2 OverDue Appointments - One to Go

Hello everyone~

We're posting an update because the other night we returned from our "overdue" appt., dinner and shopping for needed new clothes for Steve to 12 phone calls!!!!

We are overwhelmed by everyone's concern and excitement, but decided not to call anyone back and just catch you all in one place... cyberland. We know it's impersonal, but I'm sure ya'll understand.

First, no. No baby has arrived. She's still snuggled up, feet under j's right ribs, hands punching at the cervix. Perhaps she's impatient too. :)

Second, we had a good 1st overdue appt. Celia passed her stress test, so, so far, j won't be forced into induction just yet. She wasn't passing in the beginning... let me tell you, Celia is a hard sleeper! It's so funny. We couldn't wake her up! Her heart beat was strong, she just didn't feel like moving around. So, j drank a bunch of cold water, and she perked right up. Passed within 5 minutes after sleeping through the first 20.

Third, j had no dialation, still. But is 80% effaced. We hear that's good! So, we were advised by our midwife to really enjoy the weekend. Take time, be together, do special things since this will be our last weekend together without a baby attached to us, literally, 24-7. All in all, she told j to enjoy and get her rest.

We have tried many tactics. We've been through a full moon. There is a new moon tomorrow -- that affects some women. We've had a good storm. J has continued excercising, had spicy food, had a pedicure and few other things. THEN...

Had our 2nd overdue appt. Monday. Good signs!

J was having pains all day, not contractions, but anything is a plus. J lost weight, which is a sure sign say all her recent laboring friends. She was still 80% - 90% effaced and a forced 1 cm dialated. Those are all good things!

The best part was the discussion of induction. Having a midwife rocks! As most of you know, j is terrified of being strapped to anything. Not having the ability to move or try different positions sounds like absolute hell to her. So, when you're induced with pitocin, you have to have an IV, have to be monitered, and basically are hooked to a bed.

Our awesome midwife does not induce that way. She uses 3 different methods of induction, that we're sure you don't want the details of, first, and pitocin is her last result. The other methods allows j to have a portable moniter, no IV, and to walk wherever she wants. She was so relieved! Steve said he hadn't heard her voice sound so happy in weeks! The only thing taken away from her is the tub, but that's fine! The other great thing with being induced with a cervi-gel is that it doesn't overwhelm your body so that your natural endorphins can't keep up, like pitocin. Again, what a relief!!!

J also got acupunture yesterday, which was great. Celia is a pretty heavy sleeper and this woke her up right away! She was moving all over!!!

We're happy to report a full night of seemingly mild contractions. We don't know quite what they are yet because they are so sporadic and seem to be a piece of cake so far. So we don't know what exactly is happening, if anything. Either way, we feel really good that by the end of the week this will all be over. J's getting higher blood pressure and has had small blood vessel breakage on her legs. Her body is just tired. So J's just sipping Blue Cohosh tea and rubbing Jasmine on her belly hoping those will help.

We'll keep you informed :) If today isn't our magic day, we have our last appt. Thurs. Then Celia will be evicted. :)

Although we did have a nice weekend. We went to the movies and saw Oceans 13. Super Fun. We grilled out. We went for a few hour stroll through Rockford and ate hot dogs and ice cream. Also met two new moms with such POSITIVE birth experiences (one a mom of 4 -- did all natural labor with all 4 and even was induced twice!!). So nice to not hear "war stories" anymore. We started watching one of our favorite movies, Sideways. J finished another book. So, all in all, j is doing ok with this LOooooooooooooooooooooooong pregnancy. And Steve is, as always, great. And just excited. :)