Labor Update

By
Elena @ Every Avenue Life
-
38
614

Just a quick update.

Last night after lots of walking, sex, Miles circuit, and a “Baby come out” hypnosis script I started having strong contractions that fit the pattern of real labor contractions (from the standpoint that they originate in the back, travel around to the front, kind of like a belt). The painless contractions I had before were just tightening and light cramps.

We stayed up timing them till 2 am, they were coming 8-10 min apart on average, lasting 45-60 seconds.
At 2 we decided to sleep a bit, though I’m not sure how much sleep I got since the contractions were strong enough that they kept waking me up.
At 6 am we went for a walk and went back to sleep till 11 or so.

The intensity isn’t so strong now since I’m moving around now (lying with contractions is the worst), but they are still 8-10 min apart.
I do occasionally have to stop talking or walking when one comes, while others are a bit less intense as long as I’m not lying down.

To be honest I’m not sure what it all means… I can tell these are the real deal (at least more real than the Monday ones were), but I’m not sure whether I’m going to progress and when. The 4 hours of more frequent but painless Monday contractions dilated me to 1 cm and effaced me by 40%, so I am hoping these stronger contractions are doing a bit more.

In a strange masochistic way I look forward to each contraction, but I guess it’s better than dreading them since I’m sure I’ll get to that point.

For the girls with my EDD who are also racing against the Thursday induction clock (Jordan and Jessica), I’m not exactly sure what made my contractions pick up in intensity and I’m not the kind of person to assign things to anything but proven facts, but…
I felt that the Miles Circuit (recommended by some of you) and the “Baby Come out” hypnobabies script that Crystal, a reader from Canada, who also happens to be a hypno doula, was so kind to email me, were the two things that helped things move along. That’s when I noticed the pick up in contractions, whether that’s what caused it or not.

I’ll be running out for errands now, with at least our labor and postpartum bags in the car in case this progresses quickly all of a sudden. But my hope is that by this evening/next morning the contractions will get close together.

Labor Update

On a separate note, I know a lot of you have been waiting for Boob Design to open their US store and I can tell you it’s finally here! (read about Boob Design here)
I don’t believe the spring line is out yet last time I checked, but you can snag some nursing and maternity items on winter clearance in the meantime.

Also, if you’re into organic clothes, B Nature that I wrote about here is having an amazing 50% off sale on super cute organic baby sets on GILT, too.

Latest belly shots:

{sorry for the lame cell phone shots}

40 weeks 1 day

Labor Update

Wearing: Boob Nursing shirt from spring collection and one of the 2 bottoms that still fit my belly: a maternity skirt my friend gave me.

40 weeks 3 days

Labor Update

Wearing: Another Boob Nursing shirt from spring collection and the other one of the 2 bottoms that still fit my belly: a maternity skirt my friend gave me.

Do you guys see a pattern? I’m out of maternity clothes 🙂 Lexie, come out!

Labor Update

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38 COMMENTS

  2. Oooh I’m so excited for you! I love all of the updates you’ve been giving and can’t wait for you to meet Alexis. Your life is about to become so much more amazing! 🙂

  14. Elena, this is my first comment but I love and stalk your lovely blog. Here’s wishing you a safe delivery and a healthy baby. You are in my thoughts and prayers 🙂 can’t wait to see pictures of Alexis

  17. I can’t wait to meet her! Thanks so much for answering my questions it was a plesent surprise to receive an email from you 😀 Please Alexis hurry up!

  18. You look amazing girl! With my last labor I had a longer labor like yours. Kind of on and off but it made me think that it was all progress. With both of my girls my labor went super fast and my son was the one that just dragged on. But I did walk into the hospital at a 6 and didn’t tear at all. So what I hear from others is that going slow is better for not tearing. You are doing awesome! Get your nails done and enjoy these last few moments before your little one is here.

  19. A couple of general questions I’d love to see you post about sometime. The first is what does your mom think of all that’s going down. Anything from what she thinks of the nursery to what she thinks of your childbirth prep (I know you said she was a little skeptical at first about all the stuff you were doing to prepare).

    Also, how much you think you spent on maternity gear and baby gear so far, whether or not you had a budget, and what you think was the best purchase, as well as the least useful. Thanks! GL!

  22. Hello! After reading about your extensive preparation for Alexis (mostly in regards to what you did to prepare your body), I am curious to read about how you prepared your 4 cats for her arrival. I saw that you let one of your fur babies into her nursery to explore a bit but aside from that have you done anything? I have been doing some research into products like comfort zone to calm down my cat for my baby’s arrival. (He’s never had any behavioral issues in the past but obviously I’m taking preemptive measures to ensure that it stays that way. Either way hopefully you can share what you have done in the cat department. Good luck with delivery.

  23. Good luck momma! I am at 40+4 or 40+5 (depending on how you count it) and no sign of labor yet. Nary a contraction. Nada. Just massive discomfort in the nether regions, courtesy of a very *deep* internal check yesterday 🙁 I most certainly hope you’ll get great news soon!!

  24. Hello. First time commenter here but I’ve been reading your blog for a while now. Just thought I’d share that I started having similar contractions (timing wise and strength of them) on a Monday evening (8pm) and didn’t deliver my daughter until 3pm Wednesday afternoon. But I was bad and didn’t move around a lot. Sounds like you’re doing a good job being “active” 😉

    I never thought I would be in early labor so long. I thought you start having contractions, head to the hospital and out comes baby. Lol. It was an exhausting couple of days. Maybe you’ll be in early labor for a few days too…?

    Hopefully you’ll progress to active labor soon…so you won’t be induced! Good Luck!!

  25. Oh my goodness, how exciting! Good luck Mama! I can’t wait to see little ones pics. It’s amazing that finally after so long the anticipation might be coming to an end! 😀

  26. Stalking your blog for updates! I hope your labor picks up before your induction. I am sure that you are doing everything that is reasonable and safe. Crossing my fingers!

  28. This is my first time commenting after following for a few months now. I am so darn excited for you and can’t wait for an update!!! I also wish you a safe delivery and a healthy baby, and know that even though we’ve never met, I’m thinking of you!

  29. Hi, Elena! This is my first time commenting, but I’ve been reading your blog for a little while now. First, I want to say that you look fantastic, and I can’t even imagine how exciting this is for you two! I’m nearly 9 weeks along with our first, and my hubby and I happen to have a similar approach and attitude toward pregnancy and labor/delivery, so you sort of strike a chord here:) I’m hoping that Alexis makes her grand debut very soon, and I hope that you guys have the birthing experience that you’re aiming for!

  30. I don’t know if you are still checking the comments or not but I read through your baby bag/hospital bag post and I had this thought (and figured you might be more likely to check these comments than those ones at this point). You might want to use newborn disposable diapers for the first week or so. Both Up&Up and Huggies have this little line on the outside of the newborn diaper that tells you when they are wet. This sounds dumb but when they are brand new it’s sometimes hard to tell if they have urinated or not (because it’s such a small amount).

    Since you are breastfeeding, it will be important the first week or so for you to be able to know how many wet and dirty diapers she is having because that is how you will be able to gage if she is eating enough. After the first week or so once your milk comes in and she starts to gain weight in a more substantial way it won’t be such a big deal but at first it can be. Plus, if you are anything like I was you might be a bit paranoid about how much she is eating (even with a super supportive pediatrician and family circle like I had). Best of luck!

  32. CONGRATULATIONS ON LEXI!!! I can’t wait to see pictures and hear the story!! I am so thrilled for you both!! Yay yay yay!!! I was just as excited to hear that you had given birth as I am when I hear the same from friends!!! You’re so wonderful and I adore your blog! Congratulations sweetie!!!

  34. Elena,
    Your blog is so lovely. I don’t have any children currently, but your blog is one I visit daily.
    I can’t wait to see pictures of Alexis! I know she will be just as beautiful as her mum.
    All the best!

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