*~ Weekly chat thread Jan 10-16 ~* - Page 3

[thorn]

I just try on the regular length jeans and see how they fit on my hips, butt, waist, etc. and then order the short length online if they don't have them in the store.

[JuniperMama]

Hey mamas. I don't think I managed to post on last week's thread so I thought I'd jump in here.

I went to the dr. on Friday for my first official appt at 9w1d. I did have a bit more spotting last week so I asked them if they'd take a quick look and just make sure all was well. It was a lousy u/s machine so I couldn't see things very clearly but the dr. said that she could see the heartbeat flicking away in there and that all was well. I was hoping for a bit more effusive reassurance but she just said - I don't see any source of bleeding and you have a viable embryo in there so I wouldn't worry. Not the more touchy feely approach. : It was the dr on call so not my regular doc.

The "official" appt part was really an hour-long intake thing with a nurse. It really amounted to her going over my health questionnaire and entering a bunch of stuff in a computer. . I guess that's fine and I am new to this HMO so it was orienting a little bit to their way of working but it didn't feel like much of an appt.

The good news is that I have an appt. with one of the clinic MWs next Thursday. I have high BP so I might be risked out of the MW practice but I want to see. I had an OB last time and would really love to see a MW this time if possible. Because of the way my insurance works, I'd be seeing a MW practice so its not quite the same as having my "own" MW because I'd be seeing all of them but the approach would be quite different from a regular OB and I'd be grateful for that...

I'm not feeling overwhelmingly sick overall. TIRED and woozy if I don't eat regularly but otherwise, reasonably ok. Boobs seem to be getting more sore over time which is kind of annoying. The biggest annoyances for me right now are crappy sleep and constipation. (sigh)

Anyway, I'm rambling on. I have to go eat something. That's the story from over here.

[Glittergal]

stardust swallower and labortrials, thanks for the cramping sympathy. Can you tell me about more about cramp bark ---I'm not familiar with it. Is is safe with nursing? I've only taken the afterbirth herbals and that doesn't sound familiar. Do you buy the tincture or make it up yourselves?

I'm pretty sure everything is fine - my bump is growing and I'm still very hungry. Sometimes I get really paranoid and also think of how many women have losses and now this is my 3rd pregnancy, without any miscarriages, so sometimes I feel like I'm "due"...is that totally twisted?

[RoseRed]

JuniperMama I did that exact same thing last pregnanyc, saw a clinic of MW's. I actually really liked the experiance. While in labor they didn't really push the interventions, it was more the nurses who did that. And, I could tell when the MW did it was only because she has rules she has to follow. Like, I could only push for an hour before gettins c/s (but she let me go a little over) The only thing I didn't like compleatly was that a MW I had never met was actually the one to deliver my baby, it was the only downside. But, she was awesome about talking to me about what I wanted and what was important to me durring the whole proccess. It helped to keep me focused and I was still able to get the birth that I expected from a hospital.

[stardust swallower]

Originally Posted by Glittergal

stardust swallower and labortrials, thanks for the cramping sympathy. Can you tell me about more about cramp bark ---I'm not familiar with it. Is is safe with nursing? I've only taken the afterbirth herbals and that doesn't sound familiar. Do you buy the tincture or make it up yourselves?

I'm pretty sure everything is fine - my bump is growing and I'm still very hungry. Sometimes I get really paranoid and also think of how many women have losses and now this is my 3rd pregnancy, without any miscarriages, so sometimes I feel like I'm "due"...is that totally twisted?

I buy the cramp bark tincture -- a quick look around the web will give you some details; it's widely recommended for uterine cramping. It seems safe when nursing, although some suggest tea instead for nursing mamas. I think paranoia in pregnancy is just part of the ride for some of us. It'll be great to get through the 1st trimester!

[Jilian]

To the cramping mamas: could it be possible that your uterus is already moving past your pelvis and giving you cramping? I'm cramping too and I have the same thoughts (waiting for blood). I've been trying to take it easy and rest.

My exhaustion is just taking over. I am so, so tired and I feel pretty useless these days. I want to take the kids outside to play but I've got nothing as far as energy. Coffee is grossing me out so that isn't helping. I can't wait to have some energy back. I keep having moments of "What the heck did I get myself into?!"

[labortrials]

Originally Posted by thorn

I just try on the regular length jeans and see how they fit on my hips, butt, waist, etc. and then order the short length online if they don't have them in the store.

I swear I try on the regular length jeans, but then when I get the longs they're made for a thinner person or something. They NEVER fit the same way as the regulars. :

Originally Posted by Glittergal

stardust swallower and labortrials, thanks for the cramping sympathy. Can you tell me about more about cramp bark ---I'm not familiar with it. Is is safe with nursing? I've only taken the afterbirth herbals and that doesn't sound familiar. Do you buy the tincture or make it up yourselves?

I'm pretty sure everything is fine - my bump is growing and I'm still very hungry. Sometimes I get really paranoid and also think of how many women have losses and now this is my 3rd pregnancy, without any miscarriages, so sometimes I feel like I'm "due"...is that totally twisted?

Although every woman should expect a miscarriage during their childbearing years, and the more children you have the more possibility of losses, I believe I read that the more successful pregnancies you've had w/o loss, the LESS likely you are statistically to suffer a loss.

I buy the cramp bark (sometimes referred to as black haw) as a tincture. Then I mix it into some water or tea or something and chug it. It'll be more effective as a tincture than in capsules or something. I don't know about taking it while nursing. You'd have to ask an herbalist.

[mama*pisces]

I'm currently writing a myspace blog about why I am choosing to homebirth. My SIL is on myspace and sometimes reads my blogs, so I'm basically outing myself. I don't want to spend my whole pregnancy lying to everyone about what I'm doing. I'm backing it up with facts and studies that show that homebirth is just as safe as hospital birth. I'm excited and nervous at the same time.....I still haven't decided if if I'm actually going to tell my mom and sister my birth plans - that could be detrimental to my birthing plans since my mom might insist on being there and she would totally stall my labor. Not happening! But at least this way I won't have to feel like I'm keeping this *terrible* secret from everyone - if they don't like it, they can keep their opinions to themselves.

But, I need some help. I want to include something that I saw on "The business of being born' (which i currently don't have) - something that says that most(?) other countries have midwives attending births, and that those countries birth mortality rates are much lower than ours here in the US. Does anyone know of a link where I can find that information stated? I'm pretty sure that's right.....

Thanks, and wish me luck. I'm probably going to get flamed, but maybe not, since most of my husband's side of the family already thinks I'm a nut anyway.

[Coconut Chronicles]

This articles has some great statistics on the things you have mentioned: CLICK

Good luck writing your post! I'd love to read it... is it going to be "friends only"?

[wombatclay]

The US is generally has the worst maternal mortality rate of "industrialized" countries (despite spending more money that most of the other countries on that list). Mothering had an article about it a few issues ago.

Here's the big 2005 WHO/UNICEF/World Bank report. (annex 3 lists rates by country... but if you're really fond of math the info leading up to the tables is kind of spiffy)

If you'd rather cut to the chase, you can find the country listings here (alphabetical by country) and here (by rank...though this site is using the 2002 data)

Part of the UN plan for reducing maternal mortality world wide is to encourage skilled midwife services and birth attendant programs, and there are many studies that show skilled midwives reduce maternal mortality. However, a lot of these studies are looking at the so-called "developing world" and the people you'll be talking with may not be convinced. There is a neat article that looks specifically at Sweden here though.

I saw a really cool blog entry a month or two ago that compared the US with other major nations, and really pushed the statistics to make the comparison as realistic as possible (addressing common arguements about why the US is "worse" on the charts). I'll see if I can find it because it was awesome! And had the sort of "sound bite with solid research" that would be good in a discussion.

Good luck! I hope they all listen politely and keep any negative comments they may have to themselves.

[mama*pisces]

Thanks!! Those links look really good - this might be a really long blog entry! I'll make it public and give you guys a linky when I'm done.

[labortrials]

Originally Posted by mama*pisces

I'm currently writing a myspace blog about why I am choosing to homebirth. My SIL is on myspace and sometimes reads my blogs, so I'm basically outing myself. I don't want to spend my whole pregnancy lying to everyone about what I'm doing. I'm backing it up with facts and studies that show that homebirth is just as safe as hospital birth. I'm excited and nervous at the same time.....I still haven't decided if if I'm actually going to tell my mom and sister my birth plans - that could be detrimental to my birthing plans since my mom might insist on being there and she would totally stall my labor. Not happening! But at least this way I won't have to feel like I'm keeping this *terrible* secret from everyone - if they don't like it, they can keep their opinions to themselves.

Well, they're not the ones having your baby. And I totally feel ya when it comes to "mom" being there. My mom DID stall my labor when she popped her head into my hospital room. DH said it was pretty amazing. And we had expressed requested that the family STAY OUT.
There's nothing wrong with "lying" to them about this. For a LOT of people it's just better that way. You don't OWE them an explanation of your birth plan.

Originally Posted by wombatclay

I saw a really cool blog entry a month or two ago that compared the US with other major nations, and really pushed the statistics to make the comparison as realistic as possible (addressing common arguements about why the US is "worse" on the charts). I'll see if I can find it because it was awesome! And had the sort of "sound bite with solid research" that would be good in a discussion.

Oh that does sound good.

I'm also writing a blog post about the decrease in CNMs in our town. It's scary!

[wombatclay]

Oh yeah... almost forgot... if you google maternal mortality US you'll get lots of hits from major medi sources, just in case the people you're writing for would give more credence to Newday than to the UN. I know my stepMIL really only believes something if it's covered by CNN.

[mama*pisces]

Originally Posted by labortrials

Well, they're not the ones having your baby. And I totally feel ya when it comes to "mom" being there. My mom DID stall my labor when she popped her head into my hospital room. DH said it was pretty amazing. And we had expressed requested that the family STAY OUT.
There's nothing wrong with "lying" to them about this. For a LOT of people it's just better that way. You don't OWE them an explanation of your birth plan.

I know I don't owe them an explanation - but I want to be able to openly talk about my pregnancy experience, and I figure that if I just lay it out all out in the open, I might actually end up educating some people about other ways to birth than just going to the hospital.

I might or might not regret my decision later. I hope I don't. But so far I've written a bad-a** blog, and I feel like it would be wrong to keep it from the world.

[labortrials]

Awesome. You go grrrl!

[maddymama]

Hi Mamas,
Hope everyone is doing well. We are finally doing better. DD (2 1/2 years old) fought a nasty virus last week (average tem 103-105 for 5 days), then I got mildly sick once she was better. I'll tell you, being sick while pregg is miserable.
I'm sooo glad I'm feeling better today! I started back at work today (part time) after being off for a month. Ummm... none of my workclothes fit, and my maternity clothes should arrive by mail later this week. We'll see how tonight goes. Hopefully by my next "dress up day" comfy professional clothes will be here!
I'd love to read your blog,mama*pices....
Hope all the aches, pains, cramps, nausea, etc. slow down for everyone this week!
~maddymama

[pbreffe]

I had my first appt last Wednesday. It was mostly just a lot of forms to be filled out, an annual pap smear and then a little chat with the midwife. They didn't even check for a heartbeat since I was only 9 weeks.

I have an ultrasound on this Wednesday to check for a heartbeat just for my own peace of mind. And then next Wednesday I have an appointment with my hb midwife. I probably won't see the other midwives much after that. They ask that you see them concurrently to maintain a relationship in case of transfer but that you don't have to go to every single appointment.

I am still having a little cramping but no spotting or bleeding. My morning sickness is starting to dissipate I think. I am finally able to eat without gagging. The annoying thing is that I went through a period where I wasn't so sleepy and exhausted anymore but now it's horrible!!! I am soooo tired all the time I am having a hard time staying awake!

I am really looking forward to feeling the baby move though and seeing/hearing a heartbeat!

[Jilian]

I'm glad you're feeling better Maddy.

I'd love to read the blog Mia, I think that is a good idea. It sounds like a nice, non-pushy way to educate those you love and help them to understand why you are making that particular birthing choice.

[mama*pisces]

Glad you are feeling better maddymama - I know your pain, I started getting a scratchy throat the day I got my BFP, and it turned into a full-blown cold that lasted a week. I was miserable.

[Spring Sun]

Well,the dr I was going to see broke both her elbows, so I am going to actually go in for my ultrasound today! I know I am not having twins, but there is a part of me that just needs to be assured.

I am going crazy with work. I have not been motivated for the last month to do anything. Fine. I work for myself so no pressure. But the order I thought was coming in mid Febuary is coming in next week, and we are not ready for it at all. I have no idea how I am going to get everything done in a few days. I am kinda freaking out. If I blow this I am going to have to sell my business. No pressure, eh.

Other than that-ms is mellow and comes and goes. Moddiness is up to wahzoo.

Does anyone else feel like they have not been as good of mom as they usually are? I have been a little more snappy and it is not fair to my almost four year old. Does nayone have any tricks to stopping yourself and switching back to normal with your dc? Or something other than movies that could give me an immediate break when I am feeling to snappy?