It all sucks past 38w. My mum told me today I was heaps better than last pregnancy - she saw me jog yesterday and I'm still doing everything pretty normally, but maybe I'm just getting on with the things that have to be done this time around.
Then again - she saw me at 41w last pregnancy, and I remember distinctly everything turning pear shaped from 38w. It was like the day I was 38w I started putting on sooooo much weight (I put on about 5kg in 4w).
Anyway!! Leaf tea which is a geelong company does mail order (google them), and their RLT is looseleaf and really nice. I haven't been drinking it, but I have so many BH's each day, I know that my uterus HAS to be toned!!! I should really start that up again and try to do my 3-4cups a day.
Its almost over Kim - I know it doesn't seem like it, but look at the worst case scenario and it will be over in 3-4w tops.
Hi Kimbaz,
Ooooohhhhhh I feel for you!!! Hang in there babe, it is all going to happen and it might be sooner than you expect .....
I read this thing about taking a very strong brew of Raspberry Leaf Tea when labour first starts. I agree with Claire - it does not induce labour, but is believed to tone and nourish the uterine muscles so that the contractions are efficient and effective. I have 40 pages of notes and research on RLT - nothing conclusive! But at the very least, it's full of vitamins and I reckon it is a gentler alternative to syntocinon!
I also tried herbalist "Nan Koehler's Birthing tea" - RLT plus basil, lavender and grated nutmeg. Dunno if it did any good, but our babe #3 was born in 2 hours and we avoided having to be transported to hospital for having the waters broken "for longer than 18 hours" (I know, I know - gaaaahhhh!)
I also hear Evening Primrose Oil is a goody for the last few weeks as it "allegedly" helps the cervix ripen. So does a chemical contained in raw pineapple, they say!
I figure, oh well the vitamins won't do me any harm and basically bub will come when it and me are ready.
I also tried this WARM UP thing to *try* to keep me *sane* (yeh, right) in the last draggy weeks and during the "warm-up" stage of labour when things are ripening and you feel 'tweaks' but no real contractions yet.
W - water - go swimming (I liked the sea - failing that, a spa!) & walking - lots of walking every day (when one is desperate to go into labour it it amazing how many miles one is willing to walk with a veeerrrry pregnant body!)
A - attitude - stay positive, telling myself I had a brilliant birthing body and I could do it, going through my prayers, verses, affirmations etc
R - rest - balancing rest with exercise
M - massage - and anything else that comforted & helped me feel better - time to be pampered!
U - underneath - preparing the perineum with perineal massage & learning how to relax the tissues on the exhale.
P - positioning - lots of hands & knees belly hang positions to get/keep the baby anterior - pelvic rocks and pelvic sways & circles - I'd rather do the work of getting the baby anterior during the last weeks than be trying to rotate a posterior baby during labour!
Those BH contractions that might or might not be BH - don't be discouraged if they peter out and you can't measure any progress - it is all important birthing work that your body is doing - although it's not time for sustained, regular Cx yet, still it's all helping soften and prepare everything - your body's working great, just like it is supposed to - the hormones are starting to surge (so you feel about as gleeful as during menstruation - oh joy!) - but at least all these things are healthy signs that your body is priming for birth, and everything is working beautifully. You get a chance to practice coping strategies that you'll use when you're in active labour - and figure out what doesn't work for you.
Hang in there, look after you! Give your beautiful birthing body a pat, hope everything goes wonderfully for you. Look forward to hearing about it on BB.
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