Ten days ago my water broke at 38 weeks pregnant. I was in shock, yet so, so happy I wasn’t going to be pregnant any more! NONE of my three other babies came even a day early. All of them made me wait until 40 weeks pregnant or more, so I wasn’t anticipating anything different with this baby, but there were a lot of things that were VERY different with this pregnancy. I’m thinking some of those differences have something to do with this baby arriving early and so healthy.
When he was born, they gave him a 10 score, meaning he was pink, breathing and beautiful. Initially, I was concerned that something could be wrong because I was going into labor so much earlier than I ever have, but it turns out that baby was completely ready to arrive at 7.7 lbs.
If you are reading this, you are more than likely wanting your baby to arrive early, and getting tired of being pregnant. I’m going to go over some of the things that were very different this pregnancy, than ALL my other three, which may be the reasons that I went into labor earlier than expected.
Remember, all of these things were approved by my doctor. You must get your doctor approval before jumping on any of these 🙂
How I went into labor at 38 weeks (really 37 weeks + 6 days!):
I stayed very active ALL pregnancy:
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One unique factor to this pregnancy is that I was more active through the pregnancy. I never had a step tracker with any of my other other pregnancies, and I frequently hit my 10k step goal (which I recommend in my program) on many of the days I was pregnant. I was also chasing after 3 boys this time, who wanted to swim, play, go to parks, explore and do everything possible. Because we were in quarantine basically from my first and into my second trimester, going on walks and playing in the yard was literally all we could do.
On top of daily activity with my boys, I also kept up with my strength and cardio workouts into my third trimester. I did a lot of combinations to keep things interesting, but I mostly stuck with all the workouts in my program. I created this program after my third pregnancy, when I became a Pre/Post Natal Fitness Specialist, and now I was able to use it myself! I also kept up my running for about half of my pregnancy, which I have NEVER done before.
Later in pregnancy, when I felt super heavy and tired, and developed some pubic symphysis pain, I walked uphill for 45 minutes on my treadmill at least 4-5 days a week. Walking up hill or on stairs is something I recommend for anyone who wants to stay active, but feels like a workout program is just too much.
Walking also helps move the baby into your pelvis, so this baby was fairly low and in a good spot for weeks before I went into labor.
I ate clean + used Bump Dust:
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I was so excited to be able to use my prenatal protein powder this pregnancy, along with following numerous eating clean challenges! Many readers from this blog, and from my postpartum blog joined me in doing 10-day eating clean challenges, where we stick to the eating guidelines in this 10-day challenge, or in the challenge on this blog. I made numerous smoothies with my Bump Dust and overall had the healthiest diet EVER during a pregnancy. Bump Dust also has some red raspberry leaf in it, which is used to strengthen the uterus for labor, and I definitely felt it worked really well combined with my labor prep tea I drank, which I share down below.
I still gained the usual amount of weight because my body typically does the same thing, but most of it is already gone at only a couple weeks postpartum, see below!
I drank Labor Prep Iced Tea:
I LOVED this stuff. It was cool, refreshing, and I started drinking it daily about 37 weeks. I figured if I started then, I would be setting myself up to at least go into labor by my due date….well I went into labor a week later! I followed the directions on making it, then kept it in the fridge to sip on. I would have one to two glasses a day, and I sweetened with just a tiny bit of Stevia. So simple, yet it was something I have never done before,, that I think played a role in going into labor.
I started taking Evening Primrose Oil:
I just started taking this at 37 weeks pregnant as well. I took one a day at the advice of my doctor and mom friend, who said she always took it at the end of her pregnancy. I was also told you can insert these vaginally to help soften the cervix, but I hadn’t gotten that desperate yet. I just took them orally with my labor prep tea. I had never taken this with my other three pregnancies, so I think this may play a role in my earlier labor too!
I spent a lot of time at the beach (hello Vitamin D!):
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This was my first pregnancy in Florida, so I’ve never been able to be outside and at the ocean this much while pregnant. I believe the extra vitamin D played a role in the development of this baby, and my overall pregnancy. I did get tired, heavy and didn’t feel the best at the very end, but overall I felt very happy most of the pregnancy! I would highly suggest a vitamin D supplement, or getting outside every day for some fresh air and sunshine if you can. Of course your prenatal usually has the recommended amount, and my prenatal (which I LOVE!!) did, but there is something unique about getting the vitamin D through your skin. Most medical professional advise you to get the vitamin D through your skin, and if you can’t, then focus on supplements.
Overall, this pregnancy was very different than my other 3, which I think played a role in my earlier labor. Of course they could’ve gotten my due date wrong, but I don’t believe so because of the timing of my cycle when I got pregnant, in addition to the early ultrasound scan matched up. I hope these tips help you to have a healthy pregnancy, and maybe go into labor a little earlier! Of course you want baby to be full-term and healthy first, but no one wants to go past 40 weeks, which is what I was scared of!