Weekly Chat 12/29!

[Bloomingstar]

Most of you are probably busy with your new babies but some of us are still sticking around for the last chat thread of the month!

Today's my due date, no action here, really There's some laundry to be done tonight, DH and I will get it to the laundromat when he gets home from work. I'm still working from home until this LO decides to show up.

My sister had her baby this morning! : I'm an auntie again and mom and baby are all doing well! She was due yesterday and since baby was still breech, her OB had her c-section scheduled for this morning, and all went well. Now, as my stepmother said, everyone's just waiting on me

[jenniferadurham]

Went for our first walk just now. It's so nice outside. Now I'm listening to a crying baby. He only cries when he needs something...he's probably hungry and needs a nap. So I guess I'm off to take a nap! YAY mommy!

[jrabbit]

uneventful MW appt.

blissful pedicure.

nap time?

[Lemon Juice]

Hi mamas! I can chat this week! I hope

Babe is doing well..she is one week old today! That week totally flew by!

Janis..how's it going? When does your mom arrive?

Jennifer...we went on our first walk today too! Dp went back to work today so I had had had to get the 4 other kids out and let them run. Babe slept in the wrap the whole time. It was a bit chilly but not too bad. We live 2 doors down from the park so it wasn't a big deal. I did walk around the park tho and we had a lot of fun (minus 7 yr old drama...) So our first day "alone" w/ my 5 kids wasn't too bad. We washed dipes for dd and new babe and played w/ the millions of toys the family gave the kids. I mean, really...it's awful how many crappy plastic toys are here! that's another thread tho!

Bloomingstar, congrats on your niece! :

And : to those waiting! I can't wait to read your stories!

[bmcneal]

janis-Too bad I'm not the girly-girl type and we have no money, a pedicure sounds nice. But I run around barefoot all the time, even outside, and I'm a klutz, so it'd look nice for maybe 5 minutes, and then I'd ruin it. If you had Taco Bell and chocolate, *than* we're talking

bloomingstar- congratulations to your sister and on your being an Auntie again. How exciting that must be! (I can't wait to be an Auntie. )

Still waiting here, but now we have a time limit. My OB won't let me go past 41 weeks. He said that if I go in for my next appointment, if he doesn't admit me to be induced that same day, he will be the next day. So I'm going out in a bit to put the carseat in, and go walk around the store for a bit, hoping he'll be born soon.

[jrabbit]

Beth - the pedicure was purely an excuse for a foot massage! It's been nearly 4 years since I did this before! My toenails are red, though - cute. My daughters are jealous because they "are" girly-girls and like painted nails (I forgot to add that we got a babysitter at the last minute, so I got to go by myself!). I took a wee nap in the massage chair, too, and enjoyed telling the "nail girls" that I was due last week. They looked at me like I had 3 heads and asked "next week?" No! LAST week.

Have you considered cohosh? You should ask your OB/MW what they think of that.

Lemon Juice: my parents JUST called from the airport to check on whether or not the baby was here. So, it looks like they made it! Only thing is that they aren't renting a car, so I'm not sure how they're planning to get to our house (from their hotel) in the event that labor starts before they pick up our car.

I'm heading to bed now. We've done enough projects for today. Not sure I'm up for DTD, which is what I'd been planning.

--janis

[Phoenix~Mama]

Hi everyone! Well, looks like baby doesn't want December? lol Everyone was so sure I was going early, including my MW. Even today she is like, everything is ready, you can go anytime.

I'm getting a lot of anxiety now at night... the contractions come, and always stop and I don't know how much longer I can deal with the head game of it all.. I need for it to be real.

I'm also worried about going back to work next Monday. I was so painfully uncomfortable there and loved that the holidays came. My work shuts down between Christmas and New Years and it has been so life saving to get up and walk around when I need to, take a nap when I need to, get in the bath if I have to... etc. But if baby isn't here by Monday, I have to go to work. I don't want to blow through my PTO before baby gets here. There are still some days yet... I'm praying hard everyday and talking to DD telling her it's okay to come. :

This whole waiting thing sucks. lol

[library lady]

I wish I was busy taking care of my baby. I am at 40 weeks 6 days. We had a big false alarm on Christmas day and I can't sleep at night because it seems like that is when I always have contractions and pressure. By morning, it always stops. I am going to give in and get an ultrasound because I have excess fluid and something just seems off. I have never gone overdue plus my belling is very distended. I have stretch marks on the top of my belly. I am torn between going out with the 3 wild girls and staying home and trying to rest since I can't seem to sleep at night. I hope something happens soon.

[bmcneal]

I'm getting the daily calls now, everyone is starting to worry.

Today, my mom called to remind me that "if you feel anything, anything at.all. that might feel like labor, make sure you head to the hospital. and telling me how "you should have broken DD (3) of sleeping with you a *long* time ago. How are you going to all sleep with her in your bed?" *sigh* I told her I will for sure head to the hospital as soon as I feel contractions, even if they aren't regular (I/we won't), and that we are hardcore working on getting DD to sleep in her own bed. (We're not.) It's just easier, at least at this point, to tell her what she wants to hear. I don't really want to do *anything* besides have this baby, let alone try and argue why I/we do what we do.

I got some RRL today (didn't know I could find it here, yippee!) and going to go home and drink some. DH said that if we don't start to see any progress (not really from the RRL, as I know it doesn't really *induce* labor, just strengthens the uterus.) we can get some EPO on Thursday.

DH should be getting some answers about work soon. Everything has been closed since before Christmas (employment agencies/staffing places), but they open on the first/second, and they are/were all saying they would have more jobs, since the factories are closed from Christmas to New Year's. We'll still be moving, as soon as it's feasible, because when I ran home to drop off some groceries, the upstairs window pane was knocked out. It's just one thing after another with this apartment/house, and it's driving me crazy. First the front door and the railing/banister, then the heat/air unit and the leaking, and now the window. We are paying too stinkin' much money in rent to have so much stuff going wrong. It will be alright though, we'll find something eventually. DH is thinking about going to the police academy, we saw on the news they are going to be hiring a lot of new people in the new year, and he seems kind of excited about it, which means happier (a little) DH. I hope everyone that is still waiting will be holding their babes soon. If you're anything like me, you wanted your babe here last week

[CAKJNH]

I got my RRLT today, too. But lucky me - my car is breaking down. I think my dad or brother can fix it easily enough, but I haven't been out in over 2 weeks in my own car. To have it start acting up with an overdue baby and 3 little girls in the cold and snow was NOT a fun trip. But since I was out I was making sure I got the stuff I wanted!

I also got some blue cohosh. I don't think I need the black really as I've been contracting - pretty regularly for over 24 hrs now. I decided to take some with my my rrlt - which I actually enjoyed. I NEVER like herbal teas, but I really like this one. So between those 2 and the EPO I take already, I hope something happens. Even if it is just to make the contractions stronger for a little bit - I need a change of scenery!

Last night in the shower I was doing my squatting exercises, I really felt the baby's head drop - painfully. Got excited - which I think is my downfall, lol. I start thinking "just maybe" and poof the contractions go away.

So I'm still here, hoping not to have a January baby (we were kind of excited that our kids birthdays would be Nov, Dec, Jan - March) but if not, o well. I'm getting back to a normal, more patient frame of mind I think. The last few weeks were difficult.

I will say things have been quieter since I posted this on my myspace & aim accounts "Jonathan is here, we are hiding him in a closet. I'm wearing a prosthetic belly just to screw with you. Happy New Year" Yesterday I had 3 voicemails, 10 emails, innumerable text messages and IMs from people I talk to EVERYDAY!! I started off being nice "no not here, yes you'll be the 1st to know..." yada yada. But when it became an hourly thing - especially from family "any changes" oy! I gave in to my spiteful side

Congrats to all the momma's out there! To those still hanging in, : They can't stay in there FOREVER! (Can they? )

[bmcneal]

Originally Posted by CAKJNH

I also got some blue cohosh. I don't think I need the black really as I've been contracting - pretty regularly for over 24 hrs now. I decided to take some with my my rrlt - which I actually enjoyed. I NEVER like herbal teas, but I really like this one. So between those 2 and the EPO I take already, I hope something happens. Even if it is just to make the contractions stronger for a little bit - I need a change of scenery!

I'm kind of scared to try the cohoshes. I've read some really scary things about them, and am not quite ready to try them. I *did* find some EPO at Kroger today, it was on sale, buy one/get one, so DH said to go ahead and get some. They had it at the health food store, but I didn't have enough money, and we had/have a gc to Kroger my mom got me, so there you have it.

[CAKJNH]

Originally Posted by bmcneal

I'm kind of scared to try the cohoshes. I've read some really scary things about them, and am not quite ready to try them. I *did* find some EPO at Kroger today, it was on sale, buy one/get one, so DH said to go ahead and get some. They had it at the health food store, but I didn't have enough money, and we had/have a gc to Kroger my mom got me, so there you have it.

I really looked into them a lot and decided that since I've never had BP issues or bleeding issues and I will keep a close eye on how I feel. The Black cohosh scared me more than the blue. And I'm not using it aggressively. I read 5-10 drops in water every 1/2 hr but I haven't done that. First I'm trying to see if I can even handle the taste, lol.

I really don't like the hospitals near me and I don't want to hear I need an induction. I am going to mostly stick to the RRLT, but I do feel that I need some help. I"ve had contractions for the last 36 hrs straight and besides being exhausted, I don't see them making any real progress. Since nothing is helping them go away, we'll see if something helps move them forward!

I'm glad you got the EPO - I took it for a week and it definitely worked!

I've taken the Blue Cohosh 2 times tonite and I've noticed not an increase in frequency but in the intensity which is what I've needed! Hopefully it will be just a little nudge that he needs!

[jrabbit]

still here ... I've been icky crampy all day long. DH & I can't decide if we want the baby to wait til 2009 or not. December = tax break. January = we can reach our medical insurance deductible faster.

My parents are in town now. My dad has asked repeatedly if I'm in labor yet. (at least he doesn't ask me if I'm effaced, like my FIL did ...) He did say at dinner "this baby had damn well better get here this week!" - I'm a daddy's girl, and I'm pretty sure he's a nervous wreck since he's never been around for the birth of our children, and he's going to be IN THE HOUSE this time. My mom is scared of the home birth, but she's excited. I don't really want my dad witnessing the birth, but I know/think that he'll be nervous hearing me in labor. He may elect to go for a walk or bike ride.

Beth - the cohosh really shouldn't be that scary. I took EPO for a couple weeks with DD2, then cohosh for 24 hours. (www.pigvig.net/molly.html) I can't remember the actual dosage, but I have always thought it was every 4 hours, and my labor wasn't scary. You do want to be sure your care provider knows what you're doing.

g'nite y'all!
--janis

[mom2annika]

library_lady, it's good to hear from you. I had been wondering. Sorry to hear you're still waiting.

My mom is here and wants to hold the baby all the time so I am letting her soak up baby goodness. I found my slings today and I think it will be a lot easier with this babe than it was with my first to keep up a sorta normal routine. Plus this one is so much more laid-back than her sister.

I am feeling soo much better now it's unreal. I didn't realize how sick I had gotten in the pg and how bad I felt. Turned out the babe was posterior, too, which might explain why I had so much early labor.

Hope the babes come soon y'all.

[bmcneal]

Originally Posted by jrabbit;12886261Beth - the cohosh really shouldn't be that scary. I took EPO for a couple weeks with DD2, then cohosh for 24 hours. ([url

www.pigvig.net/molly.html[/url]) I can't remember the actual dosage, but I have always thought it was every 4 hours, and my labor wasn't scary. You do want to be sure your care provider knows what you're doing.

It's mostly the blood pressure thing I'm worried about. My blood pressure has been a bit on the high side (2 weeks ago 145/98, last appointment, 133/95). They haven't seemed to worried about it, and I'm not terribly worried about it, but the risk from the cohosh about the blood pressure is enough to keep me away from it (at least for the time being).

[jrabbit]

beth - that makes sense. best wishes.

i just took a shower and I'm eating ... my henna disappeared, and she's coming back to do it again at 4:00 - then i'll take a nap. seems a little foolish to do it again, if it's not going to last, but it sure was a wonderful treat, so I'm splurging. (I think I won't do anything to "induce" because the henna is supposed to last better if you don't shower within 24 hours - last time, i waited my normal 2 days, but if I'm in the tub giving birth tomorrow morning, that'll spoil it.)

I'm boiling beans for soup for dinner. I'll at least make an effort to get my parents to spend more time with the girls while they're here waiting for the baby. Next, I need to work on nursing pads! and maybe start sorting another box ... I'm bored. Kids are at museum with grandparents and DH is at the airport (his hobby is taking pictures of planes, and he won't get much of that in the coming weeks!).

--janis

[bmcneal]

I can't find it anywhere, so I guess I will ask you ladies. What dosage of EPO do I take? I've read I can take it orally and vaginally, but I'm not sure how much/how often. I have 500mg capsules, if that helps.

[CAKJNH]

Beth, each MW/Dr has their own regimen.

Mine was 1500mgs (3 capsules ) every morning and night. I did them vaginally once but it was such a mess I decided to just take them orally. It still worked because after a week of taking them I was 50% effaced, completely soft and 3cm dilated. I haven't been checked since, but since it is only meant for ripening, I can't imagine it can do a whole lot more for me.

HTH!

Leanna

[jrabbit]

Where did 2008 go?

[Maine Mama Doula]

All right - 2009 babies! I'm kind of bummed that he/she didn't make an appearance last night because we would have been married in 2005, DD in 2006, DS in 2007, and this LO, now in 2009. Still waiting tfor the cohoshes to kick in! I was very uncomfortable sleeping last night with hip and pelvic pain so I think this little one has dropped, but I still can't find my own cervix! 41w5d. -Nina