No surprise based on past performance, but I'm 6cm dilated and still walking around! This baby has a mind of it's own and it's probably only an indication of things to come!
Some questions I've received:
Is this normal?
No, this is not normal, especially for a first pregnancy.
Is my doctor concerned?
No, my doctor is not concerned, but only because I was hooked up to continuous monitoring for over an hour this week and the baby's movement and heart rate are perfectly normal. The baby is under no stress. As long as the baby doesn't show any signs of stress, my doctor is ok with not intervening.
What precautions do I need to take when trying to determine when active labor actually begins?
Rather than applying the 5-1-1 rule (contractions 5 minutes apart, lasting one minute long, and occuring for one hour), my doctor wants me to call and come into the hospital when contractions are 10 to 15 minutes apart and the last one was stronger than the one before it.
I cannot explain how or why I've made it to 6cm without any significant pain. I can certainly feel contractions, but it's a tightening feeling with a side of menstrual cramps. It's nothing like you see on television where the women are screaming and panting.
My doctor is confident that this baby is coming soon - as in before my next appointment which is Wednesday August 6th. Let's hope she's right!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Foundations of a Nursery
We'll be using a pack n play in our master bedroom for the first 4 to 6 weeks that baby is home. We've decided to leave the nursery set up as a spare bedroom during that time for visitors. It will also come in handy for when Roger has to get up to catch a 6am flight and he needs to get some actual sleep the night before! So here are the beginnings of our nursery.
The paint color (Jalapeno Jelly) and curtain panels (Joann's Fabric):
The coordinating bedskirt I made using the same fabrics in the curtains:
We're not using a bumper so I thought our crib would loook awfully plain with just a bedskirt and crib sheet so I made these fabric teething rails for when baby gets older and can pull itself up. For the time being, they'll serve no actual purpose other than looking pretty!
Our dresser/changing table from Walmart's Canopy line, the fabric covered lampshade that I made that coordinates with the teething rails, and the wall of wainscoting that will house canvas prints and/or wooden letters that spell out the baby's name once we deliver.
Hats, booties, and burp clothes. The turquoise storage bins came from Bed, Bath, and Beyond.
The drawer full of changing table supplies!
And just for fun, here's a picture from a month or so ago when we were painting the nursery. Barefoot, pregnant, and on a ladder...classy!
The paint color (Jalapeno Jelly) and curtain panels (Joann's Fabric):
The coordinating bedskirt I made using the same fabrics in the curtains:
We're not using a bumper so I thought our crib would loook awfully plain with just a bedskirt and crib sheet so I made these fabric teething rails for when baby gets older and can pull itself up. For the time being, they'll serve no actual purpose other than looking pretty!
Our dresser/changing table from Walmart's Canopy line, the fabric covered lampshade that I made that coordinates with the teething rails, and the wall of wainscoting that will house canvas prints and/or wooden letters that spell out the baby's name once we deliver.
Hats, booties, and burp clothes. The turquoise storage bins came from Bed, Bath, and Beyond.
The drawer full of changing table supplies!And just for fun, here's a picture from a month or so ago when we were painting the nursery. Barefoot, pregnant, and on a ladder...classy!No baby yet
No baby as of today! I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday and we'll see what she says! I've been having daily contractions that don't seem to get closer together or more intense. I always wondered what contractions would feel like and after two weeks of having them every day, I think I've got it figured out!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
38 Week Doctor's Appointment
5 cm, 100% effaced, enough said...
I'm trying to be patient about waiting for you...
I'm trying to be patient about waiting for you...
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Dear Baby
I really don't mind carrying you around for a few more weeks as I could use the time to tie up a few loose ends around the house, but could you please back off of my sciatic nerve (pretty please)? I'd love to be able to walk around without shooting pains down the left side of my lower back and leg. Other than that, you have been the perfect guest! Can't wait to meet you!
Love,
Mom
Love,
Mom
37 Week Doctor's Appointment
More progress - 3 to 4cm dilated and 75% effaced
The craziest thing was that she said the baby is so low that it's head is kind of crowning through the cervix and she could feel through the fluid and felt what she thought was either clumps of hair or a wrinkly scalp!
Because the last time we saw our baby was about 4 months ago when we had the 20 week ultrasound, it was really cool to hear her say that she could feel it! Our doctor doesn't do an ultrasound after 20 weeks unless something comes up in a test or physical exam that would cause concenrn so her being able to feel the top of the baby's head made the whole thing feel a bit more real! You'd think the constant kicking and my bulging stomach would do the trick!
I'm down 2 pounds for a total weight gain of 21 pounds and I'm still measuring 33cm.
The craziest thing was that she said the baby is so low that it's head is kind of crowning through the cervix and she could feel through the fluid and felt what she thought was either clumps of hair or a wrinkly scalp!
Because the last time we saw our baby was about 4 months ago when we had the 20 week ultrasound, it was really cool to hear her say that she could feel it! Our doctor doesn't do an ultrasound after 20 weeks unless something comes up in a test or physical exam that would cause concenrn so her being able to feel the top of the baby's head made the whole thing feel a bit more real! You'd think the constant kicking and my bulging stomach would do the trick!
I'm down 2 pounds for a total weight gain of 21 pounds and I'm still measuring 33cm.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Stop the shopping madness!!!
Realizing that I only have a few weeks left (or maybe less), I went on a baby related shopping spree. Back in early June, I ordered my diaper bag, baby carrier, and mattress. The diaper bag was out of stock for the longest time, so I finally received my order last week.
Today, I ordered this refurbished (with factory warranty) video monitor and saved $70 off the original price. With that $70 that I saved, I ordered a beautiful leather post bound baby memory book.
It's Christmas in July over here at the DeJean house!
Today, I ordered this refurbished (with factory warranty) video monitor and saved $70 off the original price. With that $70 that I saved, I ordered a beautiful leather post bound baby memory book.
It's Christmas in July over here at the DeJean house!Wednesday, July 9, 2008
36 Week Doctor's Appointment
Woo hoo for progress! I'm 3cm dilated and 50% effaced! Last Thursday, I had 4 to 5 hours of what I thought were Braxton Hicks contractions. They were regular, every 8 to 11 minutes, and lasted 20 to 30 seconds in duration. I wrote them down, but since they never picked up in frequency, duration, or intensity, I dismissed them as false labor. I had been suffering from a bit of a stomach bug and thought I may have been dehydrated, which can cause false contractions so I wrote the whole thing off as a non-event.
Well it turns out that the contractions did, in fact, cause cervical changes and because I wasn't too alarmed by them, my doctor wants me to be a little bit more conservative about when to call her if they happen again. She said it may be an indication that the rest of my labor could go more quickly than average.
She asked me to go home and get a bag together. I should also install the car seat (or at least have it in the car with the instructions)! She admited that I may have several weeks of appointments with no additional progress or that the next time she sees me will be at the hospital. It could go either way, but it was just exciting to know that I had made some progress.
Heart rate sounded good and I was measuring 33cm, which is another indication that the baby has dropped since last week I measured 34cm. I'm still up 23 pounds as sometimes your weight gain can level off or even decrease towards the end.
Well it turns out that the contractions did, in fact, cause cervical changes and because I wasn't too alarmed by them, my doctor wants me to be a little bit more conservative about when to call her if they happen again. She said it may be an indication that the rest of my labor could go more quickly than average.
She asked me to go home and get a bag together. I should also install the car seat (or at least have it in the car with the instructions)! She admited that I may have several weeks of appointments with no additional progress or that the next time she sees me will be at the hospital. It could go either way, but it was just exciting to know that I had made some progress.
Heart rate sounded good and I was measuring 33cm, which is another indication that the baby has dropped since last week I measured 34cm. I'm still up 23 pounds as sometimes your weight gain can level off or even decrease towards the end.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
One more month!
I can't believe I only have one more month left until my official due date. The house is still in a state of chaos and there are boxes and tools everywhere, but we are nearing the end and I have a feeling that everything will come together in time.
I have a maternity photo session with Clary on Tuesday and I can't wait! She has shared some inspiration pictures with me and they are, of course, amazing. Keep your fingers crossed for decent weather on Tuesday afternoon!
I have a maternity photo session with Clary on Tuesday and I can't wait! She has shared some inspiration pictures with me and they are, of course, amazing. Keep your fingers crossed for decent weather on Tuesday afternoon!
Friday, July 4, 2008
35 Week Doctor's Appointment
My 35 week appointment was yesterday and the baby has descended well into the pelvic area and my cervix is starting to soften and efface, but no dilation yet. Yay for progress though! I guess I just worry that things won't progress like they naturally do for other women! News flash - everything is normal!!! I'm measuring 34 cm and the heart beat sounds good. I'm up 23 pounds with 5 weeks to go.
Oh, and the internal exam was such a non-event! When people tell me their horror stories about things like glucose tests and internal exams, I kindly remind them that if that's the worst thing they've experienced, then they have led a very blessed life in terms of medical interventions. And I honestly mean that. I consider myself to be very blessed in terms of illnesses, surgeries, and procedures, but even just recovering from stitches or a broken bone or minor surgery is 100x's worse than a glucose test or internal exam!
I think it's just good to keep things in perspective sometimes!
Oh, and the internal exam was such a non-event! When people tell me their horror stories about things like glucose tests and internal exams, I kindly remind them that if that's the worst thing they've experienced, then they have led a very blessed life in terms of medical interventions. And I honestly mean that. I consider myself to be very blessed in terms of illnesses, surgeries, and procedures, but even just recovering from stitches or a broken bone or minor surgery is 100x's worse than a glucose test or internal exam!
I think it's just good to keep things in perspective sometimes!
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