Induction!!!

I went to my OB today and was told the little dude has 10 days to evacuate the premises. 10 Days!!! After that they induce! They won't let me go beyond 39 weeks because of that a-hole placenta of mine. My doctor assured me that induction is probably the worst case scenario since she checked me and I'm over 1 cm dilated, 70 percent effaced and having some contractions. And apparently the baby's head is at station 1 because she touched it and said "see how low that is?" My response was "uh, ewww."

10 Days, 10 Days, 10 Days!!! I've spent the last few months waiting for him to come out and now I just want him to stay in a little longer. I've really loved being pregnant and it's so hard to imagine not being anymore. I feel him kick or move and realize there's only 10 more days of that. And as fat and gross as I feel, I know I'm going to miss this gigantic belly.

So I'm moving up my eviction plans. Mostly because induction scares the crap out of me. I've heard terrible things about pitocin and really want nothing to do with it. I've been planning on a natural birth and I know pitocin will make a natural birth much more painful. Seriously not into that. I'm a tough cookie, stubborn to boot, but everyone has limits. So my husband and I are going to take a hike this afternoon and have some crazy spicy dinner and we'll see what happens.

I'm no longer on restricted activity so my plan is to walk, walk, walk. My doctor also said to keep vertical and let gravity do a lot of the work. Other than that I've been drinking a few cups a day of raspberry leaf tea. It doesn't start dilation or effacement but helps to progress it, so hopefully that will work. I'm also using evening primrose oil for the same reasons.

So step right up kiddies, I'm now taking bets! Anyone wanna guess the due date? I like May 6th for some reason. My mother is hoping for the 3rd or 4th because she'll be here for those few days. And I think Adam was wishing for sometime in June, I'm not sure he's ready for a little dude just yet.

xoxo,

Lauren

Full Term

Okay, so we gots a full term dude up in here! Woot Woot! Any day now is fine with me. Adam and I finished putting together the strollers and figuring out the car seat. I washed a few outfits, bedding and swaddling blankets. I also packed my hospital bag, so I am ready to go at any moment. Ready and waiting...

I went in for my second NST today. It's like old hat now. I go in, get admitted, hop into a bed and strap myself in with my very own heart rate and contraction monitor bands. Because I'll be in all the time, they gave me my own bands that I can take with me and wash as needed. Unfortunately I don't actually get the monitor, but that may be good news because having that at home could make me even more neurotic than I already am. Believe me, I already thought about purchasing one from Amazon.

I also went to my perinatologist this morning. He was really happy with my sonogram. The baby was moving a lot with a great 135 baseline heart rate. His weight is 6lbs 8oz, so we're right on track. He thinks the low heart rate on Friday was just due to the baby's rest period. My fears are somewhat assuaged, and now all I have left to do is wait...

PS- Blogger doesn't recognize perinatologist as a word and keeps wanting me to change it to paleontologist. Like little man is a cave man or something. Totally cracks me up.

xoxo,

Lauren

Stress Test

This week has been so stressful! Sorry in advance for the rambling.

Monday we hired a new girl that I've had to train to cover my duties at work since next week will be my last. And I keep worrying that I've forgotten something or not explained it correctly, and God knows my mind isn't at it's best these days. Leaving work is such a huge change for me. I had planned to go back to work more immediately, but have decided to take some extra time off. I'm very much looking forward to spending time with my baby, but it is still a huge life change.

Tuesday I found out I tested positive for Group B Strep. Group A is responsible for strep throat, apparently group B is responsible for strep v... Even though it's not that big of a deal, it sent me into a bout of hysterics over having to have more medical intervention in my delivery than I had intended. Basically, all that really changes is I have to have an IV during labor, and I've come to terms with the fact that it's not that big of a deal.

Wednesday I was told at my, supposedly, last perinatologist appointment I have an aging placenta. Apparently the thing is old as dirt. This has to do with a condition I've had since mid pregnancy, low PAPP-A. PAPP-A is a placental protein that I have a low amount of and this can cause calcification of the placenta which makes it unable to support the baby. PAPP-A is also known to cause a whole other slew of problems that the baby and I are lucky not to have acquired. Things like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, early term birth, low birth weight (he's already 6lb6oz) and down syndrome.

The real bummer is that I was told to attend 1 NST (Non Stress Test) a week starting next week. A more appropriate acronym would be ST, since it's stressing me out! So I have to go in for about 90 minutes at a time so they can monitor the baby to make sure his heart rate is good and he moves a bit. This will show that the placenta is still providing him with enough nutrients. But it's at the hospital and I have to be admitted every time, it's more of an annoyance than anything. But I'll do it to make sure little man is okey dokey.

Today I went into my normal OB for the first of my weekly appointments. She measured my stomach and did the doppler scan and the baby's heart rate was lingering at 110 bpm which is on the low end of normal; normal being 110-180 bpm. So immediately following my appointment I got to go to the hospital for my first NST. The nurse seemed to think the results were normal after the 90 minute test but my doctor ordered a fetal biophysical.

Apparently there were some problems with it because the high score is 10 and baby and I scored an 8. The dude doing the biophysical seemed to think everything looked ok though. But I don't know what the exact issue is because the nurses and hospital staff can't discuss it and won't know anything until I see my perinatologist on Monday. I'm a bit worried about that because when I called to make the appointment they told me to come in Thursday afternoon of next week. But then they called back and pushed it to Monday at 8am, which is before they accept normal appointments. Yikes! I also have to attend 3 NST's a week now. I'm feeling stressed just thinking about all this.

Now I'm sure everything is fine. They wouldn't have sent me home over the weekend if there was any imminent danger. But it's worrisome none the less.

Send the little man some love.

xoxo

Lauren

1 month!!!

That's right! Just 1 calender month until d-day! It seems so close, but I had the same feeling at 24 weeks and that was nearly 3 months ago. Alright time, ready to fly?

xo,

Lauren

Gigantic

So most people think pregnant ladies are cute. And they totally are... to a certain point. I was much cuter in the latter part of my second trimester and early in my third. But now I'm huge. Not just huge, GIGANTIC. And even my maternity clothes that say they should fit throughout the whole pregnancy don't.

I had to see clients and vendors a few days ago and my cute little flutter sleeve top kept riding up and exposing my belly. It was not pretty. The last few days I've said 'to hell with it.' Now I'm pairing up items to the degree that I look like a toddler that has just learned to dress herself. Pigtails and all.

I think about buying new clothes, but if the baby's going to be here in a few weeks, I'm not sure it makes sense.

And I don't just look gigantic, I feel it too. I knocked a vase off a table with my belly the other evening. And to make matters worse, it was a bitch to lean down and pick up the big pieces. Then I had to vacuum up the little shards. And the story doesn't get better.

Last night I stepped on one of the un-sucked shards. And I couldn't reach my darn foot. So I soaked my foot in warm water for an hour and ended up waiting for my husband to get home from work, which is 11 pm and way past my bedtime. I did manage to get the shard out right before he got home with some belly manipulation and tweezers. But it was a harrowing experience none the less.

xo,

Lauren

Officially in My 9th Month

So I went to the doctor yesterday and the first thing she said when she walked in was "Well, it's just a matter of weeks now." Whoa!!! Although my pregnancy has been fairly smooth, I feel like I have been pregnant forever and I'm ready for it to be over. I want to meet the little man, come on already. So I'm giving him a little over 3 more weeks until I start evacuation plans.

For some reason I really like May 6th as his birthday. I keep thinking about it and it just seems right, although he doesn't have to come that early. I'm fine with his due date of May 17th (the 5th anniversary of the day my husband and I met!!!) or even the 19th if he has to come late. But Hunter, no later than that! We straight, little man?

So on May 5th, I will be eating THE SALAD from Caiote Cafe. It's supposed to be labor inducing because of the mix of herbs and vinegar or something. Might as well give it a shot. If that's a no go I will be having spicy chicken tikka masala and saag paneer at a local Indian restaurant on May 6th because spicy food is said to help progress labor. And heck, maybe I'll walk there since that's supposed to help the progression as well. If that doesn't work then I'll be having sex all day on May 7th, so don't expect a post!

xoxo,

Lauren

Hoping Little Man is a Rocker

So I just purchased an awesome CD online for our little man.

Starbucks is currently carrying a rock lullaby compilation with lullaby renditions of music by Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Beatles; it's super rad. After purchasing that CD it actually urged me to look at the online store. You should too, it's worth it!

xo,

Lauren

Everyone Waddles Up Hills

So there will be no trail running in my near future but at least I can still hike at 8 months pregnant. I love living in my neighborhood because I have this close by...

It doesn't look like much, but it took me about 10 minutes to conquer this hill at Topanga Park. There were a few hikers in front of me and I noticed that everyone waddles going up a steep hill. It made me feel right in my element! My husband is going to join me on his mountain bike tomorrow and I am so looking forward to it.

On my way down the hill I was able to move a bit quicker and I passed a few girls walking very slowly, navigating the loose dirt and gravel in bad shoes. They called out to me and asked what shoes I was wearing, I'm guessing because it seemed like I had better traction as opposed to the extra 25 lbs of gravity holding me down. I replied "I don't know, I can't see my feet, but I think they're Saucony." It made me laugh, what can I say, I'm easy.

xo,

Lauren

Mom on the Run

I've been thinking a lot about running lately. I used to run, and I ran far. I'm not fast, although I do try, I'm built more for endurance. And I'm just really missing my marathon training. I'm so eager for birth so I can start my training again. LA Marathon 2011, here I come!

I guess what I need to do is put all my marathon training focus into focusing on an easy birth. I use a lot of meditation techniques to get through the discomforts of a marathon. Hopefully I can use those methods for pain management during active birth.

My favorite meditation is the chakra meditation. You just imagine warmth or light going through each chakra while implementing a pattern of steady breath and it really works as a relaxation tool. You can do it when you have a hard time sleeping, or when you're feeling stressed. It's like Advil for the soul. And if that doesn't work during birth, there's always morphine...

xo,
Lauren