Welcome Back

This is Carol, translating Natalie's Instagram posts so you can get daily updates about her progress.

September 4, 2021

Due date!  Luckily, my little one decided to be "late" so I could do a photo shoot on my due date!

September 10, 2021

Wild time at the pool today. Thunderstorms, a couple episodes of downpour, and crazy wind. It was the most unique swimming adventure I have had in a long time and the kids loved it!!

Fun way to spend the afternoon when it is over 100 degrees and you are 5 days past your due date. 

September 11, 2021

Date night with the hubby. Such an amazing routine we have been in for over a year now, swapping date nights with the Ards every weekend!

We enjoyed Thai food, a sour snow cone and uninterrupted conversation. Wondering if it was our last date night before our rainbow baby arrives??

September 12, 2021

My nipples still hurt like crazy when Wes latches, but I know powering through will be worth it when I get to nurse both of them together. 

Also... nipple stimulation does not always put you into labor, trust me, I'm nursing him like crazy and I have had zero contractions! Once my body and baby are ready for labor and the oxytocin receptors are active, then nursing him will help encourage contractions, but until then, we are just soaking in the last moments of him being "the baby". 

September 12, 2021

Did you konw that induction is not alwasy successful?? But why??

Simply put, your body and baby might not be ready. The baby and body have hormonal shifts that happen before labor and if those have not happend, the body will work to keep the baby inside. 

At this point, I have not tried any forms of induction. Kylie came 12 days "late" and Cooper was 10. So I figure my body and baby are simply not ready yet. We will see how it feels as the week progresses, but I am not counting on anything working until my body is ready:)

 

Note from Carol:  Melissa is now 37 weeks and Gene and I are wondering if we might have two grand babies born on the same day. 

I am packing the car,  and emotionally preparing to welcome baby girl in Redlands and leave ASAP to welcome baby boy in Sacramento. It is both magical, wonderful and a bit surreal.