Well, ladies, my pregnancy is closer to a soap opera right now than a pregnancy (Hence the title Days of Our Pregnancy, instead of Days of our Lives) [rotfl], so I decided to make a thread especially geared to sharing my false labor/pre-labor/bla bla bla information. Hope that you all enjoy it and that it gives you extra perspective on patience. LOL.

Well, here's my info so far:

1) Dilated 1-2 cm, effaced 75%, baby's head at 0 station (that means VERY low), and baby in anterior (face down) position

2) Contractions on three different occasions that stopped after 1-3 hours.

3) Losing bits of mucus plug for five days now!

4) And not fretting as much about it anymore. No one ever was pregnant forever. The baby knows when to show up!

If I continue this same pattern, I expect I could be 3-4 cm by the start of real labor.

The more cm's you get painlessly the better! I was 4-5 cms with #2 before labor began and it was ony 3 hours start to finish! And he came out posterior! He's dyslexic! Started out backwards and it hasn't stopped! [rotfl] I am praying! Keep us posted!

Yeah totally Ruth, keep us posted, it is exciting for us too to come along on The Bump and the Beautiful journey with you.

The more cm's you get painlessly the better! I was 4-5 cms with #2 before labor began and it was ony 3 hours start to finish! And he came out posterior! He's dyslexic! Started out backwards and it hasn't stopped! [rotfl] I am praying! Keep us posted!

Thanks for your prayers! I agree with you about the painless dilation part. :) I figure that I can do it all at once or in chunks and pieces. My baby seems to be the type that prefers to come out gradually. Aussie_Mum, thanks also for your prayers and support.

Yes, please keep us updated. I'm praying for you, Ruth.

Ohhh, I'm soo excited for you Ruth! :P Please do keep us posted when your little bean arrives!!!

Thanks for all your prayers everyone! :)

Well, here's my info so far:

1) Dilated 1-2 cm, effaced 75%, baby's head at 0 station (that means VERY low), and baby in anterior (face down) position

2) Contractions on three different occasions that stopped after 1-3 hours.

3) Losing bits of mucus plug for five days now!

4) And not fretting as much about it anymore. No one ever was pregnant forever. The baby knows when to show up!

If I continue this same pattern, I expect I could be 3-4 cm by the start of real labor.

Yup, sounds just like what happened with my daughter. [OK] Then 5 days later after my due date my water broke at 1:00a.m. so be prepared! :D

Well, my DH and I are on a reduced phone call plan. We simply do not have the energy to answer everyone's call and say, "No the baby isn't here yet." So we're going to try to let our voicemail screen most of our calls.

Ruth, come on girl, pop that baby out! Nah, I'm just picking on you. I went over five days with ds #1 i know how it feels. but yeah, the more you do painlessly, the better. Keep us updated with how the labor is going and I've got you in my prayers as well.

Good Luck

Just get your voicemail to say "no we haven't had the baby yet. When we have we will phone you".
:wink:

ITA Renee!

Yeah, Renee, I already changed my voicemail message. [rofl]
In a very diplomatic way, I said, "We just wanted to let everyone know that we have NOT had the baby yet, but we appreciate your prayers."
Hopefully that message will save me some breath. If I haven't had the baby by this Saturday, we will avoid church again (And if we have had it, I'll still avoid church, since I'll be at home recovering). LOL. The last thing I need is more mental stress! :roll:

My mom always gave me the advice to never give out your exact due date. She says you are always bombarded by a thousand questions... I didn't have to worry I ended up having to go early.

So I suppose you have done all the ... "let's get this baby into this world" stuff. Walking & so forth.>?!?? I know that is the last thing on your mind right now.. I have to tell you though it works.

Hope things go well for you. I sat at 2-3 cm for a day with not so much fun contractions that I couldn't talk through before I got induced finally. Justice just likes to take his time. The longer you can go to get dilated with no pain is a good thing. I got to one cm with no pain, but after that it was a little hard. Be blessed!

I used to hate that too "haven't you had the baby yet". You want to say "idiot can't you tell I'm still pregnant :lol: " "Are you blind or just plain dumb!" :lol: Boy that was mean of me. Stephanie [rofl]

Yeah Steph, it can make you antsy when people state the obvious I agree LOL!

People used to ask me all the time if the twins were identical even though they knew they were b/g LOL.

A courier came to our house yesterday to drop something off which was in a large box, I said "Is that heavy" and she said "Are you pregnant?"

ROTF ROTF, I am almost 9 months off and she says "Are you pregnant?"
I wanted to say "No lady, it's a goiter on holiday"

MEAN!

A courier came to our house yesterday to drop something off which was in a large box, I said "Is that heavy" and she said "Are you pregnant?"

ROTF ROTF, I am almost 9 months off and she says "Are you pregnant?"
I wanted to say "No lady, it's a goiter on holiday"


That's TOO funny Aussiemom!! [rofl] [rotfl]

Stephanie :D

I have a personal issue with strangers asking me about pregnancies. It really bugged me when I was pregnant and a stranger would ask when the baby was due. I always wanted to say, what baby? But then last month, a woman thought I was pregnant and I'm not. Nothing hits harder than that I tell you. I thought I was looking pretty good. I have a little bulge but I've had two kids! More Ab work outs I guess.

I used to hate that too "haven't you had the baby yet". You want to say "idiot can't you tell I'm still pregnant :lol: " "Are you blind or just plain dumb!" :lol: Boy that was mean of me. Stephanie [rofl]

[rofl] That's funny because it's true!

Well, I saw the midwife again yesterday. She said that the baby is doing great and is very vigorous and active, my amniotic fluid seems to be doing well, and that I am 2 cm. She also gave me an herbal tincture to drink to encourage contractions. So we'll see what happens today!

I'm getting excited--maybe the drink will work!

FYI-When I was pregnant with ds, I'll never forget my last dr. visit. It was a few days past my due date and my dr. said "I'm going to examine you and try to strip some of your membranes." Of course I was like "do whatever it takes, I want to have this baby!" That hurt! It was like he stuck his whole hand up there and tried to weaken my bag--OUCH! I came up off of that table and told him that hurt! I wanted to strip his membranes!! :shock: :shock:

Praying for you!

Stephanie :D

Oh, Steph, I can relate. My midwife did a technique on my cervix that's supposed to encourage labor. It hurt quite a bit more than a standard vaginal exam, but I was like "anything to help this baby get out, as long as I don't risk rupturing my membranes."

Before I left her house I told her that I would eat train tickets [rofl] if it would help me to avoid having to go in for an ultrasound next Wednesday to make sure that baby was okay.

Before I left her house I told her that I would eat train tickets if it would help me to avoid having to go in for an ultrasound next Wednesday to make sure that baby was okay.


[rofllol] [rofllolblurb] They might be pretty good with some Ketchup on them. [rotfl]

Stephanie :D

Before I left her house I told her that I would eat train tickets if it would help me to avoid having to go in for an ultrasound next Wednesday to make sure that baby was okay.


[rofllol] [rofllolblurb] They might be pretty good with some Ketchup on them. [rotfl]

Stephanie :D

You two are too funny! :lol:

Thinking of you and your family Ruth, praying your little one gets her soon and for a fast labor! :wink:

Why train tickets?

You're over thinkin it, Jay! [rofl]

Ruth, I've been checking up on you several times a day. :D I'm so excited for you. [claploud] In fact, I'd eat train tickets for you, if that would help. :lol:

[girlsmiley]


Joy [welcomewave]

You're over thinkin it, Jay! [rofl]

Ruth, I've been checking up on you several times a day. :D I'm so excited for you. [claploud] In fact, I'd eat train tickets for you, if that would help. :lol:

[girlsmiley]


Joy [welcomewave]

Then I'm sure you would love to explain it to me! :) I still don't get it! I broke 3 vehicles in the past 3 days, I'm over thinking everything, give me a hand, please! :wink:

Uuuuummmm... well, let's see... I think the origin of saying, "I'd eat a..." probaly started with a dare. Example: What would you do for a million dollars? Answer- I'd eat a worm for a million dollars.

In our Ruth's case, it would be like, what would you do to have this baby in the next day or two? Ruth's answer- I'd eat train tickets if that would mean I could have this baby in the next day or two.

Why train tickets? Cuz it's funnier than worms, and it causes our sillier sisters to dwell longer. [rofl]

[loveflag]

Joy [welcomewave]

See I would never think of train tickets as something to eat, and I wouldn't promise to eat something in order to have anything happen. But I kind of get it I guess. The midwife gave her something to drink and she was willing to eat or drink anything, even...

EUREKA (sp?) I got it. Only took me a bit longer. Thanks Joy! Now all of you stop laughing and realize that the colour of this font is currently the colour of my face... and noone can even see me!



Oh, and come on ladies, fess up, please tell me I wasn't the only one who didn't get this!

Ruth, sorry, but I won't be eating any train tickets for you. I find prayers to be more effective... oh, not to eat though, just to say :)

See I would never think of train tickets as something to eat, and I wouldn't promise to eat something in order to have anything happen. But I kind of get it I guess. The midwife gave her something to drink and she was willing to eat or drink anything, even...

EUREKA (sp?) I got it. Only took me a bit longer. Thanks Joy! Now all of you stop laughing and realize that the colour of this font is currently the colour of my face... and noone can even see me!



Oh, and come on ladies, fess up, please tell me I wasn't the only one who didn't get this!

Ruth, sorry, but I won't be eating any train tickets for you. I find prayers to be more effective... oh, not to eat though, just to say :)

LOL! [rofl] Don't worry Jaylene, no one's laughing at you! We all have a different style of sense of humor. I don't blame you for not wanting to eat train tickets. I can't profess that they are a culinary favorite of me and DH either. Oh, Stephanie, maybe I should go check my fridge though and see if there's some ketchup in there..... j/k

Here's the updates on my soap opera for any curious people:

1) Started drinking tincture from midwife at 6:30 this morning. Finished around 1:15 PM.

2) Lost my ENTIRE mucus plug at 12:10 PM. And I mean it was a mucus plug. No way to mistake it for anything else. This sounds crazy and maybe going 9 days overdue has warped my mind, but I was so excited that I immediately called my midwife and told her, and then saved the plug to show DH when he got home from work.

3) 1:30 to present. Mild contractions.

I've heard chinese food can help. I've had several friends go into labor after eating chinese.

How did the tincture taste?

I've got baby beating on my bladder, so I've got to run upstairs now. The toilet down here is broken and we can't get ahold of the landlord :twisted:

I have a personal issue with strangers asking me about pregnancies. It really bugged me when I was pregnant and a stranger would ask when the baby was due. I always wanted to say, what baby? But then last month, a woman thought I was pregnant and I'm not. Nothing hits harder than that I tell you. I thought I was looking pretty good. I have a little bulge but I've had two kids! More Ab work outs I guess.

When you make that mistake once, you never make it again. I think people mean no harm. They just don't think about it long enough.

I'm so excited, Ruth! [claploud] BTW... I've given birth to four and have no idea what a mucus plug looks like. Pictures? Just kidding! [rofl]


[lovesmile]


Joy [welcomewave]

LOL, Joylynn! The mucus plug was thick, long mucus about 3-4 inches long and was brownish tinged.

Oh... [whatthink] Yucky and cool at the same time! [thumbsup]

Thanks for the descrip. :)


Joy [welcomewave]

I've heard chinese food can help. I've had several friends go into labor after eating chinese.

How did the tincture taste?

I've got baby beating on my bladder, so I've got to run upstairs now. The toilet down here is broken and we can't get ahold of the landlord :twisted:

Hmmm....My body must be extra resistant to labor. I ate Chinese food last Sunday! [rofl] Sometimes I wonder, why did I ever worry about preventing pre-term labor or about having the baby before my midwife got back? I'm hardly even prone to term labor! [rofl] The tincture tasted alright. Not a culinary favorite of mine, but not disgusting either. I mixed approx. 30 drops in some water.

Chinese food has yet to send me into labor too. I eat it every chance I get. Then, I heard someplace that a very commom Italian seasoning can trigger labor. I wonder how the people in Italy can go to term? Just being a little sarcastic there. I think a lot of women just eat something and the next thing they know, they are in labor. Just a coincidence.

Have your husband massage your calves tonight. I have read and seen somewhat of proof that it can trigger contractions. But I think only if the conditions are right. And I think yours are close if they aren't already.

Time to go and finish up dinner before Peter gets home for his lunch break. I have a month to go, and people at his work keep asking me how much longer, shouldn't I have had the kid yet, etc. etc. etc. I am getting sick of it! So, he can come home for his lunch instead of me bringing it to him. That, and I am so tired, I don't think I should drive right now anyway and I have too many things to do.

Crystal

I have a month to go, and people at his work keep asking me how much longer, shouldn't I have had the kid yet, etc. etc. etc. I am getting sick of it! So, he can come home for his lunch instead of me bringing it to him. That, and I am so tired, I don't think I should drive right now anyway and I have too many things to do.

Crystal

You poor soul, people already bugging you a month before your due date. [rofl] We had to stop answering our phone so much and go to a different church last week. I've had to really watch my tongue so as not to snap at people.

I told Peter that I am tired of being asked if I am still pregnant when I run to his work. He was like, I understand that. So, I told him I wanted to get a t-shirt and put on it, I am obviously still pregnant, thanks for noticing on it and a countdown flipper thing to the due date. However, I very well could go late, so that could backfire on me in a month. Now, I keep trying to come up with witty retorts for when people ask me why I haven't had the baby yet. It is always the same cashiers too. They see me, and are like, you haven't had it yet? What are you having? Aren't you close to having it? Always the exact same ones, ones that I talk to on a regular basis!!!!! It truly makes me wonder sometimes.

Well, I have to and organize the list of stuff I need to get done before Dainyah arrives. Hubby told me to write it up, organize it and print it off today for my chore. Then, do at least one thing a day, more if I have the energy and that before I know it, it will all be done. Sad thing is, I keep coming up with more and more to add to it, so I may not get everything done. Oh well. I thought about joining flylady today, but I don't want all that email, and right now, my brain is so preggo fried that I will forget to check the chores for the day on the site. Mabye a month or so after Dainyah is born.

Hope the baby is co-operating finally. Maybe this means you will have one easy going, laid back kid?

Oh boy---I'm so excited that you lost your mucus plug :lol: ! It won't be long now HUGS [hug] . Now you keep us posted of your progress. Stephanie :D

Oh yeah, you know what you should definetly try Ruth. It's what i think got me going into labour. Since i was 5 days past my due date i guess my parents were telling people in their church about it. :roll: So some lady said oh i have not went past my due date ever because i drink coconut water (or milk :?: ). So that night like at around 9 p.m. i open the door to my dad standing with a coconut in his hand. [rofl] So tells me the reason why to drink coconut water and then says, "well that's the reason i came by gotta go". So there i'am with a coconut in my hand. :lol: At this point i'll do anything. So dh cuts it for me and i drink [whatblah] can't stand coconut. And four hours later my water breaks! Why i haven't thought of telling you this before, i don't know. Guess i forgot :oops: or maybe don't believe that the coconut water is what really did it. :wink: But if you do it and it works, i'll believe it. :lol:

P.S. I think you should try it, worth a shot. :wink: :D

Well, the contractions aren't stopping. They've been going on for almost 6 hours now. I expect that I could have a long labor though, since I'm in the beginning emotional signpost and the contractions aren't terribly intense.

You will be fine.

I am so excited for you! Praying love.

Thanks Crystal! Please pray that they continue and that this isn't yet more false alarm.

Six hours is a long time for a false alarm. Granted, I am sure it could happen, just that I don't think it does. Do your contractions continue if you change activity? That is a good sign if they do.

Maybe you just have a very high pain tolerance. I know I do. That could be why you think they aren't that intense. I say, call the midwife and ask. I'm sure she's heard it all before, and will know what to tell you.

Remember, keep well hydrated and break out the labor snacks! And try to relax. I am guessing that you are nervous and excited and scared all at the same time. Relaxing helps baby to come!!!!! Oh, and have you thought of nipple rolling? They say that can stimulate labor. We were told last night in my b/f class to not do it at all until after the baby comes (I think I'm going to start doing it close to my due date though. It was presented as a way to get colostrum out to entice baby with it, and to promote let down. I would rather induce naturally like that then have them shove me with pitocin for any reason [which, come to find out, they love to give it to you after the baby is born to make the uterus shrink faster. Thanks, um no. Not me)

You will be fine. Keep busy, but not too busy and time will go faster. Will your midwife let you take a bath? Might help. Anything is worth a shot now, right? Hopefully you won't be needing to eat those train tickets :D

Six hours is a long time for a false alarm. Granted, I am sure it could happen, just that I don't think it does. Do your contractions continue if you change activity? That is a good sign if they do.

Maybe you just have a very high pain tolerance. I know I do. That could be why you think they aren't that intense. I say, call the midwife and ask. I'm sure she's heard it all before, and will know what to tell you.

Remember, keep well hydrated and break out the labor snacks! And try to relax. I am guessing that you are nervous and excited and scared all at the same time. Relaxing helps baby to come!!!!! Oh, and have you thought of nipple rolling? They say that can stimulate labor. We were told last night in my b/f class to not do it at all until after the baby comes (I think I'm going to start doing it close to my due date though. It was presented as a way to get colostrum out to entice baby with it, and to promote let down. I would rather induce naturally like that then have them shove me with pitocin for any reason [which, come to find out, they love to give it to you after the baby is born to make the uterus shrink faster. Thanks, um no. Not me)

You will be fine. Keep busy, but not too busy and time will go faster. Will your midwife let you take a bath? Might help. Anything is worth a shot now, right? Hopefully you won't be needing to eat those train tickets :D

Yep, I've tried a bit of nipple stimulation. And yes, my contractions have continued through eating, drinking, walking, blow drying my hair, etc. I'll probably call my midwife and update her tonight.

And ITA about avoiding pitocin! Make sure that you explicitly tell them at the hospital that you are bfing to contract your uterus and don't need it.

I had a good lunch and then have been snacking lightly since then and making sure to keep well hydrated. Mmmm...labor snacks, string cheese, hard boiled eggs, popsicles, juice...What kind of snacks are you planning on eating at home before you go to the hospital while you're in early labor?

I plan on yogurt, cheeses, and I have fallen in love with the Philly's brand italian ice stuff. Who knows what I'll even be in the mood for. One book I read said that tomato soup is a good choice. I keep thinking of heartburn. Don't want that on top of labor! Oh, and my husband and I love the Jumex brand fruit nectors. It is a natural energy sort of drink. No caffiene, all fruit (well, concentrated and reconstituted, but still pretty good). The strawberry ones taste like fresh made strawberry jam. I also like the guava ones. I drink the plum ones though because they are full of iron and fiber. I will probably need some trail mix or peanut bars or something for protein. Otherwise, my sugar goes nuts and I'll be in for a serious drop if I eat too many carbs (hate the hypoglycemia)

I plan on taking Peter snacks for while I am in labor. Then filching some if I need to. But, I plan on sticking it out at home for as long as possible, so hopefully, I won't need to be stealing his snacks. Though, he deals with being hungry a lot better than I do.

I hope things are progressing nicely.

Thinking of you Ruth...

Hope you're excited!

Ugh...I'm afraid that the contractions have stopped! I'm not sure though, because they weren't that ferocious to begin with. Right now, I feel like real labor may never start at this rate.

I called my midwife and explained things to her. She advised me to try to ignore the contractions and go to sleep. If this is another round of false labor, I feel like I shall scream. :roll:

Truly this is a soap opera.

:cry: :cry: :cry: awww sorry Ruth!

You don't have a breast pump handy do you? I know of someone else here who is going to try that if she goes late.

Don't worry, what has happened shows you you are close!!

Baby will be in your arms in no time honey.

praying you either got rest or had the baby :D

Thanks for the prayers. I got rest.

No, I don't have a breast pump. I already tried nipple stimulation though earlier in the week and all it did was produce contractions that started and stopped. Ugh...I must be extra resistant to labor!

Maybe the coconut water will do the trick? :wink:


Praying for you Ruth.

Thanks for the prayers, Vanessa. :)

Well, here's the update:

Lost more of my mucus plug last night. Started contractions around 11:00 PM. Continued for 2 or 2 1/2 hours. Finally decided to go to bed. I was woken up several times during the night with contractions. This morning the contractions started to get more painful and require more focus.

[clap] [claphigh] [claploud] [clapping]

Soon, you'll no longer be this [pregnantpatbelly] , you'll have this: [baby]

Yeah!!!!!

How exciting! That baby's getting ready to make his/her grand appearance. Praying for you and baby! Stephanie :D

Amen Steph! [baby] [baby]

Yes, will be praying for you and your little one. How exciting! [cheer]

Thinking & Praying for you and your family Ruth! :P

Ah Ruth, hoping by your absence this morning that all is progressing nicely. Praying for you and baby.