Doctor appt. update

Back from the doctor.

He offered to induce me on Wednesday! (Wow - that's quite an offer and it was hard to refuse.) He said he wouldn't let me go any later than Monday, so we're on the schedule for then. Hopefully, she'll come on her own before that time!

I'm at 2cm and 80% effaced. (I'm not sure if he had time to fib today - he had to go deliver two babies!)

They put the monitor on me and determined that Baby Woof is not stressed. So, we wait...




Why didn't I go with Wednesday, again?? ;0)

Still here!

She's still in here...and I'm here at work this morning. I have a doctor's appointment this morning...we'll see what he says. I don't want to induce - I've never thought of that as an option.....buuuuuut I am getting somewhat impatient. Although, I'm not so uncomfortable that I can't stand it. My hands and feet have been swelling at night and that drives me a little crazy, but I really can't complain. I mean, here I am at work a day after my due date. I never thought I'd work this long - thought I'd be propped up on the couch or something by now.

A definite date would be good. I know I can't ask for that though...and the due date passing this weekend was a bummer...

I hope I don't let him talk me into something...but I am a very impatient person too. I also know that inducing doesn't always work, can make labor more painful, creates a higher risk of having a C-section, etc., etc....

I still hope that this appointment will bring some clarity or something. I know we'll talk about options...and I know he's going to give me some speculation (any guess on a cm? I'll say that he'll probably say 3...whether it's true or not!)

Bellah pics...

at 39 1/2 weeks!


This next one is pretty shocking for me! I'm surprised I'm even posting it - but here goes nothing!

39 weeks

Well, I've been what I will call "downgraded". Went to the nurse practitioner this morning and I'm at 1 cm now (instead of the 2cm the doctor said last week).

I'm pretty disappointed. Prior to last week's appointment, I had myself psyched up that the baby would come on the due date or, most likely, be late...and then he told me she'd be here by today. I knew, knew, KNEW that wasn't the truth but somehow my gullible brain let me start believing it.

I guess the plus side is that the baby's room is ready. Everyone at my work is ready. Essentially, everything is ready. I keep picking up more items here and there - but I honestly can't say that there's anything I need. Maybe some rubbing alcohol in a bottle...but I already have alcohol wipes - which would work, right? I don't need the q-tip and the bottle if I have wipes, right? These are the crazy things I'm thinking about/doing now. Undoing things...and waiting.

I really did not want to be this person.

Baby steps...

I bought the Evening Primrose Oil capsules at lunch. So far I've had one...

And I'm drinking raspberry tea...two cups already...

She's kicking - but I think that's about it.

We shall see!

I hope she comes!

Wait - I'm not ready...

Initiation of Labor

As PrairieBiker mentioned in his comment on my last post, there are ways to try to induce labor. Ironically, I was planning on blogging this list the doctor gave me the other day because we got such a kick out the castor oil recipes! Of course, please let me give the disclaimer that no one is supposed to try these tips unless their doctor recommends them and their body and baby are ready!

Initiation of labor

Prior to labor beginning, the cervix softens and goes through changes we refer to as ripening. The following interventions will help ripen the cervix:

Nipple stimulation: this can be done as foreplay -with your partner, using warm compresses on the breasts to get circulation there, then do nipple rolling 5 minutes on 10 minutes off for 20-30 minutes at a time, 1-4 hours between episodes.

Prostaglandin: (natural form) there are prostaglandin in semen that will help ripen the cervix, stay laying down (on your side) for about 20 minutes after intercourse (this helps keep the semen close to the cervix to aid in the effect).

Evening Primrose Oil: 500 mg three times a day

To initiate labor once the cervix is ready you can try the following things.

All of the above

Castor Oil: use any one of these three recipes

Best done in the morning

1) ½ glass of pineapple juice, add a pinch of baking soda, when it bubbles up stir in 3 oz. castor oil, stir well, drink down, catch a breath and drink the rest. Chase with a Reese's peanut butter cup.

2) ½ glass of root beer with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, put in the blender with 3 oz. castor oil, blend, drink and follow with a Reese's peanut butter cup.

3) 3 oz. of orange juice, add 3 oz. castor oil, blend, drink and chase with a Reese's peanut butter cup.

Usually it takes about 1-6 hours to work. Take a warm shower when the cramping begins.

That is word-for-word (unless there were typos in transferring it) the list that they gave me. You'd think they had stock in Hershey or something with the references to Reese's peanut butter cups...thankfully, I have a bag of those at home!

38 weeks...and counting

I didn't want to be a person that freaked out near the end...but I may be turning out to be "one of those" people.

Went to the doctor yesterday and he says we might see Baby Woof by next week!! Wha?!?!?

He told me that I'm 2 cm and 80% effaced...is he making this stuff up as he goes?

He had previously admitted that he might fib to me to make me feel like there was progress, so I don't know whether or not to believe him. I think he's very, very generous with his guesstimates and this was without my even asking for an estimated time of arrival!

I told me husband that we can't believe him - but that I guess we should be prepared (though not expecting it to happen).

But now, I am starting to expect it. This is what it must be like to be "one of those people". Aaaaaah - I can't stand it!

I'm in a tizzy at work - - trying to figure out what I need to do. Do I tell my boss? I agonized about that all day today (because I'm afraid to tell them how long I want to be gone...maybe forever...shhhhhh!) But, did I do that today???? Of course not.

And I don't feel like anything's happening - like nothing is progressing. I'm not going into labor for at least 2 more weeks!!

Diaper Bag

(For Leeanthro)

I really agonized over my choice for a diaper bag...I think I can be pretty practical at times (or can I?) but there are certain things that I like to splurge on. I like to have a nice purse for instance - so it just followed that I'd want a "name brand" diaper bag.

I looked and looked and gazed longingly at bags over $100...(the Fleurville brand being one of my most recent favorites) and finally decided to be practical and get one from my favorite store - Turrrrrget. I have soooo many other expenses to worry about and am trying to save extra $$$$$$ so I can stay home with the babeh for a while so I picked this one:


It was about $25.00 and I got free shipping. I checked out the brand, Kalencom, and found they had quite a few cute bags - but they were beyond my limit at the moment. This one is classic and simple and had the few items I wanted: an insulated bottle holder-thingy and a changing pad. AND, it's divided in three parts and has tons of pouches and cubbies inside. Now, I just want to buy a mini-wipes holder thing-a-mah-jig.

Other than that, her bag's packed and ready to go!

37 weeks

Ah, this week is almost over...I'll be 38 weeks on Sunday, I guess. I have my first, uh, "check" on Monday - I'll probably be dilated to a big, fat ZERO. :0)

Baby Woof's car seat is in my car now - waiting for her to come home in it! Her clothes are washed and ready. I got my diaper bag in the mail yesterday (yay!!) - it's pretty large so I think I'll pack her stuff in it this weekend and get myself at least partly packed.

Mike's been rearranging her room. And he's staining an antique chest that his parents gave us. It belonged to his grandma's brothers. It already looking great! I'll have to post some room photos soon...

37 weeks

How your baby's growing: Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, her lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.

Your baby weighs a little over 6 pounds and measures between 19 and 20 inches, head to heel. Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz. [Ok, anyone who knows me knows that I'm keeping my fingers crossed for peach fuzz...my sister and I didn't have any hair - and that's just what I'm used to. I would be astounded by a full head of hair!!!]