Weekly Chat October 16-22... turning into pumpkins :) - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[hollyann]

Name: Holly

Weeks/Days along: 9W !

Appointments: Not another one till W12

Symptoms: Still a little nauseous, but it seems to be letting up a bit, now I'm just feeling sick at night, and not all day! Also feeling somewhat faint in the morning, and like Meridith, also loosing a lot of hair! My boobs are defiantly fuller but my belly seems about the same.

Food: I'm starting to be able to eat full meals again, what a relief after weeks of crackers and ginger ale!

Exercise: Trying to do a little more walking, but still waiting till w12-13 to start yoga.

Body changes and other milestones: not much, I will need a new bra soon, the ones I have are too small, and unsupportive. I might get a hair cut to see if it will help with all the hair falling out.

Thoughts: last week we had a second u/s and saw the baby had grown a lot in the past two weeks, starting to feel like this baby is going to stick around! I'm starting to feel pretty overwhelmed with deciding where to give birth.  There aren't a lot of options that seem perfect here in NY, but I want to make this  decision before I get too far along.

I don't know why, but this originally posted on the wrong week, pregnancy brain I guess!

[Astraia]

Hello hello. I'm now at 11 w 3 days. I just made a pair of maternity pants from an old pair of jeans and an old t-shirt, and am pretty happy with my first attempt. I like the lime green sort of colour of the belly panel- none of that boring beige or navy blue for me! They STILL fall down though, grr, despite the super stretchy and snug t-shirt material. I might need to get some heavy-duty elastic or something for the next attempt.

My first midwife appointment is tomorrow. I'm nervous/excited and have a million questions..

My daughter has a cold and is wheezing again :( Last year she had cold-induced asthma, and ended up hospitalized several times. We're doing a thousand natural remedy things to try to get around that this time but she's still wheezing a bit anyway. Freaking me out, I've got the puffer at the ready.

[RenoKirbyButtrs]

Hey gals. 11w1d here and was excited about feeling better -- then caught a cold! Took today off to recuperate because this week is parent conferences, sure to kick my butt, and I am not trying to get sicker. I told the students about the baby yesterday and they were beyond excited. Hopefully they all ran home and told their parents, who will in turn cut me some slack at conferences.

So everyone is starting to pop? Get thee to the belly thread! 

[BubbleMa]

Originally Posted by forestmushroom 

Sarah, I totally get this!  I am self-employed contract worker and sometimes my income varries widely!  It is so stressful.  And people are so judgmental about it--you know, like you had total control over the world and yet you chose to be without money!  Not that I wish ill will on anyone, but having a little money trouble is humbling and eye opening.  Good luck with telling your mom.  I don't know when I will tell my folks...

SO is a self employed contractor too.  And, I work as a substitute teacher, so neither of our incomes are stable.  Most of the time we're fine though, it's just that a $5000 unexpected expense threw us for a loop!  And on top of that the deposit for the midwife.  Luckily my mom said she could help, so that's a relief.  I'm just worried that now she's going to think we're irresponsible for having a baby when we're broke AND unmarried.  Oh well.  I can't control what she thinks of us, and I know I shouldn't care.  I'm trying not to!

Anyway...does anyone else have a sour stomach most of the time??  I don't feel nauseous, just this weird sour feeling.  Almost like I ate something too spicy or greasy or something, but it happens after I eat anything.  :(  Are there any less repulsive alternatives to Pepto?

[hollyann]

Originally Posted by BubbleMa 

SO is a self employed contractor too.  And, I work as a substitute teacher, so neither of our incomes are stable.  Most of the time we're fine though, it's just that a $5000 unexpected expense threw us for a loop!  And on top of that the deposit for the midwife.  Luckily my mom said she could help, so that's a relief.  I'm just worried that now she's going to think we're irresponsible for having a baby when we're broke AND unmarried.  Oh well.  I can't control what she thinks of us, and I know I shouldn't care.  I'm trying not to!

Anyway...does anyone else have a sour stomach most of the time??  I don't feel nauseous, just this weird sour feeling.  Almost like I ate something too spicy or greasy or something, but it happens after I eat anything.  :(  Are there any less repulsive alternatives to Pepto?

BubbleMa, I've been having that all week, mostly after dinner till morning, even though I have been eating foods that are generally bland and easy to digest, it just feels kind of bubbly, then I have breakfast, and I'm fine. I was assuming it was because digestion is slower during pregnancy, and I tend to eat a late dinner.

[maggiemay81]

Name: Maggie

Weeks/Days along:  9 weeks 4 days

Appointments: Waiting to hear from my GP about an appointment for the OB/GYN. Apparently usually happens after 12 weeks unless something shows up in blood work, etc. Trying not to stress about the long wait, but it seems strange and I want to hear a heartbeat or something! 

Symptoms: Mild nausea if I eat too much or get too hungry, tender nipples, constipation (although prune nectar has an embarassing effect if I drink in the am), TIRED.... 

Food: eating lots of fruits and veggies, loving bread!!!! and soups of all kinds, have had cravings for junk like chocolate, but have avoided MOST of the time. 

Exercise: walking everyday, went to the gym today.... did not work out, but will try again tomorrow! 

Body changes and other milestones: so, pants don't button.... using a bella band, which is  a wonderful investment!! worried about getting on with this pregnancy if this keeps on... haven't gained alot, 2-3 pounds, but NO pants fit, except yoga pants.... nipples darkening .... that's about it.... can't feel the fundus despite trying, belly just feels hard. 

Thoughts: Starting to get stressed out as SO is in school full time, trying to get part time work..... having a difficult time despite being a skilled labourer, jack of all trades.... worrying about bills, loans, etc. Thinking about Maternity leave and continuing to pay health and dental on a much smaller income.... overwhelming to say the least..... BUT excited about everything all at the same time. WOULD LOVE TO WIN THE LOTTERY =) 

[forestmushroom]

I find eating fermented/pickled foods seems to help with the sour stomach feeling...

[janellody]

Well, I just got denied Oregon Health Plan.  Awesome.  I love how the hardest part of having a baby so far is finding someone who will insure me.  This is depressing.

[forestmushroom]

Originally Posted by janellody 

Well, I just got denied Oregon Health Plan.  Awesome.  I love how the hardest part of having a baby so far is finding someone who will insure me.  This is depressing.

  oh dear.  I don't know if you can get insurance as an individual now because of your 'pre-existing condition."  I'm shocked that OHP rejected you.  :(  It might make more sense to find a local midwife and pay monthly payments, that would probably be more affordable. 

[JENinOR]

Originally Posted by janellody 

Well, I just got denied Oregon Health Plan.  Awesome.  I love how the hardest part of having a baby so far is finding someone who will insure me.  This is depressing.

Do you live in Central Oregon? There is a free prenatal clinic here: http://www.motherthymemidwifery.com/  If you decide to go with a midwife for the birth they provide one for $1,800. It's the midwife that's atteneded 3 of my 4 births and she's great. I'm on OHP (we had private insurance for the first four and had to pay out of pocket for hbs...grrr)and turns out it won't do *me* much good. They do not cover CMs, I'd have to have a male Dr. for prenatals and he'd be doing my pap, and whatever dr. is on when I go into labor is who I get, so there's not continuity of care. The nurse so far at the clinic who took bloodwork and such treated me terribly. I'm not sure if it's because we're on OHP (I told her this baby was unplanned) and that's how your treated receiving gov't aid or if that's a typical hospital thing, but it was worlds apart from my midwifery experience. Her bedside manner was so gruff and just no specialness or the blessing of this new life coming from her, at all. I'm def. bummed about my OHP options and no matter how tempting it is to have a birth covered, I just can't bring myself to birth in a hospital unless medically necessary. Anyways, exploring my OHP options and wrestling with the possibility of a hospital birth, I found this free prenatal care clinic and we get to use our midwife again!! I think we can swing the money, we'll make come up with it somehow and God has alway provided!  mama. I hope you find something just right for you!
 

[BubbleMa]

Originally Posted by hollyann 

BubbleMa, I've been having that all week, mostly after dinner till morning, even though I have been eating foods that are generally bland and easy to digest, it just feels kind of bubbly, then I have breakfast, and I'm fine. I was assuming it was because digestion is slower during pregnancy, and I tend to eat a late dinner.

That makes sense, the slower digestion.

Originally Posted by forestmushroom 

I find eating fermented/pickled foods seems to help with the sour stomach feeling...

Hmm, I just bought pickles.  Maybe that'll help!

Originally Posted by janellody 

Well, I just got denied Oregon Health Plan.  Awesome.  I love how the hardest part of having a baby so far is finding someone who will insure me.  This is depressing.

:(  Bummer.  I wish I had some suggestions for you.

[forestmushroom]

Jen, that clinic sounds AWESOME!  My last baby's birth was covered by OHP (since I am self employed, insurance would cost me too much and then with all the co-insurance, etc.) and I had a great experience.  I think it really depend on which clinic you are at; I was at the providence maternal care clinic in PDX.  I am using them again, since they have very affordable rates for self pay, so if OHP doesn't cover me , we will be able to afford it.  I lurk in the homebirth thread, but can't afford it!  Unless OHP doesn't cover me, and then we will have to... :)

But that is wrong that anyone in health care should treat you poorly because of your insurance status or baby status.  Some of my favorite kids were not "planned."  But they are great kids!  There is too much pressure on women to do everything right and SMILE SMILE SMILE and be fake.  I think it is okay to say, this baby wasn't planned.  You will still love the baby, but hey.  Sometimes birthcontrol fails, sometimes our timing is off! 

Maybe that nurse was just jealous because she never gets any :LOL!
 

Originally Posted by JENinOR 

Do you live in Central Oregon? There is a free prenatal clinic here: http://www.motherthymemidwifery.com/  If you decide to go with a midwife for the birth they provide one for $1,800. It's the midwife that's atteneded 3 of my 4 births and she's great. I'm on OHP (we had private insurance for the first four and had to pay out of pocket for hbs...grrr)and turns out it won't do *me* much good. They do not cover CMs, I'd have to have a male Dr. for prenatals and he'd be doing my pap, and whatever dr. is on when I go into labor is who I get, so there's not continuity of care. The nurse so far at the clinic who took bloodwork and such treated me terribly. I'm not sure if it's because we're on OHP (I told her this baby was unplanned) and that's how your treated receiving gov't aid or if that's a typical hospital thing, but it was worlds apart from my midwifery experience. Her bedside manner was so gruff and just no specialness or the blessing of this new life coming from her, at all. I'm def. bummed about my OHP options and no matter how tempting it is to have a birth covered, I just can't bring myself to birth in a hospital unless medically necessary. Anyways, exploring my OHP options and wrestling with the possibility of a hospital birth, I found this free prenatal care clinic and we get to use our midwife again!! I think we can swing the money, we'll make come up with it somehow and God has alway provided!  mama. I hope you find something just right for you! 

[maryamrose]

Name: Maryam

Weeks/Days along: 11w 5d

Appointments: Midwife this Friday, OB next Thursday.

Symptoms: Nausea is pretty manageable now! Still have aversions but they aren't quite as strong. I'm starting to see a little bump but it's still way too early for anybody to notice. I have a UTI :(

Food: It's getting better… slowly. Once I get caught up with schoolwork and house remodeling stuff settles down, I'm going to start cooking good stuff again.

Exercise: I've been slacking off. I walked a couple miles today. Hopefully I'll go back to 4-7 miles a day soon, again, when things settle down. I haven't felt like doing weight-bearing exercise except for pushups so I haven't seen my trainer recently.

Body changes and other milestones: Tiny bump! And my thighs are definitely fuller.

Thoughts: My wrist thing pretty much disappeared, but I still feel little cramps if I hold it in a certain position for too long. I'm trying to be more aware of the way I put weight on it for now. My issue of the moment is definitely this UTI. I've been drinking cranberry juice and water like a madwoman, but I'm afraid it won't help since I read that cranberry juice can't actually treat UTIs - it just prevents them :( I'm still going to finish this bottle up. I've only ever gotten a UTI twice before, once when I was a kid and once 8 years ago. I'm not sure what I did last time to treat it, but it definitely wasn't antibiotics. I've emailed my midwife asking about it and I'm waiting for an answer. 

[Plummeting]

Originally Posted by BubbleMa 
Anyway...does anyone else have a sour stomach most of the time??  I don't feel nauseous, just this weird sour feeling.  Almost like I ate something too spicy or greasy or something, but it happens after I eat anything.  :(  Are there any less repulsive alternatives to Pepto?

Probably reflux. That happens starting very early in pregnancy for many women - long before the baby's big enough to be pushing on anything. It's just because of all the digestive muscles relaxing. It won't get better any time soon if that's what it is. lol Reflux does not always cause a feeling of heartburn. Often it can cause a weird sort of nausea or just a bad taste in the mouth.

[Plummeting]

Originally Posted by BubbleMa 

Hmm, I just bought pickles.  Maybe that'll help!

I hate serial posting, but am too lazy to go back and edit. If fermented foods would help you, pickles from the grocery store won't do it. They're not really fermented. They're just soaked in vinegar. Fermenting (aka pickling) is totally different - it involves soaking something in salt water until the bacteria makes it sour. You can get real pickles at health food stores, but the ones at your regular grocery store aren't "pickled" pickles. lol

[Astraia]

Originally Posted by forestmushroom 
But that is wrong that anyone in health care should treat you poorly because of your insurance status or baby status.  Some of my favorite kids were not "planned."  But they are great kids!  There is too much pressure on women to do everything right and SMILE SMILE SMILE and be fake.  I think it is okay to say, this baby wasn't planned.  You will still love the baby, but hey.  Sometimes birthcontrol fails, sometimes our timing is off! 

Eh, none of my kids were planned. At least I'm consistent!

Originally Posted by Plummeting 

Probably reflux. That happens starting very early in pregnancy for many women - long before the baby's big enough to be pushing on anything. It's just because of all the digestive muscles relaxing. It won't get better any time soon if that's what it is. lol Reflux does not always cause a feeling of heartburn. Often it can cause a weird sort of nausea or just a bad taste in the mouth.

If it is reflux, then yes fermented food will help. It is, oddly enough, an imbalance of the acids in your stomach so stuff with vinegars/fermentedness will definitely help. With my last pregnancy in the last trimester I had wicked heartburn that would set in just before bed. I would take a Tbsp of apple cider vinegar in a 1/4 cup of water and chug it down. Yes, it's vile, but it stops heartburn in it's tracks. For mild stuff I would have a scoop of saurkraut or a few pickles and it would calm it down.

Originally Posted by Plummeting 

I hate serial posting, but am too lazy to go back and edit. If fermented foods would help you, pickles from the grocery store won't do it. They're not really fermented. They're just soaked in vinegar. Fermenting (aka pickling) is totally different - it involves soaking something in salt water until the bacteria makes it sour. You can get real pickles at health food stores, but the ones at your regular grocery store aren't "pickled" pickles. lol

Yep. I was really surprised when I learned that, but I've got a big jar of saurkraut and pickles now from the health food store that i work at- fermented. They weren't even that much more expensive than regular ol' store-bought.

[janellody]

Originally Posted by JENinOR 

Do you live in Central Oregon? There is a free prenatal clinic here: http://www.motherthymemidwifery.com/  If you decide to go with a midwife for the birth they provide one for $1,800. It's the midwife that's atteneded 3 of my 4 births and she's great. I'm on OHP (we had private insurance for the first four and had to pay out of pocket for hbs...grrr)and turns out it won't do *me* much good. They do not cover CMs, I'd have to have a male Dr. for prenatals and he'd be doing my pap, and whatever dr. is on when I go into labor is who I get, so there's not continuity of care. The nurse so far at the clinic who took bloodwork and such treated me terribly. I'm not sure if it's because we're on OHP (I told her this baby was unplanned) and that's how your treated receiving gov't aid or if that's a typical hospital thing, but it was worlds apart from my midwifery experience. Her bedside manner was so gruff and just no specialness or the blessing of this new life coming from her, at all. I'm def. bummed about my OHP options and no matter how tempting it is to have a birth covered, I just can't bring myself to birth in a hospital unless medically necessary. Anyways, exploring my OHP options and wrestling with the possibility of a hospital birth, I found this free prenatal care clinic and we get to use our midwife again!! I think we can swing the money, we'll make come up with it somehow and God has alway provided!  mama. I hope you find something just right for you! 

Their website doesn't say where they are located.. I am in Salem and I am assuming "central oregon" means they are too far away.  I have someone checking out other insurance options but she did say that now that I am pregnant it will be harder, since I have a pre-existing condition.  The problem is, I have ANOTHER pre-existing condition that made it so nobody would insure me before, I was on a group plan through my husband until right about the time I found out and he had switched jobs.  I am willing to pay for insurance, but nobody (so far) is willing to insure me).  It's ridiculous.  I have had $0 worth of issues with other "pre-existing" condition, so there is no reason to thin I will be expensive, they just don't care and don't want to take any risk.  I hate our system! 

I am also self-employed and I think that is why I got denied.  I showed them profit and loss statements where my net income was negative on each one, but somehow I still make too much money. :(  They said I can appeal it, and I guess I will if I can't get insurance through this other lady, but I dunno what else I am going to show them to prove I don't make enough money!

[Plummeting]

Originally Posted by Astraia 

Eh, none of my kids were planned. At least I'm consistent!

If it is reflux, then yes fermented food will help. It is, oddly enough, an imbalance of the acids in your stomach so stuff with vinegars/fermentedness will definitely help. With my last pregnancy in the last trimester I had wicked heartburn that would set in just before bed. I would take a Tbsp of apple cider vinegar in a 1/4 cup of water and chug it down. Yes, it's vile, but it stops heartburn in it's tracks. For mild stuff I would have a scoop of saurkraut or a few pickles and it would calm it down.

See, that doesn't work for me when I have reflux. Ugh...it makes it SO bad. I'm really not even sure of the chemistry of how this would help reflux. Reflux during pregnancy is caused by the LES relaxing, allowing stomach acid to back up into the esophagus. Taking cider vinegar will not close or tighten the LES, so I don't really understand it. I'm not discounting your experience - I totally believe it worked for you. I just can't see how it could possibly work for everyone. It makes me feel worse.

[cookie_]

Name: Marina

Weeks/Days along: 8w3d

Appointments: Had our first one yesterday because my midwife thought I might be at 10weeks. Ended up coming in for an U/S today because the sono yesterday couldn't pick up the hb...which makes sense since I turned out to be further behind than she thought.  I knew I was at 8w though!

Symptoms: Nausea has died down completely, just like it did around 6.5 weeks with my first pregnancy. Mostly just tired now. I never did get the good pregnancy hair or skin last time, so we'll see if that ever shows up this time around.

Food: Craving good things right now, raw veggies and the like.

Exercise: We live in a city (Brooklyn), so we walk everywhere, every day, weather be damned. Trying to get it together to get back into yoga and maybe step up my exercise a little more. It's hard to find the time though since I'm home with my toddler.

Body changes and other milestones: Definitely bloating a bit, looking more chubby than pregnant. Oh well!

Thoughts: I'm really trying to let go of my homebirth dream and come to terms with that. I had a wonderful, medication and intervention-free birth last time with my midwife in a hospital setting, but I had really wanted to do a home water birth for my next birth. Our insurance just doesn't reimburse any out-of-network costs, which is what a hb would come under, and when I called around, I got $6-8,000 as a quote. There's no way I could justify it, even though I know if I really, really thought I needed it, my husband would go through hell and high water to make it happen, bless his heart. Trying to keep it in perspective though - my midwife's office is right down the block from my husband's office, so he can come to almost all of the appts (especially helpful since I have my son with me this time around), and she has all the equipment in her office so I don't have to make separate trips to labs or hospitals if I need any tests. The hospital I'll give birth at used to have a birthing center, so still has all the all equipment/big tubs/L&D nurses who are used to medication-free births, plus it's right down the street from us. It's very easy to get a private room and it doesn't cost an arm and leg to do so (my in-laws make this their gift to us). And I know and trust my midwife to help me have a peaceful birth again. I wasn't aware of this until my husband told me, but at my first birth, I guess there was an anesthesiologist who was new or something and didn't know my midwife. He was skulking around the room, and I guess my midwife dragged him to the hallway and told him in no uncertain terms to beat it. She's a firecracker of a lady, and I like that. But I still kind of mourn for my vision of a home birth. Is that silly?

[cookie_]

Originally Posted by hollyann 

Name: Holly

Weeks/Days along: 9W !

Appointments: Not another one till W12

Symptoms: Still a little nauseous, but it seems to be letting up a bit, now I'm just feeling sick at night, and not all day! Also feeling somewhat faint in the morning, and like Meridith, also loosing a lot of hair! My boobs are defiantly fuller but my belly seems about the same.

Food: I'm starting to be able to eat full meals again, what a relief after weeks of crackers and ginger ale!

Exercise: Trying to do a little more walking, but still waiting till w12-13 to start yoga.

Body changes and other milestones: not much, I will need a new bra soon, the ones I have are too small, and unsupportive. I might get a hair cut to see if it will help with all the hair falling out.

Thoughts: last week we had a second u/s and saw the baby had grown a lot in the past two weeks, starting to feel like this baby is going to stick around! I'm starting to feel pretty overwhelmed with deciding where to give birth.  There aren't a lot of options that seem perfect here in NY, but I want to make this  decision before I get too far along.

I don't know why, but this originally posted on the wrong week, pregnancy brain I guess!

Hi Holly - I saw your post and noticed we both live in Brooklyn. If you're still trying to research your birthing location options and would like to hear some personal, anecdotal info, feel free to PM me. You might have friends who've given birth in the city and can fill you in on their personal experiences, which would certainly be helpful. Despite living in the city for 12 years and knowing tons of people, I did not know anyone with children when I was pregnant with my son 2 years ago, so I had to do my own research. I'd be happy to pass along any info I can! I now have friends who've given birth at hospitals across the boroughs and home birthers who've used a variety of hb midwives, so I've heard a lot.