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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cracking up over here that you described baby coming out as “a spicy little meatball” HAHA
My guess is January 10th…sorry! 😉
January 5th! 🙂
PS did you ever go see that Chiro?!?!
No guesses, but I feel for you for being a bit apprehensive about the labor with the ‘sunny side up’ position. Hang in there!
and, oh yes, distract yourself with thinking about a really nice push present 😉
January 6 is my birthday so I’m going with perfect
On 40 weeks!
My vote is New Years baby! January 1st!
Hmmm… January 2nd at 7 P.M.! Can we start guessing times yet?! So excited for you!!
January 1 – a New Year’s Baby!!
My friend was past due with her 2nd, 1st was a month early. Her boyfriends mom told them to do the mattress mumbo and sure enough she went into labor at 3am! I will guess jan 7th since 7 is my fav number!
I mentioned this before but French onion soup on Sun. night had me and my SIL both in labor Mon. morning. Not that I think the soup had anything to do with it. But you never know!
I’ll take Jan. 8th.
I had a lot of sex before, I heard the semen helps induce. I am not sure it helped tho. I ate spicy the entire time and I dont think that is a factor either.
I did give birth to my son, sunny side up and had a lot of pain to deal with in the weeks following. It felt like my pelvic platform couldnt hold up my body. Very weak. I slept on the couch/recliner for a month since I couldnt lay down flat. I wasnt told that he was turned that way, so I didnt have any expectations. I healed up just fine. The lady parts are amazing at healing up! haha!
Congrats, it has been fun following along in your journey!
I was born a month late 27 years ago! They don’t let you go that long anymore thankfully! With my daughter I was 3 days before the due date…I’m guessing your little girl will make her appearance 1 day early!
My chiro/friend gave me an adjustment and did this weird adjustment on my legs. She swore that baby would be here that day and she prayed it wasn’t at midnight because she was planning on being there for the birth. Well what do you know… midnight came and I was in LABOR!! Her adjustment worked! Kind of freaky!
haha I am dying over your comment about seducing someone by crawling on your hands and knees and moaning in pain. I bet my husband is SUPER excited to come home from deployment to that – I’ll be 37 weeks.
I’m going to go out on a limb and guess January 1st at 12:01 am – you can have the record for the first baby born next year!
I have been a reader of your blog for 2 years now and never left a comment. I am a grandmother but love healthy food and working out. I just felt like I have to share with you that back in the day when I had my first baby I was 42 weeks and my baby needed to come soon as I couldn’t hardly walk at that point. Well I drank a whole bottle of castor oil, all at once as it didn’t taste great but boy it did the job. That night my baby boy was born, and I was fine and baby was fine. I don’t know if this would be good for everyone but I just wanted to share my story as it might help you in some way. Good luck and thanks for your wonderful blog.
January 4th! So excited for you!
My babe was 3 days early, so if your due date is Jan 6, I’m going to say Jan 3 as well!
Skylar wanted to come out starting at about ohhh…7 weeks. And then again at about 20. And then from 25 weeks on or so, just sneezing and I’d have a contraction. She stayed in til 38w1d. Term!
So I had the opposite problem b/c she was rearin’ to get outta there 🙂
Castor oil..have heard both ways on that. For some women, it’s an almost immediate labor inducer. For others, they don’t go into labor but spend plenty of time in the bathroom after they take it. Lol
With my 1st baby I was right on time. With the 2nd, was dying in pain by 38 weeks & at 39 1/2 weeks went into psycho mode. I went jogging on the beach for 4 days straight, walked MILES a day, mattress mambo til my hubby couldnt stand it, ate papaya (some cultures think it “expels the fetus”) drank not only castor oil, but a mix of castor oil & milk of magnesia.. Basically, I threw up 3 times before it got to my lips & then finally chugged it. It had an effect on me, but not the kind I was hoping for 🙁 I definitely felt like I was giving birth though… TMI- I know 🙂
Any ways, I know I tried a few other things & on the exact day of 40 weeks, I walked into a medical supply store & asked if they sold amnio-hooks.. lol needless to say, they told me to call my Dr. I did, and she induced me the next day! It was wonderful.. I have a 13 year old & a 16 year old daughters. They have changed me forever, in the most beautiful ways!
So excited to read about your journey with your “spicy meatball” I too ate LOTS of spice.
Im going for Jan 4th. Best of luck, you are in such good shape & so strong mentally it will be a breeze~~~~
Give red raspberry leaf tea a shot, it helps tone the uterus. Tastes good w/a little milk & honey. 🙂
I’m guessing January 2nd!
2 of my friends and 1 of my cousins have had babies in the past 6 weeks, and all went into labor (naturally) 1 day early. Ill take Jan 5th!
My 3rd baby was overdue – I got desperate and tried castor oil to avoid pitocin. I did 1/2 of the “recommended” dose blended up with coconut water and frozen fruit so it wasn’t gross. I had zero bad effects and was in full blown labor 4 hours later. I swore I’d never try it but at 41 weeks pregnant, things start looking a little different. 😉
My guess is January 2nd 🙂
I walked 6 miles a day for the last two weeks of my pregnancy, and my daughter was still 4 days late. We scheduled an induction to start 3 days after my due date (I had cholestasis and was insanely itchy and starting to get worried about the higher risk for stillbirth with that disease) and i went into labor on the way to the hospital. My labor went so slowly though that they still induced. It was a little scary, but 21 hours later (and some hefty doses of pitocin and an epidural…so much for the natural birth I had wanted) I had my beautiful, healthy daughter.
January 4th!
my baby girl is sunnyside up as well and im due on the 9th. No back pain though just major groin pain – weird! Im doing the same hands and knees trot as well. I’ve heard of pineapple to induce!
I am so excited for you and Tom!!!! My bets are that she will be a news years day baby (and last time I played this game, i won <— that's the sound of my own horn tooting). Regardless, I just hope you have an easy, healthy delivery!
I half believe that because I kept working out and lulling them to sleep – my kids were content on staying in my belly forever. I was induced twice. I did everything possible – except castor oil – to bring on labor and they just wanted to stay inside. Can’t say I blame them 🙂
A few people told me that overdue = super calm baby — and I have to say that was completely true and worth every painful day that felt like a month.
My Bday is NYE, so I’m going with that 😉
happy early birthday!
TY! 🙂
I really believe that the birth process of a child has a lot to do with their personality.
My firstborn arrived on her due date; she is methodical, Type-A, and a great kid. My second was born after two weeks in prolonged latent labor. She was transverse in the womb until a week before her birth, and then born sunny side up! She is my most unique child… and the two weeks of labor definitely meant that she was not ready to arrive until she was ready. She is my stubborn child — she’s a leader, not a follower — but when she puts her mind to something, she is great. My baby was born a month early; I was six centimeters dilated at a routine appointment and was told I had an hour to get to the hospital for fear of delivering him on the interstate. He is my CRAZY, unpredictable child.
When your baby arrives will be the perfect time for her. As much as it is painful to wait, just take comfort in knowing she is kicking back with her womb service and comfortable with [your] amenities.
PS. I think you have the most gorgeous pregnant belly!
that’s a very interesting point- i can definitely see how it could give a hint to what their personalities are like. that’s so amazing
womb service! i love it 🙂
and thank you… it’s grown so much and i’ll definitely miss the belly.
The joke in my family is that I was born after my due date and didn’t walk until I was two and am still inclined to just lay around! I’d agree that it tells a lot about your personality! And my guess is she’ll be born right on her due date!!
New Years baby!!!!!
(that means Jan 1)
Please don’t try the castor oil without talking to your doctor. Castor oil can not only induce your bowel movements, but also the babies which is NOT safe for her! Keep on dancing and getting your groove on in the bedroom if possible….she’ll make her appearance in her sweet time. 🙂 Just when you think she’s stuck in there forever, she’ll surprise you!
It sounds totally weird but I swear it works… Nipple stimulation. It got my contractions going regularly, and I used lots of jasmine absolute oil from my herbalist to keep me relaxed while I labored at home. My baby girl was born at 40 weeks & 6 days after a very smooth & easy labor ( and only 12 minutes of pushing!) january 3 is what I’m thinking… 😉
i’ve heard about that! so awesome that it worked for you and you had such a great labor
Don’t hate me but I am going to guess January 7th. That date is sticking out to me 🙂
You are cracking me up. I swear I was writing the same stuff when I was as pregnant as you. Still moving and grooving at 39 weeks. And I was not in pain like you, but I did crawl around on my hands and knees trying to seduce my husband with my huge 40 week pregnant belly. Good times.
Oh, I would not be down with castor oil. I am telling you the only thing I heard that works is the thing we discussed over email. However, it can be bad if she’s not ready…I will say the most annoying thing a 39 pregnant woman will hear “she will come when she’s ready.” Off to punish myself appropriately.
So excited for you!! Hope she turns around and maker her debut very soon!
Ahh how was your chiropractor appointment?! Did I miss the post? Probably…
it was great! i’m posting about it tomorrow 🙂
January 5th! Good luck girlfriend! Btw you are an inspiration. I’m excited to have a baby (starting to try late 2012!) but terrified of what it will do to my workout routine/energy levels/body and you give me hope that I can still get my sweat on while growing a human! Thank you for giving all of us the gift of your blog!
thank you so much for reading 🙂
I say Saturday, December 31st. Possibly in the middle of the night which would make her a New Year’s baby! 😉
I say some time in early Jan too!
January 1 st at 1130 am
Guessing december 31st! Last baby of the year 🙂
You Look amazing .all belly.
I was zero station and 4cm for two weeks. Ended up induced due to fluid issues and not the natural birth I intended. But hey ….I’m not in charge and haven’t been since the day little man started growing. The comment about personalities is true.
He was sunnyside up until an hour before I had to push. I was able to have a vaginal birth and LOVED EVERY SECOND. It will be the most important and empowering “work” you will do. Cherish it. No matter how she enters the world, just be healthy.
Cat/Cow — the only thing I haven’t seen on the comments. Helps flip the babe. And BODYWORK. I did it through a Doula. Amazing.
Not guessing the date …… she’s already on to us. LOL.
Wow .. my first day on this bloggy thing and I’m hooked!
all the best juju going your way.
Evening primrose oil helps the cervix along. I couldn’t tolerate ingesTing it, but it worked wonders internally. My labor with annabelle was 12 hours, five with Ben and all contractions were super productive!
HAHAHA loved that matress mambo comment about seducing by crawling around and crying out in pain. I got such a visual of you crawling around and literally made me laugh aloud. Goodluck with the rest of your pregnancy and I am sending you my well wishes! 🙂
Hey there : )
I put the link in my reply to the “10 days” post.
Totally get the whole due date being a clue to personality concept. I was 2 weeks late, born on Thanksgiving morning, and my mom went from 0 to delivery in 2 1/2 hours (thank goodness it was quick b/c I was trying to escape from the cruel world by choking myself out with my cord). I am a person who knows what I want, and I make decisions and manifest the results very quickly, but I never allow myself to feel rushed. (my mom just says I didn’t want to be a Scorpio!) I am very sensitive to the suffering in this world, and sometimes feel overwhelmed by it, hence the delayed delivery and cord “issue”. I also cannot stand having my neck touched, ever since I was little. Funny; I really enjoy the finer things, and I was born hand first….the doc said I was reaching for my daddy’s wallet 😉
My younger brother was right on time, and she went from 0 to delivery in under an hour. She literally thought she had to use the bathroom, and almost had him on the toilet!! He is very intense, passionate, strong willed, and cannot stand waiting, lol!
So your girl will be a Cappy. May I ask what sign you and Tom are? If you are not into it, I totally understand. I just think it’s fun.
that is so interesting! i love hearing about this sort of thing.
we’re both scorpios -crazy that we get along so well 😉
My DH is a Scorpio. Challenging in that I am a double Sagittarius, so our communication styles are completely different, but it has really helped us grow as individuals in order to respect what the other person needs 🙂
A girl Cappy with two Scorpois- not too shabby! 🙂
All of my mummy friends over here in the UK absolutely swear by Rasberry Leaf Tea… Perhaps you could give that a go?!
Also, I’m going with January 2nd. Nice and early in the day. xxx
I say 12:00 and :30 on Jan 1. I want you to be famous for having the first American baby of 2012!
I am betting on a New Year baby! 🙂
I am cracking up thinking of you bustin’ out some serious moves with your belly in all of its glory! You rock!
I shoved snow in the morning and went into labor at night. Gave birth the following morning. The funniest part is that it’s the same exact story for both kids 4 years apart. Both born in December.
walking was the only thing I did. I didn’t try to encourage him, i did participate in the mattress mambo regularly throughout my pregnancy all the way til the last day. The idea of NOT being able to for the following 6 weeks was my incentive. (uh, i know, tmi!) But walking was the only thing I was comfortable doing. My guess is that you will be a day or two before or after your due date. So, if there is no reason to stress it, don’t. and enjoy the last few days of it – once she’s out, you’ll miss that big belly!
You can also look into perineal massage. =X
Good LUCK!
I say Jan. 1st!
You look absolutely beautiful, by the way!