Weekly chat thread February 15th - February 21

[Snapdragon]

starting this the night before while I am thinking about it.

[Ninetales]

I'm trying to figure out who is even left.

[Snapdragon]

I know what you mean. I am not able to sleep right now so just prowling around.

[linchi]

Originally Posted by Ninetales

I'm trying to figure out who is even left.

Helloooo out therrrre!

So, my stomach is contracting (like getting rock solid) intermittedly, but they aren't contractions that stop my breath, like in the movies, or anything. That's normal right? Are these actual contractions, or just practice ones? There is no pattern.

So, I am officially one day overdue in Sweden, but I still got one day to go till my due date in France! Ah the joys of international living. So, this means my next step is to call the hospital tomorrow to speak to a midwife and see what the plan is.

I'm slightly concerned because the last few visits the comments have all been about how big the baby is. They even had me do a GD test (which came back negative). Anyway, I just hope baby boy decides to come out soon. My mother comes on Friday and I don't want to have her here alone while I am stuck in the hospital for a long time.

I STILL haven't packed my suitcase yet, although I did finish up the baby's yesterday. That's high on my priority list today...

Baby is moving around a ton right now.


I love seeing all the pics of the new babes and happy families! Keep it up Feb DDC members, we got some real beautiful babies on here . And for the rest of us who are still waiting for the labour gods...

[HappiLeigh]

Post-partum mommies can chat with us too! The DDCs stay active for several months, and then we can move our chat thread to Life with a Babe.

I'm feeling okay physically, but starting to get pretty mentally impatient. There are still almost 2 weeks until my due date, but I have so many periods of fairly intense contractions that I keep thinking one of these is really going to take off, and after so many hopeful moments I'm starting to get discouraged. I know I need to chill out and let it happen, and just remember that all these "false starts" are at least helping my body do the work, but it's hard to think maybe today I will hold my baby, and then have it peter out again. Although I had lots of contractions and was 3 cm dilated before I went into labor with my DD, they wouldn't come in such patterns as these seem to. Contractions, stop teasing me! I *want* to be patient, but you are making it hard for me!

In the meantime, we've had a bunch of snow dumped on us again today. Don't know if I'll make it out on my afternoon errands and DD's ballet lessons or not. It would help pass the time to do all that, but I really don't want to take risks at this point--to get nervous out on the road, or slip on the ice. Guess we'll just try and find something cozy to do in here.

[Ninetales]

I still haven't had anything. I will occasionally get one or two what I think are contractions but there is no pattern or anything to them. I've dropped but not significantly. No mucous plug (or really much mucous of any kind) and no bloody show. Nothing to really indicate it's going to be any time soon.

Which is actually kind of a good thing. At least I don't go around all day thinking "It's going to be today!" I'm pretty much resigned to the fact it will be awhile. Probably this baby is like me, overly cautious and needs lots of reassuring before making any big life changes.

[Snapdragon]

Hi!
Glad there are still some other pregnant Feb ddc'ers to chat with. and of course I also hope the ones who have had their babes come to chat too. I imagine the first few weeks of a baby leave less interest in chatting and perhaps more interest in just hanging out with the baby.

I am feeling good. I have had up and down days or weeks but somehow I am sleeping a lot again which is heavenly. Yesterday I felt really swollen- especially in my feet and legs. But going for a walk helped.
Sometimes these days I wake up at 10am and by 4pm I am almost ready for bed! then, like last night- there are nights when I am prowling around till 1am.
But I am just sleeping a ton which I think is helping me to feel good.

I am craving orange juice like crazy these days. Drinking as much of it as I can get every day.
I am actually not in a hurry to be done with the pregnancy. 9 days till my due date and I expect 7-10 days past that so I am not even thinking- any minute now. Just enjoying feeling the baby inside of me. PArt of it is that I wanted to be pregnant for years before I was, so now that I am - I am still enjoying it while it is happening. It is truly an amazing thing and I have no idea who this little being in me will be, how they will look and all that.

Still zero idea of names! Last night dh and I were reading out local newspaper and there was a big list of the kids in our local high school who made honor roll. So I read dh a list of like- 200 names in a row or something. But none of them were right for us.
Anyway- because I am 39 weeks in 2 days I do also know that the baby could be born at any time so I Am also just totally open to whatever timing happens. ALl I have left to prepare on an external level is to wash some somewhat dirty blankets that I will use for the birth bed.

Other than that I am pretty much just sleeping 2/3's of the day/nigh and up for 1/3. I am all about sleep right now!

[Snapdragon]

Does anyone else have swollen feeling feet and legs? This is my current symptom. I wonder if it is an imbalance or just the body's way of softening up some? It is not too bad but really noticeable!

[HappiLeigh]

Originally Posted by Katie34

Does anyone else have swollen feeling feet and legs? This is my current symptom. I wonder if it is an imbalance or just the body's way of softening up some? It is not too bad but really noticeable!

It *can* be a sign of high blood pressure/pre-e issues, but is probably just normal end-of-pregnancy stuff. There was a thread recently about whether people's wedding rings still fit, and many people were saying they didn't. My feet and hands have just started getting a tiny bit swollen in the last week, which also happened to me last pregnancy. It's mostly right after I get out of the hot shower, or take a walk, etc., but sometimes just happens randomly. I have a friend who gained something like a zillion pounds at the end of her pregnancy, though, just in water. She did NOT have any pre-e issues, her body just was holding on to water in those last weeks. It's just one of those final month "joys."

[doulawoman]

katie- my feet are definitely pretty swollen

I am still here, 9 days past my EDD, had acupuncture last night to induce and so far nothing has happened except I slept very badly...I am starting to get anxious about all the constriants and "discussions" about to come up with the mw's at my appt tomorrow if I'm still preggers....especially where I decided not to go to the 10 days routine ultrasound (which they scheduled on the morning of the ninth day!!?) and NST...it's not even just waiting for the baby but having been in this "state of readiness" having snacks for our birth team, moderately clean house etc. for like a month now since everyonme thought things were happening weeks ago...

[jabeen]

I've been swollen at least a couple months! My feet actually first started swelling at 5-6 months. My hands at maybe 7 months. My blood pressure has been totally normal, so I don't even pay attention anymore.

Good luck doulawoman, hope the acupuncture works! I'm 2 days past my EDD but am ok right now with waiting a few more days. If I get to a week past, I might consider some castor oil, my midwife said to keep it on hand just in case!

[OlyR]

katie - try drinking water and laying on your left side to see if they go down. But if your blood pressure is ok it's probably no big deal - we are SOOO close!!

I have my 3rd session of acupuncture today - because I have had some pretty strong contractions I will see what she thinks of doing an all out induction session. Up to this point she has been working on my mental relaxation/anxiety (anxiety over pre-e/induction).

I had a wonderful prental massage last Friday - what a great treat! I am glad I did it.

[Snapdragon]

re the swollen feet- they are not really too bad- just a little achy recently and swollen feeling but not in a major way. Blood pressure all good etcetera I am not worried about it. Just noticing it lately. I think it's just a part of the whole experience. I am also super thirsty and drinking lots of water and teas. I think it is just part of the process- somehow my body wants me to take in a lot of water right now and it also wants to retain some of it.

My very demanding dogs are bugging me to take them for some exercise. I feel so lazy but I think of my dogs as my personal trainers! In general we walk almost every day for a good hike. Lately (last few months) though with cold and pregnancy sometimes I don't want to.(like 3 or 4 days a week right now I don't want to) Then sometimes they bug me until I do it- and then I am really glad I did. Trying to motivate right now which mostly means putting on layers of clothes and socks and boots and coats- etc- which is even more challenging than the walking itself! Once I am actually out in it I feel better though so here goes.

[SunRise]

I am still around - 6 days until due date. I am curious how many people are left too! All these birth announcements are making me think I can go any time, but I have no labour symptoms.

I wake up with swollen fingers and wrists, swollen enough that they "hurt" when I bend them - my swelling is just pregnancy related. I have an appointment tomorrow and I think I will get my cervix checked as I am curious if anything is going on. I have not experienced any tightening or contractions yet.

I definitely need to get some long walks in. I feel tired and take every opportunity to rest...but maybe I need exercise! I am still going to work but not accomplishing much. My son is on his week holiday so I do not need to prepare lunch and breakfast and get him to school on schedule. So this week is about taking it easy and exercising - doing this at a nice pace.

[hapersmion]

I'm still here, and feeling kind of grouchy about it today. I shouldn't even be worrying about it - my first due date isn't until the 18th, and the probably-more-accurate ovulation-based due date is the 26th. *sigh* But DS came 8 days before his regular LMP due date, so I guess I got it into my head that this baby might come on the 10th. Really, though, I should be happy. The 18th gives me a full month between DS's birthday and the new baby's, which would be nice. And I like to keep my holidays separate too, so it wouldn't be bad to get a few more days past Valentine's. So snap out of it, self...

No swelling here, luckily. My rings are ever so slowly getting tighter, but they still go on and off. I'm mostly just hanging out and watching the Olympics too much.

[HappiLeigh]

Originally Posted by hapersmion

So snap out of it, self...

I hear you!!

[linchi]

Originally Posted by Katie34

re the swollen feet- they are not really too bad- just a little achy recently and swollen feeling but not in a major way.

My very demanding dogs are bugging me to take them for some exercise. I feel so lazy but I think of my dogs as my personal trainers! In general we walk almost every day for a good hike. Lately (last few months) though with cold and pregnancy sometimes I don't want to.(like 3 or 4 days a week right now I don't want to) Then sometimes they bug me until I do it- and then I am really glad I did. Trying to motivate right now which mostly means putting on layers of clothes and socks and boots and coats- etc- which is even more challenging than the walking itself! Once I am actually out in it I feel better though so here goes.

Totally feel you on both the swollen-ness and the dog issues! My pup is amazing though, and you are so right, it does feel good to walk. The layers (to cover all body parts) are killing me too, haha! I feel like the Michelin man as I waddle down the streets of ever stylish France.

Originally Posted by OlyR

I had a wonderful prental massage last Friday - what a great treat! I am glad I did it.

Oh, that's awesome! I posted on my fb status asking for what I should do the week before my due date, almost everyone said go to the spa. I didn't, but maybe I should find a massage some place.

Originally Posted by doulawoman

katie- my feet are definitely pretty swollen

I am still here, 9 days past my EDD, had acupuncture last night to induce and so far nothing has happened except I slept very badly...I am starting to get anxious about all the constriants and "discussions" about to come up with the mw's at my appt tomorrow if I'm still preggers....especially where I decided not to go to the 10 days routine ultrasound (which they scheduled on the morning of the ninth day!!?) and NST...it's not even just waiting for the baby but having been in this "state of readiness" having snacks for our birth team, moderately clean house etc. for like a month now since everyonme thought things were happening weeks ago...

[busymama77]

Re: swollen feet - mine come and go - but it's mainly the right foot, but when I continue to drink lots of water and lay on my left, I do notice a huge difference.

I had my 38 week check up today and I'm still at 1cm!! My OB asked if I wanted to get induced at 39 weeks, but thought I'd give it one more to see if I make any more progress and go from there - she agreed and so my next appt is scheduled next Wednesday at 11am. Could be my last one and my last day at work could be the 26th! This, of course, all depending on if the little guy wants to make his appearance before then or not. But I've been at 1cm since my 35th week - not much progress is being made and the pain that I've been enduring with him pressing really hard on my cervix, I thought something would have progressed this time around..... Oh well.

I'm feeling pretty good - evenings are a little rough. Just generally tired and not wanting to do much. But I'm still very mobile, doing laundry, cleaning the house, going to the store, still working a 40 hour work week and all of that good stuff. Just sittin' around waiting for Will's arrival.

[Nicole730]

I'm still with child too! I'm 38 weeks and a day or two. I'm feeling pretty good. Really, really tired. But, it's so hard to rest when DS is napping or in bed. Somehow I get a burst of energy then or else I have something I have to get done while he is not around. At the midwife today I had a trace of protein in my urine, but I think that's related to me not getting enough protein. I haven't been eating very well the past week or so. It's so much easier to eat the crappy food. Good news is I've only gained a pound in two weeks. Last time I gained like 6 pounds in one week at this point, my BP was elevated and combined with protein in my urine I got put on bedrest. This time is it just a protein thing...so hopefully I will help straighten that out with eating better. Yesterday we took a cold walk to the playground and let DS go down some snowy slides. He loved it and I experienced getting chilled to the bone for the first time this winter. The walk was good for me too, even if it was a slow waddle of a walk, which is actually perfect toddler speed.

I'm hoping that when I am not pregnant and I'm out and about without children I don't park in the spots close to the door at stores. Everytime I'm out with DS I think, do these people really need these close spots? I think I might be feeling a sense of entitlement

[Helsie]

The swollen feet is fluid retention and I get it really badly. I've had it for 2-3 months now. The only cure I know of is to sit with your feet higher than your heart for extended periods of time. You can feel the fluid draining and it is blissful. My FIL used to be an OB/midwife and he said that is one of the reasons I have to go to the toilet so many times in the night, it's the fluid. Mine is much worse on my left foot.