40 Weeks

I did it. I actually made it to a full 40 weeks with my third baby. Like I've said before, I simply cannot believe I actually made it this far, given it's my third baby and all, but also because my body has been SO ready to deliver for, oh, 2 weeks at least. It's beginning to get a little depressing. Every phone call is a reminder that I'm not in labour. Everyone was excited around Christmas time that we'd have a Christmas baby then the talk became about a New Years baby. Well, I'm not in labour so unless things start happening, hmm, pretty much right this very second, I have every doubt in my mind that I'll have this baby in 2009. Which actually really sucks because I was hoping for the $2000 tax break for 2009. That would have at least been an okay consolation prize for going right up to my due date.

Craig's off on vacation now until the middle of January so baby had better get here soon so he doesnt' waste too much time! I start back babysitting 2 weeks from Monday, Shaun's back at school this coming Monday and we start the boys in swimming lessons a week from tomorrow. Life continues to go on, baby or no baby, but I sure wish I could at least put on my socks by myself!

While Craig's been waiting for our third child to make his debut, he's been working on a backyard ice rink. I'll try to make it out tomorrow to get some photos since it's dark right now and the flood light we have in the backyard just doesn't do a good job of lighting the rink because of it's location. Hopefully we'll get some decent use out of the rink while Craig's off!

39 and 4

If you go by the due date the midwife has on file - December 31 - I'm officially 39 weeks and 4 days pregnant. Never in a million years would I have guessed I'd still be pregnant this far in with no real signs of labour even approaching. I had my last appointment with Pooja this morning, well last meaning the last one before I'm officially overdue, and she genuinely can't figure out how I haven't had this baby yet. I asked for yet another stretch-and-sweep and Pooja sheepishly told me that she couldn't do a stretch because my cervix is already *that* stretchy. I'm sitting around 3-4cm but she could get me to 6. I didn't even feel any tugging or cramping at all when she was digging around. My cervix is 75% effaced and the baby is at -1 station so his head is still floating around a little but he's moved down since last week when he was at -2. My membranes are bulging and I joked with her not to break my water. She said it's happened before during an internal exam (not to her). Even though the membrane is quite strong, mine are receiving a lot of pressure from the baby so they could go at any time. Well, come on already!!

Sadly, we had to have the talk about what we do if I go overdue. I have yet another appointment on Tuesday morning next week if baby still hasn't come and at that point we'll basically book me in to the hospital. If I go into labour on my own before next weekend we can still do the homebirth but if I get to next weekend and still nothing, they'll do an ultrasound and NST and then likely I'll get admitted and they'll break my water. The only reason that would be done in the hospital is because of the higher risk of meconium in overdue babies. I wouldn't be able to have a homebirth if there was meconium and with my body seemingly being so ready for labour, potentially I wouldn't have much of a chance to get to the hospital if my water were to be artificially ruptured here and there was meconium in it. I think I'd feel more comfortable at the hospital given the risks of going overdue. I'd still have a drug-free birth, of course, but with the benefits of a team of doctors for baby.

So, that's the news of the day. I wish it was something more to the effect of: I'M IN LABOUR!!!!!!!

False Alarm

Well, false alarm number one this afternoon. It was around noon when I realized I was getting an awful lot of crampy contractions and by 1:30 they had increased in intensity to the point where I had to stop what I was doing to just let my belly hang and relax and breathe and were also coming around every 7-8 minutes. Craig was getting ready to leave for work for 2:30 and it was getting to the point where I was needing to make the decision whether he was to go or not. I hadn't told him about the contractions because I still wasn't convinced they meant anything. Finally about 10 minutes before it was time for him to leave he asked me what time I'd be calling him home today. I was surprised and asked what made him ask that question. Maybe he'd noticed I'd been having contractions? He said he was just joking so I informed him that indeed I was beginning to think this was IT. We chatted and agreed that he'd head into work anyway since I still wasn't sure. I also promised that if it became real labour that I'd call the midwife first because she's the one who really needs to be here!

My old friend Rachel stopped by with her newborn around 3:30 or so and after about an hour of sitting and chatting I realized I'd only had a couple of contractions. Bummer. Obviously today wasn't The Day and I didn't even get out to do more shopping! Stupid Sunday hours. I'll make sure to continue updating.

I have a mani/pedi scheduled for tomorrow morning: a gift from Melissa, and my last official midwife appointment on Tuesday. I'm hoping the pressure points the gal hits tomorrow morning will help with contractions and then coupled with a midwife appointment and a full moon on New Years Eve (my official due date) maybe, just maybe I won't go overdue!

Baby Update

Unfortunately, there's nothing to update. I'm still pregnant. Thirty-nine weeks tomorrow in fact.

This past Monday I had a quick visit with my midwife who did another internal. She seemed to think I was in early labour that day which I know from experience doesn't mean a thing, but she told me I was an easy 4cm and my cervix was super soft and stretchy. There's been more mucus plug bits over the past couple of days and last night I was getting some pretty good contractions but they petered out after a few hours. The baby is still quite active so I'm not at all worried about how he's coping in there. Obviously he's quite happy! I just need to get through the next 4 days or so and then I'll be more than happy to meet him. We have a couple family things going on over the next 2 days, my parents are taking the boys for a few days starting on Saturday and I'm doing the drop-off while visiting my newest nephew, and I'd love to actually get some serious shopping done on Boxing Day and the following day without any children in tow. To top it all off, my best friend Melissa wants to be at the birth and she's a 2 hour drive away visiting her own parents until likely Sunday morning. Stay inside for 4 more days baby!!

Craig's back to work on Sunday providing there's no baby and I already told him if the baby arrives in the meantime, I'm tempted to keep the boys at my parents' house for a day or 2 longer, have Craig return to work for his short week and then start his 2 weeks of holidays in January. Otherwise he'll have to take time off without pay which wouldn't be tragic but, obviously, I'd rather he use vacation time!

I've been trying my very best to keep up with the housework and the laundry so that I'm not overwhelmed when people want to stop by and meet the newest family member, but also so that the cleaning lady my mum hired for me for after the birth isn't shocked at the disgusting state of the house.

Yeah, how awesome is that? For a baby gift, my parent's will pay for a housecleaner to come bi-weekly for 4 months. I struggled at first with the idea of someone coming in and cleaning MY house but gradually realized I should accept any help that's being offered. Of course I'll still need to vacuum in between visits and do minor spot cleaning but knowing the bathrooms are clean is the biggest concern for me. With Shaun constantly dribbling on the toilet rim and the bathtub being used so frequently for showers and baths, it's difficult to keep everything even presentable all of the time. Maybe having someone come in will give me more time to keep up with the laundry, too. Oh joy!

Six Times Over

I became an aunt again this morning for the sixth time. I don't have any photos yet but Samuel Jambor (no middle name yet) was born this morning to my little brother Steve and his wife Tamrah. He's just a puny little thing at 7 lbs 14 oz (oh, what I would give to have a 7 pound baby!) but Tamrah's quite petite so I can't say I'm all that surprised. Jealous yes, but not surprised. :) Tamrah laboured most of yesterday afternoon and all night with little progress so when her doctor offered her a cesarean section this morning she quickly agreed and Samuel arrived shortly after 8AM. I'm hoping to visit the new family next weekend and will post pictures then. Maybe I'll have news of my own little arrival by then, too!

Ten days to my due date and I've instructed the baby to stay in there for at least another 6 days since Melissa is heading out of town and won't return until Saturday. I can't have my last baby without my best girlfriend by my side.

38ish Weeks

I had another midwife appointment yesterday morning. I asked for an internal check because apparently they don't do them until you're in labour unless you specifically ask for one. So Nicole (my back-up midwife and the gal who did the appointment) was easily able to feel the baby's head and the bag of fluid. She said my cervix is really soft but only 25% effaced so feels quite confident that once baby moves deeper into my pelvis I'll dilate quickly. Yesterday I was 2cm dilated - HORRAY! - and she was able to stretch me to 3cm and stripped my membranes as well. I had some mild cramping all afternoon yesterday that petered off in the evening and some brown spotting all day, too. So far, no labour though, which I'm kind of happy about because I'd rather not have a baby before Christmas. I mean, whatever, I can't control when he comes, but life is easier with baby #3 still baking inside. Can I change my due date to April?

36 Weeks

I'm a couple of days late in posting this but I figured it really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Shaun nabbed the camera and caught a whole bunch of pictures of himself being goofy and various things in the house, including his 36 week pregnant Mum. Here's the view from Shaun's eyes. Poor guy. :S

Anonymous

Sorry to y'all but there's been some Anonymous spam comments posted of late so I've had to change the comment format. No longer are Anonymous users allowed to comment and you'll have to type in that security doo-hickey to get your comment accepted. Who wants to hear about how to make $2000 a month with only $20 starting capital? Not me! I wonder how many people actually bite and follow those links?

Brotherly Love

Ian loves Shaun. It's so incredible to watch their relationship grow and develop more every day. Everything that Shaun does, Ian wants to do, too. Even if it means Ian needs help to do it, like sitting on the couch to read a book, or load and fire the Nerf. Shaun, for the most part, obliges and in fact really seems to enjoy having his little brother tagging along and being glued to his every word. Sometimes it turns into Shaun yelling that Ian won't leave him alone but most of the time they play very nicely together and Shaun helps Ian as much as he can. It'll be a lot of fun watching how the dynamic of our family changes with a third child in the mix.

Already I'm wondering how we're going to manage in a restaurant with 3 children who all need help cutting their food at the same time or how I'll get everyone dressed and out the door in time for a doctor's appointment. It's going to be an insane winter!