doc appt.

Well.... I had my last Non Stress Test appt....I was very dizzy and they were worried about my coloring and my bp shot up. They had me there for over 2 hours and I heard them talking about what to do with me. I was contracting a lot and the high risk doctor thought I was going into labor but the nurse had to explain to him that these contractions were not new. He sent me to go get blood work done and all of it turned out okay (kaiser emails you and u can look at your results). He increased my medicine dosage which sucks. I hate taking more meds. Oh well.

I'm still contracting. I have an appt at 3:30 tomorrow for the doctor to check to see if I am dilated and if so he is going to strip the membranes. I tried to have it done a week ago but it couldn't happen so hopefully this time it can. The lady next to me at the NST appt said that it's really painful. She's had it done 4 times but she said it's worth it to get labor going. It should't last long though...the pain, I mean.... But who knows, maybe I'll go into labor on my own and not make it to my induction. That would be good.

Sarah came over and put finishing touches on the room. She hid the wires to the lanterns and it looks lovely. I have to ask if she can be in the room for the birth as my Doula. Ok well....that's really all for now.

I am not sure if I have written about how much I LOVE ice cold drinks right now. The colder the better. It's the weirdest thing. Ok. goodbye.

monday morn

woke up crampy....drank rest of gatorade and need more..... will see if cramps get stronger.

Sunday evening.

Well....still having light contractions. My friend Lisa described her contactions as when she was in so much pain she became delirious and I am not anywhere near that point but I'll let you know when I get there.

updates for today....well, sorry boys but I have to keep it real, things are getting ready for breastfeeding because I started leaking today. If only there was a BABY for gosh sakes.

I ate pineapple, mango, and bounced on a birth/yoga ball AND we tried different pressure points oh and walked.... Prob won't do anything but who knows....

Tomorrow I have an appt at 1 something. Tuesday is membrane stripping. Julian is concerned about making his fantasy draft but I am sure that things won't happen unti I go stay at the hospital on wednes. or thursday morn.

contractions

off and on last two nights but nothing strong enough. keep thinking, "this could be it!" but no... soon enough, I suppose...

nesting

Ok so the nesting has officially begun....yesterday I was so happy to scrub out the fridge. I feel much better now. Today I made sure to vacuum the living room, clean the bathroom counters, mirrors, doors, floor, toilet and started Julian's bathroom....and then did the kitchen floor and counters....and I STILL have some energy. I hope this means that Leah wants to come out.

back to the countdown....6

6 days until induction. I felt really relieved last night as I was in my own nice bed and not in the hospital....and then today it felt good to not have drugs pumping through me making me feel horrible and contracting. So overall- today has been good! Now if only she would come on her own before next week so that I don't have to go through this next week and I can go through some labor at home and relaxed.

the NST appt went well. I was having a bunch of contractions but they didn't hurt. They are getting stronger though. My next and last appt for that is on Monday. I hope that I have her by then though and don't have to go in.

Sarah might be able to be at the birth now which is good....so I have to email my doc and see if he's okay with it.

Having more contractions now....such a tease.

nausea

Today has been a day of feeling sick and nauseated. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling sick and it is lingering. At least I don't have to go in and get induced today though.

So here's a little TMI... yesterday they checked my cervix (internal exam) and I am still not dilated, it's still long (both not signs of labor) but it's soft which is really good. That means it's starting to get ready for labor. He said that when it's regular it feels like a styrofoam cup but when it is soft it feels like frozen yogurt. haha his comparison, not mine. Anyway, that's the update. The goal is that the other 2 things will be better come this time next week. I hope that she comes on her own before then because it will be less painful.

I have a doc. appt tomorrow morning and then one Monday afternoon and then one Tuesday afternoon and then Wed. induction. Same pattern as before. Over and Out.

news....

They pushed my induction back a week so we get to go through all these posts again.....

the doctor that scheduled me messed up with the calendar....my doc wants me to be 39 weeks. I'm cool with this as long as she's ok.

over and out.

3 days

Last night we went to Skipolini's and ordered Prego Pizza which is supposed to help you go into labor within 48 hours.  We'll see if that happens, however- it did cause me to be ridiculously thirsty all night long with sporadic cramping.  I think it's meant for when u are at 40 weeks and i am only nearing 38.  

Tomorrow they are going to try to strip my membranes but again, i have to be dilated a bit for it to work.  If I am not dilated, there is a much higher chance that I am going to need a C Section and REALLY didn't want one.  

Time is ticking down.  I am going to go get a snack and nap.

5 days

I am having a lot more pressure down in my lower abdomen which is good bc it means the baby is contniuing to drop.

Today we are going to straighten up more and go to Babies R Us (or maybe tomorrow) but we don't really want to go. There's just crap we need to get before she gets here and well, we are running out of time...

We met a couple during our birthing class that we liked...the girl is a teacher too and the guy is a grad student at Berkeley studying molecular biology or something (julian will correct me)...i guess he ran cross country or something too so as long as he likes beer, I think that julian will like hanging out with him. They are having a girl too so hopefully we can do play dates (yes, that's now in our vocabulary....how sad.) Anyway, they are having us over for a bbq tonight which is cool. I figure unless any of you fools want to get someone knocked up or get knocked up and move by me, we have to find a few not lame parent friends so we can kick it while the kids entertain each other.

Julian is at the gym right now and then he's getting me some cinnamon toast crunch cereal. I've been pretty good about not just sending him out, but since he is passing the store anyway.... I mean, I couldn't pass it up. I mean, it's for the baby...SHE wants the cinnamon toast crunch.

I keep hoping my water will break on its own and i can go into labor but it's not happening. It is getting pretty uncomfortable though. By the way, I don't know if I mentioned that MOST women's water never breaks....the hospital breaks the majority of them. Movies always show it and it's not the way it goes. I still wait for it to happen, though, bc it does happen....just not as often as everyone thinks.

less than a week left...

Ok so as per JP's request, I will post more....I will try to post every day since there's not much time left.

There are already a few updates.  I had said before that on the night of the 26th they are going to "strip my membranes".  This is not true.  I am actually having that done this coming Tuesday at 4:10 and apparently it hurts like hell.  I have to be dilated a little bit for him to try it so I am really crossing my fingers that by the time I get there, I am dilated enough.  Then I will go home and get everything ready.....and come back to the hospital on Wed. evening where they will give me a medicine that they put up on the cervix to soften it and help me start dilating more....this will hopefully jumpstart the labor.  The next morning they will start the pitocin and crank up my contractions.  For that to have a high success rate (so I've heard and read) I need to be thinned out half way (like your cervix thins) and be dilated to a 2 or 3.  Hopefully the other 2 procedures will help me be there.  At some point early on, they better give me drugs. 

Now, on a different note.  Sarah is a sick face right now and will not be able to be at the birth anymore.  She is very sad about this and I of course wish she could be there but there's nothing we can do because the baby has to be protected.  So she is going to send magic healing powers to me via  waves in the universe.  I think that it will work perfectly.  Alas, she will not be giving anyone updates Shan...sorry!  Julian probably won't have much time to but if he does then great.  Maybe he'll update his facebook status or something so that anyone that wants to see can, but it's also very likely that given the fact that I'm sitting/laying next to him in a ton of pain with docs around and his kid on the way, he may not be in a posting mood haha.  I CAN tell you that I am REALLY hoping the baby is born as early and quickly as possible and my goal is to get her out by the evening of the 27th (Thursday).  They say that first labors usually take about 18 hours....but inductions can take longer and up to 3 days. She should be here by the weekend though (dear God, I hope so). 

I am really nervous for how much it is going to hurt.  I have been having a lot of contractions at home on a regular basis and keep praying that they will get stronger so that I go into labor on my own and do not have to be induced....but knowing how Leah's been this whole time....she'll take her time until she's ready and probably wait until the last minute and then go "ok."  At least that is how she was when she was breech and with taking the 3d ultrasounds when she decided she wasn't going to let anyone see her face....but oth times she pulled through and did what I wanted so maybe she will this time too!!  Or she'll just get evicted in a few days whether she wants to come out or not.

This is the last weekend that Julian and I will ever have without children.  I think it's pretty crazy and he does too.  As much as I want her out, I am sure that there will be times that I'll just wish I could tuck her back in and have the time to rest and relax and hang out and go to movies and diiners and um pretty much everything....but that's what the grandparents are for so they can watch her sometimes.  She should be here within the next 7 days.

Induction Date

Alright people....it's scheduled tentatively for August 26th....that's 8 days away.

I have to back track...I had a baby shower at my parents' house and it was so much fun. Leah got tons of gifts and stuff that will help us through the baby stages. So now we are busy getting things washed...Julian built the pack in play and the infant swing and I am still working on getting everything put away in the nursery and bathroom and storage for her.

I went to my doctor appt. He wasn't there but I saw someone else. She checked to see if I am dilated....and I am not. This time is was NOT as painful as the last time...the last time I had enough time to break into tears and such but this time it was like in and out- done. Apparently this is how it is supposed to be....so girls, don't worry about it for when it happens to you...they said that it is less painful the more pregnant you are....

So she checked my uterus size and I am still measuring about 2 weeks behind where I should be but for whatever reason, they say its fine. I keep growing but at some point I just lost 2 cm.

So next Wednesday I will be 38 weeks pregnant exactly. I will call the hosptial at 5pm just to make sure they are not full. If they are full then my induction will be postponed. If they are not full, then I am supposed to have a light meal and then get to the hospital at 7pm. Then they will "strip my membranes" and I have a feeling that this is NOT going to be fun. Once we are there, we stay until the baby comes but I have been told that it can be a long and painful journey up to 3 days when u are induced.....Starting Thursday morning, they will give me Pitocin which is a drug to make me start contracting harder and quicker than a natural progression.....I will patiently wait for my epidural but once I hit like 3 cm to 4 cm, they better give it to me. Julian and Sarah will be there with me and Sar- make sure they give me my epidural and remind me that I'll live through it. Julian, sorry in advance. haha Just kidding, I will really try to be as calm as possible but I'm not so great with pain and I'm freaked out!

I have two NST's scheduled before this appt to make sure the baby is okay....and of course there is always the possibility that she'll come before next wed....but I don't think she will.

Anyway, keep your fingers crossed....and don't expect any calls or texts until at least late Thursday night or on Friday. It's going ot be a long road I think. Positive thoughts people....send them our way.

Crazy business.

36 weeks

The baby is considered full term at 37 weeks so just one more to go before we're pretty much in the clear....although if born now, she should be fine and only have a short NICU stay....she should be over 6 pounds by now...

The contractions have gotten better and I don't really notice them but the real labor ones I know will suck....at least they'll bring her out.

I tried to crochet a hat and didn't make it past the trying to learn the basic stitch and do a row.  I need help and am very frustrated.  I tried for over 3 hours.  Nic, where are you when I need you???

Sarah came over and put a few finishing touches on the nursery.  Thanks for that :)

We had our last birthing class and saw the hospital tour.  I am pretty sure one of the girls in class was in labor...she's 38 weeks and had to stop every few minutes bc of her contractions...she was so weepy and hormonal and I just really am not looking forward to that part.

My shower in Sac is this weekend and it should be fun...after that, it's just time to birth this baby.  It's getting close!!! They want to induce at 39 ish weeks depending on dilation and effacement/thinning of the cervix.  So if things go as planned it's just 3 short weeks (they'll feel long to me, though) and then she's here.  It's crazy to think about though.

Tomor- 36 weeks

Thursday- dr. appt.

Sat. Shower

Monday- dr appt. (he'll check my cervix to see if I am dilated at all....this HURTS)

Tues.- Newborn Care Class

Wed- 37 weeks!

Thurs. Doc appt.

Mon.-Doc appt.

Wed. 38 Weeks! doc looking to induce if body is ready or blood pressure is high.

Thurs-dr. appt.

Mon dr. appt.

Wed. 39 weeks...BABY. oh shit.

the part in italics is just guestimated bc i know i have 2-3 appts a week and know that they want to induce at 39 weeks but the appts could be off a day or two. i just felt like giving a sample haha.

labor and deliver trip 1

Well tonight I was cramping and called in....they asked me a bunch of questions and said to just come in....so I went in at 34 weeks, 6 days pregnant and if I was going into labor, they would stop it or at least give steroid shots to help her lungs. Once it hit midnight and my contractions were 3-5 minutes apart and the nurse said she thought it might be time, I was informed that since I had turned 35 weeks, they would no longer stop labor or give steroid shots for the lungs. To make a long story short, I am still contracting but I am not dilated at all so the contractions are not putting me into labor....she said that I am definately having contractions and they are close enough together but the intensity isn't strong enough yet....that could take weeks (it could really happen at any time though) She said that I don't need to time them anymore since it's obvious that I am meeting the time deasdline already but to just wait until it is hard to talk thrugh a contraction to start timing it....they said they had me come in originally bc i was still before the 35 week mark but since I turned 35 weeks in the hospital, now it's just about the real deal. No one is stopping anything....come in when it's time to push the baby out.

By the way, it was not pleasant to have the lady stick her right arm up my hoo ha, nor was it fun to have the speculum shoved up either. I vote for Julian to carry the next child of ours.

Over and Out.

3d pics of Leah around 33 weeks...

Doc appt.

So today we had a tiny scare but apparently nothing big....I went for my usual biweekly NST.  It can take anywhere from 30 to an hour and  a half usually (they need to get enough time of the baby being active and seeing that her heart is okay bc an active baby is a happy baby apparently).  So after a good 45 minutes, the nurse took my heartstrip to the doctor and she came back and told the other girl in the room she could go but I couldn't....so she left me hooked up and I noticed that Leah's heartrate kept dropping and so I started to freak out....so then after I had been hooked up for two hours, my doctor came in and pulled the curtains to block me from the other patients.  He did an ultrasoun because he wanted to see what was going on and he checked to make sure the cord wasn't wrapped around her neck.  It wasn't so that's good.  He couldn't explain to me why that happened but after assessing her ultrasound said that she looked fine and healthy...she was moving a lot, etc.  So even though I am a worry wart, I feel that it's best to just trust the guy.  I have another appt on Monday morning so it will be good to see everything is fine.

I talked to him about inducing me and he said that he will start to check my cervix around 37 or 38 weeks and if I am "ripe" which means dialated and soft cervix that is shortening, then we can talk about taking her out. He wants to go with my body but still won't let me go past 40 weeks.  My stepdad doesn't want the baby to stay in past 39 weeks.  He told me to give my doctor his number (he's been a baby doc for over 32 years)  and wants my doc to call him if he wants to talk about it (not in a threatening way....just concerned).  He says with high bp nothing but trouble will come from leaving the baby in there longer than she needs to be.  So we'll see what happens.  I am not going to bring that up with my doc for a few more weeks because I was a pain in the ass today already with all my freaking out (but when people come in bc there's something wrong with your baby's heartrate, it's not easy to just be like "oh, okay, that's cool")  Anyway, the baby has been active so that's good.  I'm having another sleepless night but apparently that's the way it's going to be.  Heartburn is getting really old, too.  well....only about 6 or less weeks until even more sleepless nights :)