40 Weeks + 6 days (basically 41 weeks)

STILL HERE and pregnant! ha.  Today was an ok day for my temperament.  I cried twice. ha.  I know that I said I wouldn't take anymore pregnancy pictures, but I was just emotional and grumpy.  Here is my 41 week belly.

These are the jeans that I spilled bacon grease on.  FINALLY got the stain out.  I should have figured it would take hot water and stain remover...dur.

Anyway.  I took a 41 week picture because I knew I would be sad if I didn't have a weekly photo to tell the story of how I was pregnant a week longer than I should have been.

I have 32 hours from now to go into labor on my own.  If not I will be induced on Friday.  I don't know if I will update tomorrow or not.  I might... especially if I am really nervous about the induction and if I am wanting to pass the time...

Have a happy Wednesday night and Thursday day.  I will try.

40 Weeks + 5 days Still here in the Pregnant Condition

Yes. I'm still pregnant.  Emotions are in check today.  Yesterday wasn't such a great day for me.

Today, I took it easy.  I sat on the couch for a lot of it and watched Vampire Diaries... I know, I'm a dork... but it's actually a good show.

Anyway.  I got a phone call from my Ob's office.  They scheduled my induction for Friday morning at 6am.  So I'm prettty certain I will no longer be pregnant by the days end on the 9th.  I am still holding out hope that she comes on her own.  I would love for my last experience with childbirth to be as natural as possible.  I can't make my body go into labor though.  Someone mentioned wanting to know what all I have tried... well, let me see if I can make a list of it... WARNING some may be TMI! But they are all actual suggested methods so just cover your eyes and sing "la la la la" if you really don't want to know... ha.
Pineapple (fresh with pieces of the core)
spicey food
chinese food
water break cookies
sex
expressing milk (nipple stimulation)
pressure point massage (accupressure)
walking
bouncing
swaying
hot showers
eggplant parmeseana (2x)
raspberry leaf tea
chai tea

I'm not sure if I am missing anything, but seriously, I have tried everything except Castor Oil and Evening Primrose Oil.  The EPO my doctor nixed.  He said it wasn't proven to work and has only given some of his patients infections so he said no to that.  I never asked him about Castor oil, but if I know my Dr. he wouldn't be for it... So.  There you have it.  My self induction methods failed and TMI for the day.

Oh well.  This will all be over on Friday.  Not the way I intended but I trust my Dr. and I trust that everything will be ok.

I am getting really excited to meet her!  Seriously you all.  It's starting to become reality that I will have another child in my arms.

Thank you all again for going along with me on this.  I know sometimes I could be "debbie downer" and I never want to discourage anyone... I just wanted this account of this pregnancy to be accurate.  I think you all understand that.  I could have pretended everything was awesome and happy all the time, but that just isn't me.  I like a good candy coating, but only on Peanut Butter M&M's... :)

Keep your eye out.  Next update will be baby and birth story, then this blog will be getting a break.

Thanks for the support and encouragment,
Love,
Amy

40 Weeks + 4 days

Oh my GOOOOOOOSH! ha.  Never in my wildest imagination did I think I would be here 4 days past my due date STILL PREGNANT!!! It just never crossed my mind!

I'm going to attempt to be as positve as possible about this.  Had my Non Stress Test today.  For those who have never been pregnant or who may have never had to have a NST, it's basically where they put this tight belt around your belly to monitor contractions and baby's heart beat and you have to press a button everytime you feel baby move.  The NST went well.  Baby scored perfectly.  Way to go Avery.  I was contracting regularly... duh.  The tech was all excited about this, but I know the difference between productive and not productive contractions... those were all braxton hicks.  Regular braxton hicks, but nothing that will get baby out.

Then I had a diagnostic ultrasound.  They took the baby's measurements to see how big she is averaging... she is looking to be 8lbs 6oz right now.  Although ultrasound measurements can be off, I tend to believe this one.  ha.  She feels bigger than my other two.  My fluid levels are GREAT which means my placenta is healthy which also means I could go another week or two ha.  I HOPE NOT!!!

I am VERY thankful that all is healthy with her.  So thankful you have no idea... Wanted to get that out there before anyone jumped on my case about "I should just be happy she's healthy" because I am, it's a huge relief... but keep in mind, the longer she stays in, the likeliness of her passing meconium in the sac increases... and that has it's dangers.  Even though my placenta is healthy now, doesn't mean it will be in a few days or next week.  So.  Yes, I am thankful, but on the same thought, I am very much ready to have her safely out.

We are scheduling an induction for Friday or Saturday if baby doesn't come on her own before then.  My doctor is only on call until 5pm tomorrow, then he will be out Tuesday night, Wednesday and Thursday.  As much as I want my doctor to deliver, at this point I really just want to have baby so I could care less who gets her out of me.

I don't think I am going to be taking anymore weekly photos.  I might take one with my phone, but I am just over this whole pregnancy.  It's not exciting to me anymore.  The top of my belly feels like it could rip open, my pubic bone feels like it will break in two with the slightest movement... my heartburn is out of control, I'm swelling...  It's just past the point of being any kind of fun.   I cry anytime anyone gives me sympathy or talks about me still being pregnant... I am seriously overly emotional right now.  If I have down time, I sit there and shake my head at this whole situation.

Well.  Sorry if anyone is offended by any of this.  It's just my feelings.  I am a pretty honest gal.  I know no other way to be. 

I know that some of you women out there have gone more overdue than I currently am, but trust me, once you go past that due date... it's just all overdue.

Well.  I am going to get back to doing some housework... hopefully I get some REAL contractions going.

Love.
Amy 

40 weeks + 3 days

Still here and very much pregnant.  No contractions.  Everything is feeling snug and tight.  I am getting a little down about it, because there is NOTHING absloutely nothing that I can do to make baby come out.  I have exhausted all of the silly self induction methods to no avail. 

Before you overload me with "baby will come when baby is ready" comments... just know that unless you are in my shoes you have NO IDEA how frustrating this is.  Even those who have been in my shoes... a lot of them have forgotten how they felt being over due.  I am not unhappy at still being pregnant.  I promise.  I am fine with that.  What I am not fine with is that everyday over my due date I go, my placenta is aging and baby is growing bigger.  I am running out of space and I am stressing out over every span of non movement from baby.  I am also stressing because I don't want a medical induction.  I want to go into labor on my own.  I am upset because I have a mandatory STAR meeting to attend to schedule my classes for January on December 15.  Everyday I go over due, it is making that meeting much more difficult to attend. 

I am not trying to be downer, but this is just how it is for me right now.  I am trapped and have no control over anything.  My emotions are up and down.  One minute I am content and fine, but the next I'm pleading with the baby to come out already.

I know complaining does no good, but neither does pretending that everything is wonderful and great. 

At least they decreased the snow prediction for tomorrow.  I love a good snow, but I'd like to be able to get to the hospital.  For one, I have an ultrasound early in the morning.  For two, if I go into labor tonight, I'd like the driving conditions to not be dangerous. 

Well.  I think that is all for my complaining.  Right now, I am feeling no contractions.  Occasional braxton hicks, but nothing regular.  Even after walking all day yesterday, I feel no different.  If I go into labor tonight, it will be a Christmas Miracle.

Sorry if these posts are annoying.  They are more for me than anyone else... just to get out what I'm feeling.  I like to know that I can look back on this and see exactly what was going on in my head.  I am discouraged, frustrated, and worried.  That is how I am feeling on this 3rd day past my EDD.

Still Pregnant. 40 weeks +2 days.

I'm still with child ha ha ha. I'm in a stage of pregnancy that I lovingly refer to as "Pregnancy Overtime" :)

Last night Dave and I got the kids watched. We were going to go out to eat but I started having painful contractions that were 4-5 minutes apart. I thought that we might be having a baby. HA. NOT! After timing them for about an hour, they fizzled out. Again. So I am still pregnant.  We did go eat thought... at Wendy's.  Then we went grocery shopping, and went home and watched Thor... WHICH I REALLY LIKED... surprisingly.

I am not too upset about this, I promise. The only tough part is the waiting and not knowing. Is labor beginning? Is it not?  It's also rough when the baby has bouts of not moving.  This happened last night.  I drank some orange juice though and she started pretty much dancing around in there. ha.

My clothes situation is fixed for now.  I am using the larger jeans I got for me to wear post baby and just putting my tight cammies over the top.  I really wish I would have thought of this earlier.  They have these things called Bella Bands at Target and other stores, but I never bought one because I couldn't imagine spending thirty some odd dollars on a stretchy tube of fabric to put over the top of my jeans during pregnancy.  This solution is much cheaper and it works fairly well.  I am now more optimistic that I can make it a few more days or another whole week if I have to.

Not sure how often I will be updating.  So far it's been daily since going into overtime... it helps pass a little bit of time.  I guess I just want to remember my frame of mind.  Most pregnant women are doing everything in their power by week 37 to evict baby.  I did a few things that were supposed to help, like eating a whole fresh pineapple, eating spicey food, eating eggplant, and a couple of other things that aren't appropriate for blogging ha... but never castor oil.  Castor oil tends to have the highest rate of success, but I seriously don't feel like putting myself or my baby through that, so I have steered clear.

Self induction methods are really just a way to pass the time for me.  You know they won't work, but there's always that "what if"... so it adds some fun to this not so fun time.  If you go into it knowing it won't send you into labor, it won't frustrate you either.  The bottom line is, the only way to truly force your body into labor, and even occassionally this won't work, is to be medically induced.  I do NOT want to be induced... so I am really hoping my body gets it's act straight.

Well.  Here's to hoping Saturday doesn't DRAG on.

P.S. Every now and then I like to plug blogs.  I really like this one.  She is expecting a baby and she loves animals!  She has some wicked cool tattoos and she is really nice!  So stop by her blog and check her out...

Aaaaand Today is Going to be Rough.

One step forward two steps back.  That seems to be true to me at least.  Yesterday I was a bit more optimistic.  I even had fun.  My friend Becca from Life in Technicolor brought over these crazy cookies called "Break My Water Cookies" ha ha ha.  They are like spicey gingerbread cookies.  I knew they would do nothing to get labor going but it was a fun idea and I ate like 5 of them, and they were really good.  Then we walked around Walmart and talked a lot.  She is an awesome person.

While at Walmart we found PEPPERMINT MARSHMALLOWS!!! Pretty much the best invention ever.  So I had hot chocolate and peppermint marshmallows last night.  Yum.

This morning... woke up not feeling so happy and optimistic.  It wasn't truly horrible until I remembered that last night I had to fold down the panel on my maternity jeans because it was cutting into my belly too much... then I remembered how they kept rolling down and not staying up.  Then realization hit... I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR ANYMORE!  I have one pair of maternity jeans... they aren't working anymore... and my shirts are starting to climb up my belly.  So what do I do?  I cry...

Then I remember "everything's not lost" and I get out my "big jeans" that I bought at the thrift store for after I have the baby... I get innovative and use one of my lycra cammies... I don't put the shoulder straps on and pull it down over the top of my unbuttoned/unzipped jeans and I think I have a solution worked out...

(ignore my messy mirror, my kids sometimes don't know how to spit their toothpaste in the sink... as for the counter mess, that's all me, ha!)

Then I am cleaning the kitchen and spill bacon grease all over the jeans... solution ruined and I'm back to the "depths of dispair"... 

40 Weeks 1 Day...

waiting on you Avery.

Doing Better Today

I am feeling better about everything today.  Yesterday I was completely bummed out, but I had a time to reason it out with myself.  I am coming to terms with the fact that my doctor might not deliver my baby.  I am ok with going over my due date if that happens (which is looking likely since there is only 10 more hours left in today).  I have never actively tried to evict baby.  I have only ever done really cheesey self induction myths.  The only real reason I was doing any of those was to pass the time and have a little "what if" fun.  At first I was really upset about making it to my due date still pregnant, but I know that she has to come out sometime, and how exciting is it to wait for your body to do it's thing naturally?  I am scared of medical induction anyway after my experience with Brendan.  His birth story can be found here.

Did you know that Doctors STILL don't know what triggers labor to begin?  There is speculation and theories but nobody really knows what starts that process of progesterone drop to trigger a sequence of events and hormone releases in your body for baby to make his/her way out?  I find that interesting.  They know the hormones, they know how to mimic it, but they don't know what NATURALLY triggers a woman's body to go into labor.  I thought that was neat.

So.  While I sit and wait for baby to come I did my belly growth progression photo.

It's really neat to me how you can see how she moved to different positions in my belly on different days, just by how my belly is shaped or how high and low it is.  I was really glad that I took weekly photos to document this.  I regret not doing this with my other two.  I am thankful I have one pregnancy photo documented though.  I love that I can look back at my blog and remember all the cravings, weight gain, excitedness, grumpiness, irrational thought, happiness, discontentment... it's all here and I can read back on it and remember these moments that are so quickly forgotten.

Anyway.  Signing out... a more positive thinking, but VERY pregnant, Amy.