37 week appointment update. How are the rest of you?

Went for my 37 weeker today and all is well. My GBS test was negative and no weird issues to be alarmed about; swelling, fluid loss...

I lost a pound, putting me at an 18 pound weight gain total and I asked if I should be concerned, but I am measuring 38 weeks now and fluid feels fine. Still no internals and I may not start them next week. It all depends on if I feel like labor is close and really want to know what's going on down there.  Warm up contractions have been regularly random and I have light cramping here and there. Feeling great though.

How is everyone else progressing?

Wow, I can't believe you're at 37 weeks already!  I guess I haven't been around much.  LOL! 

18 pounds is amazing!  I gained about 36, and I'm down 20 already. 

Did you make it to your due date with your first pregnancy?  I had my son at 38 weeks, so I thought for sure I'd have my daughter around the same time-or earlier, but she was stubborn and hung on until 39 weeks and 1 day.  I thought I was never going to have her.   And then she decided to come on the one day I did not want to have her.  LOL! 

Good for you on the weight loss. I may leave the hospital weighing less than before I got preggo. LOL! I won't be in the same shape though, that's for sure.  

With my first, I had a really bad gallstone attack that had doctors confused as to whether or not I was in full labor. At the time, we didn't know it was gallstones. I think I was already in early labor (2-3 cen. dialated and having regular contractions), but the gallstones intensified it. She was 11 days early. I think I may have had her about a week early if it wasn't for that issue. This time is kinda all new. I actually get to go into labor without the pain of another medical issue complicating things. I was forced into an epidural with Alex, due to the pain and vomiting from the gallstones.

I really can't wait, so I am hoping she is a little early. I keep guessing the 8th. We'll see.

I'm glad to hear that everything is going great.  In no time you will be holding Baby Ella Katherine in your arms. 

Glad to hear all is well! I know where your pound of weight loss went! I found it Tuesday at my 37 week checkup! Darn those two baby shower cakes I was forced to bring home this weekend! I immediately came home from my doctor's appointment and threw them out.

Anyway, the baby is still head down, good heart rate and I'm measuring normal. I, however, am very sick. I left work early yesterday and am leaving early again today. My husband and daughter came down with it at the same time I did (we were in a hospital a week before getting sick...go figure!) and they're both over it. I hope to kick it this weekend since I'm in a wedding next week and will be giving birth the week after that.

I am feeling tons of pelvic pressure and have had a lot of trouble sleeping this week. I started packing my hospital bag and have been doing the baby's laundry. I'm ready!

LOL! Sorry to pass the lb your way Bier. Good news is...not much longer. I too have been feeling the "pressure". I had some brown spotting yesterday, which I assume was my mucous plug breaking up. I also did a quick check and I am dialated a good bit more than I was last time I checked. It feels like any day now. I went ahead and bumped up my leave from school to start this Monday. I can't drive through the country 40 minutes to and from school with limited phone signal.  Plus, I am exhausted and unmotivated when I get there. Getting up at 7:30 and home at 11:30 is no fun. I have to be there Saturday though...I'm doing a bride's wedding updo. She is having a c-section 10/10. LOL! Soooo cute. She said I had to be there and couldn't go into labor before then.

 

I just looked at your most recent photo and that baby has dropped! I realized I dropped about a week ago when my husband walked in on me doing the "potty dance" in the kitchen even though I had just emptied my bladder. I can seriously feel him on my pubic bone and I must say I do not like it.

We're meeting some friends at a pumpkin patch tomorrow and I'm trying to come up with some hilarious photo to take with all those giant pumpkins around.

I assume you mean 11:30pm. The only time I see 11:30 is if I fall asleep on the couch and my husband wakes me up to tell me to go to bed. Good think you are taking off starting Monday. That long of a drive in the middle of nowhere is nerve-racking!

I just had my 30 week check up today and it seems things are great!  I am glad others are doing well too.  I have gained 22 lbs, blood pressure is 110/68 ... I couldn't be happier!  And I was told the baby is already upside down!!!! That doesn't mean she'll stay that way, but I hope she does.
I had to do my glucose tolerance test today, that sucked, but I am sure I passed.  And I got pre-registered at the hospital too.
My husband and I are taking Bradley classes and I really like it.  Has anyone else gone 'al natural' with their births? Or tried?  I'd like to hear stories.
Hope everyone's babies are doing well!

Bier- You have to share the pumpkin patch pics when you get them. That would be funny. LOL! Oh, and yes I mean 11:30pm.

Newveggie- I was intending to go natural with my first, but gallstones during pregnancy made it too difficult to deal. I couldn't breathe or focus and they made me vomit. I was unable to relax through the contractions. This time I have no gallbladder to deal with and I am looking forward to an uncomplicated natural birth. I definitely don't want to have an epidural offered and would only ask if there were unforseen issues. I won't opt for pain meds either. I am utilizing their new jacuzzi tubs and hope to move around to ease pain and quicken labor. I am a little nervous, but confident. I think after battling through the pain of gallstones and labor contractions all at once for about 6 hours before my epi with my first daughter, I am expecting worse pain than it will be. Good luck with your classes and it's great to have your husband there to support you. My mom has always been my support person.

Glad to hear all is well with you too. I didn't realize you were 30 weeks already!

Unfortunately, my husband forgot to bring our camera to the pumpkin patch even after I reminded him. Oh, well! We did buy my weight in pumpkins and mums which is insane!

I think my parents are going through nesting right now because they came over to our house on Saturday afternoon to help get things organized (we just moved into a new house). My dad helped my husband prepare our lawn for the fall and my mom helped me organize my daughter's room. We also fixed our crib (it was missing the matress support rails) and put the finishing touches on the baby's room--it looks great and I feel much more prepared.

I can't seem to shake this illness I have. It's wearing me out. I thought I might have been in labor last night but it turns out it was just some pain I've been having on and off throughout my pregnancy. Darn!

Good for you guys who are going au-natural! I certainly couldn't handle it the first time around so I say more power to you if you can do it!

Bier- It's awesome your parents are helping you get things done. You haven't got much longer to go. I have everything finished and it seems to make the days go by slower. I took leave from school starting today. The 40 minutes it took to drive there and back was killing me. Plus, I would get slammed with clients and started getting a little flush if I was standing too long. Now, I am going to be bored outta my gourd! I hope you feel better as well. I was getting nauseus a lot today. Hope it's baby related and not a stomach bug. Blech! I have an appt tommorow though.

P.S. Now you can take a pic with one of you many pumpkins at home. Have your hubby hold one as big as your belly in front of his belly and you can both stand back to back for a pic. Like a comparison of sorts. That would be cute.

@ newveggie

I have had 3 all natural births.  With their weights and labour times as listed

#1 7pds 7 ounces 6 1/2 hours labour and delivery

#2 6pds 13 ounces 5 hours labour and delivery

#3 7 pds 1 ounce 2 3/4 hours labour and delivery.

For my first 2 I spent most of my time in the shower with the removable shower wand on my back and stomach, while I sat on a small plastic stool.  I never felt the contractions at all and I also think gravity helps alot.  With my last was only at hospital for 45 mins so not much prep time there.

The doctor who delivered my first refers it to textbook.  No intervention at all by the docs.  Easy labour.  Used breathing techniques.  Was able to move around, never bed ridden(thats got to be the worst position to labour in).  I made sure that with my next 2 kids the doctors were fine with following my birth plan.  They obliged nicely!

Adding for second.   The docs broke my water after being 3 cms and 80% for 2 weeks.  Labour started on own after 1 hr.

with last doc did a vaginal sweep or sometimes called a membrane sweep.  I was 3 cms and 80% again and doc did sweep at 10 am labour started at 3pm same day.. 

Ive never had an epidural,pitocin, demorol(sp), nitrous or whatever else they give you during labour and delivery.

Kudos to spuckine. I hope my labor goes quickly as yours did. I prefer the 2 3/4 hour labor and delivery. Haha.

Shill I wouldnt wish such a short one on anyone  To Hard.  The language I used was horrible and I almost had my last in the wheelchair!!  The 6 1/2 hr one was by far my favourite of all!

38 week checkup at 3:10pm. Wee!

I've put a small "birth plan" together and will be going over it with my doctor today. My face right around my cheekbones is extremely sore to the touch so I'm afraid I may have a sinus infection.

I'm in my sister-in-law's wedding on Friday and she was telling me that her officiant has had two wedding recently where someone has gone into hard labor and he has proceeded to pass out because of it. I would hate to steal her thunder but I also think it would be hilarious. And, I'm so ready to have this baby.

Anyone else have an appointment this week?

I have my 30 week appointment on Thursday. I can't believe I'm already seeing the OB every 2 weeks! As ready as I am to meet this baby, I don't think I'm ready to be a mom!

Spuckine~
With your first did you go in to labor on your own? I am so afraid of having to be induced (either membrane sweep or breaking of waters). I won't go the pitocin route unless I am forced.
Your labors sound wonderful, especially the first. It sounds exactly like what I am hoping for. How far along were you in the pregnancy when that one was born?

Others~ Sounds like many of us are ready to have our babies. For myself, I am extremely nervous. Like sunquest said, I am ready to meet the baby, but don't know if I am ready to be a mommie yet!

My next doc appt is Oct 17, they are letting me go 3 weeks, (i will be 33 weeks) then I have the GBS test on Halloween probably. Then I go every week til the babe is born!

@newveggie

I was just over 39 weeks and I woke up at 330 am with back pain.  went to bathroom and had my show.  I knew I was having contractions so I got in the shower.  Stayed there for 1.5 hours, felt nothing, no contractions at all.  So got out at 5am.  Only could handle contractions for 1/2 hr got back in shower.  I had a stool in there that I sat on and used the shower wand on my back and belly.  While in shower didnt feel any contractions.  Honest I didnt.  Got out of shower and left for hospital at 645am.  Got to hospital and was checked around 730 am was 6 cms.  I then got back into shower at hospital around 8am! Finally got out about 915am.  nurse checked me was 9 cms.   I started pushing at 945am and my son was born at 1005am 

I strongly recommend using the shower instead of bath for labour.

I also laboured in shower for 2nd after the docs broke my water. 

It was absolutely amazing how naturally being a mom came to me once my daughter was born. I babysat as a kid but that only taught me to change diapers and feed infants. I just knew what to do as have countless women before me and as will countless women after me! All you first time moms will do great and have us to come to for advice (if you even need it!).

*edited to change feet to feed. I'm not exactly sure what "feet infants" is but it doesn't sound pleasant!