July 30 Weekly Chat Thread!!!!! - Page 4 « Back to Group Discussions

[LeAnn A Doula]

Boots - Hugs to you! I'm sorry the last few days have been so frustrating. Are you able to communicate with your principal about the breakdown in communication and your solution for the sub situation? That way you can just let it go and focus on this LO. I know its frustrating when things don't go as planned but its the nature of the beast, right? I'm glad that you and LO are doing well. And a 9lb baby is definitely not that big. I wouldn't let them scare you. Just do what you feel is best. Sending peaceful vibes your way. It will all come together and LO will be here soon. :)

Eleuthia - Enjoy your time w your sister! That sounds so lovely. I can't wait to see my sister after the baby comes. Its been over a year since we last saw each other. Its so nice that she is able to come help you prep for this LO.

Andaluza - I'm going to see what the test says then possibly talk to my landlord about having it professionally tested if the results are high. Fingers crossed that it'll be low and feel secure with a few HEPA filters and consistent cleaning. We'll see. I'm sure you DH will be a great support in labor. Mine gets a little green if he's around for girlie tests but when we had to go in for spotting early on, he was a rock. It makes a difference when its the real deal and not just someone poking around down there. :)

Lily - Big Hugs to you! I hope you're feeling better today. For what its worth, your feelings are so normal! I wish they wouldn't give 'due dates' at all. It really should be a 4wk period because its truly just an educated guess and so many mama's experience the stress you're feeling. Every baby develops at their own pace, they have no idea they're working to a hard deadline. :) I love the 'Space In Between' piece that Sally posted!! It frames this time so perfectly. I read it a while ago and have been thinking of it often as so many mama's have been approaching this time. One other thing to think about, a friend of mine went 15 days past her 'EDD'. Her docs were really pushing to induce but she felt that she should really hold off as long as LO was doing well. When her baby girl did come, they found out that she had Hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid) which had caused her to develop more slowly. If she had been induced at her EDD, her LO's lungs would have been under developed. As it was, she came strong and healthy and more able to deal w the condition. Trust your body and your intuition. Mama's bodies have an amazing innate wisdom! That said, I hope your LO gets to meet his Auntie! :) One last thought, I know that yoga isn't really your thing, but a good prenatal yoga class might be the perfect thing right now. Sometimes we just need to get to a place of surrender mentally so that our bodies can do what they need to. Don't underestimate the power of that mind body connection, esp when it comes to labor. Whoa! I just realized hoe long this has gotten! Sorry to write a novel in response.

Sarah - Me, too. I think the exhaustion is par for the course at this point. Maybe a last growth spurt or shift in hormones. I was SO tired earlier this week but I've had more energy the last couple of days.  I hope you're feeling more peppy and enjoying your full nights of rest! I've moved on to the up every 2hrs phase...grrr. I think LO has officially dropped. I have to pee constantly and the bump is a good few inches lower. According to DH, I now have a built in shelf. :P

[lakeruby]

Oh, Boots, what an ordeal!  Please do keep us posted on your progress.  And, FORGET about work!!  I know it's easier said than done, but this is your time to focus on the last few days (hours?) alone with DH and with your in-utero babe.  Sending you relaxing vibes :)

Thanks andaluza for the tips on avoiding future YI and clearing this one up!  I think that the exercise clothes and swimsuits I've been wearing aren't helping much either!

Also, thanks poppy & newmum for helping me feel better about using the medicine.  I'm doing lots of "healthy flora" visualizations at this point :)

[LilyTiger]

Hey everyone, thanks for the support in the final countdown... 

Sally, I loved that article on the last weeks of pregnancy.  It really is so true, and I'm trying to get myself to a point where whatever I feel like doing is ok.  It's all part of getting prepared for my life to totally change and it's important to sort of let that understanding sink in, however it does.

LeAnn, thanks, mama!  It's so weird being so close and yet so far away.  I think I really mentally messed myself because my cycles are so short and I was convinced I would have the babe early like my mom did with all of us.  Obviously, genetics and cycle length are not determinate.  I'm feeling much better today after a nice relaxing dinner with my parents last night (and a glass of wine) and some cuddle time with DH this morning and just generally coming to terms with the fact that this will happen when it happens.  The hardest thing for me has been the pre-labor signs and the ups and downs of getting excited then nothing (someone else mentioned that too).  Now that I'm not feeling much of anything, it's easier to relax weirdly.  I probably won't look into an actual class, but I think doing some nice stretches on my yoga mat will help me get refocused.  And I made some wonderful diaper cream and cloth diaper spray with lavender essential oils this morning, and the smell totally lifted my spirits.  I'm now tired but pretty relaxed.  Much better than yesterday.

Boots, I'm so sorry you had to deal with the work crap on top of everything else.  I agree with LeAnn that maybe just talking to your principal about the sub situation and then washing your hands of the whole situation may be the best approach.  You really should be trying to enjoy these final days with your hubs, so I would try to just get rid of work stuff and maybe plan some fun relaxing activities for this weekend.

lakeruby, I second the no underwear at night (or when lounging).  My doc recommended it and I've had no problems so far, despite the heat and my workout schedule.  I love the "healthy flora" visualizations! 

Sorry to anyone else I missed.... you're all on the other page!  Can't wait to see pics of the newest little addition too!!!!

[LilyTiger]

Also, does anyone else get twitchy when people don't post for a while?  I just realized DesertSunsets hasn't been in on a week or so...  Maybe they had the baby???????  Or maybe she just doesn't need to compulsively post every day like me. 

[DesertSunsets]

Lily, no, baby is still hanging out in there! Thank you for wondering about us though, you're very sweet.

[LilyTiger]

Originally Posted by DesertSunsets 

Lily, no, baby is still hanging out in there! Thank you for wondering about us though, you're very sweet.

Ha, thanks for the check in!  I forgot you were due at the end of the month too, so it would have been a leetle early.  As you can tell, I have a little too much time on my hands these days. 

[poppylove]

LOL 

just checking in today, to see how everyone is doing.  no babies today. 

[NewMumJoy]

Boots  - so sorry for your awful day and frustration w/the false labor and w/work, I hope you're doing better today!  ((hugs))....Hang in there!!

Sallyrae - thanks so much for sharing that link, how timely and relevant for so many of us this week!

Well we are nowhere closer to labor and spent a pretty frustrating afternoon at the doctor's office today:  1) we thought for sure baby would be here by now and wouldn't need this appt  2) we spent 2 hrs waiting w/a standing room only crowd of miserable pregnant teenage girls - as they yapped on their phones while gulping down supersized slurpees  3) my doctor was out on holiday  4) we were expecting to do a membrane sweep - which I got myself all worked up for - but then the resident couldn't do it b/c I was barely 1cm dilated!   

We've scheduled an u/s for Tues morning (since Mon is a holiday here) and then they will induce by Thurs if still nothing has happened.  I can't even imagine waiting until Thurs to have this baby, let alone Tues for the u/s!!  But I "feel" like labor is not even close right now (no symptoms whatsoever) and won't be happening this weekend either.  I'm only starting to stress out about this, because my inlaws and stepdaughter will be arriving next weekend and I REALLY need to have a week at home alone w/baby and DH before we have a houseful for the next 3 wks.

DH and I are getting a little stir crazy around the house, I haven't had him home for this long a stretch in months..... !!  

[sallyrae17]

Here's a quick FYI for everyone on getting breast pumps covered through your insurance! I know a lot of you were hoping to get your pump covered and it appears as though we all can (as long as we have insurance, that is)!!

http://www.ivillage.com/how-get-breast-pumps-covered-insurance/6-a-477000

[LilyTiger]

Originally Posted by sallyrae17 

Here's a quick FYI for everyone on getting breast pumps covered through your insurance! I know a lot of you were hoping to get your pump covered and it appears as though we all can (as long as we have insurance, that is)!!

http://www.ivillage.com/how-get-breast-pumps-covered-insurance/6-a-477000

Ugh.  This stuff is soooooo confusing!  I need to call again this week, but the person I talked to two weeks ago was adamant about not covering it unless it was medically necessary (i.e. unless a medical condition prevented breastfeeding).  I suspect my plan is either grandfathered in or at the very least wouldn't start until they renew on January 1st, but I've talked to numerous customer service reps at the insurance agency and only the last one seemed to actually understand the policy.  And now if the policy is changing....  Ugh.   But thanks for the link, Sally!  It's helpful to know that there's at least the possibility that it might be covered.

And NewMum, hang in there!  Remember, cervical dilation means very little.  My mom had no prelabor symptoms at all and was only 2cm when she went to the hospital with contractions.  They sent her home saying she would go another couple weeks and she was back that night to have the baby.  Not everyone gets prelabor signs and lots of people go from 0-fully dilated in a day.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!  It must be so frustrating, but trust your body to know what it needs to do.  Sending labor vibes your way....

[eleuthia]

Yeah, I am really frustrated at all the headlines saying that contraceptives & breastfeeding supplies are now covered. For many of us, this just is NOT true (at least not yet). It won't happen til the next plan year starts for non-grandfathered plans, and it just won't happen at this point if your plan is grandfathered - and lots of medium to large group plans are (it doesn't matter when *you* joined the plan, either, so switching to a different grandfathered plan will not help). Plans are required to disclose their grandfathered status in the plan documents (summary plan description), which you should be able to get from your HR/benefits department. 

[andaluza]

Sorry you are feeling frustration, NewMum. I can totally understand wanting time alone with dh and the baby before family arrives. I hope you go into labor suddenly and don't have to wait for a possible induction. My ob told me that could happen! My mom said it happened with me.

About the insurance covering the pumps, when I called them, I mentioned in my frustration that the new healthcare law requires bf pump, etc. to be covered. However, the woman told me that the sort of plan that my employer controls does not have to follow those rules at all; it sounded like more than just grandfathering from the way she explained it. Maybe I need to call again. We might be able to make do with a manual pump until I go back to work in January.

[sarahdb]

Thinking about you this weekend, NewMumJoy! I can totally understand why you're feeling frustrated and impatient. As Lily said, though, there are plenty of women who get no warning that labor is impending, and suddenly find themselves in the middle of it. That's how it was with my mom and her 4 kids too. I hope the same will be true for you too--and soon!!! In the meantime, are there ways you and DH can make these last few days together special? Or are you totally past that stage now? (I could see that too!)

[eleuthia]

Originally Posted by andaluza 

About the insurance covering the pumps, when I called them, I mentioned in my frustration that the new healthcare law requires bf pump, etc. to be covered. However, the woman told me that the sort of plan that my employer controls does not have to follow those rules at all; it sounded like more than just grandfathering from the way she explained it. Maybe I need to call again. We might be able to make do with a manual pump until I go back to work in January.

If they mean that the plan is self-funded, they do still need to follow the rules for the new preventive care for women (including bf supplies/support). 

[andaluza]

Originally Posted by eleuthia 

If they mean that the plan is self-funded, they do still need to follow the rules for the new preventive care for women (including bf supplies/support). 

Yes! That's what she said.  Grrr. I wish I could call back and speak to the same lady just to tell her this. Thanks so much Eleuthia!

[eleuthia]

there are other provisions they may not need to follow, but everything i've read says this isn't one of their exceptions. again, they could still have a grandfathering exception. and if it's non-grandfathered it still wouldn't apply til your plan year starts. it's confusing, even for the customer service people, since they often deal with multiple plans (& kinds of plans). i still have to call and find out the deal with my coverage (and for my flex spending) - i've been putting it off in part because i don't think i'm going to like the answers. 

[andaluza]

Thanks Eleuthia!

I just found an email from HR (2 weeks ago) stating that in 2012 women's preventive care would go into effect. So, this definitely sounds like they are doing it, right? The breastfeeding information is on the main page of the women's preventive care page here: http://www.hrsa.gov/womensguidelines/

I really hope HR will help me sort through this. I should have called them in the first place, maybe, but of course I assumed that the customer service of the plan itself would know.

[eleuthia]

Your HR department should know the details of your specific plan, especially if they are self-funded. The health insurance company *should* know, but unfortunately it isn't always communicated well, and I would let your HR rep know if you received incorrect info - they may want to follow up on it. 

[NewMumJoy]

Thanks so much for your encouragement, ladies........    My preggo aches and complaints (swelling, stiffness, pressure, etc) have subsided over the last couple of days and today I woke up actually feeling "less pregnant" than I have in while - strange!!  So, I'm going to put myself to good use today and once again vac/mop the house, get another round of grocery shopping in, hit the mall for some nursing-friendly clothes (it's pouring out today, but this will get me walking), get a haircut, and squeeze in another movie date w/DH.  NOT gonna think about labor today!!

On another note, SOOOO excited for Boots!!!!  Congrats, Mama!!  

Aaaand, I also saw on FB last night that someone else in our DDC had her baby (I won't give it away)..... YAY!!!

We're having a pretty productive week here after all !!!!

[Veritas Vitae]

I know, three new babies over the last two days for our DDC, then I got a text last night from my work GF who had her little boy last night, and she was due 8/24...!  So exciting!

Newmum, glad you are feeling better!

I'm guessing some of you already saw this on FB, but B proposed last night! I was so sure he was going to do it last weekend in CA, but it happened yesterday instead!