August Mammas Friends Chat - Page 5

[Jillybean]

hello!

Well, figured out what was going on with ds. He got another fever yesterday so we took him to the doc. and it turns out that *both* ears have infections. Poor baby, no wonder he was so cranky! I feel so bad for getting annoyed with him.

Been feeling BH, too. They make me nervous, but I was happy to read that about it meaning an easier labor. That would be lovely!

Jlcampbell: Yay! Congrats on your GIRL!

foxytocin: wow, thats not much time to decide! I say, go with your gut. You need to be where you are comfortable and at home. Good lick deciding and I hope it all works OK.

Ok well, ds is climbing all over me so I better go!

[SamuraiEarthMama]

hello, all... sorry i've been MIA for a while. the weather has been beautiful and soccer season started and one of the laptops is busted...

we went to the zoo last week, and a peacock burst into display for us right on the path. that night, i dreamt i was knitting a baby blanket out of chenille yarn, in peacock colors, for the baby. so i asked my knitting friend to give me some lessons. she said chenille is a pain to work with (like sewing with velvet), so i've modified the dream to berry-and-blue colored cotton washcloths for now. i'm about halfway through the first one!

the baby is kicking and squirming a lot these days. i'm also getting quite a bit of BH conx... mostly in the afternoons and evenings, but also a few in the middle of the night.

i had been worried about my blood pressure (up to something like 148/80 during my last prenatal visit) and have been trying to do more protein, exercise, naps, etc. to bring it down again. my friend has a bp monitor that she let me use last night, and it was 114/62! so i'm hoping the other was just a fluke, a spike (i had indulged that morning in a half-caff mocha, so maybe that did it). my family has a history of hypertension, although i've never had it, so it was a worry for me.

it's nice to hear from all you mamas. i'll try to check in more often and get with the program.

take care, all,

katje

[mommycaroline]

Count me in for having Braxton Hicks, too. I swear I started feeling them around 11 or 12 weeks along. Far too soon, I thought, but then I did some research and it's not that uncommon. Sure hope that's true about labor! That would be great news for this VBAC'ing Mama.

And, I'm suddenly interested in knitting too! LOL. There are a bunch of ladies in my local circle that also spontaneously came up with the same idea, so we've started a Stitch n' Bitch. Haven't found a good time to get together weekly yet, but it's in the works. I want to make Christmas stockings for myself, DD and this little one, hopefully for this year. We'll see...

So, my big, exciting news is I just hosted a Chicken Pox party! Woo-hoo! One of my friends has a 10 month old who woke up covered in pox this morning with no warning. They went to the Ped's and got confirmation so she came over and so did another friend and we got the little ones to share popsicles. The baby is teething and was more than happy to oblige. We've got one more playdate scheduled for Friday, but I'm really hoping that today was enough. Keep your fingers crossed for us. It would be nice to only have to deal with one child having CP at a time.

[myjo]

Wow! There's just too much to respond to, I spent forever just reading.

Ketilave, what a terrible tragedy and drastic change for you and your family. Take good care of yourself, that kind of stress can be devastating. I'll be thinking about you.

I got brave yesterday and told the midwife we weren't going to do the doppler anymore. I figured if we keep doing the doppler, what is the point of avoiding the u/s? So she was a little taken aback, and apparently has no fetoscope. That seems a little strange. Many people just take it for granted that LM's use fetoscopes. Oh well, I know there's a heartbeat from all that thumping around in there! We'll have to have the doppler at the birth though.

It seems like every time I go to the midwife I lose confidence in my ability to gestate and remain healthy. She's super worried about my inability to gain weight. She says I'm "converting" which means not only am I not putting on any fat or mucsle, the baby is taking any I had, which was not much. So even though I gained a lb and a half, it was all baby. And had I not lost fat, I would have gained a lot more. I don't know what to do! I'm just not very healthy, and the appetite is not there. She suggested I try some herbal bitters to stimulate my digestion. Couldn't hurt. I just want to be normal and healthy!!

Other than that I'm fine. :

I hope you all are enjoying your baby beans!

[Bearsmama]

Hi friends!
Wow! There IS a lot to read tonight.

Just had to share that tonight my DS (26 mos) went to sleep WITHOUT ME!!!! DH was able to put him to bed. I met a friend for dinner and came home right at bedtime. The lights were out in our bedroom and DS's new bedroom. I was almost worried at first. And then found DH rubbing DS's back as he fell into a deep sleep. WITHOUT ME!! This has never happened before. He's never NOT nursed to sleep. Ahhhh, this is surely bittersweet...:

Frog-Sorry about the bronchitis. It sounds miserable. I've been sorting thru some old baby clothes, too. And I think I'll keep the new one in a dipe, too!(I know someone else mentioned this). Luckily, we have a lot of onesies that are still good and those little kimono wraps. Although he was born in January, DS#1 never liked being too warm. We just torked up the heat in the house and kept him very lightly dressed. I hear you on the emotion thing. I don't even KNOW if we'll consider having a 3rd baby, but I'm already geting a bit emtional thinking that this MIGHT BE our last one.

Foxy-This is a great group of ladies, you're right!

JL-Congrats on the GIRL NEWS!!! And parties ARE exhausting, aren't they?????

Jilly-I've felt the same way when DS is being particularly cranky and I just figure out what's going on. Then, he'll get a fever or something. It's like an AHA! moment. And then the mama guilt creeps in...

Katje-You just gave this beginning knitter and idea of what to do with all my practice pieces! They'll be new baby washcloths! My goal is to make a blanket for the babe by August. And I'm REALLY SLOOOOOOW. Sorry to hear about the high bp. I, too have high BP in my family and I'm always worried about it. Mine has always been fine, but I always ask the nurse to repeat it to me. Just keep taking good care of yourself, Katje.

Myjo-Can you do protein shakes? Or something daily witha high calorie content? Like I said to Katje, please try to take good care of yourself.

That's it for me, ladies. Off for a few more minutes of surfing and then bed....

[ilovebeingamom]

AGGHHH! Hemmoroids! I was hoping to avoid them, but alas, they are here. I never got any with the first pg, I actually got a few bad ones when ds was about one. So far this one doesn't hurt, I am hoping to keep the swelling down so it doesn't get to that point.

I got my hypnobirthing packet today, I couldn't believe when I was reading that in the 50's they actually knocked women all the way out once it was time to push. That is so crazy. Even though delivering today in a hospital can be a battle, at least it isn't that bad anymore.

I went through our baby clothes once we found out we were having a girl a few weeks ago. I haven't put up the changing table and stuff yet, b/c I want to paint them first. I also feel I need to pace myself. I am getting so excited about baby, but have to remember four more months!

The other day I was taking a bath and I could see the baby kicking my stomach. It was jumping up with each kick. I called ds to come see but she stopped of course once he got there. Ds likes to talk to his "sister" already, he thinks my belly button is the microphone. :LOL

allright, its getting kind of late, Good night!

[naturegirl]

Just wanted to pipe in and say hi . I haven't been able to sit and read posts for awhile so I am waaaaaay behind. And honestly I only got to read the last couple of pages tonight. Man, what am I going to be like with a baby!

I am 22 weeks today and feeling a lot of movement. Baby seems to be growing fine and we heard a nice strong hb on Friday (with the fetoscope )

myjo, I thought all mw's had fetoscopes?: We stopped using the doppler after the bleeding episodes stopped and we could hear the hb with the fetoscope. I feel the same way about the u/s exposure and consented to a couple of doppler checks because of bleeding otherwise I would have declined then to. That is so odd that they don't have a fetoscope. Doesn't anyone decline the doppler?

ILBAM, I thought about reading up on hypnobirthing too but I have sooo many books I want to read that that got pushed back on my list. Soon I will starte to read the newborn parenting books so I am ready when the baby gets here!

bears, I can't imagine how bittersweet that must be, having your baby start to grow up and become independent. Sounds like you are handling it well though.

Well gotta run again. I am really tired and feeling kind of icky tonight so I want to get to bed early.

for everyone!!!

Cheryl

[mommycaroline]

Originally posted by ilovebeingamom
Ds likes to talk to his "sister" already, he thinks my belly button is the microphone. :LOL

My Bonnie does the same thing! LOL. So cute!

[Dodo]

I might join you in the washcloth knitting. I am also a beginner who has never completed a project. Also I could use something to do with my hands because when I said that my sciatic nerve pain had cleared up, I spoke too soon: I'm practically housebound. Two days ago I took dd to the park. On the way back, my right hip simply stopped working. I couldn't take one step. Luckily, I was at a busy intersection with my super-easy-to-fold new stroller, so I hailed a cab.

Currently I'm trying to develop a strategy for mothering a toddler while crippled. Unfortunately (because this was not part of my plan), dd will be needing daycare. Fortunately (because I like to be prepared for anything), she is on the top of a couple of waiting lists and I should be able to find something for her soon. Needless to say, I've been kind of down . I feel panicked when dh leaves me with dd for the day because I can't keep up with her and I can't provide her with the outdoor playtime that she so desperately needs after a long winter.

Myjo, sorry to hear about your health troubles. Do you typically gain more?

Naturegirl, that's cool that you heard the heartbeat w/ the fetoscope. I declined the doppler. At the time, it felt like a big deal, a long time to wait, but soon after my first appt. I felt the quickening, so it seems much less urgent now.

I'd also like to read about hypnobirthing. I am in the process of reading Birthing from Within, and am trying to visualize labour, but I'm having trouble due to the nerve pain. If squatting, lying, standing and sitting are uncomfortable, how should I envision myself giving birth? Last time I was pretty creaky and the midwives pretty much shoved me onto the birthing stool.

Which reminds me, how do I encourage optimal fetal positioning while I'm more or less confined to the couch? All suggestions are welcome.

Oh, and congrats Bears. I actually thought it was a great feeling when dd first fell to sleep on her own w/o nursing. Now her father puts her to sleep every night!

[Jlcampbellkidz]

I got to look through some of DD's old baby clothes last night. My sister had a little girl 7 months after me so she has ALL my girl clothes. She was only able to pull down one bag last night but it was full of the newborn/preemie stuff that they get to wear the first couple of weeks. I needed that to get more excited about having another girl. I also can't wait to get my daughter and the new baby some matching dresses for church.

My darling hubby and I found a beautiful rose bush last night. We will plant it today since today would have been my due date. I am somewhat emotional but it feels good to know I have something to look at to remind me of that precious baby we never got to hold here on earth but will someday in heaven. I am going to the store after my chiropractor appt. this morning to find a small Angel statue to put beside the rose bush. We will probably have it engraved too. I guess today is kinda bittersweet but I really am holding up pretty well considering the horrible break down that I had over all of this last Wednesday.

I wish I knew how to knit or crochet or something. My sister had a friend show her how to crochet and she makes the cutest and most beautiful things.

Well babysitting kids are asking for a snack. bye

[snuffles]

Hi ladies.. anybody remember me?

I had my ultrasound yesterday.. we are having a little girl! She seemed to be developing normally and was VERY active! This is our third girl.. we also have a son, who is the oldest. I thought for sure this one was a boy, but I guess I was wrong!

It really seems to be sinking in now that I am going to have a baby in 4 1/2 months! Wow-- the time has flown by!

Mel

[christeenybeany]

Congrats to those who have found out the sex of their baby!

My anxiousness about whether we are having a boy or a girl is easing up. I guess it's because I'll find out soon enough. The thing I'm really getting excited about it...what will this baby look like??? Will he/she look like Ben or will he/she look totally different. Some people I know--their children are identicle--and others' kids are totally opposite. I wonder... Hmm...

The other day I was eating lunch with friends and I saw my doctor. One of the people I was eating with is friends with him, so they started chatting. I was surprisingly calm about it. Normally I get a little...um....embarassed?...to see one of my ob's in public. I don't know why I just do. I go to church with one that is at my clinic and that is just weird. This may be alittle immature, but that's just how I am. I guess I'm getting used to it though, because i was able to handle having lunch at the table next to him without melting in embarassment . I guess I can't help thinking...."you've seen me *down there* AAAHHH " Does anybody else have anything remotely similar or understand at all?

[SamuraiEarthMama]

re: hemmorhoids (ack! i don't know how to spell it!)... i had them BAD with ds2, especially after pushing him out. i asked my midwife about them, and she said that there's something in the pith of citrus that helps strengthen our veins and avoid varicosities (that's what a hem. is, a varicose vein in an unpleasant place).

she recommended eating lots of oranges (but don't peel off all the pithy stuff), and something else that i haven't tried yet: put half a lemon, some sugar and some water in a blender (don't peel the lemon first). blend it up and drink it down! i have a feeling i'll be doing a lot of this in the summer.

well, i've been eating about two oranges a day, and i haven't had that old familiar burning appear, so maybe there's something to it... just an idea. and of course, you have your little bottle of witchhazel handy, right?!

dodo, i was doing prenatal doula work for a lady who was stuck with early labor and bedrest. she was also concerned about avoiding a posterior baby, and would try to stay on her side, with the top knee forward (sometimes on a pillow) so the top half of her pelvis would be slightly ahead of the bottom half. does this make sense? it's to keep the uterus pointed slightly downward, to take the best advantage of gravity. in her case, it worked...

i'm about three weeks into the hypnobabies cds... i really want them to work!

threw up again this morning, really ripped up my throat with acid. i've just felt bleah all day, couldn't eat anything more robust than potatoes or toast. i just hate thinking about food at all... trying to find something both appetizing and good for me. i had dh buy another can of the gensoy powder... if nothing else, i can drink a bit of that mixed in with milk, and it usually stays down nicely. but my oranges were hard to eat today... ow.

starting to stress on getting my taxes done. grr.

sleep well, ladies.

katje

[Jlcampbellkidz]

Christeenie: I think I would feel the same way about seeing the OB in public. No matter how nice you think they are they have still seen you in a private way and that is weird.

Samari: So sorry about you feeling so sick. I didn't experience much with my first daughter but I did with this pregnancy and lost 10 pounds. I am not complaining about the weight loss though. At my last appointment with the midwif I had gained the 10 back. I was disapointed. I am hoping to gain much less this time around. Does ginger work for you at all?

Anybody else just want to sit around and pay attention to the baby moving. I love it. It's what I miss most after the baby is born. It's just the coolest thing ever. My seven and four year old nephews are mesmerized by the babies movements and they keep asking when they will get to meet her. The four year old even asked if he could come to watch her be born. My sister told him that he could come see her right after she gets here just like he did with my first baby Breaunna. I think they are so cute.

[frognladybugmama]

another mama loving to sit and feel/watch baby move here...dh and ds still haven't gotten to feel him and i wish they could, i know for ds it'd excite him...he kept asking to hear the heartbeat over and over at the u/s...

am i the only one still SOOOOOOOOOO tired? i feel like i'm in the first or last trimester still! what happened to the fog lifting in the 2nd trimester?

[Dodo]

I used to see my midwife's student intern at yoga class. At first I thought, She's seen me at my...if not my worst, at least my most primal. Anyway, I got over it pretty quickly. I liked giving her updates on my little one.

Katje, thanks for the info. That is in fact how I've been lying. I'm glad to hear that it might help with positioning. Oh, and I'm sorry to hear that you are still puking. That's crazy.

Not that I've been lying down as much as I'd like to be. We've been busy, busy, busy. Today we went to the pediatric opthamologist, where we learned that dd has no depth perception and sees double . She will wear glasses for the rest of her life. I also made an appt. for our unborn child because it looks like a genetic thing. I'm really sad about the diagnosis, although I am obviously pleased that dd is getting the help that I didn't realize she needed. From the opthamologist, we went to my second prenatal appt, where my midwife gave me some new strategies to consider re: pain. I'm going to see a shiatsu massage therapist who specializes in treating the pregnant. If that fails, I will see a chiropractor who only sees pregnant women. Both come highly recommended.

I've been relying on friends and neighbours for a lot of support. Last week, a sympathetic neighbour invited dd over for dinner. This week, another friend did the same. I use a car-share service, which means that when I drive, I have to park at the communal parking lot, one block away from my house. This isn't usually a big deal, unless you're crippled with an uncooperative toddler and a carseat. So, today, I dropped dd off at a friend's house while I returned the car. I feel that I'm asking for a lot of favours. It's a bit early for that, isn't it? I hope that I can return them when I'm in a better place!

I too really enjoy feeling the baby moving. I'd say it's one of the only things I enjoy right now. It has been a tough month. It is also the only aspect of pregnancy that I will miss.

[christeenybeany]

dodo, I hope that back gets better. It sounds like you have a good support system with your neighbors. I'm sure they don't mind. Who wouldn't want to help a pregnant lady?

I never actually threw up from the first trimester morning sickness--just felt like i was. But this week I have thrown up every time I brush my teeth. :Puke It kinda defeats the purpose. I'm trying to encourage good oral hygeine with Ben and I was letting him watch me brush. I said "watch mama brush her teeth" and then I went and threw up. great. Just want he needs to see. :

[christeenybeany]

Dodo--I forgot in my first post to mention about your dd's eyes. Poor baby! I would think that would be causing a lot of disruption in her development. Does you get headaches? Does she bump into things alot? I hope these glasses fix it. I know of a few kids who wear glasses at a young age. One little boy never tried to crawl. Then when he was one year old he got glasses because they figured out his vision was really bad. Once he got his glasses, he started crawling and eventually walking right away. It always breaks my heart when little kids have things wrong that they just can't let you know. kwim?

[foxytocin]

Oh, Dodo! Oh, those of us who are still feeling ill and otherwise unwell. How sucky is that? My heart goes out to you. I myself have a myriad of minor physical complaints, but I figure it's part of the bargain. Seems like a watered-down version of what a few of us have going on. Was it Bears who was concerned about heartburn already? That just about tops my own personal list, too. Last pg, it was 24-7 for the third trimester. Looks like it's starting earlier on this one. Somewhere out there are those fortunate few who are waltzing through pregnancy with nary a hang-up. Must be nice, huh? Meanwhile, Frogs, I'm unexpectedly tired too, but then I think that might have just as much to do with booking it on the heels of a toddler all day. How people handle twins, I'm not sure. I guess you just plain do it.

Things got much better here 2 days ago when DH called his MIL and politely said he can't committ his family to questionable living arrangements right now. Whoooo0-weeee! I am so relieved. Boy, was my MIL upset. Therefore, DH is too, but he knows he did the right thing. Being a responsible adult is not always easy; I can clearly see why so many of us out-right refuse to do it. I'm trying to be extra-good to DH until some of the "sting" wears off.

I have a question: DD just moved into the bottom part of a bunk-bed (the cats immediately claimed the now-vacant crib) and I need to replace the mattress that came with it. Any recommendations? Looks like I we could spend quite a bit or not much at all............having never done this before, I'm really not sure which way to go.

All right then. Better do the dirty dishes before they arm themselves with silverware and march on the rest of the house.

-Leah

[Dodo]

said "watch mama brush her teeth" and then I went and threw up. great. Just want he needs to see.

Oh, that's both funny and sad.

Poor baby! I would think that would be causing a lot of disruption in her development.

You would think it would but my dd is Little Miss Agile. She could catch a ball as an infant. She could ride a trike and a bike at age one. She doesn't bump into anything. I asked the opthamologist about this and he said that she is compensating with those of her skills that are stronger, in the way that a blind person can navigate a room with grace. What she doesn't do is read storybooks or know her letters or numbers. I'm excited to see how she will change when she gets glasses next week.

Foxy, sounds like you made the right decision. Good luck dealing with the fallout!