Wednesday 25 July 2018

Pregnancy diaries || Week 40 & 41 - The Waiting Game

Week 40

We have reached 40 weeks so it's time for an eviction notice! "You're 40 week lease is past due. You are hereby requested to vacate the premises within the next two weeks. Failure to cooperate will result in an induction. Other living arrangements have been made and eagerly await your arrival."

This week consisted of stretch and sweeps, dilation checks, red raspberry leaf tea, hot curries, long walks and bouncing on my Swiss ball for hours on end.

On Thursday (40+1) I had my first "stretch and sweep" which can help bring on labour if baby is ready and in the correct position. My midwife said that my cervix is soft but only 1cm dilated.
Later that day Mum arrived to visit for a few days. We took lots of walks around the neighbourhood to try get labour going and just to get some fresh air. It was nice having her around and she helped me organise a few last things around the house before everything changes.

We went down to Point Chevalier beach at sunset and took some mother-daughter photos. As it was her last night with us and I wanted to capture this special moment in time with her.



(TMI warning) I lost my mucous plug the following morning, which is a snotty mucous mass that sits at the entrance to your uterus and helps protect and block it from infections. When this is lost it is a good sign that my cervix was further ripening after the sweep. No further progress though. 


Mum went home the next day, and I went to get my second stretch and sweep. I was still only 1 cm and soft so nothing had really changes and baby wasn't ready, but she was pleased to hear that my mucous plug was continuing to come out.


I went on to have my third stretch and sweep with Midwife, still no dilation change. I had started feeling a lot more back pressure and twinges in cervix though.

On the 17th, Chris an I spent a good amount of the day trying to turn baby into good position. Using "Rebozo" technique, of me being on all fours and Chris standing behind me with a large scarf suspending my bump, sifting it from side to side. This was to turn baby from an OP position to an Occiput Anterior (facing towards my back) position, which in the ideal way to birth. Supposedly the reduced pressure on the pelvis and change in gravity can help babies get into their optimal position for birth. I also spent a lot of time with my knees up on the couch and my head down on the ground. Again, getting gravity to help me out a bit. It was all quite technical, exhausting and somewhat un-dignified for me, but let's face it. What part of pregnancy is dignified at this point.

How far along?: 40 weeks!
Gender?: Girl
Maternity clothes?: Yes, no way around it now
Stretch marks?: Yes
Belly button in or out?: It looks like a volcano sometimes, so is that my version of an outie?
Sleep?: Getting harder. Found it difficult breathing properly a few nights ago
Best Moment of the week?: Hanging out with Mum
Worst Moment of the week?: Getting uncomfortable stretch and sweeps with no change
Miss anything?: Being in control of my own body
Movement?: YES! She's got a good set of strong legs on her that's for sure.
Cravings?: Nutrigrain, Mandarins (like 6 per day) and Dark chocolate
Queasy or sick?: No.
Looking forward to?: Meeting our little one and hopefully getting labour started before induction.
Mood/emotional state?: Impatient
Early Labour Signs?: Mild Contractions and losing my mucous plug

Week 41

I had scheduled a 41 week ultrasound in advance just-in-case we got this far, but was hoping I would be able to cancel it prior to this week arriving. Unfortunately, here we are, 41 weeks and still waiting. I went in for my ultrasound on Thursday morning (41+1) and the ultrasound tech was acting different than her usual bubbly self. She was concerned about baby's growth rate and stomach size. After taking all of her measurements and plotting them along her previous growth chart (where she was 50th percentile for everything at 36 weeks) she found that her growth rate had dropped significantly and her stomach size had gone from 50th percentile to only the 5th. So she was very concerned.I got my results and went to my midwife appointment that evening.

My midwife had received the news by this point by phone call, which is unusual, as the ultrasound tech said that had deemed it urgent enough to give her the news straight away. My midwife had already consulted with the hospital next door to her clinic and they were happy to do some fetal monitoring on me then and there. So we took an un-expected visit to Waitakere hospital to get baby checked out on the CTG monitoring machine. She was happy and healthy with a good heart rate and movements. They could also track the mini contractions I had been having on and off for the past week. I had another thorough stretch and sweep and was advised to come back the next morning (41+2) for an induction.

How far along?: 41 weeks!
Gender?: Girl
Maternity clothes?: Yes, and now hospital gowns
Stretch marks?: Yes
Belly button in or out?: It looks like a volcano sometimes, so is that my version of an outie?
Sleep?: Getting harder. Found it difficult breathing properly a few nights ago
Best Moment of the week?: Seeing my baby on the ultrasound for the final time
Worst Moment of the week?: Being super anxious that my baby might not be growing properly
Miss anything?: Being in control of my own body
Movement?: Yes, movement felt and also detected on the fetal monitors
Cravings?: Mandarins and Dark chocolate
Queasy or sick?: No.
Looking forward to?: Meeting our little one
Mood/emotional state?: Anxious, nervous, excited and scared
Early Labour Signs?: Mild Contractions and losing more of my mucous plug

Wednesday 11 July 2018

Pregnancy diaries || Week 39 - Lightening crotch

Week 39

(I'm currently bouncing up and down on my swiss ball as I write this post. Just F.Y.I)

I have been feeling a lot more pressure in my pelvis, and Braxton hicks contractions have picked up again this week, some hurt while others have just been a tightening of my bump.

Chris has become increasingly attentive and somewhat protective over me in these last few weeks. Every time I groan or make a noise as I bend over or stand up, he is checking on me to make sure I am alright. I have tried to tell him not to worry, as when something is actually happening I will let him know, but it is quite endearing. He tells me that I don't need to be so tough and that he can do certain tasks for me instead, which I'll happily oblige. I'm very lucky to have him as my husband and as our baby's daddy.

Our midwife appointment this week showed that my blood count and vitamin levels are great. The baby is descending slowly but is in an "OP" (Occiput Posterior) fetal position which means that her back is against my back, which is not ideal for natural birthing. My midwife has given Chris and I a series of "exercises" to help the baby turn before I go into labour. 

"Lightening crotch" is a funny name for a symptom I have been experiencing quite a bit this week. Whenever I get up and walk, sit down, or move in almost any way. I get sharp bolts of nerve pain in my lady bits. It tends to fade if I walk more than a few blocks but it can really take my breath away and makes me stop in my tracks. Fortunately it disappears a moment later, just like lightning. 

This week we have reached my original due date (9th July), which was calculated from my previous menstral cycle, but we haven't had any real signs of labour yet.  

I have scheduled a 41 week ultrasound just in case I do go past my due date and need to be checked before induction. Fingers crossed I will be able to cancel this appointment before then, but it's better to be prepared. 

Next midwife appointment I will be getting a stretch and sweep to help induce labour. I'm a bit nervous about it as some people say it hurts or can be uncomfortable. I guess we'll have to wait and see.
 

How far along?: 39 weeks!
Gender?: Girl
Maternity clothes?: Yes, no way around it now
Stretch marks?: Yes
Belly button in or out?: It looks like a mini volcano sometimes, so is that my version of an outie?
Sleep?: Getting harder. Found it difficult breathing properly a few nights ago, as baby is getting bigger.
Best Moment of the week?:Going out for dinner and a movie with Chris
Worst Moment of the week?:Getting serious "lightening crotch" while walking
Miss anything?: Working out or exercising and being able to push my body and feel good about it
Movement?: YES! She's got a good set of strong legs on her that's for sure.
Cravings?: Nutrigrain, Mandarins (like 6 per day) and Dark chocolate
Queasy or sick?: No.
Looking forward to?: Meeting our little one and hopefully getting labour started before induction.
Mood/emotional state?: Getting a little impatient, I want to avoid a medical induction if at all possible and if we don't get this going soon, that's exactly what will happen. Also a mix of nervous excitement. I'm not completely "over" being pregnant by any means, but the idea of meeting our little girl and becoming a first-time parent has me over the moon and hiding up the table at the same time.
Early Labour Signs?: Mild Braxton Hicks Contractions and Lightening crotch

Wednesday 4 July 2018

Pregnancy diaries || Weel 38 - Finishing work & False Labour?

Week 38

This is my last week of work and I am so pleased that it has finally arrived. I have been enjoying working so far, as it makes the days and weeks go by really fast, but in the last few days it has become MUCH more draining. I am training my replacement and trying to tie up any loose ends which can take a lot out of a preggo. Sleep is again a bit more difficult, with me waking up in the middle of the night and laying awake for hours but otherwise not uncomfortable. When I finish work this week I will be able to sleep in or take naps and I can't wait!

We have midwife appointments every week now but they tend to be much more straight forward as I have less questions and no abnormal symptoms. Check blood pressure, weight and baby's heartbeat and out the door. It generally only takes about 15 mins which is good when I need to get back to work asap. We have discussed the birth plan and everything seems to be on track, so far, so good.

A new symptom, or should I say a more exacerbated symptom, is that I am SUPER gassy this week. Poor Chris! I guess it's because space is restricted in that area but as long as I don't have to hold it in (which I don't at home) I'm still comfortable.

My last day at work was wonderful. My colleagues put together a farewell morning tea baby shower. We had a selection of 5 kinds of cake (2 dairy-free especially for me) and lots of other nibbles. A number of people gave me gifts (teddy, clothes, and toys) for baby and pamper products for me. It's a good thing I decided to drive in on that day, as it would have been difficult taking all of that back on the bus home. Which is what I had still been doing up until then. I received hugs and well wishes from almost everyone in the office (and it's not a small office). It was the perfect way to end the week, my face ached from smiling all day. It's a weird feeling to know that I won't be employed for an entire year. I mean obviously I will still be "working" and busy looking after baby, I know that it's no easy task, but this is all new to me and I'm still a bit weirded out by it all.

My belly is measuring at 112cm around my belly button now and we get to meet our baby this month (July) which is crazy to think. It's also weird to know that at any point I could go into labour. Not that it is likely right now as my bump is still high and baby's head is not engaged, but it could happen quite quickly at any point. So I am looking out for labour signs every day.

On Sunday (38+4) I woke up (after a somewhat restless night) and promptly threw up, like I did in the first trimester. After which, I was fine and my day continued as normal. Nausea can be considered an early labour sign but nothing changed throughout the day. Until I went to bed that night.

Shortly after we went to bed that night I started feeling contractions. I was laying in bed trying to ignore the gradual build to a peak and then fade of what felt like strong period pains. Starting in my lower back and moving across either side of my belly towards the centre. Baby was moving a tone until they would start and then would brace against my muscles contracting. These moderately painful contractions continued for over an hour until I feel asleep. When I woke up in the morning I felt fine, so they must have come to a stop while I was sleeping. My thoughts the night before were that if I was about to go into actual labour, I should try get as much sleep as I possibly can, but it was a false alarm. I texted my midwife the next morning telling her what happened (as it was the first contractions I had felt) and she said that it was Braxton Hicks or a False Labour Start. Where, when I actually go into labour, that is what it will start like, except in actual labour it won't stop.

I spent the morning (on my first day of maternity leave) getting blood tests done to check my vitamins and antibody levels and then got fitted for my new nursing bras at a specialist "big boob" store, "Avokado". As normal retailers can't even stock my size #bigboobproblems. My old size at the mid-way point of pregnancy was a 12G, but to accommodate for when my milk comes in, they measured me as a 12H!!! That's crazy, I never thought they would be that much bigger, a G was big enough in my opinion, but pregnancy doesn't work that way.

The rest of the week I have been feeling more Braxton Hicks tightening in my belly (which do not hurt) and pressure in my pelvic area. I wonder if baby is dropping, although my bump still looks the same.


How far along?: 38 weeks!
Gender?: Girl
Maternity clothes?: Yes, no way around it now
Stretch marks?: Yes
Belly button in or out?: Hasn't changed, still looks like a pouting pair of lips.
Sleep?: Broken, mostly due to stressing about work, rather than anything pregnancy related. Now that I am on maternity leave it is MUCH better. Naps are amazing too!
Best Moment of the week?: Taking all the naps I want.
Worst Moment of the week?: Throwing up
Miss anything?:Having the energy to do all the tasks that are in my head or on my list.
Movement?: YES!
Cravings?: Anything sweet and snacky
Queasy or sick?: Just the once.
Looking forward to?:Meeting our little one.
Mood/emotional state?: For the most part I'm very happy and positive
Early Labour Signs?: Braxton Hicks Contractions and a bit of nausea