35 weeks!
5 weeks remaining. Is this even possible? Has this pregnancy really reached its final weeks? Did my OB really tell me that if he were born today, I could take him home? I’m amazed. Although there are days I feel time is dragging, overall I’m in complete amazement of how fast it seems at different times. Like today.
I’m 1 cm or fingertip dilated and very soft cervically speaking. The head is low in my pelvis which apparently was the pain I was feeling a week ago when I had a bit of a freaking out session. Overall, I have gained 33 lbs. A little more than I had originally wanted, but I suppose if I look at it in another way, 4 months prior to getting pregnant this time, I weighed just 23 lbs less than I do now, I suppose it’s all relative. I am planning on starting Weight Watchers online right away so that I don’t get myself in that situation of not starting good habits post partum. I want to run a 5K in August and a half marathon next April – when our son is a year old. I’d rather do another marathon – but I won’t have the time for that sort of training for awhile!
So far so good as far as vaginal birth though compications could still happen between now and then, so far so good!
What the neighbors said…
After playing in the snow last weekend, a group of us (neighbors) went to eat breakfast together. Of course, I waddled in a bit to the table and was fully prepared to dig in. The conversation was brought up by one of the women regarding labor and how I would do it. Why people feel comfortable about asking something so private seems a bit strange. It’s almost like these same neighbors wouldn’t ask other personal questions, yet when it comes to labor, it seems to be an open private topic. Everyone has their opinions about it, too, and they want to find out where you stand and then blast you with their opinion. I didn’t as for their opinion first of all, and second, they could never possibly understand my train of thought with labor, my training in medicine, and last the different things that could ultimately be out of my control. Labor isn’t necessarily something so planned. So when someone asks me, “How will you do it?” I usually start out by saying that I have a plan for what I would like, but things can happen and we’ll have to see. But even mentioning med-free up front seems to rile up most women and men. The reaction I did not want:
“Are you wanting to win a trophy for that?”
I really wanted to go off on her right there about her lack of compassion, the judgemental feeling, and her lack of even looking at me as someone who could possibly accomplish it – any woman really. I don’t know. It just hit me wrong.
No, I don’t want a trophy. In fact, the next person that asks me how I want to labor, I’m going to tell them that it’s a private decision and to wish me luck. I just am tired of going into it. I’m tired of hearing everyone’s horror story about how it didn’t work for them. I am well aware of most things that can go wrong and most are out of my control. That’s not what they are asking me. They are asking me how would I like to labor… not to predict the future! I cannot predict the future.
And ultimately all I want is a healthy baby. If an epidural, narcotics, and/or pitocin would be in my best interest in healthwise for the baby and me, I will gladly succomb to them.
First birth in our group
An email from our Bradley instructor announcing the first birth in our group!
M and Davi had a baby boy on Monday evening about 5pm
she labored for 24 hrs including 2 hrs of pushing. Does NOT sound like fun.
that does not count the 12 hrs of early early labor or putsy putsy
labor. Oh gosh thanks for adding that part… wouldn’t want to think that it wasn’t hard labor for 24 hours. And 2 hours pushing? Are you SERIOUS?
baby was 6lbs 1 oz and 19 1/2 inches long.
he is beautiful.
he had trouble breathing when born and needed oxygen and to go the
NICU - Hmmm…. sounds suspicious. Was it all the time in the birth canal?
it was suspected he had caught group b strep and also had meconium
(baby poop) in the uterus and possible some in his lungs.
he will be watched for 5 days in hospital and they will let parents
stay also. 5 days????????????????
Happy Birthing!
I sure hope that the same doesn’t happen to me. The thought of all that time in labor really wears me out. And I’m almost certain this was unmedicated as the goal of the Bradley classes teach…
Birthing From Within
I have bought many books over the last three months in regard to preparing for labor. Most women seem to focus their efforts on when the baby gets here overlooking one of the most joyous processes — labor. I realize that some women don’t have a choice in having the kind of labor that others can choose due to surgeries on their uterus having to defintely choose the c-section route or in the case with multiples or a breech baby, but I’m very excited about the prospect of having a birth like my mother had. There are just a few things that I have to do to help increase those odds, one of those being to avoid induction at all costs. I know there’s a chance if I hit 42 weeks that I will have to go that route, but I’m hoping with the high level of activity among other things I will be attempting around 38 weeks.
From an article:
When to Start
Most women go into labor between their 37th week of pregnancy and their 42nd week. Even if your due date was two weeks ago, most health care professionals wait until 42 weeks’ gestation before considering a pregnancy overdue. If your or your baby’s health seems to be compromised, though, then there will be some extra pressure to have labor induced or have a cesarean section performed before this time. Talk with your doctor or midwife to see if labor induction is the best decision for you.
For healthy moms and babies, some health care providers may offer to let you continue your pregnancy after 42 weeks. However, most will usually suggest medically inducing labor once you hit the magical 4-2.
Problems with Being Overdue
Aside from being very uncomfortable and impatient, there are some issues associated with going past your due date. After 42 weeks, concerns start to rise about possible complications with the baby. Most notably, there is a slightly increased risk of stillbirth (about 1 in 1,000 babies). But evidence suggests that inducing labor can help reduce this risk.
If you’re past your due date, there are a few tests that your health care provider will do to monitor the health of your overdue baby. A non-stress test is commonly performed, which will monitor your baby’s heart rate. An ultrasound will also let you see that your baby is doing just fine. At home, you can count the number of movements you feel from your baby throughout the day. The more he moves, the better.
Natural Ways to Induce Labor
If the medical methods of jump starting labor sound a bit off putting, there are a number of home remedies for inducing labor naturally when you are past your due date. But remember: none of these remedies will start labor unless you have already begun to dilate. However, some methods can help you to tone and soften your uterus.
1. Eat spicy foods or pineapple.
2. Go for a walk or march up some stairs. This is thought to bring on labor because of the pressure of the baby’s head pressing down on your cervix. At the very least, walking can help get your baby into a better position for labor.
3. Have sex. A favorite for many pregnant women, sex can help by releasing a hormone called oxytocin, which causes the uterus to contract. Additionally, semen contains a substance known as prostaglandins, which will help soften the cervix.
4. Nipple stimulation. For those who find sex just too uncomfortable right now, nipple stimulation may be a better choice. It helps to bring on labor in much the same way sex does, by releasing oxytocin. However, this method may take a bit more effort than sex to start labor.
5. Stretching of the uterine opening membranes. This can be done by your doctor or midwife and has been found to increase the chances of labor starting within 48 hours.
6. Complementary therapies. Acupuncture, massage, teas, herbs and homeopathic remedies can be helpful when it comes to inducing labor. However, make sure you go to a licensed practitioner who has experience treating pregnant women.
One home remedy that is often recommended to pregnant women is castor oil taken either alone or with orange juice. While some women swear by this method, many experts and women who have tried it will strongly advise you against it. Castor oil may or may not bring on labor but it will definitely make you nauseous, cause you to vomit, have diarrhea and suffer severe cramps so just steer clear of this home remedy.
All to say so far my favorite book is Birthing From Within. I love the diagram in the book that has a quote at the top. “Labor is hard work, it hurts, and you can do it.” I think that will have to be my mantra in just 8 weeks. Maybe I’ll get a bit lucky and he’ll come a week or two sooner, and I won’t have to worry about being induced and all the risks associated with forcing a uterus to contract before its time. I think at this point I’d be more set for an epidural at this point than an induction because it seems that induction is where the fault lies in both complications and issues with breastfeeding (latching issues) afterwards.
I do want the pitocin after birth to help shrink my uterus though and help shorten the bleeding time post partum. 
7 WAYS TO BOOST A NATURAL DELIVERY
2. Eat right. Overeating may cause you to gain too much weight and your blood sugar to be too high. Both of these factors increase your chances of having a baby too large to be delivered vaginally.
3. Exercise regularly. In-shape women have faster labors and lower weight gains than couch potatoes.
4. Employ a professional labor assistant. Studies show that mothers who use a professional labor assistant (PLA) are much less likely to have a surgical birth.
5. Be upright. Back lying is the position for surgical birth; the more time you spend on your back, the more likely you are to have one.
6. Get moving. Avoid spending most of your time lying in bed wired to monitors – like a surgical patient. When you get moving, your labor will, too.
7. Trust your body. Believe that your delivery system will work. Believe that your pelvic passages are designed to birth your baby. A fear that you can’t go through with the delivery can be a self-fulfilling prophecy, since fear frightens the uterus into not working efficiently. Surround yourself with positive advisors. Even if your family tree or circle of friends is full of cesarean deliveries, know that you can beat these statistics.
I love this post…
Trust God with our finances, our cares, our lives… but birth is a different story!
Thank you so much for writing this…
Bradley Class Week 1
I’m a little late on writing about the first week of our Bradley Class, but nonetheless thought that I’d go ahead. I had discussed with my obstetrician concerning the type of classes that we would be doing – Bradley and Lamaze, and he asked (much to my dismay) why not just Lamaze?
Then he proceeded to tell me some stories of some Bradley-trained women and how they viewed him as the enemy. He’s a really laid-back doctor; he’s not at all judgmental or bragadocious about what he knows. He’s the first to admit he doesn’t know something. So he did his usual humble, “though I have to admit I don’t know what the training IS, it’s the attitude and the “no this… no that…”"
My heart fell. Keep in mind this is in total obgyn #5 in the order of things. #2 with this pregnancy. I’m thinking… The Farm sounds good in Summertown right now.
But, he went on to tell me of the mother coming into the hospital with her birth plan and handing it over stating she was in labor. Then the doctor (Dr. M.) coming in and wanting to examine her, and her saying not yet. So he waits. An hour goes by, and he asks again – rather patiently. She relents (she’s in pain at this point).
My sweet Dr. M. says, “Ms. ______, we have your birth plan, and it is complete. I wish I could have examined you earlier to make what we are going to have to do easier… Your baby is breech, and you have dilated to 6cm. We have to do a c-section due to the risks of shoulder dysplasias, etc…”
So not all birth plans are in stone. I’m cool with that. In my case, if my baby is breech, I will definitely get a c-section. No questions at all!
My goal is healthy mom/healthy baby. Dr. M’s is too. He says he’s willing to let me have a go at med-free. See how it goes but to please stay open minded about the possibility of things not going perfectly… because they rarely go perfectly. OK. I will have an open mind. I mean I’m pharmaceutically trained, after all.
Back to Bradley. So hubby and I walk into a classroom of about 7 couples total in the HOME of the instructor (which is nice). Things progress to introductions. There’s a sweet Jewish couple expecting a girl and actually 4 other expecting girl couples. One unknown. And then the last two couples – us and another – boys. There is a couple that are pharmacists for a chain store married to one another. (sweet – someone else to bounce things off of from my point of view)
We go over some exercises: squatting with heels flat on floor (I can do this with no support, which is nice… my Mom taught lamaze and had already told me to squat all the time for as long as possible. So I’ve been doing that). Then there’s kegels. Bradley instructor said do 150/day. I’ve been doing hundreds per day for a long time – it helps sex by the way. My mom preached that to me a few years ago. Then I have started learning the Lamaze breathing through my mom’s old instructor manuals.
We watched an old 70’s birth video. Chick looked like she was gorked out on morphine the whole time. Seemed funny in a sense.
We had snacks.
We did some massaging – mostly hubby massaging me which was loverly.
Then we adjourned. 3 hours well spent! And it actually made me feel more empowered and a bit better about the conversation with Dr. M. He’s my net should something go wrong. Ultimate goal: I can do this!
(if we are so lucky to have a second child one day… I’d love to have a water birth!)
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