Ways to Induce Labor.

Now, before you get all pissy and wonder why in the world I am posting this, it's because alot of woman would like to know. If your not the type of person to believe in this, that's fine, this isn't a post for you to read.
However; if you  are interested, please remember this: I am NOT a doctor. Nor, do I claim to be. Not everything on this list is proven to work. Talk to your doctor before taking any herbs.

1.Nipple Stimulation: To do this, you can place a warm cloth on both breasts for five minutes and/or massage each breast for ten minutes. Gently roll the nipple and stop when you feel a contraction. This causes us ladies to release it's own natural oxytocin.If this method works for you, you should start to feel the beginning of contractions after 20 minutes.
2.Sex: Yes, I know. This doesn't sound to appealing to a woman who has been carrying a child for nine months and is swollen and can't feel her toes. This also isn't a way to actually induce. It helps the cervix get short and soft. The prostaglandins in his semen causes this. It has been said it can cause contractions, but don't think it WILL start them for sure. Also, again, the oxytocin (from nipple stimulation) when we have an orgasim causes contractions, which works hand and hand with his semen.
3.Castor Oil: This can provide positive results if you are in early labor, or near it. However; it's side effects aren't to amazing. Castor oil is a laxative. It's belived that because it starts spasms in the intenstines, it will start to make the uterus contract, which could lead to labor. Or, just a nasty spouts of direahha and vomiting. You can drink up to 4 ozs of it mixed with oj, coke, or something you like to drink. You will want to drink it quickly, as even the odorless and tastless kind is still unpleasent.
4.Raspberry Leaf Tea: Drinking this is supposed to help tone the uterus, so if and when a contraction happens, it will make it much more defined and actually make it contract harder and longer (which if that keeps up, you will dilate). Your only supposed to start drinking this at 32 weeks. I persoanlly waited untill 37. Thank goodness I did, it send me into false labor. Drink up to three cups a day.
5.Spicy Food: If you are prone to having belly aches after eating spicy foods anyhow, this might do the trick for you. It can irratate your uterus, which can stimulate contractions and lead to labor.
6.Walking: This helps the baby move his/hers way into the canal, and helps the baby engage.

Where's my Sanity?

Where did the time go? I am 38 weeks today! Only 14 more days (give or take a few) untill I won't have a watermelon (as babycenter says this is how big baby is) in my womb, but a newborn in my arms. I have already been throught the nesting stage. So that means all lil Rilan's clothes are put up and ready to go. His bottles are washed and put up. Everything and everyone is waiting on him. I now wish I had something to do to make these short two weeks fly by. However; I don't. I have been literally overpowering my brain to find something to do. I am at home 24/7, unless hubby wants to go out. I am on maternity leave and I am going crazy just counting down the days. I guess I could clean, but honestly, I don't think I could if I tried.I can't bend over, squat or hardly walk. How on Earth am I going to mop and sweep? Uggh.

False Alarm #1.

I am 37 weeks and 5 days today. I drank some Raspberry Tea last night, as it is supposed to help with labor when it decides to come along. Well, I woke up at 3:30 with a horrible contraction. I got up and walked and it died down a bit. As soon as I would get still I would hurt in my back. Crawling into bed at 4:30 I accidently woke the hubby up. I told him I would time them and for him to go back to sleep. Well I finally passed out at 5:30 and woke up again at 8:30 with the toddlers. My back was hurting, but nothing too bad. But as the day rolled out, it got much worse. I called my dr and told her what I was expericing and she said to come in. I seriously thought it was time. I couldn't talk, I could hardly walk and sitting was IMPOSSIBLE.
Get to labor and delivery and guess what? It STOPS. Instantly. Rilan is seriously picking on me. Even more devastating? I got checked and all those contractions were for nothing!! I am still 1 and a wiggle and baby's head isn't even engaged yet! She could fell his head, but he would kinda float up when she touched it. Bleh. Good news is I am completely done with work untill 6 weeks postpartum. Let the waiting game begin...again.

37 week check up.

Well, we went in for my 37 week check up yesterday all excitied about seeing our little man one last time before we meet him. The ultrasound went good! Even though he is head down we got a little bit of a good view of his face. He does indeed have chubby cheeks. He is estimated at 7lbs 5ozs as of now. So a big healthy boy we will be meeting soon. However; we did get some news we was unprepared to hear. My blood pressure was alot higher than normal. 142/89. Usually it is only 110/70. They checked it three times and everytime it was higher than my doctor's comfort range. She is making me stay out of work untill Saturday and I have to go back Friday for another check up. They also sent me to the lab corp office for some blood work. She is worried about PIH. (Pregnancy Induced Hypertension) My face, hands and legs are swollen to the point it's painful, I have indeed have had some visual problems and I had rapid weight gain two weeks ago. (I'm talking 6 pounds in one week). I have to wait untill after two today to get my blood results back. I am nervous, but hope all is well.

On the road!

Alright ladies and gents!We are now making progress! I went to the bathroom as soon as I walked in from work. (This is m y daily routine, as our bathrooms at work aren't worth a darn). When I wiped I saw a huge glob of snot that was thick, and cream colored. It was one of those YUCK things, but when I remember it was my plug (which no doesn't have to have any blood in it as my doctor told me) I grew excitied! I was almost tempted to take the toilet paper out to the hubby to see for himself. But I figured his friends would then forever tease him as having the wife who is too open about what comes from her vay-jay. Hahaha. So I flushed it down the drain. I now feel acomplished. I know now that my body is doing something to prepare itself for labor. Yes!

Clara's Labor Story.

As the date approaches where I will be posting about Rilan's delivery, I decided I will bless you all with the lovely labor stories I had with my two children. Braden's is for another post another day.

I was over due with my daughter in June. I got tired of it and decided I was going to walk untill my swollen feet wouldn't carry me any further. I even took a spoonful of castrol oil before I went to bed that night! I woke up around 6 am the next morning (July 1st) with some serious cramping. It literally felt like I had to take a huge poop. I tried and tried, and still nothing. I thought this was odd, because castrol oil is supposed to cause bowl movement. So being the dummy I am, I go into the kitchen, grab the oil and take a swig like it was a nice cold can of Dr.Pepper. (I still shiver when I think about that.) I called my boyfriend and let him know that I was hurting and to please come see me. (I had my first two out of widlock with a man I got too involved with too quick). He gets to my house about 10:00. At this point, I feel like I am dying and about to start my period. At around 11 something, I finally pass some stuff outta my system. But when I stand up something makes a clunk sound on the  toilet seat. My plug landed on the toilet seat! Ewww. We headed to the hospital where I was checked, then allowed to walk a bit and then checked again. I was told to go home.
So I slowly and sadly drag myself to the car. When I get home, I take a shower and eat a little bit and by 6 I am dying! I get to the hospital at 7:25 and I am finally admitted. I was a wuss. I won't lie. I had an epidoral with her at 5 centimeters, BEFORE they broke my water. Finally, at 2:23 am I get permission to push. So I push. And push. Possibly grunted some, and pushed again. And right when I am starting to beg them to get her out, they tell me she is crowning. My daughter entered the world at 3:35 am and weighed 8lbs 6ozs and was 21 1/2 inches long. They had to cut me to get her shoulders out, and let me tell you my friends, that hurt worse than her crowning!

Big belly? No, BIG BABY!

So we went in for the 36 week check up. I only gained 1 lb and everything else was big. My usual midwife Beth is a talkative person and loves loves loves to talk about my pregnancy. However; today that was different. She measured my belly and a look of deep concern came across her face. She looked at me and said, "We need to get you into the ultrasound room."

So next thing we know we are sitting in the waiting room, waiting for a word from Beth saying the lady was ready. Unfortunatly for us, the lady was booked all day. So Beth scheduled me for one Tuesday (which is week 37 and my hubby and I's anniversary). If he is big, we are talking about inducing. So exciting!!

Momma-Drama

So tomorrow I will be exactly 36 weeks pregnant. Wow. I have been pregnant a whole 36 weeks, which is two hundred and freakin fifty-two days! It seems like only yesterday we had our miscarriage before getting blessed with this miracle.  I still grieve over that lose! And here I am, about to be a mother to a newborn all over again! In a way, I am excitied. I mean, who wouldn't be? Bringing another life into this world is an amazing experience, no matter how many times you  have been through it. However; I am skeptical. I am worried that I will not be the best mom that I should be to all three of my children. Will I make one feel neglected? How would I get everyone out in case of a house fire? Will one child become jealous because of  all the attention a newborn demands? All these thoughts and many more race throough my head nightly. I only know I can do my best and be the mother I know I can be. Yes, sometime's I lock myself in the bathroom for a few minutes just to regain my cool. And yes, it is OK for my children to eat lucky charms for breakfast once or twice a week. No, my children can't count to 20 in Spanish, and yes, they still skip alot of letters in their ABC's. BUT, they are happy, healthy and at peace in our home. They have a full tummy everynight, they are in a warm house, they have shoes on their feet and they have people here who love them. That alone lets me know I am doing good now. I can only hope in these short few weeks that I have left with only being a mommy to two gives us a chance to bond even deeper, and let's them see no matter if mommy is busy feeding the baby or not, I will always be there mommy as well.