Bad Day

It's just been a bad couple of days. I'm just really stressed out, and have been having a lot of contractions because of it. I've been resting a lot.

Checking Dilation Without A Vaginal Exam

While cruising the internet, I came across this. Although, I don't feel cervical dilation tells us anything about when baby will come, I do think this is interesting. I am not big on internal vaginal exams. I think that if you are wanting to check your cervical dilation, this would be the way to do it.



Here is the info from Anne Frye in the book Holistic Midwifery, Vol. II, p. 376.

Determine how many fingerbreadths of space are between the fundus and xiphoid process at the height of a contraction.


"...During a contraction and with mom on her back, determine how many fingerbreadths of space are between the fundus [top of the uterus] and xiphoid process [the triangular tip of the breastbone] at the height of a contraction.

5 fb = no dilation
4 fb = 2 cm
3 fb = 4 cm
2 fb = 6 cm
1 fb = 8 cm
0 fb = complete"

Here is what Anne Frye says:

As the space between the xiphoid and the fundus shortens (becomes narrower), dilation advances. This occurs, in part, because the upper segment of the uterus thickens as labor advances. The uterus also rises more as contraction intensify.

To use the fingerbreath method, it should be the height of the contraction and she should be on her back.

Another tip from Anne Frye
Many women have a bloody show as the presenting part passes through the fully dilated cervical os. This show should be quite mucilaginous and stretchy; a trickle of brighter blood near the end of dilation, accompanied by lots of suprapubic pain, can also mean a cervical lip is being pulled down with the presenting part.


I also found this information: What You Don't Know About Your Cervix Can Ruin Your Birth.

Baby Pains

Lately, I've noticed more and more that I almost never feel baby on my left side. Baby is always sitting and pushing way over on the right. Just below my bottom rib, and above my hip bone. My muscles on the right side are so tired and sore. Baby is always there. I try to move baby, but the only time he/she moves is when I lay flat on my left side. Even then, the movement to the left is very minimal. Last night it was like baby was laying with the body pushing into my right rib area and the legs into my left hip (diagonal). That's as much left side baby I've felt for as long as I can remember with this baby. Normally, my babes are all over both sides.

A little back story. I thought at first it might have been related, but now I don't think so.

Last year, the day after I had Bekah I began having severe pain on my right side. It was like my right ovary was stuck in a muscle, or something. I would take my fist and push on it (to the left) to try to move it. Finally, after a couple days, I pushed again with my fist, trying to move it back left, and it made a literal "pop" feeling. It was instantly better, and I was only left with my after birth pains, which I must say felt very minimal compared to what I had been feeling.

Today I tried again to push baby from the right to the left side. I really paid attention to what baby was doing. He/she did move to the left side, completely, but it was just a very dulled feeling. It was as if I there was a barrier between baby and my nerves. This made me think it might be what a few others suggested. The placenta is probably on the left side, blocking me from feeling baby.

Otherwise, everything is going great. I'm 36 weeks and 2 days along. I'm still getting things ready, but am mentally prepared. As much as I can be, anyway.