Flash back to the day before your LO was born.

Do you remember how you was feeling? What did you do? Would you have done something different if you could go back and re-do it?

[Vincent'sMommy]

I guess technically the day before he was born I spent most of the day in labor since he was born at 3 AM. I started having contractions around 4 AM the day before but wasn't sure that's what it was right away. Anyway I spent the whole day at home picking up, resting, getting on JM, then later I was doing hypnobabies, timing my contractions, watching TV, etc. and left for the hospital around 8 that night. I don't think I could have done anything different that day.

But I also remember the day before I went into labor. It was the day before my due date so I was getting excited but trying to be patient. It was a sunny Saturday and that morning I went to Once Upon a Child (but I can't remember if I bought any clothes or anything) then went to the mall because I needed a new pair of sandals badly and finally found the kind I was looking for. I walked around the mall for a while hoping it would help get things going. Then on the way home I stopped at Dairy Queen for lunch. I spent the rest of the day at home. That afternoon I did my Hypnobabies and took a nap and got online. I listened to music and I did the Come OUT Baby Hypnobabies track. I don't remember much else about that night. I don't think I would have done anything differently that day because I had no idea I would be in labor very soon. I honestly thought it would be another week or longer.

[SarahBethsMommy]

I feel pretty good about the day he was born. I might have gone in a little earlier had I known what was going on. When I got to the hospital my BP was super high and his heart rate was decelerating a LOT.

I also would have liked to breastfeed him a bit before they took him to the nursery, but I kept expecting him to have issues breathing and need to go to the NICU, so I let them take him on. But otherwise, I was just over the moon to discover he was a boy, healthy and was able to go to the well-baby nursery.

[sfarrow3]

Well I had an emergency c-section due to my PRE-E. I had a regular doctor's appointment the day she was born, but the night before I spent most of the evening resting and monitoring my BP, which had caused me to have to work half days and take it very easy. I was worried and excited because the next day I was going to be exactly 37 weeks and I was hopeful that if she came then she and I would be ok. I was somewhat miserable though because I was so swollen from all the water retention. There is nothing I could have done differently because I had Pre-E and it was out of my hands. I did what the doctor instructed me and that was rest and monitor baby movement.


This is O/T but that's why I fear so much to have a 3rd baby. I had pre-e both pregnancies and the second pregnancy was worst. I was placed on bed rest earlier than with Caden, I had more water retention and I ended up having an emergency c-section.

[shockandawe]

Originally Posted by sfarrow3

Well I had an emergency c-section due to my PRE-E. I had a regular doctor's appointment the day she was born, but the night before I spent most of the evening resting and monitoring my BP, which had caused me to have to work half days and take it very easy. I was worried and excited because the next day I was going to be exactly 37 weeks and I was hopeful that if she came then she and I would be ok. I was somewhat miserable though because I was so swollen from all the water retention. There is nothing I could have done differently because I had Pre-E and it was out of my hands. I did what the doctor instructed me and that was rest and monitor baby movement.

I remember feeling pretty miserable too. I was still working from home, and trying to get through the last couple of days without going on complete bed rest early. So while I was taking naps and long rest breaks from work, I was also trekking back and forth to the dr's office and the labour and delivery triage at the hospital to be monitored daily the entire week. I was tired, and swollen. Couldn't use a knife or a pen from the swelling. I remember thinking, please god just let me have her in my hands instead of inside my body happy and healthy. I also remember going home and calling my mom to let her know I was going to be induced and finding out that she had come home early from vacation on the off chance that Maggie would be early. I remember feeling suddenly terrified that we were skipping induction and going straight to the emergency c-sect. I hadn't even brought my bag to the hospital because I just expected it to keep dragging out - everything else in my life always drags on much longer than necessary - especially when it's not fun or something I want to do. I also remember being exhilerated when things started happening. It's so hard to describe, but I don't think I'll ever forget how intense it was.

[sfarrow3]

Originally Posted by shockandawe

I remember feeling pretty miserable too. I was still working from home, and trying to get through the last couple of days without going on complete bed rest early. So while I was taking naps and long rest breaks from work, I was also trekking back and forth to the dr's office and the labour and delivery triage at the hospital to be monitored daily the entire week. I was tired, and swollen. Couldn't use a knife or a pen from the swelling. I remember thinking, please god just let me have her in my hands instead of inside my body happy and healthy. I also remember going home and calling my mom to let her know I was going to be induced and finding out that she had come home early from vacation on the off chance that Maggie would be early. I remember feeling suddenly terrified that we were skipping induction and going straight to the emergency c-sect. I hadn't even brought my bag to the hospital because I just expected it to keep dragging out - everything else in my life always drags on much longer than necessary - especially when it's not fun or something I want to do. I also remember being exhilerated when things started happening. It's so hard to describe, but I don't think I'll ever forget how intense it was.

DId you have pre-E too? It is so wierd to me how pregnancy affects people! Some people sail through thier pregnancy and have a nice easy (in terms of baby's heart rate decel and the risk of baby or mommy losing thier lives) delivery. For me it seems like my body just doesn't handle it very well. It's so frustrating when God made our bodies to carry and deliver babies, but then our bodies fail on us!

[dinamommy]

I think I felt just fine. I don't remember specifically, though. I'm sure I just had a normal day. I contracted off and on all night that night and went into real labor the next morning. I had him just before noon. It's all kind of a blur because it went to fast and furiously. Man. I wish all my deliveries would have been that easy.

[nevergivingup]

I remember feeling very anxious, but I had been feeling that way for a few weeks. I was uncomfortable but it wasn't too bad. I mostly just wanted him out so I could hold him I wasn't having contractions, those didn't start until after my water broke the next morning. I don't think I would change anything or do anything different

[SarahBethsMommy]

Originally Posted by sfarrow3

Well I had an emergency c-section due to my PRE-E. I had a regular doctor's appointment the day she was born, but the night before I spent most of the evening resting and monitoring my BP, which had caused me to have to work half days and take it very easy. I was worried and excited because the next day I was going to be exactly 37 weeks and I was hopeful that if she came then she and I would be ok. I was somewhat miserable though because I was so swollen from all the water retention. There is nothing I could have done differently because I had Pre-E and it was out of my hands. I did what the doctor instructed me and that was rest and monitor baby movement.


This is O/T but that's why I fear so much to have a 3rd baby. I had pre-e both pregnancies and the second pregnancy was worst. I was placed on bed rest earlier than with Caden, I had more water retention and I ended up having an emergency c-section.

I had pre-e with all three pregnancies. But my first was by far my worst. I made it farther with my second and then to 35 weeks with Daniel. And the symptoms weren't as severe the second and third time. I would just say watch yourself, know your body, and insist that your doctor listen to you closely. Daniel was only born when he was because I had nurses who were arguing with the doctor on call that he NEEDED to be born that night and couldn't wait until the next day.

[mommytokem]

I was tired as I'd been up half the night with contractions for the third night in a row so in the morning I rested and then I convinced dh to go to Applebees for lunch and then we shopped all afternoon and I started having contractions again before we went home we decided to get checked out at the hospital they told me to go walk for an hour and then come back, well we went to dinner instead and then went back and I was definitely contracting more so they kept me and Noah was born at 5:30 the next morning.

[alinne1026]

It's funny because the day before Kellen was born, dh captured it on video. I don't know why he felt the need to tape us doing random stuff around the house that day but he did. We actually just watched the tape around Kellen's 1st bday and dh's jaw literally dropped when he saw me. Nice, eh? I think I gained 75 lbs with Kellen...lol.

Kellen was born on his due date which may be why dh decided to film me the day before .

[Jule'sMomInOR]

Juliana was born at 5:03 am so I went into labor the day before she was born.

My water broke at about noon. The phone rang, and I got up to get it and realized my water broke as I got up to answer it. I talked for a few minutes, completely calm. Then I called DH and told him my water broke but nothing was going on so stay at work. I emailed my doulas.

Nothing much was happening so I went for a walk to try to get contractions going. I got back home and called my dad to wish him a happy birthday while walking up and down the stairs. I also did a little cooking and tried to eat some casserole. Around 5:00 DH called to check on me. I said I'm fine so go ahead and go to the gym. My doulas called too and I said not to come yet. Around 5:30, I threw up the food. DH came around 6:00 and the doulas called. I said to come between 8 and 9. I decided to play one of the Lord of the Rings movies because I thought I had a while but I couldn't concentrate so I got in the bath. I was having contractions but it didn't seem like anything major. My doulas came about 8:30 and waiting through a couple of contractions with me, then decided we should leave for the hospital about 9. I got there and it seemed like forever before I got checked. When I did I was 9 cm dilated. My birth plan said I didn't want to be checked often and didn't want to be asked if I want pain medicine, but of course the nurse asked anyway. They checked again at 11 pm and I was fully dialated. Juliana was sunny side up and remained stuck on my pelvis for about 5 hours. Finally when I found the right position (sitting on the toilet) she came out in under an hour. (I was back in bed by that time, LOL). She was born at 5:03 am without any drugs.

I would like a water birth next time but my insurance wouldn't cover it so I'd have to plan ahead and go with different insurance if I do that.

[Arei_720]

I felt alright, except for the pitting edema on my ankles and the occasional foot/legs cramps! My delivery was a surprise. We were there for a routine check-up, 36.6 weeks along, and the doctors were taking forever to get to us. An hour or so of sitting on the table in my paper cover and I started having regular "BH"s. There was no warning for us and not much I could have done differently.

Originally Posted by SarahBethsMommy

I feel pretty good about the day he was born. I might have gone in a little earlier had I known what was going on. When I got to the hospital my BP was super high and his heart rate was decelerating a LOT.

I also would have liked to breastfeed him a bit before they took him to the nursery, but I kept expecting him to have issues breathing and need to go to the NICU, so I let them take him on. But otherwise, I was just over the moon to discover he was a boy, healthy and was able to go to the well-baby nursery.

I had a similar fear with Caleb. I never got to hold Grace until she was a few days old so I just knew Caleb would be sent to the NICU too. I started crying when they laid him on my chest. DH said I kept saying, "They're not taking him from me." Over and over again.

The day before Caleb was born I went to my twice a week appointment with the high risk doctor. I was told my fluid level was at 4 (very low) so I was being sent to be induced. I remembered that my induction with Grace took 5 days and once the pit started I couldn't eat. So, I took my good old time. I went home, took a shower, packed, went and got a pedi, had dinner, then checked into the hospital. I wouldn't change anything.

[Daffodil]

I don't remember too much about the day before, but I have SOOO many things I wish I did differently afterwards...but I couldn't have because I didn't know any better.

That's probably why I'm anxious to have another....I want to "do it right" this time, although I know things don't always go according to plan. I just think the overall experiece will be much better, last time it was seriously like "ok, now I have a kid...what the hell am I going to do with her?!?!? When she was a newborn, I was seriously scared out of my mind that I was going to mess her up, and all the joy in my life was over. Like I knew it wasn't, but it still freaked me out that *I* was so freaked out, and everyone else was like "ooh, I have this lovely sweet newborn, I can't get enough of them!" I felt like I was living in an alternate universe.

It would always surprise me when she would cry and other people would be like "oh, she wants her mommy!" I'd be thinking "No, she doesn't, I have no clue what do do with her". I felt super detached. I wonder if I had some sort of post-partum depression??? I just felt shell-shocked.

Sorry, took a major tangent there!

[Daffodil]

Ok I just looked up the symptoms...I'm pretty sure I DID have post-partum depression!! I just didn't think it at the time because I never had thoughts of harming her or myself and for some reason I thought that was a part of it...

Wow, I had no idea. I wish I had realized it at the time. Oh well, if I feel like that with the next kid, I will def. get help!

[jessanddane]

I had a great day. Getting last minute things done..no contractions up until my water breaking that Sunday night......I miss being pregnant.

[Hollybear]

June 29th was the day before I went into the hospital to be induced. I had Pre-E and had been "fighting" it for a few weeks. So the 29th I went to the hospital to discuss my labs for that week, which were worse than the previous week. My blood pressure was super high in the office that afternoon, but okay enough to let me go home until the morning. We went to Barnes & Noble and bought lots of children's books (I don't know why this was important to me, but she had a nice bookshelf and no kid's books! LOL) I asked the doctor if we could go see Eclipse that night (the midnight release) and he didn't see a problem....but then later that afternoon the hospital called and wanted me to be there at 7:30am vs. Noon so we decided NOT to go see Eclipse, lol

So the TRUE day before she was born was June 30th, it was a day full of BP monitoring and cervical checks, I didn't get pitocin until about 3pm. We watched old episodes of Grey's Anatomy on DVD from Netflix. My doula came and rubbed essential oils all over me. I ordered "room service" (our hospital had an awesome cafe) I had my first REAL contraction (well, big enough to make me stop talking) that afternoon as well. That was it....nothing too interesting.