INDUCTION UPDATE: 40 WEEKS PREGNANT

If you've seen my 40 week vlog about my induction plan, then you know that I was supposed to get induced with cytotec today. Today is my due date, officially 40 weeks pregnant! So first of all, I'd like to say, that I have changed my mind. For the first time, I did some research on cytotec and the risks that come along with it. I don't know why it never crossed my mind before! At my last visit with my OB, he told me all about it and what it's meant to do. I sat there and listened as he gave me all this useful information. He is very informative and thorough when explaining something to me, that's what I really like about him. He didn't want to put me on pitocin because since I am still only 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced, I would most likely have to have a c-section because I probably wouldn't progress fast enough. 

However, with my pregnancy brain, it didn't even occur to me that there MUST be risks, as there are risks with everything. So this morning I wake up thinking about it, being today's the day I am supposed to be induced with cytotec. I researched the drug, and I found that there are a lot of women who have had great labors and deliveries after being induced with it. But there are also women who have not had good experiences at all with it. I understand that some women and their babies are perfectly fine after taking cytotec, but I definitely don't want to be one of the ones who has a terrible experience. 

The risks that I've read about are terrible. Some women's babies have actually died, as well as the women themselves. Here is a quote from a website someone left on my 4 week pregnancy vlog, and thank you for sharing this, even though I already read about the risks, this was also helpful. It is some information about the drug, as well as someone's actual experience with it. I'll just quote the information, though, click the link below to see the whole story. 

"Cytotec® can cause abnormally strong uterine contractions (hyperstimulation or tetany) so strong that the uterus ruptures, resulting in severe injury or death of the mother and child.  It can cause such heavy bleeding that to save the mother's life, her uterus must be removed (hysterectomy),  leaving her incapable of bearing another child, and disrupting her natural hormones.  The violent contractions it provokes also increase the risk of amniotic fluid emboli that can result in a stroke or death.  Many, or maybe most doctors and nurses using this drug do not know."

Passage is from here: http://community.babycenter.com/post/a32376961/cytote%C2%ADc_is_a_powerful_drug_my_story

After reading all these terrible things about it, I decided to contact my OB, I told him how concerned I was and all the risks I had read about. He told me that I will be fine, as well as baby, and that I will be monitored the whole time to make sure that nothing goes wrong. He said that they do this everyday and everything will be okay. I just don't feel like I should chance it. You only get one life and it's not worth chancing for something like this. 

So even though it has worked for some women with no issues, I do not feel my life, OR Rylee's life is worth risking. She will come when she's ready, and hopefully that's within the next 10 days, because my OB doesn't let his patients go 10 days past their due dates. He will induce me once I am past that. But hopefully she will be here within the next week! I know that this is the best decision I am making for my family and I.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I really appreciate it. 

38 Weeks Pregnant and Induction

I only have 1 week left!! I'll be 39 weeks tomorrow, but I will talk about week 38. Symptoms for week 38 are pretty much all the same. Although, I have been sleeping a lot. I've been sleeping about 12 hours every night. That is crazy to me! Normally I am fully awake after 8-9 hours of sleep. My body has just been so exhausted this week. 

I don't have any new stretch marks. I've also been using my Palmer's stretch mark cream again, a lot of you might think it's pointless, but it can't hurt, right? No swelling in the ankles or feet, which I am super stoked about. I've been having some Braxton Hicks contractions here and there, but not too much, which makes me really think I won't go into labor anytime soon. Not only that, but I really don't think Rylee has dropped yet. It doesn't look like she has! 

So tomorrow (Wednesday the 24th), we have another doctor's appointment. Once again, he will check for dilation and effacement, yay! Hopefully I've been making progress. Dr. Eiland also told me that we'll talk about my birthing options, as far as waiting beyond my due date and being induced. I told him I will most likely choose to be induced on my due date. OH, before I go any further, my original due date (the one that's actually on my pregnancy verification form) is October 23rd, that's today!! The reason we've been saying October 31st is because when they did the first ultrasound, based on the baby's measurments, they said Halloween is the due date. But based on my last missed period, it's technically today. So who knows really! Due dates always seem to be off, anyway. 

Now, continuing on with my reasons for wanting to be induced... for one, my doctor told me he won't let me go 10 beyond my due date, he'll induce me 10 after my due date if I decide to wait for Rylee to come on her own. He said the reason for that is because there are dangers for waiting beyond your due date. I don't remember everything exactly that he said, but there are definitely risks. Also, I don't feel like pushing out a baby that is over 8 pounds, the baby will continue to grow half a pound each week. The placenta degrades when you go beyond that point, so I definitely don't want to have any issues with my baby because I waited too long. There is a lot of useful information on the internet that you can read about, and I'm sure it will make a lot more sense than the way I am trying to explain it! But, there are tons of things that can go wrong! And if I am actually supposed to be due today, then I definitely don't want to wait past the 31st! 

I know that the labor pains will be more intense if I get induced, and I am fully ready to take that on. Labor is no joy ride in the first place. Many women get induced without an epidural as well, so I'm hoping for the best and hoping that everything goes as planned. I know that the risk of having to get a c-section is increased if you get induced, but like I said, I'm just hoping and praying for the best! Obviously some women don't have a good experience being induced, but some women do. Everyone is different and everyone will have a different outcome, that is true with everything. If my doctor didn't believe that Rylee and I would be safe, he wouldn't offer an induction. I trust my doctor, and he is an EXCELLENT doctor! So glad to have him!

I hope you guys understand my decisions, and I am so happy to have Rylee here soon! I appreciate all of the support and lovely comments. Thank you!

Birth Plan: UPDATED

I've been getting a lot, and I mean a lot, of questions about my birth plan and whether or not I will still be doing a water birth. I am no longer able to do a water birth due to the fact that I will be delivering in a different hospital than I thought I'd be delivering in. Danny and I have moved a couple of different times and the hospital near our house does not do water births. 

I really, really wanted a water birth. It was planned because I wanted to go natural and that seemed like the ideal way for me. I wanted to be relaxed, with candles lit, and soft music in a nice, relaxing and warm bathtub. I was never planning on doing an at-home birth, I wanted to be in a normal birthing center and do my water birth there. It was totally possible when I still lived in the Portland area, obviously much more things are possible in larger cities.

Since I live in a smaller town now, there are not as many opportunities like there are in cities of course. So I will just be doing a natural birth in a regular ol' hospital bed, which I am actually okay with. I have come to terms with this awhile ago. I figured leaving Portland, I wouldn't get to have the water birth I'd hoped for. But I am perfectly content with my birth plan now. I do not plan on having an epidural. Women's bodies are meant for this, we are meant to give birth. I don't feel it's necessary to have an epidural, especially with all of the risks that come along with it. I am not against epidurals, nor will I ever try and talk someone out of having one, and I'd appreciate the same from others. I am strong minded, and I know I can do this without any pain relief! The pain is only temporary, and it will all be worth it in the end!

So I will still be having a natural birth if everything is okay and if there is no need for an emergency cesarean section of course, but it definitely won't be a water birth. 

I have also gotten questions about breastfeeding. I've done tons of research on breastfeeding because I wanted to know all of the benefits. I will be breastfeeding. My goal is to breastfeed for one year. That is usually the recommended time to breastfeed for. It is also recommended that you exclusively breastfeed for 6 months, meaning that the baby only feeds on breast milk, and no other foods or liquids. I am confident that I can do it, I am aware that it will be painful, though. There are many reasons I choose breastfeeding over formula feeding my baby. Of course it's great that breastfeeding will help me lose the baby weight, but it's so much more than that. It's so much healthier for myself AND baby. It decreases any risks of ovarian and cervical cancer for the both of us. Breastfeeding decreases the chances of baby getting any kind of illnesses. It decreases the chances of baby ever getting obese. ALSO, a big one I like, breast milk goes through baby's body faster, making baby dirty diapers faster, and I know that doesn't sound too exciting, BUT, formula sits in baby's stomach longer so the baby feels more full for a longer period of time. This can cause constipation. 

So basically I just want what's healthiest for my baby!

Here is a message to everyone who leaves me sweet comments telling me they believe in me and they know I'll do great with a natural birth, also to everyone who tells me I inspire them to have a natural birth: 
Thank you so much! I don't know if you guys realize this, but I DO read all of your comments on YouTube, even though I may not always be able to write back to all of them. Your encouraging comments mean a lot to me. I love all of you! And for the soon to be moms out there who tell me I inspire you to have a natural birth because of the way I am approaching it, just keep in mind that your body is fully capable of giving birth with no medications! Of course labor is a scary thing to approach, but we just have to go in to that hospital with the right attitude and remember that we CAN do this, and that it will all be over sooner than later. Also remember that all the pain we'll endure will all be worth it in the end when we have our babies in our arms! 

37 Weeks Pregnant

Symptoms for week 37: 

• Acid reflux almost everyday
• Braxton Hicks contractions
• Sciatic nerve pain
• Getting up every few hours to go pee

I still have yet to get swelling in my ankles and/or feet! As for stretch marks, at the very end of week 37, I found one on my lower left belly! It's a very faint pink shade. I'm very surprised that I haven't gotten more at this point. I'm very lucky I haven't. Of course I can still get more, but usually at this point people seem to have a ton already. I have stopped using my stretch mark oils and creams, which I forgot to mention in previous weeks. My stomach has been pretty itchy once in awhile also, and I do scratch it sometimes! I don't scratch it very much, but I'm pretty sure scratching only makes it worse! Like I've stated before though, I'm not too worried about stretch marks either way. They will fade a little bit, also considering I barely have any and the only one I do have is pretty faint!

DOCTOR'S VISIT!

Danny and I went to see my doctor again this week, and this time I was 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced! We will go to see him again on Wednesday, the 24th, when I am 39 weeks. We will discuss our options with him, as far as induction goes. He won't let me go 10 past my due date, which is good, baby only gets bigger! I might get induced on the evening of the 30th if Rylee hasn't come yet. My decisions and choices have been well thought out, and they are best for me and my family. We are excited to have Rylee here in the next couple weeks! Also, I will be walking A LOT these next couple weeks to try and help labor start on it's own. I'm hoping she comes sooner so I don't have to be induced, but we will see! Either way, Danny and I couldn't be any more excited!!

Thanks for being so supportive! I appreciate all the wonderful comments you all leave me. <3

36 Weeks Pregnant

For week 36, symptoms are pretty much the same as week 35. I have been having A LOT of acid reflux, and it is so uncomfortable! I find that chewing ANY kind of gum relieves my acid reflux. I'd recommend it if you have it also, it really does work! As well as acid reflux, I've been having a lot of lower back pain, but we finally bought a yoga ball, yay! The yoga ball definitely helps, as soon as I sit on it and rock back and forth, or even side to side, my back feels so much better! 

I had a lot of sciatic nerve pain in week 36. It feels like a sharp stabbing pain, and it is SO painful, it makes it hard to even stand. I have been waking up more in the middle of the night to pee also. I feel like I've been waking up every 2 hours! I try to look at the time when I do wake up, but sometimes I am just too tired. 

DOCTOR'S VISIT!

Danny and I went to the doctor's office this week, just like we do every week now, and I was a fingertip dilated, which is less than a centimeter dilated! I knew those Braxton Hicks weren't happening for nothing! It was kind of painful when he was checking for dilation, but it wasn't too bad, just something I wasn't used to. 

Thanks again to everyone who is following and supporting me, you are all awesome! <3 

35 Weeks Pregnant

For week 35, I have been feeling: 

• Exhausted
• Nesting stage towards the end of the week

Symptoms:

• No stretch marks or swelling in ankles/feet
• Acid reflux 
• Braxton Hicks contractions
• Pelvic pressure 

UPDATE: Bad Things Happen To GOOD People

I know this is not pregnancy related at all, BUT, I feel that this issue has gotten out of hand and needs to be dealt with. A couple weeks ago, my step dad's truck got stolen while he and Danny were camping. Danny left his iPhone 4S under the passenger seat because it had 3% battery, and he felt it'd be safer in the truck than with him around the water and mud. And yes, the truck was locked, but the thieves got into it through the back window, popped the ignition out, and most likely used a screwdriver to start it (it's an old Toyota). 

Anyway, the cops around here didn't do much about the situation, so my mom and step dad searched for their truck on their own. They found it, with nothing left inside. The stereo was ripped out, and Danny's iPhone was also stolen. We called AT&T and reported the phone  stolen and they put it on the block list for us, so whoever has the phone won't be able to use it at all. We did have a tracking app on his phone before it got stolen, but whoever stole it must have taken the microsim out because it never showed up when we would try to track it. 

Very early this morning, on October 2, 2012, our car got broken into. Danny woke up at 6 to get ready for work. He came up to our room and told me that someone had broken into it and the whole inside was trashed. I don't know how they got in, I made SURE that I locked the doors, I press the lock button on the key about 4-5 times every time I lock the doors, and I see the car lights flash when I do it, so I know it gets locked. No windows were bashed in, no windows were even rolled down. The center console was ripped out, but nothing important was taken, we didn't really have anything important in the car. However, they did take a 4 boxes of granola bars that Danny bought for his lunches. These people must have been hungry if all they took was food! Luckily, the chief of police was slowly driving right past us as we were making sure nothing valuable was taken from our car. We stopped him and talked to him about what happened. Apparently, there were about 10 other reported thefts from other people's cars in the same neighborhood. We spoke to a couple of our neighbors already, and everyone is furious and tired of this shit happening over and over again. 

There's not really anything the police can do about it, they can't really seem to take fingerprints anymore from what they say, so this same crap is probably going to keep on happening. I've been out of this town for a couple years, and I've only been back for over a month and it has gotten so much worse since I've been gone. The thieves are getting away with so much, it's ridiculous. I understand that this is happening everywhere, but it's happening way too much in this small area, and it's only getting worse. 

So to everyone who lives in the South Bend/Raymond/Bay Center areas, you need to make sure your security is really good. Double check your car doors and make sure they are actually locked, don't leave ANY money or electronics in your car, even if your car is locked! Some people don't have a problem with bashing windows in. If you have a garage that locks up, then you're pretty much set. But there a lot of people around here who don't have garages.