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@glitter, @beebug, @mae- my doula also suggested raspberry tea amongst a bunch of other things. Hubby bought some. I will be launching into it this Friday. Week 35 officially starts.

I think (fresh only) pineapple is supposed to soften the cervix? If I remember correctly!!!

@Mae: Not sure! I love pineapple, so I started somewhere in 38w I think? So yummy, gives me canker sores though!!

I've been drinking red raspberry leaf tea since the start of the third trimester. I saw Birt & Tang red raspberry tea at Homegoods so that's the only reason I got it.. and it was delicious! I think the only difference is that tea has raspberries and the leaves so it's really sweet. I haven't been able to find it again Didn't drink it last time but it's also in my prenatals and I did not have a difficult time pushing DS out. I think he was out in 3 pushes. He was also tiny so take that with a grain of salt!
I have also heard that Italian food - eggplant parm in particular can put you into labor at the very end. Must have something to do with the garlic.
I heard about the pineapple too but that you need to eat an entire one for it to really do anything. Like in one day or one sitting. I don't know how that's possible!

@Mae: I'm having them at first I wasn't sure, but now it's clear thats what is happening.

So as a doula I will say the following thing, regardless of what you eat or drink, your body will not go into labor until it's ready. So although there are lots of things that may help you along, they won't actually do anything until it's time anyways (castor oil sometimes being the exception).

Now I have quite a list that I can share of things that have shown some signs of effectiveness in helping dilation and contractions begin when your cervix is favorable and will do so when I get home.

It's important to remember too that the definition of full term has recently changed from 37 weeks to 39 weeks

@Mae: Also foot massages and pedicures. Can't hurt anyway! I had a pedicure at 39 weeks last time and he came 3 days later, and the nurses were all complimenting my toenails. I'm already thinking about when I want to do a pedicure this time. They do a pregnant mama pedicure at this fancy spa near my work.

I am not ready to try anything to move him along.. I still have to much to do! lol but pineapple was a big craving of mine in the beginning so I can probably get back on board with that!
our closing is on Friday and next week we will move in so I'm starting to feel better about that. I had my 35 week appt today which started exams and the Group Strep B test. she said head is down and cervix is still tight so thats good. get the results for the GSB test at next appt.
I was feeling BH a while ago and then they slowed down but now when I get them they feel a little stronger. Like a little crampier instead of just uncomfortable.

@sungirl: I'm only 33 weeks as well, so I feel like I have quite a bit of time left! So funny how at 33 weeks, I feel like it's too early to really start getting things ready, but once 35 weeks hit, it's going to feel like there's so little time left!

@twodoghouse: oh no! hopefully everything stabilizes and you don't have to call your doc today.

@Mae: My last post wasn't directed at you, just the first sentence. The rest of it was just so that I got it out there and could make myself feel better.

There's actually big differences found between mamas with babies born at 37 weeks and babies born at 39. A big difference is success with breastfeeding. The closer you are to 40 weeks the better the stats are for success.

@Mae: LOL on the pants off appointment! Actually, at my OB, we are sent to the bathroom to do the GBS swab ourselves...so it's still a "pants-on" appointment In fact, last pregnancy, I didn't have a single pants off appointment, including the 6 week post-partum appointment (since I had a c-section). I was also under the impression that during the c-section, I was nicely covered by a sheet with just a little area cut out of the sheet for the incision (you know...like you see on tv!). But DH revealed to me a few weeks later that no...I was basically lying there fully naked. haha, I"m so glad I didn't realize it at the time! Ignorance was bliss in this case I totally thought I had gotten through an entire pregnancy and "delivery" without having to do away with modesty!

I started off grooming for every single appointment, only to have my pants stay on. Not like I was disappointed or anything, but I went through the work of grooming for nothing! Now that I can't see down there anymore, I don't know whether to risk not grooming or have DH tackle it for my 36 wk appointment.

I do plan to get my membranes stripped though! I understand its painful and uncomfortable but I really think going past my due date might be more frustrating for me. I hate to admit this, but in all honesty, I really want this baby out before the 40 wk mark,, as long as he's ready that is. I'm kinda over the lethargy and sluggishness and pelvic pain and back pain and uncomfortable sleep, or no sleep, and excessive peeing,... Movements still make me smile, but how much more awesome would seeing his face be, u know?!

Also, I just had a pedicure done today! I told the lady "if you decide not to paint my toes, I don't care. That massage alone is totally worth it!" This was about 3 hours ago. No contractions yet so I'm guessing she avoided the induction spots, lol.

I'm wondering if I will go this whole pregnancy without any cervical checks like I did last time. I'm guessing I won't be so lucky There's a chance I might have to fly in the next few weeks (DH's grandfather is very very sick and it's likely that we will be flying for a funeral in the next couple of weeks - so sad ) So i'm assuming that in order to get permission to fly, I'll have to have some kind of check done. Also, unless baby is breech (i.e. automatic c-section), he did say that he would start checking near the end to see if I was dilating at all, etc. since that would affect whether I have a vbac or c-section (since they won't induce me).

I had checks done from 37w appt onward last time, stretch and sweep, whatever they do down there.....and I went overdue (had her at 41w!) I know my next appt (35w) is a pants down appt for the GB Swab, 36w will be pants on, then 37w onward, pants down!

It is foolish, but so long as I get for another brazillian at some point, I don't care about the appts, I want one as close to delivery as possible, so post-partum there is none of that to worry about. I am going to get my legs done soon though, very over trying to reach!

@Glitter: lol. I find this pregnancy I am sooooo much more sensitive having them done. So brutal. tmi, but I'm hairy, so it's soooo worth it for me. The lady that does mine is quick and I just deal.

I had laser hair removal done on my legs and underarms and it lasted about 6 months. It was such a glorious 6 months, and the hair came creepin' back. They said I was a good candidate too (dark hair, light skin) and I was going to have my lady area done, thaaaaank-goodness I didn't, had that grown back too? I would have gone mental.