#WaitingForTodd

I took several walks to Jennings Park while #WaitingForTodd

AKA: My pregnancy, Weeks 38-41+

I’m finally catching up with this blog and, although a LOT has happened, I’ll start where I left off at the end of July.  This blog is really just a personal (and yet public) way for me to record (most) everything about my pregnancy and birth.

Oh– and #minivegan does have a name, and his name is Todd.

WEEK 38

This was my last full week of working.  By this time, I was really having a hard time getting through the intense, full work days, and the summer heat made it much worse!  Low back pain was an issue for the first time during my pregnancy.  Also, this one spot in my right lower rib cage area was constantly feeling stretched and sore.  Ligament stretching?  Muscle stretching?  I didn’t know.

I had a midwife appointment on Wednesday, July 30th.  On Friday, August 1st, I had my 6th veganniversary.  (Yay!!)  During the evenings and nights, my heartburn and poor sleep continued.

WEEK 39

I worked Monday and Tuesday this week.  I took Wednesday off.  Thursday, August 7th was supposed to be my last day of work.

I had a midwife appointment on the Wednesday (August 6th – Happy 40th birthday to my sister!)  I could have opted for a check of my cervix, but I decided against it.

I never made it to work on the 7th.  In the early morning hours, I was feeling some mild crampy sensations that I thought could be labor starting.  It wasn’t.  Wishful thinking!  I felt dumb about calling in to work.  Rookie mistake.  I regretted not having the experience of “last day goodbyes” with my co-workers and patients.  Oh well.  I spent the weekend shopping, cooking, relaxing, and gearing up for the big day…

WEEK 40

40 Weeks Pregnant

Monday, August 11th was my due date.  I went for a walk and then I had an acupuncture appointment.  I was hoping the acupuncture would give my body a nudge toward labor.  I don’t know what it did, but I definitely had the best sleep in a long time that night.  Baby was super active that evening…

On Wednesday, August 13th, I was awake from midnight to 4 AM, again feeling mild crampy sensations.  I hoped it was labor starting, but it wasn’t.  I had a midwife appointment in the morning, and Brianna checked my cervix (ouch!!).  She said baby’s head was “really low!” and that I was at +1 station and 1 cm dilation.  My cervix was in a good, anterior position.  I was optimistic that labor might start soon.  My sister and 10 year old niece decided to drive up from Oregon.  I wanted them present for the labor and birth.

Welcome sign

On Friday, August 15th, I was again up in the early morning hours with the same pre-labor sensations.  When I noticed my mucus plug and bloody show on the toilet paper in the morning, I really got excited!  I was convinced the day had come.  I even called my doula to give her a “heads up.”  But, no.  (Poor Eric stayed home from work that day for nothing.)

By Saturday, August 16th, we were all getting pretty stir crazy, so we planned a full day of activity.  In the morning, I saw a little more bloody mucus.  We walked on the Centennial Trail in Snohomish, WA…

Centennial Trail – 40 Weeks +5 Days – August 16, 2014

Centennial Trail

We went to the Snohomish Aquatic Center, which is pretty cool!  I was not able to do certain activities…

Eric at the Snohomish Aquatic Center

And he’s down…

My niece comes out of the water slide.

Sunday, August 17th I hit my emotional low point.  It was now 40 weeks + 6 days.  I was so done with being pregnant.  I was drained by getting my hopes up every night, only to still be pregnant each morning.  I felt bad that my family had been in town for several days and there was still no baby for them to hold.  I wanted them to enjoy the maximum number of days with Todd, before needing to go back home.  Finally, I was increasingly fearful about the possibility of induction.  With each passing day, I doubted my body’s ability to initiate labor on its own.  That afternoon, I cried and cried.

WEEK 41

41 Weeks Pregnant – August 18, 2014

New week, new attitude.  Another good night’s sleep helped.  On Monday, August 18th, we took Ashley to the American Girl store in Lynnwood.

American Girl

On Tuesday, August 19th, we walked in the neighborhood in the morning, and I had an acupuncture appointment and a massage appointment in the afternoon.

Acupuncture Associates of Marysville

Ashley also used her special energy forces to try to coax baby out…

Ashley

Ashley uses her energy forces to coax Todd out.

On Wednesday, August 20th (after yet another night of being awake with pre-labor sensations, this time more intense than ever before), we decided to make Todd’s birthday cake.  I made the recipe for Peanut Butter Mousse Cake, out of The Voluptuous Vegan cookbook.

At noon, I had a midwife appointment.  Brianna did another cervix check (ouch!), as well as a stretch and sweep (double ouch!).  I was 3 cm dilated.  I also had a NST (Non-Stress Test).  Baby responded well.  I was sent for an ultrasound, too, but that was more of a wild goose chase than anything else (not worth discussing here).  Brianna said it was time to use castor oil to induce labor.  I was instructed to drink 2 ounces at bedtime (~10 PM) and then drink another 2 ounces 4 hours later (~2 AM).

NST at 41 Weeks + 2 days – August 20, 2014

TO BE CONTINUED…