Weekly chat - August 27 - September 2 - Page 7 « Back to Group Discussions

[ascher21]

I know I don't have to take them, it's more a matter of do I need to pay for them to be there even if they aren't needed? And if so, is this covered by insurance/not. And also, if I do show other signs of infection, do I then need to be on abx at home, or do I go to the hospital anyway? It's all those annoying questions and concerns. Part of me just doesn't want to be worrying over that stuff during labor. But It sounds like I have the three questions to ask my midwife when I go in next week, so that's helpful. I know it isn't a big deal, but part of me can't stop worrying about it. I just don't want to be worrying that when I push my baby out I might be giving him an illness. I just want to be able to focus on pushing him out as a joyous, healthy, natural thing. Ignorance is bliss sometimes.

[Carlin]

Ascher, I know exactly what you mean. The whole GBS thing really threw me for a loop last time too. Unfortunately, I can't help you at all with the paperwork as we have a totally different system up here and I didn't have to fill anything out. Hopefully your midwife has done it all before and can help you out.

For what it's worth though, I did end up getting antibiotics at home, and if we had been able to continue with our homebirth, I would have continued to get them. The midwife just put in a saline lock, so the actual amount of time I was actually hooked up to an IV was very minimal. I think it took about 15 min every 4 hours or so and really didn't end up being a big deal. Hopefully you don't end up needing them, but I was happy to have that option rather than needing to decide on going to the hospital as soon as  the risk factors started to build up.

Weight - I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who blew right by the 'recommended' weight gain. I've stalled out for the last 3 weeks or so, but I'm still sitting at 40+ lbs. Oh well, it is what it is and I'm not going to worry about it.

I spent most of the day cleaning and reorganizing, and while there's still a ways to go, I'm beginning to feel more prepared. I think by the end of the weekend we'll have everything under control. My birth pool arrived today too, so on the off chance this baby makes an unexpectedly early appearance, we are good to go, even if things aren't quite as organized as I'd like yet.

I'm heading out to a girlfriend's place this evening for a kid free girls' evening out. It'll probably be the last one before baby arrives so I'm really looking forward to a couple hours where I don't have to parent or clean. My toddler's tired and cranky, but that's her dad's problem for once!

[help007]

Ok, I have a rant:

For the past year, DH has taken over bath and bed time for the boys. For the past few months, I have tried to get him to split it up with me so I don't feel so bad about his workload after the new baby arrives. Today, I took over baths because the boys were in a rough mood and hitting DH. I realize I should have been either more involved or more communicative of what I expected, but he is not doing anything to support the boys' independance: 3yo can fully dress and undress himself, except getting his pants over his cloth diapers, but DH does it all for him. He did it all for our 4yo, too, until I realized and showed him how much DS1 is capable of doing (taking off his clothes and putting them where they belong). Also, neither boy has any clue how to wash himself. I know at 3, this is still a work in progress, but a 4yo (everyone is different, but certainly THIS 4yo) is perfectly capable of doing 90% of it himself. When we talk about it, DH is totally on board with the kids doing everything they are capable of doing, even when it takes more time. I have been pushing to share the load to no avail. I guess I have to start just taking over- but with daddy at work all day, the boys really like that daddy time, so it feels like a punishment. This makes no sense to me.

[Jend1002]

I have so many things to comment on but right now I am stressing!! DH is really sick. Sickest I have ever seen him and kind of suddenly although he hasnt felt right for over a week. He has a fever that won't go below 101 and major body pain with chills. I go between panicking that I am going to catch something like this from him to worrying that he has something bad. He works outside in a forest all day and frequently gets mosquito, tick, random insect bites.

And to add to it all - this is the weekend we have to pack for our move!! thank goodness DS isn't staying here this weekend! No point in this whole post really other than to freak out. I did work until after 7 to stay away and get caught up in case baby decides to arrive- but given the current scene, baby needs to stay out!!

[MissE]

Jend..first thing that comes to my mind is west nile. It's very dangerous around here in texas. I forgot where you live but maybe have him checked for that.

[WindyCityMom]

I've been losing chunks of my plug all evening! Crampy and contracity. Excited. Hopeful.

It's a blue moon and the pressure change is insane as we are about to get hit by Isaac. my ears won't unpop.

Please let me have a baby tonight!!

[JuicyPakwan]

Jend I agree with MissE we are in Minnesota and have had cases here and it might be worth checking out.   And what a crappy time for this to happen for you.  I hope your move can go as smooth as possible.

[MissE]

Originally Posted by WindyCityMom 

I've been losing chunks of my plug all evening! Crampy and contracity. Excited. Hopeful.
It's a blue moon and the pressure change is insane as we are about to get hit by Isaac. my ears won't unpop.
Please let me have a baby tonight!!

Oh poor girl. Sending some labor vibes your way.

Not much new here, painful braxton hicks and a 'vagina shooter' every now and then. I'm not expecting anything to happen anytime soon. Ignorance is bliss I guess. I would be surprised if this baby came before her due date (even though I wouldn't be totally against it).

[MamanFrancaise]

Hope this is it for you WCM!

Well not much has changed for me. My contractions are about 25 minutes apart. I just came back from a movie and with my midwife's blessing am having a half a glass of wine to relax and hope things pick up. Holy balls wine tastes AMAZING.

As I was getting to the movie theatre, I yanked open the door and I think my pubic bone completely separated. It hurt like a bitch and then I couldn't move my legs for a few minutes. Then I had to sort of walk by only separating my legs at the knees. I'm taking it as a sign that they baby is simply going to fall out in the birth pool after my delicious glass of wine. 

[MadiMamacita]

Originally Posted by MamanFrancaise 

I yanked open the door and I think my pubic bone completely separated. It hurt like a bitch and then I couldn't move my legs for a few minutes. Then I had to sort of walk by only separating my legs at the knees. I'm taking it as a sign that they baby is simply going to fall out in the birth pool after my delicious glass of wine. 

ouuuuuuch!!

[Worldshakerz]

I'm super excited for you two, WCM and Maman! I hope I wake up tomorrow morning and see new baby stories 

[judybean]

Jend-- my first thought was West Nile as well. Hope it's nothing though and it passes ASAP for you all!!

WCM-- I hope this brings good things for you! I'll be eternally jealous if you get a blue moon baby, but still happy

MissE -- as ready as I feel I am, I figure I still have two weeks left. Oh well. Leaves plenty of time to wrap up all the things I've been dragging my feet on and avoiding. (That's the only bright side! Lol)

I finally have baby clothes in the wash right now. Next will be diapers. I spent some time this evening sewing up some more postpartum cloth, toying with various fabrics for absorbency, while also trying to make them versatile enough for other uses after postpartum (like extra lay-on absorbancy that could later be used as diaper inserts). I might make up just a few more pairs of nursing pads as well. I think I have six pairs, but those things are like socks-- I swear the dryer eats them . Ideally I'd like yo make maybe six more newborn diapers and probably three more newborn covers, but I'll fully evaluate that after I get diapers washed tomorrow. Then maybe a few more postpartum pads (I would rather not skimp on those! I'll use them later as nighttime pads.) and maybe just a few more sleep sacks. Might as well have a plan to keep busy in the coming weeks!

Tomorrow I think we'll head up to the mountains (as long as I feel it's still a good idea). There's no phone service at all and I'll keep the vehicle while dh is at workand he'll be over an hour away... but... there would be tons of family around (we're going to an aunt's cabin). Hope it all works out

[judybean]

MamanFramcaise-- oooouuuuucccchhh!!! But! Oh that wine sounds *delicious*!! I'm hoping it does the trick for you!

[judybean]

Last serial posting, I swear... but... I woke a necklace that totally made me break out around my neck.  It was three days ago, but it still ITCHES LIKE CRAZY and on accident I find myself absentmindedly scratching it (without thinking).  Is there anything I can put on it to make the itching stop?!  It's never going to go away if I can't stop scratching!!  It *huuuuurts*!

[WindyCityMom]

Originally Posted by judybean 

Last serial posting, I swear... but... I woke a necklace that totally made me break out around my neck.  It was three days ago, but it still ITCHES LIKE CRAZY and on accident I find myself absentmindedly scratching it (without thinking).  Is there anything I can put on it to make the itching stop?!  It's never going to go away if I can't stop scratching!!  It *huuuuurts*!

Hydrocortizone? Colostrum

[katt]

WCM and Maman - I hope we have some bluemoon-babies!  Good luck you two!!

Nothing much going on this front.  I shot a dinner tonight.  That was fun.  Got to see some ladies I haven't seen in a while.  DS got to spend some time with DH.  He (ds) didn't go to sleep cause he missed mama, so he was awake when I got home, around 11pm, but that's okay.  He tried.

Funny: Got dog food today.  The 35lb bag was on the middle shelf so I just bent down a bit, slid it onto my shoulder and was bringing it up.  The people that work there (feed store) were all, Here, let me get that for you... you don't need to be carrying that. etc.  The guy then carried it to the counter and then out to the car.  Which is totally fine with me. 

Keep in mind, my child is at least 40lbs and I carry him.  LOL  I made sure I didn't try and pick up the 40lb bag from the bottom shelf.  :)  I knew it would happen, I still think it's funny.

[MissE]

Katt my dh is like that too. He won't let me get dogfood, yet i pick up dd or clothes baskets full of folded clothes that weigh just about as much and he doesn't have a problem with that apparently.

[ascher21]

wow, that blue moon sure set a bunch of things into motion, did it not?? One of my high school friends did go into labor last night! Things always get a little crazy around a full moon. Hormones, too.

Where to begin?

WCM--I hope this is it for you, even if Isaac is about to strike. When it was coming towards FL I just made peace with the fact that if DH and I got stuck in our home with no one able to come to us, we could do this, and have plenty of supplies for the baby. Now looking back at it, and the, and the small amount of rain we got/ how I was only 37 weeks, it seems pretty silly.

Maman--I agree, ouch! I hope this is your time, too! Hooray for wine!

Jend--I hope it isn't anything serious. I've also had to move during some very trying times, but nothing quite like this. Sending positive vibes your way. I agree with going to the doctor.

Judybean--hope that clears up soon, I find rashes and bites so much more annoying during pregnancy.

Katt--I got that at the grocery store the other day. I had one full tote bag and the cashier was about to say "you shouldn't..." and I just picked it up and was like "oh, this is nothing!" Like a baby is going to fall out of me by picking up a grocery bag. ;)

Carlin--I think I was having a tad of a freak out moment yesterday. The reasoning side of my brain finally said "it's better than going to the hospital, isn't it??" and then I realized that it doesn't really matter what it costs, or if it will be needed. The point is that it is there for the safety of my child, and it's far less invasive than going to a hospital where I don't know my surroundings, the people, the IV, the monitor for 20 min. every hour, etc. I'm going to ask my midwives about it on Wed. Hope you had fun at your girls' night out!

Help--Maybe he likes doing those things for the kids and forgets sometimes that they need to do things on their own? Maybe it's part of his fun. Wish I knew more about that stage, but haven't gotten there yet. ;)

[MissE]

Maman: ouch..that sounds painful. I feel for you mamas who are having back and hip issues. I wouldn't know how to make it through the day.

Nothing happened here despite the full moon . I had a blissfull night's sleep with only one time that i had to get up and pee. The kids woke me up at seven...dh is still passed out (where's his paternal instinct?)

I feel baby's head looow in my pelvis with each contraction, it's crazy how low she is, yet she seems so far away. I sure hope i'll be dilated and effaced a bit more at my next checkup.

[MotoMom]

Jend- So sorry to hear about your DH!! Hopefully it's nothing major. What awful timing, though. Lots of good healing vibes your way.

This is so exciting that everyone is getting so close. Since this is my first, I'm just kind of curious how long it will take me to recognize that labor has begun. I'm practicing patience. Not my strong suit.

As far as weight gain goes, I'm just a big fatty compared to all of you! I've gained 50 lbs. :P It sounds crazy but I feel good about it, really. DH still finds me attractive and that's all that matters. I think every woman should get fat at some point in her life just so she'll appreciate the beautiful body she had! I look at pictures of myself from before and just laugh at myself for thinking I ever had anything to gripe about! Perspective is a wonderful thing. I feel like once I have my body back, I'll appreciate it so much more after this. I've never had to lose weight before and I'm actually looking forward to meeting fitness and weight loss goals during this next year. I think it will be a cool challenge. I'll wait until 6 weeks postpartem to start on calorie "deficit". (Although it will actually be maintenance calories because the extra calories you need for brestfeeding will create the deficit) Then I'll set my goal at ten pounds above my pre-pregnancy weight and won't worry about that last bit until Hank is weaned. I know that sometimes your body likes to carry a little extra fat stores while you're breastfeeding so I don't want to stress about that if my body needs it. If it comes off on its own, great! I just won't make it a necessity. As far as exercise goes, I'll just slowly ease back into it as soon as I feel like my body can handle it. I can't wait to take Hank out to the soccer field behind my house and let him hang out on a blanket and enjoy the fall weather while I run sprints or go hiking in the mountains with him on my chest.

So here I am at exactly 40 weeks today! At my appointment yesterday Hank was nice and low. I never felt any distinct "dropping" so I was a little worried, but I guess all of the pelvic pain and pressure that started this last week was a good sign. I'm 1-2cm dilated and 70% effaced. No sign of the mucous plug yet, but lots of contractions at night. I thought for sure he'd come last night because it was wildly stormy (which I LOVE) and a full moon, too! Plus I thought it would be really funny if he showed up exactly on his due date. My friend who was in my birthing class and who uses the same midwife as me had her son come exactly on her due date. My midwife also did a non-stress test to make sure everything is all good and Hank is good to hang out in there a while longer if he wants to. He was fast asleep in there so my midwife had DH blow raspberries on my belly. He had way too much fun with that and seeing Hank's heart-rate reaction! We giggled like a couple of kids.  
 

My mobility is really hindered lately which cracks me up. I was very limber and comfortable this entire pregnancy and thought that maybe I wouldn't have all of the waddling and difficulty getting up from a seated position. Haha! This last week it all hit me at once. I think maybe it came from Hank getting in position and dropping down into my pelvis. My midsection is like a board! I can't twist and maneuver around like I used to.

In the most amazing twist of fate ever, DH is here with me! He got to drop from the course he's been in and will finish it in November. It means he gets to hang out and take leave until Hank is born and then get his 10 days of paternity leave after!! My mom doesn't have to come stay with me, I get to have the support of my husband throughout the entire labor and we all get the chance to bond as a family right from the beginning!  Plus I get to utilize his cervical ripening capabilities. ;) I just cried when I found out. It was the most incredible news ever and I feel so very blessed. Especially after several days in a row of not even seeing him and having to figure out how to be at peace with everything.