Was Ironman2 Any Good?

I'm not sure...you'd have to ask someone who wasn't having contractions and crushing her husband's hand every 10 minutes!

Last night's date night started off fantastically. Dinner at Boston Pizza and then off to the movies. It was funny when we couldn't figure out what movie we saw in theatres last...Transformers2 maybe? Wow...that was last summer!

I was so excited to go to the movies...and made sure to get an aisle seat on the off chance that Bug nudged my bladder.

Pretty much as soon as the previews started, the contractions and back pain started. It's okay...nothing out of the ordinary...let C know to time them in case they get down under 10 minutes. The first couple were more like Braxton Hicks than anything else, so it wasn't too bad. Trying to be funny, C leaned over and said "Honey...I paid $23 for these tickets..." har har...always the funny guy!

Then a few later and the pain was shooting in my back. Go time? I don't know...but I all but crushed C's hand in the process of having these back contractions. The pain was constant and would sear during a uterine contraction...which were coming every 10-15 minutes.

By the end of the movie, which we'll have to rent once it comes out on DVD since I don't remember most of the key points (I think it was good??), I was sitting there in tears because I couldn't even stand up. C helped me and suggested that we go home, try a half an hour with ice on my back and tailbone (I could feel Bug bash against my pelvic bones and really tear something up in there), and get on all fours over my yoga ball.

I cried the entire way home, which probably didn't make things any better but it was a good emotional release for me, and needed help up the stairs. Once I was over the ball, the pain immediately got worse and I was to the point where I couldn't breathe or focus on anything but the pain. I couldn't feel the ice on my back, it hurt for C to rub or put counter pressure there (I actually screamed at him to stop touching my back, between sobs), and rocking on my hands and knees was not helping in the slightest. I was screaming at the top of my lungs and crying harder than I have in a very long time.

C called into L&D to see what we should do...is the baby coming? Is all of the tailbone/back pain worth trying to manage at home or should we get in? 3cm dilated with a posterior baby? I certainly was (am....) worried that the stress on my body is too much at this point, and I fear for the safety of my baby. He conveyed all of that to the nurse he spoke with at around 11pm, and was told that unless my uterine contractions were 3-5 minutes apart, they would give me something to take the edge off the pain, but would send me home.

What about the posterior position? What about my concern for the safety of my child? What about the stress on my body? According to C, the nurse brushed all of that off and was rather cold about the entire situation.

I really wish that people would realize that every pregnancy is different...there is no textbook answer about how things will happen...only how they should happen.

I was so exhausted and still in pain, and knowing that L&D wouldn't do anything and feeling very much an inconvenience to them, I went to bed. Every time I rolled over, I had a strong contraction and clutched my belly. However, they weren't regular enough to do anything about according to the powers that be.

Today has been another day of off and on strong contractions, and constant back pain that spreads down into my tailbone. I puttered in the gardens to distract myself a little and we had a nice dinner with C's parents. The back pain is constant, and I can't help but think that the pain, pressure and stress that my body is under right now is putting stress on the baby. It scares me.

What if it turns into a complication? What if there is a reason why he's turned posterior, like his head is too big to get into the birth canal or break my water? What if he's under so much stress that he's not okay?

That being said, I've decided that enough is enough, and I'm calling the doctor in the morning. I can't take this anymore...my body has suffered too much and it's not worth risking the safety and health of my baby. I'm hopeful that they'll at least move my appointment to earlier in the week, though getting in tomorrow to figure out induction and whatnot is the primary goal. It's pretty clear at this point that my body can't get into an active labour pattern on its own and needs some assistance...and that I need some pain medication to get me through this.

Some things in life are worth risking...this isn't one of them.

Another Week?! Seriously?!

Wow, not cool....not cool at all!

Here's the rundown from today's appointment...which apparently won't be our last but I'll get into that in a moment.


Fetal Heart Rate - holding strong at 144bpm

Weight - no change from last week! Yahoo! I weighed this two years ago when we got home from our cruise!

Blood Pressure - 100/60...well that's more like it! Whew, I must have just been stressed last week

Height of Fundus - 40cm

Dilation - 3cm

Effacement - full!

Bug's Head Station - minus3, still a ways to go and not being helped with the posterior position!


So, what does this all mean for us? Well...it means that all of these contractions and back pain have put me into labour...but not active enough to be sent to the hospital. However...it means that labour should be quick since my body is doing so much work now...it'll have less to do later! Apparently most women go into the hospital and are rarely dilated to 1cm...so knowing that I'm close to 4cm is encouraging.

Again, our doctor flipped back to the EDD of the 13th, disregarding all of the emotional, mental and physical toll it's had on my body, and said that he wouldn't set an induction date until next week. We asked about the bulging membranes that he felt on Monday, and he said that they aren't bulging now too much, so while he is still expecting them to burst on their own, he thinks that he likely examined me during a contraction.

We have an appointment for next Friday at 9am, and even though our doctor isn't expecting we will make it to then....both C and I expect that we will. With Bug being posterior, it's highly unlikely that I will experience regular contractions however the pain may get unbearable enough that it sends us to the hospital in the next few days.

We shall see, I suppose. Apparently, if we make it to our appointment next Friday...we will be induced next weekend. Not really the news I was looking for, but hey...there's an end in sight and that's got to count for something, right?

Right....?

11:15 Cannot Come Soon Enough

It's still an hour away before C picks me up for our very last doctor's appointment. The appointment that will determine whether we get sent to the hospital to have a baby (today!) or if we need to finalize the details of my induction. Either way...it's out last one!

You hear that, Bug?! Our last one!!

This week has been....interesting and full of mixed emotions for sure. From panic on the way to the hospital to feeling nervous while waiting for our doctor....from screaming in pain and feeling hopelessly defeated to feeling excited that we're going to experience the absolute best thing in the world: becoming parents...to an outside baby!

The contractions that started at 4am on Wednesday haven't gone away, the pressure has gotten much more intense and I'd be lying if I didn't admit to texting C yesterday something to the effect of the doctor needs to make this stop.

It's been a week of lasts...the last time my two best friends will see me with a baby in my belly, the last softball game that we'll go to without a stroller in tow, the last Stanley Cup final without a little giggling baby boy cheering with his Daddy!

Now onto a week of firsts! The first changings, feedings, snuggles and smiles. The first visits to the office and first naps on the couch when I'm too exhausted to move. The first lullabies. The first time I get to look at C with the most insane amount of adoration while he holds our son for the very first time. His first Father's Day...

I told you it's been an emotional week!! Why would today be any different!

With that, I leave you with my last belly picture! LAST!! Ahh!

Posterior Problems

Well...yesterday was an interesting one. As we draw this journey to a close, it definitely isn't getting any easier. It was a day spent siting, standing, walking, pacing, swaying, rocking on my yoga ball, rolling my hips, on all fours, squatting, lying....

Nothing helped. Seriously. NOTHING helped the back pain, other than some ice here and there. The back pain was present all day, and still is, and would get worse with each irregular and mild contraction. The contractions have been present since 4am yesterday morning, and are about every 10-20minutes but aren't quiet strong enough to send me to the hospital, or to break my water.

Our plan is to wait it out until tomorrow, and to discuss our induction options with our doctor. We really don't have any other option at this point to be honest with you, and if that is the safest way to bring Bug into this world...that's okay with me.

After doing some reading last night about posterior babies, it was interesting to find out that those who have posterior babies end up with alot more back pain, need pitocin more often than not to start regular contractions, and end up with more c-sections than babies who are positioned another way. We're still hopeful that he'll turn on his own, though I am not sure that he can get down much lower...the pressure is crazy at this point!

We're feeling pretty confident that my water will have to be broken, and perhaps that will happen tomorrow either spontaneously during an internal exam, or with the doctor's help. Ideally, if we're talking induction, I'd like it to happen as soon as possible as all of the stress on my body isn't worth stressing out Bug. The longer this goes on isn't necessarily the better at this point. He's fully grown, and needs a little help in making his arrival.

Until tomorrow though....we have softball tonight and I am SO excited!! Godmomma and MommaT are coming up with their kiddos T and O to watch softball with me!! It's really surreal to know that this will be the last time that I will see my two very best friends with a baby in my belly...next time...they'll be seeing me in a hospital!! And holding my baby! AHH!!

The Poor Postman

I mentioned last week I think on Friday's entry about how the doorbell rang while I was crouched on the stairs, having contractions and screaming bloody murder. Well...that person was the Postman and I'm hoping that I didn't scare him too much!

Thankfully, he (or I guess it could have been a she! Shame on me!!) left the package at the front door and after the contractions slowed down, I went to check.

Wahoo!! Presents!!

Brown paper packages from C's family in Conneticut!! The FamilySzem that we absolutely adore sent us some really super cute clothes for Bug!

Up close...SO perfect for a family of tennis champs and golf stars!

We'd like to send a BIG thank-you to Auntie Debbie, Uncle Peter, Steve, Scott and Mike!! Your gifts are very much appreciated! Hopefully we'll get to see you all in the fall (or sooner!) and you can meet this stubborn little boy!

A New Poll

So folks...do you think I'm going to need to be induced??

I'm definitely still contracting, but they aren't getting regular or any more intense than they were yesterday when we were at the hospital. The pressure is getting a little more intense, but I don't think we're quiet to the point of breakage yet. I'm still drinking the disgusting Raspberry Tea, and it's helping the contractions come a little more regularly, and Im still stretching out my hips by rocking and rolling on my yoga ball. I'm hesitant to do much while C's at work...what if my water actually breaks and I start labouring hard all on my own!?

What do you think? Do you think we're going to get to our Friday appointment and have to choose an induction date?

To be totally honest with you, I will be shocked if my water breaks all on its own. Getting into active labour has definitely been a pain in the piriformis, so I highly doubt that I am going to spontaneously burst. A very big part of me is planning to make it to Friday, at which point I figure there's no harm in asking the doctor if he'll break my water right there in the office, and then we'll have a short 10 minute drive to the hospital and we can get this show on the road!

Being Sent Home Isn't So Bad...

...when you're going home with the knowledge that your baby is well on his way to being here!


Last night was pretty terrible, I'm not going to lie. I was up every hour on the hour due to contractions that were strong enough to wake me up, and due to the constant leaking feeling that seems to unfortunately have become the norm lately.

I even tried doing some kick counting, and when it got to the point where I hadn't felt him move barely at all in 12 hours...I started to worry. Why was my back sore? Why did everything hurt every time I rolled over? Why were the contractions becoming regular, but the pain manageable?

So...at around 8am, I thought it best to call Triage like Dr. Leslie recommended at our appointment on Friday.

Sure enough, when I told them about my blood pressure from Friday, fluid leakage and the contractions that have been irregular but some strong enough to make me scream...they told me to come in and get assessed.

Off we went, and panic set in. What if this is it? I started to cry in the car, and while it was comforting to have C beside me and holding my hand, all I could think was "holy crap...I'm going to have a baby..." I got very nervous, very fast!

The nurse who saw us initially was fantastic! She hooked me up to the monitor to do a Non-Stress Test, and after very little fetal movement, I got to choose between gingerale and apple juice to get him going. It was pretty funny because as soon as that was offered, he started squirming...and I started having contractions that were strong enough to show up on the monitor, but not strong enough or regular enough to send me into full fledged labour.

They called Dr. Jordan, and he asked that I be kept until around noon and that they send me for a walk for an hour...then have Bug's heart rate monitored...then walk for another hour. The walking seemed to bring on more and more low pelvic sharp pains and a few big contractions.

Once Dr. Jordan got there, I'd had maybe 6 or so big contractions, and the low sharp pains were happening every 5 or so minutes, though weren't strong enough to be considered real contractions. He did confirm more dilation with an internal exam, though the fluid leakage wasn't my water breaking...

However...it appears that my water is going to break very soon. He stretched my cervix a little bit further to see how things were going with the membranes and he said that he would be very surprised if he didn't see me back in a couple of days time, with labour and delivery being incredibly imminent, and that he expects a rather large flood of fluid rather than a trickle here or there since the amniotic sac is pulsating like crazy. He advised that I have 2:1 odds of going in with water breaking:regular contractions. Those are pretty darn good odds...however it now means that I'm banned from C's recliner and now have the pleasure of sitting on towels everywhere around the house!

If...and that's a very big if says Dr. Jordan...we make it to our appointment on Friday, we're going to be picking an induction date for as early as possible next week, or perhaps on the weekend. He knows that I've had enough, and with Bug being so cramped and whatnot, it's not a healthy enmironment for him to stay in much longer.

So...being sent home isn't so bad, when you know that this time next week, your baby will be here!