Weekly Chat 7/23-7/29 - Page 3 « Back to Group Discussions

[MadiMamacita]

getting the car packed up for our camping trip. I thought about trying to talk DH out of it but by the time I got up he already had most of the camping stuff packed up and looked so excited I didn't have the heart to try we will have fun I'm sure! I'm hoping to be able to get into the lake. It is usually EXTREMELY cold- we camp in the mountains and the alpine lakes are snow melt. at the end of last summer one of the lakes was very swimmable but since we haven't had any REALLY hot weather I'm not sure how warm it will be! I'll be bringing my suit just in case..

went to the midwife yesterday- +30 for protein on the pee stick for the second appt in a row. Also my blood pressure had dropped considerably, which I wonder has to do with having been of work for 2 weeks? but she has me watching out for signs of pre-e. She seemed concerned that my blood pressure had changed but with pre-e wouldn't it be more concerning if my blood pressure had gone up instead of down? or is just any change reason for concern? it had been consistently in the 120s/80s I think and it was 108/60 (i think) this time. sounds like there isn't really anything you can do to prevent pre-e since they don't really know what causes it in the first place, so I guess I'll just roll with it. I heard there might be a connection with vit C so I guess it won't hurt to up that.

[hyde]

Originally Posted by judybean 

I'm also developing some end-of-pregnancy pains to whine about ;)  There's a spot on my right, which is right where I can feel my pelvis sticking out at the front, and it has a tendency to go numb in a small area sometimes... and with pregnancy and moving/shifting/widening hips, there's a nerve being pinched more and more and the small spot is getting bigger and just feels weird... it's not painful, just odd.  My chiro is still on maternity leave, but should be back in two or three weeks and I can't wait to go in and see her!!!!

I reeeally need to get off this site and do some work, but YES! That's just like my thing! Though in a slightly different spot. The weird upper-left-thigh-skin numbness, for me--it's gotten bigger too. This is one of the few symptoms where I'm glad to just sit back and revel in the weirdness, because it doesn't actually hurt.

(We should totally start a whining/complaints thread, too. I saw one of these in another DDC and while the title was kind of tongue-in-cheek, it's also so necessary as the weeks go by!)  

[Monkey Keeper]

Originally Posted by MadiMamacita 
went to the midwife yesterday- +30 for protein on the pee stick for the second appt in a row. Also my blood pressure had dropped considerably, which I wonder has to do with having been of work for 2 weeks? but she has me watching out for signs of pre-e. She seemed concerned that my blood pressure had changed but with pre-e wouldn't it be more concerning if my blood pressure had gone up instead of down? or is just any change reason for concern? it had been consistently in the 120s/80s I think and it was 108/60 (i think) this time. sounds like there isn't really anything you can do to prevent pre-e since they don't really know what causes it in the first place, so I guess I'll just roll with it. I heard there might be a connection with vit C so I guess it won't hurt to up that.

That protein definitely would have me watching too!  I wonder if she is worried that your pressure is becoming labile (bouncing around). That often happens with pre-e before it goes up and stays up. Just be vigilant about the other symptoms. Hopefully nothing comes of it!

swimming--I'm going tonight. Definitely looking forward to some relief from the heat AND from the heaviness. 

insomnia--Anyone else? I am having a terrible time falling asleep at night. It's brutal.

AFM--I felt really, really badly on Monday. So bad that I debated moving up my OB appointment. Lots of vague nothing-much symptoms that were pre-e clues when I had it. Fortunately, yesterday was a better day, and I bought a new BP cuff for peace of mind.  Still running in the 100s/60s! My blood sugar isn't doing so well, though...but I did some research and found that most studies do not show a significant difference between routine delivery at 39w and expectant mgmt to 42w for diet controlled GD, so that made me feel better. 39w=c/s for me since i am a VBAC, so if I can wait for labor, I certainly will! OB appointment tomorrow when all of that fun stuff will be discussed...

Is anyone else woefully unprepared for baby?  The list thread gives me palpitations. I can't even think of getting ready to get ready! Granted, we have a lot of things to do between now and baby arriving, and I really likely have about 9 more weeks. But I just told DH two nights ago that we have NOTHING ready. And that isn't an exaggeration!  As of now, we don't have anywhere for baby to sleep, no names...  UGH!  Poor 4th kid!!

[Carlin]

MonkeyKeeper, I'm so with you on being unprepared. I made a list last night at midnight while I waited for my escapee dog to come home, and now I'm in panic mode. Unfortunately that means instead of getting busy doing things, I'm procrastinating even more. I've had myself convinced all along that this baby won't come before 41 weeks at the earliest, but lately I've had a nagging feeling that he or she might be early, so I'd really like to be prepared by 37 weeks which is only 5 weeks away!!!

[teegan db]

MonkeyKeeper - no outright insomnia, I don't think, but I've had a little more trouble falling asleep on work nights. I tend to blame that on the fact that, thanks to naps, DH and I have been staying up late the nights before I don't have to work (which means I don't wake up til late the next day and my whole sleep cycle gets wonky) and on the fact that my daily half-caf iced coffee has been happening later and later in the day, it seems. Or on the fact that baby seems to be turning into a night owl lately - squirming at 10 pm, hiccups when I get up to pee at 3 am...

Of course, it probably is prego-related, just like the vaguely anxious dreams I've been having (no specific fears - just the general idea that people are deceitful, untrustworthy, sneaky). 

Still pretty pain free here. An occasional ache in the hips, or a pinching feeling when the little wiggle worm wedges into my ribs, but mostly just cruising on through. It doesn't mean that my occasional dips in the ocean don't feel AWESOME, especially with the heat coming and going here in New England. Still working 3-4 days a week and just starting to feel a little worn out before the end of my shift. Fortunately, everyone there (including my crazy boss) has been incredibly supportive, making sure that I don't push myself too hard with anything.

Craving fruit, like I have been through this whole pregnancy. Cherry season is the best, man. Also craving: prosecco and good IPAs, but those are pretty much having to wait two more months. DH is a homebrewer, and he just started a small batch of my favorite beer that'll be ready right around the time of the birth!

[Monkey Keeper]

Originally Posted by teegan db 

good IPAs, but those are pretty much having to wait two more months. DH is a homebrewer, and he just started a small batch of my favorite beer that'll be ready right around the time of the birth!

YUM. A nice, hoppy IPA sounds amazing right now!  I just sampled a local-ish microbrewery's blueberry wheat this past weekend, and it made me even more anxious to head to their tasting room ASAP once this kid gets here!!  I hope we get a few hot days after baby arrives just so I can enjoy the refreshment of a summer beer on a HOT day.

[Ava's Mama]

insomnia - my midwife recommended Calms Forte (Hylands Homeopathic Remedy).  Other natural aids are cat nip tea,valerican (beware tastes nasty!) and Bach Rescue Sleep.  I personally have been sleeping like a rock, but I had really BAD insomnia during the first trimester.

I have been craving citrus.  I went to the grocery store on Sunday and came home with organce juince, pinapple juice, orangina and pinapple.  I also finally made dinner last night for the first time in like two weeks and I made a massive spinach salad with goat cheese, cranberries, pepper, cucumber, avocado, sunflower seeds and chicken.  So yummy and easy lunch leftover!  Although it isn't sticking with me like a frozen burrito might! 

Has anyone noticed a drastic difference between being pregnant with a girl versus a boy?  I didn't have a rough pregnancy with DD, but had a lot of back/hip pain, insomnia, constipation/hemroids.  This time I feel amazing (pregnant with a boy)...the most shocking thing is that I am completely regular, which makes me a happy girl :)  I am carrying the same way that I did with DD though - just a small little basketball belly, which I don't mind at all.

[WindyCityMom]

Madi- Keep us posted!  Hoping it's just a fluke.  I don't know much about pre-e but I did think it was your bp getting higher, not lower, like you said.  It sounds awesome that you're being proactive about it though.

I figured out my stomach pain.  In the car with my MIL we were talking and it dawned on me... diflucan!!.  I've been so pumped full of it and that's one of the side effects.  I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach, it really hurt and I had no apetite whatsoever.  I'm feeling a bit better now.. had some bland noodles and veggies my DH made yesterday and I kinda feel better.  The yeast infection is nearly nonexistant, I think, but for some reason I'm just craving carbs and sugar so so so so bad.  Grr!

Tea- is anyone doing red raspberry leaf tea?  I did it throughout my third trimester last pregnancy, but ran out and haven't gotten more.  Kinda dawned on me that it would be a good idea, esp seeing that I'm a VBAC!  I'm probably going to throw some nettles into the mix.. anyone else have any recommendations on what kinds of tea to drink?

Evening Primrose Oil- anyone planning on doing this?  When and how?  I originally wasn't going to, but I think I may take it orally starting at 36-37 weeks.  I was wary because I'm a VBAC, and prostagladins like cytotec are contraindicated because they are dangerous.  Semen, however, is fine..  and I feel like EPO has great mood-boosting effects that I may just need to keep me level headed during those last few weeks!

[judybean]

WCM-- I've totally been slacking in my tea-drinking (mostly because even boiling water requires turning on the stove and it's been so flipping hot that I don't want to!!). When I do drink it, I make RRL, nettles, and dandelion root with raw honey (dandelion root can be quite bitter). As for EPO, I started it orally at 36 weeks and vaginally at 37? 38? I can't recall exactly, but something like that. With dd4, she was to be my first out-of-hospital and first non-induced birth. I was terrified I had betrayed too many times with not trusting it, so I wanted to be sure things were in optimal condition. I wasn't trying to necessarily get things going early, just within the proper timeframe. I also took Gentle Birth from mountainmeadowherbs.com. I did spontaneously go into labor on my own and had dd4 at 41 weeks. .... My plan has been to go through the same protocol this time, but I am a bit more nervous since I feel things are already "heavier" this time around and somehow that leads me to thinking things will happen sooner? But... I'm not sure. I won't start anything until 37 weeks anyway.

Ava's Mama-- I'll have to keep those in mind because my ability to fall asleep is non-existent until the wee hours of the morning!

[katt]

Can't say I have any issues in the falling asleep department.  I'm usually asleep before the boy these days.  I then wake up a few hours later cause i want to go online.  lol

Had my 32(ish) week appt today with the midwife.  Everything is normal.  Got the pool settled, will be using her fishie pool, i just need to get a liner, which I can get for 15$ from the Radiant Belly, who will also be providing my birth kit.  I'll want to order that sometime soon.  I'd like to pay some bills first and I need to pay for some yarn that I'm in a co-op for.  Baby is head down, like always, moves around a lot, usually faces to my right, but sometimes looks to the left.  

We have very little done for baby.  The non-working tv is where the changing table/space is going to be, but the tv is still there.  Although Diapers and clothes are in the drawers.  I'm sleep next to the wall on the king sized bed.  I don't know how practical that is with a newborn when I am the one who will need to get up and out of bed if need be.  I don't want to have to crawl down to the end every time.

and ION: I just finished the last peach and I want MORE!

[mole]

@Judybean- you can make iced tea instead. Fill a pitcher with water, throw in your herbs (more than you would use for a hot tea), leave it on the counter for 0.5-1 hour (not that important if you forget and leave it long), then put pitcher in fridge. no heat necessary and the herbs get extracted into the cold water via the longer time.

[Worldshakerz]

I've still only been able to access the internet through my phone and it's a pain...i've caught up on reading but haven't been posting as much. I passed my 3 hour GTT with flying colors.....None of my #'s on all 4 blood draws were off! Such a relief . In more unfortunate news the apartment complex where I live is completely revamping the pool so I have no pool to swim in! Maybe its time to hit the beach....not quite as convenient but at least its a Nice option. Anya i'm glad to hear the ultrasound showed Nico to be healthy that's great news!

I am nesting like crazy now. Now that we know we cant move until October it suddenly hit me how much work I have to do to make this apartment ready for home birth. I'll be 33 Weeks on Friday and while the time seemed to slow down when I hit the first trimester suddenly it feels like someone hit the fastforward button.

[Ava's Mama]

Tea- You can also do sun tea - just put the pitcher of water with tea/herbs in the sun for the day and you will be all set, no stove required!

[13pumpkins]

Thank you everyone for the well wishes and warm welcomes! I am really happy to have finally found the due date club!  This thread is moving fast so I am terribly behind for individual response...one mama asked if I was still working, and yes.  It helps being up and around, though I physically I have slow moments.

Originally Posted by Monkey Keeper 

Is anyone else woefully unprepared for baby?  The list thread gives me palpitations. I can't even think of getting ready to get ready! Granted, we have a lot of things to do between now and baby arriving, and I really likely have about 9 more weeks. But I just told DH two nights ago that we have NOTHING ready. And that isn't an exaggeration!  As of now, we don't have anywhere for baby to sleep, no names...  UGH!  Poor 4th kid!!

Me! Me! Me!  We have names and that's about it.  For DD1 and DD2, I had the nursery set up by now and I am already sorta slack.  I am a bit nervous as we still have to move too.

Does anyone have any suggestions on covers for prefolds?  I was happy with what we used previously but my DDs were both over 8 lbs.  I am not certain that will fly with this trio!

[WindyCityMom]

Worldshakerz- it certainly does feel like someone hit the fast-forward button.

I feel like this baby is anxious and wants to come at 37-38 weeks.  That's a little over FOUR weeks away.  Seriously, I can't wrap my mind around it.  I've been extremely active this pregnancy and baby is head-down and very low (though posterior ) already.  My other kids were never this low this early.  Then again, after two kids, my pelvic floor is pretty nonexistant and I guess I should expect them to be hanging between my knees by now.. 

13pumpkins- for the newborn stage I'd do PUL covers with the prefolds, especially if it is your first time CDing or using prefolds.  Newborns tend to have runny poop explosions and you want that contained as much as possible!  I like bummis super whisper wraps and thirsties covers.  Once baby is older I like wool.  I actually have a stash of wool longies for this baby, but we're using fitteds so I'm okay with that, so long as they fit baby snugly enough.

[ascher21]

13 pumpkins: I like this site: http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/ They offer bummis and thirsties, and other covers, but the best part is they explain every type, its pros and cons, and show them on real babies. I go there a lot for advice on their other products, too.

[Monkey Keeper]

Ava's Mama--Mmmm! That salad sounds amazing :)  And yes, my boy pregnancy was very different from my 2 girls. I too felt great--which is part of the reason I think this is another girl. Except that I am carrying similarly to how I carried my DS, and my weight gain also is similar versus much larger gains with my girls.

 

WCM--UGH. That stomach issue sounds awful. Hope it gets better quickly!

 

Judy--I had someone in my last DDC who used one of those birth prep formulas, and it sent her BP skyrocketing. They scare me a little, but I'm glad to hear it worked for you! 

 

katt--Wow, you have diapers and clothes ready?  I'm impressed! We don't even have any drawers to use since all the nursery furniture has DS's clothes in it. Maybe we need to do some shopping...

 

Worldshakerz--WOnDERFUL news on the GTT!!! Hopefully you can get things in line for your homebirth. I'm sorry your moving plans didn't pan out, though.

 

13pumpkins--The fact that you have 3 OTW and nothing ready makes me feel a bit perversely relieved! I like Thirsties for the nb stage, but mine are big babies too. I have heard good things about LIl Joeys for small ones...but not sure that they make covers? I think it's Prowraps that are good, come small, and are pretty darn cheap.

 

Tea--Just remembered to start this week myself! I am doing 4 parts RRL, 4 parts nettle, 1 part hibiscus. I boil water on the stove and steep for a couple of hours using cotton bags. Easy peasy clean-up and then pour into a pitcher and drink iced.

 

EPO--I plan to start at 34w orally, I think. and then 36w vaginally. I used it with my last VBAC. Not sure if it helped, but it certainly doesn't put me into labor early (41+1 that time) so I am not worried about starting it before I am term.

 

 

AFM--It's official. Got the GD diagnosis today. My conversation with my OB went very, very well, though. We are very much on the same page. My biggest concern was RCS at 39w *just  for GD*. She assured me that's not the case at all. As long as everything is well controlled, then we proceed as normal. And in fact a lot of the urgency to deliver is often because of "big baby" which we know I can deliver just fine. So I even have more leeway than most GD moms with baby size. I meet with the GD nutritionist Monday and have a baseline u/s since they will be tracking size and AFI. I am not sure how many u/s they will want. I'm hoping to limit them but am not sure how much pushback I can get away with. Honestly, I'm mostly concerned about them slipping and revealing the sex since we don't know!!!  Oh, and of course I also get to have NSTs. What a pain all these appointments will be :(  

[Jend1002]

worldshakerz - Congrats on passing the GTT!  I did too and on all three tests as well!  

Monkey Keeper - I know we've all talked about this together and I am sorry about the official GD diagnosis.  It sounds like you have a great plan of attack but bummer about the impending appt. schedule!  As for preparedness for baby - NOTHING DONE here at all.  Not even a name.  I guess I am starting to panic a little bit now.  Or at least feel some pressure.  DS was born at 37 weeks so I feel like I can't assume I'll go later than that!

insomnia - I have it bad.  REALLY bad.  I am so exhausted.  I can fall asleep but start waking by 11:30 - maybe to pee?  But then I toss and turn, get hot, get uncomfortable.  So very frustrating.  It's a little ironic too because DS only just starting sleeping well (like literally this month), only waking about once a night, so I just don't get a break!  But with a newborn coming, maybe it's for the best that I don't get a little glimpse into the good life. 

And this thread is so busy this week!  I KNOW I want to comment on other posts and just can't get caught up.  

[crystal_buffaloe]

I thought I'd jumped in already ... but apparently not? Here goes!

Originally Posted by Monkey Keeper 

Is anyone else woefully unprepared for baby?  The list thread gives me palpitations.

*raises hand*

We are getting babycakes a place to sleep (picking up our loaned-out co-sleeper from a friend) and an infant carseat (from another good friend) within a week, though. So there'll be that. I'm sticking my head back in the sand, though, and will deal with getting ready to get ready here in a bit. Maybe another week.

Ava's Mama - the only difference I've noticed is that I didn't have any morning sickness at all with DD and I have had some with this baby (boy). Also, I had a lot of heartburn around this time with DD and I really haven't had any yet with this one. Oh, I have gained more, but I started out thinner -- and I've heard that you gain more both with second pregnancies and with boys -- I'm not sure how seriously I take any of the comparisons, though. Maybe we could get some polls going and just get some data for our DDC.

Monkey Keeper - I'm glad that the GD conversation went well. Do you have to do your NSTs at the hospital? I just had the one, and it was a combo NST and BPP, and I actually thought it was kind of nice -- really we just sat there and watched the baby moving around on the u/s for 1/2 an hour -- it was only my 2nd u/s that pregnancy and everything checked out just fine, just the baby looked very, very large (which she was most definitely NOT when she was born 3 days later). Good luck in working out all the logistics with repeated tests and childcare, though -- and I hope nobody slips up and ruins your surprise! ack!

I found out that my sister and best friend are planning me some kind of shower, which is fun, and not something I expected. I don't know any details at all, which I'm more than okay with -- land's sakes let them be responsible for the whole thing. I'll just show up! I made an Amazon registry just in case anyone wants suggestions, but want to make it very clear that gifts are totally optional. Hopefully some of us can just get together to catch up and eat

Also! I gave my last final today. I still have to figure grades and turn in paperwork and deal with a plagiarist, but I'm thinking that if I drop DD at MILs I can be done by Friday. (This might be wishful thinking -- Wednesday at the latest) and then I will be gloriously, gloriously off.

[help007]

Insomnia: Wishgarden Sleepytime regular or pregnancy. It has worked wonders for me! On the nights I take it, I can usually get back to sleep after getting up to pee. Other nights, I can be up for an hour once awakened.

Prepared? We have the cosleeper ready to set up and attach to the bed, we have newborn prefolds with wool covers and dappi nylon diaper covers (though I've never used cloth during the meconium stage), and we have tons of blankets and baby t-shirts. I'm being open to the possibility that my breasts will make milk this time, but we have bottles and my midwife is helping set up some milk donation for us, in case things follow the same pattern as with my older boys. Food, clothing, a safe place to sleep, and family. That's all s/he needs!


My energy levels have been all over the place- I feel a nesting urge more strongly than I ever did before, and some days I go nuts getting household stuff organized. Yesterday, I didn't have the energy to read to the boys before nap time. Made it to yoga, today, and it was a GREAT class- it was like my body was drinking it up. I've also made a new (local!) friend, and I think I've needed that more than anything else for the last 2 years.

My baby has been head down for quite a while, but back to back with me, so I am paranoid of having back labor. I'm only 32 weeks, so it isnt even like having the baby in a good position today would say anything about what will happen 2 months from now, but I have to worry about something, right? I was incredibly concerned about the state/location of the cord, but I've relaxed about that. My midwife says I'd need a 3d/4d ultrasound to get that level of detail, but, one again, everything can move around a lot in 5-12 weeks. If we did a later u/s, we would be getting into the point where the baby would be in the way of the details I want. I have to trust my body and my baby, and know that if the worst happens, and a cord issue causes death or complications, I did the best I could with the information I had.