Midwifery Today Community

Bec, you sound close.  The mucusy stuff does sound like a mucus plug, though I'm not sure I've exactly seen mine either.  I think I kind of gradually lost it over the last few weeks of all my pregnancies.  Also, I only noticed show with two of my babies.  My most recent labor was slow and steady, so it had time to make it down to where I could see it when I went to the bathroom.  It was like eggwhites at first (very long and stretchy) which became tinged pink or streaked with red as time went on, and even wetter and strechier and more profuse. 

Who knows, maybe you will wait until next Tuesday.  It will all work out for the best in the end, either way.  Ha ha, I spoiled my husband's chance to take a 3 day leadership training course because of one of my 16 hour rounds of "false labor".   We thought labor was close, so he didn't finish the second and third days in order to stay close to home (it was 2 hours away).  I ended up not having the baby until two weeks later.   He did get to take the class 3 months later, so it worked out fine.

Chamutal, I'm so relieved for you.  I've known such similar emotions.  I was also very relieved to know it was only one baby.  My husband was slightly disappointed, just because I think he had worked up the idea in his head.  Ask him now and he'd say its DEFINITELY better that we had just one.  This 4th babe has really thrown us for a loop, let me tell you.   Anyway, that's some amazing growth for your little one!!!  I'm so happy for you. :-) Now you can settle back into your little place of knowing your little one without distraction.

I think I'll try to finally post my birth story in the homebirth forum.

Well i'm still pregnant.

Saturday we went bowling (i couldn't face swimming - it's funny when pregnant with DD i went every week, right up to after her due date, and swam 20 lengths, but this time i go with DH and DD, and watching a 4yo who cannot swim and thinks she can is WAY harder than just straight swimming!) and i had a few good strong crampy braxton hicks - one when DD got a strike (ok we had the rails up and used the big metal ramp thing, but still!) and we whooped and yelled and i picked her up. :)  Was lovely!  There was a lot of love flowing all weekend, DH and i lay in a cuddled (for the first time in months) on Sunday morning when DD was at her bio dad's house and then went out and got him some nice new cycling stuff, for his birthday on Friday, and then went and had a lovely meal in a cafe we'd been wanting to try.

It's funny being out without DD, everyone assumes i'm having #1 and gives me new-mama advice and i have to smile and say "oh, i remember with my 4yo..." so they shut up (some of the advice is incredible! - make sure you put the baby IN the cot, IN the nursery, AWAY from you from the very first night at home, because this woman's sister made the mistake of waiting until the 3rd night and that baby (who is 5 weeks old) WILL not sleep through now, even WITH extra formula in his night time bottle! YAK!).  

I've done some birth art after reading birthing from within - it was a bit hippydippy for me (which sounds crazy because i LOVE ina May!) but i thought i'd give it a go.  I'm a very literal artist, so i have one of me on all-fours with my head in DH's lap while he holds my hips and DD rubbing my back, one of me in a semi-squat with DH behind me, DD beside me and the baby crowning, one of the 3 of us all cuddled together looking at our newest tiny addition, and one of my own view (from above) of a little dark-haired newborn suckling at the breast (which is my favourite!).  DH did a few which were much more abstract and therefore (to me) artistic, but he says he prefers mine because they communicate more directly - direct, that's me!

Chamutal, that is a BIG baby!  I'm glad you went for the scan now, my hospital would be going crazy about GD if i presented that far ahead any time after 20 weeks, and would no doubt test and test and test me.  We also declined our 20-weeks scan (had our one and only at 15+1 and all looked fine, the obvious things are visible already then and the less obvious things don't get that much more obvious by 20 weeks anyway) but because our hospital just began offering them a few months earlier (used to only get one) they are snowed under still and just relieved to have an extra space free'd up.  We also declined the foetal tests!  Fun ain't it - being viewed with suspicion for declining unreliable diagnostic tests!  The nurse said to me, in passing, what would i do if it DID have downs?  I replied what would the TEST do about it if it did?  Ah well, it comes from a good place (caring) if not the ideal one (understanding) so no matter.

I have a 4yo and am heavily pregnant (and overuse tv!), so yes, i am familiar with the Bounty advert, DD refers to everything as "wan sheet" right now.  So, belly rubs, hello little Juan! :)

Well, i'd better stop, i'm going to check my email, send one to a friend, and then get on with my nesting projects.  I have a receiving blanket to sew on the machine, a cardigan (size 6months but HUGE so probably not!) to knit, and a lot of washing to do.  DD wet the bed last night, for the first time ever since we gave up nappies (a month before her third birthday, so 15months ago!) no doubt because she hardly drinks at her dad's (though he offers her plenty, she just is too busy i think) and then is really thirsty here.  She must have been terribly tired, she'd really soaked the bed before she woke up.  Luckily i'm primed to respond right now so it was actually relatively painless to get up, change her sheets, wash her off, put fresh PJ's on her and cuddle her warm again at 3.30am than it usually would be.  Very glad i wasn't in labour for that though!

Send me laboury vibes for Tuesday night, so DH gets to complete his work thing and yet i don't need to go on TOO much longer as a big hefty pregnant woman!

Still sending you good labor vibes, Bec.  Tuesday has come and gone and I do wonder if your DH was able to complete his work thing and if you've gone into labor.

DH got his worth thing done, and then i gave him a little girl for his birthday at 7.56am (BST) on Friday morning.  I am still laughing that i managed to have a baby on his birthday!

I woke on THursday morning and sobbed my heart out to DH, and he decided he should stay home from work.  We pottered most of the day, with me eventually having stronger and stronger BH contractions, and then in the afternoon we took DD to XP's so i could focus (i wanted her there for the birth but just couldn't focus when she was there!).  Around 6ish i liked to move when i was contracting, but they were 3:60, yes, every 20mins or so, and long, 90seconds, and increasingly painful, but just not getting closer or more regular.

At around 8.30pm we went for a 45min walk, during which i had 2 contractions.  When we got in they remained 20mins apart.  We went to bed, they were every 15mins but painful, and when i went to pee there were great gobs of bloody show coming loose.  I tried to sleep but at about 1am I got in the bath, because they hurt so much (not agony, but so far apart that they were freshly painful each time, it felt like it was hard to build endorphins properly).  My intellectual brain would NOT switch off.  All through the labour if i tried to talk during a contraction i could do so, and it merely made the contraction much shorter and lighter.  I had to really focus and be "with" the baby to get anything happening - a good reason for this that i will get to!

By 2am after a good while in the bath and some nipple stimulation my contractions were every 5mins and painful.  We called my dad (who had to drive 4 hours to get to us) and the midwife, but when i was talking to the midwife she wanted to see if i could still speak through them and i could, so we decided we'd touch in with her in an hour if they were still close together.  As soon as i hung up they skipped out to 1:10.  I went to bed depressed and wondering if my mental alertness was what was holding things up.

I contracted every 10mins for the next 4hours.  Through the night, lying on my right side in bed, with DH along my back, squeezing my chest in a tight hug whenever i contracted while i moaned through them.  THe baby continued to move unless i tried to bring things on faster, then my uterus would go hard for 2 minutes or more and the baby would be quiet.  It was eerie, and i felt very strange, on the one hand i thought i was holding things up with my attitude, but whenever i tried to get with it and "bring it on" it felt wrong.

At 5am or so the sun came up and we decided to get up too.  My dad arrived at 6am, hugged me and i had a huge contraction and he said "you ok?" and i said "i've been worse i guess" and grinned.  It was good to see him, though i did find i had to focus even harder to contract properly then.

I decided to get back in the bath and sent DH and dad downstairs so i could focus.  It was weird, if i could hear dad i couldn't concentrate so i didn't labour hard enough, but if DH stayed close or touched me too much i contracted too hard and felt wrong and uncomfortable in a weird way.  At about 7ish i heard myself roar through a peak and thought i needed the midwife so we phoned her again and she said she'd come.  Contractions still weren't regular, we have a contraction timer DH was using and the intervals go 6, 6, 9, 10, 2, 3, 5, 24, 16, 12, 6, 6, 8, it was soooo tiring, and i kept thinking "i'm not even in labour yet!".  I checked myself and felt a dilating cervix (my MW estimates i might have been a 6 or 7 by description) and a big bulging bag of waters.  Progress perhaps, but not the bony ridge of head i was wishing for!

The midwife came, and i immediately decided i needed to get out of the bath, but i would do so after the next contraction - i was informed a quarter of an hour later than i was at 1:3-4.  I swear, those contractions didn't get regular until the MW walked in - she was wearing purple trousers and a purple tee with "midwives: endangered species" on it and i opened my eyes at the end of a contraction to her sitting on my loo-seat lid smiling.  Wonderful! :)

I got out of the bath and got on my knees with my head in DH's lap at the edge of the bed.  I was roaring then.  I felt inside again but to my frustration i couldn't feel anything except anterior vaginal wall.  I asked the MW to check but said "i can't move though!" and she said "no worries, i'll do a James Herriot style exam!" (he's a fictional vet in case no-one else knows this - a brilliant image for me because all the things i saw born until i was 21 were sheep, cows and foals and i love how animals birth, they don't fight, to them the only contraction is the current one, and they just do what their body tells them).  She found no cervix and said i should push the baby out if i wanted.  My waters exploded over my calves with the next contraction, which felt AMAZING.

Next contraction i pushed.  Not because i wanted to, or thought i should, or anything cerebral.  My baby said "PUSH" to my butt and my butt PUSHED.  I pushed for 6 minutes and she was out.  She came out direct OA, so though i caught her head, the MW had to help me grab her body because her armpit was not where i was hunting for it!  I pulled her between my thighs and her KNOTTED cord came unravelling after her.

She had a true knot about 10cm from her body, a mildly (2-3cm from the placenta) velamentous insertion and a heart-shaped placenta.

She screamed.  And screamed and screamed and screamed (apgars 10, 10, 10).  She screamed ceaselessly until the placenta came 20mins after her (could have come sooner, i took a few goes to get pushing by blowing against my closed fist right, and we cut the cord.  The minute we cut that knot off she went serene and looked up at me with that look that says "milk?" and then she nursed and we just sat and loved her.

We had arranged, last minute, for a student midwife to be present.  She's coming again on Friday and i'm interested to see what she made of it all.

I am in awe of how smart this baby is.  I shudder to think what would have happened if we'd been in hospital, where augmentation would have been offered and, given my despair at 2am, taken.  I look at my un-cut (if saggy) belly and my perfectly healthy babe and want to pay whoever i owe for getting her here.  Of course the MW and DH and dad think i am magnificent to follow my body so well, but i really feel like it's hard for me to accept the responsibility for getting her here alive, because i couldn't have borne the responsibility if i hadn't managed it.  So i think it was all her.  It just happened to me, all i did was stay right out of her way as much as possible.

I had a minor tear, no stitches, no drugs, a physiological 3rd stage (my ambition) and a perfect, healthy baby girl, 8lbs8oz.  She is 5days old and weighs 8lbs11oz today!  I have a bit too much thyroxine i think (bit jittery) but masses of milk, she feeds and sleeps wonderfully and has no jaundice and already dropped her cord stump.  We called her Camille.

So, that's my story

Whoa!!! What a story.

I am so so happy for you all.

Lovely name! I was thinking of Kamil for a boy this time, but my husband vetoed it.

I must tell you, I have seen a birth like this one, also with a true knot.

That was with a water leak and more than 30 hours before labour got going in any way. Also contractions neve regular.

it amzes me again and again how, given the chance to listen to our bodies, we can do it, as unbelievable as it may be.

You are so right about the hospital thing. with my last baby, when everything stopped after some 30 hours of regular contractions, it was good to be reminded what would happen in hospital in that situation, and to be ever so greatful for being home, where nature can take whatever course it mught.

I am so happy for you. Brilliant!

Now keep looking after yourself, won't you?! no superwoman stuff, at least not yet!

We by the way are fine, though my 12 year old broke his wrist on Monday at our home ed social group. he slipped off the climbing frame. thank God only his wrist, as his head hit the ground also.

He must be feeling better as I can hear him playing the piano in the background, just managing to give a little base note with his left hand :-)

Many blessings to you, your husband and of course to your daughter, what a gift a sister is for her.

God Bless.

Welcome to your sweet and lovely Camille!!!  That's such a beautiful name and what a beautiful birth.  She knew what was best and she's so glad you listened and believed.  Well done and congratulations!!!  Take good care.

What a beautiful birth story Bec!  Another example of the fabulous motherbaby body and how, if supported and  enough patience is applied, it knows what to do perfectly.

Happy babymoon to you and Camille!

Ha ha, I totally get the James Herriot things.  My sister and I watched a series (probably BBC) based on his books when we were little, so I can totally envision the cervical check on hands and knees you're referring to.  :-)  Pretty clever.

CONGRATULATIONS!! What an incredible birth story! (((HUGS))) for you and precious little Camille! How are things going for you in these early postpartum weeks?

Thinking of you!!

And how are you, Kelly??

Well i am great!

This baby sleeps SOOOO well - she has been doing one 5hour stretch every night since she was 4 days old!  She's a bit of a boob-monster in the evenings, but it's so so worth it to get a good sleep AND i am pumping 5-9oz every morning while i feed her, which is going in the freezer.  I estimate i have about 120oz in the freezer already!  So if i have supply issues related to my thyroid later on we have a LOT of buffer before i have to use formula, and if we don't then i have a lot of good milks to use up before i switch her to cow :)  DD occasionally has some EBM (whenever she asks, but she took to asking and not drinking it so i quiz a bit more thoroughly before i hand it over now!) and says it's lovely "like cold tea".

Camille was 8lbs8oz at birth, 9lbs at 11 days and 9lbs6.5oz at 18days, so we're not weighing again until the 6-week check.  I guess she'll be about 10lbs6oz by then, and will not be weighing her again until she's a good month or two older if she's around that - my WHO chart says not to weigh them more than once a month at MOST, which is very refreshing since with DD1 being my first the health visitors weighed her all the time, which, when i had supply problems, made it incredibly stressful - she herself was bright, happy and hitting milestones, but she had been between the 50th and 70th %tiles, and she dropped below the 50th and they began making noises about supplementing...  I'll be glad to avoid the obsessiveness of it.  I'm going to pay attention to my baby, as i did when i was in labour, and trust her.  I think that's the best i can do for her, rather than thinking of "textbook" and "normal" and "ideal".  That sort of thing which would have potentially killed her during labour i might as well continue to avoid.

My bleeding is much less, my tear is very healed and my whole vaginal area seems to be recovered in the general sense.  I'm doing kegels like crazy, and looking forward to when i can use my pelvic toner again - it's a little device that provides resistance and it makes a BIG difference to strength.  But in the meantime i'm continent while sneezing (and at all other times!) and not in any pain so i'm happy.  My belly is flatter but soooo saggy.  After DD1 i lost a lot of weight too fast, over 14lbs a month for the first 3 months, and this time i am eating a LOT but losing a few lbs a week instead of 4 or 5.  My body looks a bit hilarious because i've got nursing fat (lower back, upper thigh, bum) but am pretty slim elsewhere and of course saggy over the stomach - i feel a bit like a half-inflated lifeboat!  Roll on 6 weeks, then i can run again!

So, Kelly, how are you? 

Bec, you sound so great.  Sleep is (almost) everything at this stage.  5 hours is not long enough to affect your supply, but long enough that you can get some decent sleep.  Wow, you've got almost a gallon of milk in the freezer. :-) 

My little gal-pal is 5 months now and about 21 pounds.  She's immense and I love it...rolls everywhere.  I think she's starting to teethe because she's grinding her gums all the time and not sleeping so well at the moment.  That's hard, and life is pretty overwhelming right now with the 4 kids and hubby on a new and more unpredictable schedule.  Our 2 year old son is definitely TWO, and he's potty training.  I'm really exhausted often (think its adrenal fatigue, not just mommy tiredness).  Its a very interesting time in my life, but one in which I know I will learn something.  I just have that feeling.  Its a time of great challenge and transition, but I just have that feeling that it will turn out to be a time of great personal growth too.  So I welcome it.

Anyway, Kelly, I wonder how you're doing too.  I'm sure you're incredibly busy, but if you get a minute sometime, it would be great to hear your update.

Also, it seems like most of us who were PG are now NOT anymore, so how are the lovelies who are TTC doing?  Oh, and Chamutal, who should be getting along to about the halfway point now.

 Hello everybody!  I was missing in action for a while, but I have exciting news to share!  I'm pregnant!  (Finally...lol)  I had the IUD out in March and got a BFP yesterday...I took a test a while ago b/c my period in May was only 2 days, but that was negative.  I have since read that that brand has had numerous false negatives...so, I have to wait to see the midwife and see if I"m 6 or 10 weeks along.  The only reason I"m wondering is because with Matty I still bled for 2 months before i missed my period, and then was very suprised when the Doc told me I was almost 4 months instead of 1-2 months...

I've loved reading about everything that you've been through and been doing, and I look forward to hearing more about everyone!!!

Hopefully this works - here's a link to some photos from the birth.

http://s840.photobucket.com/albums/zz324/bereccawilson/Camille/

How is everyone doing?? Anyone else have a crazy busy summer

Shiloh will be 5 months this week already and I think she is probably teething...very early for my babies! She's about 14lbs now and 25inches. Breastfeeding is going well...I'm enjoying it immensely as always!! She's very sensitive though and has a lot of allergies/sensitivities to food (foods I eat...she's solely breastfed), perfumes, dyes, and pets. It's amazing how much better she's doing since eliminating allergens...very happy/content!

She's on the verge of sitting up...she does well most of the time but still needs the boppy because she topples after a while. She rolls and spins to get around for now...I don't think it'll be long before she's crawling! She is always wiggling and squirming...she loves the attention from the kids and laughs/squeals the best she can (she's been hoarse since May because of allergies and reflux). She's very social and prefers people over toys...we're of course happy to oblige her I love carrying her around in my Moby wrap...I wish I would have had it when my other children were little!!

I'm doing great...In the last month I've been jogging with my kids every other day or so and really enjoying the time with them! I feel well but definitely older than when I had my last baby (3yrs ago)...no more 10mile runs for me!! I'm happy with my meager 10 miles per *week* I have to say my double jogging stroller has been a tremendous blessing! The house is definitely not what it could be but experience has taught me that there will be time for all of that later...for now life is about loving the people God has blessed me with and living as simply as possible There's more to de-cluttering than tangibles...emotions, thoughts, desires also need regular "purging" to avoid burn-out and stay joyful!  

We have been easing into school since July and are now in full swing. My oldest 5 are in 9th, 7th, 6th, 4th, and 2nd. I have 2 preschoolers (both are 3yrs old), and of course the baby. It's quite a load but such a joy and God's good grace never fails! I truly love home educating my kids and am so grateful to have so much time with them every day

Life is definitely full...not only with my immediate family's activities but having married a man with 10 siblings we are never without something to do Not only did Shiloh join our family but 3 of my sisters-in-law also had babies this year and another one is due in December! Yet another sister-in-law is getting married next June and one of my brothers-in-law is leaving for the air force this fall. Our house is almost always full of cousins (my nieces/nephews) and/or my kids' friends I wouldn't change it for anything!!

So that's the update...I'm feeling very blessed...the only "complaint" I have is that time is going by way too fast! Wish it would slow down but since that's probably not going to happen I'm going to breathe deeply and keep my eyes wide open

Hope to hear from you all soon (((HUGS)))! Thinking of you!