Today I had the first of my weekly OB appointments, and the first cervical check for this pregnancy.
According to my OB, I’m starting to thin and am 1/2 cm dilated. Liam has started to drop a little as well, but still has more dropping to do. My OB says he expects a late December baby!! I know 1/2 cm isn’t a lot, but it is something! The true test of progress will be to see how much more I dilate, if any, between this week and next week.
The thought of a baby THIS MONTH is exciting, but also scary when I consider how long our to-do list is! We have several things left to do in our house including painting and decorating the nursery, and putting together the crib, dresser, and chest. I hope we can finish the nursery by the end of next week! I’ll definitely post pictures when it is done.
I gained a pound since 2 weeks ago, and my blood pressure was a tad bit higher than usual at 122/80; however they weren’t at all concerned about it. I had not had much to drink today, so I wonder if that affected it.
I asked my doctor about red raspberry leaf tea and evening primose oil, both of which are rumored to assist one’s body in the labor process. He said he wasn’t sure how much it would actually help, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt anything either, so he said to “go for it”. So, I guess I’ll give them a try.
I also shared my birth “wish list” (I don’t like the idea of a birth “plan”, because there is no way to truly plan a birth!) with him, and he said everything I listed sounded reasonable. I’m pasting my very simple wish list below:
I would like…
• my spouse and doula present throughout the entire labor process;
• as few internal exams as possible;
• to eat and drink as approved by my doctor; and
• to avoid episiotomy if at all possible. I would prefer to try alternative methods, such as massage and warm compresses before episiotomy is deemed necessary.
After the baby arrives…
• I would like to breastfeed as soon as possible.
• I would like skin-to-skin time with baby.
• Please do not give baby pacifiers or bottles.
• We would like circumcision to be performed, and we would like our son to be given an anesthetic for pain.
That’s all there is to it! My OB says sometimes he sees some very crazy birth plans, but he was happy with mine. He has even had patients say they don’t want a c-section, even if their baby’s life is in danger!
Next week I have an ultrasound on Tuesday, and my next OB checkup on Wednesday. I can’t wait to see our baby boy again!
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This past week, my rib cage has become a new favorite place for him to hang out. Sometimes it gets really painful! Usually if I stretch or start pushing on him, I can get him to move to a more comfortable spot, at least for a little while!
His movements have also changed in the past couple of weeks. He is moving as frequently as ever, but I feel more stretching, twisting, and squirming than kicking and jerking. He must be getting crammed in there!
Other than that, things seem to be about the same. I’ve been able to stay comfortable for the most part, and I’m glad of that! Of course, every single bit of discomfort, no matter how mild or how severe, is worth it to me for this wonderful baby boy. I find the joys of pregnancy far outweigh the inconveniences. I’d definitely endure much worse for my children!
WOW!! 35 weeks, almost there!
Yay for progress! 1/2 cm is great and hopefully Liam will make his appearance this month. You might even get a Christmas baby!! Reading your wish list made me tear up. I long for skin to skin contact with this baby. They whisked Austin away to the NICU and Eli I didn’t think I could have handled it but regret it now. I hope that you get to do everything on your wish list but most of all I hope he makes it here safely and you get to hold him against your chest and breathe him in. Can’t wait to hear about him!
Oh…getting so excited for you! Not much longer!
I hope you progress better than I did with Matthew! At 33 weeks, they told me to stay off feet, get ready for an early baby, yada yada yada…I was 1/2 to 1 cm dilated for almost EIGHT weeks!!!!! By 37-38 when they saw how far I’d NOT come, based on their predictions, they then turned the tune and started to tell me not to rule December out (his due date was Nov. 24!) and that I just might get my c-section after all if I didn’t do better than that in labor.
Ironic how things turn out, isn’t it?
I can’t believe some people don’t want sections even to save their baby’s life. That’s nuts. My birth plan with Matthew is the same as Luke’s–do whatever needs to be done to ensure that he is born as safely and healthy as possible. My After-He-Arrives plan is pretty much the same as yours…I think after we’ve had what’s happened to us, we realize that it really is more about the healthy, living baby than an experience.
I’d take a living child over an ‘experience’ any day…and I’d never wish for the ‘experience’ I had for anyone.
How exciting….maybe this month??? 🙂
xoxoxoxo
seems like a very logical wish list to me! I can’t believe it is almost time for Liam, how exciting!! so happy for you!! xoxo
I’m excited for you that he may be here sooner than expected! I know you want the nursery completed and I can hardly wait to see pics. Yes, every pain & discomfort is worth it to bring your child into the world. xoxo
You’re so close! I had Levi at 35 weeks on the dot!! 🙂 I hope these last few weeks go by quickly enough to ease your anticipation, but slowly enough for you to enjoy the final weeks of this pregnancy!! My “wish list” was nearly identical to yours! Hopefully everything will follow as closely as possible. 🙂
Wow – Liam is almost here! Its crazy how fast time is flying by huh?! Can’t wait to see the nursery – you must post photos! Thinking of you!!
35 weeks – Wow!!! 🙂
I have been praying for you thoughout this pregnancy. You are in the home stretch now! I am not one for giving advice usually, but here goes! Vitamin E oil massaged around a certain area during labor and pushing can really help ease delivery. I’ve had three natural, medication-free childbirths, so I know!
I def recommend the EPO!! I took it and I think it really helped me. At 38 wks I was 4 cm dilated. I took the EPO religiously from 35 wks. I mostly took it orally. Only did it vaginally once but vaginally is supposed to be more effective.
And it just seems absolutely crazy to me that a mom would not want a csection even if her baby’s life was in danger!!!
Yay, yay, yay! I am just so freaking happy for you!
Thank you for being such an inspiration to all of us BLM’s! I appreciate your blog and can’t wait to read what will be next. I have passed your name along for the Cherry on Top AWARD. Take a look at my blog when you can.
Leanne
I am so proud of you.. and I love your birth wishes! PS- I am very into herbology and homeopathy- so glad to see your interest in the Red raspberry Leaf Tea and EPO!