I hope you and your DH feel better soon Sapphire. Im glad that you called your OB and got some treatment although I still imagine how nervous you are. One of my nieces has chicken pox that she apparently picked up from childcare and it was still undiagnosed the last time I saw her (they thought it might have been an allergic reaction to some medicine she's been taking) so Im SO nervous every time I get an itch.

Good luck 4 Nikki! I hope that baby stays turned the right way.

Sapphire, my sister caught the flu (they think the H1N1) she's currently 36 weeks pregnant and she seems to be doing much better. She's got to take something too for a week or something, but it's too late anyways because she started it over th weekend. Hope you feel better soon hun!

Sorry Sapphire it looks like I totally ignored you but I have responded to you else where honey x x

So lovely to hear from you Sapphire! And look at you! 34 weeks pregnant. You will be meeting your little one before you know it!! Im glad to hear that you called your OB when you started feeling crappy! It sucks that you have to quarantine your DH and avoid him like the plague, but it is for the best. They gave me the flu and h1n1 vaccine in the hospital before they discharged me, so Im grateful for that!!

Nikki, sounds like the contractions are a positive sign!! I can't remember, but is this baby #1 for you? #2?? My DH and I always wonder when our little Sofie would have come had they not induced my labor, although I still believe she would have come on the 28th due to the contrations I was having!! I hope you have your little girl soon!!

This is baby number 4 for me and she is still head down. Nope I'm still here I am now 4cm and 75% effaced. I have been having contractions since Sunday. She stripped my mucus again and now my contractions are ranging between 3-5 min. I never dealt with this before I always was induced. This is a new experience for me so ladies I have a question. If the contractions range from 3-5 min for an hour is that considered active labor or do I have to go through every 5 min for an hour. Thanks in advanced

Nikki... I think you want them to be at least 5 minutes close together, for about an hour. But, you might go more quickly with it being number 4! And it depends on how you feel about pain management. I felt strongly about staying home as long as I could, to minimize interventions (didn't do me much good in the end, but I wouldn't change a thing!). So, I was every 2 1/2 minutes when I went in! A bit nuts by most standards, lol! Your post was over an hour ago... how is it going now??

After the flurry of late October babis, it's fun to see some action in here again! Good luck!

Nikki, I think it depends on the doctor. Has thr doctor told you when to report to the hospital. My doctor said not to report to he hospital until the contractions are 2-5 minutes apart consistently for more than an hour. And they need to be strong enough to not be able to walk through or talk through. But again, all OBs have their own preferences.

Nikki, very exciting for you!! It sounds like you could be in labour and hopefully will have your little one very soon!!! Thinking of you xoxox

Thanks for your support ladies. We're managing okay. DH is has more of a cough and I feel bad that he can't get tamiflu to make it better!! I'm still okay, really weak, not much appetite (I eat when my sugars are so low I start getting dizzy really). My temp has gone up a degree or two since yesterday, but it's still not too high to be worried.

Gutter, it's good to hear that your sister is doing okay. It's scary when you hear how many third trimester ladies are in ICU due to flu!!

nessa, glad you were able to get the vaccine in hospital. The complications are scary and being protected is good! Is it hard to get the vaccine in the US?

SweetestTea, I hope you stay chickenpox free! it's so much scarier when there's a baby to worry about, isn't it?

Cleo, no worries, I will have to go check out your reply soon

Briana, how are you these days???

Well I'm still here ladies. The contraction ended up going away and they have been off and on since. I am so ready for my babygirl to come. I am so tired, I can't walk, (sigh) I can barely turn in the bed without my hips hurting. I don't understand why they have me walking around 4 cm anyway. I always need help to go into labor so I don't understand why they still have me suffering. Ohhhhhhh boy I don't know what to do. I am about to take a hot bath and rub some EPO on my belly. Lets see if that works.

Nikki, OBs have a knack for wanting to let baby cook as long as possible!! The only reason why I was induced was because of my blood pressure, or my doctor would have sent me home after my appt, and I was already 40 weeks!! I personally didn't want to be induced, but had no choice. I was terrified of ending up with a csection, since I heard they are more common with inductions. Im surprised that this being your 4th baby, that you made it this far!!

Nikki, I'm sorry to hear you're still in limbo land with these contractions but yet no proper labour! i hope that changes real quick for you and you go into labour all on your own. Fingers crossed, lots of luck to you!!! It can't be much longer now.

AAah, popped on here expecting an update from Nikki! Hang in there, girl! Labors often start slowly, but there is an end in sight
11

QUICK UPDATE!

Landon Everett was born on November 11, 2009 due to an emergency C-Section and a severe case of HELLP Syndrome. HE was 5 pounds 2.2 ounces and gorgeous. He is currently in the NICU. I was just released tonight from the hospital with blood pressure medication and strict monitoring. Ill give the full birth story soon ladies! Hope you are all doing well...

Sorry its so short... pictures to follow!!

Oh How scary! Glad you are both ok now, and congratulations on your little boy!! Rest up

Congrats Briana on your little boy!!! Sorry to hear about the scare but glad you are both alright.

Congrats Brianna. Sorry he came early, but NICUs nowadays are sooooo good, and your little boy is gonna do good!!! How are you doing? Cant wait to hear your birth story!!

Congrats Briana! I hope he gets to go home with you soon!

I feel bad I am so late, but Congrats Briana!!!! I pray your little one will be home soon. And Im looking forward to reading your birth story.

Congrats, Briana. Glad that both of you are safe.

Hello ladies sorry I'm just getting to you. I have been so busy trying to maintain a household with four children. Well here is my story.

Well just an update I went to see my OB/GYN on Nov 4 and she decided to strip my membranes again. It started off with real bad contraction, but nothing that was consistent. So by the night of the 5th my contractions were completely gone again. So I decided to go on the computer to try and find a safe way to induce and I came across a website that stated you can induce yourself by rubbing castor oil on your belly and then putting a hot towel across it, but it will only work if your body is ready for labor. So I decided I was going to do it in the morning when I wake up. That morning of Nov 6 I woke up at 7:05am and decided it was time for me to get up and try it. I put a complete coat of castor oil on my belly and then put the towel in the microwave to warm it for about 20sec. I laid on the couch and put the towel across my whole belly until the towel was cold. By that time it was about 7:30am. My contractions started immediately. At first it felt like a whole bunch of pressure then they hit me like a ton of bricks. They came every five minutes. I call my neighbor because she was my ride and then call my doctor. After that there was no more talking for me because the contractions where now 3 minutes apart. So I'm on my way to the hospital and I swear it felt like an eternity. I finally reached the hospital and they took me back. I had already registered online so I didn't need to fill out any paperwork. The nurses came in and check me I was 6cm with a bulging bag. She stated that once the doctor breaks my water I would deliver in no time. By this time my DH reached the hospital and the doctor was coming in to break my water. Soon as my water broke I went straight to 9cm and before I knew it I had to push. So I started pushing and pushing and pushing and she was not coming then the doctor discovered she was laying on her side. So now I'm pushing extra hard to get her to turn. It usual takes me about three pushes, but I pushed for 10 minutes and she final flew out (literally) at 10:12am. I delivered a healthy baby girl Aleenah Davis 7lb 12oz 20 3/4in. I am so grateful and blessed to have another healthy child.

Thank you ladies for going through my pregnacy experience with me and for sharing yours. I wish you ladies the best of luck with your new bundle of joy.