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It's been a rough weekend. MIL was admitted to the hospital on the fourth of July for tightness in her chest - ended up getting two stents for an artery blockage. Since we spent most of the weekend visiting her, I was exposed to a stomach virus, which is currently plaguing SIL's family. I've been down for the count since last night. Can't help but be a little bitter about being exposed to those germs.

Going to attempt a membrane strip on Tuesday, and am *hoping* it works. I am so uncomfortable, and ever so tired of being pregnant. My induction will be set in stone on Tuesday, and I think I might request for it to be this week.

Thinking of you all, and hoping everyone is feeling well, and progressing nicely!

@deerylou: Ugh I'm so sorry you are dealing with a stomach bug on top of being 9 months pregnant! That is just unfair! I hope you can kick it quickly and be recovered before labor. And, of course, that your MIL recuperates quickly!

Any July babies yet????

Baby Roy was born July 3rd at 4:52 am weighing 8lbs. 5oz. I had an incredibly hard labor and delivery that ended via C -section but all I went through was truly worth it to have him in my arms. Just got home from hospital two days ago and trying to recover and be mommy are hard but I'm doing it and I love it. I will post my birth story after awhile.... Here's a pic of my baby Roy at 1 day old

@jh524: Oh my goodness-- he's PERFECT! Congratulations!

Nothing new here. Just trying to get through one last week of work then my maternity leave starts! 37 weeks today, so officiall full term, but of course, I'm hoping for at least one more week, preferebly two.

@glimmersnaps: Thank you; I am feeling much, much better (well, as good as I can feel at 41 weeks)!

@jh524: My lord, he is stunning. Congrats on a job well done, and a beautiful, little snuggle bug.

My 41 week appointment is today. *throws confetti* Going to attempt another membrane sweep - hopefully doc is successful this time, and I can finally meet my baby girl.

@Pepper: Thanks for the kind thoughts!

So, the sweep attempt wasn't very successful. I'm a "very tight two centimeters" (lovely), so my doctor wasn't able to go in very far. I'm cramping/bleeding, but nothing to write home about. DD is very, very low, though.

My induction is scheduled for Monday evening, at 41+6. It made me so depressed to make that appointment.

@rahlyrah: Thanks, so much! I'm definitely hoping for the best, and just attempting to take it, day by day. I feel like the irritability is irrational, but unstoppable. I'm a hormonal freight train.

@deerylou: I was 1 cm when they did a membrane sweep on me, and it worked!

@SouthPaw: Thank you for asking after us. Yeah, we're okay thanks. She just wasn't moving about. When I got there, she was sleeping and even the midwife jiggling her about didn't wake her up. She woke up when daddy came in though and started being more active according to the monitor. Phew! One midwife said it might be the heat making her sleepy (we've been having a major heatwave here), but they are monitoring again tomorrow morning, keeping a close eye. It has been much cooler today and I have actually felt her a little more so maybe there's something in the heat thing?

@deerylou: Thinking of you and hoping you go into labour over the next few days. It must be the most frustrating thing ever.

I just read about the induction process and I'm absolutely terrified and frantic. Oh, lord.

@Foodnerd81: Ahh, I'm sorry to hear that. It sounds like you've got a really great attitude about it all.

@deerylou: I'm hoping to find out my induction date on Monday! I will be induced early so it's very likely I will have to have one. I'm excited about it! Please don't be scared - I've heard good and bad induction stories and I've heard good and bad natural labour stories.... what is it, specifically, that really frightens you?

@Foodnerd81: We just take the risk over here! The keep-your-fingers-crossed school of medicine!! Whereas yours goes on your bill - you'll probably find the IV cap on there as a separate item, next to the plaster (band aid) they used to stick the cannula to your hand! I'm not sure which is better to be honest!!

@SouthPaw: Really it sounds like the only difference is that they want me to stay at the hospital after my water breaks, where before, if it broke before labor started, I could go back home. Meh. Almost all of the rooms at my hospital have tubs of some sort, some bigger or better than others, I guess. My bigger concern is cleaning my bathtub at home. It's been a while and it's not getting any easier to reach!

@deerylou: I completely understand and second how you feel. When induction was first presented to me as a very likely outcome I mourned the loss of my perfect birth for about 2 weeks. Labouring at home - gone. Water birth (for me, due to GD monitoring) - gone. Moving around to ease the pain - gone. It was really hard to come to terms with. I cried - a lot.

I have tried to see some silver linings and, funnily, one of the things I like about the prospect is the fact that it gives me some degree of control back! I will know what day I'm having my baby, be able to shower beforehand and dress for the occasion! I also like the fact that I wont have to travel to and from the hospital multiple times, getting sent home every couple of hours because I'm not dilated enough and worrying that it might be too soon to go back again. Once I'm in, I'm in and I'm coming out with a baby!

My fears are the same as yours, really. I'm scared of being tied to the bed by all the monitors and IVs. I'm also scared of having cannulas in my hands, which I know is really childish but I can't help it! What if I catch them?? I'm also really scared of having to have an epidural and needing a catheter. Sob sob.

The way I'm handling it in my head it this: I like a challenge. If you gave me a crossword and a set of easy clues and cryptic clues, I'd chose to solve the puzzle using the cryptic clues. If I was playing a game I found really easy, I might do it with one hand behind my back to make it a bit more difficult. So why should birth be any different?? Bring it on!! I'm going to be able to say "Yeah, you gave birth, well done - I did it on my back, strapped to a monitor, on an insulin drip and pumped full of Pitocin. I'm awesome!". I like that!

@Cherrybee: Thank you for reassuring me! You listed a lot of good, valid reasons why having an induction isn't the end of the world, and I genuinely appreciate it. If DD does end up holding out until Monday, at least I'll be able to comfort my OCD tendencies with a good, weekend mop-down of the entire apartment. Cleaning always gives me piece of mind. I can imagine obsessing about that one dirty dish, or slightly dusty end table that I never got to, if I have to rush to the birth center, unexpectedly. I also agree with you about liking/needing a challenge, but always seem to wuss out when it comes to things taking place with a doctor. I'm a *terrible* patient. Just ask my DH - last flu I had, I asked him, in all seriousness, to make preparations for my funeral ceremony.

How are we all hanging in there - it's practically mid July!

DH and I went on an enormous walk last night, and I was feeling immense pressure down below - it was as if DD was just going to fall right on out. I wanted to keeping walking until midnight, just to encourage her on out, but I finally had to admit defeat. I've been having terrible sciatic nerve pains this past week, so I reached a point where I just had to return home and elevate my legs.

A little over 48 hours left until I check in for my induction....eek. I'm still so, so hopeful she decides to come on her own before then, though!

@Foodnerd81: A glass of wine...sounds absolutely amazing.

@.twist.: Welcome, mama!

Thinking of all of you!!

Wanted to pop in with some positive thinking and check in on my July mamas. I'm healing up surprisingly well. Two words: abdominal binder. Once it dawned on me to put pressure on my stomach, the pain decreased by tenfold. Not even using a formal "post partum" one, just a shaper I found in my drawer, and then spanx. So. Much. Better. Plus my stomach is shrinking faster!

Just my two cents hopefully you will all have infinitely easier labors!!

@.twist.: whoa, did I miss this?! Congrats!

@Foodnerd81: My OB says a little wine/beer here and there in the third trimester is totally okay - I just haven't been ballsy enough to do it, yet.

Did it work for your sister?