Jo--Well, it would be much easier to "replace" you if you would go ahead and get outta here! LOL! Try to remember that he is not actually late. 40 weeks is just an average; up to 42 weeks is totally normal, and if that is how long he needs to cook, then that is totally normal for him. Plus, no one ever stayed pregnant forever; still, I know how anxious you are and I can't wait to hear what they say at your appt today. I am sending you dilation vibes! I am so sick of being pregnant now, I can't imagine how ready to be done you must feel! Keep us posted on everything your doc says!

Jen--I agree, Cabo looked beautiful and I would love to go there! It looks like our first vacation with the baby may be this Christmas; my entire family wants to go to Lutsen for the holidays (ski resort up near Canada, in extreme northern MN--It is beautiful!) Only problem is that we would have to drive. For the rest of my family, it is about a 6 or 7 hour trip, but for us it would be more like 12 hrs. With a new baby, I think that could be really awful. I guess we'll just wait and see if we even end up going

Stacey--You already have another child? How old? Was the first pregnancy difficult for you?

So, I've been packing my hospital bag "just in case". My mom went 6 weeks early with her first, so she has been urging me to pack for awhile now. Anything helpful that anyone brought with them to the hospital? Also, where do you keep your hospital bag at? I could leave it at home, but I drive quite a ways to work everyday, and would never come all the way back home to get it. Should I put it in my trunk? I have the cord blood collection kit in my trunk so that it is with me wherever I am at, maybe I should do that with the bag?

WISH ME AND DH A HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!! WE QUIT SMOKING ONE YEAR AGO TODAY!! YEAH! (I sure wish I could celebrate with a cigarette!--apparently that urge never goes away?)

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Jo-Hoping that all the labor dust we've been sending is helping. Hope the doctor tells you that there's been progress.

Krissy-Congrats on the 1 yr no smoking. I've smoked off and on for years but also haven't had on in over a year but there I times I also crave it. It was sort of like drinking a glass of wine.....a good way to chill and relax after stress from work.

Stacey-Good luck with the upcoming beta. I will keep my fingers crossed that you are joining us for 9 months!!

Hi Jen, Amber and Allison.

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Krissy- heehee! It took me 22 months to make it to this thread, I kind of don't mind the extended visit.

I had my doctor's appt this morning and have made it to 2cm. Not much progress, but progress nonetheless. He could feel Dominic's head and said that my cervix is continuing to soften. He is a little worried at how narrow I am. Since I want to go naturally he said that we will just watch his growth via u/s. My next one is scheduled for Thursday. Hopefully Dominic will stay face down. I plan on adding some raspberry tea to my induction arsenal. Will check out EPO as well. Not sure what it is/does.

Amber- HI!! Didn't mean to leave you out earlier. How's Graham doing?

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Anyone know when Jo's appt. was? I am SO curious!

Heidi--I have never been someone who could smoke on and off. I smoked a pack and a half a day since I was 17 years old, and I tried to just 'cut back', but it never worked. One is too many and a pack is not enough! We had to go cold turkey, but I used Chantix to quit and it worked really well at taking the edge off. When I quit, people kept telling me how I would feel so much healthier, and have more energy, and blah blah blah. Truth is, I don't feel better or healthier, I have less energy (probly b/c of being preggo), and I still want one now just as much as I did a year ago. If I hadn't gotten preggo, I doubt I would have been able to stick with it, but I refuse to smoke when I have a baby around, too! My parents smoked around me, and I am sure that is why I have asthma, and probably why I became a smoker. It is hard, though...

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Ooops, I guess Jo and I were posting at the same time!
Jo--Great for 2 cm, at least it is some progress! Did your doc ever mention being worried about a narrow pelvis before? My doc did a pelvic exam very early on to see if he thought I would be able to do things naturally; it seems strange for that to not come up until now. Do they think Dominic is very big? Oh, and what is EPO? I am just SOO EXCITED for you!!!!!!!!

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Krissy-My friend at work used Chantix and liked it. She was also a big smoker and has stuck with it but craves it as well. No one in my immediate family really smokes so my parents were never too happy about it. My ILs quit for almost 2 years and have now taken it back up. So that will be an issue once the baby is here if they continue to smoke as I agree that I don't want the baby around it either.

Jo-Glad there was a little bit of progress and hopefully Dominic will cooperate for you soon!

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Krissy- no, he did a pelvic exam when I was around 4 weeks pg and said that I should have no problems delivering a 7-8 lb-er. Not really sure what changed his mind, but at our u/s last Tuesday Dominic was only 6lbs,5 oz. That was at the specialist's office so it is more accurate. I think he's just worried that Dominic will put on more weight between now and whenever he decides to show and that might cause a concern. They are supposed to gain about a 1/2lb a week, right? That puts Dominic at 6lbs, 13 oz. right now and 7lbs,5 oz next week.

Congrats on your smoking ban anniversary. You should be VERY proud of yourself!!

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Krissy- I have 3 kids. DSD Alexandria is 9, DD Anastasia 8 (born at 37w, 8lbs 7oz) and DS 5.5 (born at 36w, 8lbs 12oz). I had GD with DD but I started the diabetic diet once I found out I was pg with DS so I didn't have it with him. I gained 35lbs with DD and only 16 with DS (I imagine it's b/c of the great diet) However, since having DS I have been dx with hypothyroidism and Insulin resistance which I wonder if that's what kept me from getting pg. CONGRATS on the smoking anniversary!!

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Jo and Krissy - EPO is Evening Primrose Oil. It's been known to stimulate uterine contractions. There's been some controversy over black and blue cohosh (they're herbs and not regulated by the FDA), but I've read that they both can help speed things up. Mom3girls used it (the blue, I think) with one of her girls.

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Jo--Holy $#!%! They gain 1/2 lb a week in the last tri??? That means, according to both of Ely's u/s, he would be at least 9 lbs at 40 wks! He was 4.75 lbs at the last one, and that was the better u/s (because they were checking for problems). That was at 32 wks. Geez, no wonder I am huge! At my pelvic, my doc just said that I would be fine, and nothing else. VERY rarely does nature actually give a person with a small pelvis a massively huge baby, I think they do way too many c-sections for "big babies" than they should. I am sure you will be fine. Still, it is sort of strange that he suddenly changed his mind about that?? Good luck with the EVENING PRIMROSE OIL (Thanks, Rac). I also read about the cohosh; you can put that in tea, also. (I think the raspberry leaf sounds tastier, though!)

Stacy--Wow; going for number 4! Did you son have any problems being born at 36 wks? People keep telling me that they think I will deliver at 36 weeks, partly because of the polyhydramnios, and partly just because I look ridiculously huge! I am still sending you good beta vibes! When is your appt?

Amber--HELLO?????? Where are you?

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I tried EPO, blue cohosh and the red raspberry tea with Ethan. But it did not work for me, at that point I was willing to try.

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Krissy - I've read that red raspberry tea is good to tonify the uterus and nourish the blood (TCM recommends it while ttc), but I've never heard of it helping to naturally induce. The cohosh is a 'phyto'estrogen (plant estrogen) which mimics natural estrogens, but I don't believe the red raspberry leaf is.

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Rac--For a long time, many Native American tribes have used red raspberry leaf tea to induce , because it tones the uterus, which can help "focus" your b/h contractions (if you are ready to go into labor, it can give you a kickstart). I drink lots of tea, and early in the pregnancy I was worried about which tea's were safe, so I read about them and found that many midwives will recommend the raspberry tea for natural induction. Of course, they say it won't start labor unless you are ready, but they recommend not drinking it during the pregnancy just to be on the safe side. I also remember reading something about rosemary essential oil. I can't remember what I read, but I think it also might have something to do with starting labor? The one thing that seems to have the most research is using a manual breast pump; in one study it started labor the same amount of time that pitocin did!

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Krissy - That's interesting since TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) says to use it for ttc, same info about toning the uterus, but nothing about labor or avoiding during the pregnancy. Hmmmm Rosemary essential oil?? I've never heard of it affecting a pregnancy. I use Rosemary oil all the time (it's one of my favorites and even use it on my dogs) and in all that I've read, never saw anything about it helping to induce labor. If you find the info, I'd love to read it. Now, I have heard that Clary Sage Sage and Geranium EO are to be avoided during pg. Sage is another favorite of mine (I'd mix it with geranium and lavender for fertility).

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Yeah, I guess since it tones the muscle, it can start contractions, and the idea must be that if your body is ready, those contractions might become "real". I will look around for whatever it is with the rosemary. I actually think that I read it is dangerous in the first trimester, but again, I just can't seem to recall why. I guess I could google it, but I never trust random internet searches! Have you ever heard anything about pineapple? I keep eating it like crazy, but I think it gives me b/h contractions.

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Interesting how different cultures have different takes on things. TCM says that it is good for the blood, hence helping implantation and nourishment but mentions nothing about the muscle of the uterus.

Pineapple, yes, I've read that the chemical Bromelain in pineapple is great for the uterus in preparing for implantation and help to create a more healthy ovum. This is primarily in relation to IVF cycles, though. One site said to stop eating it after implantation because it *can* cause contractions (it says this is an old wive's tale). I've only seen this on one site (babysnark.com). All other sites say that it's great for fertility, but don't go into any contraindications. I suppose it is possible that all of the pineapple you're eating *could* have an effect and stimulate some BH, but I'm not positive.

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I sort of think the bh are caused by having too much fluid; but it is strange. Ever since someone mentioned pineapple I have been paying attention, and sure enough, I have a lot more bh when I eat more pineapple. I don't care, though, it is totally worth it. If you told me that I had to give up pineapple or kiwi right now, I would probably go on a killing spree!
Thanks for all the info on eastern medicine; it is so interesting. When I called my insurance company a little bit ago I could have SCREAMED! They told me that they won't cover renting a TENS unit for non-drug pain relief during labor, since it is "not medically necessary". Yet, they will cover an epidural??? How is that medically necessary? Sometimes I hate Western meds!

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