I have been really bad about posting. I really should tend to the updates more often...
With that off my chest, I want to let everyone know that my due date has changed again! We counted from the real dates that Travis wrote down in his date book, and found that my due date is really supposed to be December 29! That is just a few days away. You can imagine our surprise when we thought of all the time I spent on bedrest thinking that the baby was way too early to live outside the womb. Maybe if I had known, I would not have been so careful... so maybe it is a good thing that we did not know.
The past 3 weeks have been fun filled and busy. We had visitors from Colorado off the cruise ship 12/20, and visitors from Oklahoma- Shelby's visitors really. We finally counted the dates on the 17th or 18th and I was able to be up and about for our company and Christmas.
As for baby: No update from a website, but my own rendition. Baby is fully developed and ready for birth. You may be in labor or there soon. Congrats on surviving 40 weeks of ups and downs!
Last Sunday (12/20) I started having intense contractions with lightheadedness and a pukey feeling and thought This is it! But, alas, I am still pregnant. Here we see another Sunday and I, again, am having contractions, harder this time, but not hard labor.
I am knitting an 11th-hour diaper cover. I finished some seamless baby booties in purple and green. I am finishing up some cloth diapers to use. We will see how that goes.
Lately I feel like I have an 8-pound octopus residing inside of my belly. I am warned by a few mothers of twins that this means more than one, and I will probably eat my words, but, no, I am not having twins *beating hands and feet on the floor*. I am having just one baby- right God? The ultrasound tech told me there is no way I have twins, so I am hedging on that. Although I am preparing for a baby with as much extra as I can. I already wash 1-2 loads per day, so what difference does it make if I have to wash a third??
I am sort of glad that I did not have a Christmas baby. That would have made our ham dinner a little late, like 2 days late.
This morning during meeting I started having a dizzy spell. I was singing and started feeling lightheaded and my vision was going dark. I guess the singing made me oxygen deprived. As soon as I put my head down I started feeling better, but it took several minutes for me to feel as though I was not going to faint. All the contractions since then have given me breathlessness and dizziness. Hope this is it!!
Signing off for now. I have to update the family blog.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Look at me grow.
The above picture was taken October 12th or so...
Here I am December 7th. Look at me here. It is not usual for me to be up but decided that I must get a picture to show myself how I am growing! I keep looking down at the belly and think that I seem to be staying the same size... forever. But now I see there IS a difference.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Back labor??
Yesterday I did what I knew I should not. When it was time to go to the chiropractor, there were no local buses due to a cruise ship being in, so we started walking. I had a bad feeling about walking but went along with it thinking that we would get a ride after just a bit of walking. Was I ever wrong!
We walked about 10 miles, really only 3/10 of a mile, but it FELT like 10 miles! It did not take us long but we walked down toward the river and then across for a bit before we were picked up by a tour with 2 people in it.
We arrived several minutes later in Wotten Waven at the chiropractor's office. She was at lunch and we waited for a good 1/2 hour before she was ready. Meanwhile, I tried to sit, walk, stand, and finally ended up using the restroom several times. Severe pain had started in my lower back and I had waves of contractions along with nausea and lightheadedness. The contractions did not seem to go away completely and they were very hard. Walking helped but also made me walk quickly back to the bathroom. Finally I had to sit and stay in a chair, moving around to find a "comfortable" position. All the ladies with labor out there know that there is no comfortable position, there is only "hurts too bad", "doesn't hurt as much", or "hurts the least."
When the chiropractor walked out, she did not seem too worried since she knew I had been having contractions on and off for weeks, but when I told her that I was too dizzy and wanted to puke, she took notice. She decided to adjust me outside standing up. The pain did not go away and Travis did not get adjusted. The receptionist drove us straight home, making sure to go over all the potholes and bumps. Not really, but it seemed like it ;)
After the adjustment, I just wanted to sleep and forget everything. I slept for about 2-1/2 hours total. Upon waking, the pain was not better, but walking helped.
I called my mom who said something like, "Sounds like back labor. You know they tell women to walk to bring on labor right?" Of course, I knew, I just ignored that bad feeling at the beginning. I am so sick of being on bedrest!
I called my sister who told me a few ideas to slow labor. She told me of the old remedy of a glass of red wine. Knowing that Friday night was not the night I would find red wine- anywhere on island- I suggested rum, which I have on hand for eggnog flavoring. She told me that 1-2 shots would be ok but not to get drunk. Ha! 1/2 a shot is enough to get me drunk! I finally tried that but it did nothing to slow the contractions or diminish the pain.
Next, I drank red raspberry leaf tea. I do love it strong. It did not work. I drank a high dose of magnesium citrate which was suggested by a family member. This worked the best, but only for about 30 minutes. I thought I was all out of ideas.
We watched a comedy trying to get my mind off the pain and contractions. The semi-reclining position really helped, especially while I was laughing uncontrollably. If you need a good laugh, watch Old Dogs. Robin Williams and John Travolta are hilarious in this movie. I am usually not a big John Travolta fan since he tends toward a lifestyle in his movies to which I will not attain, but I don't remember one cuss word or one sexist comment. There were no intimate scenes, but there is drinking in the movie. Still very hilarious!
After the movie, I noticed that the pain had lessened just a bit, but then I arose to visit my second home, the room with the white seat. As soon as I started walking the pain came shooting back but eased after that. When I came back to bed, I could not find a comfortable position, or even semi-comfortable. I was up and down for about an hour and could not doze off.
Finally I decided that melatonin was my choice of drug to force my mind to sleep. The melatonin certainly forced me to sleep, but every time I woke to use the restroom, I would be hit with a wave of pain and nausea. Along about 5am, I noticed a shift in pain which let me sleep deeply and comfortably without waking with pain.
I still had a little bit of pain and remembered what my mom had mentioned about back labor. I remembered also that baby has been "face up" when I lie down, this noticed by all the kicks and hits being in the front of my belly. So, I rocked hips and the baby turned so that his little back was laying in my hanging belly. Way more comfortable!! Unfortunately, I cannot stay in that position all day.
The pain stayed away until about 1pm (is it 2 pm already???) when I went to the kitchen and fried eggs for the hash that Travis had made for "breakfast."
I am back in bed, semi-reclined with knees up. I talked again with my sister who suggested laying with knees up since this is a known position to inhibit labor. I still don't know if I am in true labor, but I don't want to be, so I am doing whatever I can to keep the pain and contractions away.
Right now, Junior is punching and kicking upward and I am having pain in the back again. Labor sucks, false and real! I just have to keep my mind on that precious goal which I will hold in my arms very soon. Watching life go by with me in bed is irritating to say the least.
I have had the hymn Blessed Assurance in mind lately.I really enjoy Fanny J. Crosby's hymns. Here is a link to the website where I found the words and the music.
We walked about 10 miles, really only 3/10 of a mile, but it FELT like 10 miles! It did not take us long but we walked down toward the river and then across for a bit before we were picked up by a tour with 2 people in it.
We arrived several minutes later in Wotten Waven at the chiropractor's office. She was at lunch and we waited for a good 1/2 hour before she was ready. Meanwhile, I tried to sit, walk, stand, and finally ended up using the restroom several times. Severe pain had started in my lower back and I had waves of contractions along with nausea and lightheadedness. The contractions did not seem to go away completely and they were very hard. Walking helped but also made me walk quickly back to the bathroom. Finally I had to sit and stay in a chair, moving around to find a "comfortable" position. All the ladies with labor out there know that there is no comfortable position, there is only "hurts too bad", "doesn't hurt as much", or "hurts the least."
When the chiropractor walked out, she did not seem too worried since she knew I had been having contractions on and off for weeks, but when I told her that I was too dizzy and wanted to puke, she took notice. She decided to adjust me outside standing up. The pain did not go away and Travis did not get adjusted. The receptionist drove us straight home, making sure to go over all the potholes and bumps. Not really, but it seemed like it ;)
After the adjustment, I just wanted to sleep and forget everything. I slept for about 2-1/2 hours total. Upon waking, the pain was not better, but walking helped.
I called my mom who said something like, "Sounds like back labor. You know they tell women to walk to bring on labor right?" Of course, I knew, I just ignored that bad feeling at the beginning. I am so sick of being on bedrest!
I called my sister who told me a few ideas to slow labor. She told me of the old remedy of a glass of red wine. Knowing that Friday night was not the night I would find red wine- anywhere on island- I suggested rum, which I have on hand for eggnog flavoring. She told me that 1-2 shots would be ok but not to get drunk. Ha! 1/2 a shot is enough to get me drunk! I finally tried that but it did nothing to slow the contractions or diminish the pain.
Next, I drank red raspberry leaf tea. I do love it strong. It did not work. I drank a high dose of magnesium citrate which was suggested by a family member. This worked the best, but only for about 30 minutes. I thought I was all out of ideas.
We watched a comedy trying to get my mind off the pain and contractions. The semi-reclining position really helped, especially while I was laughing uncontrollably. If you need a good laugh, watch Old Dogs. Robin Williams and John Travolta are hilarious in this movie. I am usually not a big John Travolta fan since he tends toward a lifestyle in his movies to which I will not attain, but I don't remember one cuss word or one sexist comment. There were no intimate scenes, but there is drinking in the movie. Still very hilarious!
After the movie, I noticed that the pain had lessened just a bit, but then I arose to visit my second home, the room with the white seat. As soon as I started walking the pain came shooting back but eased after that. When I came back to bed, I could not find a comfortable position, or even semi-comfortable. I was up and down for about an hour and could not doze off.
Finally I decided that melatonin was my choice of drug to force my mind to sleep. The melatonin certainly forced me to sleep, but every time I woke to use the restroom, I would be hit with a wave of pain and nausea. Along about 5am, I noticed a shift in pain which let me sleep deeply and comfortably without waking with pain.
I still had a little bit of pain and remembered what my mom had mentioned about back labor. I remembered also that baby has been "face up" when I lie down, this noticed by all the kicks and hits being in the front of my belly. So, I rocked hips and the baby turned so that his little back was laying in my hanging belly. Way more comfortable!! Unfortunately, I cannot stay in that position all day.
The pain stayed away until about 1pm (is it 2 pm already???) when I went to the kitchen and fried eggs for the hash that Travis had made for "breakfast."
I am back in bed, semi-reclined with knees up. I talked again with my sister who suggested laying with knees up since this is a known position to inhibit labor. I still don't know if I am in true labor, but I don't want to be, so I am doing whatever I can to keep the pain and contractions away.
Right now, Junior is punching and kicking upward and I am having pain in the back again. Labor sucks, false and real! I just have to keep my mind on that precious goal which I will hold in my arms very soon. Watching life go by with me in bed is irritating to say the least.
I have had the hymn Blessed Assurance in mind lately.I really enjoy Fanny J. Crosby's hymns. Here is a link to the website where I found the words and the music.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
33 weeks
Here we are at 33 weeks. We have made it past Taleah's gestational age when she was born. For some reason, if I make it past 32 weeks, 6 days, it is like everything will be fine and the baby will be able to breathe if born today. I know that this is not neccesarily so, but there is that mental block that is so scared of any birth before that age. Somehow my brain disregards the fact that I had steroid shots to boost her lung development!
Contractions have started again even with caffeine. Last night lying in bed, I felt the baby's movements in a different way. I have this extreme low back ache like back labor even though I know nothing is happening. I have to slouch to get it gone. It hurts to lie down on my back or sudes, but feels great to lie half on the stomach with my knee brought up beside my belly to prop me up. I don't know if this is pain from the sciatic nerve or just body aches. Last time I felt this bad, I was in labor with each boy.
I wish I had a time capsule to move ahead 3 weeks and have the baby and then move back to this time with baby being normal birth age. Keep dreaming.
Funny, my info on the pregnancy website says "You are 33 weeks and pregnant." It usually reads You are __ weeks and __ days pregnant.
What is happening in the womb this week: Your unborn baby's senses continue to develop. If you talk to your baby, she can hear you. In fact, her world is full of sounds. In addition to your voice, she can hear your stomach growling and your lungs taking in air, along with the reassuring vibrations of your heart beating. Also, your baby's skin has turned from red to pink and she has started preparing for life outside the womb by storing iron in her liver.
This week your baby stretches to around 12 inches (crown to rump) and weighs in at about four pounds, eight ounces. Thank you babyzone.com
I read that 35 weeks is considered full term for all the organs development-wise.
We are nearing that now. 2 more weeks! Can you believe the journey seems that quick? Funny, but looking forward, 7 months seems eons in the future!
Contractions have started again even with caffeine. Last night lying in bed, I felt the baby's movements in a different way. I have this extreme low back ache like back labor even though I know nothing is happening. I have to slouch to get it gone. It hurts to lie down on my back or sudes, but feels great to lie half on the stomach with my knee brought up beside my belly to prop me up. I don't know if this is pain from the sciatic nerve or just body aches. Last time I felt this bad, I was in labor with each boy.
I wish I had a time capsule to move ahead 3 weeks and have the baby and then move back to this time with baby being normal birth age. Keep dreaming.
Funny, my info on the pregnancy website says "You are 33 weeks and pregnant." It usually reads You are __ weeks and __ days pregnant.
What is happening in the womb this week: Your unborn baby's senses continue to develop. If you talk to your baby, she can hear you. In fact, her world is full of sounds. In addition to your voice, she can hear your stomach growling and your lungs taking in air, along with the reassuring vibrations of your heart beating. Also, your baby's skin has turned from red to pink and she has started preparing for life outside the womb by storing iron in her liver.
This week your baby stretches to around 12 inches (crown to rump) and weighs in at about four pounds, eight ounces. Thank you babyzone.com
I read that 35 weeks is considered full term for all the organs development-wise.
We are nearing that now. 2 more weeks! Can you believe the journey seems that quick? Funny, but looking forward, 7 months seems eons in the future!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Contractions! AAAhhhhh...
There are a few things I just can't stand. Preterm contractions are one of them. We experimented with magnesium and that only served to make them harder when I did have them, about half the time. We have tried bedrest... that works when I don't have to get out of bed. Who can keep from going to the bathroom for 24 hours? Pregnant or not. We have tried about every remedy short of shots and hanging upside down.
Then... I drank a cup of tea. I am not usually a black tea drinker since my ulcerative colitis flares badly when I have caffeine. But this time, I drank it and within half an hour I had no contractions. Great! Wonderful!
But, as you know, every "drug" has a side effect. The side effect for me is swelling. I have elephant ankles half the day. I still have to take it easy and rest often, but I am almost 33 weeks pregnant!
This dear baby will be well-loved. I heard Taya telling Taleah today that she would be holding the baby and she could help mama feed the baby and change the baby, but that Taleah would be too sick to help. (Taleah has a slight fever and body aches today.) Hope that is not so in 3-7 weeks!!
Trinton wants to feel the baby kick all the time. Taya is constantly asking what the baby is saying. And we have not settled on a name yet.
We are taking suggestions but will not know for sure until the little one is born.
It must start with a T, girls' names need to go well with Elizabeth for a middle name, boys' names with Walter for a middle name, be pronouncable, and not be too mainstream. You can suggest anything of course, but these are the criteria we are using.
We will put it to a vote within our immediate family (Dad, Mom, 5 children) about the time the baby is due or after birth. That could be as soon as December 23rd (36 weeks) or as late as Jan 20th or later.
All else is going well. Baby is active and bouncy. What an amazing thing to carry life.
I saw a post from a lady on a pregnancy board. Her picture says: I am so crafty, I make people.
Then... I drank a cup of tea. I am not usually a black tea drinker since my ulcerative colitis flares badly when I have caffeine. But this time, I drank it and within half an hour I had no contractions. Great! Wonderful!
But, as you know, every "drug" has a side effect. The side effect for me is swelling. I have elephant ankles half the day. I still have to take it easy and rest often, but I am almost 33 weeks pregnant!
This dear baby will be well-loved. I heard Taya telling Taleah today that she would be holding the baby and she could help mama feed the baby and change the baby, but that Taleah would be too sick to help. (Taleah has a slight fever and body aches today.) Hope that is not so in 3-7 weeks!!
Trinton wants to feel the baby kick all the time. Taya is constantly asking what the baby is saying. And we have not settled on a name yet.
We are taking suggestions but will not know for sure until the little one is born.
It must start with a T, girls' names need to go well with Elizabeth for a middle name, boys' names with Walter for a middle name, be pronouncable, and not be too mainstream. You can suggest anything of course, but these are the criteria we are using.
We will put it to a vote within our immediate family (Dad, Mom, 5 children) about the time the baby is due or after birth. That could be as soon as December 23rd (36 weeks) or as late as Jan 20th or later.
All else is going well. Baby is active and bouncy. What an amazing thing to carry life.
I saw a post from a lady on a pregnancy board. Her picture says: I am so crafty, I make people.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
32 weeks already!
Boy does time fly! I am currently on bedrest, looking forward to Decmber 23rd when I will be 36 weeks. I am not staying on bedrest then! I will be happily dancing a jig to help the baby come.
This comes from a really cool website Calgary Youth for Life http://www.c2g.ca/development.html
Travis rented an oxygen tank a few days ago! He says that we can be prepared in case the baby decides to show his face before he is "due" to arrive. Meanwhile, contractions move on steadily and I hope are not doing much to induce a birth.
What is going on with baby: Just like you, your unborn baby will establish a daily routine. You'll notice at times your baby is active and wiggly, while at other times you can't feel her movements. Once your baby's born, she'll most likely continue with her in-utero pattern. Along with a routine, your baby has favorite positions too. A favorite of many unborn babies is to have their heads down, rumps up towards the ribs (conveniently, the perfect position for labor). *Fortunately, that is exactly where Junior is!*
Your unborn baby weighs around four pounds and stretches to over 11 and one-half inches in length (crown to rump). * Thank you babyzone.com
Not my baby, but an ultrasound picture at 32 weeks:
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Ten weeks to go!
Baby:
Your baby's face looks much like it will when he's born. He still needs to fill out more to get the characteristic chubby infant cheeks, but he's on his way. He can move his head, open his eyes, and make breathing movements through his open nostrils (although no air comes in).
If your little one were born today, he'd have a good chance for survival at about three pounds and nearly 11 inches long (crown to rump).
Me:
God has given me another chance to show compassion. I am dealing with the nastiest sciatic pain, lower back ache, sleeplessness, preterm contractions, nausea, kidney pain, UTI, and general fatigue and pain. Of course most of these are typical of pregnancy, but none of them are easy. I am being shown what other women go through gladly to have even one baby and I am blessed with this tiny number six in our family.
The baby is very active especially after a contraction, rolling and kicking, punching and hiccuping. The contractions are rhythmic and sometimes hard, but with no change to the cervix, baby is safe for right now. I am drinking loads of water, juice, red raspberry leaf tea, and more water.
The best position for lessening contractions is on my left side- bummer for my sore left shoulder.
Good news though, the kidney pain is almost all gone leaving me with one less problem to deal with. I am certainly being set up to have sympathy as a doula or birth helper.
I would truly love to have any children I have from now on at home. I would also love to help women in health, pregnancy, labor and birth, and postnatal time. I am not sure that I want to become a midwife since they tend to have difficulties in several areas. I recently had a bad experience with a rather unknowledgeable midwife who did not care to increase her knowledge at all. I know she is not the rule. I also talked with doctors and a midwife about having a home birth. I was told by all of them that a home VBAC was not an option since I had a great risk of rupturing or having other complications. I know this is bunk as I had a pretty uncomplicated hospital VBAC. I know my body is quite able to birth a baby, especially since I have birthed babies from this same man who is the dad of all my children. I am not going to be birthing an abominable snowman or a 6 foot Slavic. I am birthing my baby through the natural opening God created for that purpose. I am confident in God's creation and in my body's ability.
I am slowly moving in the direction of UC (unassisted childbirth) for myself. My husband is coming into knowledge that will help him in his attitude towards his future patients in childbirth and delivery. I am coming to trust God much more than I have in the past.
Every week is one more that this baby's lungs are developed more fully to be able to sustain its own life without me. Pray for this baby to have fully developed lungs and all organs when God decides it is the time for him or her to make an appearance.
I have been in a slight panic as we are now 10 weeks away from our due date and we have no baby clothing. I went looking on the internet and found a cool website on how to make simple baby clothing. We are not likely to need socks, so we can leave those out. I am going to sew shirts, pants and shorts, and knit a few vests and hats. Maybe I will make a few pairs of baby mitts so baby does not scratch his or her face. http://www.make-your-own-baby-stuff.com/baby-clothes.html
Your baby's face looks much like it will when he's born. He still needs to fill out more to get the characteristic chubby infant cheeks, but he's on his way. He can move his head, open his eyes, and make breathing movements through his open nostrils (although no air comes in).
If your little one were born today, he'd have a good chance for survival at about three pounds and nearly 11 inches long (crown to rump).
Me:
God has given me another chance to show compassion. I am dealing with the nastiest sciatic pain, lower back ache, sleeplessness, preterm contractions, nausea, kidney pain, UTI, and general fatigue and pain. Of course most of these are typical of pregnancy, but none of them are easy. I am being shown what other women go through gladly to have even one baby and I am blessed with this tiny number six in our family.
The baby is very active especially after a contraction, rolling and kicking, punching and hiccuping. The contractions are rhythmic and sometimes hard, but with no change to the cervix, baby is safe for right now. I am drinking loads of water, juice, red raspberry leaf tea, and more water.
The best position for lessening contractions is on my left side- bummer for my sore left shoulder.
Good news though, the kidney pain is almost all gone leaving me with one less problem to deal with. I am certainly being set up to have sympathy as a doula or birth helper.
I would truly love to have any children I have from now on at home. I would also love to help women in health, pregnancy, labor and birth, and postnatal time. I am not sure that I want to become a midwife since they tend to have difficulties in several areas. I recently had a bad experience with a rather unknowledgeable midwife who did not care to increase her knowledge at all. I know she is not the rule. I also talked with doctors and a midwife about having a home birth. I was told by all of them that a home VBAC was not an option since I had a great risk of rupturing or having other complications. I know this is bunk as I had a pretty uncomplicated hospital VBAC. I know my body is quite able to birth a baby, especially since I have birthed babies from this same man who is the dad of all my children. I am not going to be birthing an abominable snowman or a 6 foot Slavic. I am birthing my baby through the natural opening God created for that purpose. I am confident in God's creation and in my body's ability.
I am slowly moving in the direction of UC (unassisted childbirth) for myself. My husband is coming into knowledge that will help him in his attitude towards his future patients in childbirth and delivery. I am coming to trust God much more than I have in the past.
Every week is one more that this baby's lungs are developed more fully to be able to sustain its own life without me. Pray for this baby to have fully developed lungs and all organs when God decides it is the time for him or her to make an appearance.
I have been in a slight panic as we are now 10 weeks away from our due date and we have no baby clothing. I went looking on the internet and found a cool website on how to make simple baby clothing. We are not likely to need socks, so we can leave those out. I am going to sew shirts, pants and shorts, and knit a few vests and hats. Maybe I will make a few pairs of baby mitts so baby does not scratch his or her face. http://www.make-your-own-baby-stuff.com/baby-clothes.html
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