41w4d today. Going in for a checkup, and NST I think, this morning. As long as baby still is doing well, it looks like my providers will give me the option to wait for labor to start spontaneously until Monday, at which point I will be induced if baby still hasn't budged. I have casually tried walking, sex, hot sauce, and a prenatal massage (including work on the trigger points that can bring on labor in some women when stimulated). All but the hot sauce seem to strengthen my BHs, bit not to push me into real labor. Oh well
Hang in there ladies! I delivered about 12 hours ago now and joined the November club! I know 40+ weeks seems like a long time but you can do it!! I didn't think anything was happening with my cervix or anything and should up at the hospital at 8cm dialated so things can change fast for sure.
Ill post a birth announcement and our long and crazy birth story after some sleep and more breast feeding practices.
It is looking like my induction for tomorrow at 40+5 will stand. I have had a long road so far. I was progressing very nicely, and then at 37 weeks I found out my father was ill with cancer. He was only given a few months, but he told me he would get to meet the baby. I think this news completely stalled any progress I had (he actually called during a good news appointment, and I had to call him back afterward). Fast forward and he came out to visit and was in bad shape. Last Wednesday they gave him two weeks. When I saw my doctor I told him what was going on. He was very concerned about me trying to deliver after losing my father. He had originally said he would let me go to 42 weeks, but after finding out about my dad he said he would suggest an induction to make sure my dad could meet the baby. Unfortunately, my father did not make it the 2 weeks, he only made it four days. He died the day after my due date. Everyone keeps telling me about how late babies are happy babies, and the baby will come when its ready, but it is so devastating to know that if the baby was born on time he could have at least seen a picture or met the baby. We were debating keeping the induction date, but we feel like this may all be stalling everything completely and my blood pressure has also been very high suddenly (probably to do with the stress), so it would be best to just keep everything as planned.
I feel like a failure. Is anyone else feeling this way? Am I doing the right thing? I don't want to put baby at risk if my BP is high, but I always thought I would try to avoid an induction as much as possible, but these are also very different circumstances than I could ever have imagined.
@crbpjb : I am so sorry about your dad. That is really hard that he was not able to meet his grandchild, your baby. A few days ago, at 41 weeks and a couple days, I definitely felt like a failure because I have yet to birth this baby. Everyone's initial guesses for his birthday have passed. If you feel like a failure for your dad not seeing the baby before he died, that makes sense, but you did nothing wrong.
You are handling a LOT right now. Makes sense your blood pressure is up. If I were you I would trust my doctor's assessment about whether it is better to wait for spontaneous labor or to get induced as scheduled, or to adjust that date.
@Sballerina I had my first BPP and NST today. I know what you mean about trying it all. Walking, sex, food, etc. Prayers that baby joins you QUICKLY!!! I have to go for another NST on Saturday if baby doesn't join us before. Good luck!!
@crbpjb I am SO sorry about your dad. You are most definitely not a failure. Try and give your body a chance to rest and I am sure things will get moving for you. Thoughts and Prayers going up for you.
Had my 41 week check today and my third failed membrane sweep. My cervix is still far back and baby not low enough. This time I did burst out crying. I was really looking forward to have this baby in a tub in a birthing centre. Now I am scheduled in for induction on the 10th at the hospital and won't be allowed a waterbirth. Why is my body failing me?! I guess something just had to not go to plan after a perfect pregnancy :-(
@AiramJ Your body isn't failing you and you could still go into labor before!!! It sucks, majorly. I have no warm up labor, baby doesn't drop, NOTHING until I actually go into labor. (This is my 3rd) Take a bath, or schedule some girl time, and try to forget about how late baby is for even an hour. Hugs!!! ♡
@AiramJ Your body isn't failing you and you could still go into labor before!!! It sucks, majorly. I have no warm up labor, baby doesn't drop, NOTHING until I actually go into labor. (This is my 3rd) Take a bath, or schedule some girl time, and try to forget about how late baby is for even an hour. Hugs!!! ♡
Aww thank you I know I shouldn't complain and the end goal is having a healthy baby in my arms, but I would have liked it in a certain way. I tried everything like raspberry leaf tea, walks, chilli, pineapple etc, but it didn't make a difference. Ah well...
@AiramJ I know what you mean, this being my 3rd I have literally tried everything people say started their labor. Nada. Lol, these little ones know when they are ready and unless forcefully evicted they don't come until they are good and ready!! You got this! Take care of you and I am sending thoughts & prayers for baby to join you!!
There's only a few of us left! I keep wanting these BH contractions to turn into painful real ones. One moment I'm on awe that baby will be here at least by Monday or early Tuesday by induction. Another moment I feel lmhis arrival by any means us so terribly far away. Almost everybody is encouraging me to rest and let the stuff go that I haven't done, since physical and emotional rest right now can help me get through labor later. I find I can sit or lay still and physically rest, but the mental a d emotional rest is harder to come by. I keep feeling like I should do stuff - important stuff.
Today was my last at work. Originally I had planned to work until I went into labor. But now that I'll be two weeks over on Saturday, I thought one day off from the office would be nice, if only so I don't have to struggle to stay alert and on-point and can also avoid people's inquiries as to my and baby's status. When I left work today I actually did feel quite relieved.
Tomorrow I have a NST and will ask for my membranes to be swept a second time. Hoping baby starts coming tonight.
41w2d and while I am managing physically, I know what you mean about the emotional aspect. My sanity is quickly disappearing. I have had to leave the house for an hour or two the last couple nights, just so I have some time to try and recover a bit of my sanity. DH is honestly doing amazing, he has worked all week and then come home and taken over getting both girls fed. I hope and pray this baby comes this weekend. Not sure I can handle sending him off to work anymore....
@NathanheartsKim Aww thanks. I've been in a labor room since 2 pm today, but contractions have calmed down in the last couple hours. They are giving me am option to go home (1 hour away) or take an Ambien and sleep here, then reevaluate come morning. I think we'll stay. Less anxiety that way, and it is pretty quiet and calm here.
I finally having contractions! I kept waking up with pain last night, the sort of pain/pressure I got whenever baby pushes his bum up, but this time it was so painful. I told my midwife this morning and she said they are contractions. Also, I did the usual urine sample for the appointment and actually lost my mucus plug in the plastic container! I am so excited, looks like the end is closer! How is everyone else holding up??
@NathanheartsKim Aww thanks. I've been in a labor room since 2 pm today, but contractions have calmed down in the last couple hours. They are giving me am option to go home (1 hour away) or take an Ambien and sleep here, then reevaluate come morning. I think we'll stay. Less anxiety that way, and it is pretty quiet and calm here.
Baby Jonathan was born Sunday, November 8, at 3:48 am. 8 lbs-something (read below). Relieved and happy he is here. He was born at 42 weeks, 1 day. Labor kind of started on its own but was overall unproductive in terms of cervical dilation after 24 hours, including attempting more natural helps like breaking my water and nipple stimulation. 5 hours after breaking my water I was still about 4.5 cm. With my exhaustion I decided the only way I could continue was to get the epidural, as I had had painful, unproductive contractions for hours. A bit of Pitocin and 2.5 hours of pushing later (14.4 inch head) I emerged from labor with a sore tailbone but a happy and relieved heart!
Funny thing though: about an hour after birth, after skin to skin, he was weighed. The nurse told me he was 8 lbs 4 oz and that is what is on every piece of paper work for him. However, today when he was weighed to check on how he's doing, he weighed in at 8 lbs ELEVEN OZ! The nurse (different one) weighed him again and also on a different scale. Three separate readings show that is what he is currently! It's a mystery. Of course since babies almost always start losing a bit of weight quickly after birth, we are thinking that that initial 8 lbs 4 oz measurement was not correct. The most logical answer is he actally weighed 8 lbs 14 oz at birth and the nurse left off a digit somehow, because losing 3 oz during the first day would be a typical amount.
I have no idea what is going to be his official record, since it would be extremely unnatural for any baby to gain after birth, let alone gain 7 oz. I feel fairly confident he weighed more, but the question is how much? They don't know what scale he was weighed on so they can't check using it again to find if it us miscalibrated. However, it would be hard to believe it could be miscalibrated by 7 whole ounces! Maybe they will try to contact the nurse who weighed him after birth to check with her if she was sure...
In the meantime I don't know what weight to tell people he was when born!
ETA: Short birth story, hopefully more to follow in the O15 birth announcement thread.
Re: November babies
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Ill post a birth announcement and our long and crazy birth story after some sleep and more breast feeding practices.
You are handling a LOT right now. Makes sense your blood pressure is up. If I were you I would trust my doctor's assessment about whether it is better to wait for spontaneous labor or to get induced as scheduled, or to adjust that date.
Praying.
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I know I shouldn't complain and the end goal is having a healthy baby in my arms, but I would have liked it in a certain way. I tried everything like raspberry leaf tea, walks, chilli, pineapple etc, but it didn't make a difference. Ah well...
http://natenkim.wordpress.com/
Today was my last at work. Originally I had planned to work until I went into labor. But now that I'll be two weeks over on Saturday, I thought one day off from the office would be nice, if only so I don't have to struggle to stay alert and on-point and can also avoid people's inquiries as to my and baby's status. When I left work today I actually did feel quite relieved.
Tomorrow I have a NST and will ask for my membranes to be swept a second time. Hoping baby starts coming tonight.
41w2d and while I am managing physically, I know what you mean about the emotional aspect. My sanity is quickly disappearing. I have had to leave the house for an hour or two the last couple nights, just so I have some time to try and recover a bit of my sanity. DH is honestly doing amazing, he has worked all week and then come home and taken over getting both girls fed. I hope and pray this baby comes this weekend. Not sure I can handle sending him off to work anymore....
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@Sballerina Come on baby!!!!
8->
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Funny thing though: about an hour after birth, after skin to skin, he was weighed. The nurse told me he was 8 lbs 4 oz and that is what is on every piece of paper work for him. However, today when he was weighed to check on how he's doing, he weighed in at 8 lbs ELEVEN OZ! The nurse (different one) weighed him again and also on a different scale. Three separate readings show that is what he is currently! It's a mystery. Of course since babies almost always start losing a bit of weight quickly after birth, we are thinking that that initial 8 lbs 4 oz measurement was not correct. The most logical answer is he actally weighed 8 lbs 14 oz at birth and the nurse left off a digit somehow, because losing 3 oz during the first day would be a typical amount.
I have no idea what is going to be his official record, since it would be extremely unnatural for any baby to gain after birth, let alone gain 7 oz. I feel fairly confident he weighed more, but the question is how much? They don't know what scale he was weighed on so they can't check using it again to find if it us miscalibrated. However, it would be hard to believe it could be miscalibrated by 7 whole ounces! Maybe they will try to contact the nurse who weighed him after birth to check with her if she was sure...
In the meantime I don't know what weight to tell people he was when born!
ETA: Short birth story, hopefully more to follow in the O15 birth announcement thread.
http://natenkim.wordpress.com/