My spirit is broken, but my water is still intact
Posted by Isabel on April 12th, 2006. Filed under: We're having a baby, Work.I woke up this morning feeling a little disappointed in myself. As if I have anything to do with when I go into labor. But still I feel like I’ve failed.
I decided to just take things easy this morning and didn’t get to work until almost 10:00. That was nice. But not as nice as not coming in at all would have been.
When I got to work I had this e-mail from The King in my inbox:
The King: Please have the baby today. Just go ahead and do it. Or at least go into labor so we can know that things are moving along.
I told him I’d see what I can do.
I’m going to the Market at lunch to buy some raspberry leaf tea. Does anyone have any experience with that actually inducing labor?
April 12th, 2006 at 10:52 am
Aw, Isabel – you’ll have your baby eventually! Erika had hers eventually – so there’s hope, right? Treasure these last few moments of silence and sitting around doing nothing, because soon enough those moments will be gone for another 24 years. (Oh, well I’m just assuming that your boy may end up like my brother and still be living at home at the age of 24. I hope not for your sake, but hey, you never know.)
Now go paint your nails or meditate or something if for no other reason than you CAN!
April 12th, 2006 at 10:55 am
I don’t have any labor experiences to share, but I just wanted to wish you good luck again!
April 12th, 2006 at 11:17 am
No experience in the self-inducing area. “hard-core” sex seems like the most fun to me…hahahah. Your Mom must be one funny lady. Good luck!
April 12th, 2006 at 11:20 am
My labor was induced…but in the hospital, so probably not the route you want to go. I do read two girl’s blogs that seemed to go into labor just after eating eggplant parmesan…try that.
April 12th, 2006 at 11:24 am
Wow. I have no idea what starts labor.
April 12th, 2006 at 11:25 am
I have no experience in this area (yet!), but I am thinking positively on your behalf. (although, isn’t there something about castor oil???)
April 12th, 2006 at 11:30 am
Hugo climbed back up into the upper corners of my uterus (even with an induction), so, I have no experience with labor starting. Hang in there- it’ll happen soon enough!
April 12th, 2006 at 11:30 am
does this mean you’ve decided against the hard core sex?? somehow I don’t think tea is as much fun……
April 12th, 2006 at 11:37 am
Having never been remotely close to being pregnant, I can’t help you. Tell Bob that he’s more than fashionably late and that he needs to hurry up.
April 12th, 2006 at 11:54 am
I think I read about the same two girls having success after some eggplant parmesan – GFF being one of them. Personally I find eggplant parmesan gross. Though if I got desperate enough to pop out my baby, I might force it down. We’ll see.
Did your doc give you an estimate of the size of Baby Boy?
And does The King get to take off any time to help?
April 12th, 2006 at 12:04 pm
I’ve been waiting for my water to break (due date was April 7) and drinking the raspberry tea – but nothing yet. The tea tastes pretty gross too.
April 12th, 2006 at 12:11 pm
I had to get labor started with my son because my water broke and contractions didn’t start on their own. I did a lot of walking, and there are some accupressure points on hands and ankles that actually seemed to work (I’d bet you can google them). Raspberry leaf tea won’t hurt–it’s very good for your uterus, supposedly. Good luck!
April 12th, 2006 at 12:12 pm
I into labor hours after eating some spicy greens and fried chicken. It was so good!
Good luck to you and your family.
April 12th, 2006 at 12:34 pm
There’s a girl at my work who’s overdue by a week and a half. She said she took the castor oil to try induce her labor, and it was disgusting, and it doesn’t work, so I wouldn’t go that route. Other than that, I’ve heard walking, and sex are what helps, but I wouldn’t know from personal experience. Good luck though!
April 12th, 2006 at 1:04 pm
Good thinking on The King’s part. I mean, without his prodding, who knows how long you would have dragged out this whole pre-labor thing?
April 12th, 2006 at 1:28 pm
I’ve heard that going to the mall and walking a few laps will help induce labor.
I imagine it has something to do with all of the annoying teenagers hanging around and the sudden realization that you don’t want to end up with one of said teenagers.
April 12th, 2006 at 1:45 pm
Hey – just checking in. I know what you’re feeling because I’m feeling it too. SIGH. I have heard of the raspberry tea leaf thing and I hear it works. I’m sending you lots of good vibes and hoping our babies come VERY soon.
April 12th, 2006 at 2:33 pm
Have sex!…hehe! I am sorry I had to do it! I know it is your fav. thing to be told!
I have no experience with the Rasp. leaf as I had my daughter c-section, but I wish you lots of luck! I have been checking in every couple hours to see if there is any new news! Fingers crossed!
April 12th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
The day before Logan was born I was in the hospital because we thought that it “was time”. They sent me home because I wasn’t progressing fast enough. Bill & I took a walk around the neighborhood for an hour, walked the mall for a while, ate sushi (nurses told me that I needed to eat…anything, walk & rest). Logan was born the next day. I don’t think it had anything to do with what we did. I just think he was ready to come out.
I tried all of the natural labor inductors except for castor oil & membranes getting stripped…even though I secretly think my OB did that on my last visit before Logan was born. Anyway, they all suck. Nothing worked. Hang in there. The little kiddo will come out soon enough. I promise you won’t be pregnant with a 2 year old.
April 12th, 2006 at 4:07 pm
I had especially good luck in inducing my labor by having a really hot shower (as hot as I could stand it) with the shower spray focused on my lower back and stomach alternatively for about 5 minutes. My water broke two hours later and I was in labor.
April 12th, 2006 at 4:57 pm
I hadn’t heard of the raspberry tea thing. I was told to have sex, eat lots of pesto, eat spicy foods and, of course, nipple stimulation. None worked. Maybe I was suppose to do them simultaneously? What did work? Pitocin and the big ass crochet needle the OB used to break my water. lord. GOOD LUCK sweetie!
April 12th, 2006 at 7:14 pm
I think nothing works except castor oil which can be more disastrous than the pain of labour.
Good luck to you , I remember the last few weeks of pregnancy and it makes me feel nauseous.
April 12th, 2006 at 8:06 pm
HARD CORE SEX!!! Hee hee, sorry, I couldn’t resist
April 12th, 2006 at 8:24 pm
Don’t be too hard on yourself. We did it all. Sex. Sex. Tea. Sex. Walking. Sex. Blah Blah Blah.
I hear Sex works. It didn’t for us. Although, it was the last time we did it.
I think ever.
April 12th, 2006 at 10:22 pm
Oh, you’re fine. It’s not your fault. It’s that damn kid’s!
(I hope you don’t hate me for cussing at your unborn child. I am going to hell.)
April 12th, 2006 at 11:48 pm
I have a friend due any second as well. She’s been drinking four cups of raspberry leaf tea a day for the past few weeks. It’s said to prepare the uterus for labour and delivery, but is not meant to really bring on labour. Although as soon as she drinks it, the baby goes wild… She’s also massaging clary sage into her belly (a few drops mixed with a carrier oil) which is supposed to get things moving. Good luck.
April 13th, 2006 at 4:11 am
rasperry leaf ea astes aful and didn’t work for us. I did the evening primrose oil capsules (inserted up the twat) and I think that helped (it was suggested by a homeopath). and I do believe lots of hardcore sex and long walks really helped too. mind you I went 6 days overdue and only started all these methods from my due date onwards. I think the hardcore sex is what broke my waters actually. and the evening primrose oil is supposed to help your cervix along.
and thinking of you.
and a huge GOODLUCK with it all
April 13th, 2006 at 6:27 am
So did the tea work? I have absolutely no idea what could help induce labor. He will be here very soon. I mean, he has to come out at one point!
April 13th, 2006 at 6:50 am
I don’t think anything works, except the little one deciding that now is the right time.
I tried everything anyone suggested (sex, Scalini’s eggplant parm, rasp leaf tea, evening primrose oil, black cohash & some walking), except castor oil, which my medical folks specifically instructed me not to do as it involves hideously intense bowel activity.
The baby WILL come out. Hopefully today!
April 13th, 2006 at 8:44 am
Really all you can do is wait. He’ll come when he’s ready. Of course, trying the hard core sex can’t hurt. Hubby and I had sex on Saturday morning (although I’m not sure it qualified as “hard core”) and I went into labor at 12:45 that night.
Good luck!
April 13th, 2006 at 9:22 am
Isabel, I will be praying for you- if that doesn’t make your baby come faster- nothing else will!
April 13th, 2006 at 10:17 am
Just thinking about you and thought you ought to know!
April 13th, 2006 at 10:46 am
Ohhh, how I remember this well. A week before I was due I walked up about 60 flights of stairs, I became nausious and weezy, but no babe. So the answer is “no,” I have no idea how to induce labor. Hang in.
April 13th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
Have you heard of “The Italian Induction”? Arguably the most fun, it involves 1)a big bowl of pasta, 2)a glass of wine, and 3)sex. In that order.
April 13th, 2006 at 2:47 pm
I tried the tea. It didn’t work. But I hated the taste. And I feel you on the failure thing.
April 14th, 2006 at 7:18 am
Who knew having a baby would be this complicated?? I know nothing about going into labor, so I unfortunately have no advice. I am thinking about you though!!!
April 14th, 2006 at 6:12 pm
Hi – just found your blog from Nap Queen’s – I had a baby last year and the advice was (I’m not kidding) to get a pedicure. The certain points in your foot that they rub can induce labor. I learned this from a woman that worked in a salon that actually had a policy against pedicuring really pregnant women.
Also, my birthing class nurse said to drink a mixture of orange juice and baking powder – tastes weird but has worked for some.
I realize you’re getting induced this weekend, but just in case you wanted to go a few hours earlier…good luck!