Weekly Chat for June 4th... !! - Page 3 « Back to Group Discussions

[sallyrae17]

ithappened - I was super worried about my older son as well, but I feel more comfortable after hiring a doula. That way, if my labor happens in the middle of the night or something, my partner can always stay with my son. My son really wants to be at the birth, but there are some scenarios where that probably wouldn't work out (i.e. in the middle of the night). My partner's mom and sister hope to be around for the birth, but you never know what can happen! They are two and four hours away. Otherwise, do you have any neighbors that you trust? If you go in the middle of the night, maybe a neighbor is willing to be "on call" to stay at your house until your son wakes up? I think if you have a scheduled c/s, it would definitely be easier because then you wouldn't have to stress out as much. You would know exactly when you are having your twins. As Leann said, the procedure is really fast. I think it took about 10-15 minutes to get my son out and I was in the recovery room for about 1/2 hour before I was wheeled into a room. 

In any event, I hope you get things figured out and get the birth you want!

[ithappened]

sally- what is the recovery like with a c-s ? how long until you can do things normally again?
 

[poppylove]

ithappened: too bad I am not in Germany in the next couple months. I would come help!! 

I feel sort of a lack of support too because the "not knowing" whats going to happen.

Hoping this doesn't cause too much stress or anxiety for you. 

[sallyrae17]

I was honestly up and moving around after the compression cuffs came off my legs. I've had abdominal surgery in the past (unmedicated in Mexico for a "supposed" appendicitis...it was really an ovarian cyst), so my recovery time might have been faster than most other people. You aren't supposed to lift anything bigger than your baby or drive for 6 weeks, but I honestly felt like I was able to do these things by 3-4 weeks pp. I only took the motrin for pain and it worked for me. I didn't need the vicodin that they kept offering. So, I don't know. It's hard because you have to take care of this incision on your belly, but I honestly didn't struggle a lot after my c/s. Again, I'm probably not in the majority here.

[Veritas Vitae]

Good luck, Ithappened.

I was trying on my pre-preggo jeans because the photographer requested I bring a pair for my maternity photo shoot in July...the end of July.  I could only get two pairs of my old jeans to even pull up all the way, the others wouldn't go over my butt/hips....and the two pairs that I could pull up were my "I need to work out" pants.  I hope I can still get at least one pair up in another month and a half.

Edited by Veritas Vitae - 6/6/12 at 4:19pm

[iixivboots]

Wow, I had no idea you aren't supposed to drive for 6 weeks after a CS. Crazy.

[sallyrae17]

You aren't supposed to drive for 2 weeks after a vaginal delivery! It has to do with your ability to quickly hit the brakes. Your lower abdominal muscles/pelvis are sore for a while (longer after a c/s), so it's a safety precaution. 

[ilovetchotchkes]

Originally Posted by sallyrae17 

You aren't supposed to drive for 2 weeks after a vaginal delivery! It has to do with your ability to quickly hit the brakes. Your lower abdominal muscles/pelvis are sore for a while (longer after a c/s), so it's a safety precaution. 

OOOPs. O_o   I drove 2 days after my son's delivery.... 

[Ninetales]

Our plan for Elsa is to have J's mom or my mom on standby as we get closer.  I had a very long labor with her so I'm not anticipating any hurry or drama.  My mother in law is moving two hours away in a few weeks, so for all I know she may be staying here at that time.  Either way, J and I will leave her with whoever is watching here at home.  If I am close to delivering during the day we will have her brought in right away so she can be the very first to meet the baby.  If I deliver during the night we will just all rest up and have her brought in first thing in the morning.

C-section recovery can really vary.  I healed well and had no problems but I felt very exhausted and not myself for at least eight weeks.  My sister pretty much bounced right back.

[ithappened]

I don't drive anyways so thats not so much an issue, I'm more concerned since I walk or bike everywhere how I will get anywhere if I can't do anything technically for 6 weeks.. its going to make for an interesting summer..
 

[LeAnn A Doula]

With the twins, I think those 6 wks will FLY! Especially since you've stayed so active and if the delivery goes smoothly. You'll probably be ready to be up and around before you have a chance to notice the inconvenience. Either way, like you said, it will all come together because it has to. The universe definitely has a way of rising to the occasion. :)

It's looking increasingly like we will be moving to Norfolk, VA in July (3wks!) So I'm starting to research MW's, birth center options, housing, etc. Lots of moving pieces, fingers crossed it all goes smoothly. We won't have hard orders for a couple weeks yet but hopefully we can figure out most of the details ahead of time and be ready to go when they do come through, providing they don't change in the meantime. I just keep telling myself that 3 months from now we will be moved in, have a baby and life can finally start to settle into the new normal. #bigsigh#

Oh! And I only woke up once last night! Life is good :)

[Veritas Vitae]

Yay, LeAnn, I'm glad plans are falling into place.  Virginia is beautiful too!  I wanted to move up to Richmond when we were applying to transfer within our company, but unfortunately it is a smaller office so there weren't opportunities for both B and myself.

[LeAnn A Doula]

Thanks, VV! Its nice to have it come into focus a bit, its so strange to have the very near future be a complete mystery. I'm grateful to have a direction. Its so fun that you and B work together! Do you enjoy that? I lived in VA, near DC, when I was young. We liked it a lot. Norfolk will be nice. Its a huge Navy community, obviously, and we're hoping to find a house that's walkable to the beach. I'm really excited about having that in our lives. I love being near the ocean!

[sarahdb]

It sounds like we're all at the stage where we just want things figured out, and don't want to have to deal with any surprises or unknowns! 

Chotchkes, I really feel for you. Like everyone else said, it's still early and there's plenty of time for baby to wiggle around into the right position. But I know that the reality of having to go to notoriously awful hospital is pretty stressful--although I'm planning a homebirth, if I need to transfer, it'll be to a hospital that has a similar reputation, so I really understand the anxiety that comes with that. 

ithappened, I hope you're able to figure things out for your DS. There are so many little things to remember and think about. I hope you're able to find a solution that leaves you feeling reassured and able to focus on the biggest task at hand--giving birth!

LeAnn, so glad you (probably) know where you're moving. That must take a huge load off your mind! My brother and sister-in-law live in Norfolk with their little girl (and another one on the way, due in Sept.). They really like it--being close to the ocean will be great!

Thank you, everyone, for all the support and suggestions about my low iron levels. I really appreciate it. I think I was frustrated because it felt like I'd been doing everything right with my diet and taking supplements and not eating calcium at the same time and cooking in cast iron--and my levels still went down. I'm wondering whether my body just doesn't absorb iron very well. My mom has always had low iron levels too, so I'm curious whether it's a genetic thing. Anyway, all I can do is keep trying!

I had my last class of the quarter yesterday, so today I feel free free free! Finally able to concentrate on baby stuff. My mom is coming this weekend to visit for a week. I know she's bringing some clothes that me and my siblings wore when we were babies, plus her expert sewing skills. I'm so excited!

[sallyrae17]

Originally Posted by sarahdb 

Thank you, everyone, for all the support and suggestions about my low iron levels. I really appreciate it. I think I was frustrated because it felt like I'd been doing everything right with my diet and taking supplements and not eating calcium at the same time and cooking in cast iron--and my levels still went down. I'm wondering whether my body just doesn't absorb iron very well. My mom has always had low iron levels too, so I'm curious whether it's a genetic thing. Anyway, all I can do is keep trying!

I have low iron as well, but I think it's just how my body works. I remember reading somewhere that iron levels of 9.5 were perfect for this part of pregnancy. Your blood volume has doubled, so the iron will seem more diluted. Also, since we have low iron, our bodies are probably doing a better job of making more iron. I don't remember why that is, but I know I read it somewhere when I was concerned about it. My doctor isn't concerned about my levels, but I've been going to WIC every freaking month so they can check if they've gone up. I think my iron is at 9.4 or so right now.

[ithappened]

I feel like iron levels are somewhat random during pregnancy- with DS1 my levels were high and with this pregnancy they are insanely low and yet, I am eating and active just the same.. really strange.
 

[eleuthia]

I'm at the birth center having a non-stress test due to some light bleeding all day (most likely from the polyp on my cervix, but it's never lasted this long before; a midwife is going to examine me after the test). The baby keeps nudging the monitor doohickey, which is cute. I feel incredibly lucky that I can just come here for this (since there are midwives here after hours doing births) instead of going to the hospital.

[iixivboots]

Good luck, eleuthia! I am sure you are right about the cause of the bleeding but I hope everything ends up okay. It must be scary anyway. Glad you have a good care situation!

[andaluza]

Veritas, it's great that you are meeting people in your new location--and pregnant people to boot. 

Hope the work schedule is going well, Lily!  Sorry about the pain and discomfort.

Newmum, wow, the rib kicking sounds painful. So far, I envision my guy head down (since I still feel his hiccups low) and knees folded towards tummy, since most of my movement (lots of it visible) is in the middle, not high up. It will be interesting to find out if any of this is accurate, though! 

How's your busy week going, Sol? Be sure to head to the shower thread to let us know how it went!

Ithappened, the children policy at the hospital I toured makes exceptions for children of the person in labor (siblings of child to be born). I hope you work something out so it's not stressful.

Glad to hear that you almost have the confirmation about where you'll be, LeAnn. It must feel good to know and it sounds like a great location for you.

It sounds like if baby is so active, Eleuthia, you have nothing to worry about, but I hope they confirm that!

AFM, still working at home and it's going well, although I am a little stressed about how fast time is passing. Lately I go through tired moments throughout the day, but I usually only take a half hour nap. Then at night I don't feel tired until about 12:30 (last night 1 am) and then am wide awake by 7-8 am. I guess that's not a bad rhythm, but I wish I were tireder at night, I can see how this could develop into nighttime anxiety/insomnia.

[LilyTiger]

eleuthia, keep us updated! I had a non-stress test two weeks ago and found it really reassuring.  I hope you find the same!

LeAnn, I'm glad you have some idea where you might end up.  We're very familiar with military life over here, and the "hurry up and wait" mentality would drive me insane.  A house near the beach sounds amazing!

Hello everyone else!