Monday, May 9, 2011

Our Plan

Ok, so yesterday (Sunday) dh and I dtd in the morning after picking weeds outside to try and encourage contractions again. It worked and I was contracting all day (10:30am - 7pm) but as usual they died out. They were mostly back contractions and I was very uncomfortable. I walked a ton while having them and they just never went anywhere. I am pretty convinced its not going to happen on its own.

Today I have my OB appt after an NST at 1:30 and we are going to opt to go to the hospital from there to be induced. I am not 100% sure if that will be possible or if the Dr will want to wait until Wednesday but this is what we prefer. 

So thats our kinda update at the moment, and its crazy to think this baby may be here sometime today. I hope the OB will let us go in. I am tempted to call in the morning (its only 3am) and ask if we can just go straight into induction instead of waiting until after the appointment. Not sure if he will let us though, we just would like him born on the 9th if possible.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

40 week appt

SO I weighed in at 199 
BP was 133/70 a little high on the top for me
still only 3cm and thin (no % effacement today) -2 station

The dr thinks I am very favorable to being induced. I go back Monday for another NST and fluid check. Then he wants to induce on Wednesday - 41 weeks for me.

I am slightly discouraged and feel like we should just go get induced if thats the inevitable anyway. This baby doesn't feel anymore ready to come out then he did 3 weeks ago. He is content in there. 

So whatever, it is what it is. Im no longer even having noticeable contractions. During todays NST I noticed a lot of little ones on the screen and one that was about a 3/10 on the monitor. That was the only one I felt and I told Tim I don't even count those as a contraction when I feel them. I swear the ones I had been having were at least a 5 on their monitor, and they started a little as soon as we left.

Again - feeling defeated

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

So, I went to the bathroom at 5:25 no biggie. I just got up to let the dogs out, and the crotch of my pants is wet. I took off my panty liner which didn't seem wet, but my crotch of my capri pants is noticeably wet???? Anyway, so I went potty and am going to watch it to see if I have any additional leaking or it could possibly just be sweat. I have no idea though.


***Update***

So I called the OB office and the nurse just called back. Because I haven't had any more leaking since this morning, she doesn't think it was my water. She suggested it was likely the baby pressing my bladder and made me pee a little, however I had just gone pee shortly before that so I doubt it. Either way, she said I don't need to go in unless I have a gush or a constant trickling. I am seeing the OB tomorrow and I guess he can check to see if I am leaking any. 

No big surprise, nothing is happening as usual
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The 3 day Nursing Sabbatical

Was reading this online today, and thought it was good info, so I am re-posting.

The 3 day nursing sabbatical


So… what is a 3 day nursing sabbatical? (Desperate? Skip down to get to the nitty gritty instructions).
A 3 day nursing sabbatical is really the cure-all for most of the common early problems in Bfing. Low supply particularly, but even poor latch, nipple confusion, etc can all benefit. Its really useful if you’ve found yourself in the viscous cycle of trying to get baby to stay interested, nurse more, increase supply, reduce formula, get where you don’t have to pump as frequently, etc. This is also ideal for growth spurts (in fact, its darn near mandatory).

All too often the story goes something like this: wonderful woman meets cute guy, they fall in love they have kids, they have grand plans. Wonderful woman plans wonderful birth. Things may or may not go as expected, but most often NOT as expected. Shes spent 9 months reading all about how to have a great birth, what colors to paint the nursery for the best developmental stimulus, and how to escape it all without too much damage to show for it while still enjoying and tolerating the stretch marks that don her belly. Then – she has the baby and realizes, NOBODY told her the half million things that might come up as she nurses her baby, who seems to be also clueless about what to do. Also news - theres a difference between lactation counselors and consultants, few pediatricians receive any training about breastfeeding, and the ones that did apparently missed that day of class b/c they had a frat party the night before. (Oh come on – you think he was a saint in college?!)

So – here you are – a postpartum mom, trying to figure out nursing in a world where few people you know nurse (IF you even know someone). You’ve been sent home with formula samples out your ears, and maybe you used a few those first few nights (b/c nobody told you that they just happen to discharge you before things really get moving in the BFing department, and that 3rd night is when all babies decide they want to stay up allllllllll night long although they slept like angels the first few nights).

OR maybe you got “lucky” and your baby is sleeping a LOT – and as a result not nursing quite as much. And to get by, or to satisfy your paranoia, or to let dad feed the baby, you’ve given a few bottles of milk (pumped or artificial). And now – youre stuck. Baby never seems satisfied. Baby is constantly hungry. Laundry is piling up and you don’t know what to do? The 3 day sabbatical is for you.


WHAT TO DO:
First things first. Pull out the calendar. The one you used BEFORE the baby came along that organized your life that you can barely keep up with now that it takes an hour to get out of the house from the 2 diaper changes and 3 outfit changes (1 for you and 2 for baby). WIPE EVERYTHING OFF FOR THE NEXT 3 DAYS! Soccer practice – gone. Lunch date – cancel it. Drs appt – only if its serious lol. Moms coming over – give her a list of to-dos. Church – God will understand, I promise. Call DH & tell him youre ordering pizza for the next 3 nights, unless hed like to reheat leftovers, bring home Chinese food, or make grilled cheese (unless you were the lucky one that got the DH that could cook, and then I’m jealous).

Find a good book – maybe the BFing book that’s been gathering dust the last 10 months. Have DH bring home all the trash magazines so you can catch up on all the celebrity goodness. Whatever floats your boat. Grab a comforter, a pillow, the remote, some snacks and a lot of water and find a comfy place in front of a TV. That’s your home for the next 3 days. Give up your anxiety now, the laundry will not walk off, it will be there in 3 days and your DH could use another job anyways!

Now – strip down from the waist up. Yes, you’re probably leaking more than the rickety faucet in the downstairs bathroom. That’s ok. Now, strip baby down to just a diaper. Which reminds me – grab a handful of diapers, wipes, and the bathroom trash can to put next to the couch. Turn up the heat if you must, but really – your body heat will do the job.

Your job for the next 3 days is to feed the baby. That’s all. No laundry. No cooking. No cleaning. You can take a shower if you’re one of the lucky ones that has a baby that will sleep when DH comes home. But, really – its not necessary. Baby likes the way you smell 

Nurse nurse nurse. The reason this works so well is:
1 – you’ve finally succumbed to motherhood. Priorities priorities priorities. This is your ONLY job. Until you get this down pat, nothing will fall into place. When you have this down pat, everything else will run smoother, including your brain 
2 – skin to skin contact. The skin to skin contact, even if baby barely nurses at all the first day, will do more for the baby than just about any other single thing you can do.
3 – Being naked will give you an unobstructed view of what is going on down there. Is baby’s latch good (for the answer, pull out that dusty BFing book). Tongue should be slightly visible, both lips puckered out like a fish’s, and you should hear gulping, not clicking.
4 – Interest in the breast – this is why the leaking happens. Baby knows the smell of milk- baby will get interested in the breast, will root around, and will start to get the hang of things
5 – because you have nothing else to do except nurse – baby will nurse probably ALLLLLLLLLLLL day and your supply will increase naturally as a result.

Now – those diapers. Count em. From the time you get up till the end of the evening – count diapers. If baby is under a week old, you should get at least 1 diaper per day of life (3 days old = 3 dirty diapers). For babies over 1 week old, look for 5 – 6 wet/poopy diapers a day. Because you don’t have anything else to do but nurse, change diapers, and keep up with which celeb is in rehab again, you can change frequently and don’t have to worry if that diaper had one pee pee or two. Having trouble determining whether its wet (b/c they don’t dump a gallon of pee when theyre that little)? Well, you could leave them naked but assuming you don’t want to call an upholstery cleaner at the end of the 3 days, place a piece of toilet paper in the diaper when you change the baby. By the next diaper change if the TP is obviously wet, then you know baby peed. The super absorbent diapers can be hard to tell but this makes it easier.

IF you don’t have enough wet diapers, you can supplement an ounce or two (base your judgement off of how many diapers you got).

Check these links for more info:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html
http://www.kellymom.com/newman/04enough_milk.html

This usually works. You can do fenugreek and mothers milk tea if you need, just add that to the pile in your nest on the couch. Fenugreek is usually around 3 – 4 pills, 3 – 4 times a day for a total of 9 – 12 pills (you should smell like maple syrup within a day or two). You should be taking in a lot of fluids as well. But rest assured, if you're getting enough wet/poopy diapers, your baby is getting enough milk.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Decisions about induction

Ok, so I am 40 weeks tomorrow and still no baby. I have been 3cm since 37 weeks and last week I was 70% effaced. This week I have had the least amount of contractions and goop compared to the last 3 weeks. I am little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I feel fine, but I really want to meet him. My mom and sister are also here from Michigan and have to leave in a couple weeks. 

Anyway, last week they were pushing induction again. The dr expected this to be a large baby which scares me. If I get induced I lose my natural labor I wanted and will end up getting an epidural because of the pitocin. I am so scared of not progressing fast enough and being pushed into a c-section. However, if I want too long then I worry about baby being too big and having to still have a c-section. 

I just don't know what to do. I don't want to be induced for the wrong reason and I am just so torn. DH thinks I should just go for it though
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Friday, April 29, 2011

My updates for 4/29 *Updated 9:18pm*

Haha I am "hoping" I will have some updates today. My day began at 12:34am, and I haven't been able to sleep since - so my day is already screwed up. I woke and decided to pee since I was awake. Well I lost SO much bloody show I couldn't believe it. It took me wiping 7 times just to completely disconnect from it. Very bloody again today too. 

I've had a few more contractions, but again nothing crazy yet.

And now its after 2am and I just can't fall back to sleep, so I thought I would come waste time on the computer and try in about 30 minutes.



****UPDATE 9:18 pm****


So sorry for not updating any through the day. 2 reasons, nothing happened and my hubby decided to not work today, so we were getting ready for my mom and sister to get here tomorrow. 

Anyway, so no updates all day, most the goop stopped with the exception of maybe 3 times I went potty. Then dh and I dtd around 7:30 and I have been contracting ever since. We went to target right after so I haven't really tried timing them, but I am so uncomfortable right now.

So I hoped this was it, but as usual I am betting it will die off tonight when I go to bed. Nothing new there
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Thursday, April 28, 2011

39 week appt *update 8am*

Went well.

bp - 118/70
hb - 144
She didn't measure me 
2-3 cm dilated and about 70% effaced

She also stripped my membranes. It didn't hurt as bad as I've been told. There was a little blood on her glove but none since that. 

Dh wasn't happy about the membrane stripping. He keeps freaking out that we are so far from the hospital. I think he forgets it take HOURS to have a baby, and stripping the membranes doesn't mean the baby is coming NOW. So he wasn't happy about that, but I don't care. I've had tons of activity and if the baby is ready great, and if not maybe they will strip the membranes again next week.

Also, the CNM who I saw today offered to induce me. I politely said no thanks. I am not to that point, I am not even that uncomfortable. It just seemed silly to me to induce before I am overdue with NO REASON to have to get this baby out already.


***Update*** 8pm PST
So, I have been cramping pretty bad in my back all day and I haven't been doing a thing. Either way its gotten stronger and I have had several strong contractions, but nothing timable yet. I had a little spotting from the membrane stripping but not much. I am also VERY nauseous and sweating like crazy. 

Anyway, I don't think its happening tonight, but I do believe tomorrow is a good possibility.


***Update*** 8am PST
So I woke up feeling fine. I tossed and turned a lot and I am still exhausted. When i got out of bed I realized I had a ton of pressure and am still having just very slight cramping in my back. I can't be sure but I don't know that this is related to the stripping. I had plans of getting our and about today, but now we are waiting and getting the carpets cleaned so I am just sitting here.

8:11am
Ok I was laying with the pups and felt wet in my underwear so I went potty and there was a large amount of very bloody goop.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Contractions

However this is the earliest in the day they have started. Im going to take the dogs for a walk and see if it helps any. They are some of the stronger ones I have had
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Sunday, April 24, 2011

Painful movements

I don't know what this boy did, I assume its just his position, but every since yesterday - ALL his movements hurt. Really bad. I feel like my uterus is sore or something because anytime he moves its actually painful. I have never had an issue with him moving hurting me before, but this is kinda crazy to me.

Well that sucked

Some of you on FB saw I was having contractions last night. They started immediately after we had sex and came about with no rise a fall. I was crocheting and out of nowhere I would say "ouch" because I felt it but there was no leading up to it. Over the course of the night they got stronger and were mostly in my back, hips, and below my belly button. Then baby moved into a position that is making it really hard to tell if my whole stomach is tightening because its all hard right now. He is facing my back and his butt seems high in the front and center on my stomach. Anyway, I lounged on the couch, then took a hot bath. I had several uncomfortable contraction in the bath, but then I got relaxed and they weren't so bad. Still mostly in my back and I suck at timing them. When I got out of the bath I laid down in bed and went to sleep with dh. I was still having some but not as often. I woke up just a little bit ago and nothing has happened which really sucks. I went to bed after having contractions for about 5 hours and they had started getting stronger. 

I was hoping to get some sleep and wake up either middle of the night or this morning still having them. No such luck on my part. Bummer . So now we wait again

 But I did pee this morning and had a giant amount of mucus lost again. Haven't had any in about a week so that is a nice sign. We need to keep having that I suppose.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

All Done

I just finished washing all my cloth diapers. Well all but two. I have a red one and a black one that I wasn't sure if it was ok to wash them on hot, so I pulled them out because I just wasn't sure. Anyway, I am line drying my dipes and the stuffings are all in the dryer. I can't believe how much smaller all my prefolds are after boiling, but they should fit in my tiny g's much better now.

I feel one step closer to having this baby home now.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

38 week appt

Boo no change at all which kinda sucks. And I am up 27 pounds now which isn't very fun. BP was good and so was the HB, but I got a little emotional that I don't think this boy has any plans of coming early. I'm also annoyed that the OB last week made it seem like he could be here anytime now since she didn't think I would make it to this appointment. 

So yeah Im annoyed and just want to meet my boy.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Tomorrow

is 38 weeks for me. So far I have NO desire to nest. I have one last quilt to finish and as soon as that is done, I am going to my back yard and pulling weeds. DH already said no but seriously - I have to. I don't feel like this baby has any plan to come out anytime soon - no matter HOW MANY signs my body has given that its closer. I don't know what happened but the OB telling me that i was 3cm and 50% made me go a little crazy and now I can't think about ANYTHING but this baby coming out. Sex hasn't done much and I am not even having contractions anymore. But I can't sleep because my mind is RACING. Not to mention dh wants to start his vacation and the baby isn't even here, umm hello that doesn't work for me.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Connected???

So today and yesterday I noticed a lot more pressure in my vagina. This is a new feeling this pregnancy but its something I usually feel during a period. It feels like I have a weight hanging from there and the floor of my vagina could just fall to the floor. Well I have that pressure as well as a lot of pressure in my lower back right now too. Not cramping at the moment or anything.

Anyway, my feet and ankles have started swelling and today I noticed I have dropped some. My belly seems noticibly lower then just a couple days ago. DH noticed it as well. 

Any chance my pressure is from him dropping and the swelling is from the dropping/ pressure???

Saturday, April 16, 2011

So the past three nights now I start having contractions at night. I am having some now, but I suck at timing them. I 'get' that they are timed from the start of one to the start of the next - but I don't ever feel like the pain from the first one is gone before the next starts - and they are always close together but don't last long at all. I've had like 2-3 in the past 10 minutes or so but then they seem to taper off. I did this for about 3 hours last night - nothing regular. Why can't I get this in the daytime when I can actually go walk around??? All I can do is go lay in bed. 

So frustrating.

Friday, April 15, 2011

contractions?

Ok so its killing me not knowing so i decided to finally get the balls to ask.

How long are contractions in early labor? I know everyone is different but are they 10 seconds, 45 seconds???

Does baby move during or after contractions?

Is it possible to confuse contractions with a baby movement? I swear I feel a tightening and then he is kicking so I keep attributing it to him.

Are contractions always starting and the top and radiating down? I swear I only feel stuff at the bottom.

And do they have to be a rise a fall or can they be a constant pain/ cramping feeling? Everyone asks how long or how far apart but my cramping is always a constant and not a coming and going.



HELP!!!
please anyone?

I swear

This whole waiting to go into labor is way worse then waiting to find out if you are pregnant.  Holy crap its killing me. At least with waiting to see if you are pregnant you have a date as a deadline and a test. But waiting to see if this or that is going to turn into real labor - holy freaking crap.

Being a First-timer makes this so hard. I don't know what anything is thats happening in there. Today at the OB dh didn't think I would be dilated and I was just hoping for a 1cm. I was SO happy with a 3cm and 50% effaced - but how did I miss that? I mean really thats like 1cm away from what I was told active labor was.

Really? This is so freaking hard waiting. Im glad Im early and not late though.

37 week Update

Today was my 37 week appt.

BP was 125/88 a little high for me
HB was 132
Measuring good - she didn't give me the number

And the real good news!!!!!

I am 3cm dilated and 50% effaced. I couldn't be more excited. I have had a few contractions but not many. I am still losing tons of plug but no more blood.

So thats my update, hopefully I can let you all know when I am heading to the hospital. We are hoping he comes on Monday - baby Ruth's birthday.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

OB appt tomorrow

Ok, so tomorrow I am seeing my OB for my 37 ish week appt. I am actually really excited and I hope they check me to see if I am dilating yet.

Today I am still spotting a little, my back cramps are stronger again and I am seeing changes in my #2 in the bathroom. it isn't what you would classify as diarrhea but its softening up and I have gone #2 almost every time I went to the bathroom today.

Just to be safe, I am packing my hospital bag tonight and will have it all in the car tomorrow. We are going to the OB around lunch tomorrow then walking around Bass Pro Shop. We love that store. Then Saturday we will be down that way at a breastfeeding class. PERFECT. Just need to get that in before the baby comes.

I still feel like I am looking into it all a little too much, but I'd rather be ready. My house is a mess and that whole nesting thing hasn't kicked in. Its driving me nuts because I want the house clean I just don't want to do it.
__________________

more?

I thought I lost my mucus plug yesterday. It was big enough that I believed it was the whole thing. So wrong. Went to the bathroom and lost triple the amount this morning. My back was cramping all night to the point that i was in and out of sleep but my cramps in the front have subsided today. I was spotting all morning as well which is no biggie.

The only thing that sucks, in Lamaze class the teacher strongly emphasizes this isn't a sign of labor. At least not a sign as in it can happen in the next day or two. It can happen, but not always.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Ok, so dh and I were finally able to dtd today, and when we got out of bed there was blood on the sheets. It looked like fresh blood. When I went to the bathroom there was a wad about the size of a dime (likely the mucus plug) in the toilet that looked like pure blood. Then when I wiped it was a huge gob about 3 quarters in size. 

I took a shower and lost some more mucus/ dh stuff and am wearing a panty liner. 

We didn't do anything crazy in bed and were in fact just calm and gently. So I don't think the blood is from doing too much.

But, should I be calling the dr about the blood?


I am cramping a little bit nothing too strong at this point.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Hubby is home!!!

And I couldn't be more excited. He is so freaking cute and totally weirded out by the baby moving. The baby has been a good boy and was active for dh to see and feel. DH is exhausted from the traveling and pretty tired, so we laid down to watch a movie and 5 and both crashed. I woke up and need to eat then will crash for the night.

My dogs are also so happy he is home. They have been glued to his side and the one keeps laying on him so he can't move. Its pretty cute.

No plans for tomorrow but he goes back to work on Tuesday (boo).

Friday, April 8, 2011

Decreased movements

Baby has FINALLY started moving again. The past week or so he has really cut down on how much he has been moving. To the point that I might feel a tiny movement twice a day. Well today he moved for a good two hours straight. LOVE IT!!!

I really hate days when he isn't moving much, and I hope he is active for dh this weekend.