chick-chat
Pregnancy Update: 36 Weeks 7 Days
Posted by
tricia on
11.29.09 |
17 Comments
Short Link: http://onceamonthmom.com/?p=4814
Print This Post
It has definitely been an eventful weekend. Not just because of the holidays but because we had a dry run to the hospital thinking I was in labor. Actually, I was, just not enough labor to deliver a baby.
My sis, mom and I (aren't they great for missing Black Friday for me?)
It made for a pretty exciting Black Friday morning without ever stepping into a store but it was a bit more of an emotional roller coaster than I was looking for. The short story is I started having strong contractions at 1:45 am and proceeded to track them for over an hour. My blood pressure was getting pretty high too, so we made the call to the doctor and were instructed to check in at the hospital to be monitored.
I was definitely having frequent contractions, I just wasn’t progressing very far. In the end, after 8 hours the contractions subsided, the progress halted and we were sent home. Discouraged. Sort of.
I was 36 weeks 5 days at that point so not yet at the “full term” mark. So having the baby stay in the womb for a few more days (or God forbid weeks) isn’t such a bad thing. I know that. But the emotional roller coaster of thinking you are going to have the baby that day and leaving, only to have to wait, wait, wait is a bit of a drain on the emotions. As I am sure many of you are aware that have gone through this.
I have done well this weekend and despite suggestions to get it “moving along” I have heeded none of them – at least until tomorrow when I will officially be “full term”. I keep reminding myself that God has chosen a time and a date for the arrival of this little one and again, my plans aren’t best. In the meantime, for those of you that like details, I am 100% effaced (thinned out) and 3 cm dilated. In layman’s terms: I am a ticking water bomb. Seriously.
My water broke quite abruptly with my first and labor was only 4 hours long from that point. My greatest fear at this point? You would think it would be my water breaking in a public place like Kroger or CVS. Nope, not my greatest fear. My greatest fear, having my water break and labor go so quickly that I am not able to get an epidural!
Seriously. I was paralyzed with fear about this all night long. With my first pregnancy I learned (and they don’t tell you this in birthing class) that you can have an epidural but you must first get checked in to the hospital, get an IV inserted AND get a whole bag of fluids BEFORE they will even think about giving you the good stuff. WHAT? I about had a coronary the first time when I learned this.
Now, with pregnancy number two I know this information. Paired with the fact that second labors have a tendency to go faster than your first. Then add on top the fact that I am so thinned out that the likelihood of my water breaking at any moment is imminent. AND we can’t just run off to the hospital when my water breaks. We have to wait for someone to get to our house to watch our son because he can’t be at the hospital because of the H1N1 precautions.
So perhaps you can see how I laid awake last night devising a scheme of how/who I could have spend every waking/sleeping hour with us so that I don’t have to wait to go to the hospital when the time comes.
And then this morning I went to read a new book that I have been diving into to help me get into the Word more – Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy With God in the Busyness of Life
So today I am resting with this verse:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Not sure when I will be reporting the birth of our newest family member but in all likelihood it will be soon. Tomorrow I am full term and will excitedly (and with thanksgiving) accept the gift God has in store for us. Stay tuned in days to come and realize that things will be a little “different” around here the next few weeks.
I know you want an epidural but as someone who has done it both ways let me tell you, you can get through without it and truthfully I never felt better after having a baby as the one I did with no pain meds. Your right that God is with you. Praying for a safe joyful delivery. Mom of 5.
I’ve had three babies without one epidural. Yes, it hurts… but at least there’s no worry about side effects or it not working or whatever. Look on the bright side.
\n\nCan’t wait to hear about your beautiful new baby!
I was 5cm and 100% effaced for over a week with my second bebe… and had her about 30 min after we got to the hospital! No epidural (but I didn’t want one) – but it was doable. You’ll be great!!
Listen, I’ve had five out of six births naturally. With my #3 I had an epidural and really regretted it. Labor is scary, I know, but it’s not that bad. You get through it and feel SO MUCH better afterward than if you take anything. Trust me. Especially if you have a quick labor. It’ll be ok. I’m rooting for you! You’re almost done!
Jennifer (Mom to six and one on the way)
Seriously, with labors that fast, you don’t need an epidural. It will be over so quickly. It can only cause harm to the baby with almost no benefit for you. And just because you’re “full term” at 37 weeks doesn’t mean it’s best for baby to be born then. Lots of feeding problems with babies born that early. Just hang tight. Baby will be here soon enough.
I was sent home twice with baby #2…I feel your pain!
Wishing you a happy, and healthy delivery!
Maybe you could arrange for someone to meet you guys at the hospital. That way your son wouldn’t have to go IN to the hospital but you won’t have to wait around at home either. Will be praying & thinking about you.
The last month of waiting is the hardest. You just want to get it over with and hold your new baby!
hang in there! I agree with the other posters! I have super fast labors and walk around like a ticking time bomb. With my #2, I wanted the epidural. They started it and I said “I feel the head!” and well…I didn’t get the epidural
I realized it wasn’t as bad as I was afraid it would be and went on to have 4 more non medicated labors.
Hi! Good Luck! As a pharmacist and a mother of 6 (5 pregnancies, one set of twins) I understand your fear. If you want the epidural, take the drugs. They are there for YOU. I have done it both ways and EVERY LABOR IS DIFFERENT. Some fast, some slow. YOU DECIDE. If you need it, take it. If you feel ok, don’t take it. Hope all goes well for you….
Indeed, God does have a specific day picked for your baby to come into His world. Blessings upon you and yours as you wait for the new miracle.
Marj M.
Glad the baby decided to stay inside awhile longer. I had a baby this summer at 35 weeks, 5 days and while he was healthy it was scary to be delivering before making it to term.
As someone who has done it twice, you can make it without an epidural. I wanted one with my first but from first contraction to delivery was 4 hours and there just wasn’t time. About the time I thought I couldn’t stand the pain, I started pushing and the pain greatly reduced. The second time around was 4 hours too and I opted for no epidural since I survived the first time.
((hugs)) Breathe! You will be ok whatever way it happens.
praying for you! I’m 36 weeks, 5 days today, so the waiting game is on
A great book that I’m reading right now (for the second time 
“Fear, anxiety and the God of rest”, by Ed Welch…. FANTASTIC!! I too, appreciated the “Mary heart… martha world book”, so maybe I’d better go read that as well! All the best in the upcoming days
I’ve had two precious children, and it’s not the fear of labor that drove me to an epidural both times, it’s the absolute tortorous pain! I was induced at 36 weeks with #1 due to pre-eclampsia, and pitocin is a nightmare b/c it throws you straight into hard labor (and I had hard labor for 12 hours!). Plus, I had awful, awful back labor. Then with #2, the contractions went into my legs, and even though I had not been induced, I was in hard labor for nearly 14 hours. Needless to say, both experiences were very rough.
tricia,
praying for you and excited! woo hoo! baby gonna come soon!
i hope you can get an epidural quickly! i’m also hoping that next baby i can get an epidural that works. i feel so left out