Contraction Log

Yes, I'm a total nerd. This is my contraction log that was exported from this fantastic app (iPhone) called Full Term. Jonathan also had it downloaded on his phone, so these are just the contractions timed on my phone between leaving the house and arriving at the hospital (the second and final time).

February 25, 2012

Start Time	End Time	Duration (mm:ss)	Frequency (mm:ss)
10:57 AM	10:58 AM	00:37	--
11:04 AM	11:05 AM	01:00	06:19
11:12 AM	11:13 AM	00:42	08:23
11:22 AM	11:23 AM	00:47	09:45
11:36 AM	11:37 AM	00:56	14:15
11:53 AM	11:54 AM	01:11	16:45
12:02 PM	12:03 PM	01:08	09:05
12:07 PM	12:07 PM	00:29	04:35
12:13 PM	12:14 PM	00:52	06:07
12:26 PM	12:27 PM	00:57	13:10
12:33 PM	12:34 PM	01:07	06:48
12:40 PM	12:41 PM	01:13	06:55
12:45 PM	12:45 PM	00:32	05:15
12:49 PM	12:49 PM	00:39	03:39
12:52 PM	12:52 PM	00:01	03:21
12:55 PM	12:56 PM	00:56	02:47
1:01 PM	1:02 PM	00:37	06:15
1:07 PM	1:08 PM	01:10	05:34
1:17 PM	1:18 PM	01:04	10:11
1:21 PM	1:21 PM	00:32	04:05
1:28 PM	1:29 PM	00:41	07:10
1:36 PM	1:37 PM	00:44	08:17
1:40 PM	1:41 PM	00:39	04:09
1:46 PM	1:47 PM	00:49	06:01
1:49 PM	1:50 PM	00:44	02:50
1:51 PM	1:51 PM	00:35	01:31
1:56 PM	1:56 PM	00:44	04:41
2:01 PM	2:02 PM	01:01	05:42
2:06 PM	2:06 PM	00:44	04:27
2:09 PM	2:10 PM	01:09	03:02

39 Weeks 1 Day

My entry from Saturday morning, at the beginning of labor. Here ends the pregnancy journaling :) The rest was written after the fact and is now "new mom" journaling.

"though there may be pain in the night - joy comes in the morning."

"every good and perfect gift comes from you"

Saturday, February 25, 2012 6:33 AM
[Picture I took and attached to this note - the view from our backdoor]

39 Weeks

This note is slightly edited to take out my comments on some detailed descriptions that perhaps other pregnant women would be interested in, but probably isn't appropriate for the general population. So, if you're one of those women and would like to know - feel free to ask questions!

Wahoo! We had our appointment this morning at 10:45 - had to wait a while to see the doctor. I was feeling unsure about where we were in this process… Like, have a really progressed? Or am I going to have to wait another 1-2 weeks?

Dr. did the exam and said I was -1, 60% effaced and 3 centimeters. I couldn't help but be totally excited when he said I was three centimeters!! I've been just giddy ever since. I've had some contractions this afternoon - about every 20-30 minutes, which is promising for me because I haven't really had many contractions in the afternoon. The ones we've been able to count and keep track of have occurred in the evening. I haven't been timing them, but just watching the clock when they start so I know about how often. I've been good or tried to be good about not getting too excited about every little tightening or sensation in the last two weeks or so, and I had made up my mind before going in to the appointment today that nothing much was going to happen, so as to not get my hopes up prematurely, but i cannot help but be so excited that the time might be sooner rather than later!

Lord, you know all things - and as Dad just reminded me and as I've been thinking about over the last few days, "there is a season for everything. A time to be born…" I know that you've set aside the day Liam will arrive since way before I even thought about having children. So, I just let go of my expectations and give them to you. Father, my family is trooping up here to come be with me and to be here for the event… so I just hand that pressure of "performing" over to you. You know what is best and you know when Liam will be born. I pray that you would make the time I have together with my family a blessing. I pray that you would unite us together and that we would be a blessing to each other. I pray for safe travels for Mom and Dad and good timing - I pray for safe travels for my sisters. I pray that you would bless their car ride and fill that car with peace. I pray that the tension would melt away and that they would set aside all fear or anxiety. Father, I pray for Jonathan that you would encourage him and strengthen him at work today. I pray that he would be able to finish up the things that he needs to and that all would go well. I pray that he would have a sense of closure on these projects and that they wouldn't linger over the weekend or even over the next week or so. Thank you Lord for preparing me for this :). You are so gracious. Thank you for this week to be quiet and be still a bit. What a treasure. I pray that you would allow me to make the most of this afternoon too - just to be quiet and still before you and to walk into this sacred event with reverence and humility. Jesus thank you that you have gone before and that you are author and finisher. Thank you that you are the great "Deliverer"! How precious is that to me.

Documentation on the week:

I think I did ok making notes earlier this week - but I thought I'd recap what I remember before I totally forget :).

This past weekend we did a good job of counting contractions while we watched some TV. I may have had some during the night Saturday or Sunday nights. But Tuesday and Wednesday this week were fairly quiet. I went for a long walk with Achilles around Patterson park on Tuesday, ate a burger at Kooper's Tuesday night and didn't feel that great going to bed. Wednesday I went for a walk with Maggie down to the harbor, but I was moving super slowly. Wasn't as rigorous as the Patterson walk, but it was still probably 2 miles or so. Thursday night (last night) I went to yoga. That was pretty tough. I definitely had a contraction in the beginning of class :). We did a million deep squats, which I felt like I did awesome at for the first time ever, and over all it was an awesome class. Jonathan and I timed some contractions when I got home (every 20-30 min for a couple hours), but they more or less stopped by the time I was going to sleep. I felt kinda nauseated when I decided to go to bed. I've been drinking a ton of fluids today because I was worried my nausea was from dehydration. Which, it could've been. The last two nights though, I've gotten up every 1-2 hours to go to the bathroom. so - about 5-6 times during the night. Not great for a good night's sleep, that's for sure. [...] Last night we walked to Dangerously Delicious to get some pie after my contractions had stalled a bit. I couldn't tell if I was contracting while we were walking or not. I think I might have been, but it's hard to tell what's just uncomfortable bc I have a baby bouncing on my lower stomach/bladder and what's a contraction. So, that's when I just came home, had my pie, and went to sleep.

So, I think that pretty much catches things up. I never lost a mucus plug all at once - I think that must have been the last couple weeks over time [...]

I think I'll vacuum some now :) Our floors are pretty dirty. and then keep working on the laundry.

Mom and Dad will probably get here in about 3 hrs or so, and the girls won't arrive until much later, I don't think (they're leaving now).

So - it's now 10:45 and I'm about to close my eyes and see if I can get some rest. I had a good afternoon of time to myself and some cleaning with contractions about 30 minutes apart since 12:00 when I got back from the OB. They started to increase in frequency when Jonathan and I walked to Darbar for Indian food with Lee and MC. Mom and Dad arrived right as we were finishing eating and they took us home. Mom is silly excited which requires some amount of energy to deal with - but I'm so glad I got to be prayed for by Mom and Dad tonight. I always feel so empowered and lifted up when they pray.

I lost my mucus plug at about 9:45, right before Jonathan and I went for a walk to collect ourselves. I wondered if I already had gradually over the last few weeks, but I'm pretty sure [that] was it! We walked and I had some more contractions - I could feel myself losing focus in the conversation or not quite being able to complete my sentence... But nothing show-stopping painful yet. Got a shower when I got home and had several contractions in the shower which actually hurt. I moved around a bit and that seemed to help - shifting my hips around changed where the pressure was...

Anyway. Now my hair is dry, I ate some yogurt and had something to drink. I should let go a bit because I think I only have so long.

Lord, give us wisdom and give us peace!

Friday, February 24, 2012, 9:55 AM
39 Weeks

38 Weeks 5 Days

I am certainly wrestling with some varying emotions right now - and have been the last couple of days. I was stoked when I was having a bunch of contractions over the weekend in the evenings and some at night. The last couple days though… I've just felt kinda down, kinda crummy, and nothing that seemed like contractions - but just general discomfort (GI irregularity, that kind of thing). I have been doing some work from home, but I definitely feel the urge to hibernate and not do anything else. I know I'm supposed to be distracting myself and doing other things, but I have zero desire to clean my house, very little desire to do any work, and have barely talked myself into reading/journaling.

I'm listening to this song by "Enter the Worship Circle" called "He Will Come." I've thought several times over the last week about how in Matthew Jesus likens the signs of the Lord's coming to labor pains ("All these are but the beginning of the birth pains." Matt. 24:8). So I am stuck between these things - knowing he will come, but not knowing when. I'm sure there is something I should learn from that… I guess I'm looking around and seeing what we've done to prepare - our bags are packed and waiting at the top of the stairs, I have snacks and drinks loaded into the car, along with the car seat and stroller. But the rest of my house is pretty much in disorder. It's not perfect. It's not clean. There are tons of unfinished projects everywhere… And at the moment, I'm wondering… is now the time for me to take on these projects? Or, is this just how life is? The world keeps spinning regardless, and I should be ok with him being born in medias res?

And, I also feel alone. I want to hibernate, but I don't really want to do and be by myself. Makes me worry a little bit for when Liam is actually here, but I think I will focus on today and sort out what I need to be doing today.

38 Weeks 3 Days

I think I've really put on the blinders now and am looking ahead… or looking inward. I think that the reason I keep saying he could come at anytime is not because if I don't go into labor tomorrow, I'll be upset (although I would LOVE to go into labor tomorrow afternoon :)), but because I feel like there are so many people who don't understand the eminence of this situation. Everyone keeps saying, When is your due date? Well, at forty weeks… How much longer till you're due? And I think I'm just feeling frustrated that people don't understand that life doesn't go on our schedule. We don't get to decide when someone is born or when someone dies. We love to plan and we love to know the answers… but that's just not what happens. So, may I acknowledge the Lord in all my ways and not put a timetable on when Liam arrives. Lord - you have decided before time the days of our lives:

"in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them." Psalm 139:16

Photostream from February 20th
Jonathan sets up the baby monitor

38 Weeks 1 Day

Went to see Dr H yesterday - status report was Liam is at 0 station, I'm somewhat effaced (no percentage given), and I'm maybe a centimeter or so dilated.

Yesterday and last night I was having cramping pretty much throughout the afternoon and evening - but by bedtime, things had calmed down and I didn't really have any action that I noted in the night. Feeling better this morning. Curious to see if I'll have another day like yesterday or if my body will be more relaxed today.

Dr. H is in Colorado now till Tuesday evening - I just don't know when this beginning action will continue. I guess that's what happens - the cramping just gets more intense instead of dissipating. Dr Herbst thinks I'll have an appointment with him next Friday... I'm not so sure. But we'll see how today goes :)

Haircut at 9:00 and brunch at 11:00!

Jonathan and I had a great day today - haircuts together, brunch with Claire and her husband Chris, Trader Joes, short shopping trip to get Jonathan jeans and a going home outfit for Liam, walk with the dogs, made dinner together - and then we were both really tired. So we just spent the last 4 hours or so watching tv shows :). We watched Modern Family and several episodes of Alcatraz. In the middle of watching tv I was still enough to pay attention to what was going on with my body. I had several contractions throughout the time we were relaxing on the couch, but it was hard to tell when one started and stopped and all. Liam has certainly been moving around a bunch. I feel him really low now - really really low. When he's moving around it kind hurts because I can feel him right behind my bladder. When we were making our way to bed I had some what I assume is sciatic nerve pain - sharp pain in my right inner thigh. I downloaded a contraction app for my phone and have tried to keep track somewhat - I'm totally having one right now, but my phone is charging, so I haven't been catching them all. But I'm certainly not in active labor. I think they are like 15 or 20 minutes a part… I'm not sure. But, it's like mom and the doctor have said - I'm not going to miss it, I don't think. So, best thing for me to do right now is to go to sleep, and they'll probably chill out over night like they have been the last few nights. I think that pulling out the timer made Jonathan a little more on edge :). I've been having contractions the last few days, but hadn't really timed them… so now that I started trying to time them I think he gets it. And, it's cool because I can let him feel them as they come on. See, I know I'm not in active labor because it's still "cool" and "exciting." Gotta wait till it's painful before it's really going strong.

Well, Lord! Thank you for today. Thank you for such sweet time with Jonathan together. Thank you for an incredible husband who loves you and cares for other people and who has been so supportive of me. I pray that you would protect us as we step into this next life phase. Lord, may we always cry out to you in our insecurity as parents. Father, I pray that you would help us to just honor you with everything that we are and to serve you as we take care of Liam. Thank you for the time you've given us so far - what a blessing to have him, even though I haven't seen him face to face. Lord, I pray that you would take care of him and protect him as he prepares to be born. I pray for peace over my body and his, and I just ask for your palpable presence to accompany us through this process. Father, I pray that you would calm Jonathan's worries about our families. Lord, they are all completely out of our control, but completely under yours. I pray that you would arrange for the right people to show up at the right time. I pray that you would continue to give us treasured moments. I pray that you would just hedge us in and allow us to make the most of our time together. Lord, I pray that you would bless and multiply our sleep tonight. Thank you that you've already gone before us and made every preparation for us. You are good and you are faithful.

"Be please to save me, Lord; come quickly, Lord, to help me…
But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
You are my God, do not delay."
Psalm 40:13, 17

38 Weeks: Nearing the Finish/Beginning

I'm lying in bed this morning, working on waking up and getting ready for the day. I have an appointment at 10:45 to check on things - see if I've progressed much. I wonder what news the appointment will bring. I've certainly had some contractions the last few days, but nothing regular. And seeing as I've never done this before, I'm not sure what it all means. Also, from conversations I've had with other pregnant women - I'm not sure if you really know for subsequent children either. But I'd say for the last two weeks I've been slowly hibernating myself as much as I can. Which is so weird for me, because I never really feel free to let things go or to slow down. But as much as I've been compelled to get things done prior, I just feel like I want to hole up a bit. Monday I didn't go into work and I took a nap (amazing that I took a nap), and I think I've worked a total of like…. 9 hours this week. I think it's like what my yoga instructor was saying - there is a time for expansion and a time for contraction. Now is the time/season for contraction.

Lord Jesus, thank you for these days before I go into labor. I thank you for the opportunity to be more quiet than I usually am. I pray that you would allow me to really be still before you and hear from your heart. I pray for that peace that passes all understanding. I pray that you would go ahead of me and prepare the way. I pray that the room I am in would be just the one you'd have for me. I pray that my nurses would be just the ones you'd have for me to have this experience with. I pray Lord that Jonathan and I would bless you and bless the people around us as we go through this transformation. Father, I pray that you would prepare the way for our families. God, I ask that the right people would come at the right time. It's so easy for me to worry about who will show up and who won't, who will intrude and who won't even bother to come. Father, I just commit all of that to you. You are with me always and will never leave me. I thank you for that truth. I pray that you would lead and guide the rest - our family, friends, etc. I pray that you would be truly honored and blessed by our lives and this particular part of our lives.

Father, I pray for Liam. Jesus - I thank you that he belongs to you, first and foremost. Jesus, I just ask for mercy on me and on Jonathan. I pray that you would help us to be repentant people. I pray that we would acknowledge our weaknesses and look to you for redemption and change. I pray that you would make us good parents.

Notes:

I'm huge - none of my clothes fit me anymore. I'm unwilling to buy more with the end in sight… although, I am unsure of how my body will be afterwards. I guess I'm not worried about how it will be, but it is so unknown to me how I will feel about my body. Lord, I pray that you would allow me to stay positive and to take good care of myself! I cannot get my head around us having a baby. Which seems ridiculous at this point. I love feeling him and I know him in there, but it's hard to imagine that he is a full grown infant in there :). I can't believe we are so close to looking him in the eyes and touching his hands with our hands. We packed up a diaper bag for Liam with some of his clothes in it last night… I can't even imagine what will actually fit him, what his body will be like. Can't wait!! But want to savor these moments too, that are so quiet and peaceful.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Almost 38 Weeks