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Quick update! Baby girl was born in record time. I am in shock that she was almost 3 weeks early and cannot believe how fast it all went. Less than one hour of contractions, just a few pushes and it was all over! She looks so much like her brother and I'm just enamoured. We are doing fine and trying to rest. She has been very sleepy so far, so I haven't been able to nurse yet. We still haven't decided on a name! I'll try to do a birth story sometime soon. In the meantime, best wishes to all of you for the next few days or weeks!

@lamariniere: congratulations!! So happy you are all doing well.

Oh wow, congratulations!

CONGRATULATIONS!! how exciting and fast!

@anbanan15: Thank you!!! This was so helpful to read! I thankfully have improved dramatically, but still haven't gotten over my frustration with the way it was handled by my OB. Even though the pain is manageable now, I'm really looking forward to feeling more normal once I deliver. I appreciate hearing your story so much - it's nice to know someone understands!

@jaypegs: yay for your last day of work tomorrow!! and i have to say, i've had weekly ultrasounds the past 6 weeks, and while i love any opportunity to see little girl, it's hard to get any good looks at this stage - she's so cramped in there that even if she moves her hands from her face, she's all squished and funny looking haha. But you'll get to see baby on the outside so soon! 8lb 4oz doesn't sound so big...sounds pretty much on target for almost at your due date! the weight also might be a little off at this stage.

@mynoahbear: congratulations! Glad to hear all is going well, and I hope the soreness eases soon!

@mynoahbear: congrats! I wish you a speedy recovery! Enjoy that sweet baby girl!

@Pirouette: it was planned due to previous c/s. I'm sure part of the difference in recovery is because I'm in a different country. When I gave birth in tokyo, it was encouraged to try to move and walk as soon as possible. So I was pretty much mobile from as soon as I had feelings back in my legs. The soreness and pain seemed much more tolerable last time. This time around, I'm in Beijing. I wasn't allowed out of bed for the first 24 hours after my c section. That definitely slowed down the recovery process. I'm much slower just moving around because the pain feels so much worse.

@mynoahbear: wow that sucks! I wonder what the reasoning is behind making you stay in bed - everything I've heard supports what they did with your first c - get up as soon as you are able! I hope things have gotten a little easier!

@Pirouette: I know right? My doctor, who is German and head of the OB department, even said he tried to change all that but the hospital said no. Now that I'm home and can relax and move around freely, I feel so much better. Oh well...TIC (this is China).

Ugh, 3 hours in L&D to tell me that, no, my water hadn't broke. I was sure it had, and was actually worried that I should have gone in yesterday. Oops!

And my cervix still isn't doing anything - I think baby is going to take his/her time!

@mynoahbear: Glad you're home and things are going better! Being stuck in bed for 24 hours would have driven me bananas!

@jaypegs: oh no.... why did it take so long for them to tell your water hadn't broke?
Yeah, the whole not moving after the c section was really strange.

@mynoahbear: with my luck, probably. DD1 was 8 days late, I'd be thrilled if this one came on time. Earlier the better!

@Pirouette: yup, I'm due Sunday! Good memory! Seems likely I'll be late because nothing seems to be happening.

I was just glad it was really watery discharge and not pee!

@jaypegs: If it makes you feel better, I've gone in twice thinking my water had broken and it was just really watery discharge as well.

38+3 weeks, and I have absolutely no clue what my body is doing right now. My last appointment I had a growth scan and baby boy measuring at 36 weeks, but the midwife and ultrasound tech didn't seem too concerned. I've been having some back pain and cramping the last few days, so fingers crossed my body is starting to do something. I have my 39 week check on Wednesday, and this time I will request an internal check and membrane strip if I'm dilated at all. Maybe I'll get lucky and I'll already be in labor!

Had bloody show this morning, and I've been contracting about every 6-12 minutes since. To think I was all Eeyore yesterday about how I was going to be sooooooo overdue because nothing was happening!

Kind of an inconvenient day, since we're getting part of our sewer main replaced this afternoon, but too excited to care!!

Clark Edward was born last night at 9:11 pm. He was indeed a big baby, at 9 pounds, 2.8 ounces, and 21 inches long! I woke up with bloody show at 5:30 and was contracting by 6am. Labored at home until my scheduled OB appointment at 2:50, and when they checked me I was 4cm, 80%, so they sent me to the hospital. Got here around 4, and after I got admitted, spent about two hours in the tub. I got to almost 7cm, when I asked for an epi. They only had one anesthesiologist at the time, and he was busy helping someone else, so it took him forever. When they sat me up for him to prep my back, I complained about pressure, so they checked me and I was a 9! I figured since I was pretty much through transition anyway, I'd just go for it without the meds (which was my original plan!). They called in my OB, and I started pushing not long after she got here. I ended up with two surface level lacerations in my vagina/labia, but no tearing - everyone kept commenting on how unusually stretchy I was, which is especially funny in retrospect!

Breastfeeding is going well, but I feel like I really need about two extra hands. He's still in the sleepy phase, so pretty easy going. I'm pretty sore and swollen, but getting by.

It's an amazing thing, and I'm so excited for all of the rest of you still ahead!

@jaypegs: Congratulations, sounds like you did awesome! Clark Edward is a great name.

@jaypegs Congrats! What a great name.

All these birth stories are making me feel sooooo ready to go (I'm 38+5 right now), but I'm trying not to dwell on it too much, just in case baby decides to take her time.