Ongoing Alaskan Chat for November! - Page 5

[brightonwoman]

Originally Posted by Pinoikoi

mmm... can I get your pumpkin and choc muffin recipe?

I make it with a couple of changes from the original recipe, so I noted those...I just reduce the pumpkin to = 1 can (for simplicity's sake) and I reduced the oil and sugar a bit because my DS was always wanting to just eat them for breakfast and I didn't feel as guilty if they weren't as sweet...I'd still keep to the lower oil amount but if you wanted to do the full amount of sugar they'd be a little more cake-like.

Makes about 24-30 muffins

4 eggs
1 1/2 c (one small can) pumpkin (original says 2c pumpkin)
1 1/2 c sugar (original says 2c sugar)
1 1/4 c oil (I use olive oil, as the pumpkin flavor is strong enough to mask it) (original says 1 1/2c)
2 3/4 c flour (original says 3c, i reduce to keep the texture even since I reduce the pumpkin and oil)
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
about 1 c chocolate chips (the original recipe called for 2 c, but that is really overkill--even at 1 1/2 c you'll probably find there are chips left in the bottom of the bowl)


In a large bowl, beat eggs, sugar, pumpkin, and oil together until smooth. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Fold in chocolate chips. Fill greased muffin cups about 2/3 full. Bake at 400* for 16-20 min. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing.

[roadfamily6now]

what about just some veggies and dip?

Where are you again? I just did an order for my mom but I might swing by if we are near.....

[Icequeen_in_ak]

Originally Posted by brightonwoman

I've been in early labor for over a week. I mean, either go into labor or don't, you know?

Oh my heavens, do I remember that frustration! I had contractions that were lasting almost a full minute, every 3 minutes for 11 days.

NOTHING would happen... she wouldn't engage. I never even reached a fingertip dilated before I gave up (after having not slept for 10 days) and let them take her. Come to find out, in my case, she would have never come. I have "disfunctional" hips ... as in, my pelvic opening wouldn't budge... she would have never made it in. Come to find out after the fact, it's a chronic problem on my dad's side of the family (with my grandma having 2 sections in the 40s). Thankfully, you know that your hips are okay for birthing babies.

I hope he comes soon for you.

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by Icequeen_in_ak

Come to find out, in my case, she would have never come. I have "disfunctional" hips ... as in, my pelvic opening wouldn't budge... she would have never made it in. Come to find out after the fact, it's a chronic problem on my dad's side of the family (with my grandma having 2 sections in the 40s). Thankfully, you know that your hips are okay for birthing babies. .

You know, now that you mention it that happened to a friend of mine too. She had been in labor for about a week or so with no progress. She did a C/S at which point the OB said the baby would never have gotten out on her own.. that poor baby had a squished side of her face for about a week. She had been TRYING to get out with no luck.

[Icequeen_in_ak]

I admit, it was quite a hard pill for me to swallow. I wanted SO desperately to have an intervention free birth I have to remind myself that in the end, I got my beautiful child, and that is all that matters. I just wish I would have been able to have the birth experience I had envisioned. But we all know life just doesn't always happen that way.

[1stimestar]

Originally Posted by brightonwoman

My mw recommended squats to help get the baby to engage... they're uncomfortable so I spend a lot more time on the ball/circling than I have with the squatting, but I had been throwing in some squats for good measure... maybe I'll just scratch that and stick with the ball.

My official due date is actually tomorrow (11/11). I don't think I'd be this ancy except for 1--the other DS came at 39wks and 2--I lost my plug nearly 2 weeks ago (it happened in labor with DS) and I've had lots of contractions on a fairly daily basis for the whole time...it's like I've been in early labor for over a week. I mean, either go into labor or don't, you know?

Oh honey, I do know how uncomfortable and frustrating it is. Do go look around at spinning babies. Mal positioned babies do just what yours is doing but in your case I would think that it also is a case of baby is just not ready yet (otherwise the little bugger would be born already.) Try to be patient and be nice to yourself. You could probably benefit from some hands and knees a couple of times a day.

[brightonwoman]

oh good grief ladies, I don't need to hear stories of babies who got STUCK!!! Geeze!!! I'm officially due tomorrow and I'm willing to let baby come when he needs to, but I *really* want him to make it early enough that I won't "risk out" of having my midwife attend me at home, and frankly i'd like to have him this week so that he'll be old enough that I'll be able to go to the big Thanksgiving dinner our friends are hosting at their lodge (I dont' want to take out a baby who's under a week old, not to mention that *I* won't be wanting to be out!)

[roadfamily6now]

Originally Posted by brightonwoman

oh good grief ladies, I don't need to hear stories of babies who got STUCK!!! Geeze!!! I'm officially due tomorrow and I'm willing to let baby come when he needs to, but I *really* want him to make it early enough that I won't "risk out" of having my midwife attend me at home, and frankly i'd like to have him this week so that he'll be old enough that I'll be able to go to the big Thanksgiving dinner our friends are hosting at their lodge (I dont' want to take out a baby who's under a week old, not to mention that *I* won't be wanting to be out!)

4 of 6 of my babies were born after 40 weeks. Some of us lucky ladies just are blessed with longer gestations!

[tallanvor]

Originally Posted by Pinoikoi

So I am having a pampered chef party on Saturday. We are making a Mint Chocolate Torte. I was thinking "tea and cake" for the party, but it might take a while for the torte to come out of the oven.. what other hors d'vores or finger foods should I serve/have at hand when guests arrive? (nothing that is too labor intensive or stinky please!) I was thinking maybe grapes. I was going to serve tea and maybe sparking cider.. any thoughts? I am planning on picking up my supplies SOON.

When I do parties I always have some fresh fruit and veggies. Things that I know my family will eat so any leftovers won't go to waste. Usually just apples, grapes, carrots, and cucumbers, but anything that sounds good to you would be good. Sometimes I'll make a yogurt dip for the fruit and I usually have a couple types of dressing. Cheese and crackers, too. Again, things I know my family will eat. It also somewhat depends on what food we're preparing. We made chili at one of my parties and so we had very light finger foods out and something with a little more sugar for those with a sweet tooth. I almost always have pumpkin bread, but that is because it was the thing that everyone at church asked me for. I would do some with chocolate chips and some without. I have a recipe for what we call Christmas Tea (because that's when Mom made it) if you are interested. It is a black tea base with juice and spices. I usually just do it in the crock pot so it stays warm and it makes the whole house smell good, too. Hmmm, maybe I'll make some of that this weekend.

[roadfamily6now]

Alaska Birth Network Meeting on Friday!

[brightonwoman]

Originally Posted by tallanvor

When I do parties I always have some fresh fruit and veggies. Things that I know my family will eat so any leftovers won't go to waste. Usually just apples, grapes, carrots, and cucumbers, but anything that sounds good to you would be good.
...

Oh my gosh now I want cucumbers. Why did you have to mention cucumbers when they are out of season and ya can't get a good one for love or money?!

[Icequeen_in_ak]

Originally Posted by brightonwoman

oh good grief ladies, I don't need to hear stories of babies who got STUCK!!! Geeze!!! I'm officially due tomorrow and I'm willing to let baby come when he needs to, but I *really* want him to make it early enough that I won't "risk out" of having my midwife attend me at home, and frankly i'd like to have him this week so that he'll be old enough that I'll be able to go to the big Thanksgiving dinner our friends are hosting at their lodge (I dont' want to take out a baby who's under a week old, not to mention that *I* won't be wanting to be out!)

I'm sorry! I didn't mean to give you any concern I was merely speaking of my experience (and the frustration of labor that produces zero results) and my own body's inability to do what it was designed to do. It was made clear that I would never be able to birth a baby naturally.... it's just basically a "birth defect' in my body.

You've already proven that you can birth babies without a problem. Your little man will make his way into the world without a problem. He just needs to be convinced it's time to come out

[brightonwoman]

Originally Posted by Icequeen_in_ak

I'm sorry! I didn't mean to give you any concern I was merely speaking of my experience (and the frustration of labor that produces zero results) and my own body's inability to do what it was designed to do. It was made clear that I would never be able to birth a baby naturally.... it's just basically a "birth defect' in my body.

You've already proven that you can birth babies without a problem. Your little man will make his way into the world without a problem. He just needs to be convinced it's time to come out

Oh I know, I wasn't really upset or bothered, it's just that in the midst of frustration the last thing I want to think is that maybe all this is pointless, you know?

Anyway, since I made it to 40 weeks, I took some belly pictures. My apologies on their being slightly fuzzy...I'm only so good with one hand and the bathroom mirror... dressed belly and bare belly and all the tiger stripes (rarrr!)
and btw, here's the henna from *gasp* almost 3 weeks ago (They are all pulled from my blog, thus being big...but I don't really do the flikr/photobucket/etc thing, so this is what I've got...if you want the link to the blog posts so you can see them in more normal size just lmk and I can PM you.)

[spruce]

Jenni,

I had to mention (and I know you're getting a lot of really experienced advice) that Iris was malpositioned, and I went through what you're going through.

Today is her 4th bday. She was born *on* her due date, but I had a real labor (where DH could see my uterus "curling" yk?) one week beforehand. She didn't descend enough because she was malpositioned. Her head was sort of on one side. Luckily, I do my own internals, and knew something was wrong when she wasn't out in two strong ctx.

(The midwife at that non-birthing-labor was very nice, but, well, things could have been handled better).

When, one week later, I was in real labor, the head MW knew me very well and took my request to "check" the babe's position very seriously. I told her I thought babe was sort of turning her head and not engaging fully, and she said I was right. She gave me some stances to do (raising one foot and things like that, to get her head to fully engage).

It worked, and she was born after I recognized a HUGE cervical lip that was caused by all that laboring with a malpositioned babe.

Just a thought...I'd ask the MW to check the baby's position, and let her know you aren't sure why baby is not descending enough to open your cervix.

Good luck!

love, p

[roadfamily6now]

Jenni, your belly is gorgeous! Have you made a belly cast??

[BusyMommy]

Yeah, "late" babies here, too. Mine were all 2 weeks over the due date & perfectly wonderful. Don't worry...lol, sounds so trite.

[brightonwoman]

Originally Posted by roadfamily6now

Jenni, your belly is gorgeous! Have you made a belly cast??

No, I've gone with henna rather than belly casts for these two pregnancies because I have no idea what i'd do with the cast after it was made...I'm not into hanging that kind of thing on my wall and I don't really want it just sitting in a closet somewhere taking up space. The only thing I've ever thought was that it would be really cool to put the curled-up newborn into the cast and take a photo...but then I'd most likely just toss the cast and keep the photo.

Originally Posted by spruce

I had to mention (and I know you're getting a lot of really experienced advice) that Iris was malpositioned, and I went through what you're going through.

Today is her 4th bday. She was born *on* her due date, but I had a real labor (where DH could see my uterus "curling" yk?) one week beforehand. She didn't descend enough because she was malpositioned. Her head was sort of on one side. Luckily, I do my own internals, and knew something was wrong when she wasn't out in two strong ctx.
...

Thanks for that thought, now that you mention it I have a gut reaction that that might be right on the money. He feels so low (lots of pressure etc) but when she's done internal checks he's at -2 so he's clearly not really THAT low...unless he's off kilter. His spine is front and slightly left of center (so exactly where we want it) but I don't know how to palpitate well enough to tell if his head is at some weird angle. I do notice a lot of pressure into the sides of my pelvis sometimes, and I've assumed that was his arms/shoulders, but perhaps I'm wrong there. I see the mw tomorrow so I will talk to her about that. I've been doing some lunges as part of my try-to-help-him-move-down routine (a la spinningbabies), although I confess I've mostly done hip circles on the ball because they are the most comfortable is there a particular type or angle of lunges that worked for you?
I have experience with checking my cervix from NFP/FAM, but have never been able to reach it during pregnancy before. In these last couple of weeks i have finally been able to reach it just barely (it's very high and very posterior, not to mention that it's *so* soft it's hard to distinguish it from the rest of my vagina) but I don't know enough about what it should feel like in labor to know whether it feels 'right' or not, you know? and I can't reach past the very beginning of the os--I can feel that 1cm dilation, but I certainly can't reach in far enough to personally verify the -2 station or anything like that. To my knowledge (and according to my check last thur) I'm not effaced at all. I have hoped that by doing periodic internals myself I'll be able to tell when things start changing so that I will actually know when to call the mw (rather than second-guessing myself until suddenly I have to push or something ) but so far I have not been able to detect any change at all.


By the way ladies, i really appreciate all your support (and advice). I feel like I've got my own personal support group/cheerleading corps, and it's very helpful. I have a lot of friends who care but most of them can't do much besides say "hoping it's soon", and I'm a go-and-do kind of person, so I definitely appreciate having some practical advice of things I can do that are actually productive.

[liza-s]

Well DH & I tried to do a belly cast last night. All went well, until about 5 minutes after finishing laying on the plaster strips. I started to pass out - I think it was a combination of low blood pressure from sitting upright on my kitchen chair, plus I was probably low blood sugar and dehydrated. This was at about 8:30 pm - and I didn't feel normal until after midnight. Unfortunately, DH had to take the cast off to early and it pretty much collapsed. We'll try again another night.

[Icequeen_in_ak]

Originally Posted by liza-s

Well DH & I tried to do a belly cast last night. All went well, until about 5 minutes after finishing laying on the plaster strips. I started to pass out - I think it was a combination of low blood pressure from sitting upright on my kitchen chair, plus I was probably low blood sugar and dehydrated. This was at about 8:30 pm - and I didn't feel normal until after midnight. Unfortunately, DH had to take the cast off to early and it pretty much collapsed. We'll try again another night.

Yikes! Take care of yourself mama.

[roadfamily6now]

Who was my Egg Lady?

I just about finished those eggs I got from you and I must say I am a bit sad. they are so yummy and I enjoyed eating eggs that actually TASTED like Eggs!

I'll probably get some more in the future, just not sure when yet.

HOpe your finding some locals to sell to! I can give you a link to another Alaska Forum so maybe you can plug your goods there as well!