How are you feeling?: Tired, as well as tired of pelvic pressure/pain and heartburn.
Rants/Raves: No rants, just a general thank you to this group! I haven't contributed before now, but I've very much enjoyed following along during this journey. I'm a FTM and I've found so much advice, comfort, and solidarity, plus getting to end it all with cute newborn pics - thank you, ladies!
Questions: NATM
GTKY: what was your favorite part about pregnancy? I've very much enjoyed feeling baby girl kick!
@marmalade0 If you'd like to stay in touch, about 10 of us are in a WhatsApp group. You can send me your # in a message. Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy and labor!
Upcoming Appointments: Wednesday 3/1 probably going to try some natural induction methods this week 🤞🏽
How are you feeling?: Much more peaceful this week now that the anticipation of her arrival has come and gone. Just trying to stay busy and not think about it 😂
Rants/Raves: I also have really enjoyed lurking on this board and following along on all of our journeys! Congrats to everyone on your bundles of joy!
Questions: None
GTKY: what was your favorite part about pregnancy? Second trimester into early 3rd tri. So much energy, loved my small bump, etc. just a really magical time 🥰
Upcoming Appointments: we return to the hospital tomorrow morning unless I go into labor, my waters break, my baby is not moving much, or profuse bleeding
How are you feeling?: O-K. I had a cook’s catheter placed in me today to start the slow induction process to help me dilate and efface more. It’s a bit uncomfortable but manageable. Sometimes I cramp and it’s hard to tell if it’s the cervix spasming or an actual contraction. I’ve been using a heating pad to cope and it’s helping.
Rants/Raves: I am so lucky to have such amazing support today. My original midwife is on vacation but I have a new midwife in the same practice taking care of me and flexible with my care. She let me go home tonight and I can spend another night in my home while going through this slow induction process. Additionally, the nurses who took care of me at the hospital were so sweet and connected me with an excellent resident who was kind and gentle when inserting the cook’s catheter in me. There was discomfort but no pain. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience today - so very grateful! 🙏🙏🙏
Questions: natm
GTKY: what was your favorite part about pregnancy?
I agree with the other mothers. Feeling the baby’s kicks and movements have been such an amazing feeling. I also loved how much I learned during this journey. As a health nerd, learning about pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum in more depth has been so valuable. OB & Labor and Delivery was never my calling but going through this experience has made me a better practitioner to support my patients in the future.
Baby is the size of a(n): Overdue baby, presumably
Team blue/pink/green: 💙
Upcoming Appointments: I'm hoping it will be an unscheduled visit to the labour ward ;-) but if not, induction on saturday.
How are you feeling?: Impatient! I've tried to really engage with and enjoy his movements, he has a foot solidly planted right under my ribcage, and sometimes it's so visible you can almost grab the foot. And that's super cute. I might miss that. But then again, I'm impatiently waiting to have a small foot to grab any time of day in stead 😅
Rants/Raves: It's a beautiful spring-ey day here. Still in bed, listening to the birds. Heading down to the swimmingpool later. I don't have a rant - only passing bouts of dread for my entire future, loss of independence etc, but they are few and relatively far between, most of the time I just want this baby in my arms 💜
Questions:
GTKY: what was your favorite part about pregnancy?
Oh. I do think I will miss the kicking. But I also had, like, an almost magical feeling back when I tested positive. Like, a marginal secret 'spark'. I enjoyed that, the 'wanting to shout it to the world'-feeling. And I also loved how dogs just wanted to cuddle, I'm totally up for that. And... Just experiencing the love that my son will meet when he comes into the world - family and friends being almost as excited as we are.
@karbaud It's very cute. In an occasionally slightly painful way. And it looks funny when I have, like, a triangular small area of my stomach poking out so you can nearly grab it 😅
Thanks - I suppose I have kind of given in by now and accepted that it will be induction on saturday. But at least just having the date now makes it a bit more real, was starting to feel he would never come out 😅
@justkp. I had to go through an induction too. I discovered that prostaglandin gel was the gentlest option out of all of them and would ask if that is an option.The hospital I was going to did not have it. I was 2cm and 60% effaced when they placed a cook’s catheter in me which is a gentler mechanical induction method. And once it was taken out 12 hrs later, I started going into the active first stage of labor 2-3 hrs later. There are other options than just doing pitocin, especially if your cervix is not reaching a bishop score of 8 or higher.
@ttc3y I have never heard of this gel option?! I might ask them saturday morning when I head in. From what they explained to me, options are (depending on which stage of maturity I have arrived at) pitocin tablets, balloon catheter and straight up breaking the water. My impression was that I would get a very limited say. Disppointing because I wanted to give birth in water and that is not an option with either induction method as they want to do continuos CTG monitoring
I will definitely ask for gentler options, thanks for sharing your experiences 💜 I have a suspicion it might be quote rigid - our healthcare system tends to be. 'If xx, you're in xx group, which means xx solution'.
@justkp I do hope you can go into labor on your own before Saturday! If you can't be in the birth tub, can you at least take a hot shower with induction? That really made a big difference for me with my 2nd delivery. I spent transition in the shower. Also, not sure if this has anything to do with my water breaking, but the night it happened, my husband tried some accupressure points on my ankles and feet. My cousin's wife just told me that's a thing so I looked it up on YouTube and we tried it. I honestly think the snowstorm brought the water breakage but the pressure points could have helped. It was a few hours before it broke that we tried this!
@justkp, would wireless monitoring be available? I was able to use wireless monitoring during my induction. It was great other than the fact that I’m allergic to adhesive and the tape left rashes. I was able to move around a lot and could have used the tub if I had wanted to.
@seeds_of_joy Thanks a mil 💜 Unsure if hot shower is an option, will have to hear about that. I am sooo comfortable in water, so I really hope there's some way. I did try the acupressure last week with no real effect, but I might not have been quite ready for it. Will give it another go today and see if it might get things moving on their own. I had a night of quite bad cramping and nausea so hopefully that's a sign of something happening, but it was much more last week when it turned out to be the worlds longest false alarm 😅
I can't really shake the thought that I've done something wrong somehow. Like. Have I been too active? Not active enough? Not done enough to promote natural labour, not eaten the right things? But at 32 with a largely uncomplicated pregnancy I would have just thought that my body could do this on its own...
@karbaud I will definitely ask if this is an option! I do hope so, I would very much love to be able to be in water. And also move around. Can't believe I haven't even asked for all these options...!
@justkp you’ve done nothing wrong! Sometimes babies just wanna cook a little longer. My first was late as well and it was frustrating, but you’ll get there!
@justkp I agree with amccurls. And also, I don't know if you track ovulation at all, but some women ovulate later than normal. I normally do about 4 days early but this time it was 4 days later than average. I think cycle length has an impact as well. There are probably a lot of totally normal and healthy factors. And honestly if your baby took 44 weeks, your only concern might be a bigger baby.
@amccurls Part of me knows I'm not being rational 😅 I played tennis up until this week, and so many people have been like 'oooh I can't believe you're not afraid to play at this stage'. And I kept replying that doctors haven't recommended against it, and it felt ok. A part of me is worried it will turn out to have been massively irresponsible. I have even been googling 'can I break my fetus' neck' (my mind going: maybe I don't go into labour spontaneously because he is not fit to do it because I have hurt him). And I know it's super silly, and the real tragedy is I have an educational background in healthcare 😅 It'll just be a great comfort to have him safely out and in my arms!
@seeds_of_joy I have been thinking my ovulation was fairly on time as my estimated due date from LMP has been within one day of the early scan and 1st trimester scan estimates. But I have not been tracking, as we got pregnant first cycle after dropping birth control. So I really have no clue - could have been later 😊 there's been debate here in Denmark on whether induction should be offered at 41+0 (rather than 41+5) - with the rationale that 8 stillbirths could be prevented/year. So that keeps going on in my head as well.
Generally it's just the irrational catastrophic thoughts that take up space in my head at the moment 😂 But... Induction 16 hours from now!
@justkp I’m the Queen of irrational thoughts so you are in good company. 🤣 my Google search history is ridiculous. I always thought I was doing something wrong because I’ve never made it past 38 weeks.
@angbaby83 😂 me too! I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of us have ridiculous search engine histories. You're in good company. Motherhood is the scariest 'hood.
@justkp the afternoon before my water broke I was angrily telling my mom I was never going to have my baby and something was wrong with my uterus. I was just 40 weeks. 🙄
@justkp You’re not being crazy at all. All three of our babies were late arrivals and I’m also pretty positive that my later ovulation had something to do with that. When they give you that final date, it drives you crazy when it comes and goes and nothing happens! My last two pregnancies I’m pretty sure have gone into labor only because of rough examinations or quiet attempts by the docs to induce me without directly saying so. But since you’re younger, you’re probably not getting that treatment, lol!
I’ll be thinking of you- keep us posted on how things are progressing! ❤️❤️❤️
@seeds_of_joy I can totally relate 😅 I'm usually a fairly mild mannered person but after the umptieth question at tennis on wednesday, where everyone was like 'WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE?', 'You're the last person we expected to see' etc. I was just like 'BECAUSE HE JUST DOESN'T WANT OUT, OKAY???? 😵💫'. I also felt an urge to punch my mom's husband for the joking comment 'are you sure you're even pregnant?' at around 41 weeks.
@cpk3535 Thanks, will def keep you posted 💜 I was slightly mentally prepared for going over time (FTM + family history), but apparently I was not at all prepared to go to 41+5 😅 Once pre labour symptoms started to show, the wait became fairly insufferable.
I'm up and about (at 5am), ready for induction at 8. Excitement stronger than the panic right now! Adding the 'mom' title to the CV in max a couple of days 😍
@justkp there should be a rule to not bring up a woman's pregnancy after 39 weeks unless it's, "how can I help you" and even that can be irritating if not done properly. 😂
@justkp Just found a moment to log in here. Wishing you a gentle compassionate induction and labor and delivery. And I agree with everyone else, you are not being crazy at all! ❤️BIG HUGS❤️ Ask questions, empower yourself, and I hope they will allow you collaborate and make decisions on how you want your induction to go.
@seeds_of_joy Agreed! He's a guy that likes to joke. But so is my boyfriend and learned to shut the hell up weeks ago 😂 Except that he met a guy from our birth prep class today when we went for the induction. He came into where I was lying with the fetal heart monitor. And he told me he met this guy, they had their baby a couple days early. And he honest to god jokes to me: 'you could learn a thing or two from that' 👿 Rest of the day he's been a total sweetheart though, so I'm minded to forgive him.
I'm on 6th pill of the 8 they sent me home with. Nothing is happening really. Considering going to bed and catching up on a bit of sleep in case things start to happen overnight 🤞
@justkp Definitely follow you intuition on what you need. Relaxation and rest is key. Sometimes you can’t feel the change, especially related to softening your cervix.
Re: Weekly check ins Feb 27
EDD / Weeks + Days: 40 weeks!
Baby is the size of a(n): a small watermelon
Team blue/pink/green: 💕🌸🎀
Upcoming Appointments: Wednesday 3/1 probably going to try some natural induction methods this week 🤞🏽
How are you feeling?: Much more peaceful this week now that the anticipation of her arrival has come and gone. Just trying to stay busy and not think about it 😂
Rants/Raves: I also have really enjoyed lurking on this board and following along on all of our journeys! Congrats to everyone on your bundles of joy!
Questions: None
GTKY: what was your favorite part about pregnancy? Second trimester into early 3rd tri. So much energy, loved my small bump, etc. just a really magical time 🥰
EDD / Weeks + Days: 40w + 3d
Baby is the size of a(n): newborn baby!
Team blue/pink/green: 💚 - we will find out soon!
Upcoming Appointments: we return to the hospital tomorrow morning unless I go into labor, my waters break, my baby is not moving much, or profuse bleeding
How are you feeling?: O-K. I had a cook’s catheter placed in me today to start the slow induction process to help me dilate and efface more. It’s a bit uncomfortable but manageable. Sometimes I cramp and it’s hard to tell if it’s the cervix spasming or an actual contraction. I’ve been using a heating pad to cope and it’s helping.
Rants/Raves: I am so lucky to have such amazing support today. My original midwife is on vacation but I have a new midwife in the same practice taking care of me and flexible with my care. She let me go home tonight and I can spend another night in my home while going through this slow induction process. Additionally, the nurses who took care of me at the hospital were so sweet and connected me with an excellent resident who was kind and gentle when inserting the cook’s catheter in me. There was discomfort but no pain. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience today - so very grateful! 🙏🙏🙏
Questions: natm
GTKY: what was your favorite part about pregnancy?
I agree with the other mothers. Feeling the baby’s kicks and movements have been such an amazing feeling. I also loved how much I learned during this journey. As a health nerd, learning about pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum in more depth has been so valuable. OB & Labor and Delivery was never my calling but going through this experience has made me a better practitioner to support my patients in the future.
EDD / Weeks + Days: 41+3 😅
Baby is the size of a(n): Overdue baby, presumably
Team blue/pink/green: 💙
Upcoming Appointments: I'm hoping it will be an unscheduled visit to the labour ward ;-) but if not, induction on saturday.
How are you feeling?: Impatient! I've tried to really engage with and enjoy his movements, he has a foot solidly planted right under my ribcage, and sometimes it's so visible you can almost grab the foot. And that's super cute. I might miss that. But then again, I'm impatiently waiting to have a small foot to grab any time of day in stead 😅
Rants/Raves: It's a beautiful spring-ey day here. Still in bed, listening to the birds. Heading down to the swimmingpool later. I don't have a rant - only passing bouts of dread for my entire future, loss of independence etc, but they are few and relatively far between, most of the time I just want this baby in my arms 💜
Questions:
GTKY: what was your favorite part about pregnancy?
Oh. I do think I will miss the kicking. But I also had, like, an almost magical feeling back when I tested positive. Like, a marginal secret 'spark'. I enjoyed that, the 'wanting to shout it to the world'-feeling. And I also loved how dogs just wanted to cuddle, I'm totally up for that. And... Just experiencing the love that my son will meet when he comes into the world - family and friends being almost as excited as we are.
Thanks - I suppose I have kind of given in by now and accepted that it will be induction on saturday. But at least just having the date now makes it a bit more real, was starting to feel he would never come out 😅
I will definitely ask for gentler options, thanks for sharing your experiences 💜 I have a suspicion it might be quote rigid - our healthcare system tends to be. 'If xx, you're in xx group, which means xx solution'.
I can't really shake the thought that I've done something wrong somehow. Like. Have I been too active? Not active enough? Not done enough to promote natural labour, not eaten the right things? But at 32 with a largely uncomplicated pregnancy I would have just thought that my body could do this on its own...
@karbaud I will definitely ask if this is an option! I do hope so, I would very much love to be able to be in water. And also move around. Can't believe I haven't even asked for all these options...!
@seeds_of_joy I have been thinking my ovulation was fairly on time as my estimated due date from LMP has been within one day of the early scan and 1st trimester scan estimates. But I have not been tracking, as we got pregnant first cycle after dropping birth control. So I really have no clue - could have been later 😊 there's been debate here in Denmark on whether induction should be offered at 41+0 (rather than 41+5) - with the rationale that 8 stillbirths could be prevented/year. So that keeps going on in my head as well.
Generally it's just the irrational catastrophic thoughts that take up space in my head at the moment 😂 But... Induction 16 hours from now!
I’ll be thinking of you- keep us posted on how things are progressing! ❤️❤️❤️
@cpk3535 Thanks, will def keep you posted 💜 I was slightly mentally prepared for going over time (FTM + family history), but apparently I was not at all prepared to go to 41+5 😅 Once pre labour symptoms started to show, the wait became fairly insufferable.
I'm up and about (at 5am), ready for induction at 8. Excitement stronger than the panic right now! Adding the 'mom' title to the CV in max a couple of days 😍
@ttc3y Thanks a mil for the support 💜
I'm on 6th pill of the 8 they sent me home with. Nothing is happening really. Considering going to bed and catching up on a bit of sleep in case things start to happen overnight 🤞