I think there should be a "Ready for Labor" turkey timer...

[Wendy80]

I think they need to invent something (similar to that little button that pops up out of the turkey when it's done) that can be used on pregnant women to tell exactly when they are officially going into labor!  I would applaud anyone that could invent such a devise.  =)

I'm 37 weeks pregnant and so far have only had Braxton Hicks contractions with absolutely no pain... the discomfort has increased since they started a month or so ago, but so far they've been pain-free.  So yesterday I was a little confused/startled when I started having these mini-contractions that were exactly 5 minutes apart.  I say they were mini-contractions b/c the actual pain I got only lasted a few seconds and then maybe I'd get another 1-2 in the next 10 seconds.  It was very strange b/c I had a few of those every 5 minutes apart, but then I had a 40 minute gap of no pain (but my stomach seemed to be permanently contracted... it was very hard/solid).  They picked up again and actually lasted @ 40 minutes at 5 minutes apart, but then they stopped and haven't started back up again since then.  But at the time, I was sitting there wondering if this was it... if it was the real deal (and if it was, it seemed odd that I went from no contractions to contractions that were already 5 minutes apart).  

Now I see why the doctor told me not to call until I have contractions 5 minutes apart for 2 hours straight... during the contractions, I'm sitting there panicking that I didn't even have my bag packed yet (and you'll bet your butt it is now!).  

I just wanted to share the fact that it would be super if everyone was the exact same and followed the same pattern so that it was very clear when you should actually jump in your car and head to the hospital.  This is where that turkey timer would come in handy.  =)

[krissyy]

hopefully she really is just average size...although the real way to tell is the u/s. they were telling me with the tape measure and by using their hands that my girl was teeny tiny.  turns out she is average or slightly bigger!  but, if they don't seem too conerned, i am sure you will be fine.  if she was huge, hopefully they would clue in...  let me know what happens with the u/s!

[Wendy80]

Ah yes, the sonogram... well when I asked her about that today she said that she'd rather just wait and see what happens instead of just making the appointment now.  I've been having these "growth estimate" ultrasounds through another doctor b/c they have more hi-tech machines/doctors and when I tried calling them on my own yesterday to make an appointment, they told me for insurance purposes, I'd have to have my OB set up the appointment for me.  So of course now my own OB is saying that they think, based on the actual measurements of my belly (using the tape measure and feeling where the uterus is) that the baby doesn't really feel that much bigger than average, therefore they'd rather wait and see.  I guess that means that when I get to 39 weeks, they'll decide then whether I should have another ultrasound (which is silly b/c you can't get an appt right on the spot usually).  I'm annoyed with the back and forth, but I'm hopeful that she's right and that maybe my baby won't be as big as they were initially predicting.  

[krissyy]

that is such great news!!!  did she say anything about the baby's size?  did they say anything about doing your sonogram any earlier?

[Wendy80]

krissyy:  

I didn't actually get to see my doctor today, but I got to see the RN (the OB office has 4 doctors and the RN... so I don't always see my own doctor).  I was able to talk her into giving me an internal and she completely understood my concerns... I told her I felt weird asking for one, but I just wanted to know whether the cramping/contractions/pain was actually doing anything to get my body prepared.  She said the babies head is in the perfect position and I am about 1-2 cm dilated... and the cervix is thinning nicely (however she didn't give me an actual %).  So that's good to know... at least my body is doing what it's supposed to be doing.  Woohoo... we're on our way (even if it does take another couple weeks)!!      

[krissyy]

yea, i really wish there was a sure way to know...even if you knew it would happen over the weekend or next week or next weekend...just to have it narrowed down would be helpful!  i feel like i am online googling symptoms for labor more than i was googling symptoms for pregnancy when i was ttc!!!  everytime i feel something weird like nausea or low back pain, etc, i check to see if it means labor is coming soon!!  hahaha.


wendy-your doctor is a pain in the patootie!!  i hope he is receptive to your concerns and gives you the option for induction or scheduled csection.  i think your turkey is done!!

[Wendy80]

browneyedmama:  I'm sorry... I have a horrible memory (even prior to the pregnancy)... your daughter was a bit on the heavier side when she was born, correct?  Did you end up delivering her vaginally?  It's funny... I've heard of plenty of women giving birth to 9+ lb babies, but my doctor was the first to say that you always have to consider your options (in terms of c-section or not) if it ends up looking like the babies health might be at risk... and he seemed to think that with my smaller frame and the ever-growing size of the baby, that she might end up having problems coming out.  
  

[Wendy80]

krissyy:  I do live in the U.S. (Connecticut).  And that is my exact concern... if we end up waiting too long and I try to deliver vaginally, going through all of the pain and labor, and then for some reason she just won't come out or it looks like her shoulders are going to get stuck, then I just end up having an emergency c-section anyway.  I really don't want to go through both... not that I necessarily want to have a c-section if I don't need one, but it seems silly to wait until 40 weeks if she's "ready" and definitely big enough to be born now.  Like you said, they could do the u/s next week (when I'm 38 weeks) and then just add that estimated 1/2 lb onto her current weight... and then from there if it looks like she's going to be really big, they can set up the induction or c-section for the following week.  I don't understand the way my doctors think sometimes.  And unfortunately my appointment got rescheduled from today to tomorrow b/c the doc I was going to see got called to the hospital for an emergency something-or-other... but I will definitely be talking to them about my options now that we're getting closer and I'm continuing to have cramping/backaches.  

[browneyedmama]

haha.... quite the discussion we have ladies!! lol
i have also been getting contractions and lower back pain. my contrations were pretty painful... but not consistant at all. booooo!
and i totally agree that there should be 1 distinct way to know if you are officially in labour. that would totally ease my mind. then i wouldnt have to second guess myself!! lol
as for the belly buttons... mines an innie, but when i stand up it kinda gets flat... and its funny cuz if the baby moves a lot it looks like my belly button is a mouth thats whistling. its kinda cute!

[krissyy]

they say that at this stage, the baby will gain about a 1/2 lb a week.  so, if you can get them to do the sono early, just add 1/2lb a week to that weight.  i feel like 39th is so late for that!  especially if very early you were measured to have a large baby.  it would be good to know if you will be able to deliver vaginally so you can schedule a csection rather than going thru labor only for them to discover that an emergency csection was necessary!  but, i am no doctor so maybe there is a reason for doing things a little late.  are you in the U.S?

[Wendy80]

I know... that's the one promising thing about all of this is that they told me they won't let me go past 40 weeks (for fear of having a REALLY big baby).  I also have to set up an appointment for my 39th week to have another ultrasound done to check in on her weight (that's of course assuming she doesn't come early)... I wouldn't mind having that u/s next week instead, but I suppose they want to wait until closer to the end for better accuracy.  

[krissyy]

someone may have mentioned it on this thread already, but i have heard that sometimes internals can speed things along and that is why they wait so late...but 36/37 wks is safe to go into labor...it's weird they wait till 38.  especially since so many women go early, you would think they would want to have a jump on things just in case...  definitely say something about it...  also, if you have a big girl that is continuing to grow, i would feel like the would want to keep a close eye on things so you don't end up 42 wks pregnant with a 15lb baby!!!

[Wendy80]

krissyy:  After I tell them about the cramping/contractions from this weekend, if they don't suggest an internal right then and there, I will probably request one.  It would just make me feel better.  And I always thought that internals were usually started around week 36 too (esp here on this forum), so I was quite surprised when they told me they usually wait until week 38.  

[krissyy]

it is definitely comforting to know that things are progressing, even if just a little bit of dialation.  maybe you should ask your doctor to do the exam if you are having early labor signs.  i've always heard of them doing internals at 36/37 weeks...never heard of doctors waiting till 38 weeks.  

[Wendy80]

jesslee83:  I've found during this pregnancy that people don't always think before they speak... I assume that most of these people don't actually intend on being rude, but there are still times where I get annoyed.  The "your belly looks like a large boob" comment was probably the only one that actually left me speechless... it didn't hurt my feelings or make me angry, it was just such a weird thing to say... and, really, how do you respond to that?  =)  

[Wendy80]

krissyy:  Well, 7 lbs at birth would be perfect... it's a nice healthy weight, but not scary-big where you wonder how things will go back to normal afterwards (or whether she'll dislocate something on her way out).  Even though you don't really know when it'll be time, it must be nice just to know how dilated you are (and confirm the fact that you did lose your mucous plug)... obviously when they tell you you're 1/2-1 cm dilated, you could be a day away or weeks away from labor, but it's still kind of neat to know that your body is getting prepared!  I really wish (especially after this weekends weird contraction/pains) that my doc would check my cervix at this Thursday's appointment.  I've also noticed in the past 2 days that I'm getting lower back pains and period-like cramps... that's gotta mean my bodies getting itself ready, I hope!  I'm very excited!

[jesslee83]

dontcha just "hate" people who are blunt in a rude nature? it'd be one thing for the woman to say something like "oh you're obviously pregnant, i can even see your outtie".....that's a little more "accepted" than being called a huge boob!!!   of course, i'd have had to retaliate with, no i'm not pregnant i just had my baby.....hehe, i've done that, and people just stare and get red.....

[krissyy]

well, my teeny tiny girl isn't as teeny tiny as i thought!  she's pretty average size, a bit above at 55th percentile.  she weighs 5lbs.13oz. (at 36.5wks).  i think at this stage, they are expected to grow about a 1/2lb a week.  so, that would make her about 7.13 if i go to 40wks.  i did completely lose my mucous plug (which someone recently told me can grow back if baby isn't ready).  i'm 1/2-1cm dialated.  

that's my update!!  who knows when it will be "time."  but i am starting to get quite excited...  :-)  :-)  :-)  

[Wendy80]

krissyy:  I can say that I don't normally look forward to internals either, but I'm very anxious to find out if my body has started doing what it's supposed to be doing yet (especially after this weekend).  And yes, I started weekly OB visits at the 35 week point.

martikadragoon:  I envy people who kept their innies that long... I always had people commenting how my belly button poked through whatever clothes I was wearing during the entire pregnancy.  I even had one woman at the Motherhood maternity store tell me (when I was around 28 weeks pregnant) that my big round belly and my obvious outtie smack in the center looked very similar to a large breast... isn't that lovely?  =)

[martikadragoon]

mine was flat up til a couple weeks ago. I'm 35weeks right now.. I didn't think I'd get an outie but I have a tiny bit of one! (you can see a little bump and feel it)

[jesslee83]

lol, well it wouldnt make a noise, but it'd save you all those gas guzzling trips to L&D, as well as having someone shove their hand somewhere it was NEVER meant to go!!!!!

[krissyy]

jesselee-the belly button test would be ideal!  that would definitely make things so much easier and clear up confusion...

wendy-they start internals at 37 weeks here unless there is a problem and they will do it sooner.  i never thought i would look so forward to an internal exam, but i can hardly wait!!!  yes, they will be checking dialation.  have you started going every week?  this is my first visit back to back...was there last week and they wanted to see me for my first internal this week.

[Wendy80]

jesslee83:  Lol... yup... that method would work quite nicely.

krissyy:  I'd love to be able to stay at home as long as possible (it would be so much more relaxed than doing most of the dilating/contractions in the hospital), but I'm kind of the same way that I'm worried if I wait too long, then I'll end up having my baby in the car (it's only a 20 minute drive to the hospital).  So at your Tuesday appt they'll be checking you (for dilation)?  My doc won't check me until I'm 38 weeks along... so I'll probably end up waiting until the following week.

[shadowserpent]

my belly button is almost to the point of popping out, but im sort of freaked out/weirded out by what it will look/feel like if it does!

[jesslee83]

personally, i think if we have to have a flat belly button, that it should "POP" when the bun is done!
it'd go kinda like trouble shooting:
Step 1:if you're having contractions, lift your shirt just high enough to reveal belly button.
Step 2: (A)if belly button is not "POPPED", you're having false labor/BHC's.
           (B)if belly button IS "POPPED", and contractions are equally timed at the right length, call DF/DH/MIL, etc...
Step 3: (A)if having false contractions, have something cool to drink, practice your breathing, and relax
           (B)after calling your point of contact, call DR/L&D, get your "gear" together, and head to the hospital(DO NOT forget the carseat, baby will NOT be allowed to leave without it)
Step 4(applies only to false labor): try to keep your stress level down, finish preparing things that aren't finished yet, and repeat steps 1, 2(B), & 3(B) ONLY IF you're contractions become more regular, or if you have alot of pressure, or super "wet/sticky" feeling "down yonder".....

lol, wouldnt that be soooo much easier???