Twin Cities Preggie Mamas #2

[kaje62]

Okay mamas. Last week was awesome. We had like a 11 of us at cl and the collective. The stories were awesome. Thank you for a great night.

[mamarsupial]

we went to the natural rhythm of labor in st. paul two weeks ago and it was awesome! i would highly recommend that topic night, especially if you are planning a natural labor after a c-section or medicated birth.

all is well here. its been a hard week for us, but we're slowly coming up for air. e, who has been transitioning to a big girl bed, had a hard time getting to sleep last night...and it all of sudden felt wrong to have her where she was. she moved back into our 'nest' (she calls our beds 'nests' now) and feel quickly asleep in my arms. we dealt with a few kicks and jabs from her in middle of the night...but hey, i'm dealing with those internally anyway. hee hee.

it was great meeting some of you last week! if folks plan on coming to the st. paul collective again, let me know, and we can go out for dinner again!

[mamarsupial]

by the way, is anyone else just expiring in this heat????

[kaje62]

autumn we are going wednesday and i actually wrote a note to you above asking for an idea of where we should eat nearer to the collective? email me or call me with your ideas. julie m wants to go too.

[tls]

I really enjoyed meeting many of you as well on Wednesday. I'm really glad I went. As of right now I am in for the St. Paul meeting on Wednesday.

I was told on Friday at my 38 1/2 week appt. that I am over 2 cm dilated, 50% effaced and very "soft". At the time I really wanted to know how I was doing but now I regret finding out. I keep expecting to have the baby any minute and it probably won't happen for a couple more weeks. Grrrrrr. I'm even starting to do some "natural induction" stuff although not very consistently. I was 2 1/2 weeks early with DD and I guess I just expected to go early this time around too.

Autumn, I am dying in the heat. I feel like a balloon I'm so swollen. At least the summer hasn't been too bad so far. Let's hope this is a short term heat wave :).

[mpls_momma]

sorry I couldn't make it this last week I had a midwife appointment at the same time. This week we have a breastfeeding class on wedsday and a homeopathic cat visit. Jim the cat is puking hair balls really bad. Any suggestions???

The heat is really bad , I'm feet are swelling and so are my legs a little now. Everyone keeps saying crap like , "oh lets go meet in the park and have a picnic." And we have to say no its just not good for me to be in the heat right now and they treat us like were being silly babies. (i.e. "when I was pregnant I walked 20 miles in this kind of heat everyday and the baby was fine.") Gee I just love my family , they think were soooo werid not having a doctor and *gasp* not vacinating our poor baby. And to think we'd consider breast feeding longer than six weeks! Ufda.

[kaje62]

come over and sit in our big grampa chair with your feet on our ottoman while i lay on the sofa on my side and we can drink iced raspberry leaf tea in our central air mama! and watch the teletubbies with charlie, is that a proposition or what?

[dnr3301]

I had fun meeting everyone! I can't go on Wed, we are taking my dh's grandmother out for dinner (tls is coming with us, I guess she forgot! :eek man, I wish I could forget... at least the ILs won't be there, right Tracy?) Hope to make it again sometime.

Rebecca

[rgarlough]

Afternoon Ladies!!!! Mason Jeffrey is here!!!! Well, he's technically been here since last Friday night (July 18th)... but we've been a little busy! ;)

Birth story: (at 42+ weeks; EDD 6/30/03)

I went into prelabor after drinking a castor oil cocktail on (last) Tuesday night. The cocktail was terrible!!! But it got my contrax going and I had a whole hour from midnight til 1 am with them every 3 minutes and a minute long. I got into my tub to help me relax cuz I thought I would have a long night ahead of me.

Wednesday, I went in for a Nonstress test to make sure everything was fine. Baby was well, I was well. Backup doc said everything should be in the clear til Saturday (course, I really didn't still want to be pg on Sat...)

The nst showed my contrax were slowing down and over the course of Wednesday and Thursday all the way down to 1 every 15 minutes. Friday morning arrived and I was in tears. I was still resting through the contrax and eating and drinking but my midwives suggested that we go to the hospital.

Jeff and I weren't ready for a trip to the hospital at all! We had to pack and get there for a little pitocin :( We got to the hospital of my choice ;) (at least) and by 3 pm I was on a the smallest drip of pit. By 5 pm, I was complete and ready to push! I had the fastest active labor! And NO DRUGS!!! I loved feeling so powerful during my labor. Transition was interesting to say the least, but it was awesome!

Now for the real challenge, PUSHING! :o My doc is the backup doc of choice for my midwives because she prefers to allow a mother to work to get her baby out for as long as she and the baby can handle it... So... I pushed for over 5 HOURS!!! :eek As it turned out, Mason had his cord wrapped around his neck twice (loosely) and that combined with my years of soccer and running (very muscular ass according to the midwives), resulted in the longest bout of pushing I'd ever care to experience in my life! Apparently, women with very muscular bottoms have a really hard time letting them relax to push. So I got a little tear (first degree, no stitches) and a little skid mark on my perineum.

The doctor was awesome! She let me try and try to push Mason out as long as he recovered from my pushes. Toward the end, both of us were getting very tired (as it was after 10 pm). The doc was having a hard time getting Mason's heart rate to recover from all my pushing and she was ready to cut me! I heard them say with the next push, I'm getting cut and they'd already given me some novacain. Well, I didn't like that and pushed the little man's head out finally! Next, his little body slithered out. It was the coolest feeling every! :p

Mason Jeffrey was out in the world at 10:35 PM on July 18th!!! He had enhaled meconium and mucous and needed some help to get going but within an hour he was in my arms! It was so AWESOME!!! It was not my homebirth. But it was the best possible outcome considering it was a traumatic birth for the little guy.

We escaped the hospital (St Joe's) on Saturday night and headed for the comforts of home. We were greeted by my mom, dad and sis who were in love! My mom and sis were present at the birth but left shortly after to take care of our dogs. Everyone was so amazed that I got through this birth without a c-section! I was told that if I had any other doc, considering Mason's heart tones and the duration of my pushing, that a csec was a guarentee.

Here's Mason Jeffrey's stats:

Weight: 7 pounds 1 ounce *what a tiny little man!
Length: 21.5 inches *and so long!
Head: 13 3/4 inches

As for mom and dad, I'm doing awesome. I had no idea I'd recover so well and quickly. Because of my tear, I do have a bit of soaking and TLC to do but I love the me time. As for dad, he's a very proud papa! He's always there to help out even though he hasn't changed a diaper yet ;) He's still learning how to handle the cloth diapers and since Mason's cord is still on, he's in his preemie size prefolds. So when there's pins, Jeff's no where to be found :p But I'm working on the Snappi with him.

Breastfeeding is going well. My milk's been in for almost a week and even though I have fairly flat nipples, he's been a real trooper. Now I have nips! :) He is so sweet! He smiles already! I'm SO IN LOVE!!!
:love

[mamarsupial]

rhianna! congrats! welcome mason!

5 hours! :eek i thought i had it bad with 4 hours. there was a woman at the collective last week who pushed for 6! wow.

sounds like you had a wonderful experience though. motherhood is heavenly, isn't it? :love

[mamarsupial]

almost forgot - for those who are going wednesday...

kj asked if there are good places to eat close by. well, there are a couple korean restaurants near by, but i haven't been to them. there is a burger/malt joint on fairview and university called andy's garage which is very nice...and across the street from there is vina (vietnamese). other than that...??? we could always potluck at my house! i'm only about a mile or so from the library.

actually, i shouldn't even offer since i'm not sure yet if we're going. dh's bday is tuesday, so he gets to decide what we do all week! hee hee.

[kaje62]

i think potlucking at your pad sounds good but i enjoy being waited on too. hey we are not suppose to mention locations, tee hee. i am fine with that...anyway i pick vina. autumn let's do vina this week and somewhere else next week so we don't make this a big deal. keep it simple!

[mamarsupial]

okay, vina it is! pm me if you need directions. even if i dont go to the collective, maybe i'll go out for dinner with y'all :)

[kaje62]

vina it tis so will the aug 6 and aug 8 mamas make it .
we will see!!

anyway congrats times a million rhiannon. that is so great. and i met a mason this morning. he was 6 weeks. great!!

[juliem]

I'd love to meet you all on Wed again - this one sounds very good and I might try and bring a friend along (she's not pregnant, but has a 2 year old and I think she find the meeting and all of you very interesting). Can someone PM me with the restaurant name.

Anyone else feel like their just biding time waiting for the contractions to start? Someone asked me today if I was just ready to not be pregnant - I told them it's not that, I just finally really feel ready to meet this baby. I kind of wish I could be pregnant and hold and nurse this baby at the same time - I sound crazy.

Tracy - are you having regular braxton hicks? I kind of wish I knew if I was dialated. I had a midwife appointment this am - I haven't really been feeling any bh contractions in the past few weeks and while she was feeling baby placement commented on the hard contraction I was having and didn't even realize - she doesn't do any internals until full-fledged labor starts. I feel like this baby is way to comfortable to want to come out.

[tls]

Julie, I haven't been having as many BH as I was before. It's somewhat discouraging because at least I felt like something was happening when I was feeling them. I agree, my baby really wants to stay inside. I keep thinking I'm having early signs like cleaning out the fridge yesterday or having to use the bathroom all the time, but then nothing else happens. I just need to forget everything and pretend the baby won't be coming for at least 3 more weeks. Then maybe I won't be so darn frustrated. Like you, I really want to see and hold the baby. I've been having dreams about having the baby here. I can't wait to nurse it and to feel it's tiny body in my hands. I know it will come when it is ready, but I'm just not being very patient. Selfishly I also don't want to go back to work and if I take leave now that is less time with the baby, so I hope labor starts soon so I don't have to go back to work :).

[kaje62]

Went in for my weekly ultrasound today, all is fine. Gained two pounds over the weekend so I am up 12 pounds from pre-pregnancy. Blood pressure was about the same 138/87, having a non-stress test again on Friday. Baby is still head down, cervix is starting to soften and I am diltated a 1/2 a centimeter. Woo hoo!
j/k, I am in no rush and most likely babe will come right around my due date which would mean during the full moon which always makes me dramatic etc..and dh too. So we should be in for some fun.

Anyway we have been accomplishing. We cleaned the garage a bit tonite during my non-bedrest shift and will finish packing our bag tonite.

Hang in there ladies, we are all going for a fun ride.

And by the way, the ultrasound tech wrote down the sex. I have it in an envelope. Do I dare open it?


__________________

[nostrow]

Hey lovely ladies! I just wanted to give you a quick heads up. I'm not due until 8/12 and as you all know I've been on bedrest for the last 4 weeks. Well, I made a deal with the babe (in my head) to wait until 38 weeks to come. Well, 38 weeks is today exactly and my water broke at 6am :eek Right now nothing much is going on, just some light cramping but I'll keep you posted!

Nikki
super-excited/nervous first time momma!

[tls]

First of all, KJ don't open the envelope!!! You can wait, I know you can. It is so tempting you should just throw it away. Course if you really want to know, go for it. But you've gotten this far without knowing; just hold out for a couple weeks.

nostrow, how exciting!! I hope everything goes well for you. I'm anxious to hear your birth story :D.

[kaje62]

I last spoke to Nostrow at 10:30. She was heading to her ob prenatal with her doula and her dh at 11:00. She had taken a shower and packed her bags and was beginning to feel some contractions as we spoke. She was in great spirits and I am looking forward to the exciting news.

Awhile back I was sad that my inlaws planned a vacation so close to my due date. Well they left on Saturday and they call me every day to see how things are progressing and yesterday they told me if the baby is not here my next Friday, the 2nd that they will come home, they were coming home on the 6th. Okay I am due on the 8th and these phonecalls are driving me bonkers!! I am not anxious but I guess they are!!! The baby will come when the baby is ready. Goll I complain that they are out of state and now I feel they are in my lap.

[kaje62]

Who is on for tonite and tomorrow night? Because of my bedrest, I make no promises.

Tonite dinner 5:30, Vina, 1821 University
St. Paul topic, Can Birth be Pleasurable? --Riding the Hormonal

Julie M
kaje62
tls

Tomorrow night 5;30, Edina Grill, 50th and France
Edina topic, THE NATURAL RHYTHM OF LABOR

kaje62 (dh is meeting us at the collective and sitter, promise they have a nursery)

[mamarsupial]

i prolly won't be going. we've had a hard week. time for a little family nesting time :)

[tls]

I can't make it tonight either. I forgot we're taking grandma-in-law out for dinner. I probably won't go tomorrow either. I just don't feel too great and really want to get some sleep. I'll have to try and make it next week although I am sooooo hoping the baby will be here by then.

[mamarsupial]

update on nostrow (from kj)

:dust :baby

welcome annika paige! 12:59am
6 lbs 14 oz 19"
3 hrs pitocin, other wise all natural (kj - 'i'm so proud of her!')

if you would like to bring her a meal, kj asked that you contact kj. since nostrow was on bedrest for 5 weeks, she doesn't have any frozen meals.

[mpls_momma]

KATHY JO OPEN THAT ENVELOPE!!! Whats that baby! Who can wait for something so exciting? Its only a few days away you can just open this one right? Lets hang out and I'll talk you into it!!!

(rocking out to some blazing punk rock babies wiggling all over!)

[kaje62]

Oh I am so happy for Nostrow. It gives me encouragement that I can do this too. And by the way she does have to meals, one from Spryte and one from Jessikate!! But I am sure she could use more.

Mplsmomma, you crack me up. We did open the envelope by the way at dinner the other night and in there was a folded up piece of paper and :jaw

I handed it to dh and said open it and he put it in his wallet. So now it is in our glove box, a folded little piece of paper.

:jaw

[tls]

KJ, you are too, too funny. :love :wild

[kaje62]

tracy and julie are you both going no matter what. unless you have a baby???

cuz in case i cop out i don't want you dateless

i am waiting to see how the next hour goes

i need to relax...and clean.......hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

avalondaughter will be at the meeting but not dinner.

[TLL]

I am so mad right now I just have to vent.

My partner is pregnant and we decided, after lots of thought, to go with the midwives at HCMC for the birth. Our insurance requires that we have a primary care clinic, but they do not have midwives, which was what we knew we wanted. So, we decided to go out-of-network for this. My understanding was that there was out-of-network coverage - it was just less. We will be switching insurance before the baby comes (unless s/he comes very early!) to one that does cover HCMC midwives. So, at least the birth will be covered.

When we went to our first appointment (at one of the HCMC midwives' clinics), the nurse told us we were at the wrong place because my partner's insurance card says her primary care clinic on it, and we had to go only there. We explained that we knew this was out-of-network, but that it was where we wanted to be and our insurance would be changing quite some time before the baby is due. She gave us a long talking to about how we should really call our primary care clinic and our insurance provider and tell them they should have midwives available, blah blah blah. We weren't there for a lecture. But she seemed to understand that we knew what we were doing, and left it at that.

So, tonight I get home (of course, my partner is at work, so I'm dealing with this by myself and just fuming) and there is message on the machine from the clinic where we've been seeing the midwife. Keep in mind that we've already seen them 3 times and been billed through our insurance. The message says - very rudely - our insurance does not cover them, we cannot go to that clinic any longer, our primary care clinic is xyz (as if we don't know that) and we have to go there, we have to find another clinic, they will not continue to see us. This is ridiculous! First of all, they obviously made no note of our conversation with the nurse at the first visit. And, they obviously don't know about our insurance because, according to all the paperwork I have, we can go anywhere we want, but just have to pay more if it is out-of-network. It's not like we haven't given this much thought and consideration, nor do we have all this extra money sitting there to throw around. This was a very careful decision. Leaving a message saying, "we can no longer see you here" is so inappropriate. How about leaving a message saying, "we have some questions about your insurance, give us a call," and then discussing it with us? Especially when we have an appointment on Monday! Ugh!

So, tomorrow, one of us will call and get it straightened out. And if I'm wrong about the out-of-network coverage, and we have to change providers, we will figure something out. I found a thread on here about local midwives, and it doesn't look, from my insurance's website, like they cover any of those that were recommended, so who knows what will happen. But I just had to get this off my chest! If you've read this far - thanks! I hope there isn't a rule against long posts here - if so, I'm in trouble!

[mamarsupial]

TLL - ugh. WHAT a headache! i was so spoiled for so long working for the state then the U and having great coverage through blue cross. once i was at home and switched to dh's insurance, all that changed. seems like we're always having to call and check on things...or dispute things after the fact. so, i feel for you! NOT the time you want your energies focused on something like insurance!

[kaje62]

sorry tll. i hate insurance.

anyway woah is me. i went to meet julie and tracy cuz i was worried they would be alone and no one was there. i did not feel like going over did it today, out and about 4 hours which midwives now say i can do if i REST the REST of the day but i did not want anyone to eat alone so i sat and cried for a half n hour and ordred an appetizer which tasted like crab. Then thought i should go home but decided to go the meeting cuz the topic sounded good. The hormonal pleasures of birth. So I went to the Hampden coop and got some awesome veggie soup and a santa cruz rootbeer and went to the collective and it was hot and guess what I have been to it in edina but it is called. The spirituality of birth and it is a good topic. But........I decided to go home but first I checked in with Julie who could not find Vina so she went to LeAnn Chin. Poor Julie, Poor me. Tracy where were you. Are you in labor and AvalonDaughter were you at the meeting. I was the obnoxious one who came late, slurped soup, got up to go to the bathroom and get watermelon and they waddled out of there early like a watermelon.

Okay I am home now in the central air on my left side but damn now I am hungry.

And Autumn Andy's garage looks great. I was confusing it with the 50's joint on Snelling.

[kaje62]

just talked to nostrow

a few clarifications

she did not have pitocin for three hours,
she was stuck at 9 for three hours
so she had the pit to get her to a ten

anyway she is doing great

[tls]

KJ, I'm sorry you didn't see my post. I wasn't able to go last night because I forgot we were taking DH's grandma out to dinner for her birthday. I also won't be going tonight. I just don't feel good and want to go home after work and sleep. I'm bummed I missed the meeting, though. The topic sounded interesting. I sure wish I was in labor right now though ;).

[kaje62]

tls i did read your post and even replied.
i am a dork
i wish it would have clicked so i could have solidified plans with juliem

oh well.
juliem how are you??
in labor??
check in with us!!!

is anyone going tonite
i still think we are but i think i will bring the whole family to Edina Grill and the collective but may not get to EG till 6ish.

[juliem]

KJ - I posted this info to the link you sent me earlier today.

Not in labor - but it is my last day of work, so that's very exciting for me. I've been having tons of bh's, or early labor contractions since Monday. Some made it quite difficult to walk, and some were lasting for more than a minute - but very irregular. Went to bed last night, and woke up this am feeling very good. Like all, this baby will come when it's ready. And now that I'll be out of work, I'm not feeling the strong urge to have it right now. Now I'm hoping for a few days to really focus on my 4 yr old Will, take him swimming, get him more prepared for the birth. I'm very excited about having him at the birth and hope that he's not scared and I can tolerate him at the birth. He's asked me a couple of times this week to tell him again what kind of noises I'll make when the baby comes out - so I think he's on the right track.

I won't be at the collective tonight - my birth pool is going to be set up tonight!

Can't wait to start hearing some birth stories from KJ, TLS and MplsMomma.

[kaje62]

and birthstories from Smeta too!

[kaje62]

Before I go into my appointment today. I forgot to mention that I am having an ultrasound done again on Monday and they want to recheck the weight along with a complete biophysical. They say they want to verify once again that the baby is not too big for a VBAC. I want to say so if they are different results, what test is wrong? Is that riduculous or what?

Today I had a horrible appointment. I started with a non stress test and it was perfect and my blood pressure was 140/90 which has been quite consistent. I started off by asking, is it okay if I go to Camp Snoopy tonight? And the midwife, Lisa said, "Absolutely not." What you need to be doing tonight is have that baby. I said, "Why, I am not going to go on rides and I will be sitting and watching mostly?" And Lisa said, "No it is too much stimulation and too much walking for you and we need to be having this baby soon and possibly talking about an induction. I said, "My due date is not until next Friday and my ultrasound was 8 out of 8 out on Monday and my non stress was good today." And she said, "Kathy your placenta has known for quite a few weeks that your blood pressure has been high." Then Lisa asked if I would be willing to have some blood work done (which would be my third time) and I said yes and then she said what about a 24 hour urine test and I said, "When would you get the blood results back?" And she said, "Monday, unless you go over to the hospital lab now, we can get the results in an hour." I said, "I just had the test 9 days ago and everything was fine, do you really think I need it and she said yes." I said, "Okay I will do the blood work but I do not want to do the urine test as of now." And then I said, "When you are talking induction, what are you talking and she said, "Gels." And I said, "But aren't they no good for vbacs cuz of uterine rupture and she said, "People still use them." Anyway I went over to the hospital to the 4th floor, I thought she said 4th floor and ended going through the neonatal area and saw a really sick baby with a family that was crying and I started crying. And thought I am such a fool to risk all of this and not being willing to cooperate with their urine tests and wanting to go to camp snoopy.

I left quite sad. I went and had a quick lunch and as I was driving home, Ann the other midwife called me with the blood work results and everything was fine. I said, "Ann, I am pretty bummed out right now, I don't know if you are being overly cautious or if you are really concerned. But I feel that everytime I come in it seems like you have nothing good to say. (which by the way, my edema is not even a one and my reflexes are fine) and she said, well your ultrasound and your non stress test today show a perfect baby and we want to keep everything that way so you should really continue to rest. I said, "I am confused that Lisa mentioned gels when those are not recommended for vbacs and she said, "Well sometimes people forget." Anyway she told me that maybe I should talk to a therapist to sort out these feelings and sadness around not having the last few weeks as joyous as I wanted.

Anyway after I got home I paged in to ask more questions. I talked to Ann and I said, "Ann a few weeks ago I asked you how high my blood pressure would have to go before you would talk induction or hospitalization and you said, "Before induction, you would do a magnesium drip which is no fun." And then today we are talking induction and my blood pressure has remained steady and my tests have all been good." And she said, "Kathy we may be at the point where your baby and your health are best for the baby to be outside of your body." I said, "Ann when I asked you about the gels earlier, you said sometimes the midwives forget." Ann said, "yes they forget that they are meeting with a client who has had a previous c-section." I said, "Ann I brought up the safety of gels for VBACs to Lisa and she did not seem concerned about them." And Ann said, "Kathy our practice does not use gels for VBAC moms." So there is another one of their double messages, makes my trust go way down!! She said that they would use pitocin but if your cervix is not favorable, it probably would not work. So then I said, "Ann can we just table this induction conversation until next week?" And she said, "Let me talk to the OB's, they are all in surgery right now and I will call you back." Yes they are in surgery with all the pitocin inductions they used today. Tee hee.

I am so confused? Am I in denial? I was excited about the VBAC etc. for the last few days, feeling really positive and hopeful and now they have me worried and sad. And I feel like I have to be treating myself as sick and not go have fun with my husband and son when last Sunday another midwife said I could just so I rest the rest of the day. What I don't get is they say rest and then they make me hang out there for 4 hours. I really would appreciate your thoughts and feedback.

Ann just called back and said the ob is not overly concerned even though my blood pressure was up a bit and I said, no it wasn't and she said yes 148/90 and then I said, "Ann it was written down wrong, cuz the first reading was 140/90 and the second was 135/89. So that is it for now.

[kaje62]

I went to the Mall of America and we did Underwater World and then I went and sat in a comfy chair at starbucks while dh and ds went to Camp Snoopy. I sat and drank my red raspberry leaf ice tea with my feet up and then it occured to me to call my accupuncturist who I have not seen in 3 years to see if she can induce me and help with my blood pressure. YEA! And maybe dh and I can you know what. :D

[smeta]

Hi ladies :love

Hope you all are doing well. KJ - glad you enjoyed yourself at MOA. What a bummer that you are having problems w/ these midwives. I hope they can calm themselves down! You and your baby will be just fine! It's like they are trying to freak you out so you'll give up on the VBAC. Don't give up! Is Lisa the midwife that you had problems w/ at the begining of your preg.?
Anyway, I've been wanting to call you, can't believe I have THE paper!

Dh and I had a date tonight - got ice cream and went to Chicago at the cheap theater. Might be our last time out kid-less for awhile!

Anyone else hate telling people their due date? It just makes me feel so pressured to have this baby in two weeks, even though it could be four.

I have an infant prefold diaper question - if the size is 4x6x4, what does that mean? How can there be three dimensions - isn't it just length x width?

Better go to bed. I'm trying to get to sleep early now, since you never know when you could wake up in labor! It's wayyyy past early.

[mpls_momma]

Kathy -

I think you have every right to be upset by all of this. Practically calling you "crazy" ( you should go see a therapist!)

Why won't they just let you go into labor when your bodies ready?

When is the baby going to come? My husbands co-workers are taking bets to date and size.

Julie- your tublet is set up? Have you filled it yet? are you just putting towels all around it or how are you setting the whole thing up? We've been going to garage sales and buying old rugs and towels, maybe that will work.

[jessikate]

Bumping my nosy (and decidedly non-preggie as well, LOL) self in here ...

Smeta, the 4X6X4 on the diaper is how many layers of fabric - 4 on each outer third, and 6 in the middle.

KJ, how're you doing? Smeta? Everyone else who I haven't met? I'm so excited to read birthstories when they're ready to be told!

<Re-lurking now>

[kaje62]

Smeta I have wanted to call you today and hear all about your blessing way. Call me or I will call when I can. Glad you and dh had a date. We had a date yesterday too. SIL and her two kids came over and we made pesto with me laying on the couch. I pulled basil leaves off the steams and instructed. And then DH and I went and had a quick bowl of soup and then went to the Lagoon for Cuckoo. It was okay but the shortest movies up there. We will probably not be going to a movie for a few months. I love movies.

And yes it is Lisa, but Ann is bugging me right now too. So rigid. I love Deb K, another midwife there but am tempted to switch clinics on Monday. Wouldn't that be something. In my VBAC book, there are stories of women that switched a few days before giving birth. We have been doing blood pressure checks at home and it is a bit lower at home. And no creeping numbers as of yet.

Mpls Momma and Jessikate, thanks for your words. It has been a hard weekend. I just feel sad which bums me out. We snuck to the Como Zoo yesterday for 90 minutes. As we were walking the parking lot, I thought what if I run into one of my midwives? Tee hee. Doesn't walking help bring labor on? Or should I go lay on my couch. Just kidding. I sat 1/2 the time at the zoo while dh and ds went into buildings etc. I know my limits. And I think the zoo and MOA and getting Charlie's haircut is all a part of nesting for me. I have cleaned drawers too. Dh brings them to me when I am on the couch. Ain't that funny?

I am free Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. If anyone wants to come and hang and help me out. By the way.

Julie M and TLS, are you in labor?

[tls]

No labor yet. I think I've had every sign of upcomming labor except my water breaking and strong contractions for the past 2 weeks. It is discouraging so I've decided to ignore any symptom unless it is the water or contractions. I even had some painful contractions that woke me up last night but they haven't come back and it's 3:00 PM now. I just really want my midwife, Rebeca, to deliver the baby and she is on call until Tuesday. I won't mind having the other midwife, I just prefer Rebeca. I also dread another week back at work. Julie, I am so jealous of you being done. I could be as well, but I only get 12 weeks off and want them to all be with the baby. I've just been calling in sick and going home early every other day it seems since I really don't feel well enough to work. I'm so darn tired. Unless something happens in the next 15 hours I guess I'll be at work tomorrow. Blah.

KJ, I think its good you're getting out to MOA and Como. I think that the walking is good for you. I really should be getting out more instead of sitting at home wishing the baby would come soon.

I'd be up to getting together one evening this week for dinner if anyone else wants to.

[DoulaSarah]

TLL - I am sorry that you are having so many problems with the nurses at HCMC. I think that the hospitals are so focused on the "bottom line" that they never think to ask if that is where you want to be, or treat anyone like they have even half a brain. If it's a worst case senario, and you can't have the CNM's at HCMC, do you have a back-up hospital? I only say this because you could definately go with a family practice doctor, not an OB, but you wouldn't be able to give birth in the midwifery side. I am not sure if you and your partner were going to HCMC for the waterbirth part of it, or the care. I hope for both (or all three) of your sakes and sanity that everything works out on Monday. If you are really wanting the midwifery model of care at all costs, I can give you a list of local traditional midwifes you can interview. A lot of them are certified as well. I am not sure if that is something you and your partner have dicussed. It is a great option to keep in mind though, as you go through all of these....crap (I couldn't think of a better word.) BUT! hopefully everything will work itself out. Good luck.


I am glad that everyone is feeling good. I just had two of my mama's give birth on Saturday!! It was a wonderfully LLLLOOOONNNGGGG.....night and day! Two great natural births. Both girls. Ok... blowing labor your way.

[tls]

Sarah, how do you handle 2 births on the same day? Were they at the same hospital or same time? You must have slept all day on Sunday.

[tls]

So this morning I woke up very sore and very tired. I've been having irregular but somewhat painful contractions every night for the past few nights and they can wake me up or keep me awake. I didn't get much sleep and am exhausted. I also am very sore in the hips and belly. I just couldn't imagine going to work today so I decided to start my maternity leave now. I had called in sick 2 times last week and I think 2 times the week before. I think they would start getting mad if I keep calling in sick. I really wanted to take my full 12 weeks of maternity leave after the baby is born so I have as much time with it as possible, but I think I made a good decision taking leave now. I don't have to worry about going into labor at work now ;). So now I am not so anxious for the baby to come. I think I'll just go to bed right now and sleep for as long as my daughter and husband let me :).

[smeta]

Good for you Tracy! It's probably just what you need. Hope you can get rested so your body know it's really time to have that baby!

Glad both births went well Sarah! Now I don't have to worry about finding a back up, hee hee!

Welcome TLL - hope you get this midwife stuff straightened out. What a bummer!

Jessikate - I'm going to email or call you cuz I have more questions and I think you're the newborn prefolds know-it-all!

KJ - did you have another u/s today?

Gosh, I didn't think I could get even more exhausted than I've felt the last few months! But I'm soo tired...gotta take my nap now:zzz

[TLL]

Thanks for the support on the insurance business. DP called the clinic and the woman who left the message continued to insist that we couldn't go there. So, she got the billing director on the phone and he confirmed that our insurance had already processed one visit, so we were obviously OK to go there. I don't know what that woman's problem was. But we won't be going back to that clinic - we can just see the midwives at the hospital. Hopefully that will go better, since we don't really have a backup plan, though we should probably work on one - thanks for the thoughts on that, DoulaSarah.


Good luck to all those due-any-minute-now mamas. I can't wait to read your stories!

[DoulaSarah]

tls - I went into the hospital with one on Friday night at 9:00p and she had her baby and 9:00am on Saturday.. (meanwhile through the night, the other mother went into labor, and I did have to have the backup doula with her from 4am until 9:30am. They came into the hospital at 8:30) So at 9:30 I walked down two doors and attended the mother until 8:00pm when she had her baby! Two wonderful girls and two very wonderful mothers. Both natural and they are doing great! I had the same midwife with both and the mother that gave birth last week had the same midwife too! Silly. Three natural births, and three little girls. I am done for a couple of weeks, isn't that right, Sarah?

[smeta]

TLL - glad you got it cleared up! I see the HCMC midwives at the hospital and all has gone well for me (with my 1st pg. too).

Doula - wow, what a day! yep...two, or three. or four. I'm tyring not to get anxious, but I'm already starting to!

[kaje62]

okay my appointment was great. I love this midwife, Deb K. send me Deb K. please. i hope I get her. Anyway she is like okay all your tests are great, your blood pressure has been a bit high, today the worst 152/92 but everything else is fine. Anyway she is not anxious to induce. I scored 8 out of 8 in my ultrasound and I did a NST and it was great. I also agreed to do the 24 urine test starting tomorrow morning and I am going in for another non stress on Wednesday. My placenta has degraded in the last two weeks from a 1 to a 3 but that is still not that bad. So I am feeling way better, happier, and will continue to rest more. I think I needed that fun binge of hanging with the boys this weekend.

By the way, Jerry and Charlie are Pisces. My doula is a pisces and Deb is one too. Maybe I will hang out in the tub or shower a lot.

And the second I start talking to her, all my bh's started kicking in again. And they have not quit. So either feeling good about her or the SEX last night did something.

I don't feel cramps, really just tightening, tenderness, achiness and this babe is a moving. So what do you all think?

If you would have come with today you would have thought I was a liar cuz she is so positive. I am glad the other went on vacation. Please don't make me get Lisa!

Oh and I rescheduled my c for the 15th. Bought myself another day.

Autumn where are you. Should we do Andy's garage this week and the collective?

[kaje62]

goll i came home and kept having like period cramps for four hours and talked to my doulas and they thought things were a happening. And one recommeded i call my midwife and she said it sounds like braxton hicks. I don't think so, I really don't but.......I know from reading up on gals, this could start and stall and go on a few days but I really believe things are happening.

Speaking of men..........my dh and I had a huge blow out tonite. He decided to go across town and buy Charlie a hockey game rather than help me pack, help me cook dinner, clean, do laundry. So he showered at 7:30, ate at 8:30 and guess what he got to play hockey with Charlie for 10 minutes. Woo hoo, worth the trip, top priority. Aren't I a crab? ....I was hurt that he was not there more for me.

Anyway bags are packed and in the care.

Night all. I think Julie M is in labor. I really really do.

[mamarsupial]

hey all. busy week so far. e has been sleeping better, but i haven't. we're hoping to order our new natura bed (http://www.naturaworld.com/) this week. now all we have to do is sell a few organs to pay for it! :)

kaje - glad the appt went well. i wil say some prayers that you get deb or one of the other less offensive cnms. i totally feel for you. we're saying prayers that we get 1 of the 6 we like, and neither of the two we don't. edit to add: sorry about the fight with dh. grumble.

smeta - i've been feeling really tired out too. i'm trying to cut back on the jolt i've been drinking har har. pregnancy should be all second trimester, if you ask me.

last prenatal - we had a prenatal last week friday morning. very low key. we saw all of the 10 midwives at fairview women's clinic w/ e. this time, we've just stuck to a few favorites. one had mentioned possible induction if the baby is big (which it WILL be). ummm, NO? we were induced with e for PIH and we're NOT doing that again. we were very pleased to talk to jill (she's one of our favorites) about it this week, though. she basically said what we've been thinking already "there's no evidence to show that induction helps in the case of a big baby. smaller baby if you induce early, but then you're forcing you body to do something its not ready for. wait, and the baby is bigger, but your body is more prepared." so, she will not suggest induction. hurrah. all of our prenatals around the time we are full term are with jill, so we shouldn't have any battles. all looks good. at this point with e, i was going in every week for non stress tests (sound familiar, kj?) and i was swollen up like a balloon. this time, the cnms have been saying instead "oh, you should prolly be coming in every two weeks....but come back in four...things look great."

API STUFF - hey, doula and i are trying to set up some dates for an informal API potluck at my place to discuss 'prep for childbirth'. we were thinking we'd ask for some specific questions ahead of time, so that sarah can gather some info for people. we could help each other with birthplans and what not as well. pm me if you'd like to come, and/or be added to the API mailing list (if you aren't on it already), and if you have any specific questions.

[kaje62]

Autumn tell them to back off about the size thing.

Starting my 24 hour urine test this morning. Gotta collect every drop and keep it in the fridge, nice huh?

[willowsmama]

Hhmm, thought I should prolly meander out this way.

:wave

I'm due 3-17-04. So am I pregnant enough to join the club?

[kaje62]

maybe your babe will come on Charlie's birthday, and Pisces are great. 3-19
welcome.

[juliem]

Hello - No baby yet - ugghhh. TLS - that's great that you started your maternity leave - it's nice for me to be home, and getting adjusted to hanging out with Will. I don't feel any more urges to have this baby come out now that I'm not at work, except for the fact that I'm the matron of honor in a wedding on the 23rd. I was hoping for at least a 2 week old for that long grueling day.
Will you be sending your daughter to daycare at all while you're on leave? Since we have to pay for 2 days a week, he'll be going at least one day - he seems so bored already and I want to keep him on some sort of modified schedule.

This baby has decided to settle nicely on my siatic nerve just like Will did. This time I'm using a birth ball - what a difference that makes. My full time nesting has moved out to the yard. I've edged most of our sidewalks and garden beds, but there must be something else not done keeping this baby in.

MplsMomma - Vanessa set the tub up over the weekend. She put down a blue tarp underneath the tub - it's probably 3 feet tall - I'm not expecting a lot of water to go all over the place. Anyway, I guess that's what my birth team is for. We have it set up in our family room downstairs and I have not been able to hang out down there with it facing me.

Hope everyone is doing fine.

[amyrobynne]

Hi ladies,

I know I'm not all that frequent a poster, but I could really use some baby-stuff advice. I've got a poll set up and a bunch of questions as a new thread here on the tribe. I can use all the help I can get :)

Dh and I are planning to go to the St Paul API meeting this Saturday. Anyone else coming?

[tls]

TLL, good luck. What a major pain you have to go through. I hope things work out for you soon.

Sarah, that is amazing to have both babies on the same day. I am more than impressed. You must have been so tired but so elated at the same time. How lucky they were both in the same hospital with the same midwife. Did you plan that? It is amazing how things seem to work out so perfectly sometimes!

KJ, so glad you had a good appt. I think the less happy you are at your appts, the worse off results are. Your BP was probably high because you were expecting a bad appt. I'd send you labor vibes except they aren't working for me at all ;). Oh make sure you label that urine really well!! You don't want to be having some really strange tasting Mountain Dew in the middle of the night or anything :jaw

smeta and mamarsuipal (and the rest of us), we should have a mama to be sleep in, we can pick a day, send our kids, husbands, partners etc. out for 4 hours and all take a long nap. Sounds great to me!!! :D

Hi Willow, You are certainly pregnant enough to join us although hopefully a few of us will be dropping out in the next few days needing to start a newborn babies thread ;)

Julie, you've really taken advantage of your nesting urge. The most I've done is clean out the fridge last week and make brownies this week. I do need to get some laundry done though, but I'm not really desperate to go do it. Not much of a nesting urge. We're going to send DD to daycare 2 days a week after DH goes back to work in September. It will give her 1 on 1 time with both grandmas and me 1 on 1 time with the baby. It will also keep her on somewhat of a schedule before I need to go back to work.

anyrobynne, my SIL and I are hoping to go to the API meeting on Sat. My due date is tomorrow so if nothing has happened, we'll be there. I may even drag DH along if we can get grandma to watch DD.

I've been having stronger BHs the past few days. It just seems like they need a kick start to get going. Believe me, we've tried several methods to kick start them, but the baby is just not ready to come out yet. Maybe I need to scrunch myself up into a little ball so there is not much room inside and the baby will want to come out to stretch out :) Julie, like you I'm wondering what I need to do/clean/fix etc. that the baby is waiting to be done in order to come out. We already had our cleaning service so I'm not too sure what else baby wants done.
Funny thing, DH must be nesting because the past 2 days he's been in the back yard chopping down junk trees. We plan to fill in a big weedy gap in our yard sometime and he decided now is a good time to start preparing for it. There is no way we'll be able to fill the yard for a while so it is funny he is doing this now. If I could only get him to clean the bathroom and kitchen instead!! :rolleyes:

[mpls_momma]

Hey !


Mamarsupial- We were going to fairview women's clinic , but we were seeing doc turner. One of the deciding factors of us leaving their care besides my super hospital phobia was the fact that they use cyctotic to induce labor. I'm not sure but my understanding is the cnm follow doc. protocol???? I would check out if they are talking induction if they would want to use that. Doc turner was chatting it up like it was the greatest the safest thing to use to induce.


julie- are you going to fill that bad boy up and float around? I took a big salty bath tonight with my curly husband pouring water on me. I can't wait to have that tub , were going to living room swim!

Sara- how do we do the comfrey? Do we boil water then turn it off and add the root and steep for a bit or do we actually boil the root???

[kaje62]

happy due date tls and juliem. Oh my, mine is in two big fat days.

Urine good news, my jug is full and I have a few hours left for the test. I must drink enough liquids or my kidneys truly are working.

Anyway back to bed.

[mamarsupial]

mpls_momma - yup. i had cytotec (among other things - cervadil, prostegladin, pitocin) when i was induced with e. thank god we didn't have any major problems. we're scheduling our appts here on out with the cnms we know won't even suggest induction. fairview hospitals, and that practice in particular, have such a HUGE range of approach. some of the cnms are very conservative and reactive...others are open minded and very anti-intervention. its a luck of the draw as to who you get during labor. luckily, we like 6 out of the 8. 75% chance we'll get someone we like and trust. if its one of the 25% we don't, we'll just stay at home that much longer :)

[kaje62]

my mil is bugging me along with a few others, just calling too much to CHECK IN!

Charlie has been so whiney etc....Maybe he feels the stress that we are feeling.

The non stress was perfect. And my contractions were ranging from 38-52, which I have never had bigger than an 11 in the past. So That was cool.

And better yet before my prenatal I went to my family practice doctor and guess to have her look at some skin tags, not moles, which she ended up removing and my blood pressure was 120/76 so maybe I truly have white coat hypertension. At my prenatal it was 140/90.

Can I just say I am so hot right now I think I am gonna die. Our air is at 69.

By the way I talked to the president of ICAN today in California and she recommended eating balsamic vinegar as a natural inducer so we had lots of cukes for dinner. NUMMY! We crappy fatty ribs on the grill that we could not force ourselves to eat. But our broccoli etc.. was great and then we had my infamous peanut butter pie. I had one in the freezer left over from Charlie's birthday that we took out last night. Double nummy.

Take care all.

[kaje62]

Hey all. Julie M and TLS, any news yet?

oh my god i loved loved my the reflexology treatment today. I highly highly recommend it. I am so relaxed.

And tonite a friend of mine came over to do a ritual circle with dh and I as my mommy's helper hung with Charlie.

So we had a candle in a bowl of water, my body cast, a mirror and a couple other meaningful items. we shared what we need to clear, what we need to open, what we need to strengthen, what we need to fill. It was good. I think we are more connected now.

No labor here yet. I am due in 16 minutes. That makes me emotional. Come on babe!

[juliem]

KJ - I thought for sure you were in labor yesterday - anything yet? I saw your post about the balsamic vinegar - had a few tablespoons yesterday, ate some veggies soaked in vinegar and when Will woke me up this morning at 4 am, I started having the bloody show which really woke me up. I got him back to sleep and got a little more sleep myself. I'm not having contractions - just period like cramps. I've got to call my midwife and my husband is going to stay home today. I think we're going to spend the day walking and see what happens.

I was feeling pretty depressed yesterday about this damn wedding I'm in on the 23rd. I'm really hoping for at least a one week old. I'm not looking forward to an entire day of wedding hoopla and trying to nurse a newborn in a formal dress that I'm not sure how will fit me. Oh well, every wedding needs someone to throw it for a loop - guess that'll be me.

TLS - what's going on?

[kaje62]

julie m, wow that is awesome and i am jealous.

the circle has been broken.

i did not go to bed until nearly 1, peed twice by 4, our smoke alarm went off at 5, cuz dh has yet to change the batteries in them along with the carbon monoxide detector. he changes them when they beep and wake us up in the middle of the night even though i have asked him to keep track of them.

Anyway my 2 1/2 year old who wakes up anytime between 9:30 and 11:15 did not go back to sleep but dh sure did and snored while ds and i laid there and looked at each other as the sun rose. And then dh's alarm went off at 6:30 and ds still would not go back to sleep. And as dh got out of bed he leaned on my foot hard and i said thanks and he said, "no thanks shamer and blamer!!!" and then as he left the room Charlie started crying for him. And never settled so we came downstairs. i called dh and said, "i may need you to come home and help me today, remember i am on bedrest", and called me another name and hung up on me.

we always struggle pre-full moon but i am devasted that today is my due date, ds is awake and dh was rude to me.

Wah.

:crying

[kaje62]

oh yeah, non stress today and prenatal with the medwife from hell. think of me.

[mamarsupial]

KAJE - i'm sorry you had such a hard morning. my thoughts are, and have been, with you the last few days and today. i can't wait for this baby to come.

maybe its the full moon, but we had a bear of a morning here too. i lost my temper with e for the third time this week (um, third time ever, really). she slept with us last night, which was fine, but between her squirms and the baby's, i didn't sleep. plus, the babe did this tremendous series of movements and then stopped...and didn't move again for a while. so i layed in bed worried. all i could think about was this story i heard at the childbirth collective about a woman who knew her child was in distress in utero, and went in and the cord was wrapped. i was freaking myself out big time. once s/he started moving again, i couldn't get back to sleep. i finally fell asleep again at 7am...then the dog woke me up at 8am. bill usually leaves at 8:15, so i had 15 minutes to do all the things i normally do in the morning...plus ella wanted pancakes, so i tried to do that and ended up burning my hand on the cast iron skillet (i was too tired to think "hot pad") and nearly chucked the thing across the room. once they were made (after switching pans) e was happy...for about 2 seconds...she wanted syrup on the pancakes, then didn't. she wanted them cut up, then didn't. i tried to calmly explain that i can't undo those kinds of things...and she chucked her plate at me. i lost my temper, but instead of yelling i just got up, walked away, and sat on the stairs and cried while i listened to her explain to her papa that the pancakes needed to be put back into 'big peices'. my saintly dh is taking the morning off. they are downstairs watching 'fantasia' on the lap top (was this really the best time to have gotten rid our tv?). i was supposed to help a friend from ecfe out today too and had to raincheck, so now i feel guilty on top of worried (dh taking time off we need for when the baby comes), grouchy, and tired. and hungry. and big and hot. and selfish.

[willowsmama]

Kaje-It'll be ok. Your dh could just be stressed out/ nervous about it being your due date. I'm a big advocate of talking it out when something happens......even if sometimes I have a hard time doing it.Don't be afraid to ask for help. Do what you want,not what you think you should do( I'm not saying forget bedrest!!!) And don't let anyone push you around. If someone gives you crap about being assertive, let them think it the hormones. My labor nurses thought I was a pain just cuz I was in labor till dh ratted me out. He just had to say 'No she's assertive about he wants/needs ALL the time'.lol

Your babe will come out when s/he is ready mama, have faith!

Mamar- aawww. you've just had a bad morning! Poor mama, poor e and poor dh. maybe try a family morning and chill.......

[kaje62]

Autumn I am so sorry you had a hard morning. you are such a giver, remember to give to you 1st okay!!???

Terrible appointment

Saw my angel Deb, the one I like/d
Anyway first she says your 24 urine is fine, your blood pressure is the same. And last time I wrote 8-9 pound baby but today I am thinking more like 9, you could be hiding a big baby in there and we don't want to have shoulder distoricia problems.

And then she checks me and says you are not dilated at all and I said, Ann said I was a fingertip and she says, Ann has slender fingers so I am writing down 0 and you are 25% effaced. The head is definitely down but just floating not settled into your pelvis. And if we were to induce you to get things going, I don't think it would work as your cervix is not ripe at all. I think it would just frustrate you. Okay let's see what happens this weekend, think labor.

I went to the non stress test after that which was good. And started crying in there. She came in there to talk to me and asked if I was crying because of my cervix and I said no and she said oh you are tired.

I did not want her to know that I was worried. But I am and I am sad and depressed and dh and I are no better. I have not even told him about this hard appointment.

[mamarsupial]

kaje - i'm so sorry. 25% effaced is good news though. when i was induced, it was 0 everything...so there is hope! get on your birth ball, eat lots of yummy tomatoes with balsamic, and go see the reflexologist again if you can...to help you relax. ultimately, whether our dh's are in a supportive place or not, whether we have doulas or not, we labor alone. this is your journey and no one elses. focus on yourself right now, knowing that there are many women thinking of you and your child and singing to you of a beautiful birth. open up your body and heart for this baby. before you know it, this little one will be in your arms. :hug

[tls]

Nothing happening here yet. I'll bet Julie is in labor right now. Sorry for the really bad mornings ladies. I haven't been sleeping well either. I'm so darn uncomfortable.

KJ, don't be too discouraged about not being dilated. I've been between 1 and 3 CM for 4 weeks now and nothing has happened. My cervix is very ripe too. You know you can still go into labor at any time still. Keep thinking positive thoughts. My due date came and went, you still have a few hours left of yours. Maybe something will happen soon. If not, try not to be too tense about it. That only prolongs things more.

I've decided that even though I'm so "ripe" and everything is ready to go, the baby won't be here for at least 2 more weeks. That way if it comes before then I'll be thrilled and if not, I won't be too stressed about it.

[kaje62]

You all have been so sweet.
He is so sorry.
He came home and said, "Can we connect so we can have this baby?"
He really is a good guy, right JulieM?
Anyway I am still sad etc.
My son slept 5 1/2 hours for his nap. Wow!
And........I think I want to go out for Thai Food tonite.
I have been getting a lot of support from ICAN. I am going to post one note cuz it can help all of us, induction even without a previous c-section can lead to a c-section.


Dear Kathy Jo,

Hugs and Hugs and Hugs to you with that beautiful, happy, strong baby dancing between us in its watery home!

It is such a challenging thing to have the pressure put on at the end of a pregnancy. It happened to me and even though I knew better-- the doubt directed at me by others slowly became this increasing burden. Please let your midwives' doubt pass by you. I, personally, will not have any VEs next time because I remember the feelings caused by my back-up ob's disappointed look and tone that I didn't have much change in my cervix-----even though I knew that is what labor is for and it means NOTHING before labor. I am sorry they making something meaningless sound like it means something other than your cervix is doing exactly what it's supposed to do.

I am also so sorry that your midwives are not protecting your sacred space. The only image that I can add from the wonderful supportive posts you have already gotten is to close your eyes and imagine being talked with by midwives who were securely grounded in trusting birth. Where they might say something like, "Oh, Kathy Jo, you are doing so well. You look great, your baby looks great. That non-stress test shows you baby is strong and healthy. We are really looking forward to being with you as you birth this baby and just know that we are here for you when ever you and your baby are ready" and notice how you would feel then. Not that you need them to tell you that you are ok, but this could help separate out their stuff that they are sending to you from how *you* really feel inside.

Blessings and patience to you. So much love and faith is being sent your way.

[kaje62]

Alright ladies
not as good as labor
but my brother and his pregnant wife and his 2 year old son drove up 6 hours from Omaha and showed up on my steps to cheer me up so i guess we have company for Thai food. I have been crying. They are so sweet. Maybe this will make the baby come.
I am happy. I just love my brother Frank.

[juliem]

Nicholas Julien made his arrival at 4:50am today. 8 pounds, 8 ounces, 21 inches. He's adorable and his big brother is in love with him!

I had off and on contractions all day yesterday, went to bed about 10pm last night having to breathe through contractions every 10 minutes. My water broke at 1:30am and contractions were every minute lasting a minute from then on. I spent some time in the shower, and my midwife and her assistant showed up about 3:30am - they told me I could get into the birth tub that was all set up, but the urge to push was too strong and I was pretty comfy on the couch (as much as you can be I guess).

It was a wonderful birth - completely different then my first. It was so fast, and the pain in hindsight was nothing in comparison to the first.

Oh - big brother got a chance to swim in the pool this morning - at least someone did.

Can't wait to hear the rest of the upcoming birth stories. KJ - hang in there.

[kaje62]

oh my god Julie i am so happy for you.

jerry and Charlie just went to the dog park and jerry forgot his cell phone. I can't wait to tell him. Congrats!

Does that mean I will on Monday? three days late!

[mamarsupial]

:dust :baby CONGRATULATIONS, JULIE!!!! :baby :dust

welcome little one!

[tls]

Julie congratulations. How wonderful for you!! Welcome Nicholas. I'm so happy to hear the birth went so well. I can't wait to see pictures.

[amyrobynne]

Congratulations Julie! I love hearing such positive birth stories! I'm still debating between home and hospital, and it never hurts to hear more successful homebirth stories!

[willowsmama]

Congrats Julie! Sounds like a cute little boy.

amy-I'm thinking about a homebirth too. Since this is #3, i know pretty much how I labor and how fast it goes. I'm thinking I could prolly just 'not make it ' to the hospital in time.hehehe Heck, with #2 i was induced at the hospital and te dr. almost didn't make it!

[nostrow]

Congratulations Julie and welcom Nicholas! I'm sorry I've been missing you lovely ladies.

I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for being so super supportive of me while I was on bedrest. And especially you Kathy Jo, you have been like my guardian angel and I am truly grateful for that. I'm sorry that you are having such stress at this time. If there is anything I can do for you, let me know. You can do it and your babe will be fine! I can't wait to hear your story.

Nikki

[kaje62]

my belly

http://pages.prodigy.net/jeka65/_uimages/mama.JPG

[mpls_momma]

Julie! thats sooo great! I can't wait to meet my baby! I bet your sooo happy and excited to see your new life right in front of you! Sorry you didn't get you use the tub! Did you have your son there? How did your husband do?

[kaje62]

new link with exciting news

http://216.92.20.151/discussions/showthread.php?s=&threadid=79885