First thing this morning, my husband accompanied me to my weekly obstetrics appointment. I have officially reached the 39-week mark and have been having lots of contractions, especially over the past few days. Thankfully, I don’t usually feel them in the middle of the night. Baby also seems to keep to a good schedule, and I rarely feel him move when I’m trying to sleep, so despite waking up every hour out of discomfort, I usually get up each morning feeling well rested.
At my appointment today, the midwife determined that my blood pressure was high, so she sent me over to the hospital to be monitored for a few hours and to rule out preeclampsia. It was a bit boring, but the room had a TV with tons of channels, so Mr. Handsome and I caught up on the national news. (We watched a press conference about the government shutdown, which was interesting.)
After a few hours, my blood pressure had gone down, so the nurse sent me home. Had it remained high, they would have had to induce, which would have likely been a long process, so we were both glad that the numbers returned to normal. Still waiting for Baby Boy to make his appearance, though!
Anonymous
Thankyou for the updates
I know you have a life beyond the blogs but I do check this one every day to check for baby news!!
Getting induced isn’t always long and annoying. I was induced with both of my girls and the longest it took was 5 hours!! Can’t wait to check here and see your greatest gift
Lucy
I check daily for updates also! I’m excited for you and your husband, Ellie. I know once baby comes, you won’t be able to blog as often but I enjoy reading about your thrifty/DIY ideas and healthy recipes. Hoping for an easy delivery and healthy mom and baby boy!
Anon
I was induced with preeclampsia with my first child. Labor took 17 hours, so I am glad you didn’t have to experience that! I hope things go quickly for you!
Anonymous
I hope you are doing fine.
Someone
Praying for you and your son.
Anonymous
So glad it was not preeclampsia, my sister and cousin both had this and it’s so scary! Prayers for a safe and healthy delivery for momma and baby!
Stephanie from NH
Take it slow and easy. Best wishes for delivery~
Jessica
It should not be long at all. I’ve never been induced, but my sister always does. She is having her 11th this spring and her labors are so fast she has to be induced.
I have been to the hospital alot having 5 and soon to be 6. With my last son, we were at the hospital, but after hours we were sent home only to return again the next day and after walking all day they admitted me and after walking alot more he was born. It sounds very tiresome, and it can be.
I hope you have a good labor and delivery. It’s exciting knowing soon you should be holding your son. It’s hard knowing the right time to go to the hospital. But the least they can do is send you home.
I’m 34 wks pregnant and I hope we can go at least a couple more weeks. I get contractions alot, but I don’t sit and rest like I need to because I have five little children.
I’m praying for you.
Ellyn
Exciting!! Thanks for the update and can’t wait to hear about his arrival!
Sarah Liston
So excited for you, Ellie! Will be praying!
Anonymous
You watched a government press conference and your blood pressure went down?? Mine would have reached boiling point!
Anonymous
How does a press conference make your blood boil?
Ashley
Hope you and he baby are doing well!! Wish you and baby a safe delivery <3
Anonymous
A tip- when they tell you to push , push hard with your muscles down there. If your face is bright red and your head looks like it’s going to explode,Lol, well than they know your not using your right muscles.Prayers…Jane
Anonymous
Yes, about the pushing- just have to add on, I’ve heard another friend tell me that with her first baby her nurse would tell her to push and then tell her to stop pushing after a couple of seconds, and it took her so long to get the baby out.. and then another midwife, with her second baby let her in on a tip – that when you push, hold the push for as long as you possibly can, it will progress the birth quicker – and I’ve found that out myself with my own three natural births. -Tanya
Anonymous
I second what Tanya said! Always push as long as you can with each contraction, it will move things along much more quickly!
Anonymous
I just have to add that with my first I didn’t know what pushing meant or how to do it. You push like you are going number 2. That was the only thing that helped me.
Anonymous
If you can stand it walk as much as possible. The whole day before I had my son I walked, I was like you having contractions but nothing to get sent to the hospital for. My Dr asked me if they were painful and coming in a consistent pattern they weren’t yet. She told me to walk as much as I could that day to see if it gave him a nudge. It did they picked up later that night but nothing happen and the next morning everything happen. Good luck
Leah
I’m glad your blood pressure stabilized! I’ll echo others and say that my induction was a very positive experience. Labor was very manageable and I was even able to sleep some at the beginning.
Mieke
Thanks for the update! Good luck delivering your babyboy! Keep us posted, very curious 😉
Love Mieke
Shela G
Excited for you and Mr Handsome!! Praying for an easy delivery, healthy Baby and Mom. Looking forward to seeing pictures when you decide to post them.
Regina Shea
Well hopefully by the time you’ve approved comments the baby will be here! I will be praying for you and the baby.
Syll
Not long to go now ,, keep well
Will you have someone help doing the blogs after baby comes ..
I don’t get to see the shows ( I live in Australia) and your posts are awesome.. I find your posts interesting and learn so much from them . Thank you
Prayers for you all ,
Syl
Marilyn
So glad your blood pressure went down, Ellie. Will keep you and baby boy in our thoughts and prayers for a safe delivery. God Bless.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
Candi
Happy for the update! And…excited for any news SOON!! Hang in there…it is about all over with now 😀
Love Candi
Juliet
Praying for you!
Jess
Lots of people saying inducing is fast, not true! I was induced at 39 weeks because I had gestational diabetes and I was in labor for 24 hours before my emergency c-section! Prayers that yours is a safe and healthy delivery whichever way your little mister decides to arrive.
darlene
you’re almost there now! just a matter of him wanting to come out. looking forward to seeing & reading about your mini-mr handsome
Jesussaves
Praying now✝️❤️Numbers 6:24-26
Else
I was induced at 41 weeks with my second and it was only 1.5 hours from start of contractions until I had a baby in my arms. Super fast. But also really intense – contractions can be more painful and intense when you’re induced.
Stephanie
Thanks for updating us! With both of my pregnancies, the 39th week was a real test of patience! Wishing you a healthy and safe delivery!
LilyBird
reflexology or acupuncture will move things along more quickly but PLEASE AVOID induction ….slippery slope to interventions (forceps, c-section etc) hope all goes well and you have a safe straightforward delivery
Anonymous
@LilyBird Those “slippery slope” things as you call them should be up to the doctor(s) to decide. They’re not necessarily things the mother can willingly avoid. If a baby needs those things to get here safely, then they must be done. Sometimes there isn’t time to be pressing on the skin or poking it with needles if heartbeats and blood pressures are in danger.
Anonymous
3:51, I think lilybird is saying to go ahead and do that now while everything is stable, and I would agree. It’s always better to be able to go in to labor naturally, as there can be many complications with being induced. If there is no other option then you’re obviously going to have to do that, but when there are natural options available, it’s better to try them first.
Lauren
I found my induction to be very easy – but agree with others who say contractions become more painful. I had to have an induction with my second because he was having prolonged decells with every contraction.
Just remember… go with your gut feeling about things and advocate for yourself and your baby! If something doesn’t sound right, ask for another opinion. If I hadn’t advocated for myself and my baby, it’s unlikely I would have him sitting on the floor playing with me today.
Justine Elizabeth Kessner
Dear Ellie!!
I am praying for U, and that everything will go great with your birth!!!! Don’t be a hero, make it as painless as possible OK, so U will recover better OK!!!!!! I love U, and hoping, preying for the best for U💝👨👨👦!!!!!!!!!!!! Take Good Care Of Yourself, 100%%%!!
Anonymous
Justine EK, While there is nothing wrong with having an epidural, having one definitely does not make you recover faster. You’re more likely to tear or need an episiotomy with an epidural, as the positions that you can deliver in are limited. That being said, I know tons of people who have completely awesome medicated births, just do what’s best for you, and don’t let anyone at the hospital push you around.
Diana
So exciting! Can’t wait to hear of your little one’s arrival. 🙂
Don’t stress about interventions. You go in with the best intentions and give it over to the Lord. He is not limited by “complications.” Thank Him that we live in an age that can intervene versus fearing them.
Anonymous
Any baby yet?
Ellie
No baby yet. 🙂
Ellie
Anonymous
Good luck with everything. With my children, I always went in with an open mind so that whatever happened was easier to manage as it came.
Every pregnancy, labour, and delivery is different so don’t stress too much about other people’s birth stories; you’ll have your own, unique one soon enough!
Ellie
Hello blog readers! I really appreciate all the well-wishes and words of encouragement. Mr. Handsome and I are very grateful for your support!
Ellie
Anonymous
Praying you have an easy and safe delivery… I’m so excited for you, I come and look for news everyday!
Ashley
Any baby yet? How are you feeling? Prayers for you and baby<3
Anonymous
From the lack of comments on all the blogs, I’m going to guess it’s baby time!! Praying for you regardless💗💗
Maggie
Who ever thought I’d be this excited for the baby of someone I’ve never met… But Ellie, through your friendly blog, your readers have come to know and love you, and, I, like so manymany others here, can’t wait to meet your son! God bless and keep you, and your precious family safe and healthy!
Abagail
I agree with Maggie. I keep checking to see if you have had the baby. I hope you will still be able to blog as I love to read the Duggar and Bates blogs too. Not having any family it means a lot to me.
Justine Elizabeth Kessner
Hey Ellie!!
How about the name, Justin Handsome??? Christian??? Hugh??? Martin??? Wolfgang??? Rupert??? James??? Frank??? William??? Vincent??? Horus??? Stephen??? Edward??? OK that is a great list, take care, of yourself, Baby E, and I am preying for U!!!
anonymouse
I wonder if we blog readers will be privy to their baby’s real name? I actually doubt it. Maybe we will just know them as Mr and Mrs Ellie Handsome and wee Handsome, mini Handsome, littlest Handsome or something else like that.
Justine Elizabeth Kessner
LOL Ya, LOL, I was thinking that too!!!!!!