Chit chat, August 10-16th - Page 2

[stealthmode]

Name: Jacquelyn
Weeks/Days along: 15w4d
Appointments: none
Symptoms: Feeling pretty much like my old self, but with lovely afternoon headaches.
Food: I'm such a cliche...zesty dill pickles.
Exercise: Ugh, still haven't started anything. Planning to do evening walks and start my yoga dvd as soon as I unpack my yoga mat. Regina, we should make a pact to start yoga ASAP!
Body changes and other milestones: I think I am either maintaining the same weight or actually losing a pound here and there, which means my body is hopefully normalizing itself now that I'm eating a balanced diet again. I think my boobs stopped growing. Bye bye boob fairy.
Thoughts: I keep thinking I feel movement, but it's so hard to be sure!

[smokeylo]

Name Lauren
Weeks/Days along 16w6d
Appointments haircut and teeth cleaning?
Symptoms constipation, insane fatigue, but tummy seems to be in the clear! crazy erect nipples. I've never had this problem before but it's getting embarrassing. Tips?
Food as soon as i mentioned sushi, i stopped wanting it! i've been eating apples and cheddar cheese a lot. evenings are STILL hard for me, nothing ever sounds good despite being very hungry.
Exercise :
Body changes and other milestones I think I'm officially popping. If people can't tell this week, they will very soon. And I am feeling the baby move a little bit here and there, little swishes and thumps, nothing huge yet, though. But it's great to feel her in there (if it is a she, I just like saying it is!).
Thoughts I have had trace leukocytes in my pee, so I'm taking a supplement to hopefully nip any nascent UTI in the bud. I had my midwife test me for anemia because I'm so tired, but my iron is fine so it's just regular pregnancy/nursing all night long fatigue. I'm nervous about school starting because I have 2 evening classes and I'm afraid I will be even more tired than I already am.

We almost talked ourselves into an ultrasound, then backed out big time and really talked ourselves OUT of it. We decided that it would be harder to be sad if we do have a boy if we are holding him in our arms. And it will be nice to have the possibility of a girl open for another 5 months, rather than have it nipped in the bud. Plus, it COULD be a girl, so if it is we'll just be super happy. We're trying to focus on coming up with names we really like and being happy to meet our child, boy or girl.

Otherwise... not much going on!

[akat]

Sunshadow, I got a screening result of 1/20 so my anxiety was really intense. I did get an amnio because I couldn't handle the stress of not knowing and worried that all those stress chemicals would hurt the baby. I went to a doctor who performs a lot of amnios and his personal miscarriage rate was 1/1500. So although the general risk is 1/200 to 1/400, if you go to an experienced doctor it could be less.

Name - Ann
Weeks/Days along - 16 weeks
Appointments - next midwife visit not til Aug. 20
Symptoms - still nauseous and throwing up even more than first trimester, tired but not quite as tired as before
Food - fruit, cheese, last night we had chili, cornbread and homemade potato skins! eating a lot of corn on the cob, potato, grilled meat/chicken and veggies meals.
Exercise - I do heavy lifting in my job and walking/carrying. not really doing anything besides that
Body changes and other milestones - belly is definitely getting out there.
Thoughts - we're wracking our brains for a boy name, going through all the baby clothes and toys in the basement [fun!], I'm having a really hard time getting a regular day's work done. I feel a lot less grouchy and touchy than my previous pregnancy. Getting pretty excited about a new baby! and worrying a little b/c I'm gonna have to work more this time around than I did when my son was a baby

[oregonmama79]

Name: Liz
Weeks/Days Along: 19weeks 1 day
Appointments: not until 8/18
Symptoms: tired, emotional, hungry all the time!: still having headaches-but less frequent
Food: Yes, I love all food : except meat! These days-the thought of beef or chicken makes me gag. I try to get some chickent for the protien, but I am just not that into it. I am into bacon-but obviously trying not to indulge b/c it is not all that healthy and DH and DS don't eat pork. But veggies and fruit and cereal and pasta and yogurt and geez-I think I am hungry...all of those are yummy!
Exercise: hiking (that's a favorite weekend activity) not much else--still looking for that motivation...
Body Changes/Milestones: Starting to feel regular night time movement Getting bigger by the day it seems-but not gaining a whole lot of weight.
Thoughts: I am reading about all these mamas getting the "big" ultrasound and I am a little jealous I don't want to know the sex-but since everyone else is doing it-it makes it tempting. I am not getting the 20 wk u/s though-so that makes it easier-but still wondering if it is a boy or girl....I am feeling girl-but ya just never know until the blessed day arrives :

[bekkie]

Originally Posted by seaheroine

Don't worry, Bekkie -- your labor will be amazing. Intense? Painful? Probably...but it's nothing you won't be able to handle...and nothing will compare to feeling your baby come out! Nothing...and then to see them and smell them...plus, you will feel like you could do anything afterwards. It will all be worth it!

See if you can find copies of the Discovery Health show "House of Babies" anywhere. It's not on here anymore but it is a GREAT show to watch, so empowering. I thought of it again and again in labor. The BOBB is a great choice, too - and there are lots of amazing birth videos on YouTube.

tysvm Elizabeth I will definitely take a look for that video (DH is wonderful at finding things online!)

glad everyone in your household is feeling better! Good luck on Monday!! MIL definitely needs a hobby

[JenChaffee]

Name: Jen
Weeks/Days along: 17/1
Appointments: Since I switched care, I don't have to go in every week, so nothing until the end of the month!
Symptoms: I feel pretty good. Part of that is that I am on vacation and not at work.
Food: Almost anything. I have to keep lots of snacks handy. DH laughs at me and says I am like a squirrel with little bits tucked away here and there.
Exercise: Not much.
Body changes and other milestones: My belly is really sticking out.
Thoughts: I am starting to relax a bit and starting to ponder names. I had my first shower on Sunday. I am visiting my family. This will be the last time I see them before the babies arrive. They are really uncomfortable with hb, so I find myself not bravely talking about my plans, but instead avoiding the topic.

[CrunchyMamaToBe]

I have been dismayed to discover over the past few days that not only is my belly getting bigger, my butt is, too! My underwear aren't fitting like they should. Woe is me.

Paxye, that is great your MW friend is so supportive.

Originally Posted by jillmamma

...
He also is getting more excited and has offered to show the baby how to build train layouts and play Legos (duplos).

My son (who is coming up on three) keeps telling me that the baby will play trains with him. It's sweet, but I think he's going to be in for a bit of a shock when the baby arrives and is essentially helpless at first.

Astraia. I hope your results are encouraging.

Originally Posted by sunshadow

Thoughts: So, my midwife called and said I my integrated screening came back positive, 1/250. My husband and I are trying to figure out what to do. I don't feel comforatable getting an amnio with the risk of miscarriage. But, at the same time I know with my history of depression that having a child with a disability would be really hard on me. I just hate not knowing.

Someone already pointed out that the miscarriage rate varies widely with amnios. The published rate here in the UK is 1/100, but the rate at the local hospital is 1/200, and I am sure it's lower for many of the doctors who perform them.
Also, 1/250 would just barely count as positive here. 1/251 wouldn't be considered positive. Good luck with your decisions.

[Astraia]

Originally Posted by stealthmode

Food: I'm such a cliche...zesty dill pickles.

I accidentally bought a BIG jar of sweet pickles DH hates pickles so he'll never eat them and I think they're gross right now. I might end up throwing out the whole thing (unless I can find someone who wants them).

[Astraia]

Originally Posted by smokeylo

crazy erect nipples. I've never had this problem before but it's getting embarrassing. Tips?

I've heard of people using bandaids. I've been wearing a padding bra with nursing pads and if it's hot I wear 2 tank tops, otherwise a tank and a t-shirt. I've had days though where they'll show through padded bra, tank, t-shirt, and sweatshirt. Kinda awkward if you're stuck with one of those chest-talkers!

Originally Posted by smokeylo

We decided that it would be harder to be sad if we do have a boy if we are holding him in our arms. And it will be nice to have the possibility of a girl open for another 5 months, rather than have it nipped in the bud. Plus, it COULD be a girl, so if it is we'll just be super happy. We're trying to focus on coming up with names we really like and being happy to meet our child, boy or girl.

I wish now we hadn't done the amnio. If it IS a boy (especially one with Muscular Dystrophy) I'd rather be holding him in my arms and head over heels in love before I realize the problems. Not that I think I'll love the baby any less, but already I feel myself distancing...myself... (stupid sentence) from the baby and it's not even confirmed that it's a boy! I feel awful but I don't know how to get the initial excitement and connection back, especially if it's a boy with MD. Eugh. No one ever warned me about this.

[Astraia]

Originally Posted by sunshadow

My husband and I are trying to figure out what to do. I don't feel comforatable getting an amnio with the risk of miscarriage. But, at the same time I know with my history of depression that having a child with a disability would be really hard on me. I just hate not knowing.

Would you abort/ how late can you abort?

Problem with amnio is it does take a couple of weeks to get results back (unless you've got the RAD technology there, which just started here in the last few months- then you get them back in roughly a week).

It also depends on who does it. I hear in the US it's just any ol' dr who does them so their miscarriage rates may be higher. In Canada it's specialized dr's who do a LOT of amnios and their miscarriage rates are fairly low. This time when I went for the amnio, I was quoted a risk of 1/1600. This was, I believe, off a study of 3,000 women.

(from my research, the miscarriage rate of 1/200 was based off a 1970's study- lousy technology, bigger needles, higher rate of problems. I'm surprised in just 1 year how much has changed with their amnio technology. It's a smaller needle, the take out the fluid differently, they have different ways of analyzing what they take, etc).

[paxye]

Originally Posted by stealthmode

Food: I'm such a cliche...zesty dill pickles.

Originally Posted by Astraia

I accidentally bought a BIG jar of sweet pickles DH hates pickles so he'll never eat them and I think they're gross right now. I might end up throwing out the whole thing (unless I can find someone who wants them).

I hate sweet pickles and at the moment I am not liking dills.... but I went to Costco and bought two large jars of Kosher pickles... So salty but SO delicious!!!

[sunshadow]

My husband is very against doing an amnio. The 12 week ultrasound tech said it looked good to her. So, for now we are going with another ultrasound, tomorrow. I don't think I could do an abortion this late, especially not after another couple of weeks. My midwife said there are waiting lists of people who want to adopt a down's baby, so if we do end up with a down's baby that we decided we can't keep that is what we will do. But yeah, 1/250 isn't that much of a risk. Especially with a good 12 week ultrasound. So, I am trying not to worry about it. It's hard not to.

*eta* just to keep from worrying I am considering the amnio. I am trying to tell my husband about how little risk the amnio probably is. Especially when we would be going to a clinic with tons of experience. But, I already went on and on about all the reasons why I didn't want one as I was working through the initial reaction to the results. So, he is very against it now!

[gemgal053080]

Name: Shelby
Weeks/Days along: 18 wks 6 days
Appointments: OB/GYN appt on the 14th
Symptoms: low back kinda hurts but thats about it this week...thank god...ooh and I am horny all the time...lol..thomas loves this of couse
Food: anything japanese or chinese
Exercise: I started working again about 2 weeks ago...i wait tables so more walking than I was doing preiously
Body changes and other milestones: finally starting to show a little.
Thoughts: soooo ready to move into our new house so I can start paint the babys room.

[Astraia]

Originally Posted by gemgal053080

ooh and I am horny all the time...lol..thomas loves this of couse

so jealous!! I haven't had a sex drive since... um... last March. That's right. More than a year.

Once a week I try to "grin and bear it" and pretend that i'm enjoying it (I mean, who wants to DTD with someone whose just gritting their teeth?) but ugh, not having fun there at ALL.

Poor DH And it makes me a worse wife because i don't want him to think I'm in the mood so I just uh... don't touch him. Hmm. We need to find a work around.

[Astraia]

Originally Posted by sunshadow

*eta* just to keep from worrying I am considering the amnio. I am trying to tell my husband about how little risk the amnio probably is. Especially when we would be going to a clinic with tons of experience. But, I already went on and on about all the reasons why I didn't want one as I was working through the initial reaction to the results. So, he is very against it now!

Just tell him, "Wow, apparently the information I was reading about is TOTALLY outdated! I can't believe no one is paying any attention to the NEW research!"

I think you need to do what makes you feel comfortable- and at least you have a workable solution if the results are not what you're hoping for (not that that would make it any less devastating).

Good luck on your decision! You should be able to speak with a genetic counsellor as well - they're trained in helping people discuss their options and come to terms with what it all means for them. Ask your midwife if one is available to you.

[sunshadow]

Originally Posted by Astraia

Good luck on your decision! You should be able to speak with a genetic counsellor as well - they're trained in helping people discuss their options and come to terms with what it all means for them. Ask your midwife if one is available to you.

Huh. My midwife said a genetic counsellor wouldn't do any good because all they would talk about was the amnio. Well, I am going in for an ultrasound tomorrow, so I can request to talk to one after that if I feel I might do the amnio. I did talk to my husband again tonight and he feels better about the adoption option if there is a problem. But, still part of me would like to know just so I know.

[gemgal053080]

Originally Posted by Astraia

so jealous!! I haven't had a sex drive since... um... last March. That's right. More than a year.

Once a week I try to "grin and bear it" and pretend that i'm enjoying it (I mean, who wants to DTD with someone whose just gritting their teeth?) but ugh, not having fun there at ALL.

Poor DH And it makes me a worse wife because i don't want him to think I'm in the mood so I just uh... don't touch him. Hmm. We need to find a work around.

I say that he loves it...but WHAT IF ....he is just grinning and bearing it ??? :

[Astraia]

Originally Posted by gemgal053080

I say that he loves it...but WHAT IF ....he is just grinning and bearing it ??? :

A man? Grinning and bearing it? Nahhhh, not possible.

[Astraia]

Originally Posted by sunshadow

Huh. My midwife said a genetic counsellor wouldn't do any good because all they would talk about was the amnio. Well, I am going in for an ultrasound tomorrow, so I can request to talk to one after that if I feel I might do the amnio. I did talk to my husband again tonight and he feels better about the adoption option if there is a problem. But, still part of me would like to know just so I know.

I've seen a genetic counsellor (because I carry Muscular Dystrophy). The first meeting she told me all about MD, how it's treated (it isn't), the risks, the liklihood of it passing, etc- all stuff I knew, but that's fine, it's nice to have someone other than family understand how it all works! This was before I got pregnant.

When I got pregnant she laid out the different options available- amnio or CVS. She explained the risks of each. She asked me how i feel about abortion, what my plan would be if we got negative results, how my family would feel about it, if I was telling family, if my husband and I had discussed it in depth or were just trying not to think about, blah blah blah. She was really "counselling" on abortion, adoption, or keeping a disabled child and helping us walk through our thoughts and emotions on the whole thing.

YES, she is the person who did the referral to an amnio but I'm sure if we'd gone to talk to her and decided against it she wouldn't care. Her job isn't to force all parents for testing it's to help the parents decide what's best for them.

Might be different there, but that's my experience with it! And again, it was so nice to talk to someone who understands that disease does not immediately mean abortion, who understands that sometimes you just need to know to prepare yourself for it, etc. She was kind, calm, and non judgemental.

[jillmamma]

Originally Posted by sunshadow

So, my midwife called and said I my integrated screening came back positive, 1/250. My husband and I are trying to figure out what to do. I don't feel comforatable getting an amnio with the risk of miscarriage. But, at the same time I know with my history of depression that having a child with a disability would be really hard on me. I just hate not knowing.

Just another perspective on this...I too have dealt with depression for years (I am currently on Prozac again during pregnancy to help with it), and I have a child with a mild disability (high functioning autism). For me, yes there are times when some of his quirks and meltdowns are hard to deal with, but the joys he has brought has far outweighed the hardships. With therapy and special ed at school, he has really grown and developed a lot, and I get so proud when he accomplishes somethng new, even if it is somewhat later than other kids because sometimes it is that much harder for him. He is my sweet boy and I can't imagine life without him. When I am feeling down, a lot of times he will come up and give me hugs, "so you feel better Mommy".

So, good luck with your decision on the amnio, and I hope all goes well for you!