Labor Watch 2009: Update 1

Here's the latest: I've been trying all sorts of "natural induction" methods to prepare my body for labor. None of them are really meant to send me straight into labor, but they're supposed to do different things to prep my body so that when Maddie is ready to come, things will go smoothly (supposedly, anyway!)

So far I've tried things like walking (a LOT!), red raspberry leaf tea, evening primrose oil, prego pizza, spicy foods, acupressure, pineapple, relaxation/visualization, and a couple other things.

I've noticed a few TMI things going on with my body that are possible signs of pre-labor. For now I'm just trying to figure out my contractions. I've been having a LOT of them since last night's walk to Subway for dinner. Most are completely painless, but they're lasting about 50 seconds and get in solid patterns of 6-7 minutes apart. I'm not quite sure what to make of them because the description fits both Braxton Hicks and "real" contractions. I know that, obviously, if I were in full-on labor, I would be feeling pain and they'd be getting stronger, longer, and closer together. And I'm really not stressing about "is this it?!" or anything of that sort.

I suppose I'm just wondering if these contractions are actually early labor and causing me to progress and dilate. Here's hoping! :) Otherwise I guess my uterus is just getting a really good "pre-game" work-out.

Here are some photos from tonight. I would post those older ones I promised, but the new ones look exactly the same. *haha* In fact, I'm even wearing the same shirt because I only have a few that still fit me!

The 'Prego Pizza' from Skipolini's.

My (also very pregnant) friend, Sarah, and I had plans to do something yesterday during the day since we're both on maternity leave. Our friend, Joann, was also off of work and joining us. So we decided to try to get these babies out and head to Skipolini's in Walnut Creek for the world famous "Prego Pizza"!

You can read about the pizza HERE.

We also met up with another very pregnant friend, Meg, and quite a few other friends for what turned out to be a fun lunch get together.

Unfortunately, I must report that the pizza didn't entirely work for any of us. Sarah is being induced today, Meg is still trying to convince the kiddo to come out, and I have increased contractions, but no real sign of actual labor. It was worth a try, though! And it has worked for a few people I know.

Here are a few photos from the event:

Happy New Year!

Here's to a fabulous 2009!

38 Weeks

I'm now 38 weeks! Wow! She's due in 2 weeks, but could make her appearance at any time. I had an OB appointment yesterday and everything is still looking good. I'm showing the same "progress" as the last appointment except that she has dropped down more and is now at -2 station. Everything seems ready, so I'm preparing myself for the possibility of labor starting any day or not until weeks from now.

Today was my last day of work! I was just working from home, but it was still keeping me really busy and admittedly stressed. My doctor's office strongly recommended that I not work up until my due date if I could avoid it, so I decided to take their advice. It feels odd to turn everything over and "sign off" of work, but I think it's a good thing. The hard part is going to be keeping myself from logging in and working on things anyway. We'll see how that goes.

((Photos to follow. I need to upload on my other computer.))

Full Term!

Wow!! WOW!! Wow... I'm full term today. 37 weeks. That's pretty amazing. Theoretically Maddie could be here any day now and she'd be a fully-grown, thriving, infant. :) What an exciting thought! No more worry about a premature little one and the fact that she's going to be here soon is amazing. I cannot wait to meet her. To kiss her little face and play with her little fingers and snuggle her tiny body!

I had an OB appointment this morning. Everything looks good. I'm a "fingertip" dilated (just under 1cm), 50% effaced, and softened. So my body is starting to prep! No telling how long it will be, though. I definitely don't want to go down the emotional roller coaster of trying to guess when I'll go into labor, so I'm just going to go with the flow, see what happens, and not take any of the "signs" too seriously since they can be kind of meaningless.

I talked to the nurse today about when I should go into the hospital and was a little disappointed with the answer. They want me to come in right away if my water breaks, or if my contractions are 4 minutes apart, last 1 minute, and have been that way for a few hours. I am hoping to stay home as long as possible to avoid intervention of any kind. If I labor for a long time at the hospital, they will want to speed things up... which I definitely don't want. The Bradley Method recommends that contractions be 3 minutes apart and at least 1 minute long to avoid intervention and ultimately a c-section. That doesn't differ too much, but I'm concerned about "having" to go in right away when my water breaks even if I haven't progressed much. They will automatically put me "on the clock" and try to force my labor along if it isn't speedy. :-/

Anyway, here are some new photos (technically from 36 weeks.)

Earthquake??

Last night I went to bed early. When Jase came to bed I didn't even wake up. He got comfortable and was laying still to fall asleep when all of a sudden the bed went *shake shake* *shake shake*. California earthquake? Nope. Just "earthquake" Maddie kicking so hard that our thick, solid wood, 4-poster bed was shaking!!

It amazes me that I can actually sleep through that! When I first started feeling her kick, she woke me up often. But now that I'm used to it, I don't think she's woken me up with kicking once (well unless we count kicking my bladder... that'll spring a woman out of bed.)

I'm proud of my strong girl. She's going to be a real firecracker!

The Nursery (Almost Done)

There are still a few things I want to add (like wall decals and a framed print of one of our maternity photos), but here it is almost finished.

This was Jason's changing table when he was a baby.











This is the blank spot I want to fill. Up high I want to do some kind of vinyl branch (like this.) And then a little lower I'll hang the maternity photo print. I also want to do another vinyl design above the crib.



And her closet!

Baby's Mooning the Camera!

Maddie likes to stick her butt out. It's pretty strange how it completely morphs the shape of my tummy to one side or the other. I finally caught it on camera.

Me Lately

This is where I can be found (sometimes with an extra cat) a lot of the time lately. :)

Amber Update

She's finally getting better!!!

Things were pretty rough for a while. She was going to the vet daily (HOLY VET BILLS, BATMAN!!!!!) to try to diagnose her and to receive medication and fluids. She wasn't drinking anything and was having a tough time eating. One of the days they almost kept her for the day on an IV. That's what the plan was when I was driving her over and I just broke down in tears at the thought of leaving her alone in a scary place while she's sick.

But now she has finally stopped vomiting, she's eating better, she's drinking, we're getting her meds down her easier, she's acting more like herself, and things are starting to work themselves out on the "other end." Jase and I are SO HAPPY!!! I swear we were about to have a party to celebrate. There were times where we weren't really sure what was going to happen to her. :( I love my little girl so much and am over the moon that she's going to be okay!!!

Last night was our 5th night of sleeping in shifts and hopefully our last. I'm just hoping we don't have any set-backs. One thing we still need to do, though, is go back in on Monday to re-test her for the muscle enzyme level to make sure it's decreasing. That result is still un-explained and worrisome, but I'm trying not to think about it too much.

Thanks for everyone's "Get Well" wishes! I really appreciated it.