Med-Free Check-In 12/1

slartybartfast · December 2016

welcome to December!!

1) how far along?

2) how has pregnancy treated you this week?

3) open ended - what's on your mind? What sort of things are you up to for labor/delivery prep?

zubenescamali · December 2016

You wanted to make sure this was the first post of December? Lol - someone is not sleeping these days!

1. 37w4d
2. Pregnancy is being a little bitch. My SI and PS joints have calmed down some but not I'm getting right hip spasms, baby's head is stuck ROT so I think she's causing them as I feel movement then cramps then spasms then contrx. Chiropractor is looking up some techniques to try to release her and I'm spinning babies whenever I can. Monday I spent hours in L&D for heart monitor because I'm having runs of palpitations every night, went to see the cardiologist and he ordered a holter monitor and echo. This thing is a PITA to carry around and there is no hiding it in my shirt with this massive bump. They briefly talked about changing my vbac plans but cardiologist is not that concerned. So it's full speed ahead for now.

3. I finally paid our doula deposit and signed the contract and hoping to get our second visit in on Saturday. She sent me detailed stories of all her birth attendance and I'm feeling pretty good about the support she can offer. Still have to pack that hospital bag but I'm waiting to do that after my maternity leave starts after Friday.

ajstevenson · December 2016

1) how far along? 36W tomorrow

2) how has pregnancy treated you this week? Ugh. I won't say I'm miserable yet, but it's getting there.

3) open ended - what's on your mind? What sort of things are you up to for labor/delivery prep? I haven't decided whether or not I want to do a bunch of stuff to promote labor. Then again I'm still 4 weeks from my due date, so I haven't gotten desperate yet.

slartybartfast · December 2016

@zubenescamali I think I got about 4 collective hours last night

and actually not because of pregnancy! Poor DS is having autoimmune digestive issues. He's so uncomfortable!

1) 38 tomorrow
2) meh. Just meh. It's hard. I just want to make it to next Friday. This is hard
3) I am trying to spend time in good positions and in ways my body is telling me to. Last time around now I was having rrl tea, evening primrose oil, pineapple, whatever I thought had a chance of safely helping promote labor. And I went early and my cervix wasn't ready. This time I'm not gonna do anything.
I am also sort of working with this irrational fear that even after giving birth I will never be comfortable or have energy again

tinattt23 · December 2016

1) how far along?
37+2

2) how has pregnancy treated you this week?
Probably better than it really should be. The fact that I'm not miserable and uncomfortable yet makes me think he's going to stay inside for a while still.

3) open ended - what's on your mind? What sort of things are you up to for labor/delivery prep?
Logistically, I just need to pack the hospital bag and we'll be ready. Still trying to explain to my family why they can't be in the room during early labor. They're fine not being there for the actual birth, but don't really know what a med free birth looks like. I've tried to explain that if I'm still able to talk and carry on a conversation, I won't be at the hospital. By the time there's a room to come visit, I'll be working and hard and not want distractions. But in their minds I'll "cave" and want the epidural so they'll be able to visit.

slartybartfast · December 2016

@tinattt23 - it's so weird to me to think anyone could assume being in labor is a time someone would want to be social...

gowenc · December 2016

1) how far along? 40 weeks! Although, according to my files I'm 40+3. The earlier date is just based on my cycle, which I know is longer than 28 days, so when my first few ultrasounds came back with him measuring consistently at a due date of 12/1, my old OB changed it. However, when I switched providers they sent over my original due date so that's what my current practice is using, which annoys me a little bit because now they're talking about inducing at 41 weeks since I'm over 35.

2) how has pregnancy treated you this week? I'm pretty over it. Carpal & tarsal tunnel are getting really annoying, and I've had some SI joint pain since he dropped a couple weeks ago. Other than that, and not sleeping particularly well, I'm doing okay. I think I'm more psychologically spent at this point.

3) open ended - what's on your mind? What sort of things are you up to for labor/delivery prep? I am trying to avoid being induced. This is going to be my only pregnancy and there's a big part of me that would be sad if I didn't go through the excitement of going into labor on my own. I also want to go as low intervention as possible, and I know that induction often cascades into other interventions that I don't want to have to go through. I've already been going to the chiropractor and acupuncture, and trying to walk, sit on the birthing ball, and do my squats, but I haven't been as good about those things as I could have been over the last couple of weeks. Since I got the disappointing news yesterday that my cervix is closed for business, I'm going to be ramping up on these in hopes I can get things going before they schedule me for induction.

PensiveCrayon · December 2016

Fingers crossed that things get moving for you soon, @gowenc!

1) how far along? 36 weeks today

2) how has pregnancy treated you this week? Other than the annoying nightly reflux and swollen feet & fingers, I really can't complain. I'm super going to miss this pregnancy when it's over. But at the same time, I'm a bit impatient for it to end. And also freaked out!

3) open ended - what's on your mind? What sort of things are you up to for labor/delivery prep? So far I've been drinking my pregnancy tea and eating dates. Haven't been very good about exercises though. This week we're getting the perineal massages started, and I'm also planning on working my way through Birthing from Within this month.

SmashJam · December 2016

1) how far along? 39 +5. Almost there!

2) how has pregnancy treated you this week? Ok...I have some contractions that aren't quite painful but somehow different from others, mostly because i can clearly feel them coming and going in a consistent manner, but not sure if they are doing anything.

3) open ended - what's on your mind? What sort of things are you up to for labor/delivery prep? I talked a little bit about this in appts, but I was super disappointed to hear that they basically plan on letting me go just as far as last time when they spent the entire pregnancy telling me they wouldn't. I just have to stop expecting things-I have no idea what to expect, or how things are going to happen, so why stress? At the very least, I'll get induced on the 12th. So basically, I guess I am just trying to stay out of my own head and stop freaking out about what could happen when I go into labor, and just go with the flow.

maamawaabangi · December 2016

1) how far along?
36+ some

2) how has pregnancy treated you this week?
Ok... not too bad. I got dehydrated early in the week and and that ruined me for a few days... but I realize now how much I need to be drinking... 3 quarts. Now I'm feeling quite well.

3) open ended - what's on your mind? What sort of things are you up to for labor/delivery prep?
I've gotten nearly all of my HB stuff ready... I just can't find my waterproof mattress pad!!! It's annoying me. I have NO idea what happened to it. I'll probably find it in 6 months. I had my midwife home visit this morning and am so thankful for the two midwives who'll be attending me. They are just so calm and knowledgable. They asked me to voice any fears I have and walked through what a hospital transfer would look like (that's my fear)... and they managed to put me at ease. We talked about everything rom what they could make me to eat after to protocols for if I bleed a lot... They're just awesome!
I feel ready... after next tuesday... or anytime until Jan 1st.

maamawaabangi · December 2016

@SmashJam you're SO close! I know going "overdue" is the pits (such a huge bummer) ... but also know that it's so much easier to have a baby when your body is cooperating, than when it's being made to do something it's not able to cooperate with. "Go with the flow" is a good mantra to have... Hugs. You'll be making an announcement so soon!

I just read through my MW's "natural induction plan" ... to do after 41 weeks or getting close to 42 (because at least in our state you "risk out" of a home birth after 42 weeks). It was interesting, but like you @slartybartfast I did all that stuff with my 1st and 3rd births (where I went fairly overdue) and it did nothing... but make me feel miserable and worn out. I would do the induction plan if I was over 41 and at risk for not being at home, but I'd likely make it a unified effort and throw everything at it! It's pretty unlikely that it wouldn't work at that stage.

I just reflected that my best births were the one I worried least about and was most "chill" with. So far my two best were my 2nd and 4th and I just enjoyed those last few weeks and both lived it up (had fun) and also rested and didn't push for things to start.

slartybartfast · December 2016

"go with the flow is good"
My motto/mantra for this time: Surrender.

SmashJam · December 2016

@maamawaabangi reading what you wrote and @slartybartfast's reflection on how throwing everything at her first pregnancy made her go when her cervix wasn't ready, further makes me realize I just need to chill. It will happen when it happens! I love the "surrender" mantra along with "go with the flow." two good things to think about when it comes to this process. Thanks guys!

zubenescamali · December 2016

@tinattt23 my doula says that for every person outside your core birth team you add one hour to your labor. Labor is not a spectator sport!

@slartybartfast sorry your not getting any sleep. Your poor DS!

slartybartfast · December 2016

Thanks @zubenescamali i am hopeful for tonight!

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