But birth is such a natural thing, and you aren't planning to freebirth at home on your own, right? Obviously it's totally up to you, but just letting the lactaction consultant at the hospital spend time showing you tips and tricks (while you're still there anyway) can make a HUGE difference!! Like birth, the fact that it's natural doesn't mean it's always easy. And they have seen and handled as many boobs as your Ob has vaginas during delivery! I want to see you succeed, and research has shown that good support at the beginning, from friends, family, and pros, makes a huge difference. Just think about it.

Labby... I'm so sorry you're feeling frustrated and there's not much I can say to help. I bet there is something right about your intuition, and it's a shame that doesn't count for much with doctors. An induced labor is definitely more difficult to manage without meds, for lots of reasons. It can be done, but keep an open mind so you don't beat yourself up if it is harder than you had expected. Definitely talk to your doctors about intermittent monitoring and a saline or hep lock. Mine (3 docs plus a midwife) have all said they are open to those things provided everything is going "fine." My concern is that modern medicine has a very narrow definition of "fine." If anything looks slightly off kilter, they may force a change of plans. But it is your right to be proactive and advocate for these concessions. And then, hope for the best. That's all you can do. At the end, you'll have a healthy baby girl no matter what. Have you talked to them about stripping your membranes and an upcoming appointment or two? If the body is starting to progress, that's a semi-natural way to "induce." And of course, read up on other natural ways to get things going... sex (with him finishing inside), evening primrose oil, etc.

Came down with something ladies. Sneezing, coughing, headache, fatigue, runny nose. Egggh!! I called my doc, and they said Sudafed was safe, but I still don't want to take it. My nose also bled to bad today after blowing my nose so much, I had a very hard time stopping it, it was scary.

I applaud all of you brave ones trying to do natural labor. I also hear that labor inductions are much more painful than labor that starts on its own. Ive been trying to talk DH into sex in the next few weeks to try and "get things going", but he refuses!!! He has two reasons for this: He thinks the baby will see him, and he thinks the baby should just come when she is good and ready, and he has a point with the second one. Im just ready to meet her, and know that if she is born after 37 weeks, she is good to go!!! Im still very anxious to hear what my doctor says at my appt. on Thursday.

Sudafed is safe, just very ineffective and almost entirely pointless to take. :[

In the very beginning I was very sick with a cold I could not shake, and the Sudafed didn't alleviate any symptoms I had. So after 4 or 5 doses, I just gave up and rode it out. I hope you feel better soon though! I guess during the last trimester congestion problems and cold symptoms are common. I got my flu shot two weeks ago, and still get sniffles continuously. I think it's in part due to the new season coming in. Butttt.. since being pregnant during the summer made me nearly suicidal -- I think I'll thankfully accept the change of weather and bite back my complaints haha.

I can't waittt for baby!

And MW, I know what you're saying, but I don't need a consultant to tell me what's best for my baby or how to do it. And no, I'd never freebirth, lol, but that's different, giving birth is natural but a lot more things can go wrong doing that than breastfeeding! I'm confident that I'll do fine.

I have to agree with MW on the breastfeeding thing. We had our breastfeeding class last night and it was definitely helpful. While breastfeeding is natural, it is also a learned practice. Not every baby comes out and can latch on correctly right away for a variety of reasons. We were shown pictures of incorrect latches and what it can do to your nipples and all I can say is OUCH! It's no wonder people give up so soon and say it hurts so bad. I have a friend who had her baby in May and he was not latching well. She was about to give up because of the pain and frustration when her lactation consultant said she had one last thing to try and provided her with a special nipple shield. That did the trick and he was finally able to latch correctly and after a week or two she was able to give up the shield and feed him normally. The lactation consultants are there to help you get the proper technique to keep you and your baby healthy and comfortable, so I would definitely keep an open mind and take their advice if you are having problems while you are still in the hospital and can get their help. I think it's better to take their help while you can get it rather than be at home with a baby who isn't getting enough milk because of a bad latch and in turn you stop producing the amount you need and end up having to supplement.

MW - Thanks for your reassurances. Whatever the outcome, I just want my baby to be healthy so I'm trying not to think about it too much. I'm just really afraid of unnecessary medical interventions and being induced without any real need to be. It is kind of a double edged sword because I don't want her to come early because of my leave issues at work, yet they won't let her come late. So I have a very small window to try the natural ways to induce labor. I'm hoping next weeks growth scan will show that she is still a completely normal size and they will start treating me like a normal pregnant woman without all of the "high risk" hype.

I really wish I would have signed up for a breastfeeding class. There were classes offered through my OBGYN office, but I never signed up. I suppose if there is one in the next few weeks, I can squeeze it in!!

AFM-Fighting this bad head cold still. I feel awful. My nose is soo raw inside and out from blowing it so much, and OH, Im at that stage where I can't taste any of my food!! I hate that!!!! Took Sudafed earlier, Im still waiting for it to work. I took today off of work, and again tommorrow. I really can't afford to, but I figure with me being so pregnant, and sick, and working, it wouldn't be a great idea to work.

Nessa - I hope you feel better! Im glad you took off of work - relaxation is the only thing that will help you at ths point

I STARTED THE BABY ROOM THIS WEEK!!

Im so excited! I want to post the pictures sooo bad but im trying to hold off until we have more done. So far it is painted, the crib and dresser are all put together, and we put one of our three wall decals up. Im so excited! The bed set should be coming tomorrow - maybe ill post in a few days with more pictures!

Im going to see a lactation consultant as well. Im just not sure how to do everything - and while i know its natural, i would rather learn all different ways to make it more comforatable for myself and for baby

Its getting so close for so many of you! Pretty soon Sapphire and i are going to be the only ones left in here! hee hee

Yeah, still not doing it. But anyways. I am loving the fall weather. I don't know where everyone else is, but we had a pretty hot and sticky summer and normally that'd be all well and good but being pretty pregnant during it made me miserable. Mostly in part to my car AND house's ACs kicking the bucket. So this cool air coming in for the new season is beaaautiful to me. So happy about it.

Tomorrow October starts!!!! Meaning 4 more days 'til my due date. I have an appointment at 9 today, then no more 'til 2 days after my anticipated due date. So I think I may ask to be checked for dilation. Not only to know if I've started but to know what it feels like, haha.

I had help from a nurse in the hospital several times with breastfeeding my first born and I wasn't successful, even had an in house visit from a nurse to help me and still didn't work. With my second born I had a nurse at the hospital just help me once and he was hooked from then on and I didn't need anymore help. The reason the latch wasn't good with my first born is because she was tongue tied, so remember that if your child is tongue tied, it may not work well and be very painful.

Nessa, sorry you aren't feeling well! That was my experience, too, lol! I had a bout of allergies a week or two ago, and it really only lasted about a week, but it sucked! I was worried it was going to settle in to stay! I used a saline rinse everyday in the shower and a vaporizer. That seemed to help. The saline rinse was a gross process, but I recommend it. The kit I had (Walmart) looked like a giant nosespray bottle with these little powder packets you mix in water.

Kelleigh, good luck at your appt today! Like your doc, mine doesn't intend to start internal checks any time soon, not until 38 or 39 weeks at the earliest. At this point I think it would be helpful, but getting them much earlier doesn't always tell you much, since some women walk around for weeks with a little bit of dilation! I hear it can be uncomfortable, so it's a good chance to practice your coping techniques for early labor.

Briana, congrats on starting the baby's room! Our progress has been sloooow. But it's coming together now. Pics eventually, I hope!

They threw me a surprise shower here at work yesterday! It was very nice! Despite having been on the planning side of those before, I really wasn't suspicious. I thought it might happen, but didn't think a thing of it when my boss asked me over to the main building (my office is in a diff building, so it was easier for them to be sneaky!). But when I walked in and he said "into the conference room" I thought "Aha!!" Now I need to really look at our list and see what last little things we need. DH is off work this weekend, so I predict a trip up to BRU with our gift cards. Maybe we'll finally pick out a glider/rocker, LOL!

Haha, Nessa! That is funny how your husband that thinks that your baby will see him!

Hope you feel better soon. I am beginning to feel that natural discomforts during pregnancy are difficult enough without falling ill too. Am I totally off the mark?

Confused, I feel just as miserable being sick while pregnant as I did while not pregnant. The only thing that really really sucks is I want to run to the medicine cabinet and take Nyquil, or TheraFlu, but I have to stop and remember, that I can't!!! Otherwise I would!! Also being pregnant, your immune system is not as strong, so I think its taking me longer to recover.

Aww hope you guys start feeling better soon! I had bronchitis the week before giving birth and they prescribed me a Z Pack ( think that's what it was called ) and it cleared it up but it was so awful to be so big and sick and already miserable from the lack of sleep at night I was so thankful because my stomach muscles where so sore from pushing and from the cesarean it would have felt like being stabbed to cough after the baby!

PS the comment about walking around dilated it felt like my cervix was being stabbed with a fork and when I Was checked I was at a 3 and stayed that way for a week before being induced!

try and enjoy the pregnancy in these last few weeks because it is crazy how much you miss it after baby is a few months old!

You are all so close now! Good luck to you all.

Yes, everyone feel better now!!! We can't have any sick mommies with newborns running around, that'll just be terrible.

I just wanted to come in and update as to how my doc's appointment went. I did not have him check me for dilation, because he seemed not to keen on doing so since everything is going smoothly and on time (baby's dropped/lined up for delivery lol at least she's ready!!!!) and my measurements are good.. my due date is Monday, and my next OBGYN appointment is Wednesday if I am still pregnant, and at that appointment (if I need to go to it haha) he'll set up an induction date for the following week. I'm excited! But I hope I don't have to be induced.

Oh! And in other good news, I am now officially an online college student and start on the 26th of October. I wanted to add some perks to being a stay at home mommy. I will be finished with school the spring after this upcoming one.. so I will have lots of time to spend with her, but will be going back to work part time when she's about 6-8 months. THAT is the plan for now. I know all of us new mothers make plans and break them day by day, but it feels good to have it semi-figured out atleast.

Labby, I'm sorry to hear that your GD is still causing so much trouble! I would think you're on to something too with your instinct about your insulin & sugar levels. Is there any way to keep track of it for awhile and show that to your doctor as proof of a 'trend' like they're looking for? And while I'm sorry to hear that your relationship isn't what it used to be either, I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one. Were you able to have a good weekend together?

Kelleigh, congrats on becoming an online college student! And you're so close to your EDD now, I can't believe it!! Hoping she'll decide to come really soon. I hear you about those comments from other people too. If only they knew everything we've been through to get these babies.

Nessa, I hope you feel better soon! It really is miserable being sick and pregnant, and I agree that it takes longer to recover with our suppressed immune system, I've definitely seen that in myself.

Briana, it will be quiet when it's just you & I here! How have you been feeling? When's your next appt again? I know they're going to check to see if you're still measuring far ahead, right?

MW, that's awesome about your shower at work!! And like Labby, it's no good to hear you and DH are in a similar situation, but it is really good to know I'm not alone. I know there are other things we can do too, but neither of us have been that interested when we can't really finish how we'd like to. I'm glad that in your mind you're able to not take it personally, but I know it's still hard.

My DH has been so stressed lately with all that we have going on, he had his own meltdown a few days ago (luckily not while I was also having one!) and I saw how much this is affecting him too. I just hate to see him so stressed & miserable, especially when I'm no better off so can't do much to help. He's got some slightly different things stressing him out, but we're both not in great shape these days. He said this morning how he just can't wait for the baby to come so we can just focus on her and enjoy her instead of stressing about everything we have going on now. It was actually kind of cute.

Do any of you have any good exercises that you've been doing to get ready for labour? I'm definitely being more active these days and trying to keep that up, but I'd like to know about specfic stretches or exercises that will help with labour. Thoughts?

Thanks Sapphire. I know, right??!

Your ticker is wicked cute. I know I probably won't be saying this DURING labor, but right now, I am SO ready.. haha.

Sapphire... Perineal massage, baby! The thought makes me squirm, but it has been proven to reduce a first-time mom's need for an episiotomy, or her tearing. Many women will still have some natural tearing (now recognized as usually better than an episiotomy, unless the epi is clearly needed), but perineal massage can help reduce it. TMI Alert: I've been doing it, in the shower, and I can already tell a difference. This is especially helpful for anyone aiming for an epidural-free birth, b/c in addition to preparing the perinium, it gets you acclimated to that "sensation"... The first day I did the massage, I thought "Oh, hell no, I can't do this!" Now, I have a much higher tolerance for the otherwise unpleasant sensation. Fascinating, really.... Though I suspect those aren't the kinds of labor-prep exercises you're talking about! LOL! ... Squats, kegels, and anything that keeps your stamina up. Labor is like a marathon, and a woman without the stamina to hang in there is more likely to need other interventions from sheer exhaustion!

Saw your bump in the bump thread MW, its cute! And I can definetly see a difference since 34 weeks!!

Got back from my doctor appt. They did the GBS test. Blood pressure and urine still all okay. Im still measuring 3 weeks ahead, so they want to do another growth scan on the 6th, and a follow up appt., and hopefully I will know something more definitive then! Im getting so anxious. She also did an internal check, but my cervix is still closed, which I expected.

Nessa - I have another growth scan on the 6th too! They did my GBS test this past Tuesday but didn't do an internal check. I just posted an updated bump picture. I feel so little which scares me that she's not growing, but since she measured in the 66th percentile at 32 weeks all should be good. I'm interested to see how much she has grown since then since I don't think I look or feel any bigger than I did at 33 weeks.

You have a cute bump labby. I am envious that you are not huge like me. Whenever I tell people that Im not due until the 27th, they look at me and my belly like "whoa, you gotta be kidding". My weight seems to have slowed down. I am only up another 1.5lbs since my last appt 2 weeks ago. Im pretty happy about that.