Thread: ~*~ Katherine's (kaype) birth lodge~*~

Welcome to your lodge!

This week has been really crazy busy -- we have a couple more things to do at the beginning of the week (one being DH's work party, which we'd both like to be at ) and then I can really wait for baby.

I had an appointment on Thursday. I asked her about movement as baby boy has been moving "enough," but not a lot. She thought it'd be good to set us up on an NST in her office to ease my mind. However, he wasn't reactive enough (or really at all...), so we also ended up with a super quick BPP. As soon as the u/s tech put the wand to my belly, he started kicking and moving. It was sweet to see his little heart thumping and him "breathing." Not the appointment I'd expected, but it was fun I was glad DH was there and that a friend had offered to watch the kids, who've gone with me to almost every appointment. The NST would have been stressful with them there.

Baby is low in my pelvis, too. She said she guessed that's the cramping/contractions I felt earlier this week...neither of my other babies engaged before labor, so this has been kinda cool. It's so amazing to me how our bodies and babies just "know" what to do.

I also found out that most of my MW's December clients have already delivered...and since I might want to have a water birth...she will definitely attend me at the hospital. Like I said, I like my OB, but am thrilled that it will be the MW instead

I've gotten most everything "ready" for baby, though of course there are always last minute things. I'm trying to keep the house picked up and organized so when I do go into labor, I can come home to a clean house. It feels a little like nesting, but just random things here and there. I'm not normally a big "cleaner," however I've actually started thinking about washing out the fridge...

On the home front, DH and I got into a huge fight this afternoon, which is not normal. I think I'm feeling really hormonal and still just really hurt/angry by what happened. As much as I love him, he's a horrible listener and I'm not sure I'm ready to try to help him understand my perspective. So, the day hasn't ended the way I'd wanted, but I did take a nice long bath and tried to relax a little. Going to go read for a bit and maybe just chill with the iPhone

Welcome to your lodge!
I enjoyed reading your intro and about your 2 previous births. Glad your LO is looking good in there. Can't wait to follow the rest of your journey.

I had a great appointment with the midwife yesterday -- 38w3d. Nothing too crazy or out of the ordinary. Baby looks good, my BP was lower than normal (101/68, I think) and I think my weight was okay (though I've honestly quit watching the scale when the nurse weighs me -- lol -- think I've gained about 32 lbs by their scale?).

Today, one of my college roommates and her son (Judah's age) came over for the day. She brought us dinner, cleaned one of my bathrooms, the microwave and the stove, while I did laundry and we talked. It was fun -- and felt very productive even though I did very little! I was exhausted when they left though -- and so glad I didn't have to still make dinner

Tomorrow, I'm hoping to clean the bottom shelf of the fridge and finish cleaning the master bathroom. Then, I think I'll feel like all my "projects" are in a good place.

Forgot to mention in my last post that Michael was offered a job last week (!) so we'll be undertaking an inter-state move early spring. We are super excited -- it's a great position for him for his professional growth. We'll be moving from big city to small town, but are pretty excited about that too. Unfortunately, it is NOT a very NCB-friendly area, so if we have more children, it will make things interesting. Maybe I'll finally have a homebirth

It has been such a nice weekend! This is the first year we've not traveled "home" for Christmas, and Michael and I were both initially disappointed. I think we've both really enjoyed it though.

Saturday, we had a low-key day and then sang with the choir in our church's Christmas Eve service. We've both been singing in the choir over the last few months -- it's been really fun! -- and it was a little bittersweet to know it was my last time to sing with them. Once the baby is old enough for me to really get out for rehearsals, we'll be prepping for our move

Since the middle of last week, I've had a crazy-for-me amount of BH. It's really bizarre since I've never really experienced this. Baby had been fairly quiet and then I started having these weird painless contractions. Christmas Eve night, I woke up about 2am, after going to be at midnight, to what felt like "real" contractions. They were hard to time but I had to relax through them. I dozed off and on until 5am, when I told Michael what was going on and took a bath. After that, I felt tremendously better but never went back to sleep.

I felt good all through Christmas morning. After lunch, I started to feel crampy again and laid down...and the contractions started again. After resting for awhile, I got up and they stopped again.

With both kids, I went into labor without much "prep" from my body before hand. So, this is so weird, and somewhat discouraging, to me. When I was laying in bed Christmas morning, I did realize how much fear I still have for labor. I thought I had dealt with that, but when I started feeling a little discomfort, and remembered how much worse it would get, I realized I'm afraid of that.

It was a good to realize all that before labor really does start. It gave me a chance to process and remember how to work through the discomfort. I put together a play list of music that really relaxes and calms me. Since I'm a Christian, I wrote out some Bible verses that really encourage me to focus on and asked a couple close friends to pray for me. I had a few contractions last night -- and was able to relax much better through them. Once they stopped, I took a Tylenol PM and had a great night of sleep. Today, I feel great!

My mom arrives in the morning. We've invited her to be in the delivery room, and I think she's really excited about it. She'll be able to stay for a week, so I really hope he decides to come before the weekend.

I have my next appointment on Wednesday. I'll probably ask to be checked and I know my MW will recommend "encouraging" things along, especially since I felt so poorly over the weekend. Still thinking about all that and what we'd be open to and not open to. Definitely not comfortable with AROM. If you've made it this far (long post!) and have experience with stripping membranes, I'd love to hear your thoughts...

I'm sorry you and your DH are at odds but glad you had a good midwife appointment and a good visit from an old friend! I hope you are feeling well and can hardly wait to read your story.

Sorry I haven't posted much on your lodge. I'm at that point in my pregnancy where I get pretty anti-social. That's awesome the midwife is attending your birth though! I know what you mean about liking your OB but being glad about the midwife. I have a pretty good OB as well but there's just something about a midwife that makes me that much more pleased.

Thanks, kridda. I understand about being antisocial at this stage of pregnancy...IRL, I have a hard time reaching out past my close friends the last few months of pregnancy. In just want to "pull in" and kind of emotionally nest, I guess. Which is weird for me because I'm typically an extrovert

I should have circled back and said DH and I resolved our conflict. I don't think I could go into labor if I was upset with him, you know? We're not always the best at walking through conflict together, but managed okay after another day or so.

Today was a rough day. I had my 39week appointment in the morning and was already feeling emotionally fragile. Saw the OB, Dr. M. Even though it was a really discouraging appointment for me, I came away so very thankful for him. I was checked today and am not even 1cm dilated (but 80% effaced...). Even though I know in my head that really means nothing, it was crushing at the same time. Sophie was born at 39w5d (which is tomorrow for this babe) so most definitely I'll be pregnant longer than I was with her. Michael and I both thought this baby would come "early" and really wanted him to come by his due date for financial reasons -- tax credit, insurance deductible. But, that doesn't look likely at this point.

And, while he didn't come out and say it, Dr. M really questions my due date...he thinks I'm probably due closer to Jan. 6 (really only based on LMP...I think Jan 2, based on O date, is the best guess). So, when I was already wanting to not be pregnant anymore, he's telling me he thinks I have over another week til I'm "really" due.

But, I'm so very thankful I chose the practice I did. I asked about inductions options, just so I would have talked it through with him. He answered my questions about cervadil and cytotec, but never once offered me an elective induction. If he'd offered, today it would have been difficult to decline. Though Michael said he wouldn't have let me accept it he's good man, that hubs of mine. And my OB, too.

Yesterday was our anniversary. Eight years! We celebrated by going to dinner with my parents and sister, and our kids. My dad and sister left this morning. I'm still hoping my mom gets to meet her grandson before she leaves Monday, but we have some projects to keep us busy regardless. I'm making some newborn cloth diapers. Hope to finish the first tomorrow. I'll post a pic when I get it done

Glad you and DH worked things out. Sorry about the disappointing news but honestly I would love to hear that I was that effaced. I would much rather be more effaced then more dilated because for me effacement is what takes the longest and makes a long labor. I started my second labor out at 85% effaced and still had a 4-6 hour labor but once I was fully effaced I was holding my little boy a little over an hour later. I hope that's what happens for you! Expecting to go early and not is so hard! I did that with my first and it was miserable going a week past. Do lots of squatting and hands and knees and get him in the right position and putting pressure on your cervix to maybe encourage things along. Have fun making your diapers!

I didn't mean to fall off the face of the earth I kept meaning to post about our NYE/NY weekend and then baby came and things have been a little crazy since then.

Liam Alexander was born Jan 4 at 11:54pm. Randomly, all three of our kids have been born on Wednesdays. I've been processing his birth and will write up the birth story soon!

Congrats. Look forward to reading about his birth story.