MindiV- well, you have a few weeks left to go. I know you can go from zero to full labor in less than a day if you're lucky. So you just may reach your weekend, or hopefully not long after it.

Keller- That baby just dosn't want to listen. Hopefully things will go smoothly no matter what has to happen. I'd be freaking out too so I'd feel a little two-faced if i told you to stay calm and not to worry. But really that's the best you can do right now. Are you still trying to go into labor naturally? You have a week to work on it, or are you just gonna relax until induction?

Manda- That is a lot to deal with with how far you are. I hope everything turns out okay for her.

My cousin's wife (different cousin this time lol) has been in labor for a little over a week, poor thing. The dr's keep sending her home as she was only at a 2 and then a 3 as of a few days ago. a hour ago her water finally broke...no being sent home now. Hopefully this will help jump start everything and get things really going.
This also got me thinking if i should start keeping a towle tucked under my bedsheets because if my water breaks at home, I really, really don't want to make a mess of my bed. @.@ A bit too early to worry about that stuff right now, but with that last wave of pains the other day, I guess it couldn't hurt.

Well I'm freaking out because he said there's practically no chance for a natural labor so its pointless to try because the position of him. I've never had any kind of surgery and I'm scared of being cut into! Although I know I won't feel it the fear is still there. And as for the induction he said he will be using the 3 capsules of the strongest induction medicine available and i should expect t a long painful labor. I know he's being honest as to what he's seen ans he's been right on with my sisters and all my friends labors which really scares me that he will be right! Also, I went to him for my last pregnancy so he already knows how my body works.

I sure hope baby turns out of nowhere and labor occurs on its own but I can't foresee that happening at all. Women in my family have all had difficult labors or the same issues I'm having. I just thought maybe mine might be a bit different and its not looking good. So then I hope the induction works, they can flip him and i can still do a vaginal. I wanted to try all natural but with as baa as he's making pain sound I'm beyond open to the epidural.

Maybe it's best to keep an open mind on the natural vs. medicated. You never know what could happen. I'm planning for an epidural, but I also know that things may progress too fast for that to happen, or like in the case of my niece, I could have an epidural that never really works.

So if you go in for induction that day and the baby is still not flipped, are they going to induce anyway or just do the c-section? Do they make you endure any labor for a c-section when you know it's gonna happen?

i'm definitealy keeping an open mind. I'm just saying the whole time i've told myself that i wanted no epidural and a natural birth and now I don't really care anymore. I'm just to the point that I want him here safe and screaming!

Yes, he will induce no matter what and try to turn baby boy himself- he said if the induction works there is a medical way this can possibly be done and he can physically turn him if he isn't too big. He said that if I haven't had any or barely any change within 12 hours or 3 pills, my blood pressure rises at all or there is even the beginning sign of fetal distress that it will become an automatic c-section. So yes, I still have to endure the laboring part of it basically to see if they can get him into position.

Keller - they won't try to flip him before you go into labor? Normally they can try an outpatient procedure to get him to turn around.

Mindi - don't stress too much about not showing signs yet. You can go from 0 to 60, so to speak, really quickly. You could also lose your mucus plug and not go into labor for 3 weeks. My midwives don't even do cervix checks until you're in labor for that reason...just don't give you any meaningful info. Just relax, it'll happen when it happens.

Sakai - Did they give her anything to help her get some sleep in that time? I know at our hospital, if you haven't slept in over 48 hours but are still in early labor, they give you some narcotics to knock you out - otherwise it gets hard to have enough energy to push. Sending good thoughts that she gets things moving now!

As for me - Spencer is head down, dropped, and facing the correct way, so that's all good (he'd been sunny side up for a LONG while, and I'd been doing all kinds of exercises to get him to flip, so this is VERY GOOD news). Now we're just waiting for labor to start.

Who is still working? They keep giving me trouble for it, but as it stands, I get 8 total weeks out for financial reasons (I do get disability, but it's about half of what I get paid typically), so I'd much rather take those weeks when he's here than take them now. Plus, I'd just be sitting and twiddling my thumbs, or worse, taking on even more of the stuff with my grandpa.

Lyn is still in the hospital, my grandpa is kind of being a jerk about getting over to visit her (I KNOW you want to visit. I TOLD YOU I will drive you over there at 10:00am. So if I get two calls asking when I'm coming, and then when I show up, you're not there because you called a cab and didn't let me know, I AM GOING TO BE IRRITATED). I know he's stressed, but I need the man to work with me on this. If I haul my 9 months pregnant butt out to pick you up, YOU SHOULD BE THERE.

I keep checking to see if anyone is in labour!

Keller- I hope your boy flips, have how checked out www.spinningbabies.com for some great info on getting babies into position? My sister had an external cephalic version with her first at like 39 weeks or more as baby had flipped back up and it worked and baby stayed head down. I hope you don't have to have a section but if you do I found a great site about healing from a section in a guide booklet. I have had two sections and will most likely be having another one for this baby.

Mindi - My friends mom was a nurse in the maternity ward and they said that the day before, the day of and the day after the full moon it was always really busy so fingers crossed for you. maybe have a romantic evening with your partner ;)

Amanda - I am sorry to hear about your grandpas's girlfriend and hope she is ok. I am also in the position of caring for my grandmother who has dementia and lives on her own and lately it has been a lot of work as we are trying to get her into a day program and getting her assessed and stuff. She also does things like goes out when she is supposed to be home and I go to pick her up for appointments...so frustrating.

Sakai- glad you are feeling better and got a good sleep in. Hope your cousin's baby comes soon.

bianca - yeah for baby movements but sorry you are feeling yucky.

As for me I had my follow up with the OB today and we booked my repeat c-section for June 7th (which is the day I was hoping for) I will be 39wks 2 days and at first they wanted me to go no later then 39wks but they were ok with 2 days. Had another U/S and baby passed the Bio Physical Profile with an 8/8 :carrot: she was also measuring more reasonably and is estimated to be in the 70th percentile now so that is good. She is also in the perfect position. So who knows I may still end up having my VBA2C after all! I will get to consult with an anesthesiologist before my c-section date which is good because with my DS they couldn't get the spinal to work properly and I ended up having to go under general which was horrible and I really do not want. Anyway I am feeling pretty good about things. I typed out my lists for my,DH's and baby's hospital pack and will start packing them next week sometime. Now I just hope DH can get the basement done so we can rearrange our house and set of DS' room and our/baby's room before she gets here :dizzy:

My cousin's baby was born yesterday at 1pm.
They were giving her a epidural and the baby decided at that moment it was time to come out right NOW! so they ripped the needle from her back and grabbed a random doctor from the hallway to state the time of birth. @.@
that boy had her in labor for a week then decided to shoot out out of the blue.
But all was well, baby and mom doing fine.

Butterflymama- And here I was wondering if it was gonna be a race between the two of us, being how close we are. Well, you could still go into labor before your appointment. ^.^ And maybe you'll get your VBA2C if everything works out well.

I'm keeping my mind open when it comes to natural or meds or a c-section.
Obviously I'm rooting for a natural birth. But if labor is slow, and horribly painful, I'm sure the needle in the back won't frighten me.
I also heard from 2 friends that the Dr's and nurses at my hospital like to really nag and push for epidurals. Which makes me not want to get one outta spite.
And of course a C-section would only be needed if something is really wrong and at that point I'm sure I'll just want her to be safe and well and I won't care about it. Though I'm sure I'll freak out at the spinal if I haven't had an epidural yet. I don't want to cry like a 5 year old when they come at me with that needle. If that's the case, then the pain isn't bad enough. lol.

I'm still working. And I plan on working until I go into labor. I'm taking 4 weeks off, unless I get a c-section and then I have to stay out 6 weeks. I can't really stay out any longer and go without a paycheck that long. Although, work is getting tough. I just can't move as well as I used to and by the last two hours of work, i hurt badly. I'm gonna aim for june (10 days before due) and if I can go longer, then great.

Sakai- Congrats to your cousin! That totally sucks about the labor and him coming as soon as she wanted an epidural but glad baby and mom are doing good!

Manda- He didn't mention anything about an outpatient way of trying. It's too hard to get a phone call in anda response towards the end of the week so i'll ask about it if they can before they start my induction. That's GREAT news that Spencer is now in position!!!

Butterfly- I have seen that sight and it worked- but then he turned back two days later and won't turn again. I think he's just so big that it's more comfortable for him to be sideways. I'm gonna take a look at the healing guide though this weekend.

Mindi- Have you had any bh or "signs" that labor is coming yet? Of course it can happen suddenly as well but just wondering!

I'm hoping fast labors and healthy deliveries for all of us! I'm just really scared of the c-section. More so because i've only had one very very minor outpatient surgery when I was in 8th grade for a staff infection- and they about cut my whole finger off! So any kind of cuts freak me out.

3 More days as a "single" woman- so to say. DF and I went out for lunch today as our last as just us since he's working all weekend- 42 hours, in order to get Monday through Thursday off. I'm getting so excited. My induction time got set for 5:30AM.... Aggh! I haven't been up that early since.... Probably Never lol but it will be worth it in the end. And I guess I could go back to sleep after they put the cytotec in.

Saw the best bumper sticker today... "Parachutes and minds work the same way. ONLY WHEN OPEN!" That made me think of it, Mindi ;)

*hugs keller* :) You can do it! Definitely talk to the doctor before if you are worried about it.

When you're asking about the procedure, it's an "External Cephalic Version". http://www.webmd.com/baby/external-c...reech-position

Keller I've had zero braxton hicks at all. The only thing I've had a few of are some period-like cramps down low. Oh, and now apparently the skin and muscles on the left side of my belly are stretching to the point where it's INSANELY painful all the time. Just really sensitive and when anything touches it (including my maternity pants) it pretty much hurts constantly. :(

Other than that not a single sign this baby is coming anytime soon.

Wishing you the best Keller! keep us posted when possible.

Had a dream about the baby yesterday. It's the first dream where I saw her and knew it was her. all my other dreams have just been about being pregnant, and in labor, or caring for other babies. but this time it was her.
She phased magically out of my tummy, fully clothed, cone head, no hair. she was happy to see me. She was so tiny. I had her torso in one hand and held her head in the other. I cried because she was beautiful, even i she was itty-bitty, bald and had a pointed head. (and apparently magical) She was the cutest little thing because she was mine. i told her she had to go back in my belly because she was too small to come out just yet. she didn't want to, but vanished back in my belly anyways.
Needless to say I was upset when I woke up. But happy that maybe I got a sneak peak at my baby. ^.^
I started my blog and my first post was a letter to her telling her all the details of the dream and my feelings for her to read when she's older.

Thanks Sakai. I'll have my laptop and phone with me so i'll be online shortly after he's born to give the family announcement.

Manda- Thanks for the site!

Mindi- BH suck! Is baby girl on the left side? That's what happend when he planted himself on my right side for awhile.

I swear if people keep asking when he's coming, i might punch somebody. They think I can just force him to come on my own and have demanded that "I have this baby tonight" for the past like two weeks. UGH! I've led all my family to believe i'm getting induced on Thursday or Friday so we can have a peaceful delivery but that apparently isn't a good enough answer for them because that's just too far away. They act like they have to give birth to him!

Todays been cleaning before baby boy gets here and i've got all the laundry(both ours and his) done. Tomorrows napping and finishing up this weeks homeworks and papers. Mondays the big day!!!!!!

Hi everyone,

Sorry I haven't popped on in a while, exams are crazy right now. I'm thinking of everyone and hoping babies are healthy and happy and that the future labours will hopefully be smooth.

As for me, I'm just stressed. Life is pretty unexciting right now.

Anyway, take care! :)

Keller, she usually hangs out on the right side.

Started having actual BH contractions on Friday, according to my SIL. They were down low and across my back. Then had some off and on yesterday. Happens more when I'm up moving around a lot.

Had hoped for a baby this weekend for many reasons, but it's looking like that isn't gonna happen. My next appointment is on Friday and he's supposed to start checking for dilation. May move it up in the week though just because I want to know NOW if anything is happening!! :) We'll see, though. My "18 week sonogram due date" was May 13....

Mindi- Hopefully she comes soon for you. There's still tonight =] I could be wrong- but I was always told that braxton hicks should go away when you're moving or take a bath etc. My best friend had thought she was having braton hicks around 38 weeks but she was actually in the early stages of labor and had her baby just a couple days later! What was your original due date from the first ultrasound? Doctors around here won't change it from the first one because they say the earliest is the most accurate. From my 22 week ultrasound, mine would have been last week.

Manda- How are you hanging in there? You're due date should be right around the corner as well!!!!

Racrane- I feel you on the exams. I had to take one early and i'm missing all three of my other ones next week because i wasn't allowed to take them since material hasn't officially been covered(even though i'ev read it already). Just happens to be at the wrong time. = / Hopefully the stress isn't too much! How are feeling other than stressed by school?

I am barely hanging in, honestly. I am super uncomfortable (pinched nerves in both shoulders plus carpal tunnel = world of hurt), my grandpa's girlfriend is in the process of dying and he is not doing well with it, the stress is making my stomach a nightmare, and I just feel completely overwhelmed. I've been staying away from the thread so as not to be a downer!

Mandalinn: I'm sorry you're not feeling well.

Mindi: I hope your baby comes soon!

Keller: I'm okay. I'll be glad when school's done, it stresses me out! And the baby is fine. He's moving a lot and I'm really happy that he's so active. It reassures me.

Hope everyone is okay!

Cleaning house when i really don't want to. Meaning I have a 2-5 minute attention span on any one chore. Wash dishes for 3 minutes. Sweep floor, Clean only the toliets in the bathrooms, back to washing some dishes, pick up pet toys. Feed bird. Sweep under kitchen table, fix pantry to fit can goods that have been siting on the kitchen floor for a month. sweep bathroom, back to washing dishes. @.@ Some time tonight I'll get around to throwing all the trash I'm gathering all at the same time.

Also writing a To Do list for DF and I to do later (he's at work right now, days off tomorrow) Things he has to help me do or do himself. Because I notice lots of things we have to do while I'm cleaning and not sure If I'm allowed to toss/put it away and/or can't do it on my own. and if I don't write it down, I'll forget it by morning.

I wonder if this is nesting?? @.@

Keller - thinking of you today!

Good luck today Keller! I'm excited for you. I'll definitely well be thinking of you all day too.

Manda- things sound horribly stressful there for you. You're getting close though, soon you'll be missing that belly, but you'll have your little boy^ .^

Thankis ladies!

8 Hours in. 2 Pills to ripen cervix put in already. And absolutely no change or thinning at all. Blood pressure was high for a few hours but thats now under control. No contractions still. Baby is on three monitors due to BP rising but he is doing great with a strong heartbeat.

I think one more pill will be put in place in about an hour. After that, he should decide on c-section or not. They're running bloodwork for pre-eclampsia and all that good stuff as I type.

DF is knocked out. Oh, how I wish I could sleep- Nurses and doctors have been in at least every twenty minutes checking monitors and whatnot. And I didn't sleep last night for more than two hours.

I'll update later- hopefully that this boy is here!

Keller- think of you and your boy! I am hoping that labour starts for you and you don't need that c-section. Looking forward to your update!

Hope you made it without a section, Keller!!!! Fingers crossed for you!!!

I hope everything's alright, Keller! :)

Thinking about you, Keller! I hope everything went well!

31 Hours of hard back labor. Ended up getting the epidural after 21 hours when my body started fighting against me and i'd only progresssed to 1/2 cm dialated. Doctor broke my sac- only to find meconium in the sac. My blood pressure went crazy and baby's heartrate dropped at every contraction- every two minutes for hours. They had me on 7 monitors, three on baby boy, two on contractions, one on my heart and one on my BP because I was still slowly progressing. By 11:45 yesterday morning when my doctor came in again, I had only progressed to a "tight 2 cm" and risk of infection was too high since baby boy had been exposed to the meconium too long and my doctor also found my cervix was too narrow for him to fit out--- so I was rushed off to emergency c-section. =/

Due to his position of still being partially turned, they had to cut a incision line twice the size of normal. Thankfully- everything went great and both me and baby boy are doing Great. Andrece Keaton was born at 12:08pm On March 8th. He weighed at 8lbs6oz and was 21 inches long.

Andrece had trouble holding his temp up past 96 degrees and staying latched on when feeding, but has improved on both now. I'm still in excrusiating pain from the"double" incision they had to do so DF and the nurses are a HUGE help. I'm on three pain killers so i've been out of it- or I would have posted shortly after he was born. We should be released from the hospital on Saturday sometime if all continues to go well.


And of course, i've attached a picture for everyone to see =]

What a cutie ! Congratulations !

He's just beautiful! Congratulations, Keller and DF! I'm so glad to hear everyone is doing well and hope your recovery is uneventful.

He is a cutie! Sorry your experience was so horrible...but look what you get to take home!! :)

Yay! It's funny but the wait to hear back from you was killing me. haha!
I sorry that things had to be so rough and you ended up with a c-cestion anyways, but at least it's all over and everyone is fine in the end and you have your beautiful baby boy.

Keller- He is gorgeous!!! I am glad you are both ok and I hope a speedy uneventful recovery for you. Yeah to our first baby of the group :D

Thank you ladies. I'll post another picture or two in the next couple days.

They had to give me anxiety meds to get me through the c-section because i couldn't quit shaking but the only thing that matters is holding Andrece. I never imagined I could love something so little, so dang much. I don't ever want to put him down!! He's currently sleeping with his daddy so I could get online and update =]

Sakai- I tried to update around one since we were already in recovery, but I couldn't figure out how to log in because i was so drugged up. I couldn't even hold him until after we were in the recovery room. But snuggling with him all night is worth anything that I had to go through.

Mindi- Hopefully your time comes very soon as well!!

And hopefully it's a much easier and smoother labor for all of you.

Keller: Congratulations! He's so beautiful! I'm sorry you had a rough time, but I'm happy you're both healthy!

Congrats, Keller!

I have been in prodromal/false/pre/whatever you want to call it labor for 2 days. Regular contractions that hurt enough to be uncomfortable, but don't get longer, stronger, or closer together.

I am tired and starting to get a little frustrated with having been on laborwatch for 48 hours, plus not sleeping well bc of contractions, etc.

Seriously. This stinks!

Need your advice ladies.
I've been pressured by various older friends and family members about the adoption.

I stated that because the depression was starting to get too much and too close to being unhealthy baby blues that I wasn't going to make my choice until after the baby is born.
However, my greatest fear is that I'll see her and state that I'm keeping her.

So others have voiced their opinion that perhaps it would be better to wait a week or two later before making my choice. I'm not sure if hormones will levle out by then and therefore will be thinking with a clear enough mind.
I don't want to regret giving her up, but on the same note, I don't want to regret not giving her a better life. I don't ever want to regret keeping her.

So...does waiting a while after the birth seem like a good idea? I haven't brought this up with my cousin and his wife yet. I feel bad because they already have plane tickets and laywers set up and set time off from work. I really, really don't want to make this any harder for them. I'm not sure what would be the best thing to do.

Also. I started my leave from work today. 4 weeks before I wanted to. Truthfully I'm not happy being off of work for so long. I will get some pay from vacation and sick pay, but not much. I'm bummed. I know my DF is stressed because of it. (though he says he's only stressed because I'm stressed about it. @.@) I just feel bad for putting so much pressure on him.

EDIT: I should also add I started my leave because I started having contractions last night at work. Lots of Presure "down there" and feeling like I was wearing pants two sizes too tight (When they were really a size too large) some dizziness, pain in my sides and back. it got better when I was on lunch, but started right back up as soon as i went back to work. I went to see the dr. today (normal appointment) and she said it sounded like light real contractions, or bad false ones.
I would of stayed at work but I also found out that baby is sideways, almost all the way breached. They didn't seem so worried, because I have 4 more weeks for her to settle in the head down position. so i don't want to go into labor early from working if she's not head down. So I decided that it would be best to leave work.

Sakai,

I've been lurking on this thread for a long time now and I've been reading your posts about adoption. My heart totally goes out to you because of the sheer magnitude of that decision. I know I wouldn't be able to do it, but that doesn't help you very much. If it were me, I would make my decision before the delivery and then force myself to stick with whatever I decided. I think that you really need to take the emotional side of the situation and try to separate that from the factual side. If you keep the baby, are you going to be able to afford diapers, clothing, etc.? Will you have the means to afford daycare, if necessary? You don't need to give her an extravagent life, but you need to give her the necessities. If you're not able to supply the basic needs for the child, then you need to consider what's best for her. You're emotions will always mislead you, no matter what the situation, so you should try to focus on the best thing for your daughter. Whatever you decide and whenever you decide it, you'll do the right thing.

I would say that this is a decision not to be made lightly and I see you are not taking it lightly. I also see that you have not given her up in your heart. I can tell by the things you are doing, tye dying the clothes for instance. I am not just a nosy old lady talking but I am an adoptive mother. That is the important word here, I did not give birth to my son but I am his mother in every sense of the word. My husband and I picked his name, we bought his clothes, we decided where he would live, where he would go to school, etc. Birth mom once she decided to give him up for adoption did none of that. I do not want sound cruel but I see that you are struggling. Right now you don't think that you can give her the life she deserves. I think you might be wrong about that,. You don't have to give up all your plans, maybe change them a little or delay them There are parents everywhere that find a way. I have to tell you the truth if every parent waited until they could afford a baby the birth rate would drop dramatically. I guess what I am trying to say is if you have the slightest doubt that you can do this than don't do it. I suspect that the parents to be are prepared that you can change your mind . I know this is an agonizing time for you. What does yor DF think. ? His feelings need to be considered, too.

Sakai - I haven't really talked about my switching from adoption to keeping my baby on here very much because I know how hard even the idea of adoption is. I can't imagine the pain you're going through. At any rate, I decided to keep my son because my boyfriend and I went through things and I realized that if we worked our butts off, we could do it. It wasn't the *perfect* life, but he will be happy, healthy and safe. We won't be able to buy him tons of things, though.

Hormones are horrible, so really try looking at it from a logical standpoint. Go over with your partner and figure out what life would be like with the baby to about five years from now. All the details - rent, food, gas money, baby expenses, work, everything. Can you do that now? Really go at it removed from emotions. That's what helped me make the choice - being removed from emotions.

Don't think about the potential adoptive parents at all. Consider your partner and you alone.

At any rate, I'm thinking of you. I hope you will be content with your choice.

Amanda - Take heart, sister! I had the false/pre/whatever contractions for a week before my second was born. Although they were irregular and still painful they were doing their job: I was almost 4cm dilated at my dr appt the day before he was born. So, although it may not be true labor yet, those contractions might be working anyhow! :)