Hellobee Boards

@Mrs.Panda: Sadly my insurance doesn't cover it either so it is all out of pocket It is very peaceful though, my experience there was night and day from my hospital experience! I had my one midwife and assistant, they let me do what I wanted to do in regards to movement, my baby was put on my chest and they didn't even try to take her from me until I was good and ready even then she was never more than a few feet from me, I didn't have nurses coming in and harassing me every few minutes, no pediatrician yelling at me telling me I was killing my child by denying the vitamin k shot... I am sure people have great experiences with hospitals but I did not

As for the back labor, I never really had back issues before but I do tend to get menstrual cramps more in my back so that's all I can compare it to. She was sunny side up so I'm pretty sure that's why I had back labor.

@Mrs.Panda: I *think* I'm feeling girl...but I'm just not sure! With my daughter, there was no doubt in my mind that she was a girl. Then with my son, I had no feeling either way so I was convinced it was going to be surprise twins! This time around I've *felt* both...boy early on and now girl. Who knows!! Lol.

Even though I had a csection with my others, my last delivery began with back labor as well. It wasn't too bad until I progressed to 5cm while waiting for my surgery to begin. At that point, I turned to my husband and told him they either need to get me on the operating table for get me some drugs! Lol. I definitely respect those that can handle med-free births...it's just not for me.

@cyndistar3: I also chose a med free birth partially because I am afraid of the epidural. I am so worried that it won't work right or I'll have migraines for life. My med free birth really wasn't too bad with DS, despite being in a traditional hospital setting. I am hoping for a similar positive experience this time around.

@cyndistar3: I agree totally. I feltbreally prepared from our childbirth class and had a firm conversation with the nurses and Drs about not offering meds unless I specifically requested them. Thankfully, everyone was great and I was able to move around and change positions as I needed to.

@cyndistar3: the nurses were great! Honestly, the only pressure I got was from the doctors...I think they wanted to speed things up and I was adamant about allowing things to happen on their own. I should have switched to a birth center this time but I stuck with what was familiar. I hope I don't regret it!

I had my 34 week appointment today and finally got to talk to my doctor about what having gestational diabetes will mean for labor. I switched OB practices around 30 weeks, which has been frustrating in a lot of ways but I'm overall pretty happy with the care I'm receiving and I feel like this OB actually remembers who I am and cares about how I'm doing, which is a huge change from my old practice. Of course, I came in wanting to see the midwife side of the practice and got simultaneously diagnosed with GD so they sent me over to the OBs and classed me as high risk....

Anyway, the really disappointing thing is that she said that she doesn't want me to go past 39 weeks. That if baby isn't measuring too large, they might let me go to 39 weeks, 5 days. But it doesn't sound like I can go to my due date or even a few days past. I would prefer not to be induced, and I know sizing ultrasounds can be really off and that there doesn't seem to be a lot of evidence based reasons for inducing women with gestational diabetes, so I'm hoping to at least push the induction to maybe the Monday after my due date, to give myself the most chance to go into labor.

The good news is, the OB is totally supportive of having as an unmedicated a birth as possible, and is all about letting me do telemetry monitoring and labor in the tub and walk around and do all of that during labor, so I at least feel like even if I get induced, it might not be that bad. It was just disappointing to hear that they won't even let me get to my due date.

As for working up until my due date, at birth class, they told us that if you are in early labor, you should still go to work, etc. because it might be a long time before things happen. I work with a neighbor who lives around the corner, so if I go into labor at work, she can drive me home and somebody else will have to bring my car home (I work 45 min away), but my office is close enough to my sister's house that I think she and my brother-in-law will be able to drive it up. My coworkers have assured me that they will help me out if I go into labor at work, so I don't need to worry.

@Ms.Mermaid: Sorry to hear about the GD complications but glad that your OB is willing to give you some extra time before talking induction! And also that your OB is supportive of your desire to have an unmedicated birth. I ended up having a small dose of poticin with DS but was still able to labor without pain meds, so it is possible!

@Rocker2014: So exciting! Sounds like you are ready!

@bunnylovesbear: I can't wait to hear who goes first and what you team greeners are having as well!

I had my 38w appointment this morning and am 2cm, -1, and 20% effaced. My OB said if I am still pregnant at my 39w appointment next week we could do the membrane sweep to speed things along if I want to. Not sure how I feel about that but I guess it will depend on how this next week goes! Oddly, I also lost 1lb this week, despite feeling like all I've been doing is eat. Lol.

Any STM's who have had a successful membrane sweep and can tell me how it went?? I've heard it is pretty painful and doesn't always work so I'm skeptical.

@Rocker2014: totally engaged! Do you work on fifths palpable where you are? In the UK we work as 5/5 being completely free, head above pelvis and 1/5 being ready to go. At 39 weeks I'm 3/5. Are you already 1/5?
@Ms.Mermaid: sorry to hear they won't let you get you our due date, but hopefully you will go into labour yourself. Don't feel to bad about it though, any of us could end up getting induced at anytime, at least you know when.
@bushelandapeck: you sound like you are on your way to labour! I haven't had a sweep myself but ill get one at my next appointment too, I figure it might be uncomfortable/painful but anything to get this show on the road!

I'm 39+1 today, 6 days till due date. I am so excited to see what this little green baby is! I feel boy but its my first baby so I've nothing to compare it too. This excitement is keeping me going through the tough days, finally I am glad I stayed team green as I was jealous before that I didn't know but now I think ill push much better with the buzz of finding out!

@bunnylovesbear: I know it's crazy! I don't feel like I'm anywhere close to labour, I'm symptom spotting even worse than when we were ttc waiting for it to start!

@Mrs tartan: Oh wow I can't believe you only have 6 days until your due date!!! How is it that close already? I totally get you on the symptom spotting, I'm not even that close and I'm already having a hard time not reading into things too much!

@Mrs.Panda: LOL that's hilarious! Not knowing when it's going to happen is so hard :o

So I started to lose my mucus plug this morning after an awful night awake with cramps and heartburn. I have no idea if it will end up meaning anything over the next few days but it's nice to know my body is doing something! Now if only I could get some decent sleep. Happy Friday everyone!

@bushelandapeck: Whoo! Hooray for progress!

I think that I may have lost some small bits of mine following a cervical check on Weds, but we'll see.

I' also just kind of hanging out, symptom-spotting like crazy (I totally feel you, @Mrs tartan!). The baby is still down low, at either a -2 or -1, I can't remember which- the OB said he could feel the head during the check, which kind of weirded me out! I'm "a good 1 cm" dilated, and am still around 50% effaced.

Crampy and waddling and getting kind of grumpy, yesterday I had 2 separate people at the office tell me that maybe I should start staying at home from now on, lol. I'm now on mostly full time work at home status, but may go in on Tuesday to clean up my desk and turn in some HR paperwork. I feel a lot better knowing that I probably won't go into labor at work and have to ride the train back home while trying to time contractions. I get the feeling it'll be a lot more relaxing to be able to go into labor at home!

@Mrs.Panda: it was brown tinged...remnants of blood which is supposedly a good sign

@Mrs tartan: Eee!! Very exciting stuff! Sending lots of happy thoughts your way!

@Mrs tartan: how exciting! Hope things progress well for you, and you get to meet your baby soon!

@Mrs tartan: Woooo how exciting!

@bushelandapeck: Yay for mucus plug loss! Hopefully that means we see a baby in the near future!

So, I don't think my next appointment can come soon enough, I looked at my files online for some stupid reason and found that I tested positive for GBS.... I thought I was going to be safe since I didn't have it the last two times but I guess not

@Mrs tartan: wow I'm so excited for you!! How are you doing now? I'm sure you're so ready! I'm not due until the 25th so I have loads of time!

@bushelandapeck: you guys may be neck and neck for this labor race!

So it has been a while since I posted on here, but that is partly because I had my baby! Oliver was born September 22 at 2:40 after I was induced that morning. I was induced because of high blood pressure and preeclampsia and was 37 weeks 3 days. It was actually a really positive experience though and went smoothly. He was about 20 inches and 7 pounds 2 ounces.

The only thing now is that after he arrived, we learned he has a heart murmur. He had an echo cardiogram while we were still in the hospital and we learned that he has a VSD, meaning a small hole in his heart between his left and right ventricles. So far he is still healthy and happy, and we hope it will close on its own, but it means continuing with extra doctor appointments and extra anxiety.

Recovery is going well. I will share more of his birth story when I am not typing one-handed while nursing. (Although it feels like I am ALWAYS nursing, but in a good way.)

@ottilie: so sweet! Congratulations!!!