Michelle started her labor last night. If this labor is like the previous ones, she may still have a loooong way to go.
I learned a new term: prodromal labor. Sometimes referred to as "false" labor, there is nothing false about the way prodromal labor feels to the mother! It differs from active labor only in the respect that it does not progress continuously and without a break to the birth of the baby.
In all of her pregnancies, Michelle has experienced cramping and other labor symptoms months early, with increasing frequency and duration toward the end of each pregnancy.
Michelle had contractions most of the day yesterday. Last night they were frequent: between 1.5 and 2.5 minutes apart, lasting 30 to 60 seconds, over a period of several hours. Some were intense, requiring all her attention, while most of them were "mild," in the sense that she could get through them fairly easily by pausing and breathing carefully for a few seconds at the high point.
Michelle slept fitfully and woke up tired. I stayed at home today and took care of her and the girls. Havilah and Simcha understand that all this means the baby is coming soon. They got excited when our midwife came to visit.
All the girls' excitement was not good in terms of labor progression. They kept demanding attention from Michelle and from me. Although we don't mind giving them attention, it takes Michelle's focus away, adds tension, and inhibits labor progression. I called my parents, they came and got the girls and will keep them for a couple of days.
I didn't feel at all emotional, until I put them in the car and kissed them goodbye.
Michelle is more rested now, and seems ready, but her labor has slacked off again. I believe Saadia will be born tomorrow morning, but I hope she will be born tonight. That way, she and Michelle will share the same birthday!
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4 comments:
MASSES of good luck & good wishes to both of you - or should I say all THREE of you!
awesome.. cannot wait till she is born and then you have to invite me to your house to see the bundle of joy....
not to be pushy... you could not invite me as well... hehe... keep your bundle of joy to yourself... leave me out of touch...
you know you are a such a punk... fine i didn't want to see your little bundle of joy anyways...
Good luck!
It makes me appreciate the fact that i never went into lanour without external assistance;-) At least once it started I knew it would be all over within a few days.
Thanks for the well-wishing, everyone.
Arglor: I would be honored to have a visit after the baby is born. You have an open invitation to come any time.
JM: we like to "go natural" and we are against most medical interventions, however we do understand that sometimes those things are warranted, even necessary. We have strong opinions, but we're not dogmatic - that is, we're not opposed to induction and other interventions in EVERY circumstance.
As long as baby and mom are not at risk, we will go with the natural flow.
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