I feel like I've been missing in action over the last few days. I'm just blah about everything. I've still got a lot of pubic pain and the internal exam I let the doctor do yesterday confirmed that lady baby is super low. So, at least I know there is a reason for all the discomfort. I think I'm feeling overwhelmed by everything. There is just so much I want to get done and I don't feel like doing any of it.
ugh, someone come kick my butt into gear!
Oh, add DivaCup to the list of things I need to get! I know I won't be using it right away, but I'd like to have it on hand (I'd assume I can I use it as soon as it's comfortable for ME? that's probably not postpartum/lochia, but you never know, right?) - my 10 year old keeper started smelling funny about a year ago, and mysteriously disappeared (perhaps DP's doing?). I was hesitant to buy a new keeper/diva while being 29 and TTC my first child, since 29/30 and birth/no birth are the differentiators for the sizes, but now that I'm 30 and having a child, there's no question which size I should get.
I contacted my pad lady (a contact from the days of TheKeeper yahoo group - long LONG ago), she's going to make me three kinds: belted (perfect for pantsless house-roaming), AIO (can be refolded to have a "fresh" side next to you), and two-part extra-long (can add as much or as little padding as you want, plus ice packs or slushy soothing condoms).... I'll get an assortment of 8-10, see what I like and then (if I need it) order more of what I can't live without.
still need to figure out washable and/or disposable breast pads... just got my first teenyweeny drop of anything out of my right nipple last night - I guess it looked kind of milky (exciting/scary!).
And my stomach is stretching like MAD.... ugh. guess I wish I'd gotten my maternity photos taken a week or two ago instead of this upcoming weekend, but that's what the "heal" tool in photoshop/GIMP is for, right?
Let me know how the cloth ones you got are. I use a diva cup and have two small cloth liners,
Mothering had a good article on cloth pads (also called Mama Pads, since many are made by cloth diaper companies) this past year.
I have some Happy Heiny ones, but don't love them since they slide around. I do love the fleece next to the skin since it feels warm and dry. And so soft.
These are the ones I want to try next, Pink Daisy Organic Cotton Feminine Pads (http://www.diaperlab.com/shop/pink-daisy-organic-mama-pads.html). My mama pad connoisseur friend is switching her entire stock over to them which seems to be a pretty good recommendation.
The crazy thing is... I bet some of us will have babies THIS month!?!?!!
Holy crap!
Happy to report my little guy is head down, measuring right on, strong hb and my bp is good. Awesome! We finished our birth class and so instead of driving two hours round trip tonight I have the evening off. Had a great if exhausting baby shower at my place this weekend. My "waist" is 48.5 inches around holy moly. I can't believe I let them measure me. I donated my body for science I guess... I'd definitely schedule a shower a little earlier next time. I have tons of leftover baked ziti and carrot cake (yum) so I'm not feeling any pressure to freezer cook or have meals delivered or anything.
We're going to have a couples weekend away with another couple who's due just a week after us. We haven't seen them since Thanksgiving - I can't wait to be big as a house with someone else. I think us hugging is going to be hilarious.
I don't wanna do anything... I'm really hoping to get through this next two weeks of work without adding anything to my schedule AFTER that. I've decided that I'll work up to 1 week past my due date and that's it, no matter what - since I have to go back 12 weeks later anyway. Might as well get some rest if he's not here by then.
Take care mamas!
Oh breast pads - I am on a message list serve thing called parent hacks - it's a disposable solution, but someone talked about using long kotex panty liners doubled up as breast pads. I LOVE this solution because they're cheaper and less bulky. We shall see!
Despite or perhaps because I am 36 weeks I have been thinking about the birth of the next child. I had been toying with the idea of doing a homebirth next time (this time will be the hospital birth center). There is a well respected midwife in my community that does home birth. But we are car free and one of the things that means is I make lots of choices based on what I can walk too (which makes for easier birth I think). Anyway I was googling around and found that they have moved. So now they are only an 8 minute walk from my house. I am really excited that that makes seeing her a real alternative. I love my midwifes this time, but home birth would be easier logistically.
Holy crap is right! I'm NOT ready, but I can deliver at home anytime from 4/14 (possibly 5 days before that, but I'm officially 37 weeks on 4/14)
Does anyone else get comments about "oh, you've dropped" or inane banter like that, which probably seems harmless to the banterer, but makes me think "um, no, I sure HAVEN'T dropped..." and then I wonder what's going on that they're seeing... and I freak out mildly.
probably a combination of a more supportive bra and the fact that I'm not wearing my pre-natal cradle today, but I AM wearing a frumpier shirt than usual? who knows.
nice hack for the breast pads... I didn't know pantiliners are actually cheaper than breast pads?! I've never bought either 
The crazy thing is... I bet some of us will have babies THIS month!?!?!!
Holy crap!
Oh breast pads - I am on a message list serve thing called parent hacks - it's a disposable solution, but someone talked about using long kotex panty liners doubled up as breast pads. I LOVE this solution because they're cheaper and less bulky. We shall see!
36 weeks today! Yay!
As I was putting my makeup ont his morning and about to leave for work I coughed and heard a "pop" and had extreme pain! I couldn't stand up straight, yet got in my car and drove gingerly to work. Since I'm a chiropractor, that was about the best place to go, I thought! My associate doctor checked me and found no spinal problem or ribs out of place and I had no spinal pain. Surely this extreme pain isn't just a pulled muscle? I left work and showed up at my OB appointment early (before going home.) He's only two blocks from my office so I thought, "why not?"
I found out my iron was up a point last week (though I'm still anemic) and the Strep B test was negative! Yay! My OB thinks I have pleurisy and told me to check in with my GP. I couldn't get in with my GP for a few days and the excruciating pain that started this morning was only getting worse, so I went to an urgent care facility. Not like me--but I can't sit, stand, breathe comfortably! And coughing kills me! The doctor I saw confirmed the pleurisy but didn't want to give me a steroid (good!) He wanted me to take another antibiotic (just finished one a week ago) because the bronchitis was still acute. And he's pretty sure I fractured a rib this morning, but didn't take an x-ray. (I wouldn't have done one, pregnant or not, since it doesn't change the treatment.) I am such a wreck! I guess I'm meant to stop working! I can't fight it at this point. I may just show up for meetings the next few weeks and admit defeat! It's a blessing and a curse to be the "boss." I know I put way more pressure on myself than I do on my employees. I should have called it quits a couple weeks ago.
I would not use panty liners for breast pads. Chemicals... Probably wouldn't use regular disposable breast pads either but would hope they might have less chemicals than a panty liner considering what they are used for???
I got a nice stash of cloth breastfeeding pads. I have over 30 but I leak like crazy in the beginning. I'm a serious milk producer. I've used both disposables and cloth in the past and the cloth ones are much more breathable and much more comfortable. I think my fave of the couple types I purchase will be the "Knickernappies Stay-Dry Nursing Pads." I got some regular cotton ones without a waterproof layer on them and think I might regret that. We'll see.
I got some cloth postpartum/heavy flow pads recently. Some nightime imse vimse at a good price http://www.imsevimse.us/p-87-night.aspx
I've already had the regular imse vimse pads and have loved them for back up to the cup.
Then I got some from etsy too http://www.etsy.com/listing/58555888/rainbow-print-mama-cloth-pad-with-wings
The ones from etsy are almost the same exact size as the imse vimse ones and slightly more expensive though cuter - if that happens to matter?
I had some of those natracare maternity pads and so was expecting them to be bigger than they are. They had good reviews and I ordered them online. I'm disappointed. They don't have wings and they aren't very long. Seems like a dangerous choice when it comes to leaks! So, I don't know, I might just give them away or something? If my water breaks early on in labor, I can imagine using some from one of the boxes I purchased for that.
I have a mooncupUK which I absolutely LOVE for periods but no way I'd wanna use that after a birth. :) I also use regular size cloth pads for backup with the cup though, just in case. But, I will say that I don't tend to get my period until I've completely stopped breastfeeding. I got mine back at 11 months PP with DS1 and I think 15 months PP wth DS2. I did nurse DS2 until he was 17.5 months though so... Anyway, it can happen that you won't need anything until a long time after the birth.
I'm busy busy getting everything ready. My home is much better now. Still have more organizing and cleaning to do but if I did go into labor today, I don't think I'd completely panic or anything compared to a week ago. LOL Of course, I don't wanna go into labor until I reach full-term, but just sayin.
I'm totally ready to be done with this pregnancy too just because I have no energy and I'm really uncomfortable. My back is really killing me because I usually have back probs and pregnancy just makes it worse. Also, sick of being punched in the cervix and other fun things like that. I am so sick of having babies now too, honestly. I love my kids and I'm totally excited about having a little girl but so sick of pregnancy and nursing. I've been doing it for quite a few years in a row now and I'm just really ready to be done. I plan to enjoy my little girl and nursing her and stuff but after her, I'm kind of hoping to be done. I want to be me again, I'm sure some of you can understand. :)
Punk Elmo, I would not tolerate that kind of rude commentary for my DH with the stretch marks thing. (And he'd never act that way anyway)
That's crazy. Vanity is a very bad thing. What's your DP going to do when you start getting wrinkles and stuff. People don't stay young and "beautiful" forever. grrrr! I'd have a serious talk with him if I were you. I also get stretch marks pretty easy. There's really no way to prevent it. My tummy, hips, breasts (from pregnancy and nursing) etc all are covered in stretch marks. It just is. Whatever.
just to add - I had a nice long phone chat with my cloth pad lady last night - I loved it - we discussed all kinds of menstrual/childbirth stuff for over 15min (she's a mom to 3 boys, including twins, and... I think she teaches childbirth classes? she's definitely a cool lady!), and I finalized my postpartum pad order. 
LisaJaney's WONDERFUL if you want to check her out at http://www.tlc-pads.com - the pads I bought from her nearly 10 years ago are still holding up wonderfully (it probably helped that I used each one once a cycle or less and treated them well, but still!), and she's been amazing with making custom stuff for me (belted pads, split inserts for the 2-part pads), etc.
Nutter, that's good to know about the pillow between the legs thing...I always use one but maybe tonight I'll use two. I suspect I might have a nighttime spinner myself. Monday afternoon and all day yesterday things felt good and I was feeling what I *thought* (but can't be sure) was hands down low and feet up high, but this morning I had the head-in-my-ribs feeling again. I spent much of last night on my back propped up pretty much to sitting with pillows (reflux), so I am betting that was the culprit. I am thinking I'm going to have to institute a a rule of only a teeny portion of supper at 5 pm and nothing to eat again after that...it takes SO long for my stomach to empty! This would have the added benefit of maybe keeping baby weight gain under control :P (I worry about my history of big babies if we do end up attempting a breech birth - DS2 had one heck of a chest on him!). Like you said, the flipping around is at least a good sign that there's room to move. *fingers crossed* that your babe stays head down, and that mine joins in soon!!
I Love the Knickernappies nursing pads. I ended up going back and buying enough for a week plus and wore them for a year. They are so soft.
I bought some bamboobies when we were at the baby store doing the Moby Demo (Which was AWESOME, watching DH load up the baby doll was soooo cute) and OMG they are so soft. I want to wear them now even though I don't need them yet.
That's so funny after I read this post, I was brushing my teeth and lifted up and couldn't move my neck! I had to go sit down on the couch..I couldn't move it from side to side, finally took some tylenol and rubbed arnica on it..used another topical thing later that helped...Haven't had to take tylenol yet again, but it's buggin the heck out of me now!
36 weeks today! Yay!
As I was putting my makeup ont his morning and about to leave for work I coughed and heard a "pop" and had extreme pain! I couldn't stand up straight, yet got in my car and drove gingerly to work. Since I'm a chiropractor, that was about the best place to go, I thought! My associate doctor checked me and found no spinal problem or ribs out of place and I had no spinal pain. Surely this extreme pain isn't just a pulled muscle? I left work and showed up at my OB appointment early (before going home.) He's only two blocks from my office so I thought, "why not?"
I found out my iron was up a point last week (though I'm still anemic) and the Strep B test was negative! Yay! My OB thinks I have pleurisy and told me to check in with my GP. I couldn't get in with my GP for a few days and the excruciating pain that started this morning was only getting worse, so I went to an urgent care facility. Not like me--but I can't sit, stand, breathe comfortably! And coughing kills me! The doctor I saw confirmed the pleurisy but didn't want to give me a steroid (good!) He wanted me to take another antibiotic (just finished one a week ago) because the bronchitis was still acute. And he's pretty sure I fractured a rib this morning, but didn't take an x-ray. (I wouldn't have done one, pregnant or not, since it doesn't change the treatment.) I am such a wreck! I guess I'm meant to stop working! I can't fight it at this point. I may just show up for meetings the next few weeks and admit defeat! It's a blessing and a curse to be the "boss." I know I put way more pressure on myself than I do on my employees. I should have called it quits a couple weeks ago.
I'm freaking out a little bit - I got my midwife's birth kit, and... wow is it full of disposable stuff I'd normally never buy! Underpads (I keep making jokes about doggy wee-wee pads), GIANT post-partum pads that look like diapers, different GIANT pads that are wider than my legs.... 
scary-looking mesh panties and silly things I already had (like a digital thermometer - I have TWO already, and bendy straws) *sigh*
Ordered the waterbirth deluxe kit (air pump, water pump, hose, adapter, thermometer, etc.), and attempted to go to goodwill to get some used sheets/towels for the birth, but my local goodwill sucks, and isn't really secondhand, it's more like a big lots store, so my only option for queen sheets was $30-40 for brand new (originally some outrageous price, I'm sure, but...)... not a single towel in the joint either... guess I'm going to head to IKEA or Target or something and just wash everything a few times 
I've also sprouted stretch marks on the underside of my belly... DP is really really disappointed because they aren't pretty (he's SO vain), he was actually pretty mean/rude about it, so I told him to f--- off, because there's absolutely nothing I can do about them short of cutting the baby out right now, and not much that I could've done to prevent them, other than lubing up my belly with various butters and creams (which I HAVE been doing). 
Sounds like a pretty weird birth kit. I can't wait to here what the mesh panties are for! But you will love the ginormous pads!! Still getting the guts up to buy some depends. I just found it easier last time. I bleed pretty heavily and it was the only way not to leak all over everything. Hopefully there was a peri-bottle in the kit. My most favorite thing from the kit. Mine just gave out 3 years later! So excited to be getting a new one! Also my midwife brought me this seat thing for the toilet. it kind of just sits on top of your toilet seat but has a bowl with slits towards the top. So you put your sitz bath into the bowl portion and sit to soothe your bottom any overflow goes through the slits and into the toilet. SO much better than sitting in a tub!!
What a horrible reaction from your partner..sorry.
Oh and your town has to have more than goodwill for thrift shopping. Check out your churches or ywca etc google it. Goodwill sucks and is a sham!!!!
I would not use panty liners for breast pads. Chemicals... Probably wouldn't use regular disposable breast pads either but would hope they might have less chemicals than a panty liner considering what they are used for???
I got a nice stash of cloth breastfeeding pads. I have over 30 but I leak like crazy in the beginning. I'm a serious milk producer. I've used both disposables and cloth in the past and the cloth ones are much more breathable and much more comfortable. I think my fave of the couple types I purchase will be the "Knickernappies Stay-Dry Nursing Pads." I got some regular cotton ones without a waterproof layer on them and think I might regret that. We'll see.
I got some cloth postpartum/heavy flow pads recently. Some nightime imse vimse at a good price http://www.imsevimse.us/p-87-night.aspx
I've already had the regular imse vimse pads and have loved them for back up to the cup.
Then I got some from etsy too http://www.etsy.com/listing/58555888/rainbow-print-mama-cloth-pad-with-wings
The ones from etsy are almost the same exact size as the imse vimse ones and slightly more expensive though cuter - if that happens to matter?
I had some of those natracare maternity pads and so was expecting them to be bigger than they are. They had good reviews and I ordered them online. I'm disappointed. They don't have wings and they aren't very long. Seems like a dangerous choice when it comes to leaks! So, I don't know, I might just give them away or something? If my water breaks early on in labor, I can imagine using some from one of the boxes I purchased for that.
I have a mooncupUK which I absolutely LOVE for periods but no way I'd wanna use that after a birth. :) I also use regular size cloth pads for backup with the cup though, just in case. But, I will say that I don't tend to get my period until I've completely stopped breastfeeding. I got mine back at 11 months PP with DS1 and I think 15 months PP wth DS2. I did nurse DS2 until he was 17.5 months though so... Anyway, it can happen that you won't need anything until a long time after the birth.
I'm busy busy getting everything ready. My home is much better now. Still have more organizing and cleaning to do but if I did go into labor today, I don't think I'd completely panic or anything compared to a week ago. LOL Of course, I don't wanna go into labor until I reach full-term, but just sayin.
I'm totally ready to be done with this pregnancy too just because I have no energy and I'm really uncomfortable. My back is really killing me because I usually have back probs and pregnancy just makes it worse. Also, sick of being punched in the cervix and other fun things like that. I am so sick of having babies now too, honestly. I love my kids and I'm totally excited about having a little girl but so sick of pregnancy and nursing. I've been doing it for quite a few years in a row now and I'm just really ready to be done. I plan to enjoy my little girl and nursing her and stuff but after her, I'm kind of hoping to be done. I want to be me again, I'm sure some of you can understand. :)
Punk Elmo, I would not tolerate that kind of rude commentary for my DH with the stretch marks thing. (And he'd never act that way anyway)
That's crazy. Vanity is a very bad thing. What's your DP going to do when you start getting wrinkles and stuff. People don't stay young and "beautiful" forever. grrrr! I'd have a serious talk with him if I were you. I also get stretch marks pretty easy. There's really no way to prevent it. My tummy, hips, breasts (from pregnancy and nursing) etc all are covered in stretch marks. It just is. Whatever.
Sounds like someone has a case of the late pregnancy!!
I laughed all the way through reading this and couldn't agree more with a lot of what you wrote!
I am 34 years old and played really hard for most of them. My body can not handle this crap anymore!!! This will more than likely be my last pregnancy. Actually discussed tying my tubs with mw today!
I could not imagine in a million years shoving a device up my va jay jay right after birth. What about the pain and irritation? What about the clots? I can't normally even use tampons so post birth just seems crazy to me!!
ReelGeek your shower sounds amazing!!
Thanks for all the input on cloth pads ladies. I normally use organic cotton sposies for a period... never had extra cash for cloth. Will get some with the tax return and money I'm saving for not going east! I am still going to have an adult disposable diaper for pp. It was way too much last time!!
So I survived our little get away!! I'm going to touch a little here on the psychic work that I do. If its confusing at all just ask me... One of the biggest things we learn is to hold our space. To own our space and to keep it clear of other peoples crap or energy. As women we are dumped on often. It is kind of like our uteruses are recepticals. They are for making babies or for our children and partners to dump their crap into fo us to fix or make better or so they just simply dont have to deal with their own feelings... (sorry kind of a rant there) Anyway I startd feeling force fed all this anger I was feeling right before our trip. I was so angry and short about everything around me but it didn't really feel real or I couldn't really change fix or heal it.... then I was like duh.... it's not mine!!! I realized this babies sperm donor was all up in my space. I'm in MT he is in CA! I found a chord to my uterus, to the baby, and to my fourth chakra. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that at my level of study but he was hitting me hard and freaking the baby out! So I removed the chords and his anger confusion energy out of my space. He kept throwing the chord back to the baby and to my uterus. He would not stay out of space no matter what so I had to get all Ninja psychic on his ass and kind of beat him up with his own chords and I went kind of heavy duty and removed his grounding chord. Just to let him know don't eff with me. DS and I leave for the zoo the next morning. I am just about to hit the interstate so I check my phone one more time before turning it off and there are text from him basically stating that I should let him know how I am doing that he has a right to know... that he doesn't understand why I am punishing him etc. (I asked him to come back but he decided to move to california instead. And I don't think donating some sperm makes you a dad or gives you any right to the child...) I delete the text and do a quick meditation clearing my space again and we are off! I'm going about 80 down the interstate when my door flies open! Yep thats right my door flew open. My seat belt is actually connected to the door so nothing is holding me in except myself with the steering wheel in one hand and the door in the other. This is the door that he "fixed". I through my back out in this stunt. We are only half way to our destination! I took us to the co-op in Bozeman where a stranger was nice enough to rub my back with some arnica and actually put some pressure on me and almost got it back in place. The only way to get the door to stay closed is to close it from the outside and lock it. So I am 47 pounds bigger than normal with back out climbing into the drivers seat from the passenger seat = awesome!! Mason thought it was pretty funny. I drove the rest of the way with an ice pack soothing the back and downed a ton of arnica homeopathic. We got to our hotel and it was awesome!! He thought it was soooo cool. I was walking to the front desk and boom my right leg kept falling out of my hip... at least that's what it felt like! I would yell out in pain every time. The poor girl behind the counter checkin us in was freaked out!! She sent a bell hop with me to get our stuff inside. I got a couple of calls a day to make sure we were ok!! I woke up and my back fund its way back in... thank god. I hit a car backing out the parking spot at the hotel. It was a work truck and I caused no damage so no biggie but this when I realized this is too much stuff happening I am getting "whacked"!! I try to do this body of glass technique we've learned but it is really hard with a baby inside me! We get to the zoo. We are not 20 feet down the first path when I feel 2 hands on my shoulders pushing me down. I was kind of mid-fall when I was like why am I falling? I hit the ground hard and rolled over to my back. Some ladies from a weird energy preschool were yelling to see if I was alright Mason was scared I screamed back I'm fine. I just layed there on my back for awhile. I was hoping someone would come help me up! my ankle was throbbing and I had knocked the wind out of myself. I rubbed my belly fully expecting to go into labor! bloody elbow and knee and twisted ankled we walked that damn zoo!!! I got Mason down for a nap and called my teacher for some help in clearing my space. He made me feel better that I wasn't crazy or clutzy I was def being whacked. He took care of the whacks for me but I am still having trouble keeping him out of my head. All and all the trip was great. just needed to share these parts..hope I don't sound too crazy!!
I am 36 and 5 right now and so READY!!!! So done. No signs of labor per mw visit today but I noticed in picture comparisons my belly has dropped since this weekend. Having crazy back contractions right now actually! I told the ladies at the birth center I will see you this weekend!! I am seriously going to start visualizing hard a 4/11 birth!! fingers crossed!! I just cant do this anymore. It took me 3 times to write the rent check today this gestating is killing my brain. My leg keeps falling out of socket. My mw explained it is my bone loosening to expand for birth. Holy painful. I can't stand another day of this agro mental state!! And i just want to sleep on my belly!!!!!!!! So bad!!!!!!!! Or sleep really. I have put on 47 extra punds and I now I'm not fat but pregnant but I really do feel like fatty magee. I can barely get in and out of my car. I have no stomach muscles to speak of. If I start rolling there is no stopping me. I can't wait to not pee 400 thousand times a day. And man I can tell this babe is running out of room too. Just come out and lets hug. I need some nursing oxytosin!!
Oh check this out. I am so getting one. I wasted so much milk with out one of these last time!! http://www.mymilkies.com/milksaver
And have you guys caught win of the grossness? http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-04/genetically-modified-cows-produce-milk-human-qualities
jr's mom - I hope things calm down for you soon and that you're feeling better. Sounds like you (as the boss) are going to have to start turning things over and taking it a little bit easy... I hope you can find a good balance to get you through these last few weeks.
Interesting pad reviews etc. I think I'm going to get some depends and put them in my freezer - I read this once and am interested in it... sounds crazy. I can't believe this is going to be real soon - birth, baby, post partum. I posted an extra thread about it today but I'm just all over the place and tired and huge. I'm so done. Only 35+4 though. I think I'm going to start accupuncture visits a little before my due date and we're starting the "opening" scripts for hypnosis next week for sure. I don't think it will push anything too far forward but I'm hoping it keeps me a little closer to 40 than 41.
I remember crazy itching after one of my kids with disposable pads. I guess it was Ava because she was only 4 years ago. I am getting cloth pads for pp this time.
jr's mom, mama mich and mrs bone - so sorry to hear of all your various pains. Sounds like pretty intense ordeals. Hoping that you all feel better soon.
Follow Mothering