The non-stress test went well this morning. Maddie was active, I was having my usual Braxton Hicks contractions, and she tolerated/reacted to everything nicely.
We're still on schedule to begin the induction process tomorrow. I'm really excited that we actually get to meet our little girl in a couple days!! :-D
I'm also still holding out some hope that I will go into labor naturally. We're trying everything we can - Red Raspberry Tea, Evening Primrose Oil, etc etc etc.
We're going to brunch before heading to the hospital to check in at 12:30PM. The hospital has WiFi and cell service, so I'll definitely be around as the first stage is usually completely uneventful. I'm looking forward to watching the Shark's game tomorrow night. :)
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Today is my Due Date!
... And I'm being induced in two days: Thursday at 12:30 in the afternoon.
*This is NorCalSuperwife trying to stay positive*
I had an OB appointment at 3:00 today. I could already tell something was up by the look on her face when she measured my tummy. Let's just say our baby is larger than average.
Then she checked my cervix and I'm the SAME progress as I was 3 weeks ago! She still hasn't even dropped. :(
Our OB is definitely on our "page" and fully understands that we want to avoid induction as much as possible. She was prepared to let us go a couple weeks past our due date. However, since she's now concerned about Maddie's size, she recommended induction soon. It comes down to whether our priority is a vaginal birth or to not be induced. My priority is a vaginal birth. I trust my doc very much and she knows what I want out of my birth experience, so I trust that this is the right thing to do.
DH and I talked a LOT about it and are pretty sure we're decided. Now that it's sinking in, I'm starting to get excited. It's not what we planned, but it's what's best for Maddie and we need to be flexible and deal with what the process hands us and embrace it.
So we're going in at 12:30 in the afternoon on Thursday (2 days!!) to get the Cervadil in. I'll have that for 12 hours and get checked on my progress. Since it will be the middle of the night at that point, they'll probably put in another dose of Cervadil for about 8 hours. If I haven't started contracting on my own by that point (it isn't likely that the Cervadil alone will send me into labor since I'm not very progressed), then they'll start me on Pitocin Friday morning to get contractions going. There's no telling how fast or slow things will go after that.
I'm still going to be attempting to deliver as un-medicated as possible (no pain meds / epidural). However, because Pitocin can cause contractions to be more painful and closer together, I'm preparing myself for the possibility of needing the epidural and not being able to go through with my plans. I am also trying to prepare myself for a c-section due to the risk going way up with induction and the possible size of Maddie.
Tomorrow we have a 9:45AM appointment for a non-stress test at the OB's office. I'll update after the appointment, but expect it to be pretty uneventful.
And here's the tummy today.
*This is NorCalSuperwife trying to stay positive*
I had an OB appointment at 3:00 today. I could already tell something was up by the look on her face when she measured my tummy. Let's just say our baby is larger than average.
Then she checked my cervix and I'm the SAME progress as I was 3 weeks ago! She still hasn't even dropped. :(
Our OB is definitely on our "page" and fully understands that we want to avoid induction as much as possible. She was prepared to let us go a couple weeks past our due date. However, since she's now concerned about Maddie's size, she recommended induction soon. It comes down to whether our priority is a vaginal birth or to not be induced. My priority is a vaginal birth. I trust my doc very much and she knows what I want out of my birth experience, so I trust that this is the right thing to do.
DH and I talked a LOT about it and are pretty sure we're decided. Now that it's sinking in, I'm starting to get excited. It's not what we planned, but it's what's best for Maddie and we need to be flexible and deal with what the process hands us and embrace it.
So we're going in at 12:30 in the afternoon on Thursday (2 days!!) to get the Cervadil in. I'll have that for 12 hours and get checked on my progress. Since it will be the middle of the night at that point, they'll probably put in another dose of Cervadil for about 8 hours. If I haven't started contracting on my own by that point (it isn't likely that the Cervadil alone will send me into labor since I'm not very progressed), then they'll start me on Pitocin Friday morning to get contractions going. There's no telling how fast or slow things will go after that.
I'm still going to be attempting to deliver as un-medicated as possible (no pain meds / epidural). However, because Pitocin can cause contractions to be more painful and closer together, I'm preparing myself for the possibility of needing the epidural and not being able to go through with my plans. I am also trying to prepare myself for a c-section due to the risk going way up with induction and the possible size of Maddie.
Tomorrow we have a 9:45AM appointment for a non-stress test at the OB's office. I'll update after the appointment, but expect it to be pretty uneventful.
And here's the tummy today.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Thor's Favorite Mattress
Thor is slightly obsessed with laying on my stomach when I'm laying on my side. There have been a couple times where I'll lay down on the couch, he'll see me from the other side of the room and RUN to lay on my tummy. I have to admit that there is a lot of flat room there for him to lay. :) And it's always funny when Maddie kicks him and he looks at me like, "What is going on??"
Here's a photo the hubs got of Thor awake. He's usually passed out with his arms out and his head down.
Here's a photo the hubs got of Thor awake. He's usually passed out with his arms out and his head down.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Welcome to the World, Baby Aaron!
Our great friends, Zak & Sarah, had their beautiful bundle of joy at 12:58AM this morning. We were so lucky to be able to meet him today and I'm insanely happy for them!!
Here are some photos! He's only 8 hours old here. Amazing!!
He looks so much like his Daddy!
Check out all that hair!
Here are some photos! He's only 8 hours old here. Amazing!!
He looks so much like his Daddy!
Check out all that hair!
Sunday, January 04, 2009
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!
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!
Saturday, January 03, 2009
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:
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:
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
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.))
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.))
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
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.)
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.)
Monday, December 22, 2008
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!
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!
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