Getting the party started
I took a Zumba class at work today. It still feels really good to move around –and makes me forget that baby and I are spine-to-spine– and I can take it easy, since I was just taking class instead of teaching. It was a great class, and the best part was when my boss walked past the door, saw me dancing, started laughing and mouthed, “What are you doing?!”
I ran over to say hi and talk to her, and she asked when the baby is coming out.
“I have no idea.”
“You’re crazy.”
I love her.
39 weeks and still moving and grooving 🙂
I went into the locker room to hang out with my work friends after Zumba, and they were all taking bets on when the baby will make her appearance. A few friends have asked me if there was anything I was doing to try and kick start labor, besides continuing to workout.
This entire time, I’ve been happy to wait for her to decide when she’s ready to come out, and even more so since I found out she was in a less-than-ideal position. Last week, before I knew she had flipped, I researched some natural ways to encourage labor in the event that I got to 41 weeks and the midwives started talking about induction. (They used to let patients go to 42 weeks, but now it’s 41)
Here are some of things I found:
(please don’t do anything to try and initiate labor without talking to your doc and get mad at me, mmm k?)
-Walking. This is supposed to be beneficial in helping the baby flip over, too
-Dancing. Same- it could also encourage her to flip
-Mattress mambo. Even with someone as debonair as my husband, the discomfort has finally put a damper on things. Plus, there’s no better way to seduce someone than crawling around on your hands and knees and moaning in pain every night.
-Acupuncture. I was going to go see my acupuncturist this week anyway for the hip pain and posterior position, because I know it will help. It’s just a matter of making an appointment and going. If I go to 41 weeks, I could also ask him to press the button to get labor going.
-Castor oil. Some people swear by this one, other people say DON’T do it. I’m not sure I’d be down with this one, especially since it can cause you to dehydrate- not something you want to deal with before going into labor.
-Herbs. The midwives and my homeopath would be great resources for this.
-Spicy food. Since I’ve been drowning my food in hot sauce and red chili flakes this entire pregnancy (and my entire life), I don’t think this will be much of a factor. Word on the street is that when the baby comes out, the fluid smells like what you’ve been eating… if so, baby is going to be a spicy little meatball.
-Massage. This sounds like a fabulous option, because even if it doesn’t work, you get a massage out of the deal 😉
Did you try any methods to encourage labor naturally?
Taking guesses on when the little one will be born, too 😀
My original guess was Christmas weekend, so my next guess is January 3.
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My cousin went into labor an HOUR after being given a foot massage. Apparently that’s a known trigger as well. xoxo
I am guessing Dec, 30! What can I win?! 🙂
i’ll definitely send a prize to the winner 🙂 no idea what yet, though
I’ll expect a huge parcel then. When you’re already sending something across the Atlantic to Germany, it should be worth the effort…:-) haha.
hahah ok 🙂
A new years eve, midnight baby would be awesome!! That’s my guess! 😉
eating pineapple is also suppose to help induce labor.
Love that you’re still rockin’ it out to Zumba!
Getting so excited for you guys-I’ll put in a guess that the little miss will be making her appearance on January 2 🙂 (and also hoping she’s in the best possible position for both of you when it’s “go” time!)
“I have no idea.” <– LOL, that's hilarious! 😀 Too cute!
I remember an episode of ER from many many years ago where the hospital was flooded with women in labor after some restaurant served a new spicy soup.
I got a massage in the morning and that evening I went into labor! It was totally worth it!
Take advantage of the massage option! And definitely keep doing Zumba. Exercise AND the mattress mambo are supposed to trigger the right hormones to start labor.
Take advantage of the massage option! And definitely keep doing Zumba. Exercise AND the mattress mambo are supposed to trigger the right hormones to start labor.
I walked a ton, did the horizontal mambo, super spicy food, pineapple. Nothing worked! I hope she flips soon and your hips feel better. The hip discomfort was the worst part for me in the end too.
I guess January 1. New year = new baby!
I’m voting 12/31-A new year’s eve baby!!! 🙂
For my guess, I’m going to go with January 2nd…because I like how the date is kind of matchy (1/2/12) =o)
ohh, i like that too!
My vote is January 1. I know two people that had luck getting their baby to turn with acupuncture. It’s also great for sore backs! 🙂
2nd of january would be my guess 🙂
I’m gonna say January 2nd – 1/2/12!
I went 10 days over with my first and was induced twice. We had tried sex, walking, a massage, and spicy food.
You are due Jan 6, right? In that case, my guess is Jan 15. But for your sake, I hope not.
I am glad you still sound so upbeat. I was a raging bit&h by the time I got to about 38 weeks with my first, I was SO ready to be done. And I was SO tired of 20 people calling me every day asking if I had had the baby. Really, dad? You think I had a baby and forgot to call you? Eye roll.
hahaha! that hasn’t started yet, but the calls and texts should start rolling in any time now…
and jan 15 would be a little rough haha
My doctor told me that sex and nipple stimulation were the best bets for inducing labor. Who knows, I tried everything (including eat a whole pineapple and killing my tastebuds in the process) and still had to be induced 10 days post due date. 🙂
Oh, and I had a sunny side up baby and she’s fine. Labor was a little rough and she was a forceps delivery, but I think that’s because her head is so large, not because of her position.
that’s good to know! pineapple actually sounds really, really good 🙂
I’m with you on January 3. Good Lord, I can’t even imagine doing the mambo at 39 weeks pregnant, unless it was out of sheer desperation to get labor going. Good luck!
I’m for 1/2/12. How cool of a date is that?
You should set up a baby pool on http://www.expectnet.com/tour.php
I’ve also heard of the foot massages (at the worst you get a pedi out of it) or the chiro!
Good luck!
Oh I am just so excited for you! I am guessing Jan. 7th!
Don’t try castor oil! I went to 41 weeks5days with my posterior baby days so I understand that desire to hold baby but castor oil was absolutely something I regret trying. It didn’t work and made me miserable.
it sounds terrible
Getting so close!! My guess is January 4th! Best of luck from now til then… it’s so soon! 🙂
You look adorable!
I am hoping for Jan 6th….because it is my and my husbands anniversary date! 🙂
that’s the actual due date, so who knows- it could happen 🙂
WE tried it all except for acupuncture and castor oil (my mom used castor oil to get me out!). I even went and ate pineapple… LOTS of pineapple (I heard that can do it), I ate eggplant parmigiana and drank raspberry tea which were all things I had heard. I got a pedicure and two massages each of those last two weeks (up to week 41). I’m telling you- in the end it was wild weather (raining after long dry spell) and full moon. and finalllly it all started. I really hope you get her flipped!!!
Maybe you will have the first baby of 2012 😀
Zumba at 39 Weeks Pregnant! You are amazing!! I love reading your Blog – thanks for keeping us updated throughout your pregnancy! My guess is 1-4-12!!! Have a Happy New Year!
I second Jessica on the 20 people calling to see if you had the baby yet – that got really annoying and made me even more anxious for labor to start!
guess is 1-10-12! my sister was 4 days late of her due date… so i’m just going to base it on her… 🙂
I’m going to guess January 2nd!
I’ve tried lots of things to induce labor, but the only thing that worked was sex! (you’ve gotta be a little creative to find a comfy position though).
I don’t mean to be selfish, but I’m gonna need you to have your babe before January 3, because that is the day I fly out of the country for a month. I SIMPLY CANNOT WAIT THAT LONG! 😉
I bet you’ll go…January 1 or before. But 1/2/12 is super cool too! Just before the 3rd, MK? You know, since you have so much control over the situation 🙂
I’m guessing January 5th! good luck with everything, gina, we’ll all be sending thoughts your way!
I went in to labor within a day of doing the mattress mambo. We were not trying to induce labor. I had issues with pre-term labor and we could not mattress mambo for months. So, when we got the all clear we mamboed and out she came. 🙂
I’m gonna say jan 7…that’s my birthday and trust me is an amazing day to be born LOL 😉
I’m going to guess you’re actual due date, 1/6!
I was talking to some ladies at my boyfriend’s Christmas over the weekend and we randomly were discussing pregnancy. They mentioned that somewhere between 9 and 10 months is actually full term, so essentially you could wait until 40/41 weeks?! I dk, sounds awful to me. I just had never heard that little tidbit of knowledge before.
Castor oil has a laxative effect…I’m not sure you want that going on during labor. :/
When I was on bedrest, I was forbidden from mattress mambo, due to the labor inducing hormones that are released during orgasm. So, if you’re gonna do it, better do it right. 😉
I hope she comes by Dec 31 because you would be able to write her off of your taxes for the whole entire year.
Which would be amazing
My guess is january 3rd and 7 lbs 9oz. I guessed my baby cousins birth date and I was only 4 oz off on her weight. I have a weird thing with guessing birthdays. when a member of my family has their baby I almost always guess the date. It drives my family crazy because I always get the money (or candy or bragging rights or whatever we bet with!)
or january 5th. either one.
I think Dec 30th~best wishes and I can’t wait for her blog debut : )
I vote full moon. Let’s see, that’s Jan 9th.
There’s a pizza place up in the East Bay here in CA that has the “Prego Pizza” where pregnant woman who was over being pregnant and asked for a pizza that would help her have the baby soon. “The masterpiece had thirteen different toppings including extra onions and extra garlic. The pizza was loaded with fresh vegetables and six types of meat. The creation weighed over four pounds”. The woman went into labor soon after. There are over 20 success stories with the pizza on the website. http://www.skipolinispizza.com/prego.php
I know you don’t eat red meat so perhaps you could make your own prego pizza that could help induce labor when you see fit 🙂
I am guessing Jan 5. Or she could be a New Year’s baby.
Haha, the baby probably decided to escape when the pizza came in…. 🙂
lol. true. I looked at the ingredients and thought ‘wow, I’d probably look and feel pregnant after eating that!’ [[salami, pepperoni, ham, mushrooms, olives, bell peppers, extra onions, sausage, ground beef, linguisa, extra garlic, parmesan, and oregano]] haha.
With my second I did the Castor oil… it worked like a charm and cleaned me out but I was not very “comfortable”. My mom did a lot of rubbing my feet. Supposedly there are nerves in your feet that can help induce labor??? Anyway between those two things I was in labor!
January 8th! I tried spicy foods and pineapple and my little guy who is now 3 and a half was still 3 days late! Good luck!
Dec 31! I’m pregnant too, but not due until the beginning of Feb, and from health problems I have a higher risk of pre-term labor and such. So I keep telling my little one he has 2 options, he can either come out before Jan 1 so I can put him on my taxes, or he has to stay in until my scheduled c-section on Feb 3. No other options…now only if they really would listen
I ate fresh pineapple, and I swear it worked.
Google it! 🙂 Good luck, and may she come sooooon!
oh and I say January 4th!
Haha, she’s a feisty little nugget–dancing until her due date!
My hubby was a big fan of “having sex to encourage labour.” I, on the other hand, felt like a whale and didn’t want any part of that 😉 Nothing ended working for me anyway. All 3 of my kids were late. My guess is January 4, that’s when my first was was born!