Something Moore

These days I feel like a NASA engineer whose launch was scrubbed during countdown.  On Tuesday I had my midwife appointment and started having pretty intense contractions prior to my appointment.  At the appointment we discussed last week's labor experience and decided to check my progress.  The good news was all of the contractions I had actually did make positive progress towards labor and they were hopeful that these new contractions I was experiencing were going to be the grand finale!

Wednesday I woke up with more contractions and a friend of mine drove me to work.  By noon my contractions were pretty intense and consistent so at 2pm my friend took me home and I called Clay and my midwife on the way.  When I got home Clay and the midwife showed up and while I wasn't any further dialated I was clearly in labor.  I couldn't hardly walk my contractions were so intense.

Under the theory a watched pot never boils, a watched pregnant lady never gives birth.  So my midwife left me to allow labor to progress a bit further and Clay and I went to bed that evening fully anticipating a 2am wake up for an Itty Bitty arrival.  No such luck!

Thursday was more of the same.  I was still having intense contractions that lasted a minute and were less than 5 minutes apart.  My midwife came by and checked on me again.  Sadly still no forward progress.  However she had me drinking red raspberry leaf tea and using my breast pump to try and encourage the contractions.  By the end of Thursday I was exhausted.  Everything on my body ached from the contractions and I was emotionally spent.

So Friday we changed course and my midwife ordered a day of relaxation.  She had me taking hot baths and lots of naps and yoga.  She was concerned that two days of strong contractions had just worn me out but that I was fighting my body which was why things weren't progressing.

Saturday we decided to start back on the activities to promote labor.  Clay and I went for a walk (I hadn't been able to walk Wednesday or Thursday because I couldn't hardly stand up straight).  More tea.  More breast pump.  Again I had lots of contractions but they weren't as consistent as they had been on Wednesday or Thursday.  I also had my friend Julie come down and give me a massage.  2 hours of relaxation and working on the induction pressure points.  Then my midwife came down that evening and checked on me.  Still no further labor progress.  Grr!

So here we sit.  Itty BItty is happy and healthy and apparently has no plans for an exit any time soon.  I have an ultrasound scheduled for Monday.  My midwife's protocol have a wellness ultrasound scheduled at 41 weeks to make sure everything is okay.

However, right now my greatest fear is hitting the 42 week mark. At that point I'm considered high risk for a home delivery and we may have to consider other options.  This terrifies me.  Perhaps I was totally naive and never even considered this would be a possibility for me and now that I'm getting closer it's really freaked me out. 

With all of this I finally understand why someone would chose induction.  The frustration and exhaustion is overwhelming.  Clay and my midwives have been super supportive and calm during this on again/off again process.  However, some of the comments from friends and family have left me frustrated.  I know everyone is impatient but I have to remember why I chose a homebirth and that God has His timing in this.  But I can see that if I didn't have the support of Clay and my midwife I would have caved a long time ago to an alternate path forward.

Again, your prayers are appreciated.  Right now I'm fine.  Itty Bitty is fine.  Clay is fine.  We are just waiting.   Patience is the hard part.

Yep, we are 40 weeks.  According to all of the literature 40 weeks is the "end" of pregnancy.  Yet I am still pregnant.  My midwife said that the average delivery date for a first baby is 41 weeks and 3 days.  So I suppose we could hang out for several more days.  In the meantime I'm enjoying the end of my private time with Itty Bitty.  Once Itty Bitty is born I'll have to share my baby with the rest of the world. 

Here are a few pics from 40 weeks.

Today I went to the gym and did my normal Monday power pump class.  What I learned is that people tend to freak out when your 40 weeks pregnant and hit the gym.  I think most folks were afraid I was going to go into labor right there.  No such luck! 

Actually last week we thought we were going to have Itty Bitty.  Wednesday I started having contractions in the morning that became more intense and consistent over the course of the day.  I was sent home when I was walking down the hall but couldn't stand up due to the intensity of the contractions.  When I left the office I called Clay and told him to pack up because he may not be going back to work for several days. 

My contractions continued for the evening and when I went to bed I expected to wake up in the middle of the night and need to call the midwife.  We made it thought Wednesday night and woke up Thursday morning with contractions that were less intense and less frequent.  I worked from home that morning but sent Clay to work.  As the morning wore on my contractions picked up again and continued through the early afternoon.  Again they died off.  Then Thursday evening I started having contractions yet again and again went to bed assuming that we would wake up to call the midwife.  As luck would have it I woke up Friday morning without a single contraction.  Nothing.  Nada.  Zip.

So alas, here we are still waiting on an Itty Bitty!  Apparently this kid likes to make an entrance!  Please keep us - me, Clay & Itty Bitty - in your prayers over the next few days.  Sooner or later we are having this baby and your prayers are coveted. 

Hopefully my next post will include baby pics!

Well so far Itty Bitty remains comfy and cozy with no signs of wanting to escape.  So we wait.  I get lots of comments about still being pregnant, but I'm in no hurry.  At this point I figure I don't know a single person who has been pregnant FOREVER and since I'm not miserable I figure "what's the rush!"  After all Itty Bitty is perfectly safe as is and I can enjoy some more bonding time.

So at 39 weeks we had quite the crazy weekend.  Clay and I both got home on Friday and were exhausted!  Clay said he felt like he was coming down with something but everyone's allergies have been so awful lately I figured he would feel better if we rested and would be good to go in the morning.  Yeah, I was WRONG!

Saturday we woke up and Clay felt worse.  He said his head was in a vice and was completely congested.  I wanted to walk the dogs but Clay wasn't going anywhere so I decided to go play in the backyard.  While I was out there I decided to brush out Maggie since she has been shedding like crazy lately.  So when I notice a dirt clot on her neck I go to run the comb over it and she winces.  I'm a bit slow (and after I tell you this next part you will know I am not fit to be a mother).  So after Maggie winces I decide to run the comb over the dirt clot again and this time it starts bleeding!!!! 

I holler into the house for Clay to come help me and we inspect the wound.  With all the fuzz we can't tell if this is mortal or just a scratch so Clay calls the vet to see if we can get in and I go get dressed (I'm still in my PJs at this point).  Now I have a husband who feels like dying and a bleeding dog.  What a morning.

I load up Maggie and head to the vet where it takes me and a tech to hold down a totally freaked out 70lb dog while the vet shaves her neck to get a look at the wound.  In the end Maggie had a 2-3 inch long gash down her neck.  It wasn't deep enough for stitches but she needed antibiotics to make sure it didn't get infected.  While the vet was getting the medications Maggie scratches her neck and starts bleeding all over the exam room.  So when the vet came in she determined Maggie would get the "cone-of-shame." 


Things continue to go well.  I think I've done a few non-traditional things that I've had a lot of fun with and would recommend to anyone who is expecting.  I have loved not having an official "due date."  I've said Itty Bitty would come some time in June and it's been lots of fun to get everyone involved guessing when Itty Bitty will come.  At work everyone submitted their guess and it's posted on my door.  I've also had friends and family post guesses on Facebook.  I figure due dates are just a guess anyhow so why not let others take a crack at it.

I've also enjoyed not knowing Itty Bitty's gender.  This has also created much speculation.  Even strangers feel the need to take a guess.  I figure it's a 50/50 shot so might as well tell me what you think.  I do find it funny when people apologize for using a gender specific pronoun.  I know they are just making a statement and it doesn't bother me at all.  I figure once we know the gender people will use the right gender pronoun.  For now, it's just all good fun.
And finally here are some 39 week photos.