12/2 Weekly Thread - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[esp831]

newCTmama- A doula is a wonderful support companion for a VBAC.  I can't speak highly enough of how helpful ours was during our VBAC amongst hospital staff that was quite varied in their support/non-support.  It super sucks that you can't determine the doctor that's on call, but you can definitely advocate for yourself no matter whom you have to deal with, and a doula is just the person to help.  My DH was an extremely supportive labor partner, but for him to have some additional emotional support really allowed him to focus on our goals and to not feel overwhelmed.  I hope you click with the doula you're meeting next week! 

Also, my water broke after we had intercourse.  It was a small gush at first, and completely clear...but then just gradually increased in volume and never stopped leaking.  If it is indeed ruptured, I would highly recommend staying at home until active labor kicks in (unless you're GBS+ and planning on abx) so that no one can make you feel pressured to induce.  Just my two cents.  Good luck to you!

[themothership]

newCTmama- my guess would be some "leftovers" from intercourse. 

[travelmumma]

Haven't read all but subbing
My baby girl arrived this morning will catch up later xxx

[newCTmama]

Travelmumma - Congratulations!!!!

esp & themothership - thank you : ) My guess is "leftovers" as well - it has definitely slowed down during the afternoon & my thought is that it would increase/stay the same if it is indeed a leak... I'm wary of calling the office as I don't want to go in for unnecessary tests that may well include an u/s that "might" indicate a "large" baby... monitoring the situation....

[annaka]

Originally Posted by themothership 

newCTmama- my guess would be some "leftovers" from intercourse. 

Ditto to themothership... I've had the same thing going on here.

[Mamabeakley]

Could use some positive thoughts tonight . . . having a really rough time with DH, not feeling safe, emotionally, about going into labor.  Not that I seem to be about to or anything, it's just an upsetting place to be in.  I know some of it is fatigue on my part, so I am going to go to bed.  But man, he needs to get his act in gear, here.

[newCTmama]

Sending you some good thouths, Mamabeakley. Hoping for a restful evening for you!

[darkblue0729]

MamaB-Sending lots of love your way <3  

[stegenrae]

(((mamabeakley)))

Sending you lots of love and wishes for your dh to step up while you get all the rest you need.

[segolilymama]

Travel Mumma - congrats again! Her picture on FB is adorable - DP loves chunky babies, I think he wants to come steal yours ;)

MamaB - sorry to hear you are having struggles with your DH. I've obviously BTDT this pregnancy, so I can relate. Tell him I said to get his shit together ;)

NewCT - if it's white, it isn't amniotic fluid. probably leftovers, as other said. Another option is that you are simply having hormonally related discharge, or there is the possibility of an infection - yeast or something. Nothing to be to worried about, you can do some home remedies if you keep seeing that discharge.

Well the 4th is almost over, so I guess my instinct on birthdate was definitely wrong.... Oh well. I am having a Labor Stimulation massage tomorrow - good thing is nothing will happen if baby isn't ready, and either way I will be relaxed & pampered. I am SO tired of getting no sleep, and today seems to be the same pattern - regular, mild but intense contractions right now, and they will probably keep me up most of the night again. I'm grateful that the kids are actually at school these days - I prefer when we are there together, we are more like a homeschooling family that goes somewhere with other kids most days. But right now, I can stay in bed until late (even though I am awake b/c the kitchen is right next to my bedroom), nap when I need to, etc. I think that's the only thing keeping me from going totally over the edge!

[Eandko]

I haven't been online for a few days and wow! So many new babies! Congrats all around!

As for me, I'm GBS negative (yay!) and had a lovely blessingway on the weekend. Yesterday we wrote our Christmas cards and came very close to finishing our gift shopping. Now I feel like I can relax and the baby can come whenever he or she is ready. I still feel like I'm at least a week away, but I'm prepared in case it happens sooner.

[chicajones]

Just an update to say that I'm GBS Negative! Yay! Midwife visit was great, and had our doula home visit today. Finally feeling like I'm ready for him to arrive...now he just has to decide to be ready. :)

[annaka]

Just had to share on here! GBS NEGATIVE here as well! YAY! I'm so relieved that they won't be wanting to hook me up to antibiotics. So even if my water breaks first for this babe, like it did with my first two, I'm going to be laboring at home as long as I want.

So yeah, now I'm feeling like you chicajones, I feel ready, so whenever baby is ready: BRING IT ON! The nerves I've been dealing with the last few days have lifted. When I walked in the door after my appt, dh commented that I'm a glowing prego lady again.

Eandko- Christmas cards are what I'll be doing once the kids are in bed. I love this part of the holidays.

Sego- what exactly does a labor-stimulating massage entail? Sounds like something I could get into.

[jakesmama]

GBS neg here also! Yay! My mw is concerned about my anemia though and is talking about active management of 3rd stage (pit, possible cord traction, etc) - anyone have info on this? I would prefer to avoid pitocin but if we have to use it I'd rather that happen after baby anyway.

So many babies! Oh my goodness, mamas, way to go!

I'm just nowhere near feeling ready for this little one (or for the pg to be over) so I'll say that I definitely feel like I have at least 3 more weeks. I am happy to be out of the preterm zone this week!

[mamaharrison]

Jakesmama--there is no reason to plan on active management of 3rd stage now. I have anemia {for the first time ever} right now and my MW has not mentioned anything like this. I would NOT let anyone pull on my cord!!! I would tell her that you will consent to management in the event of an emergency only, but that in the absence of one you will expect to proceed as normal and let your body do its job. 

Pitocin given after birth is excreted in breastmilk, so your babe will get it that way, and it will affect YOU, too.

[Lilac11]

MamaB I hope things are better your way! 

Yay for all the GBS neg mamas!! 

And all those who are feeling ready to greet their babe! 

Sego I was wrong about my babe's bday too!  I hope you get lots of sleep mama.

I am starting to feel overdue at 40+3 (DS was born at 39+0) even though I know I'm well within the range of normal...

Not one cramp, twinge, contraction, nesting urge or birthy feeling to speak of....

Well I did throw up after breakfast but I don't think that is a sign of anything labor-wise ...

Going to have a talk with my little tummy tenant right now!

[Lilac11]

Originally Posted by mamaharrison 

Pitocin given after birth is excreted in breastmilk, so your babe will get it that way, and it will affect YOU, too.

I had no idea!!  What are the effects on mom and babe?  I know this is near-standard practice where I'll be delivering (which is an otherwise very hands-off and medical-intervention-free facility).  TIA!

[sunseeker]

I am GBS+, which I have never dealt with in my past two pregnancies. I am surprisingly unworried about it, however, I'm looking for thoughts on the matter. I will have a hospital VBAC, with a history of preterm birth and a bicornuate uterus, so there are already some red flags for the docs/nurses. I was prepared for advocating for myself, and what interventions I was okay with, but now with the IV doses of antibiotics, I'm concerned about being stuck in bed which I do NOT want. How long does it take to get the antibiotics via IV (1/2 hour??)? What happens if I don't go to the hospital 'early', so there isn't time for the meds - what can I do afterward?

[Mamabeakley]

Yay for those like me who got GBS negative results!

Sunseeker - there's no reason you should have to stay in bed at all for the IV abx if you choose to take them.  All you need is a rolling IV pole and you should be able to be anywhere you otherwise could be (except maybe in the water - you might have to keep your hand/arm out of the water if you were otherwise going to be in the shower or tub).  And yeah, it takes about 15 - 30 minutes for them to run the meds in.  If you don't get to the hospital in time what happens next will depend on standard of care at your particular hospital.  Some will want to keep baby in hospital for 48 hours if mom's status is GBS+ or unknown.  I think another mama on here had that experience recently and had to sign baby out AMA, which can be simple or complicated, depending.  I've had two babies while GBS+ with no abx, but was at home, and my MW's protocol was parents monitoring heartrate/temperature/respirations every 4 hours for several days to make sure no infection was developing, which seems sensible to me.  Most likely (by LARGE statistical margins) your baby will be perfectly healthy and not need any active intervention - and since GBS is normal flora, neither would you.

Things are a little better here today.  Yesterday was horrible, though.  I think it's a combination of other people in my family being pretty out of sorts in various ways and me just not being able to be a stabilizing force at all right now, which is my normal role.  DH apologized to me this morning, though.

[kel]

Almost 36 weeks here and having one of those really worn out body feeling days.  Some days I have plenty of energy, and then some are like today.  Slightly puffy fingers and toes today, too - another symptom that comes and goes the past week or two (seemingly despite how much or little water I drink).  The girls (13 and 7) are throwing me a baby shower on Sunday - which means that I have to clean up and help with that;) for the next couple days - which is what happens when you let your kids throw you a baby shower I suppose!

Mamab - we had another rough day here yesterday, too.  I've been super cranky and impatient for starters, and then add an anxiety ridden 13-yr-old to the mix and it often results in a really rough day and/or night and/or week.  Dinner was pretty much ruined for everyone last night over eating disorder issues and I did not help matters at all with my current 0 threshold for stress of any sort.  Went to bed feeling like a pretty crappy parent.  Constant financial stress on top of that.  And the list continues.  And then I try to remind myself that women all over the world are living in/through harder situations than myself (learned that trick from parental guilt trips growing up;) and try to put things in perspective, and just keep trying and enjoying our days together.

Well, on that cheery note! 

I'm also at that point where not only do very few of my clothes fit, but I (feel like I) look like I'm wearing a tent, no matter what.  6 weeks to go of tent wear?  yay!

Really enjoying seeing all the new baby faces on here.  Hugs to all you mamas.