~<3~ Weekly Chat Feb 12-18 ~<3~ « Back to Group Discussions

[forestmushroom]

Happy Saint Valentine's everyone

Name:

Weeks/Days along:

Appointments:

Symptoms:

Food:

Exercise:

Body changes and other milestones:

Thoughts:

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[janellody]

Name: Janelle

Weeks/Days along: 27 weeks 4 days

Appointments: March something.. towards the beginning.  It will be my last "monthly" appointment and I go to every 2 weeks after that, and March 19 I get another ultrasound WOOHOO!!

Symptoms: Itchy belly and boobs, major exhaustion, tired all the time, I try my hardest to not bend down for anything because it's a chore, the belly is getting HUGE.

Food: Really hungry now!  All the time, it seems!  I have already gained so much, I am scared now that I have this major hunger I am going to double my weight gain!!  Also I crave sweets like nobody's business... this is so opposite of me normally!!  But I want dessert after every meal!!  I gotta watch it.. seriously, it is getting hard!!!

Exercise: I walked on the treadmill this week!!! I am going to try to keep that up!!

Body changes and other milestones:  Huge belly, huge thighs, huge everything!  I just feel pretty fat these days lol... I think I have gained 45 pounds or more now.  Ugh!

Thoughts: Everytime DH and I fight, he says it's cause of pregnancy hormones.  Can I get a collective face punch for him??

~~~~~~~~~~~

[Soon2bKaiaMommy]

Name: Cynthianna

Weeks/Days along: 28 Weeks 4 Days

Appointments: Monday the 13 have gestational testing and normal monthly appointment, then next Friday on the 17th I have an ultrasound! its an elective one 4D imaging and all (super excited)

Symptoms: Heartburn, inability to sleep, restless leg

Food: Monteray Ranch Chicken Sandwich from Wendy's

Exercise: Girl Scout Cookie delivery day was yest. so over 5000 cases of cookies going out to different troops in our service unit!

Body changes and other milestones: stomach is getting bigger, colostrum is off and on, more off than on

Thoughts: Is it over yet? lol I want her to be healthy but I want her here!

[Kamiro]

Weeks/Days along: 28?

Appointments: not until 1st week of march

Symptoms: Feeling a bit overwhelmed and stressed out. Could just be today as I have a lot of stuff/assignments/cleaning to do/ Belly is definitely bigger. Face is puffy.

Food: Oatmeal, salad,lemon burst luna bars, thai salad rolls, multigrain chips from costco with chili cojito dip. mmmm

Exercise: this week for sure!

Body changes and other milestones: just bigger..strong kicks and stretches

Thoughts:

Really need to do the RRL. Happy to find out I am 4 pounds less than at the start of the pregnancy. Ladies dont be jealous, I am probably 100 pounds obese to begin with lol

[JynxGirl]

Name: Jen

Weeks/Days along: 25 weeks and 3 days along

Appointments: I have an appointment on Monday to check if there's any funneling in my cervix, and I'm going to insist on talking to my OB this time instead of just his nurse, because I'm sick of getting mixed information, and then Tuesday I should have the results of the swab back as to if I have an infection or not. Friday I see the OB again to find out what the plan of attack is. BUSY BUSY BUSY BUSY

Symptoms: With my husband home and my daughter at her dad's this weekend, I've been able to do next nothing. So the cramping and contractions have almost stopped. I still have the odd one on the couch. All I can say is OUCH. They really hurt when you can't move through them. When a contraction starts, all I want to do is move my hips around and walk, but I can't, and it makes them a hell of a lot more unpleasant. Then there's the guilt, worry and stress being on bedrest is causing. I'm glad it's working, I just hate that it's come to this. :(

Food: Right now, it's all about the comfort foods. Hubby made a lasagna last night and two more for the freezer. It was delicious!!!! I'm also big on baked potatoes right now with cheese and ranch salad dressing. (How healthy is any of that? :P )

Exercise: Well that's just mean. :P Not allowed to do anything more strenuous than taking a ten minute shower, so walking is out. 

Body changes and other milestones: So far as I know, I haven't dilated at all yet, so other than getting enormous and losing muscle tone as I lounge, nothing huge to report here this week, though that could really change.

Thoughts: People really don't understand bed rest and sometimes they're unintentionally cruel. :( No, I can't "take a break" to come to my niece's birthday party.  I can't tell you how much that one hurt. I can't "stop what I'm doing" to come for a walk with you. I can see how gorgeous the day is, but that means nothing to me right now, because I can't go and enjoy it. Ontario finally got snow and I can't even go play in it. 

Sometimes. even my husband does it. He's doing his best, and I appreciate all he is doing, but he keeps asking me to grab something for him or asking if I plan to vaccum. Then he catches himself and apologises. I think there's a lot of guilt for me involved, because I know he can't do everything, and he's getting more and more upset that this could theoretically continue until I deliver.  We've also given up on having a UC. At this point, a healthy baby is all we want. 

Lots of thoughts this week.

[Kamiro]

Jen, you will be in my thoughts, meditations and prayers. <3

I got to get a jumpstart on my assignments. Lindsay - your twonies and beads came yesterday! The girls were so excited to see "foreign" money from a friend. lol

  4 packages total came yesterday :). Think we are at 9 or 10. What an awesome assortment of beads!

[shastalily]

Name:  Jenny

Weeks/Days along:  28 w 4 days

Appointments:  Next one in just under 2 weeks

Symptoms:  heartburn nightly now, propping myself up more to sleep, using Tums and starting probiotics (hope they help!)

Food:  craving sweets too much, will be good to get the Valentine's candy out of here

Exercise:  slacked off again due to a cold turned sinus infection.  Feeling better so hopefully back to it this week

Body changes and other milestones:  Belly is suddenly huge, baby pushing/kicking/squirming sometimes uncomfortable now, but I do like knowing he is doing good and all this movement confirms that

Thoughts:  Had 2 people ask me today when the baby was coming and they seemed to think it was sooner b/c I am apparently "big" now.  How I went from nobody asking and it being far off to baby must be due soon I have no idea.  What happened to the middle?  I just want to say, "You know, there is a phase called the 3rd trimester where we are huge, but baby isn't coming imminently.  And I'm going to get BIGGER!"  I feel like getting a shirt that says, "I'm not due until May.  Don't ask!"  I have been pretty ornery this afternoon and apparently offended easily.  lol  I am currently hiding in my room until it passes.

[casmer]

Name: "casmer"

Weeks/Days along: 25w3d

Appointments: March 1st will be the glucose test and another blood draw to test for "third trimester HIV" - I think that's what she said...

Symptoms: Indigestion (enzymes help some) and constipation.  I even had 12 ounces of coffee on an empty stomach this morning...nothing.

Food: Nothing too crazy...most of the aversions have gone away.  Except the chicken - still gross.

Exercise: This past week was minimal.  My back started bothering me, so it's really important that I get back to walking like I was previously.

Body changes and other milestones: My belly button is starting to get flat, it's kinda cool!  Little girl has been awful squirmy lately.

Thoughts: I've been getting the nursery ready, but it still needs to be painted.  We bought the crib and dresser yesterday, yay!  I think I'm also pretty good on cloth diapers and covers for the newborn stage.  I still lack maybe a few pockets or AIOs for the occasional outing or whatever.  I've started building my stash for the next size up.  I found 8 yellow GMD cloth-eeze workhorse (fitteds) for $40 on craigslist!  She prepped them, but never used them because she chose to use AIOs instead.  Also, my friend had a baby in December and her little girl will likely be done with the yellow edge prefolds by the time our little girl needs them so I'll get to buy those from her. She has already saved me a ton of $$ on newborn prefolds and covers.  I'm just a little excited about cloth diapering...can you tell???

[forestmushroom]

Name: Forest Mushroom!

Weeks/Days along: 28 weeks & 3 days!  Only 81 days until EDD!

Appointments: I am ditching my appt for tomorrow, where I would have to do the glucose test.... I am going to call and reschedule and *not* take that test....

Symptoms: sometime I get so hormonally rageful!  It feels terrible, but I get grumpy and mad... it doesn't help to have this be an election year and politics pisses me off... so I am trying to walk, eat well, get good sleep, and reduce stress.... Listening to hypnobabies affirmations helps to remain positive, too!  I have a tendency to think negatively, and I hate it, so I am really trying to keep up on the affirmations and keep it positive. 

Some heartburn... almond milk seems to help!  I feel huge, too, and feel a lot of movement which I am loving.  I have a lot of energy and want to clean and reorganize everything, but then get suddenly super duper tired...

Food: Yes please!  trying to focus on getting lots of long chain fatties, fish oil, DHA, etc. to promote the 3rd trimester brain growth! 

Exercise: walking, yoga, house work....

Body changes and other milestones: big belly!

Thoughts: what are these? no, I feel like I have so much to do that I am making lists and checking them twice.  I have to negotiate my maternity leave, since self-employed peeps don't really get these!  And I am not sure how many weeks to completely take off... some stuff I'll have preplanned, and just have to update stuff, and it will be not big deal to do it... but other stuff I will want at least 2 weeks... and that is hard. I don't know if I am asking for too little?  I will still have help with everything else, and am interviewing PP doulas this week (which is super exciting) to get additional support... but really, this seems like too little.  But I don't want to get axed either...

I am having fun organizing the house and decluttering.... and dreaming of this new baby!  I am excited to try http://www.wittlebee.com for this little bean, too. I think I will do a few months and then switch to every-other-month delivery...

Anyway, I hope everyone is hanging in there!  Jynx, take it easy... it is so hard to sit and do nothing... and I totally know what you mean about the guilt of doing nothing.  but just remember, you are doing something--you are growing a whole new little human!  That is a huge job.

Onemoreontheway--that is awesome with the weight!  Don't forget your RRL tea! 

Kaiamommy, I'm in PDX, too!  Good luck with all those cookies!

Janelle, I was going to mention that often sugar cravings are your bodies way of telling you that you need more protein!  When I want sweets, I usually have yogurt with frozen fruit, since it is sweet and protein-filled.... don't get me wrong, I have also been eating my share of sweets!  but it is a good thing to be aware of. 

Yea!  I am so glad I got to do this weeks update! 

~~~~~~~~~~~

[rozziemama]

Name: Rozzie/Danielle

Weeks/Days along: 27

Appointments: Considering rescheduling the 28 weeks u/s for next week to check placenta location. But also so scatterbrained that I keep forgetting to reschedule it, so most likely i'll just end up doing it.

Symptoms: heartburn on and off - papaya enzymes and probiotics seem to help as well as very simple foods + not eating past 8:30 at night. Also sleeping propped up on 3 pillows, which isn't that good for my neck but seems to keep reflux at bay.

And sciatic pain - lower left side. Yuck.

Food: Sticking with the peanut butter and honey craze, eating a lot of yogurt.  String cheese. My toddler's snacks, essentially.

Exercise: Um, no. Ok, not 100% that bad, but I only did prenatal yoga once last week and non-pregnant I'm usually a 3-4 days per week exerciser. Trying not to feel guilty. Though I know that my body would benefit from daily walks and more yoga. Oh well. 

Body changes and other milestones: I'm huge. I am self conscious about getting that fat face thing that happened last pregnancy. Why do some women retain water/swell in every body part, and others don't? Ahhh a mystery. 

Thoughts:

I will try hard not to rant here. ..

The security guardin my office building drove me nuts when I was pregnant with DS1 with comments on how huge I was.   she's started up again ... "any day now" comments almost daily. Even though i have told her I am due in May. GRRRR.

Also - why is it that people thing I'm ready to deliver any minute, but they still manage not to give me a seat on the subway during rush hour?!

This is a hard week -- DH is away today through Friday night, and it's my birthday thursday... and being hugely pregnant and working full time with preschool drop off/pick up duty every day is sort of overwhelming.  Just hoping to make it through with minimal toddler tantrums and stress...

[cristeen]

Name:  Cristeen

Weeks/Days along:  25?  I dont' remember

Appointments: Thursday afternoon.  DH is going to WFH that day (supposedly) so he can talk to her too.

Symptoms:  Still nauseous in the morning.  When I didn't have it in the first trimester, I was so hopeful I was going to get to skip it entirely this pg.  HA!  And the heartburn has kicked up majorly this weekend - don't know if baby's just getting to that size, or if it's stress, since my eating hasn't really changed a whole lot. 

Food: Whatever.  Trying to keep things simple at this point since I don't have the ability to stand in the kitchen cooking, surrounded by those smells for hours like I like to do. 

Exercise: Chasing my toddler through a produce stand after he'd spent the last hour strapped in his car seat.  That was fun.  Not.  I just wanted to get some asparagus (99 cents/lb), and he just wanted to run. 

Body changes and other milestones: Belly's getting bigger - it's bigger now than I was at term with DS, RLP has started, still dealing with sciatica off and on.  I'm big enough at this point that I have to have the car seat all the way back just so my belly isn't resting on the steering wheel, but that means I can barely reach the pedals.  Maintaining cruising speed is difficult, and holding the brake for any length of time flares my sciatica.  I got home from a long (4 hours) car trip on Saturday (to go see great-grandma) and had to get on all 4s on the bed so that DH could rub my lower back for 20 minutes I was in so much pain. 

Thoughts:  Spent the last 2 days fighting with DH.  A bit of it, I'm sure is pregnancy hormones (his, not mine).  My reaction to him I'm sure was tempered by hormones, but he definitely started it (I'm trying to really be aware when I'm being hormonal/unreasonable and just bite my tongue).  And none of it is helped by the fact that when I get that upset I start puking.  So today I have a pile of vomit laundry to do.  Along with a filthy kitchen to clean - I hate doing it on the best of days, but paired with nausea that is exacerbated by smells, it's even worse. 

DS' therapists will be here momentarily for our first weekly meeting, so I'm out of time.  Hope everyone else has a good Monday. 

[janellody]

forest - thanks I didn't know that about protein..  I need to get more greek yogurt as mine expired in January.  And I still used it a few days ago.  Is that bad?  I am awful with expiration dates when not pregnant.. if something looks ok I eat it and I am always fine!  But now I feel bad, I shouldn't do that with dairy items huh??

ALso you put yogurt with frozen fruit?  Then it's hard and icy though? I need to experiment.

[CorgiMommy]

Good day ladies - I am still alive at least.

had a cold and just in general a really hectic week so just did not get around to my computer at all - never mind this board.

All is still well otherwise.  I have sorted out my maternity leave as well as my payments and benifits for work.

Finantially we have arranged a great package for me and I am pleased.

I am also very involved in the dog show world and have tonnes of arrangements to make for the comming year.  Meetings and appointments and updating everyhting - that along with all the other peas on my string - is getting a bit too much.

I hope all is well with you all.

[lightheartedmom]

I was going to try and reply to a bunch of posts, but the editor is loading things funny today...but seriously, I've been saying "YES! THAT!" to basically every post.

Jynx, I'm so sorry you're on bedrest. I was on BR for three weeks with DD1 due to pre-eclampsia and it was awful. I've never watched so much crappy TV. I hope for your sake that you won't have to be on it for the rest of pregnancy, but if you are, I hope you can find the strength for it. And I hope people will stop being so lame to you about it.

Forest: I am so completely there with the pregnancy rage. It's bad. I have no patience for people and politics...GAH! Don't get me started. It's a good thing I got off of facebook and blogging a few years ago because...if I had an outlet to broadcast my thoughts right now...people would hate me. I've found the more I dwell on the things that piss me off, the worse it gets (duh!), so I'm really trying for now to practice just letting those things wash over me and pass without paying attention to them.

26 weeks and change now...cannot believe how fast it's going! Don't I say that every week?
Appointments: Not until march, but I'm supposed to do some bloodwork and go see the diabetes center at some point. So.,..I declined the GD blood test - they changed the protocol since my last pregnancy and now instead of a non-fasting, single draw (one hr after drinking the glucola), they want me to fast for 12 hrs, test before drink, drink, and then test three times over three hours after! Heck no. I don't even mind the drink as much as I mind fasting and then dumping all that sugar on my system. I have a history of hypoglycemic-ish episodes and I will throw up if you impose those conditions on me, which would just mean having to repeat the test because once you puke, it's null. So my mw wants me to go see the Diabetes people and they'll set me up with a meter and I'll have to monitor myself at every meal for a week. Pain in the butt, but it's bound to be more accurate. I'm still a little bit contemplating just telling them NO because I'm sure I'm fine...but...my insurance will cover it, so...blah.
Symptoms: OMG heartburn? What the heck? I never get heartburn when I'm pregnant and then the other day...BAM, heartburn. It doesn't matter what I eat. I've been living on Tums and praying I won't have to hit something stronger than that. I still have to drink coffee to avoid getting a daily migraine, but now the coffee gives me crazy heartburn...
Baby is moving so much now, I love it. It feels like a real baby now, not just the smaller kicks...I can feel actual hands and feet and head and butt...
Exercise: Not enough this week. Still went on a hike on Saturday but it's been cold and rainy here and I am so sluggish.
Body Changes: Belly is still huge, now other things are getting bigger (than they already were, awesome. Not.)...I feel pretty great still, as long as I tune out other people and their stupid BS. Again...trying to not let stuff get to me...but my MIL said TWICE yesterday how I'm carrying around extra weight and "oh yeah, I get more tired too when I'm carrying extra weight." SERIOUSLY? I'm pregnant! OF COURSE I'm carrying around extra weight, there's a HUMAN growing in my belly, my blood volume is double what it normally would be, my boobs are producing milk and I'm also carrying around a 5lb placenta/feedbag/oxygen machine in there too! This is a woman who had 4 kids and has been exposed to her share of crappy and unsupportive people in her life, you'd think she'd have the good sense to just keep it to herself.

I'm going to make a shirt - rules for talking to pregnant women:

1) If you wouldn't offer that opinion to a non-pregnant person, shut your piehole.
2) Don't ask when I'm due. Unless I'm visibly in labor, it's not now and I don't need another person reminding me of that fact.
3) How many kids I have is my own damn business and no, I'm not interested in your commentary on spacing, gender or family size.

I had others but I've forgotten them now. Feel free to add...I swear, I don't like to be pregzilla, but people these days. SHEESH! I'm extra sensitivecakes right now (more than with previous pregnancies) and it's really messing with my whole zengoddesspregnantglow vibe. It just astounds me to no end how people look at pregnant women like free target practice for all their asinine opinions. I mean, aside from women who have the misfortune to choose a career in modeling or showbiz, at no other point in our lives can we basically expect that every time we go out in public, everyone is going to feel entitled to have (AND EXPRESS?!) an opinion on our body shape. Mostly, I try to be good-natured about it, but this weekend, it was just really getting to me...by last night I just wanted to crawl into bed and have someone wake me up when the baby is here.

****deeeeeep, cleansing breaths****

Thoughts: Hah. Too many. Clearly I'm about to tumble off a cliff into a very dark place...I need to get back to doing my meditation. Lots of anxiety-ish dreams. I have been trying to work through some...residual trauma (?) from some things that happened in my life in the last few years, so I started therapy a few weeks ago. It's just talking and the woman I'm seeing is quite nice...but it's such a weird thing. I am totally awkward sitting on a couch talking about myself for 50 minutes straight. What? No kids to interrupt me every two seconds? No real feedback besides validation of my feelings? It feels really wrong. On top of which, I think all that talking about those issues is maybe making things worse? Because then I come home and I'm still thinking about them...It's weird.

I did have a baby dream last night that wasn't totally horrifying, even if it was totally weird. The baby was moving a lot last night when I went to bed, so I had a dream about he/she moving and there was this funny chinese lady with me who suggested that we cut open my belly button to take a peek (?!)...we did and the second my belly was open, this little hand jutted out and the baby basically climbed out and said "hi mom." It was a boy (I knew that even though I distinctly remember not checking in my dream) and I definitely remember his face and thinking he was a little skinny and we probably should have waited awhile longer before taking him out so he could get more fat. lol...I was washing dishes the other day (I don't love housework, but am I the only one who actually likes washing dishes? I put on my headphones and it feels very relaxing to me) and had this very nice moment of connection where it just felt like me and the baby and I felt very anxious and excited to meet him/her. I'm trying to just chase that feeling for now and not worry about all the crazy stuff and crazy people in my life right now.

[JynxGirl]

I am about to leave to see my OB. I've been cramping a lot today, despite staying in bed all weekend (as much as DH would allow... he's irritatingly absentminded and can't find things right in front of his face.)

I'm really hoping that I'm not dilating, because that will mean a hospital stay, steroid shots and more. I've been crying for an hour now because I'm so nervous. :( 

[forestmushroom]

Oh, Jynx, I hope the appointment goes well!

Lighthearted, I have a similar history of hypoglycemic-ish episodes as well, and just can't do that test again.  I haven't actually had the conversation yet and would just rather not do it....

[lightheartedmom]

Jynx, I'll be praying for you! Hope you're not dilating and that you can avoid the hospital stay! Keep us posted when you can.

[JynxGirl]

I'm not dilating!!! I never thought I'd be so happy to hear that! I'm still closed, but soft.

So as a precaution, doc wants me to get a set of steroid shots to help boost the baby's lung growth. I do need to do some research on that, because i'm not really sure how okay I am with it. (Who am I kidding... my daughter had breathing problems at birth and nearly died, anything that might help this one's lungs is probably going to be okay...)

But the bed rest continues. I am still contracting, he watched me have one in his office and said that he's loathe to call it a braxton hicks contraction. I'm allowed up for light duties like cooking a meal or putting my kiddo to bed but absolutely no lifting, carrying, jumping or climbing stairs for no good reason. I was quite happy with him. He was really reassuring and assuaged many fears the resident at the hospital caused.  (Chances of my uterus rupturing at 25 weeks are so slim he was furious she would have said something like that, and if I'm not actually dilated, there was no reason for them to scare me with a fetal fibronectin test.)

Thank you all so much! I keep compulsively updating my browser to read more posts here because you all keep me so upbeat. :) 

[rozziemama]

Oh this is such good news Jynx!  I'm wondering why this is happening to you?  (the contractions that are more than BH but no dilation)  

Sounds like you have a good doctor, that you're in good hands. 

And we are all sending you such positive healthy baby vibes   

(and healthy happy mommy vibes too of course)

Originally Posted by JynxGirl 

I'm not dilating!!! I never thought I'd be so happy to hear that! I'm still closed, but soft.

So as a precaution, doc wants me to get a set of steroid shots to help boost the baby's lung growth. I do need to do some research on that, because i'm not really sure how okay I am with it. (Who am I kidding... my daughter had breathing problems at birth and nearly died, anything that might help this one's lungs is probably going to be okay...)

But the bed rest continues. I am still contracting, he watched me have one in his office and said that he's loathe to call it a braxton hicks contraction. I'm allowed up for light duties like cooking a meal or putting my kiddo to bed but absolutely no lifting, carrying, jumping or climbing stairs for no good reason. I was quite happy with him. He was really reassuring and assuaged many fears the resident at the hospital caused.  (Chances of my uterus rupturing at 25 weeks are so slim he was furious she would have said something like that, and if I'm not actually dilated, there was no reason for them to scare me with a fetal fibronectin test.)

Thank you all so much! I keep compulsively updating my browser to read more posts here because you all keep me so upbeat. :) 

[casmer]

Originally Posted by JynxGirl 

I'm not dilating!!! I never thought I'd be so happy to hear that! I'm still closed, but soft.

So as a precaution, doc wants me to get a set of steroid shots to help boost the baby's lung growth. I do need to do some research on that, because i'm not really sure how okay I am with it. (Who am I kidding... my daughter had breathing problems at birth and nearly died, anything that might help this one's lungs is probably going to be okay...)

But the bed rest continues. I am still contracting, he watched me have one in his office and said that he's loathe to call it a braxton hicks contraction. I'm allowed up for light duties like cooking a meal or putting my kiddo to bed but absolutely no lifting, carrying, jumping or climbing stairs for no good reason. I was quite happy with him. He was really reassuring and assuaged many fears the resident at the hospital caused.  (Chances of my uterus rupturing at 25 weeks are so slim he was furious she would have said something like that, and if I'm not actually dilated, there was no reason for them to scare me with a fetal fibronectin test.)

Thank you all so much! I keep compulsively updating my browser to read more posts here because you all keep me so upbeat. :) 

Oh yay! Great news!  It sounds like this doctor is encouraging and I hope he's helping you feel a little better about everything.  This has been a bumpy ride for you, but it's almost over!!! I hope it resting gets easier now!