Labor Update 3

We've called in reinforcements. My doula is on her way. Gosh I hope she can help with the pain. I wont lie, the contractions are insane!! Currently 7 mins apart, lasting 1 min.

Labor Update 2

So, my labor stalled around noon today, but there was a lot going on around me, and it was definitely distracting. I had a few contractions, but nothing compared to what I had been having. They still were just as intense and painful, however, not in any sort of pattern. At 2:00 I tried taking a nap in the recliner, and managed to fall asleep for about 30 minutes. I woke up extremely disappointed since I thought everything had stopped. I messaged my doula and told her what was up. She said that my body probably needed a break, and to make sure I ate a protein snack/meal and try to relax/sleep again. I ate, and Billie gave me an amazing foot rub while I was laying in my cool dark room. A few hours later, I began having a few contractions again (yay!) I didn't time them, but they were definitely more patterned. I was hungry again and decided to make some rice and veggies for dinner. It was so tasty! After dinner (about 8pm) my doula called again to check on me. I mentioned that I thought things were starting to pick back up since the sun was setting. She recommended for me to take a light walk and get settled in for the night. I have since walked and took a nice long shower. And here I am...about to crawl into bed time some contractions and read or just plain pass out. I have to admit, my body is tired, my brain on the other hand...has other ideas. We'll see who wins out. Hopefully my next post will be when I have my little boy in my arms! :)

41 Weeks Pregnant + Super Moon + Labor Update 1

 

The largest full moon of 2013, a so-called "supermoon," will light up the night sky this weekend, but there's more to this lunar delight than meets the eye.
On Sunday, June 23, at 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT), the moon will arrive at perigee — the point in its orbit bringing it closest to Earth, a distance of 221,824 miles. Now the moon typically reaches perigee once each month (and on some occasions twice), with their respective distances to Earth varying by 3 percent.
But Sunday's lunar perigee will be the moon's closest to Earth of 2013. And 32 minutes later, the moon will officially turn full. The close timing of the moon's perigee and its full phase are what will bring about the biggest full moon of the year, a celestial event popularly defined by some as a "supermoon

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/06/22/supermoon-rises-in-weekend-night-sky-sunday/#ixzz2X1sptxVj


Anyways, on to the post! It seems typical that I would wait until the full moon to go into labor. At least I think I'm in labor... Let's go back a bit...

As you may have read in my last post, that I lost some of my mucus plug early Saturday morning, I didn't notice many contractions that were worth paying attention to. I really tried not to make a big deal out of little pangs and cramps. Anyways, at 9pm Billie was here to watch Back to the Future pt. 1--We lead exciting lives I know (but in all fairness, she has never seen it-shocking I know!) I began having more patterned contractions during the movie. I didn't bother timing them until it was over around 10:30ish. We were about to head for bed at this point. Scott took a quick shower and I began timing them. They were averaging 8 minutes apart, lasting for 1 minute. They felt completely different that all the other ones I've ever had. The pain always seems to be in my back--even though Liam's position is correct--apparently I'm just cursed blessed with back labor? Anyways, we decided to try to have sex to keep things moving along. Afterwards, maybe 15 minutes or so, I use the bathroom (again!) and there was a very large glob(?) of mucus/blood! And more spotting. I was still having contractions on the same pattern that definitely grew in intensity. I was up and down, after every other contraction I felt the urge to pee, so I was up a lot. I even got hungry so I ate a greek yogurt and a slice of banana bread (I had the urge to bake earlier today). I fell asleep a few contractions after I went back to bed. It was probably about 1am. I have been waking every few contractions, but not really realizing why I am waking up...until now. 4am hits and I am up! These contractions are painful!! So far my contractions are lasting 45 seconds, with about 7 minutes between. So that's where I am at currently. I am going to try to go back to sleep, if I cant I will try to take a bath/shower and see if there are any changes. I'll update you when I can. Happy Full Super Moon everyone! :)

40 Weeks + 3 Days Pregnant

So last night...

I woke up at 3am from a terrible contraction. I tried going back to sleep, but couldnt. I tossed and turned, and sat up on my phone for 2 hours before finally falling back to sleep. I knew I could sit up and wait for the next contraction which would eventually wear myself out, or I could try to go back to sleep and save my energy for real labor. I woke again at 7:30 to my alarm, I had a chiropractor appt at 8:15, so I got up and took a shower. I was still having a few contractions, but they were much more spaced out and mild than the 3am ones. The chiropractor adjusted me, and did my pressure points again. They definitely kicked up my contractions a bit. I got home and made some oatmeal with raisins, chia seeds, hickory nuts, and brown sugar. Strawberries on the side, and a tall glass of milk. :) I called the midwife to reschedule my appointment (it was supposed to be today at 12:30, I was hoping not to ride in a car for 2.5 hours round trip while having contractions) I figured I'd reschedule for friday since they don't take appointments on thursdays. Anyways, after that my doula called me and asked how I was doing. I gave her the low-down, and she thought it sounded like baby's head wasn't lined up all the way to keep labor constant.

So she suggested a "mile-circuit"
This consisted of 30 mins laying knees to chest like this:

 











Then immediately 30 mins on my left side with my right leg elevated to help open the pelvis.


Then 30 minutes of curb walking...(15 mins on one side, 15 on the other). This was the hardest part!



So here I am, fresh off my curb, and sweaty...No contractions yet. But I am still hopeful.

Basically the first position helps move baby out of the pelvic a bit, and then laying on the left helps line him up, and then the curb walking helps bring him back down into proper position.

I'm not sure what the rest of the day holds for me, but I am excited to see.
Nikky

40 Weeks + 2 days Pregnant

So yesterday my contractions really did pick up. I decided I was sick of sitting around so I turned on some old school jams and tried to dance Liam out!! Then I sat on my birthing ball for awhile when I was online. Around 6pm my contractions became more regular. I timed them at 1 min duration with 6 minutes rest. They usually began in my lower back (like period pains) and at times would go to the front in my lower uterus.

Once Scott got home, we went for a 40 min walk, and then made some dinner. Afterwards, I took a nice hot shower, and went to bed. They were pretty consistent throughout the night until 6am when they subsided once again! Sigh! I slept until 8:30, and since then have cleaned and organized a bit more. It feels nice to have the bedroom and bathroom really clean, and ready for my birth team to be here.

I also had text messaged my doula Rachel, last night, and again this morning. She mentioned that usually mommas don't labor during the day unless it's active labor. So I should rest up and be sure I'm eating well today since I will probably need it throughout the night. I have had some contractions today, but they are pretty mild and not building into anything. I can honestly say, I am pretty scared that the evening will come, and nothing will happen. I guess we will see.

40 weeks + 1 day Pregnant

Yesterday was father's day. We had our annual picnic with Scott's mom's side, and then climbed the Marsh Tower...
Yep...I climbed that...144 steps. Not one damn contraction! FML...Later on, I was sewing up some cloth wipes and at 11pm started getting a few contractions. We went to bed shortly after, I felt like something was definitely going on. I tried not to get to excited, and ended up falling asleep around midnight or a bit after. I woke a few times to some contractions, but eventually fell deeper into sleep and by morning, there was nothing again. I had my chiropractor appointment today and she did the labor inducing pressure points again. She predicted from feeling my pressure points that it will be today or tomorrow. God I hope so!! I did get a few contractions from her adjusting me and using the pressure points. And I have continued having very few mild contractions since. I have since done the dishes and plan to finish cleaning up the house. Not sure what the rest of the day holds for us, but I might go buy some castor oil. We'll see.

More soon! :) 

39 weeks + 4 days Pregnant Midwife Update

Midwife update:

Had my 39 week appointment today, here's the stats:

weight up 2 from last week--seriously!?! come on! total for pregnancy 43lbs

Blood Pressure: 124/68

Pulse: 70

Fundal Height: 43cm

Fetal Heart Rate: 130bpm

Fetal Position: LOA

Estimated Fetal Weight: 9lbs!! Holy Schnikies!


I also must mention that Monday, I had a bout of diarrhea and then was crampy all day. I really thought that was it...it was labor time...but alas, no contractions. I still have crampy-ness throughout the day here and there, but its not like it was on Monday. Either way, I know labor is coming. My doula thinks it will be Monday. Something about first time mommas having diarrhea one week from labor. Fingers crossed!!

PS, my last day of work is tomorrow! Hurray!!! 

Labor Watch #3 plus small update

Well, I wish I could say the reason I've been not updating the past few days is because my little one finally decided to come. ... but alas...he has not. I know every mother and soon to be mother understands the crabby disappointment that comes with the last few weeks, when things start happening and then stop abruptly. Yup, that's where I'm at. Figures though, we probably all need to feel this way a little bit.

Anyways, many things we have been trying are just repeats of the last few. We have tried nipple stimulation. While this does cause some mild contractions, it hasn't built into anything measurable.

Method #4 Sex and Orgasm

Attempted: 6/5/13

How far along: 38 weeks, 4 days

Purpose: ripen cervix, and cause contractions

Results: a few minutes afterward I had one of the strongest contractions yet. I continued to have a few more milder ones and ended up going to sleep. Throughout the night I had a few that woke me up, but they eventually tapered off.

The chiropractor also did some pressure points again today. (38weeks, 6 days) It has seemed to slowly work. I had some pressure at the top of my uterus, and some contractions that range in intensity. I haven't timed them. I think I'm at the point where it's easier not to focus on them. I hate to keep getting disappointed.

Midwife Update:

I had my 38 week midwife appointment on wednesday. I gained 5 pounds!! WTF! haha, hopefully its just fluid. My blood pressure was 118/78, pulse 80, fundal height dropped to 42.5cm--was 44.5cm last week. She said its dropped since he is much lower and very well engaged. (yay!) Fetal heart rate 130, Estimated fetal weight 8.5lbs! I expressed concern about going to 42 weeks since my insurance will expire by then, and she mentioned that we could start doing some ways to facilitate labor next week. I'm going to email her on Monday to see if they will do a membrane sweep at my next appt on Wednesday. But she mentioned that she didnt think I would make it to 42 weeks. Here's to hoping!!

All I can say is I hope that all these methods we have been doing are at least thinning and dilating my cervix!

More soon. :)

Labor Watch #2

Method #2 Walking

Attempted: 6/2/13

How far along: 38 weeks

Purpose: helping baby engage lower in the pelvis

Results: one major hill, and 2 miles later...i had one contraction. until hours later, when I went to bed. I was having contractions lasting 1 minute with 2 1/2 minutes rest in between. I ended up falling asleep, and woke three times to pee. Each time, I noticed a contraction, but by the time I woke up, nothing. Oh well...

Method #3 Pressure Points (done by my chiropractor)

Attempted: 6/3/13

How far along: 38 weeks 1 day

Purpose: brings on labor

Results: I will let you know :) ... A bit of cramping, but nothing really happened. BUMMER!!