Wow. I thought I’d heard it all in terms of natural childbirth and all the baby and mom friendly options we pregnant mamas have to think about. In pregnancies past I’ve taken Bradley Method Classes, Hypno Birthing Classes, read Birthing From Within and done prenatal yoga all second and third trimesters long. I’ve used birthing balls, water and birthing bars to help my kids enter the word drug free. My husband was on the receiving end of my first two deliveries. I held each baby on my belly even as …

If you are or have been pregnant, odds are you know what I’m talking about. Over 50% of pregnant women suffer (and I mean suffer!!!) from these horrible, jaw clenching seizures in the muscles of the legs, usually in the calves, and (for me anyway) the sneaky little devils like to strike in the middle of the night.
I started getting them every other night around 2a.m.  about two weeks ago. One was so bad it lasted into the next day and had me limping… considering a cane or a crutch …

Yesterday was the 41 week mark and I’m still very pregnant. The last few days I have been battling a cold, sore throat, and trouble sleeping. Perfect timing, right? Tonight we are headed to the hospital to start inducing. Medically, we decided its probably best for her to come now so we are going to follow doctors orders and go ahead with it. I can feel her getting bigger by the second. Only a week ago I could get in and out of bed easily and now I feel …

I feel very large…

Today was yet another appointment with the doctor and the news was a little depressing. Because my doctor was out of town the appointment last week was with the nurse practitioner. She had told me I was already 2 centimeters dilated and could go into labor at any time. This week my doctor discovered that isn’t the case. I am far from dilated.
Typically she prefers to induce no later than 1 week after the due date. So we are scheduled to arrive at the hospital for induction on June 29th …

I am 40 weeks and 1 day pregnant. I’ve read that one of the ways to jump start labor is to walk as much as possible. The combination of the swaying hips and gravity help the baby get into the right position. I’ve also found that one way to swell up like a balloon when you are pregnant is to walk around in 100 degree heat. So with walks around the neighbor out of the question we have been coming up with creative ways to keep moving. Yesterday we went …

Since the last doctors appointment (7 days ago) I’ve had cramping and Braxton Hicks contractions on and off. Some have been at regular intervals but then they stop. The last two days these have been getting stronger and some have been painful but even when I can time them they are only 8-15 minutes apart.
Friday night we thought she was going to make an appearance. After dinner in Seaport Village and a bunch of walking I started to get cramps in my lower back. These cramps (in the lower back …

Today is the due date. Could she arrive today or will she keep us guessing?
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Since becoming pregnant I have also become obsessed with watching birth videos and reading birth stories. The first videos I watched I cried out of fear. It wasn’t natural or beautiful to me in any way and I was horrified. Stan thought I was crazy to keep watching them feeling this way and having a meltdown each time but I did. Somewhere between Lamaze class and video 100 something clicked. The more I learned about managing labor and pain in general the more comfortable I felt with what was in …

Wednesday
I haven’t timed any contractions today. Time moves slowly when I do that. I am going about my day but having light contractions and cramps off and on.
Tuesday
I timed a few today just to see how far apart they actually are.
11:30
12:08
12:26
Monday
I started timing contractions and cramps after the doctor appointment.
3:51
3:59
4:25
4:33
4:52
Nap
8:13
8:27
9:15
9:26
9:45
9:49
Bedtime

5 days until the due date. As of yesterdays doctor appointment I was 2 centimeters dilated and 50% effaced. Yesterday afternoon and this morning I have been having light contractions/cramps that are 20-30 minutes apart. These contractions do not hurt per se. It feels more like doing sit ups when you have menstrual cramps. My doctor estimated she might be here by tomorrow or Thursday.
I’m really excited but trying to stay relaxed. I feel like there is a lot of I have forgotten to get ready but I can’t think …

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My doctor is on vacation for a week, coming back the 18th. I’m ok with that because she has a great team to back her up. I don’t understand why some people would get upset about this. Are doctors not supposed to take a break once and a while?

Today was my last day in the office. Maternity leave officially starts next week (June 9th). I will be taking about 11 weeks off to recover and adjust to my new life before going back to work. Since my job is internet based, I have the flexibility to work from home when I return. I am extremely grateful for that. One of the rules Stan and I have made is that we do not want to raise Aubrey in daycare. We want to raise her ourselves, meaning at least one …

Today we finalized the hospital bag. Here is what is in it:

Clothes for Baby
Clothes for Mom
Toiletries and a few Diapers
Snack for Dad
Clothes for Dad
A good book
The birth plan
Camera and Camera Charger
Phone Charger