hurting me!" Apparently something feels "different," and not in a good way! He said it felt like his penis were about to be bent in half... Not sure if he'll feel up to trying again before the baby comes or if I'm going to have to be content with Bob... :blush

Can I have just a moment to rant about my mother? Really, she is the LEAST maternal, nurturing person I have ever know in my life, which is really sad considering that she has eight kids (I'm the oldest). She's just a mean, nasty, and totally bitter person in general. Yesterday she told me over and over on the phone how she thinks that the name we've chosen for our baby is "just plain retarded." This morning she apparently told one of my sisters that she is embarrassed to even have to tell anyone what her grandson's name will be. To top it all off, she also suppossedly told my sister that our baby will probably be ugly anyhow!

Sigh. Really, I don't take it all that personally because I realize that just how my mother is. She's been a b**** her entire life, why should I expect anything different from her now? I can kinda just let it roll right off of me, but I think it bothers DH. He said if he ever hears her insult the baby he'll insult her right back. His mother it awesome- the total opposite from my mom- so its just hard for him to fathom how a mother can act the way she does. All I can say is thank goodness for my MIL so that our son will at least have one loving, nurturing grandmother!

Future Mama~ I of course think Miles is a wonderful name :love and Rocket in the middle adds a wonderful bit of spunk and pizzaz.... forget yo' mama!

Holy Smokes!!!! Congrats Ashlee, and keep contracting Melli, sounds like Willow's ready for her grand entrance!

Kathy, ditto Oakember's sentiments :love

:D and what a selfless hero your dh is, really taking one for the team ay?


every time I think i'm having a contraction, i end up having to fart :eyesroll

Gottaknit, you've been cracking me up lately ;)

Katie, have a WONDERFUL date! Dh and i haven't been to the movies since dating. Last time I went to see a flick it was with my mom. I really want to see Supersize me, it's probably out on video by now :eyesroll I'm so not with it!

FutureMama- Sorry to hear about the whole rude and mean things your mom said. That is just awful! I will never understand how people live their lives like that. Thankfully you have a wonderful MIL.

I can really relate to the whole mean parent thing. I haven't seen or spoken to mine in 12 years and DH's hasn't seen or psoken to his in 2 years. So poor Liam has no grandparents.

I think the name you have picked out is great. I love miles rocket. It's awesome. Maybe since you didn't go with bobby mike and something more creative and special she has to hate it. Who knows?!

Just want to offer my support to ya!

Carrie

ashlee- CONGRATULATIONS!!! :jumpers: :balloons WELCOME ELLA!!

FUTUREMAMA- Holy cow! I am so very very sorry to hear that your mother is like that. And by the way, Miles Rocket is an absolutely awesome name! I was told that my father cried when we named ds Huckleberry. You are amazing to stay so strong!

Kraftykathy- I love hearing about your farm life! It is something my dh and I always talk about. It must be a lot of hard work, but what a great feeling it to be working for yourselves and carrying on your family's tradition.

I have to tell you all, I am so very anxious to read more birth stories!! By belly gets all tensed up and I start to cry~ :eyesroll I know mine will probably be one of the last ones :irked:

Oh WOW life is good! :love A little girl just came by selling chocolate bars for school...thank goodness I only had enough cash for 3!!!

If only chocolate came right to our doors every day....:LOL

Yay! It ONLY took me about...oh, two or three months, but I finally managed to add some pictures to the yahoo group...!

Have I ever mentioned how much I procrastinate...? ;)

Oh god, all this baby having! I had contractions all through the night and some good ones today. Went for a brisk walk and by the end of it I was sure I was in labor! But alas, they didn't keep up :(
It's silly to be so anxious. And if I make it through today and tomorrow, I have an appointment with a professional photographer who wants to take pics for FREE! yay free pregnancy pics!
Sex still works for us for the most part, but with every really good thrust I feel like baby's butt is just jamming into my ribs and squishing all my organs. Which, needless to say, is a little distracting! blah.

I want this little sucker to come out and meet the family!

Oh my it's so hard to keep up with you ladies!!

Well done Ashlee and Ella! :twothumbs

Bring on the babies!!

Congrats......................welcome Ella and Harrison! So exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry last time I wrote I was sooooooooooooooooo crabby. I was just feeling tired and let down. Feeling much better now.

Random question........after an internal exam, how long does it take to spot?

Congrats Ashlee! And welcome to the world Ella! Can't wait to hear your birth story. I was so weepy reading Mirthful's.
This is so exciting!

If anyone has applied to the yahoo group (or wants to) and not gotten approved yet - just PM me with your e-mail address and I'll send an invite- that way you wont need my approval. I think yahoo maybe screwing up, I don't know. Also I can't remember if I've PM'd all the people who wanted to join or not.

I've been having some nice BH ctrx today. I feel a lot of pressure in my butt when they happen. When I was nursing Logan down for his nap, they came on fast and furious, like every couple minutes. I could feel lots of pressure in my lower back too. Hopefully they're doing something.

Jillerina - sorry your dh is not being a team player, maybe you could seduce him or tell him you had a dream about him or something, make something up. You're over 40 weeks with his child he should help out for cryin out loud. My dh loves being used for his hormones, luckily.

We DTD last night and I felt like my lungs and arteries were being crushed by the weight of the baby. I'm glad it's only these last couple weeks that it will be this uncomfortable. Just trying to ripen the ole cervix...

Well :hug and labor vibes :dust to whoever needs 'em or wants 'em. Take care ladies.

oh yeah - Karin - that's so sweet that your dd has a pumpkin obsession too! Ds has to have his carved though. As soon as we got home with one, he was like "open it!" "make a face!" Yes sir, right away sir.

FutureMama - I am so sorry your mom said those nasty things. My mom can be very similar, and even though she has been like that my entire life, it still effects me so strongly. I think your son has a great name, and I am sure he will be beautiful. :hug

Funny you guys should mention failed attempts at sex. We had one ourselves the other night. I just was sooooo uncomfortable, and I felt like my hips were going to break! So I didn't get all thosegood prostaglandins, sadly. For those of you interested, I have read it is even more effective to take it orally. Ahem. :innocent

Meli - good luck, mama! Hope you keep contracting!

We had fun on our date, we saw The Forgotten (which we didn't like) and just hung out together, which was nice. My MIL took Lucy shopping and bought some things she needed, and she wrote some checks out for a pile of bills we had on the table, as a little baby-gift. She knows how hard-up we are right now, and thought the best way to help would be to help financially. It was so sweet! :love

Good birthing vibes to everyone who might be starting labor, and good breastfeeding vibes to Ashlee and mirthfulmum!

no more surges after 6pm(i love calling them surges, heard it here at MDC, sounds like it feels! :)), i ended up with one really weird 2-hour very painful tightening that sucked. my sugars are going haywire tonight, way too low then way too high, but i hadn't changed my insulin or eating. i'm waiting for a high to subside, shaking and moody as hell. it's odd because my sugars had been steadily dropping which is normal. i hope the surges start up again, i was actually feeling a little high from the endorphins ;) :D

peace,
meli

FutureMama- sorry about your insensitive mom! BTW- I checked out your pics and they are very nice :D

3boyz- I also checked out your pic, I can see why that would be your fave...it's a really nice pic of your men!

Katie- Glad you had a nice date (even without liking the movie). What a super awesome gift from your MIL...taking away some financial pressure like that without even being asked...doesn't get any better :thumb

Court- I've been having some good pressure and crampiness today but this evening I am having one of those moments where I am feeling like I am gonna be pregnant for awhile yet, sigh, and I guess we still are two weeks away. I don't know why I have been assuming I will be early and now I will feel silly if I don't :shy Maybe I will convince DH to DTD tonight....as for Katie's suggestion, a man must have come up with that one ;) just kidding...but no, I won't be going there!

Kmorozuik- I have been meaning to welcome you :wave Glad to hear your blood pressure is doing better...I'm not getting much sleep these nights either.

just a little tidbit for those of you whose DHs are weirded out by sex this late in the pregnancy, or just if you can't find a comfy way to make it happen etc ... was just reading in the gentlebirth.org archives that the prostaglandins (sp?) in the semen are supposedly even more effective when absorbed through the stomach....

I'm scared to share this w/ DH ;) He'll start thinking he's getting BJs 3 times a day or something :LOL

Oh my goodness, I haven't checked in since this morning and now there's 3 whole pages of posts. Yikes! How can I keep up?

Congrats and welcome to our two newest babies!

Piglet, just wanted to send you a big hug and lots of good healing vibes for Sasha's delivery tomorrow! Hope your hosp stay is a relaxing, stress-free time.

I'm so tired I can't see straight and I keep typing the wrong things. I think I will head to bed and check in w/ all you tomorrow. Tee hee hee...I'm so glad to see our baby train has started. :love

Wow...two babies born already!

Well, unless someone hear births before tomorrow at 1 pm, I'll be next! :D

Have to keep this short. DH and I had an amazing "date" last night, ate fantastic food at a local french restaurant (we got engaged in paris so it was a nice trip down memory lane last night). i'm soooo glad we did this!

busy day today and too excited to go to sleep (keep thinking I need to "get things done", lol).

Okay, I wont' be able to post next week's thread, so someone will have to take on that job for me, as well as keeping track ofany new births. I will not be home until monday, and hope to be able to post a birth story on tuesday. i'll ask dh to maybe just post a quick blurb here to let you know how it all went.

and our hospital DOES use cloth! how cool is that??? :banana

NEXT TIME I TALK TO Y'ALL I'LL HAVE A NEWBORN AROUND!!!!

(ps - whoever asked about what to do with a newborn when you pee/shower? i just brought dd in with me and lay her down on a folded bath towel. the sound of the shower always sent her to sleep, lol. and she was happy to lay there for a few minutes while I peed, etc....)

Piglet - good luck with the birth, I hope all goes well! Someone will take over your Monday duties, don't worry! If your dh can update us, that would be great - I know we will all be wondering how you are! I will send good thoughts your way tomorrow. Enjoy your first few days with your son. :love Best wishes for easy breastfeeding, lots of rest, and a speedy recovery! When we talk to you again, you will be a mother of 2!

Good luck Piglet-wishing you a wonderful healthy birth! Can't wait to hear from you next week.
Blessings :dust
Ann

Good luck Piglet..............................we are looking forward to your birthing story!

It is so hard to catch up with you ladies but i tried my best to remember some of your posts....
Ashlee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! congratulations!!! :carrot :carrot :carrot :violin :violin oh my God no babies no babies and suddenly all at once…:)

Thia, great decision not to see that disgusting doctor all ur pg…:thumb…great you have asked around…
Kraftykathy, that’s so wonderful about your farm…me and dh are planning to do our little farm when we are back to Lebanon after I finish my phD here in Japan (three years from now :( ) but we keep dreaming about it…wow sheep I want sheep too but dh insists on buying a cow….and chicken how perfect…:) and you spin wool that sounds so so wonderful to me….hope your son is much better…sorry to hear you have these worries…im not sure about CAPD but autism I know can decrease much by holding ur child a lot and being much much tender to him…but im sure you are much more than that with ur ds…:) congratulations on losing ur mucus plug, hope ur baby will be here soooooooooooooooon….:thumb
gottaknit…cong about the mucus plug too….:)
meli a lots of vibes to you....
kmoroziuk, glad about BP is better and sorry about the protein thing…:( hope ur labor starts fast…:dust
Futuremama, me and dh are not trying to do it since maybe I was 6 months pg or so…I am so afraid he’ll hit the baby’s head…:) and so sorry about ur mom’s sayings…it must hurt u a lot…moms can be really annoying, thank god mine is miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiles away…:) Miles is a very nice name….:)
Court, much vibes to u too…I know im 38 weeks too because im sticking to ur countings…:shy…maybe ill have some contractions again too….
LOL! Bluehalo…I just told that to my dh and he said we SHOULD check it out!
Piglet!!! Good luck! How nice about your date….much much :love and :hug...waiting to hear ur birthstory...

yesterday we have tried perineal massage me and dh and it was funny...he looked like a professional ob trying to fugure out where my perineum is...:LOL....i dont know i think we did it all wrong but at least he knows now where to aplly warm compresses duting labor so that i hopefully don't tear....
today im feeling crampy too...but i guess that's not it...:( now im heading to the warm tub and im sure all the cramping will go away...:(
will check if ashlee has posted her birthstory already....:love

I am 37 weeks today! FINALLLY FULL TERM!!!

Piglet, it is probably too late for you to read this now, but if you get on before you go to the hospital good luck, happy delivery, and enjoy your baby!! :love

FutureMama, FWIW, I think Miles Rocket is a cool name. Don't let your mom bother you. It sucks when parents aren't supportive they way the should be.

Katie, glad you had a nice date. Your MIL sounds so wonderful, paying your bills. That is the best baby present, the one that you need!

We got some good cervix-softening prostaglandins in the other day as well. I haven't told DH about those properties. He thinks I just want to have sex because I just want to and :love him so much! Well, I do :love him so much, but the cervix-softening properties don't hurt. It can be rather uncomfortable , but not painful really. That is funny that research says they they are more effective when absorbed thought the stomach. I have to seriously doubt that, sounds like a man who likes bj's just made it up. How could it be more effective than having them right at the cervix, at the site of the action??? For those of you whose dh's are worried about him hitting the baby's head, I think that is pretty impossible unless you have sex right in the middle of labor while the baby's head is passing though. There is a nice big cervix separating the baby from the vagina.

:D :twothumbs :wave :w :jumpers: :hearts :balloons :birthday: :banana :carrot

I don't know if you've been born yet but I wanted to welcome you to the world Sasha!

Piglet- speedy and healthy recovery. I hope you have a relaxing stay.

OOOOOOOh How exciting! Welcome Sasha!

I did prenatal yoga last night and all I can do is ask myself WHY HAVEN'T I DONE THIS EVERYDAY!!!! I feel so relieved and loose.


Futuremama~ Your thank you belly pic is so cute,
and 3boys that picture is so cute! Your man looks good on that thing ;)

I dreamt Letia posted a very incoherent post about how she was in the middle of pushing out her baby :D Pretty strange.

Popped out of bed and started baking blueberry muffins this morning! Who do I think I am? It is so out of character :D

Someone mentioned the mg dosage of EPO earlier...both orally and internally. Could you tell me again, please?

Nana (hat-knitting-mother) is arriving tomorrow...yippee! Baby Cookie will be officially allowed to be born and I will finally have some help w/ Hannah. Sweet relief, as I have been going bonkers over here as Hannah as been in true Tasmanian Devil mode for the past few weeks.
Oh yeah, so if anyone wants a baby hat...now is the time to speak up. I still have a few that are already made or you can custom order one through the hat master herself. PM me if you are interested.
Oops, Hannah is making a bowl of cereal for herself...my presence is required and fast.
Babies, babies, babies!!
:love

OakEmber & momadance...thanks for the sweet comments on my men ;) i think they look pretty good too.... :D

Piglet...hope you birth went as you hoped...can't wait to hear about it!

Hope the rest of you pre-laboring mamas can see some results soon...:hug

Just wanting to send warm thoughts and prayers to you Piglet today...hope you have a quick recovery :thumb

And Welcome Little Sasha!!! :balloons :birthday: :carrot :banana

Yes, today is my due date. I guess it isn't the baby's though. Okay, I can deal.

Someone asked for the EPO dosage: 500 mg three times a day (so 500 in the am, another midday, another at night) and that's orally. You can put 1500mg in vaginally overnight. I haven't quite figured out how to get them there though...it's worse than giving a urine sample for the dr!! :scratch

Had some crampiness and contrax over night. Everyone was pretty surprised to see me waddle into work this morning. I just thought of a good thing though...my dh will have to field the "did she have the baby yet" phone calls today! :bouncy :nut

Well, here it is after 11 and I really haven't done any work today. Guess that is what Fridays are for right? We have a three day weekend (thank you mr columbus), so hopefully all that relaxing will help things get going.
Well, I am sure I will be back here later, hope to be reading some birth stories or at least announcements!

Amelia- Congrats on joining us full termers! :banana I don't see how the semen could be more effective orally either :scratch...why would that be if EPO can be taken either way and is said to be more effective internally?

Krnflwr- the dosage that I have been using is 2000mg orally and 3000 internally each day...sounds like a lot but that's what my midwife told me.

I just had to share a funny mental picture I had of all us...reading the thread yesterday reminded me of woman waiting to catch the bride's bouquet at a wedding...only we are waiting around hoping to catch labour vibes hoping that our turn will be next:LOL

Letia has been MIA long enough now that I think it's safe to assume she is babymooning ;)

Piglet, best of luck for a smooth birth of Sasha today and a quick recovery...still a few hours away yet but Happy Birthday Sasha :balloons

3boyz- you are welcome :love

Last night I was soooo uncomfortalbe...sleeping is becoming a chore! And to top it off I am feeling major guilt about trying to get Ember to sleep on her own bed (which we have now moved onto the floor beside our bed). She was saying last night..."but I like sleeping beside you Mommy" and she woke up in the middle of the night, crawled in beside me and so I moved down onto her bed with her (thank goodness it's a twin) and she couldn't find her puppy but said "that's OK, I can go to sleep easily now that you are here Mommy" and then fell asleep. :crying So needless to say our sleeping arrangement is not working...last thing I want is to have her resenting Oakley because he gets to sleep by me and she doesn't. If we move the bed up to the level of ours however we can't get into our dresser. So now it's back to the drawing board...we may drop $300 on a co-sleeper yet (yes, that's how expensive they are here!).

So I am experiencing a new sensation this morning...backache. It's in about the middle of my back and I do recognize the sensation from when I had Ember....but I don't want to get my hopes up, I'm trying not to drive myself crazy:LOL Sasha does need a birthday buddy though ;)

Thia- Happy DD! I have a tip for you about inserting the capsules, get them wet first and then they slide in much easier :thumb The first night I put them in dry and it wasn't much fun :irked:

Krnflwr- the dosage that I have been using is 2000mg orally and 3000 internally each day...sounds like a lot but that's what my midwife told me.

I have a tip for you about inserting the capsules, get them wet first and then they slide in much easier :thumb The first night I put them in dry and it wasn't much fun :irked:

Do you puncture the capsule or open it in any way first? Or just wet it and stick it (them) up there? And then do you just leave them in there until the morning? Do they dissolve or does the container of the capsule come out? Seems awfully messy, is it?

Karin-:LOL I just stickem up there and they dissolve fairly fast (I'd say within 10 mins) at which point it does become a little messy. You definately feel the need for a shower in the morning but it's not so messy as to leak on the bed or anything.

Letia has been MIA long enough now that I think it's safe to assume she is babymooning ;)

I don't think so..... just busy stalking diapers. :hyena

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=203533

My last day of work!! :thumb

My coworkers are throwing a little party for me today at noon, and then I leave early to go to DH's surprise party at work. So since I came in at 9am, that gives me about three hours of work and then it's play time! (Oh yeah, and subtract the time spent surfing MDC, Ikea, Pottery Barn kids, email....) Basically I am useless today. :LOL

No new labor vibes/news. Still crampy as always, haven't seen any more traces of the plug.... But I am sooo looking forward to taking it easy at home until baby gets here! :D I bet as soon as I get a little rest and decompress from work things will start moving.

Hope everyone is well. Piglet, best of luck today!!! Ashlee, can't wait to hear the birth story! :jumpers:

Hey everyone! Just popping in here for a minute to say thanks for all the well wishes!! :love

I'm leaving in one hour to go to the hospital, the birth is set for 1 pm PST.

Good luck to all of you who are so close (Lucysmama, I bet you'll have your baby before I get home on Monday!).

You ladies are so wonderful...I'm bringing my beads with me!!! :love

Congratulations Ashlee and welcome Ella!!!!!
:balloons :balloons :birthday: :balloons :balloons Birthday buddy!

Thank you so much everyone for all your warm wishes. The last 2 days have been a blurr, but a truly wonderful blurr :love.

I am feeling really good but definately suffering from a very sore bottom. I tore during the birth due to my old episiotimy scar so had to have stitches. But what are really giving me a hard time are the post-birth hemroids. So I'm walking around the apartment like a little old lady but other than that feeling really great!

I have so much to comment on and to say but I really don;t think I have the time to. I do want to say that I was really worried about our sleeping arrangements too. While Alias does have his own toddler bed he does often roll into our bed in the night and end up sleeping between Dh and I. But the last 2 nights have actually gone really smoothly (hopefully it'll last :fingersx:). Alias insists on falling asleep next to Harrison, then we move him into his toddler bed. I've discovered that I am sleeping softly enought that as soon as Alias stirs awake I am able to arange Harrison and I as necessary to accomodate a snuggly 2 year old. And so far Harrison seems to be a good sleeper, but as we those of us with one already, that could all change.

Good luck and :hugs to all of you waiting for your babes to arrive. While I don't have much time to respond I am trying to keep up on the reading.

And of course sending out positive birth vibes to Piglet and little Sasha who'll be making his grand debut today!

And before I go want to let you all know that I posted some baby pics on the yahoo site.

:grouphug

Nancy, congrats on your last day of work! :banana

Welcome to the world, baby Sasha! :balloons :baby :balloons :baby

:LOL If you ever wanna find Letia, go check out the Diapering boards! :LOL

Amie-hoping your backache is a "good" sign! Crossing fingers!

Kazia-it's so good to hear from you! So happy that things are going well for you-happy healing bum vibes to you :LOL I told my Dh about your surprise homebirth and he said for me not to try anything like that! (since I wanted one but he was too scared) I said I don't think she "planned" it dear-birth just happend sometimes ya know?? ;)

Nancy-so glad this is your last day and you can settle back and relax/nest and just be happy :) Enjoy your party!

And that naughty Letia-making us wonder what she's up to while she's off "hyena"ing!

Take care everyone!
Ann

Just checked out the yahoo group....

Courtney your belly cast is awesome! Did you paint the design free-hand?

Mirthful, your little Harrison is absolutely beautiful. :love What cute boys you have.

Mirthfulmum - We X-posted. So nice to hear from you! Harrison is so beautiful. I love the picture of your 3 guys...they all look so in love! :love Sorry about your bum. Can I ask: :innocent did you have hemmorhoids before the birth, or was it just from the pushing?

:D :D My mom just emailed me and said she and her SO are taking a last-minute trip to Georgia! They are leaving today and will be gone for almost a week. Woo Hoo! I was so worried about her hanging around, and not respecting our baby-moon wishes, dropping by, etc. Now, I gotta get birthing! I want some quiet no-mom time before she gets home again. Please send me labor vibes, I really wanna have this baby while she is gone!!!

Katie - Yeah the hemmorhoids are from pushing. I'm lucky enough that I have never had them under any other circumstance but after both my births, whoo boy, I sure make up for it.
And Katie, what a relief for you that your mom is out of town this week. Hopefully your babe is as thoughtful as mine (who arrived just on time to ensure that his grandma could in fact catch her plane homeward that left today) and is born during your moms trip. Perhaps your midwife could do a stretch and sweep, it seemed to have worked for me. But in any case... focusing some strong, healthy and stimulating birth vibes.

Congratulations Ashlee and welcome Ella!!!

:balloons :champagne :balloons

Also much good luck to piglet and sasha today!!!


Things here are good and really busy. I'll be full term tomorrow which is so exciting. In the last 2 days my body seems to be emptying itself, I'm beginning to wonder if that is the first sign of an impending labor. We'll see if it continues. I'd be surprised if I go before 38 weeks though (and also surprised if i make it to 40). Dh says he'll have sex with me once I'm full term since these last 2 weeks he was worried he'd send me into labor early.

As for the prostaglandin absorption... ummmm, this is WAY TMI... consider yourself warned. Since I've been pregnant I've been unable to swallow. Seriously. Normally I just do, and it's no big deal. I actually enjoy giving head and that's just part of it for me. However, in the last 9 months I've gagged and wretched and almost puked on him the few times I've given him a bj till orgasm. I'm not sure why it's different, but there is NO WAY I'm absorbing his prostaglandins digestively. I even tried again yesterday. My body just violently rejects oral intake of semen these days.


Anyway, labor vibes to those who want them and hugs to everyone!!!

:grouphug

:LOL You know what flitters... you crack me up. I just absolutely love your frankness!

Just felt I had to say that.

Mirthfulmom...Harrison is ADORABLE!!!!

Katie...Hope your baby comes while your mom is out. I want my little guy to come so my mil will leave.

Flitters you also crack me up with your frankness. I told dh about semen ingested orally is supposed to be more effective. He said it sounds right to him. I asked him why he thought so and said he had no reasons other than it just sounded "right." HMMM he just wants a treat ;)

Nancy hope your last day at work when splendid and the party for dh was a blast!

On the topic of EPO...I have been taking it since tues. but upped my dose on Thurs. My dr. thinks it is a great idea for me to take it. I have been taking the suggested amount that Oakember's mw said. It is starting to work a tad, but I know that it can take up to a week to really kick in. I just feel better thinking that I may be helping this little babe get closer to being in our arms.

Flitters, you don't post nearly enough! :laugh: :love

Katie~ Hey, have your mom drop you off at my place! We'll go on some power hikes to walk our babes out, Lucy and Miles can play, and you can have your baby at my own personal "birth center" ;) JK here's some major labor vibes heading your way :dust I do have a friend due in Jan. who lives around the corner who is eyeing our setup for her homebirth.... That would be wild! I love the idea!


Mirthful :thumb I am so happy for you! Hope your bum's feeling better. Have you tried the cold peri pads? I ordered about 6 extra I loved them so much after having Miles.

Aww, Mirth, Harrison is such a sweetie...and you are looking good too Momma :love Hope you are feeling better down there soon!

That sneaky little Letia :LOL

Thanks Ann...still waiting in limbo here it seems. Not having the waves anymore but still a little bit of achiness. Who knows?? I am still optimistic that it could happen soon :D

:LOL maybe it really is true Flitters, and your body is rejecting it because it doesn't want it to happen before it's time.

I thought maybe incase I hadn't mentioned this already that I would, if I have sorry to repeat myself. My midwife recommends using olive oil to keep meconium from sticking to the little bum (I am sure that there are many like me here who try to stay away from petroleum products). So due the the backache feeling I went down town today and bought the last of my hospital bag stuff including a little squirt bottle to bring some olive oil along, Rescue Rememdy because I hadn't got around to buying it yet, some Wedela Nursing tea and Calendula baby oil (which I plan on using on me if I get any tears) and new toothbrushes for all of us thrown in...now I am offically set :)

Ok, since we are being frank and all.....can I ask anyone (including mirthfulmum) who has experience with hemmorhoids, what do you do? I have one and it is really bothering me. The pressure of the baby is making it a little more inflamed, and while it doesn't really HURT, it is a bit sore and annoying. I have heard witch hazel is good....do you just rub it on there? :innocent Also, this is going to go away after the baby....right?

Good to hear from you Mirthful! Harrison is beautiful! Logan really liked looking at his pictures too. Hope your bum feels better...that's one thing I'm not looking forward too, but I know it will happen. Thanks for sharing your sleeping experience, it's good to hear those things.

Nancy- thanks! Yes, it was freehand - which is why it's sort of crooked and funky looking in places. It was one of those mandalas from that link someone posted. Yay for your last day of work! Have fun at the shower...and start resting up!

Flitters - you know I feel the way you do about swallowing at all times, not just pregnancy. The thought of it really makes me gag, but I'm just really squeamish I guess. Anyways, as always your posts crack me up.

:dust Labor vibes to you Katie and Thia!

Good luck Piglet! (even though you're already at the hospital)

I also wanted to say that I loved looking at your pics Futuremama and 3boyz! You are all adorable. All the boys on the tractor are so cute. And Futuremama - I love the name you guys picked - sorry your mom is so mean.

Lucysmama- I remember witch hazel feeling really good when I had them after Logan. I just had some store bought hem. pads that were soaked in witch hazel basically. It's very soothing. Or you could put it on with some kind of cloth or cotton?

Amie- I'm really curious as to when we're going to have our babies too. Part of me thinks it will be early - but then I go back to thinking I'll go to 41 weeks. I've been having very frequent BH while I'm awake. I tried to feel my cervix, but I can't tell what the heck is going on - I do think I could feel the head through everything though :)

If anyone (trueblue?) wants to explain cervixes to me and what I'm looking for, that would be nice. It's like a little ring that feels kind of puckered or bumpy right? And how do you tell how effaced or long or short it is? Also, I felt a bump on it, like a papule or something, now I'm worried about that.

OH, i almost forgot. Help me decide about PKU. I'm pretty sure it's the only thing we're going to have done.... Where's everyone else stand on this one? I know it hurts there poor lil' feet! but it seems like it's actually useful? YKWIM?

First of all, Congratulations Mirthful!!!!!! Harrison and you both look so beautiful! I've heard so much about sore bottoms after birth - not looking forward to that part! Hope it heals soon!

Speaking of sore butts, someone recommended soaking a pad in witch hazel and then freezing it. Has anyone tried that?

I was so proud of myself that I checked the boards Monday morning (usually I don't have time then), but then I discovered they had started Sunday! By the time I read through all the posts, whew, I was too tired to post myself!!! Haven't had time to read again until now. All I can say is WOW!

I just wanted to say that my friend, who was due Oct 17 (I'm due the 14) had a baby girl on Monday! Wow, seeing her sweet baby really gave my dh and I a wake up call! I mean, we know we're having a baby, of course, but to see such a wonderful little newborn, gazing into her eyes... it just made me cry thinking I have a baby just like hers inside of me, all ready to be born!!! Sounds silly, I know, to just think of this, but it really touched us.

I have to run, sending healthy birthing vibes to everyone!!!

Momadance-

We are going to do the PKU. I would like to know on the chance there might be something. I know it hurts their lil feet but for the little bit if pain I really think the benefits are worth it. We are not going to do any of the other "routine" procedures. Plus if this baby gets jaundice like Liam did he/she will be in store for plenty more heel sticks.

I had my ob visit and ultrasound today. I'm GBS negative :D :thumb ! Phew! The baby is good nice and low. We could of peeked at the sex of our lil one today but I just love the surprise so much. Sure was tempting though! Still measuring small but the u/s says baby is already 7 pounds. I wonder if this one will be as big or bigger than Liam was.

You gals are cracking me up with all the comments about swallowing semen. I couldn't do this pregnant or not. It's a taste thing. Plus it kinda grosses me out. I'll just stick to keeping it aimed at the source. :)

I forgot EPO is good for trying to get things going or just to get your body more ready? I'll have to try and find some and try it.

I love all the pics on Yahoo. Lil Harrison is so cute. I love the belly cast painting. I wish I was an artist like that. I still haven't done anything w/ Liam's. One day. :) Next week I'm having my belly cast done. My doula is coming over to do it for me.

So who is having a baby over the weekend? Should we start a poll to guess? :D

Happy Labor vibes to all the mommies who want their babies to come soon. :dust

Mirthful, Harrison is adorable!!! What a cutie!

I just love seeing everyone's pic. Everyone's families are so beautiful :love

I think I may try some EPO too now that I am 37 weeks. Where is the cheapest place to buy it (as in any major health food store chains which have it cheap). My main concern about taking it is the expense involved, seems that natural supplaments and herbs can be so expensive sometimes, yk.

Mandi, congrats to your friends.

Mirthful and Katie, sorry about the sore bums. I just used witch hazel pads and they really did help.

PKU -- I think it's important, it tests for lots of metabolic disorders that are important to know about early. The only thing is the timing...did you know it's not truly accurate til about 7 days? DS's hospital did it there...meaning he was 1 day old....meaning it wasn't necessarily accurate and should have been repeated a week later. I would refuse it at the hospital and then have your ped do it at the one week check.

Swallowing semen....um nope. :puke Don't think so. I actuallly read an article about it keeps away breast cancer or something too....but...um...nope. If you can do it more power to ya! I can't even let DH finish in my mouth and then spit it out...the taste and the idea are just too much for me!!

Oh yeah, found out tonight I am GBS negative. :banana

Court -- Checking your cervix....I can't tell you how to tell how much it has already effaced, but by checking it now you can monitor any changes. If it has started to soften up, it will feel all mushy, like pursed lips. And the dilation you can tell by about how many fingerwidths the opening is; 1 fingertip is approx. 1cm. I have a bump on mine too, it's been there since before I got pg. From what I understand they are often nothing to worry about, but I'm gonna check into mine after the babe is born. Sometimes they go away after pregnancy or come and go with your cycle.

Hooray, my stroller just arrived! Got the Sit N Stand so DS has a place to sit if he wants. He doesn't sit enough for a normal double stroller but still needs a place to go when he's tired. Can't wait to put it together. It wasn't even supposed to be here til next week...maybe it's a sign I'll need it this weekend?? ;) (not that I'd be putting the newborn in there yet LOL)

Oh! Loving the pics on the yahoo group, little Harrison is so cute! I can't wait to see more baby pics! I added a couple pictures the other day too. Maybe DH and I should make my belly cast tonight, I almost forgot about it!!

Gonna go try to go for a walk, ttyl!

Momadance- we are going to do the PKU testing, but we will do it at about day 5 in the comfort of the midwifes office with me BF, so hopefully the level of discomfort won't be as much as it would be otherwise.

Court- I can't reach my darn cervix...the midwife had trouble reaching it too so I am not really of any help!

Yay to Amy and to Momma2Liam, one less stress to worry about!

First, Mirthful - Harrison is just adorable - and you look great too!

More bad news from the OB today; for the first time I'm showing protein in my urine and have a couple of other signs that pre-eclampsia is starting to set in (although BP is really good). Blood test results available tomorrow will let me know if bed rest is in my future or if it's just a hiccup. Although, given I was going to have to work next week, an excuse not to go in would be nice! DW and I just looked at each other as the shock settled in; we could have our baby next week!!!!

She checked my cervix and it's nice and squishy - but the baby is still up high. I hate the thought of trying to induce (we would try accupuncture first) - but what *really* terrifies me is that I was counting on having another couple of weeks to get all those little things done. Looks like I'm kicking up the nesting tasks first thing tomorrow!

PKU - Yes for us. This is the only "routine" test we plan to do. Seems like a small amount of pain (heal prick) compared to not intervening in time if the baby does have a metabolic disorder of some sort.

I have somehow missed the boat on the whole Rescue Remedy thing. What is it for? Is it a tea, tincture, pill...? Someone please fill me in. Thanks! :)

We had fun at the shower today. DH was sooo surprised!! He is pretty shy and hates to be the center of attention, so his face was bright red the whole time. His coworkers went all-out; balloons, decorations, cake, presents (!), food and punch... it was really sweet of them.

One of DH's coworkers also made a custom daddy-baby bonding device. I'll post a picture of it on the yahoo site. You will not believe how hilarious it is!! He had to open it in private because they were worried about someone complaining to HR.... it's a little...um... well, you'll see.

I'll also post some pics of DH before and after the marathon.

My last day of work was great. I'm so happy to be free!! :D

Mirthfulmom, your pictures are beautiful and Harrison is so so cuuuuuuuuuuute...:)
Nancy, how nice about your dh's shower...what nice freinds you have....

. My midwife recommends using olive oil to keep meconium from sticking to the little bum (I am sure that there are many like me here who try to stay away from petroleum products).

Oakember, i couldn't understand well what you mean...what is "little bum?" :hide:

have a couple of other signs that pre-eclampsia is starting to set in (although BP is really good).
Beansmomma, Sorry about the problems you are having...:( good luck with the results hope they will be good...but i always thought that pre-eclampsia is when BP is really high...:confused: what are the other signs???

Feel myself so uninformed...but reading your posts really makes difference, learning so much...and so much fun too...escpecially about the semen thing...:lol I would like to see that study about the breast cancer and semen ingestion...how can a study like that be possibly done??? It must be sooooooooo much biased....
Much much birth vibes to everyone in need,...(well i guess we all are...:)

Ekatherina - "bum" means bottom/butt. Like, the baby's butt cheeks. :)

Nancy - congrats on your last day of work!

I am really bummed. I bought some homeopathic cohosh, which is one of the things that my mw told me I could do to gently encourage labor. So, dh called tonight to ask her what the dosage is, and she was all pissy. She was like, "I never told Katie to do that. Tell her not to. I would not have said that..." :angry I was a little upset, cause she DID tell me I could do it. Now she's acting like she never said that and I am just making it up. I have no problem not taking it, but don't tell me you never said that and make me look all crazy. Maybe I am just being too hormonal and sensitive. But I know the next time I see her, she is going to give me a little crap about how she "never said that." :rolleyes

I was standing in line today and I heard these two teenage girls whispering about "twins." I turned around and one said, "Ummmm....do you have two babies in there?" I said, "Nope, just one." And they were like, "Oh wow," snicker snicker. :crying I feel like such a blimp.

Oh Katie- :hug don't despair-I've rec'd lots of comments about "is there just one in there?" I just smile and say yes. Just think how healthy that baby is gonna be-nice and big!
My DD keeps pulling down my pants over my belly and rubbing it and saying "the baby is getting bigger" in the funniest voice LOL She's only 3 so you can imagine...And DS keeps hugging it and saying he loves the baby-it's all so cute!

My bad news is that I have a terrible UTI-ack! I got one with each of my previous pregnancies at the end so wasn't surprised but it went from tiny ocassional stabbing pains on Wed to all out horrible pain today! I've been taking cranberry concentrate and the mw sent a culture in but won't get the results til Mon. She said considering my history it would be good to do a round of antibiotics and if this keeps up I will not argue!

Hang in there everyone-we're in the home stretch now!

You momma's need some hugs. I hate it when people are like that. :Hug :hug :grouphug Why do they insist on doing that? My aunt came up to me last week and first words out of her mouth were you're fat! :irked: No i'm pregnant! :D

So it's nice to see that i'm not the only one who can't sleep. I've been up since 12:30! Thank goodness for MDC. :D
It's the only thing I like to do at this time of night.

Sorry to hear about the UTI Ann! Sending you healthy healing vibes! :dust

Beansmomma- sorry to hear you may have pre-eclampsia. At least you might get bedrest now. :)

Don't you love it when your lil one(s) hug and kiss the baby. Liam is always giving it hugs and kisses and says hi baby. Then I ask him if he wants a brother or sister and he says No! :love He cracks me up!

For the olive oil on the bum.. do you just put some on a cotton ball and then put it on their bum and will it stain or effect the CD's at all? Just wondering never did this before. It would make cleaning up a lot easier. I used olive oil for cradle cap and it was fantastic. So I can only imagine what it will do for the meconium poops! Those buggers are sticky!

Quick question but is anyone else pooping a lot now? I really don't remember going like this while pregnant with Liam.

Hey if anyone is ever up and can't sleep we should try to have a momma chat online. :D

Well I think I will try to go back to bed. Maybe DH will stop snoring!

Carrie

Sorry about all the rude comments on our bellies! My dh and I were interviewing pediatricians last week, and this one asked when I was due. She said, "in a week? You don't look like you're due in a week! You're so small." Now, I expect something like this from strangers, but from a ped??? We crossed her off our list! :irked: (Turns out she treated one of our m/ws like dirt a while ago, anyway.)

So, Piglet must be in heaven right now! :) Yay!!!

PKU is the one test our m/ws recommend. They've met children who didn't have it done and should have... very sad they say!

Work is useless for me!!! Actually, I'm useless at work!!! By the time I get ready in the morning, I have to take a nap, and by the time I get into work, I'm exhausted again. I'm a grad student, so I don't really have set hours, but I want to keep making appearances so I can have the full 2 months maternity leave once our baby is here!

Speaking of which, come on babies!

Lucysmama thanx for the explanation...
Sorry for all the bad comments we all face sometimes, poeple just don;t think of what they are saying..:angry...
Mandi, I'm graduate student too and i also must make an appearance but everyday i get up from bed and know for sure that im not going anywhere...i feel this guilty feeling since it has been two-three weeks i didn't show up at the lab...so i guess i won't be able to rest two months after birth...:( my professor will not like it for sure...
I found some site saying that raspberry leave tea three times a day strenghts the uterine muscles and EPO for labor to start but i dont have EPO....i started drinking raspberry tea though...
very cute about ur toddlers...:) i wish i had one too....so he/she could make cute comments about my belly too....:love...
thinking of you piglet....:hug...wishing you quick recovery..

re: semen ... i'll just say that if swallowing worked, Willow would already be here :shy ;)

gottaknit, can't wait to see the custom "daddy device" :lol

the dr. made me an extra appt. for Monday, they'll check my BP, 24-hr urine and blood again. if everything's ok i hope she goes back to the "no induction before 41 weeks" thing! i don't understand why, since i've never been through it before, but everything in my being screams at me that an induction would go very, VERY wrong :( i don't even have that kind of fear of a c/s! (my instinct says that if i have to have a c/s, at least i educated myself to make an informed decision, and i can mourn later and ask for support here.) i've been going on instinct so much with this pregnancy and it's worked so well for me, i don't want to ignore it.

does a long pre-labor mean a shorter active labor? i hope so! :) i hate it when the surges stop, they're such a rush. whenever a round of surges starts, i get the coolest feelings, like i'm super-content and energetically blissed out all at the same time :love my husband has been talking to the baby even more, offering her all sorts of stuff is she will just come OUT! *lol* he honestly thought i was going to go into labor last night, said he was really jumpy at work waiting for his phone to ring. poor daddy! :love

i gotta quit reading birth stories at "mainstream" forums! if i read one more time how someone wants to kiss the anesthesiologist because "it was so wonderful not to feel a thing as the doctor delivered the baby" i'm going to throw the laptop out the window! *eek lol*

peace,
meli

Meli-

I know how you feel. I used to be so obssed w/ all the mainstream birthing tv shows and forums! Then I got tired of epidural this epidural that. I'm all for the epidural if your having your 36th hour of labor but come on getting it asap you miss out! Yes it hurts like heck but hello that's way it called labor. It's work! I think the women who choose this route (not inculding those who have one for c-sections or prolonged labors) miss out on a beautiful, empowering experince. I'm not against taking a little something to take a bit of the edge off but I am against epidurals right away.

I couldn't tell you how estatic and euphoric I felt after giving birth w/o pain meds. It was the most incredible experince! :love

Sorry to go off on a rant..this is one of my hot spots!! :D

Carrie

Katie~ Wow, that's really weird your mw would tell you one thing, and then go back on it and act like she never said it... Perhaps a misunderstanding? I'd be pretty uncomfortable with that. And about the big belly, it seems like some people have no idea what full term looks like :eyesroll Unfortunately alot of women have had there babies befor they get to where you are. Not to mentions the fact alot of moma's go into hibernation mode towards the end. Sorry you felt hurt by that. My family calls all the time to check on the twins :D Fortunately I have this sick love obsession with my huge 208 lb body and belly.... We'll talk in November and we'll see how in love I am with post baby body :eyesroll


Mellybean~ You have such a great attitude on labor! I love to read your posts.

MIL's driving 2 and half hours to come over today so dh and I can go on a ........... DATE!!!!!! I'm way to excited. It's going to feel sureal.

Morning all. Warning, feeling a tad mentally fogged over at the moment, but I feel like typing. Dh called me at work yesterday, close to leaving time to tell me....he got a job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :1praying: :bgbounce :jumpers: He has been unemployed since May! So, today, I think we are going to go buy some more diapers and pads and stuff that we will need in the house for after baby, but were holding out on buying. I am really thankful for God's provision!
We also went out to dinner to celebrate. It had been sooooo long. The wait staff made a fuss over me once they found out I was in fact due that day. It was cute. I had a nice glass of white wine :champagne ,hoping it might help things along, chill me out, whatever, but obviously, it didn't work. Actually, I was pretty mellow last night, but not enough I guess. Oh well. Pop another epo cap. And follow that with a tums....
I think I will spend today writing, coloring mandalas, and relaxing, aside from that shopping trip. And napping....why...because I can! :jammin
And no doubt I will be back here to check up on ya'll.

Thia, Congrats on your dh's new job!!! :balloons What a relief!!! Isn't it beautiful how things always turn out so wonderful in the end?!

Ekatherina - Don't feel bad about not going in to the lab! Growing a baby is hard work!!! A grad student friend of mine also didn't go in for about 3 weeks before her due date and took 3 months off afterward. Luckily her advisor was really understanding, and actually wanted her to take more time off! I think it's so dependent on who your advisor is! Mine has never, ever asked how I'm feeling, when the due date is, or even mentioned my pregnancy. A little odd IMO! Is he in denial?

Off to a cider mill for a little fall time fun! Have a relaxing fall day everyone!

:hugs and labour vibes :dust to those in need of some.

Wanted to add my 2 cents re the merconium clean up tips. I used lanoline for both boys and it works wonderfully. Just warm up a bit between your fingers and smear a good layer on all over the bum and front. Makes a great layer of protection for thier sensitive skin and it keeps anything from sticking.

Is anyone else a sweaty mess at night? I've been waking up in a puddle of sweat so big that I keep thinking my water broke! :eyesroll I keep the windows open (and no it's not hot here at all - chill and rainy) at night and poor DH is freezing. I don't have this problem during the day.... :scratch

Anyway, just had to share my latest ickiness with you all. ;)

Gotta run. Today's Ikea day! Woohoo, Swedish meatballs here I come! :LOL

Still here, still pregnant :eyesroll

We had a great day yestarday. I just HAD to get out of the house and since the kids were home from school for the long weekend we went out to a lovely fall arts and crafts festival at a beautiful conservation area. Really lifted my mood tremendously to get out and walk around in this beautiful fall weather!

Afterwards, we went and had a junky fast food supper, (oh the heart burn!) went home, watched a movie wiith the kids. After we got them to bed, we had a little ahem, adult time :innocent Then we sat up late, had a glass of wine and watched another movie and had lots of good strong contrax the whole evening. They were strong enough to keep waking me most of the night too. But they then stopped :eyesroll ! At least this time they were definately stronger than bh contrax. Could feel them right in my front and back. I've never had such long pre labour before. Weird! My midwife said she has seen that happen before to third time mama's. Wonder why?

I've decided to recreate yestarday since we seem to be on the right track. Heading back out to the festival this afternoon, but I will skip the crappy dinner this time ;)

Beansmomma - Sorry to hear that your getting some pre eclampsia signs. :hug

Meli - Good luck avoiding induction. The Dr I had with my first baby was induction happy :eyesroll By the way, love the name Willow! We also want to name our baby Willow, if we have a girl :D

Thia - Congrats to hubby and the new job!!!

momadance - hope you and hubby have a wonderful date!

Hooray for the neg GBS results!!!!


Sure wish that people could keep their belly size comments to themselves. I swear being pregnant is an invitation for every person on the planet to give you their opinion on everything from weight to birth horror stories to when is that baby ever coming out!!!! No wonder so many of us go into that hibernation mode :irked: The only reason I went out yestarday is because I was sitting at home stewing over comments that my husband was desperately trying to shield for me. Poor guy is getting worn down too, after all it's also a pretty emotional time for our partners, right?!

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend! Wonder how Piglet is doing, probably snuggling her new sweetie right at this moment! Hope we see more babies soon (hopefully mine, lol!)

Ta Ta For Now

Kathy

Nancy, I LOVE those Swedish meatballs at Ikea. Dh and I used to live in Olympia, so we went to Ikea embarssingly often. Oh, and they sell these boxes of YUMMY cookies there - they are like two pieces of fried cookie or something with chocolate in the middle. :yum Oh, they are so good! :( No Ikeas in Ohio. Have fun on your trip!

mirthfulmum - thanks for the lanolin tip! I have a bottle of liquid lanolin for wool diaper covers, so that'll work out perfectly. We use it on dd's cuts/rashes/eczema, too.

I don't know why that comment about twins got to me. I usually hear how "small" I am. But I guess it was because it came from these two svelte little 18 year olds, and I really miss having a flat tummy and wearing real jeans. I'm just sick of being so pregnant. And, I know I am getting pretty damn enormous. People are starting to gawk a little. ;)

ETA: I am also having a hard time with the notion that in a couple of weeks, I won't have a big, round, pregnant belly anymore. I will just be really overweight. I struggled a lot with eating disorders when I was younger, and it is still hard for me to accept being 30-40 lbs overweight, even if I DID just have a baby. That is kind of freaking me out a little right now, though I know that breastfeeding will help me, I will eventually lose the weight, etc. I just have issues.

Carrie- I thought about the olive oil/cloth diaper thing too so I actually bought one pack of NB disposies to use the first 3 days or so until the mec. is gone...I haven't got much for NB cloth anyway, most of my covers are supposed to fit at 8.5lbs so I hope that they do...I only have one smaller one.

Nancy-Bach's Rescue Remedy is a homeopathic tincture used to calm and comfort. In labor it is supposed to help with fear, shock, panic, exhaustion, and pain ( I think because fear can heighten pain). It also will prevent shock in the baby...the best part is that your Dh can use it too if he is feeling stressed. You just take a couple drops on your tongue as often as needed.

Thia- That's awesome news! Congrats! Maybe that's what the baby has been waiting for :thumb Hope your turn is soon, but do enjoy your relaxation in the meantime :)

Katie, I hate that sort of thing :eyesroll She probably had you mixed up with another client for a moment or something. So frustrating. :irked:

Mandi- Have fun at the Cider Mill!

Meli- Gosh I know what you mean about the mainstream birthstories...drive me so crazy! I hope all goes well at your appt. Sending ~No Induction Vibes~ Definately don't go against your intuition now that you've made it this far!! I am hoping that in your case the pre-labor means a short active labor...it definately can mean that, has done so for many of my friends.

Epidurals...I haven't experienced one but my friend did with her first and then went natural with her second, and she said that while she felt fine during the labor it took her a few days after the birth to feel good again, and with her second she felt great immediately afterwards. I think that's the trade you take with pretty much any medication(well not any, obviously sometimes things are necessary, but I am talking NeoCitran and the likes...it might make you feel better in the moment but ultimately drags out the healing time). Don't know why I am sharing my unasked for opinion :LOL

So, I realized this morning that the last 2 nights in a row my dreams have been about water...not in a bad way, last night I was swimming across a lake to get home and the night before it involved a river. Wonder what that means.... :scratch

I stumbled across this post on another thread I am suscribed to. I hope Roxanne (Jamaicanmom) doesn't mind me posting it here.

Just a quick note to let you all know that I had a baby boy on Wednesday night (oct. 6). I had a home birth. Labor was a little tough because he was posterior....but I'm so happy to have him in my arms...talk to you all soon
__________________________
Roxanne
mama to dd (5 ) & dd (3) ...and ds *wow* born 10/6/2004 7ib. 10oz

Congratulations!!! :balloons

I can't find my colored pencils! I was getting ready to dig out some of the mendalas I printed and I can't find the stinkin pencils!!!!
I had some delicious cramping which also made me feel quite drowsy, so I took a two hour nap. Ahhhhhh....
Now, I NEED to find those pencils!

oH MY GOODNESS............................I just lost my plug! Sounds like no big deal to most but I am in shock.............it was HUGE! With my first two I thought I had lost my plug. I now realize that that was discharge. You can't miss this sucker. It actually scared me because it hit my leg when I went to wipe after going potty!

OK...I'm better now. Sorry to sound graphic at all. I went into preterm labor on Tues night/Wed morning. After 9 hours of contractions, I went in when they were 3.5 min apart. Once we arrived at the hospital..........everything stopped. I have continued to have light hugs since...........pretty crampy............and now the mucus monster! How long do you think it will be? Don't worry I won't hold you to your predictions..........just for fun.

For those of you who loss your plug....how long until you go into labor?

Go, Angela - GO!!! I can't comment on how long based on any sort of experience - but given your past symptoms, it sounds like you're on your way!

Good news, all - the bloodwork testing for pre-eclampsia is back and all is normal!!! :banana Of course, this little episode has spurred me to get lots done this weekend and, of course, now I'll have to go back into work on Monday - but I am so utterly relieved that my baby will be OK and not have to suffer through an early induction, etc.

Nancy - you're leaving us all hanging on that pic of your hubby!

Have a great weekend, all.

mirthfulmum, how's the babymooning going? Is it nice to have your mom back where she belongs? ;) How is Alias doing, is he still so affectionate and interested in Harrison? How's breastfeeding going? Are you feeling better physically now that you aren't all full of baby???

We still-pregnant mamas need something to look forward to!

Oh BeansMomma- that's such good news! I'm so glad you wont have to deal with induction, etc. What a relief!

Ugh, I feel like I'm gonna be pregnant forever, and I'm having major mood swings. I'm having lots of pre-labor contractions in the evenings - it'll probably go on for weeks.

Angela-you go girl! Actually losing your plug is a great start but not a great predictor of when the big event will happen. First time for me it was a week later and second time it was closer to 10 days-2 wks I think. Hopefully you'll be sooner!
Ann