I have reached the "10 Days Overdue" club. Ten days overdue is the earliest that you can be induced without other medical reasons. Yesterday we had an ultrasound to make sure that baby was happy and that there was enough fluid...passed that one! It was definitely weird having an ultrasound where you really couldn't see much but a few flickers of a spine here and there and seeing the heartbeat. We did get to see Yoda taking some practice breaths (although he/she was being lazy about it) and that was kind of neat.
So this is it - induction day! Grace called this morning and said that we should be heading into the hospital around noon, but that she would be calling us later on with a more specific time and instructions. We were all hoping for an earlier time to go in, but the ward is kinda crazy at the moment with a mother of twins requiring an emergency c-section. The big question is about how dilated I am at the moment. If I'm at least 3 cm, Grace will break my water and we'll go from there (probably utilizing a breast pump to try to stimulate contractions to start). If I'm still only 2 cm, then it will be an induction via cervidil and then we'll go back to the hospital later on for hopefully my water to break.
Can't wait to meet our new addition!!! I'm actually remarkably calm (for me anyway) today...here's hoping that it continues!
Thursday 27 June 2013
Tuesday 25 June 2013
Post-Dates...*sigh*
Well, here it is. I'm 41 weeks and 1 day pregnant. I guess that Q spoiled us by coming 10 days early - by that token I've been feeling overdue since I hit the 38w4d mark. To say that I'm uncomfortable is an understatement. To say that I miss the simple everyday tasks (like drying off after a shower easily) is an understatement. To say that I'm still amazingly excited to meet this little procrastinator...is also an understatement. Impatient, yes. Excited, definitely. Scared and anxious, 100%.
As I've mentioned before, I love my midwife, Grace. She really feels like a member of the family. I could be in a completely foul mood on my way to her office and she can get me out of that fairly quickly because she just knows what to say or what not to say...or what look to give me. Which lately has consisted of a head tilt and a laugh when I come waddling into the office as a "less sparkly Ash". I've also said how much I love midwives in general. Ever since I reached the 39w2d mark, Grace has been doing sweeps for me to try to get things going. We've been doing them every couple of days and you just wouldn't get that from an OB. I'm talking that she comes in on days when the office is closed and on the weekend to do them. She just knows how anxious I am for things to get going and since I'm still gunning for an all-natural birth, she knows that I can handle a little "uncomfortable". So I have had 6 of these procedures (most recent one today) and am hoping that it will kick start something. Everything else down there is favourable and ready to go, but the baby keeps bopping his/her head in and out of my pelvis, so there isn't consistent pressure on the cervix to get things going. Apparently this doesn't happen often with first babies because the uterus hasn't been stretched before, but with second babies and so on, they have a bit more room. So what we have gleaned from this is that there is a defiant little bugger in here that likes to play games. Mama is not amused little one...
Grace suggested today that I should try to do as many things upright as possible - bouncing on an exercise ball, long walks, etc. Well it was around 40 degrees with the humidity today, so a walk was out of the question. I did pick up an exercise ball though and have been bouncing on that as much as I can. Q calls it "Mama's Ball" and likes to try to climb it while I sit on it...not so safe there, Q! I also had a reflexologist do a house call today to work on the points that can help to induce labour...so fingers crossed that something will happen soon!
The next steps are for us to have a Biophysical Profile ultrasound tomorrow. At this ultrasound, they will determine that the baby is still "well" (scoring an 8/8 on a scale that I'm not sure of) and that there is sufficient fluid. The results of these parameters basically mean that the pregnancy can continue on for another 48 hours without any foreseeable complications before having to be induced. I have chosen, though, to be induced on Thursday regardless of what the ultrasound says (unless it's not a great ultrasound in which we would be sent for an induction tomorrow). Grace said that what we might do for an induction is a "controlled rupture" of my waters at the hospital on Thursday and see if that would kick me into labour. I had jokingly (ok, half-jokingly) said today that while she was doing the sweep if she wanted to break my water that I would be cool with it...she had replied that she probably could break them easily, but would feel more comfortable if it was in the presence of an OB aka "controlled rupture" since the baby's head isn't fully engaged yet. Basically, I'm hoping to avoid having pitocin for an induction since that's crap and I didn't respond so well to it with Q. Fingers crossed!
I'm really trying hard not to complain about going overdue as I know that I have friends who have had trouble conceiving, had difficult pregnancies, and that there are also far worse things in the world than going overdue. It can be difficult though when everything has been about this pregnancy for the past 9 (almost 10) months and it's all that I can focus on. I know that in the next 48 hours I will either go into labour on my own, or be induced...so it is all coming to an end and soon we will be holding our newest Oakey addition! Can't wait!!!
As I've mentioned before, I love my midwife, Grace. She really feels like a member of the family. I could be in a completely foul mood on my way to her office and she can get me out of that fairly quickly because she just knows what to say or what not to say...or what look to give me. Which lately has consisted of a head tilt and a laugh when I come waddling into the office as a "less sparkly Ash". I've also said how much I love midwives in general. Ever since I reached the 39w2d mark, Grace has been doing sweeps for me to try to get things going. We've been doing them every couple of days and you just wouldn't get that from an OB. I'm talking that she comes in on days when the office is closed and on the weekend to do them. She just knows how anxious I am for things to get going and since I'm still gunning for an all-natural birth, she knows that I can handle a little "uncomfortable". So I have had 6 of these procedures (most recent one today) and am hoping that it will kick start something. Everything else down there is favourable and ready to go, but the baby keeps bopping his/her head in and out of my pelvis, so there isn't consistent pressure on the cervix to get things going. Apparently this doesn't happen often with first babies because the uterus hasn't been stretched before, but with second babies and so on, they have a bit more room. So what we have gleaned from this is that there is a defiant little bugger in here that likes to play games. Mama is not amused little one...
Grace suggested today that I should try to do as many things upright as possible - bouncing on an exercise ball, long walks, etc. Well it was around 40 degrees with the humidity today, so a walk was out of the question. I did pick up an exercise ball though and have been bouncing on that as much as I can. Q calls it "Mama's Ball" and likes to try to climb it while I sit on it...not so safe there, Q! I also had a reflexologist do a house call today to work on the points that can help to induce labour...so fingers crossed that something will happen soon!
The next steps are for us to have a Biophysical Profile ultrasound tomorrow. At this ultrasound, they will determine that the baby is still "well" (scoring an 8/8 on a scale that I'm not sure of) and that there is sufficient fluid. The results of these parameters basically mean that the pregnancy can continue on for another 48 hours without any foreseeable complications before having to be induced. I have chosen, though, to be induced on Thursday regardless of what the ultrasound says (unless it's not a great ultrasound in which we would be sent for an induction tomorrow). Grace said that what we might do for an induction is a "controlled rupture" of my waters at the hospital on Thursday and see if that would kick me into labour. I had jokingly (ok, half-jokingly) said today that while she was doing the sweep if she wanted to break my water that I would be cool with it...she had replied that she probably could break them easily, but would feel more comfortable if it was in the presence of an OB aka "controlled rupture" since the baby's head isn't fully engaged yet. Basically, I'm hoping to avoid having pitocin for an induction since that's crap and I didn't respond so well to it with Q. Fingers crossed!
I'm really trying hard not to complain about going overdue as I know that I have friends who have had trouble conceiving, had difficult pregnancies, and that there are also far worse things in the world than going overdue. It can be difficult though when everything has been about this pregnancy for the past 9 (almost 10) months and it's all that I can focus on. I know that in the next 48 hours I will either go into labour on my own, or be induced...so it is all coming to an end and soon we will be holding our newest Oakey addition! Can't wait!!!
Saturday 1 June 2013
Full Term!!!!
Well I hit 37 weeks on Monday! Full term for Yoda! Now it's just the impatient waiting game to see when he/she is going to make their big entrance into the world! I'm onto weekly midwife appointments now until the birth and it's hard to believe that it's already time for that. I also find it hard to believe that today is June 1st!
How far along? 37 weeks 5 days
Total weight gain: Well, I've decided to stop weighing myself now. Figure that I'm close enough to birth and also don't feel like the scale would be accurate with the amount of swelling going on...
Maternity clothes? Always (unless it's my yoga wear). And I can only jam my feet into flip flops now, and even some of my sandals are uncomfortable due to swollen feet.
Stretch marks? Yes! :( They reared their ugly heads the other day. I have a few near my belly button and a couple more along the side of my belly. Not too happy about them, but what can you do? I've been slathering on the vitamin E like nobody's business.
Best moment this week: Having a great midwife appointment where both Yoda and I are healthy!
Miss anything: My stretch mark-free belly :(
Movement: Still a lot of movement, especially when I'm lying down at night to relax. Lots of rolling movements from side-to-side and lots of hiccups lately.
Food cravings: Sugary things
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope!
Gender: Team Green
Labor Signs: Getting more Braxton-Hicks now, increased pressure, and menstrual-like cramps occasionally
Belly Button in or out? The alien-like belly button has made an appearance.
Wedding rings on or off? Off. :( It's become really humid here and that solidified the fact that I can't wear my rings anymore.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy I'd say. I'm trying to take advantage of all my "Q and Mommy" time before the baby makes their appearance.
Looking forward to: Labour! :P
Now on to the Quinn news. She's starting to string together lots of words to make sentences now and also has little sayings - like right now she's saying "oh yes" as she takes her toys out of a toy bin. She also says "oh dear" which is hilarious. She's learning the "Head & Shoulders, Knees & Toes" song and can do the "eyes, ears, mouth and nose" ending without any help. It's quite cute.
She also is getting better at telling me exactly what she wants. The other day she took me for a "walk" to the pantry, where she pointed to the door and said "crackers"? Her pretend play is also awesome - she'll cook her food in her little oven (and say "oven hot" while she does it) and then serve it to me or to her dolls and make them "eat" it. She also likes to put her dolls in her booster seat and push the chair to the table.
Q also has learned the names of most of the Disney princesses. We have a Little People Disney Princess Castle that she got for Christmas and have most of the princesses (just not Jasmine or Sleeping Beauty). She says the following: "Lella" (Cinderella), "Ariel", "Belle", "White/No White" (Snow White), "Tana" (Tiana), "Erkick" (Eric), "BEAST" (Beast...but she really enunciates), "Pundle" (Rapunzel). She also will ask to watch those movies too and was really into "The Little Mermaid" last night...and anytime that Ariel wasn't on screen, she'd wonder aloud "Where Ariel go?".
Q and Dad sing "Elmo's World"
Yoda has the hiccups
How far along? 37 weeks 5 days
Total weight gain: Well, I've decided to stop weighing myself now. Figure that I'm close enough to birth and also don't feel like the scale would be accurate with the amount of swelling going on...
Maternity clothes? Always (unless it's my yoga wear). And I can only jam my feet into flip flops now, and even some of my sandals are uncomfortable due to swollen feet.
Stretch marks? Yes! :( They reared their ugly heads the other day. I have a few near my belly button and a couple more along the side of my belly. Not too happy about them, but what can you do? I've been slathering on the vitamin E like nobody's business.
Best moment this week: Having a great midwife appointment where both Yoda and I are healthy!
Miss anything: My stretch mark-free belly :(
Movement: Still a lot of movement, especially when I'm lying down at night to relax. Lots of rolling movements from side-to-side and lots of hiccups lately.
Food cravings: Sugary things
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope!
Gender: Team Green
Labor Signs: Getting more Braxton-Hicks now, increased pressure, and menstrual-like cramps occasionally
Belly Button in or out? The alien-like belly button has made an appearance.
Wedding rings on or off? Off. :( It's become really humid here and that solidified the fact that I can't wear my rings anymore.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy I'd say. I'm trying to take advantage of all my "Q and Mommy" time before the baby makes their appearance.
Looking forward to: Labour! :P
Now on to the Quinn news. She's starting to string together lots of words to make sentences now and also has little sayings - like right now she's saying "oh yes" as she takes her toys out of a toy bin. She also says "oh dear" which is hilarious. She's learning the "Head & Shoulders, Knees & Toes" song and can do the "eyes, ears, mouth and nose" ending without any help. It's quite cute.
She also is getting better at telling me exactly what she wants. The other day she took me for a "walk" to the pantry, where she pointed to the door and said "crackers"? Her pretend play is also awesome - she'll cook her food in her little oven (and say "oven hot" while she does it) and then serve it to me or to her dolls and make them "eat" it. She also likes to put her dolls in her booster seat and push the chair to the table.
Q also has learned the names of most of the Disney princesses. We have a Little People Disney Princess Castle that she got for Christmas and have most of the princesses (just not Jasmine or Sleeping Beauty). She says the following: "Lella" (Cinderella), "Ariel", "Belle", "White/No White" (Snow White), "Tana" (Tiana), "Erkick" (Eric), "BEAST" (Beast...but she really enunciates), "Pundle" (Rapunzel). She also will ask to watch those movies too and was really into "The Little Mermaid" last night...and anytime that Ariel wasn't on screen, she'd wonder aloud "Where Ariel go?".
Q and Dad sing "Elmo's World"
Yoda has the hiccups
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