Weekly Chat | April 2 - 8 - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[SilverMoonMama]

i havn't posted yet this week so i guess ill just use it for a bounce board for my thoughts, right now im waiting for my health insurance TO FINALLY GO THROUGH "knock on wood" so i can attempt to find a midwife, although im no so excited about finding a new one, im finding myself really stuck on my last midwife and the hospital i used and the thought of finding something new is unappealing, i feel like there is no way ill get a good earthy relaxed natual element to this birthing experience :(

also my lease is up in like two months and the hubby is really wanting to find a new place "the one we are in now is awkward ten stairs to the door, then you walk into the upstairs bedroom area from the front door, then 20 stairs down to the living room kitchen area...really inconvenient for groceries and laundry :P but i havn't found an good complex for a good price and he  wants to try to by a house which  im kinda uncomfortable about because it's 20 min away from his parents (our baby sitters and the only family in state) and it would be all in my name ( we dont have a legal marraige and he had a bankruptcy about a year back...) soooooo BLAH! 

in more baby related news i feel pretty in between right now like its just alot of waiting ...lol we have told all his family but his father (his mother and aunt live with his father and they know but he does not) at first Devin was going to tell him, but then that just didnt happen, then i got nervous about his reaction so i just didnt mention it, and now its so fare after everyone else knew its just really awkward sooooo instead of coming up with a mature way to go about talking to him about it, we've  just made a bet about how long it would take for him to figure it out on his own lol (btw moral feedback is that just not ok??) we see him almost everday devin bet by the end of this month, i bet by the end of the next ummmm ok lol tired and just rambleing so im just gunna stop for now ^_^ hope everyone's doing great been reading all the posts

[Carson]

Silvermoonmama, I feel the same way.  It's really hard to find a new provider, especially if you really clicked with your last one.  I've got to get over it though, I really don't want it hindering my birthing process. 

Sometimes I feel like things are going fast, but then it seems like forever.  It's so funny the second time around how there's so much less involved in the process.

[amysue]

I guess I've got the pregnancy brain going on. . . realized this morning that I forgot to pay dh's union dues. . . they were due on the 1st.  Hopefully he can call and let them know it's on the way and not be in too much trouble. 

I've started drinking red raspberry leaf tea every day.  I got some bulk herbs to make an infusion and have some tea bags in my desk at work.  I read the WHOLE long thread (title - Red Raspberry Leaf Tea Tribe) and found it very interesting.  I didn't go into labor with my dd, had a CS at 34 weeks due to pre-eclampsia, but my recovery was fairly easy.  It's been 12 years so I'm sure I've forgotten some.  The tea sounds beneficial though.  Have any of you used, or are you using it?

[kay4]

Hi everyone! April is going well so far for me. I have had a few nights relief from insomnia and heartburn which has been awesome. Busy busy though, with taking care of detail of this divorce, my youngest 2 having football and soccer and just being plain TIRED. I started this pregnancy heavier than ever and have had hernia issues in the past with 2 of my dc. I haven't gained any weight so far (not trying, just has happened that way) but I am feeling twinges where the hernias are. UGH. Prayers appreciated that I can ward these off. They are one on each side of my groin and only bother me in pregnancy towards the end. Since I am basically at my 'end' weight from the get go that has been one of my big worries. 

[beans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ava's Mama 

I am thinking of taking some sort of refresher childbirth course.

Ava's Mama- I am too! I was super prepared for the births of my first and second (tons of reading, and classes, plus by the time I had my second, I was a doula). With my third, I did some light reading and took no classes. His birth was really difficult and I attribute that in part to my being really under-prepared. I've ordered some new books and plan on taking a refresher course. I find it frustrating to take main-stream hospital courses since MANY women (in my experience) are interested in getting an epidural right away and not experiencing their labors- really different than my take on things.

AmySue- I can't believe you read that entire thread- it's so long! I'd be interested to know the highlights from it. I know the benefits and have drank it towards the end of pregnancy and after. I keep meaning to get some and mix it with other tea (since I think it's sort of gross on it's own) but of course, I keep forgetting to add it to our grocery list.

In other "news", I am feeling movement daily and am really excited about that. Of course, it brings worries when I'm not sure if I've felt it on a certain day. I'm also real tired/not sleeping well ever. My insomnia from a few weeks ago is gone, so at least I'm not up eating/reading for three hours in the middle of the night. I do need to get up and pee about 4-6 times/night though and that keeps me from having any really long sleep patterns. So annoying. I feel like I won't get the chance to sleep for 2-3 hours straight until the New Year :(
 

[help007]

AmySue, My midwife recommends RRL to everyone and nettle to those who don't have clotting issues.  I got them in bulk, and added alfalfa which is supposed to be good for breast development (i was unable to breastfeed my two boys).  The nettle was awful on its own, so I made a mix of 2 parts RRL, 2 parts alfalfa, and 1 part nettle.  I'm trying to drink it every day, but we're in the middle of moving, so it is difficult.

[amysue]

Basically what I gleaned from all 103 pages of posts is that for most women it seemed to help if they drank the tea regularly for a period of time.  Some would have braxton hicks and a few who started drinking early on (mid 1st trimester) had some spotting or cramping that stopped when they quit the tea.  The Braxton Hicks were attributed to the uterus toning itself, which is a key benefit of the tea.  Some who had Braxton Hicks before drinking the tea had fewer after.  It really depends on the woman.  Basically most of the women with previous labors reported either the labor itself being much more comfortable, and many times quicker, when they drank the tea regularly throughout the pregnancy.  Also the lochia was greatly reduced in a lot of women who drank the tea.  I didn't learn much about if the super strong infusion at the beginning of labor really helped or not.  I'm wondering if I have to be induced if I could just drink it before I leave the house to go to the hospital?  I'm thinking if I start labor at home and drink the stuff, we have a 45-50 minute drive to the hospital and I'll try to keep dh at home as long as possible.  I really don't want to give birth in the car (comfort reasons, we have a 1996 buick it wouldn't hurt it much, lol) but I also want to be progressed as much as I can to reduce the chance of an impatient Dr.  I'm also thinking of at around 36-37 weeks starting some Evening Primrose Oil, from what I've read it helps the cervix to ripen.  If anyone knows of a great website with some good trustworthy herbal information or has a good knowledge themselves and wouldn't mind coaching me I'd appreciate all the help I can get. 

I have a verrry mainstream OB and haven't discussed herbal stuff with her.  I'm torn between wanting as little intervention as possible and addressing my health concerns should some real problems arrive.  There aren't really any birth centers or midwives in my area, the only birth center closed a while back.  I don't mind being induced or a C/S, although I'd MUCH rather not, if there's a real medical reason.  Are there any good threads or other info on here about Type 2 Diabetics and pregnancy?  I've read that the placenta ages more quickly than a normal person and therefore will start to deteriorate, that's one reason for inducing before the due date, another is the bigger baby, which to me isn't a real reason. 

I'm guessing the pregnancy brain has set in, I really didn't notice it much last time but I can't remember anything lately.  Today dh asked me if I'd paid his Union dues.  They were due April 1st.  Nope.  I completely forgot.  That's usually a top priority as he can't work if they're not paid.  He called the office and smoothed it over, promising they would be mailed today.  I feel terrible!  I don't usually forget stuff like that!  I always thought the forgetfulness and fogginess people talked about was just an excuse, but I'm starting to think it's for real!!! 

Wow, I wrote a book!!  Sorry and if you read it all. . . thanks for letting me ramble! 

[judybean]

My midwife absolutely recommends drinking RRL tea! And nettles too!  So, with the start of the second trimester, I began drinking a cup at the end of the day (a tea bag of RRL and a tea bag of nettles in the same cup and I let it steep for... gosh.. seemingly forever to get all the benefits from both).  I like the taste.  Of course, I do sweeten it with some raw, local honey too!

I've only been on my phone lately, and posting from my phone onto MDC is just such a PITA that I end up only reading and not getting to respond!

I'm 17w4d today and feel fabulous.  Most of the time anyway.  Food aversions are my greatest struggle.  I admit, I'm completely envious of any of you who have cravings because it means you actually *want* to eat something.... I feel like I go through my days just trying to find something that doesn't make my stomach turn at the thought of eating it.  *sigh*  I feel like there's so much to do, but at the same time, like I'm just sitting and waiting for the time to pass.  I need to make diapers for sure, and maybe a few more baby outfits, I'd like two new nursing bras and some merino wool nursing pads... but really, I don't NEED anything else.  I just feel like I'm trying to decide if I really do want to try for a water birth or just a normal ol' land birth... I've never experienced a water birth, so I'm just not sure!  There's also logistics of where I'd set up a birth pool and such in my home.  Still time to think about that I suppose.

I still feel just 'thick' and not so much like I have a belly.  But.. it's handy for running.  I've upped my running slightly (or rather, it's more regular now) and yesteday had a FABULOUS workout at the gym.  Seriously felt amazing. Muscles are a bit sore today, but in a wonderful way.

Oh! I almost forgot the whole reason I really wanted to post on this -- last night, getting dd4 to sleep (she's been ill with a horrendous cold that's had her feverish on and off for days!), I was laying on my back, but tipped to the right side slightly and could feel the definite bulge of my uterus... and then I felt a few rhythmic motions (kicks!) just above my pubic bone and slightly to the left... It almost felt like hiccups, honestly (though I think it's too early for that) and since they were so rhythmic and in the same spot, I placed my hand there and felt the bumps from the *outside*!!  I'm not sure why that was so incredibly validating (beacuse I've felt kicks on the inside for a while now), but... wow... I almost cried right then!  I almost woke up dh to tell him... but he's been sick too, so I simply smiled and savored that wonderful, blessed feeling.

I took this pic two days ago after running an insanely hot two miles (not sure what I was thinking running in the middle of the day even if it was only *73... midday sun beats down and makes things feel about a million degress hotter).  I know it's a frontal shot, so not really a side 'belly' shot... but.. it shows that you'd really hardly guess I was nearly halfway towards a due date... (and, um, that I obviously need to clean my room... the rest of the house has been a priority, but not so much my own dang room!)

Now to try to catch up on other threads since dd4 is actually *gasp* NAPPING!

[Carlin]

Thanks for the synopsis AmySue! I've been meaning to try and wade through that thread but never managed to get more than a few pages into it.

I have a cup of tea with a RRL blend most days but I think now that I'm solidly in the 2nd trimester I'll try to be more consistant with it. I have RRL and Nettle here and am thinking about getting some alfalfa too as it's suppposed to be great source of vit K. I think once it's actually summer I'll experiment with doing an infusion and making iced tea too.

AFM, 16 weeks today! My goal for the next few weeks is to get my eating on track and get back into an excercise routine. I'm hoping to get on my bike this weekend. Hopefully the weather will be nice again, although we have a winter storm warning for tonight and tomorrow.

Alright, time to get off the computer and gete outside for awhile before the snow hits. I'm so jealous of all of you who are already starting to plant your gardens. We've got at least a month and a half before we'll probably have frost free weather.

 Edit to add: Judy, you look fantastic! I'm so impressed that you're running. I'd love to be, but for some reason my back / hips and pelvis don't seem to agree so I'm trying to listen to my body and walk or ride my bike instead.

And, I just  noticed the December DDC is up! We are moving right along!

Edited by Carlin - 4/4/12 at 1:36pm

[crystal_buffaloe]

I'm drinking RRL tea I'm not sure I'm doing it "right," though -- I just put 4-5 bags of RRL with 4-5 bags of Red Raspberry Zinger and make it iced -- a big container, maybe a gallon and a half? I drink cups and cups of it, though, sometimes with just a little sugar.

I had the amazing non-napping toddler today, but she did finally go down and she's still sleeping now and it's nearly 5 o'clock. It's practically against my religion to wake her, but I'm thinking if I don't go in and start making some noise, she's never going to go to sleep tonight!

Also! I think I felt some movement today I suppose I'll be more sure in the next days/weeks.

[MissE]

Well if RRL tea helps to increase BH contractions then I'm staying off of it. I have been having BH contractions in all three pregnancies, very early on. With DD I actually felt one as early as 10 weeks. With DS (who was my first) I couldnt figure out what it was up until about 23 weeks. This time, I feel them every now and then, not painful, just annoying.

Did you see, did yous see....it's here, finally...the DECEMBER 2012 DDC. Whoa...that means we're all at least four months into our pregnancies. Crazy, huh? WE're not the newbies anymore.

[MacKinnon]

Hey there everyone! I can't believe how far along we all are now!! Even me, at the end of the month, I'm about 15 weeks now, if you use the middle of their three nutty dates. My first trimester screen came back with an elevated risk for Down's. My trisomy 18 results dropped from 1 in 1000 to 1 in 10000, but my Down's risk went up from 1 in 310 (based on my age) to 1 in 160. Still less than one percent, .07 but we will have a level II ultrasound with immediate results for our 20 week, it's booked for May 7th at 9am. We decided to find out the sex, because we are planning to move and it's just easier to not have to pack and move all of everything we've saved from DD1&2 and DS. Plus, the BABY was the surprise this time!! I'm not too worried about the elevated first trimester screen results. This is why we've never done this screen before, this is really common. We're not planning to follow up with an amnio, at this point, regardless of the 20 week results.

Otherwise, I'm doing good! I finally look pregnant, I'm less nauseous but still REALLY tired. I suppose being pregnant, having three kids and working 3 or 4 days a week will do that to you!! DH (when he isn't traveling) has been wonderful about doing all the nighttime stuff. He is packing lunches, cleaning up, laying out clothes, etc. so that I can sleep. I usually go to bed with DD2, at like 8pm, at least three or four nights a week! My house is a wreck, but I'm off work now for a week for spring break and I'm hoping to get caught up at least somewhat!! My sister is getting married in June, I'm her matron of honor, and I've got a shower and bachelorette party to be planning. I have nothing for Easter baskets... I've got to stop sleeping 11+ hrs a night and get something done!!

I'm sure I've felt a few little flutters in the last week or so, can't wait for real movement! My placenta last time was anterior and I never felt strong movements, looking forward to all those big kicks and wiggles!

[help007]

Oh, I LOVE RRL teas iced!  So refreshing!!

[cryswilkins]

I can't believe that some of you are 18 weeks already!  That seams so crazy.

I have been mostly browsing on my phone so I don't respond as much as much as its hard to type a long response.  We had some drama this week.  I got a call from my midwife on Monday night.  It turns out her mom is really sick and she is dropping all her clients through the late summer and fall.  I am really really upset, but I can't be mad at her, its beyond her control and her family comes first.  BUT now I am sort of lost at what to do.  We interviewed a few people when I was pregnant back last September and decided on the current MW then. She was with me through my miscarriage so I felt a really strong connection with her.  So I have restarted my search and we have an appointment with 2 places next Monday.  One is a larger practice of 4 midwives which I was not too keen on since I really wanted to know who I was delivering with.  The second is one that a lot of my co-workers have used either as a MW or a doula.  I am hoping to get an consultation with one more on Monday. She really interests me, because she is a CNM (vs a CPM) and runs a birthing center but also does HB.  She has one backup midwife that I saw with my previous practice with DS and I really liked her. The only downside to the last one is that she is far, and her fee is considerably more than what we had planned on.  I am just bummed because I thought that we had this all figured out and now I am starting over.  

I have a little time to decide.  I have my 20 week u/s scheduled on April 30th and then less than a week later I see the backup OB that I have been seeing.  If I needed to I could go see him one more time after that.  As much as I like him delivering with him is not something that I want to do unless its totally necessary.  

[kay4]

had some spotting yesterday and went in, said my placenta is low and that is most likely why. Very relieved. I know spotting can be normal but I've never had it so I freaked. Also, baby is a BOY! So  super excited! 

[Carson]

Cryswilkins - that is too bad about your MW.  Yeah, you understand, but it still is not fun to deal with.  Ugh.  It sounds like the 2nd MW may be a better fit.  I had a hard time swallowing the MW fee this time around too - I have to pay what she doesn't get from Ins and it ends up being about $1.5k more than DS birth.  Mine is also far, it's not that we can't make the drive, but I'd wonder if she could have skype visits with you when they get more frequent, and have you moitor your BP and other vitals maybe?

[Jend1002]

I've been mainly on my phone too - it's so stinking hard to post on the phone! 

So I am in a bit of a funk.  I am having a hard time regulating my emotions and I feel like I am having such a difficult time thinking clearly and being patient.  I hope this passes.  When I am not patient with DS, I get deeply upset. I guess I am really struggling with the notion that my aging dog is probably coming to the end of her life and that it is going to be on me to make the decision when the time has come.  I can barely think about it and it keeps me up at night.  I am very connected to my dog and I look at her and I see the change.  I know it's coming.  I just cry and cry about it and my DH does not have the same bond with her.  He doesn't get how much this hurts me.  And he doesn't know why I am worrying so much about something that isn't happening right now.  I can't help it.  I am just so sad and I can't imagine these hormones are helping me at all.

And as much as I don't want to admit it, I am struggling with the way my body is changing.  I should know by now that this is what my body does when it is pregnant, but I get so upset by the sudden layer of fat that I develop everywhere.  It's as if I get a positive test and my entire body gets bigger. My thighs and hips feel tremendous to me. I have nearly no belly but couldn't come close to putting on a pair of my regular pants.  I don't know why this bothers me so much.  I can't talk to anyone about it so that's tough.  It sounds really silly and petty for a pregnant woman to be upset by weight gain.  It's not the gain so much as where the gain occurs. Again, I just can't help it right now and I feel really petty.

Thanks for indulging me in this whine session.  Maybe just "saying" these things will help me move on a bit.

On a positive note, I took tomorrow off and am looking forward to a super fun weekend with lots of family.  Can't wait!!

[5Boysplus]

Jend1002, I love that you shared your feelings--It's so validating because I feel the same way right now! I am not very "nice" and I'm annoyed with my body getting bigger so fast.  It makes me feel guilty that I feel this way, but slightly better that I can post at least a portion of the blame on my hormones, right?

Mole: I love the book "Natural Childbirth in the Bradley Way" . It has really helped me a lot.  I've tried to read one or two new books every pregnancy, and that was from pregnancy #2, but I still re-read it every time because I really respond to the visualization exercises in it.  I also liked Hypnobirthing, by Marie Mongan (read it last baby).  I figure, the more tools you have, the better labor goes.  I'm kind of worried about this next one, because my last labor was perfect (other than the fact that DH didn't make it home in time).  I don't know if this one will be able to measure up. Is that silly?

In other news--I'm finally starting to get a glimpse of energy. The first couple months were rough, and then the third a little better--and now I almost feel like doing things for half of the day! No really, the laundry is going better LOL.  

I'm 18 weeks 3 days, and we're getting our U/S next Friday and I'm really excited!  The boys all think it's a girl, and I know it's not very likely, but I do too. This is the only pregnancy where I've been really sick at all--but we'll see I guess!  

[amysue]

Jend1002 - I totally get you on the weight thing.  I've lost 60 lbs over the past two years before getting pregnant.  I was almost ready to go down another size in pants, the ones I had were getting baggy and hard to keep up without a belt.  It REALLY bothered me when they wouldn't button comfortably, this was the end of January!  I've managed to not gain any weight yet, but I feel huge.  I know what you're getting at!

[ilovejeff]

I drink RRL, and did through my pg with dd, too. I do (roughly) 1 part RRL, 1 part nettle, and some peppermint leaf for taste. I meant to do the stong infusion at the beginning to labor last time, but didnt remember ber at the time. My current mw is also an herbalist, so I'll have to talk to her about that.

I've been having spurts of energy, during which I'll push myself to get a bunch done....and then I'm exhausted and just want to glue myself to the couch for a few hours.