@chef'swife, I really really hope everything works out so you can take your little guy home
@PerraSucia, that's a trick I was told to try by a few IRL and was about to because from a list of other stuff to try that one sounded most realistic with my kid and all his crazy sensory issues. What I did was bring him in to the school nurse yesterday and beg for her help (which she did and now it's out.) Now, DD has pink eye. Eh, could be worse. Thank you for responding. How is your DS1 adjusting to life with DS2? Is the baby crying still keeping him awake? Hope you're doing okay.
@krob I'm 36+5 and have been drinking 1-3 cups of RRL tea everyday. Asking my midwives if I can start the evening primrose oil this week since I'll likely be induced in the next 2 wks.
@tentacular No worries at all! I was mainly just getting a little worried! I lurked your page and you hadn't been around in a while. While I'm sorry to hear you've been feeling so awful, I'm glad you're here now
@Gretchypoo i am 37w. I have only been having 1-2cups of RRL tea.
i have been having 6 dates a day since 35w. My doula recommended the primrose, haven't done that yet. May start acupuncture this week.
ive been trying to walk but super sore pubis makes it so difficult. As for sex i just don't see it happening. aside from feeling like a beached whale the fact that my pubic bone has been soo sore since Christmas makes sex sound terrible.
as i described to a friend of mine if Idris Elba (my super crush) walked into my bedroom and was like "Hey girl I've been thinking about you." My response would be "Nah, I'm alright."
Me: 36, H: 37 FTM, 2 Furbabies married 03/17/07 lived in Houston, Austin, Los Angeles and NYC due: 2/15/17
@krob I was in peekaboo for a couple weeks (and dilated to 2cm, baby at -2, 60% effaced) so take this with a grain of salt, but all last week I started doing some acupressure, specifically the spot on the inside of the ankle above the ankle bone, I did multiple sessions of that on Wednesday specifically too. Thursday I got a pedicure and a looooong foot massage (heavenly), Friday I got my haircut and my stylist massaged my head for a good 10 mins because I damn near begged her (heavenly again) and I went into labor Friday night at midnight. I was as active as possible that week, forcing myself to do stairs over and over again a few times a day too. I did lots of visualizations and mediatations, like a LOT- like imagining my cervix/vagina was a flower and I was willing it to bloom and open as silly as that sounds. I stretched with a yoga strap a few times a day, mainly focusing on hip openers. As far as yoga goes I did cat and cow pose relentlessly. No sex though, I couldn't handle it. No spicy food either because of horrible heartburn. I never tried the tea or primrose oil so I'm no help there.
Pretty sure all of that didn't induce labor on its own, but maybe it helped me move along a bit quicker? I was 39w exactly when I delivered.
ETA my phone autocorrected "prelabor" to "peekaboo" but that's adorable (and true) so I'm not changing it
I did absolutely nothing in terms of old wives tales trying to kickstart labour. I did have a membrane sweep on the tuesday at 37+2 (a week before i was due to be induced) and my waters broke natuarally at 37+6. I think its simply a case of when theyre good and ready theyll arrive and not before.
@yogadevil - I've had 2 c sections and have never gone into labor, so I don't know much about it and reading your post I was like WHAT ON EARTH IS PEEKABOO?! It sounds painful!!
So.. I just checked in at 9:45 for a 10am appointment, only to realize the appointment today was for 2:45pm... thankfully they laughed and said they could work me in.. pregnancy brain is so real y'all!
@krob I started drinking raspberry leaf tea this week (starting with one cup/day for now, until I hit 37 weeks and then I'll probably up it to 2-3 cups/day), and I ordered evening primrose oil after I got the ok from my MW. So I will start taking that as soon as it arrives.
I am also going to try to get in to an acupuncturist starting next week. My MW said of all the "home remedies" to kick start labor, acupuncture/acupressure has shown to be the most successful. Though nothing is likely to kick start labor unless your body and baby are already ready, but since my lil guy has a 95th percentile head, I am doing everything in my power to get him out on or before his EDD!
I told hubby I wanted to have sex today (to try and induce labor) and he starts telling me he doesn't think he can have sex with me anymore because all he can think about is that fact that he's afraid he's gonna hit the baby's head! LOL! At my last cervix check the doc mentioned she could feel the baby's head...I guess that really freaked DH out. I'm trying to reassure him everything will be fine...hopefully I can convince him!
I Forgot how much cervix exams suck. Then again, it's not like I've been getting any love to help prepare me for something down there. My poor H has been a good sport, but damn I'll be ready to have baby and want sex again. I don't know how any of y'all have sexdrive. Between bedrest and morning sickness at the beginning, my poor H only got loving during second tri. We've tried a few times in third tri and it's been decent, but I truly have no drive/desire. Last pregnancy I was crazed, now I'm like meh.. no thank you
I would like to try sex to induce, but after we had sex last weekend, I bled more than I would have liked. The MW reassured me it's just because my cervix is super sensitive, but it was a little disconcerting.
I don't really have much of a sex drive at this point anyway, but H definitely does. He seems really into pregnant me. I have been indulging him on occasion because I know he won't be getting any for at least 6 weeks after the baby comes, but after the bleeding episode, I'm a little wary.
So I went to L&D last night after having long painful contractions every 2 minutes for about two hours. I got there, they hooked me up and told me I couldn't leave until they calmed down. I didn't leave that hospital until 7:30 this morning. They did a cervical exam and I was at a 1, but that's nothing huge so they just monitored the contractions. I had regular, huge chart-topping contractions for two hours straight and then it slowly fizzled out into nothing a few hours later. I don't know why they fizzled out but I left feeling super frustrated and disheartened. I feel so dumb going in over nothing. The one thing that struck me as strange is the huge anxiety that came with going to the hospital. Even though it was a calm environment, something about seeing the giant delivery room lights above me, all the monitors around me, and hearing the newborns crying from the other room really freaked me out. H slept soundly on the extra bed made for dads, so I was up, wide awake through the entire night, hooked to these horribly itchy machines, trying to rationalize my fear alone. But I just couldn't. Being there made me desperately want to go home and keep baby inside forever. I was so mentally prepared for labor and delivery until the second I walked into the room. I think I'm just over reacting and scared of the unknown, like possible complications with labor or how my current family dynamic is going to change. Ugh, sorry for the long whiny dear diary post. I just have no idea how to sort through my fears and be in a good place mentally so I don't have a huge panic attack when the time actually does arrive.
I find that I'm actually really horny lately but whenever DH and I try to have sex I'm so uncomfortable, then I start to feel all self conscious with my giant belly and stretch marks on my boobs that are no longer perky but just lay on my giant belly, then it starts to hurt and all goes downhill and I'm afraid to try again for a while. I feel bad for DH but he's been really supportive about it.
Me: 33 | DH: 34 Married: October, 19, 2015 EDD 2/22/17 DS1 born on 3/2/17 EDD 3/8/20 DS2 born on 3/10/20 EDD 11/24/23 (Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
@krob and others: Here is my "knowledge" of dates, RRL, and EPO. Of the three, the only one that has an induction like effect is the EPO, but it isn't particularly potent. Its main job is to soften the cervix and prepare the exterior portions of the canal. It has some prostaglandin action, but not enough to totally induce labor. I insert one vaginally each evening (after I get as much pee out as I can!) and try not to get up after for a while. A day pad might be useful. Around 40 weeks I might up it to 2. At some point with my 2nd daughter I was inserting every 30 minutes (she was 8 days late) as well as taking them orally. RRL is a uterine tonic. It shouldn't induce labor. What it does is strengthen the uterine muscles so that when you contract they are effective. I liken this to lifting weights with the proper form. You will get more work done with good form and practice then if you jump in with no experience and try to lift a heavy weight. You can hurt yourself, you'll wear out quickly, and its going to look a hot mess. I drink 2 cups of hot and strong tea a day. Dates are new to me, I have a hard time eating them, but the theory with them is they give you an easier labor, you won't need a medical induction and when you *do* go into labor your waters will be TOUGH. Speaking from personal and professional experience, you want those waters in tact as long as freaking possible, pain management wise. RRL is said to help with this too.
DD1- Aug11 Angel Baby- June13, said goodbye Oct12 DD2- Aug13 DD3- due Feb17
I promise you guys who don't feel like having sex that it's no magical labor inducer. Had sex yesterday, still pregnant. Thanks for that rundown though @peachesnbean! Super interesting! Maybe I'll ask my MW about EPO next week.
@LivingLaVidaGinger I'm sorry for your experience. I have a general fear of hospitals, and one thing that's helped reduce my anxiety about that part of labor is meditating. It's nothing crazy, just 15 min. a day or so, but it's made a world of difference. I'm using a technique from a book called Mindful Birthing, but I think there are loads of good prompts on iTunes and all over the web.
@LivingLaVidaGinger I don't have any stellar insight but just wanted to say I'm sorry you're feeling that way. I don't know if you're writing a birth plan, but if you are maybe include this info. I found my l and d nurse very supportive and letting them know in advance that this is a concern might help them to better support you through it?
@LivingLaVidaGinger did the anxiety ever go away? or were you anxious the entire time you were there?
i agree with @Xstatic3333 on working on mediation or other helpful devices to overcome or ease the anxiety. Anxiety is known to stop labor progress.
i would suggest staying at home as long as possible. but since your contractions were 2min apart you did the right thing by going in. i'm sorry this last bit has been so difficult for you.
Me: 36, H: 37 FTM, 2 Furbabies married 03/17/07 lived in Houston, Austin, Los Angeles and NYC due: 2/15/17
@LivingLaVidaGingerI'm sorry you had that feeling all night, that sounds so uncomfortable. I had gone in for some contraction monitoring and was having an odd discharge 10 days prior to actual delivery, I felt the same as you and it really made me doubt myself. When it *was* actually my time, we arrived and I had a strange sense of calm wash over me, like my body knew it was the real deal and I was ready. I'm really hoping it's similar for you
@LivingLaVidaGinger I'm so sorry you had such a hard time at the hospital. It sounds like maybe a big part of it was feeling alone with all of this anxiety - have you talked to your husband about how you were feeling? Maybe if he was aware that you were having difficulty he could have stayed up with you and helped you get through it easier? Also, I don't know if your hospital rooms have the ability to dim the lights, but maybe that would help? When we did our hospital tour, I was struck by how bright the lights were in the labor and delivery suite, and then the nurse showed us how to dim all the lights, and it really made it feel like a much more relaxing environment immediately. I don't know that any of that will help, but I'm sorry you are feeling this way!
@LivingLaVidaGinger I know it's so frustrating for you. I've already shared my story so I can relate. The anxiety part is normal. Shit is getting real and even for myself as a STM I got anxious during the hospital tour once in the labor room, like good grief what am I doing? If you can, lean more on your husband for some anxiety relief. It's scary, but you'll come through it all!
@LivingLaVidaGinger it's pretty common for a mom to want crawl out of her skin in early labor. Is there anyway to tone down the monitoring? Even if the nurses need to monitor you constantly all the displays in your room should be able to be turned off. Do you think that would help? Also try music
@Xstatic3333 and co- there's no sure fire way to naturally induce labor. Sometimes even medical inductions fail. One thing that I've found really works for my early/pre labor clients s is nipple stimulation, particularly sensual nipple stimulation. Can't tell you how many times I've been at a lack luster labor and I reminded them of that "trick" from Ina May before leaving the room for a 15/20 min break to come back to full throttle labor.
DD1- Aug11 Angel Baby- June13, said goodbye Oct12 DD2- Aug13 DD3- due Feb17
Thanks so much everyone! I don't know what it was, but I feel better tonight. Maybe the lack of sleep that night was a factor. The anxiety kind of went down as I realized I wasn't giving birth that night. Next time I'll definitely bring some music and methods to kind of meditate and regain control of my fears. Hopefully I won't have to go back to L&D until it's the real thing and I'll be calmer! It's just so hard to tell when it's the real thing!
Thinking of you guys! Just popped in to send some love -- I'm missing you all. This twin newborn schedule is no joke! Going to lay down for 20 minutes now... ❤
A colleague just told me I have a "cute walk" now. Am I waddling?! She said no, no, it's just cute. lol. Baby boy is dropping and giving me pelvic pain so I'm not surprised...
H asked me if I minded if he hung out with his best friend tomorrow. I said not at all, just don't have more than two beers and don't make me leave this house. I assumed he would go over there and I would get some ice cream and bad television couch time to myself. Nope! I should have been more clear. He invited BFF and his GF over to our house. And now I am entertaining at 38+5. RRAAARRRGGGHHHHHHHHH. I made him promise to do all cleaning and obtain food. They are chill, and it should be fine, but really!? I had to articulate that this was a bad idea!?
@Xstatic3333 ooooh, big fat NOPE. I would play the pregnant lady prerogative and tell them to go find a local pub. Sorry my friend. I know that in nesting mode it felt like a minor threat to have people all up in my space unless I (NOT my husband) had expressly invited them.
@LivingLaVidaGinger most people have touched on what I'd say, but just know you're not alone. I also recommend bringing a coloring book if it helps.. I found myself doing activities as long as possible to distract from the pain & nerves. Just be very honest and talk to your support group(nurses, doctors, H & family). I would definitely talk to you H if you haven't already and just let him know what you need from him, be it support, reassurances, talking etc.
The first day I was at the hospital with my first, my H didn't really know what I needed from him and was constantly in and out of the room with my family trying to entertain them. Once I pulled him aside and told him I pretty much just wanted him in there with me, he parked himself in the room with his kindle and I felt much better. Also my H seemed to sleep soundly on the dad bed and it annoyed the hell out of me. lmao.
Very important question, ladies: we've all heard of the benefits of a goats milk bath for the skin, yes? Do we think partially digested breast milk confers similar advantages? Because I just got a lovely shower AAAAALLLL over me.
Re: Weekly Randoms (1/23)
@PerraSucia, that's a trick I was told to try by a few IRL and was about to because from a list of other stuff to try that one sounded most realistic with my kid and all his crazy sensory issues. What I did was bring him in to the school nurse yesterday and beg for her help (which she did and now it's out.) Now, DD has pink eye. Eh, could be worse. Thank you for responding. How is your DS1 adjusting to life with DS2? Is the baby crying still keeping him awake? Hope you're doing okay.
i have been having 6 dates a day since 35w. My doula recommended the primrose, haven't done that yet. May start acupuncture this week.
ive been trying to walk but super sore pubis makes it so difficult. As for sex i just don't see it happening. aside from feeling like a beached whale the fact that my pubic bone has been soo sore since Christmas makes sex sound terrible.
as i described to a friend of mine if Idris Elba (my super crush) walked into my bedroom and was like "Hey girl I've been thinking about you." My response would be "Nah, I'm alright."
FTM, 2 Furbabies
married 03/17/07
lived in Houston, Austin, Los Angeles and NYC
due: 2/15/17
#notamasochist.
Pretty sure all of that didn't induce labor on its own, but maybe it helped me move along a bit quicker? I was 39w exactly when I delivered.
ETA my phone autocorrected "prelabor" to "peekaboo" but that's adorable (and true) so I'm not changing it
Doh.
I am also going to try to get in to an acupuncturist starting next week. My MW said of all the "home remedies" to kick start labor, acupuncture/acupressure has shown to be the most successful. Though nothing is likely to kick start labor unless your body and baby are already ready, but since my lil guy has a 95th percentile head, I am doing everything in my power to get him out on or before his EDD!
I told hubby I wanted to have sex today (to try and induce labor) and he starts telling me he doesn't think he can have sex with me anymore because all he can think about is that fact that he's afraid he's gonna hit the baby's head! LOL! At my last cervix check the doc mentioned she could feel the baby's head...I guess that really freaked DH out. I'm trying to reassure him everything will be fine...hopefully I can convince him!
ME: 25, DH: 27
TTC #1 since 09/2015
Miscarriage @ 10 wks 02/28/2016
BFP 05/28/2016!
I don't really have much of a sex drive at this point anyway, but H definitely does. He seems really into pregnant me. I have been indulging him on occasion because I know he won't be getting any for at least 6 weeks after the baby comes, but after the bleeding episode, I'm a little wary.
The one thing that struck me as strange is the huge anxiety that came with going to the hospital. Even though it was a calm environment, something about seeing the giant delivery room lights above me, all the monitors around me, and hearing the newborns crying from the other room really freaked me out. H slept soundly on the extra bed made for dads, so I was up, wide awake through the entire night, hooked to these horribly itchy machines, trying to rationalize my fear alone. But I just couldn't. Being there made me desperately want to go home and keep baby inside forever. I was so mentally prepared for labor and delivery until the second I walked into the room. I think I'm just over reacting and scared of the unknown, like possible complications with labor or how my current family dynamic is going to change. Ugh, sorry for the long whiny dear diary post. I just have no idea how to sort through my fears and be in a good place mentally so I don't have a huge panic attack when the time actually does arrive.
Married: October, 19, 2015
EDD 2/22/17 DS1 born on 3/2/17
EDD 3/8/20 DS2 born on 3/10/20
EDD 11/24/23
(Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
DD1- Aug11 Angel Baby- June13, said goodbye Oct12 DD2- Aug13 DD3- due Feb17
@LivingLaVidaGinger I'm sorry for your experience. I have a general fear of hospitals, and one thing that's helped reduce my anxiety about that part of labor is meditating. It's nothing crazy, just 15 min. a day or so, but it's made a world of difference. I'm using a technique from a book called Mindful Birthing, but I think there are loads of good prompts on iTunes and all over the web.
i agree with @Xstatic3333 on working on mediation or other helpful devices to overcome or ease the anxiety. Anxiety is known to stop labor progress.
i would suggest staying at home as long as possible. but since your contractions were 2min apart you did the right thing by going in. i'm sorry this last bit has been so difficult for you.
FTM, 2 Furbabies
married 03/17/07
lived in Houston, Austin, Los Angeles and NYC
due: 2/15/17
@Xstatic3333 and co- there's no sure fire way to naturally induce labor. Sometimes even medical inductions fail. One thing that I've found really works for my early/pre labor clients s is nipple stimulation, particularly sensual nipple stimulation. Can't tell you how many times I've been at a lack luster labor and I reminded them of that "trick" from Ina May before leaving the room for a 15/20 min break to come back to full throttle labor.
DD1- Aug11 Angel Baby- June13, said goodbye Oct12 DD2- Aug13 DD3- due Feb17
most people have touched on what I'd say, but just know you're not alone. I also recommend bringing a coloring book if it helps.. I found myself doing activities as long as possible to distract from the pain & nerves. Just be very honest and talk to your support group(nurses, doctors, H & family). I would definitely talk to you H if you haven't already and just let him know what you need from him, be it support, reassurances, talking etc.
The first day I was at the hospital with my first, my H didn't really know what I needed from him and was constantly in and out of the room with my family trying to entertain them. Once I pulled him aside and told him I pretty much just wanted him in there with me, he parked himself in the room with his kindle and I felt much better. Also my H seemed to sleep soundly on the dad bed and it annoyed the hell out of me. lmao.