@JustAnotherUsername16 sorry that you had to be admitted!! But I'm glad they are checking you out to make sure all is good. Keep us updated!
Appointment today at 39+4 - BP was good and low! (Finally) I said no thanks to a cervix check, and of course after measuring off last week and getting my extra growth ultrasound, belly measured at exactly 40cm. Haha.
Next Appointment scheduled one week out-at 40 1/2wks-and IF I'm still pregnant they will talk induction options at the tail end of 41wks.
had my US/dr appt to check fluid levels again. apparently i'm on the very high side of normal which is good, but she still wants me to go to NSTs just to be safe i guess. Also, she scheduled another US for the 28th to recheck levels. She said if the levels are very high we will induce at 39 weeks. Guys, I don't want to be induced! I know everything is looking good at this point but my pregnant brain is beating the crap out of my rational brain and not letting him get a word in.. theres nothing i can really do about it so stressing is futile but god i hope my levels are ok next time.
i also asked her about when i should head in when labor starts since we are close to the hospital and her answer kind of surprised me. She's like "well second time is always faster so keep that in mind. next time we'll do a cervical check to see where you're at and that can help us gauge" i thought this was crazy cuz she's usually the one that says "we're not doing any checks today right?" but she explained that although dilation doesn't mean much, the thinning can clue you in a bit about what's going on. So basically if i'm a few cms dilated no big deal but if i'm already paper thin then i might want to head in sooner than later. i thought that was interesting
oh and i'm definitely eating a couple of extra dates a day now! i cannot emphasize enough how badly i want labor to start on its own when she's ready. if i do have to schedule an induction, you better believe i will be chugging some cinnamon tea and doing everything i can to avoid being hooked up to anything. my desire to go natural is borderline obsessive lol i just really want to give it a shot. obviously her health comes first but it doesn't hurt to try to avoid interventions with every reasonable option!
i did ask her this. she said she wasn't going to bring it up unless we have to cross that bridge but since i asked... in the case of extreme excess fluid it gives a much greater chance of cord entanglement. and then, when the water does break it changes the space so drastically that more issues are possible if she is tangled. that explanation made sense to me.
oh i forgot to add, i had my favorite nurse today and she looks at me and goes "damn girl! you've really dropped!" lol so i guess that confirms my suspicions.
@Gators&BoSox I guess my question to her at 39wks facing induction would be why would inducing now instead of waiting for baby to come on her own in a few days solve the extra concern of cord entanglement/space change. it's still gonna be a concern now as much as later so why would you throw extra complications of induction into the mix?? And is ultrasound measuring fluid as potentially off as it is known to be with weight/size measurements?? ((I'm also anti induction, so obviously take my comments with a grain of salt!)) Sounds like you're already at a good place since your fluids are still "average" even if on the bigger side-so hopefully you don't even have to go there!
I think the thinking is the longer she's in there the more of a chance she gets tangled? I think the measurements can be slightly subjective which is why she would only consider induction if my numbers were way high... if my levels were really high this week we might have had a different conversation... I'm anti induction too.. I definitely get that they have their place.. I've just been there done that and prefer to never do it again... here's hoping levels cooperate!
Glad to hear about your good appointment @kjd291! Hopefully you won't make it to your next appointment
@Gators&BoSox sorry to hear that, hopefully everything is clear on the 28th. I'm getting my fluid rechecked tomorrow morning, but I'm having the opposite issue of low fluid.
Just got the call this morning from the hospital, I'm scheduled for an induction March 2nd starting at 5am. While I don't want to be induced, I also don't want labour to start before then!! Really neither is an ideal situation for me, but I will say I am a bit relieved to have a definite end day in sight and I know my mom will be in town by then, especially with all of these contractions i've been getting that are keeping me on edge.
Had my 36 week appt with the midwife. I'm really going to miss her when I move. We're both originally from Columbus, OH and started to bond. I asked her about pain med options besides the epidural and she recommends the gas. She wasn't sure if the hospital where I'm delivering has it though. She for sure knows that they have it at a couple of hospitals in Portland, but I'll be delivering in a hospital in the burbs. She said I could possibly try narcs, but have to get it before I'm 9cm since it crosses the placenta. I'll see her one more time next week and then I get to meet my new midwife group in 2 weeks. Oh, and I'm also measuring a week ahead. Joy. Anyone who's moving at the very end of their pregnancy does not want to hear that!
So I wrote in the breech check in as well - but found out tonight that baby was still breech. The midwife didn't do an ultrasound since I didn't have one scheduled today but she checked my belly with her hands and felt like he's still flipped up. I was so disappointed, because I was SURE he had flipped back down. I feel like he's been going back and forth since my last appt 2 weeks ago when we saw him breech on the ultrasound.
Midwife said that they will schedule me for a c-section at 39 weeks if he's not flipped by 36w. I know it's possible for them to flip after 36w though so I'm trying not to get too discouraged. I know people have c-sections all the time, but this is the only baby I am going to have and I tried for years and years to get pregnant, and I really just wanted the experience vaginal birth. Maybe it sounds silly and I should just be thankful he's healthy - which of course I am - but I can't lie, I'm a little bummed out right now.
They also did extra blood tests to check for pre-eclampsia because I've been having blurry vision. I have also had consistently perfect blood pressure that is more on the low side than the high side, but they are checking to be safe. Midwife said blurry vision can just happen with no pre-e also, so I'm hoping that's the case, I'll find out tomorrow morning. Otherwise my belly is measuring right on target, which is a relief since last time they said I was 3 weeks ahead at my u/s!
@jenny0228 i hope he flips for you! i totally understand wanting a vaginal birth don't feel guilty about that. if you think he keeps flipping around that could be good since it means he still has room to wiggle around. did they give you positions to try? have you tried cold peas at the top of your belly?
had my US/dr appt to check fluid levels again. apparently i'm on the very high side of normal which is good, but she still wants me to go to NSTs just to be safe i guess. Also, she scheduled another US for the 28th to recheck levels. She said if the levels are very high we will induce at 39 weeks. Guys, I don't want to be induced! I know everything is looking good at this point but my pregnant brain is beating the crap out of my rational brain and not letting him get a word in.. theres nothing i can really do about it so stressing is futile but god i hope my levels are ok next time.
i also asked her about when i should head in when labor starts since we are close to the hospital and her answer kind of surprised me. She's like "well second time is always faster so keep that in mind. next time we'll do a cervical check to see where you're at and that can help us gauge" i thought this was crazy cuz she's usually the one that says "we're not doing any checks today right?" but she explained that although dilation doesn't mean much, the thinning can clue you in a bit about what's going on. So basically if i'm a few cms dilated no big deal but if i'm already paper thin then i might want to head in sooner than later. i thought that was interesting
oh and i'm definitely eating a couple of extra dates a day now! i cannot emphasize enough how badly i want labor to start on its own when she's ready. if i do have to schedule an induction, you better believe i will be chugging some cinnamon tea and doing everything i can to avoid being hooked up to anything. my desire to go natural is borderline obsessive lol i just really want to give it a shot. obviously her health comes first but it doesn't hurt to try to avoid interventions with every reasonable option!
If it eases your mind, I totally had a fine induction experience with my son. Sure it was scary and less than ideal, but it was very smooth. It IS possible to have an "easy" induction!
@longliveregina thank you i think i just had such an unfavorable experience with it last time i'm really holding out hope for my "ideal" labor. it probably sounds silly or selfish but that's still my goal and i'm going to do everything in my power to obtain it. it is nice to know though that there are good induction experiences
@Gators&BoSox & @jenny0228 it is NOT silly at all for either of you to be dissapointed or upset by just the potential of not getting the birth you want:imagine for yourself. It's a big deal! You don't need to apologize for those feelings! They are valid! Please keep posting and processing that here! We all understand those cheesy "at least you have a healthy baby" comments are true-but sometimes just don't cut it! Praying for both baby's to do what they need to do to help their mama's out!!
Sad ss it is NOT silly at all for either of you to be dissapointed or upset by just the potential of not getting the birth you want:imagine for yourself. It's a big deal! You don't need to apologize for those feelings! They are valid!
Also @jenny0228 - not sure if you remember me saying before- I also have been having blurry vision that's been determined to not be pre-e. Just hormones/water retention. My midwife said vision changes can be normal (and go back to normal after birth! Or some mama's end up needing glasses or to change a script if already needing them).
aw thanks ladies... makes me feel a lot better that I shouldn't feel guilty about feeling disappointed.
@gators&bosox I know what you mean that you just want to give your ideal labor "a shot" as you say. same with me - I just want that experience! For me I'm not sure it's a non medicated birth per se, but I want to feel my body doing what it was meant to. I still have time, and I do intend to do everything I can from poses to acupuncture. I haven't heard of frozen peas though - clue me in on that one!!
thanks @kjd291 - she did say it could be nothing but they are checking anyway. I'm sorry you are also dealing with it, it totally stinks! I do wear glasses but they aren't helping - hopefully it goes back to normal, but if all I need is a new script that will be no big deal.
@jenny0228 the thinking is that baby will want to move his head away from the cold of the peas and head south. You're supposed to sit on a yoga ball or in similar posture and place frozen peas where you suspect baby's head is up top. you can also keep a warm cloth at the bottom to encourage it further. i've also heard of people playing music at the bottom of the bump to get baby to flip
Ladies. The way a woman gives birth will have a profound affect on the rest of her life. Do not apologize for wanting - and demanding! - a certain type of birth. It's important that baby is healthy. YOUR BODY and YOUR LIFE also matter and you have the right to ask for the birth experience you want and deserve.
Hey Ladies! I finally had another appointment today with my midwife at 34 weeks +2 . Ive been measuring consistently ahead and today I measured right after 34! I was pumped about that. We also had an us today first time since week 20. Baby boy is head down which I know can still change but im excited about it for now. He's measuring at 5 lb 5 oz and In the 47%. My midwife was happy with my GD readings and I now only need to check them 2x/day. Which I'm excited because the strips aren't covered much by insurance (100 are $123 - yikes!)! BP is still up 132/88 but not as high as last time 140/90. Midwife just wants me to keep monitoring it & let her know if the bottom # goes over 90.
Ill see her again in 2 weeks with another us, strep test B?! - what is that? And then I start NST after that.
OB appt last night: Strep B test done...results coming for next weeks' appt. Dr also has it noted that I have elevated BP. Last night it was 134/82. They aren't completely worried yet, but if it continues to stay elevated, they may "limit activity." I guess that means I could be on bed rest. My Dr was not talking induction at all, which is great! I want her to come when she wants to come, and she's perfectly content in my belly right now. We're looking more likely that we aren't gonna make it to the due date, and that she will be early (maybe in the next 2 weeks?!) I really want to make it to 39 weeks (That's 3 weeks from now) if we can and possibly have her on my grandmother's birthday (her namesake), so we'll see what happens. I'm just glad my dr isn't on the induction train at this point.
NST this morning: Baby girl was doing well. She really is content right now. My BP reading was 135/89 first and then they took it again and it was 125/87. They weren't worried...the nurse (who really is my favorite nurse for NSTs) said they weren't terrible, and that they really only freak out significantly if it's 160s/100s (which seems super super high!). So, I'm still chugging away with 2 x a week NST until delivery. I tried listening to music this morning to see if that would bring my BP down, so I may try that again next week and see if it makes a difference.
@mecoats I'm at my NST right now! 2x a week too... I'm glad no one is talking induction .. your numbers don't sound awful so hopefully they cooperate and baby can come when she wants.. I'm projecting a day on mine too lol .. march 5, the day after my birthday ... plus her bday would be 3/5/17 and 3+5-1=7 and that makes my weird little brain happy
You can add me into the boat of 2X a week NST testing - woo hoo! On Monday they have me doing a growth ultrasound followed by a NST and then wrapping up with an OB appointment - they told me to set aside at least 2 hours for the whole appointment. The thought of losing 2 sick hours breaks my heart since I don't get maternity leave (every sick hour I take is an hour earlier I have to return to work after baby is born) but I keep reminding myself that it could be so much worse if I was on bedrest!
Update from this morning - had an ultrasound and fluid levels did not go up despite all the water I drank. Levels are at 6, you're right @jazzyma14 they told me they will induce me right away if it goes down to 5. US tech told me to have my bag packed and in the car for my next appointment on Tuesday. Good news is that the baby is showing no signs of stress.
BP remained high, 147/97. I am 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced, baby is -1. Basically prepped and ready to go whenever. All of this low fluid/high bp stuff is starting to stress me out though
@CanadianintheSouth Glad baby is looking healthy!! But sorry that they can't seem to get the BP down. Prayers that your fluid levels stay where they are or increase for your appointment next week and baby can keep cooking!
@mecoats try not to worry! That's where my BP had been for a few weeks and my midwives weren't concerned at all. Make sure you and your doc are on the same page--like your favorite nurse pointed out: they usually aren't concerned unless you're getting much higher readings!
@CanadianintheSouth - Glad the baby is hanging in. Sorry to hear about your fluid levels and BP I totally understand being stressed over it....but we both should try to remain calm and relaxed....as much as we can!
@kjd291 - thanks again for the reassurance I feel like I'm just flagged as elevated, but my dr and this nurse aren't terribly worried yet. My dr. and I are definitely on the same page - no induction.
I had an appointment today. My blood pressure was normal and baby looks like he's fully cooked in there, haha! I had my GBS test as well. We'll see what the results are on that. My doctor told me that she doesn't do cervical checks unless I request it, which was nice to hear. She said they basically can do more harm than good and aren't necessary but she will check if I want her to. I think I'll pass on the cervical checks until labor.
Me: 24 DH: 27 High School Sweethearts: 10/13/06 Married: 10/13/13 Baby #1 EDD: 3/20/17
Just had my Friday appointment and my BP was 168/108, increased protein and a headache. I was sent to L&D triage and luckily my pressures came down and labs are okay!! So they sent me back home with a bump up in my Labetalol dosing. Slowly but surely I will get this baby to 37 weeks! Only 1 week and 2 days! Still waiting to hear when my induction will be.
@mecoats I know it's a vicious cycle, bp rises, which stresses me out, which then causes higher bp. Tuesday I thought it could be because I had to bring my daughter with me and she was being a typical toddler, but my husband came with me today to keep an eye on her and we thought that might help, but it was even higher. Good idea to listen to some calming music!
@ashley14598 Group B Strep is a bacteria that is sometimes present in your gut that can inefect a baby at birth. So they do a swab of your vagina and rectum to test for it. If it's positive, they'll want you to come in to the hospital early in labor to get two doses of antibiotics in you for baby before he/she is born.
@CanadianintheSouth sorry to hear you fluid level did not increase. Drinking more water did not help me either. I hope you stay at 6 for as long as you need to! Glad baby is doing well!
Not a great appointment. The heart rate was low out of normal range on my BPP. It was a 105. Scared the sh!t out of me. She measured it 3 more times in the 130's but it still scared me. And baby wouldn't practice breathing in the 30 min window. So we scored 6/10 on the BPP. They called my OB who brought me in for NST. It was clear the baby was sleeping so had to keep poking at it to induce movement. Eventually it passed, with the heart rate staying between 120-160 for the entire 30 min. I'm just freaking out now.
OB said the low heart rate was likely due to my position (laying on my back) and he wasn't concerned. But of course I was nervous. I got my first high BP read in 9 months! Obviously due to stress. The practice breathing miss didn't concern him and baby gets hiccups so often I know it's practicing. But it's still upsetting to see all these red flags.
I'm almost at 5cm but not feeling labor! So Dr is offering a quick induction if I make it to 39 weeks. I know it would be so easy and only take like 20 min of pitocin so I'm not really opposed to induction personally. Not sure what to do. Kind of mind boggling to be this dilated for this long. Ugh. I can't think about anything else!
Above all I want to avoid another CS. DH is OK with any decisions I make but was saying let's avoid anything that would cause distress and make CS more likely. So if inducing early helps avoid a CS, he'd support that. But ultimately this is my call and I just don't know.
@Cbeanz sorry that the low HR shook you up! I hope you can get past that and into a more positive head space. It's crazy but awesome that you're so progressed and should have an easy delivery! Maybe next appointment have him do a membrane sweep? And if that doesn't work - Have you asked about skipping the PIT and just breaking your water as an induction method? Just asking cuz That's personally my induction preference if I make it another week + . To break water and see if my body will jump into labor on its own before they start the PIT. Hopefulky baby will come on it's own this week and you don't even have to worry about it!!
@Cbeanz so sorry to hear you got a scare at your appointment! I hope you can go into labor naturally because I know you have been such a strong advocate for yourself to avoid any unwanted intervention. It's certainly a tough call, and one I hope you don't have to make in the end! No wonder at 5cm you can't think of much else! You're getting so close! Fingers crossed it all goes the way you want it to!!
@Cbeanz sorry you had such a rough appointment.. it seems like the closer we get to being finished the more stressful everything becomes! Wow to be at 5 cm for so long it would be all I could think of too! Hopefully baby comes soon and eceryone is happy & healthy!
Yeah my OB offered to rupture membranes or introduce Pit this Friday (39w). It's all up to me. I just don't know what to do. My only major concern is I don't want another CS. Being induced is a minor issue to me. I had a decent induction with #1 to get labor kick-started and I was able to disconnect the IV.
I want this one to choose his or her own birthday. This is my last baby and I don't want to decide when pregnancy is over.
Re: Appointments: Week of 2/13
Appointment today at 39+4 - BP was good and low! (Finally) I said no thanks to a cervix check, and of course after measuring off last week and getting my extra growth ultrasound, belly measured at exactly 40cm. Haha.
Next Appointment scheduled one week out-at 40 1/2wks-and IF I'm still pregnant they will talk induction options at the tail end of 41wks.
i also asked her about when i should head in when labor starts since we are close to the hospital and her answer kind of surprised me. She's like "well second time is always faster so keep that in mind. next time we'll do a cervical check to see where you're at and that can help us gauge" i thought this was crazy cuz she's usually the one that says "we're not doing any checks today right?" but she explained that although dilation doesn't mean much, the thinning can clue you in a bit about what's going on. So basically if i'm a few cms dilated no big deal but if i'm already paper thin then i might want to head in sooner than later. i thought that was interesting
oh and i'm definitely eating a couple of extra dates a day now! i cannot emphasize enough how badly i want labor to start on its own when she's ready. if i do have to schedule an induction, you better believe i will be chugging some cinnamon tea and doing everything i can to avoid being hooked up to anything. my desire to go natural is borderline obsessive lol i just really want to give it a shot. obviously her health comes first but it doesn't hurt to try to avoid interventions with every reasonable option!
oh i forgot to add, i had my favorite nurse today and she looks at me and goes "damn girl! you've really dropped!" lol so i guess that confirms my suspicions.
Sounds like you're already at a good place since your fluids are still "average" even if on the bigger side-so hopefully you don't even have to go there!
@Gators&BoSox sorry to hear that, hopefully everything is clear on the 28th. I'm getting my fluid rechecked tomorrow morning, but I'm having the opposite issue of low fluid.
Just got the call this morning from the hospital, I'm scheduled for an induction March 2nd starting at 5am. While I don't want to be induced, I also don't want labour to start before then!! Really neither is an ideal situation for me, but I will say I am a bit relieved to have a definite end day in sight and I know my mom will be in town by then, especially with all of these contractions i've been getting that are keeping me on edge.
So I wrote in the breech check in as well - but found out tonight that baby was still breech. The midwife didn't do an ultrasound since I didn't have one scheduled today but she checked my belly with her hands and felt like he's still flipped up. I was so disappointed, because I was SURE he had flipped back down. I feel like he's been going back and forth since my last appt 2 weeks ago when we saw him breech on the ultrasound.
Midwife said that they will schedule me for a c-section at 39 weeks if he's not flipped by 36w. I know it's possible for them to flip after 36w though so I'm trying not to get too discouraged. I know people have c-sections all the time, but this is the only baby I am going to have and I tried for years and years to get pregnant, and I really just wanted the experience vaginal birth. Maybe it sounds silly and I should just be thankful he's healthy - which of course I am - but I can't lie, I'm a little bummed out right now.
They also did extra blood tests to check for pre-eclampsia because I've been having blurry vision. I have also had consistently perfect blood pressure that is more on the low side than the high side, but they are checking to be safe. Midwife said blurry vision can just happen with no pre-e also, so I'm hoping that's the case, I'll find out tomorrow morning. Otherwise my belly is measuring right on target, which is a relief since last time they said I was 3 weeks ahead at my u/s!
@gators&bosox I know what you mean that you just want to give your ideal labor "a shot" as you say. same with me - I just want that experience! For me I'm not sure it's a non medicated birth per se, but I want to feel my body doing what it was meant to. I still have time, and I do intend to do everything I can from poses to acupuncture. I haven't heard of frozen peas though - clue me in on that one!!
It's important that baby is healthy.
YOUR BODY and YOUR LIFE also matter and you have the right to ask for the birth experience you want and deserve.
Ill see her again in 2 weeks with another us, strep test B?! - what is that? And then I start NST after that.
NST this morning: Baby girl was doing well. She really is content right now. My BP reading was 135/89 first and then they took it again and it was 125/87. They weren't worried...the nurse (who really is my favorite nurse for NSTs) said they weren't terrible, and that they really only freak out significantly if it's 160s/100s (which seems super super high!). So, I'm still chugging away with 2 x a week NST until delivery. I tried listening to music this morning to see if that would bring my BP down, so I may try that again next week and see if it makes a difference.
DH: 37
DD: 03/17/17
DS: 12/06/19
BP remained high, 147/97. I am 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced, baby is -1. Basically prepped and ready to go whenever. All of this low fluid/high bp stuff is starting to stress me out though
@mecoats try not to worry! That's where my BP had been for a few weeks and my midwives weren't concerned at all. Make sure you and your doc are on the same page--like your favorite nurse pointed out: they usually aren't concerned unless you're getting much higher readings!
@kjd291 - thanks again for the reassurance
DH: 37
DD: 03/17/17
DS: 12/06/19
My doctor told me that she doesn't do cervical checks unless I request it, which was nice to hear. She said they basically can do more harm than good and aren't necessary but she will check if I want her to. I think I'll pass on the cervical checks until labor.
High School Sweethearts: 10/13/06
Married: 10/13/13
Baby #1 EDD: 3/20/17
Edited because only part of my post posted last time
OB said the low heart rate was likely due to my position (laying on my back) and he wasn't concerned. But of course I was nervous. I got my first high BP read in 9 months! Obviously due to stress. The practice breathing miss didn't concern him and baby gets hiccups so often I know it's practicing. But it's still upsetting to see all these red flags.
I'm almost at 5cm but not feeling labor! So Dr is offering a quick induction if I make it to 39 weeks. I know it would be so easy and only take like 20 min of pitocin so I'm not really opposed to induction personally. Not sure what to do. Kind of mind boggling to be this dilated for this long. Ugh. I can't think about anything else!
Above all I want to avoid another CS. DH is OK with any decisions I make but was saying let's avoid anything that would cause distress and make CS more likely. So if inducing early helps avoid a CS, he'd support that. But ultimately this is my call and I just don't know.
Thanks for reading my novel!
It's crazy but awesome that you're so progressed and should have an easy delivery! Maybe next appointment have him do a membrane sweep? And if that doesn't work - Have you asked about skipping the PIT and just breaking your water as an induction method?
Just asking cuz That's personally my induction preference if I make it another week + . To break water and see if my body will jump into labor on its own before they start the PIT.
Hopefulky baby will come on it's own this week and you don't even have to worry about it!!
I want this one to choose his or her own birthday. This is my last baby and I don't want to decide when pregnancy is over.
OK going for a looooong walk!