August 2011 Whatever Ladies Having Babies - Page 3

[MarineWife]

Hey. My cable and internet have been out all day! I took my boys to TKD tonight. I thought it would be nice to get out after being in the house for two weeks. I did enjoy watching the boys in class but going out with a tiny baby isn't fun. I walked across the room in front of everyone in the class before realizing I had a huge wet milk spot down the front of my shirt.

Kat ~ I would love one of those hats. I prefer muted, earthy tones. 6 month size is probably good if he'll be 6 months in January, right? His head was 13.5 inches around at birth, if that helps. I have no idea how much a baby's head grows.

That's wonderful that you are so much happier with your new old doc. I was the same way about my appointments. I enjoyed them, I guess because I like my hcps.

Carrie ~ l labeled my bags. I only had two. One had towels and the other had washcloths and receiving blankets. Everything else was in the box my birth kit came in.

I went to the Dr. Sears website to look up how much newborns usually sleep. The chart said 14-18 hours. Even if D slept the most, 18, he'd still be awake 6 hours a day. There's no way. He's awake for maybe an hour in the morning and an hour at night. Otherwise, he only stirs enough to eat and then zonks back out. Today I gave him a sponge bath in the middle of the day but even that didn't keep him awake. He fell back to sleep as soon as I finished. It is recommended on that website to wake baby to eat every 3 hours during the day so I'll stick with that for now.

[MovingMomma]

DH & I had a fun date night yesterday.  I wouldn't recommend the movie, but we did have a good time.  Today Mom & I took the kids to the aquarium.  I had to sit down a lot...I've only had a couple of chunks of time today w/contractions more than 20 mins apart.  Still, I think I did this pre-labor type stuff for 2 wks w/DD2, and I'm only on day 4 now, so it still could be a while.  My mw is coming for a home visit tomorrow!  I'm so glad I don't have to drive an hour for an appointment!  

MW: If he's nursing at least 8-12 times/24 hrs & has good diapers & weight gain, then you don't need to worry.  One chunk of sleep 4-5 hrs long is ok.  If you do want/need to wake him, you might plan on every 2 hrs during the day w/a 4-5 plus maybe a 3-4 at night, if D will cooperate w/the timing.  

Katrina: 8lbs 10oz at 3 wks early is huge!!

[onetwoten]

super tired, but I wanted to share this pic DH took yesterday. Our puppy has been pointedly ignoring my belly, to the point of where if I ask him to kiss it, or place him near/against it (normally he will kiss on command) he will turn away and pretend he can't hear me. I sat and had a long rambling talk at him yesterday about how I loved him, and he would always be my first baby, etc etc etc, exactly the kind of one sided way you talk to the baby, knowing they can't hear/understand you, but you do it anyways... anyways, and then a few hours later, he came and jumped up on my lap and curled up to me and slept for almost two hours. So cute. 

I think his protective nature kicked in, but it's cute to think it's because I had a "talk" with him and now he feels better. 

[akind1]

JJ: adorable! love the pic!

MW: follow your gut I think, though if he is sleeping more than "normal" what do you do about it? other than try to make sure he eats enough, etc?

My MIL is funny, I told her I was down a lb and she was like, is that ok at this stage???? very concerned. I said it's fine, really - besides, belly is measuring ahead, so I know baby girl is growing fine. you have all seen my pictures; it's not as if I am a tiny person to begin with. I think now she is going to try to fatten me up :) but I honestly eat as much as I can, there just isn't much room in there.

Going to take a belly shot later . . .

[akind1]

Almost 33 weeks:

[MarineWife]

JJ ~ Cute pic. My mom's dog is visiting with her. She's driving me crazy but any time D makes any noise she comes running to check on him. She snuck in a few licks, too. It's very sweet.

Kat ~ So funny about your MIL worried about your weight. I told my mom yesterday that, in addition to the 12 lbs. I lost immediately when I had D, I've lost 8 lbs. in 2 weeks. My mom got concerned that she's not feeding me enough. The weight loss is a good thing to me. If only it would keep up. I know it will slow eventually and I have not been good in the last couple of years about exercising and eating right.

Originally Posted by MovingMomma 

MW: If he's nursing at least 8-12 times/24 hrs & has good diapers & weight gain, then you don't need to worry.  One chunk of sleep 4-5 hrs long is ok.  If you do want/need to wake him, you might plan on every 2 hrs during the day w/a 4-5 plus maybe a 3-4 at night, if D will cooperate w/the timing.

I'm not really concerned about his weight gain. I don't know if he was back up to his birth weight at my 1 week check up but I think he was close. He looks a lot bigger to me. It's more that I'm worried he's not eating often enough during the day and waking too much at night. I'd like to get that switched around but I don't really know if that's possible. I should just leave him alone, I guess.

Yesterday, after I gave him a bath and he went back to sleep, the boys were playing literally right underneath him. They were crawling under his hammock bed and making it swing and bounce along with yelling and making all kinds of noise. D slept through all of it. But at night if anyone makes the tiniest noise or movement, he stirs. Plus, he seems to have more trouble with gas at night. I'm going to go to the store today and get something for him for that.

[MarineWife]

The other issue I'm having with the breastfeeding is that my milk comes out so fast that D can't handle it. He coughs and sputters and chokes and has to stop nursing. I try to slow it down by pressing on my nipple when he pops off but this happens 3-4 times in one nursing on the same breast. That does have me a little concerned that he's not actually getting enough in his tummy. That also is contributing to the gas problems, I think. I've always had this problem, though, so I don't know that I can do anything about it.

[MovingMomma]

http://www.llli.org/faq/oversupply.html

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

Carrie ~ l labeled my bags. I only had two. One had towels and the other had washcloths and receiving blankets. Everything else was in the box my birth kit came in.

 

I only have the 2 bags as well, but I showed him what was in them and then showed him what was in the boxes (birth kit) and all that.  We are good.  I also showed him where I keep my pads and depends.  And all the baby's stuff.  B/c I just have a feeling I'm going to be out of it and my mw will be like, "Can you get me a different hat?" or something and he'll get all confused.  I realized too I still have a few things to wash.  Bah.  I hate doing laundry.

I also bought a special commemorative birth certificate and an ink kit for footprints, and I feel like I'm going to completely forget about it.  So I showed it to him and said if I forget PLEASE remember to have them do this before they leave. 

Originally Posted by jeninejessica 

super tired, but I wanted to share this pic DH took yesterday. Our puppy has been pointedly ignoring my belly, to the point of where if I ask him to kiss it, or place him near/against it (normally he will kiss on command) he will turn away and pretend he can't hear me. I sat and had a long rambling talk at him yesterday about how I loved him, and he would always be my first baby, etc etc etc, exactly the kind of one sided way you talk to the baby, knowing they can't hear/understand you, but you do it anyways... anyways, and then a few hours later, he came and jumped up on my lap and curled up to me and slept for almost two hours. So cute. 

I think his protective nature kicked in, but it's cute to think it's because I had a "talk" with him and now he feels better. 

JJ - that pic is so cute!  And so is that story.  In a similar vein, my cat Tayla will NOT leave me alone.  She's on my head every time I sit down, or else she has to curl up on me or on my belly.  It's SO ANNOYING!!  Hah! 

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

The other issue I'm having with the breastfeeding is that my milk comes out so fast that D can't handle it. He coughs and sputters and chokes and has to stop nursing. I try to slow it down by pressing on my nipple when he pops off but this happens 3-4 times in one nursing on the same breast. That does have me a little concerned that he's not actually getting enough in his tummy. That also is contributing to the gas problems, I think. I've always had this problem, though, so I don't know that I can do anything about it.

Overactive letdown is such a pain.  I know you've dealt with it before but here's a link from kellymom that helped me out with DD.  I had similar issues, and nursing from one side for a chunk of time really helped.  Also, expressing into a burp cloth or prefold before actually latching on helped a bit too.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/fast-letdown.html

Kat - LOVE the pic!!  I definitely see baby belly there!! Awesome!

Rather than post again, I'm just going to edit this one.  Of course I'm bored and now looking at diapers online b/c what else is there to do?  I'm convinced now that I need to buy GroVia AIO's b/c they are so easy looking and cute and, well, i'm bored.  Anyone use these and have an opinion?

Edited by Baby_Cakes - 8/9/11 at 1:46pm

[MarineWife]

thanks for the links. i read through them.

i never used grovia dipes so have no opinion.

i got an ink kit for prints. i did it myself in D's baby book. i did it backward the first time and stamped his foot with ink rather than the page.

[akind1]

Carrie: vegan yeast donuts - found this recipe - http://pinkandie.com/?p=141 doesn't seem difficult except for the ingredients aren't typical (for me - but since you are vegan perhaps you already have some of these things?) and this one http://www.holycowvegan.net/2008/10/vegan-doughnuts.html uses tofu which sounds interesting . . .

(it's easier to do links here than on my phone's FB).

Are they worth it? Well, if you can't have Krispy Kreme I think making your own might be the only way. The canned biscuit thing I wonder would come out more like a cake donut than a yeast one?

Baby is moving lots in all kind of uncomfortable ways lately. Not painful, but definitely uncomfortable. I feel bad (not physically so much, but like I'm letting them down, but I know he's got other clients than me) because I've not been to the chiro in a month . . . scheduling conflicts. ugh.

JJ: less than 2 weeks until the fun ultrasound!

Shannon, are you still hanging in there?

[Baby_Cakes]

Yup, that pinkandie link is the one I have open in my browser.  It's the whole...blooming the yeast, waiting, rolling.  Cutting.  Frying.  UGH.  This is why it's hard to be vegan.  Things like this.  It's not like hard any other time, and I have no issues with not having cheese (most of the time), but the convenience factor of just wanting a donut or something is what's tough.  Which is why I have indescretions.  LOL.  It's getting harder than ever now b/c Nora wants things -- and she's awesome about the no whole cows milk thing, but I can't help but feel like she's missing out sometimes.  So, truly I want to make donuts for both of us.  Anyway, that's a whole different discussion!

Alysia - LOL about the ink on the foot!!  Poor Dylan! 

I had a rough night.  I have so much pain in my groin/crotch throughout the night.  I usually have a pillow b/w my knees, but sometimes it's actually better without it!  I don't get why it hurts SO bad, except (and I don't know if I mentioned it here yet or not) but I have an awful varicose vein that cropped up in my lady bits about 3 weeks ago when I was sick,  and I think there's just so much pressure down there, either from it or around it (which most likely caused it) that makes the whole area just throb and feel painful.  Ugh.  Pregnancy is just so glamorous and sexy.  The things they don't tell you, you know??

And I'm officially too darn big to roll over or slide over with any sort of grace.  It's awful.  Last night I actually flipped during a ctx to see if it would just freaking make my water break, lol!    It didn't work and then I had to deal with that ctx for even longer.  LOL.

Nora and I put together the baby swing today.  I got the cover out of the storage closet and it just needs to be washed -- good thing we did it today!  I obviously did not wash it before putting it away.  Typical for me.

My mw wants to reschedule my appt she had to cancel for Saturday.  I immediately thought, whats the point, and just want to skip it til next week.  DH is all, but what about hearing the baby's hb?  I said, dude, he's still moving around.  If he stops moving then of course we worry but, hearing the hb isn't going to tell us much more than movement.  His heart won't stop beating if he's moving.  I just think it's silly to have an appt on Sat and then have one shortly after for my 40 week.  Eh, maybe I won't need either.  WWYD?

[MovingMomma]

I'm still here, and Baby is still inside!  She was making all kinds of odd movements last night; I think she was trying to turn out of posterior.  I tried to help w/hands & knees pelvic tilts & pelvic rotations & she moved enough that I could feel her side, and then we bound my belly w/the Storchenwiege & stayed that way for an hour or so on the birth ball, but this morning I've just got parts up front again.  I think her left arm is caught tucked behind her back & keeping her from rotating.  

Carrie: I wouldn't do appointments closer than 1 wk.  OTOH, I guess mine are closer than that w/two providers (I saw my HB MW yesterday & I'm going to the NH on Friday).  

[Baby_Cakes]

It's not even that I mind the appointments, they are like little rays of sunshine at the end of this pregnancy.  I just feel like it's a waste of her time, driving all the way here twice so close together, especially if I'm fine.  Last time we only spent about 25 min together, it was short sweet and to the point.  LOL.

It's breezy today, and not too hot.  I think we might go for a really short walk and get bagels or something.  I'm bored!!! 

[akind1]

Gabe doesn't drink cow's milk either, but that's because he doesn't like it. He does get and loves yogurt and cheese and ice cream . . .(we have no dietary restrictions here, can you tell? hehe)

If Nora were to ask for something, would you let her have it? Just curious - because unless  or until she does ask, I'd think she's not missing out on anything. I have a friend who is vegetarian but her DH is not, so their LO is offered meats but it's not exactly encouraged (by the mama).

Shannon, hope she rotates out for you soon! I know this baby goes back and forth alot, between being posterior, and being whatever it's called when her back is to my left. Though she briefly was to my right yesterday. She moves a lot more and more big movements than I remember DS doing. I was reading on spinning babies something about if babies aren't changing position much in the last month or so, it might be because the muscles and whatnot are too tense and they just can't rotate. . . .something to that effect. It was under the posterior section on the site.  I need to work on some of those excersises. They can't hurt and may help this one settle into a more ideal position.

For both you and Carrie, I hope these LO's are born soon! I know you are ready! (I'm not! with all the BH's and crampiness I have been having the last few days, I'm telling her to stay cooking for another month, it's not time yet!)

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by akind1 

If Nora were to ask for something, would you let her have it? Just curious - because unless  or until she does ask, I'd think she's not missing out on anything. I have a friend who is vegetarian but her DH is not, so their LO is offered meats but it's not exactly encouraged (by the mama).

Not at this age.  Of course ultimately the decision to be veg or vegan is hers, we can't force it, but until she's old enough to really understand what it is to eat an animal, we're going to continue to only offer/allow vegan/veg foods.  She's so smart already about it.  When people offer her food, she asks, "Is there cows milk in this?".  Funny story, we went to Johnny Rockets and they accidentally brought DH and I turkey burgers instead of veggie burgers.  We sent them back and Nora asked why.  I told her, and she said, "We don't eat meat.  Some people eat meat.  Why did she bring you meat?  We don't eat animals."

It might sound like she's brainwashed, but really she *gets* it.  She puts it together completely that animals are living and some people choose to eat meat, and that's fine, but we don't.  

I think she just gets curious, b/c she sees that, like, Curious George eats donuts and ice cream.  And we go to Dunkin Donuts for bagels and iced tea, and I know she sees the donuts and they look good.  But she knows why we don't eat them. She's never been sour about it or acted like she's missing out.  And we do eat plenty of vegan ice cream in this household so THAT at least I know she isn't missing out on!  And she loves Oreos and all types of junk food.  I'm a horrible junk food eater and she's been loving all the junk I crave and eat this pregnancy.

[MarineWife]

carrie ~ i'm guessing your mw wants to see you before your edb. mine scheduled my last appointment early like that. i never made it to that one. i'd probably make the appt but i looked forward to mine. they motivated me to get out of the house when, otherwise, i wouldn't have.

shannon ~ if she doesn't do it before, hopefully she'll flip when labor starts or soon after. D was always on my right side until the day I went into labor. That day he flipped over to my left and stayed there. I know ROA isn't bad but I think LOA is ideal for birth (assuming I got those abbreviations correct. I can never keep them straight.). Are there any complications to a posterior labor other than possibly longer and more painful?

Not sure what the talk of donuts is about but we've made donuts with the can of biscuits. They weren't like cake donuts. I don't like the cake donuts.

I took D to the pediatrician today because he legs turn blue/purple sometimes. My MW said it's probably normal but to take him, anyway, just to be safe. I went to the place I took my older boys for a while until someone had a fit at my dh for not vaxing. The people there were very nice. The got me an appointment this morning even though we hadn't been there in years. No one seemed to be upset that I had D at home. The nurse was actually a bit interested and impressed. She said she was just 6 1/2 weeks pregnant but she could never have a homebirth. She needs an epidural. She didn't say anything about it being unsafe, though.

The doc was a little thrown when I told him we don't vax. He told me to make an appointment for D's 2 month check up and that he'd get all of his shots then. That's when I told him we don't vax. He kind of stammered a little sort of asking me why not but then didn't wait for an answer. He just said I'd have to sign a waiver the next time I came in. No problem. So, hopefully, we can continue to go to this pediatric practice without any problems. It would be nice to be able to make same day sick appointments instead of having to walk in not knowing if we may have to wait for 4+ hours.

[MovingMomma]

Posterior babies are also often late & can be more likely to have a transverse arrest (head stuck sideways in the pelvis).

MW: What's the practice & what dr??

[MarineWife]

oh, that would not be good, shannon. turn, baby, turn!

onslow pediatrics. honestly, i didn't even catch the docs name. they have so many and i really was prepared for them to tell me we couldn't come back after they realized how long it had been since we had been there, almost 4 years, and that we don't vax. i started out seeing dr. gant there when K was a newborn. he was fine with the homebirth and not vaxing. it was someone else, i think just a records person, who flipped on dh. then i heard they changed their vax rules to all or nothing. i don't know if that's true. i never did check. i just didn't want to mess with it all after having to deal with the OB and CPS. I just wanted to stay away from doctors at that point. Dr. Gant is the head of the practice so I should have just continued to see him.

Carrie ~ I say if she doesn't ask for it, she's not missing out so I wouldn't worry about giving her something like that. Of course, if you want it and have it or make it, she should at least be offered some, too. Not nice to eat in front of someone and not give them some, too. (I know you don't do that. )

I gave up on restricting what my kids eat. It's not so hard to do when they are all young because you can limit knowledge and exposure. But I had Ryan, who was already 12 when E was born, and he knew all about candy and soda and fast food and other stuff and so my younger kids were exposed to that stuff a lot sooner than I would have liked. I think Ryan gave E a sip of soda when he was less than a year old. OMG! I was mad about that. Ryan thought it was no big deal. He still talks about how deprived he was a kid and how unfair it is because E and K get all the stuff he was never allowed to have. We didn't have cable TV until we moved to Hawaii and had to get it in order to have any TV. Ryan was already 12 by then. Apparently, his life before cable was horrible!

Anyway, now we don't have any dietary restrictions. My boys can eat as much of just about anything they want. I have learned that they don't want much junk when they know they can have it all the time, unlike their friends who gorge on junk whenever they are away from their controlling parents.

[MarineWife]

I keep forgetting to ask. Has anyone heard of, used or know someone who has used ColicCalm? It's a homeopathic remedy for gas, reflux, hiccups, etc. I got some yesterday and gave D a half a dose last night. Within minutes he was screaming. It didn't last long but it was continual, which he had never done before. He would occasionally scream once or twice like he was in pain but that was it. No ongoing screams or crying. I don't know if it was a coincidence but I'm afraid to give him anymore.

I'm going to try the block nursing, one breast for a 2 hour period, to see if that helps with my milk ejection and supply. I guess I'm old school because I have always had it in my head from back when I was breastfeeding Ryan that I need to get baby to nurse on both breasts and every feeding. From what I read, I think that is probably the cause of my problems.