Hugs to everyone who needs one!!! My biggest complaint today was that MDC wouldn't load at work,which made for a boring day.
I might have to try a Gravol tonight if I'm not sleeping - this week has been rough and I'm likely to kill someone if I don't get some solid sleep soon. I think it's having a negative effect on my already compromised emotional state.
. I am sending lots of love to those who are having a difficult time--i wish you all good sleep, yummy food to eat and a calm center.Spughy and scruffy- tell me more about gravol. i am up because i am having the worst pain of my life with these hemorrhoids. skipping work tomorrow and praying for relief.
I had never heard of gravol before so I looked it up and here it goes by many different brand names but is motion sick/anti-nausea medicine like dramamine. I am curious about how it helps with insomnia, maybe it is the "benedryl" antihystamine component in some brands? I am also looking into ambien which is also a class B med and has been prescribed to pregnant women for a long time.
But I wanted to quickly say you ladies have really helped my outlook and have given me so much support when I needed it. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart!
Last night I got one or two extra hours, so not a full night's sleep but I feel better this morning so I am grateful. We are going to get a huge blizzard and I am glad I will be able to go out with the boys and play.
But my biggest news is that baby Rowan has stayed head down for about 20 hours, which is the longest he has ever stayed in this position before!!!!! I have been doing long deep squats and binding my belly yesterday and today so I am really hoping he sticks. But I am also trying not to get my hopes up too much because I am likely to be really let down and get all schmoopie.
Any way, cross your fingers!!
Is there any chance of being able to hire a postpartum doula for a few days? Maybe asking people to donate $$ for that as a gift instead of some of the more traditional gifts? I know some people who have done that and it was such a wonderful blessing for them. You might also be able to find someone who is working toward her certification and therefore is a little cheaper. Hope you find a solution that works for you!
Last night I got one or two extra hours, so not a full night's sleep but I feel better this morning so I am grateful. We are going to get a huge blizzard and I am glad I will be able to go out with the boys and play.
But my biggest news is that baby Rowan has stayed head down for about 20 hours, which is the longest he has ever stayed in this position before!!!!!
Yay for sleep & baby positioning. Boo for the blizzard. Hope you stay safe and warm out there, and that baby Rowan decided to stay down.
AFM - I had my mw appointment yesterday. Everything looks good and I'm back to measuring where I should be, so no additional u/s needed. 
I also did my GBS screen, so I'm waiting to hear what happens with that. Baby girl is head down, but in a ROT position, which isn't optimal. I'm going to do my exercises & such, but honestly have decided not to worry about it. I know that she can rotate during labor and I can deal with the OP if I have to -- really put those Hypnobirthing techniques to the test. I went ahead and got some massage oil for DH just in case. 
Sleep is OK. I've been having good and bad nights. Last night was a little rough. I'm struggling with the need to nest and get ready, but my fatigue is combatting that urge and I'm getting nothing done. Hopefully I can make a small dent in that today. My home visit with my mw is next week, and I'd like to look prepared when she gets here. Wish me luck.
Finally - just sending warm & safe vibes to those on the east coast & in path of the blizzard. Hopefully it's not too bad.
Gravol - or dramamine, or dimenhydrate (all the same thing) is an anti-nauseant that makes you drowsy as a side effect (which is why it's so awesome for travel) however a minority of people react atypically and it makes them hyper. My sister is one of those, which my mother found out on a trans-atlantic flight when she was 2. I suspect that was good times, I don't know, I was 4 and slept through it, LOL.
Anyway, it's been used by pregnant women for more than 20 years and I can't dig up a single instance of adverse effects on the baby although some mamas do find that they're in the "hyper" category. Every doctor or midwife I've ever asked about it has said it's safe, and my doula (who has about 20 years of experience) agrees. If it makes you sleep, it's okay to use. Some doctors also recommend it for morning sickness, but diclectin works just as well as an anti-nauseant and it's NOT a sedative so I think gravol is only for if someone has a bad reaction to diclectin.
It's also not habit-forming, I find it really easy to take it once a week or so when I'm feeling run-down, and it's like it just "resets" my sleeping and the next night's sleep, without the gravol, is almost as good. (I find insomnia to be something that gets worse, night-to-night, unless I do something. Same as with a baby and regular naps etc., good sleep begets good sleep.) I used it for the last month or two that I was night-nursing DD, as well (half dose), as it didn't interfere with my ability to wake up if she needed me, but it sure helped me get back to sleep again after rather than lying there all awake and frustrated. I haven't noticed any long-term effects at all and it obviously didn't transfer into the breastmilk because she still woke up just as much. I DO find that it lasts fairly long though so if I don't take it before 11 or 12 then I just skip it because I'm still too drowsy in the morning and getting up sucks. (Once you get up and get moving it's okay. It's more sleep inertia than anything else, but the process of getting out of bed and getting your head around stuff like "breakfast" and "shower" is not fun. But by the time I had to leave the house the effects were gone.) Nowadays, as I go to bed around 9 pm, the gravol-sleepies are totally gone by the time I have to get up and I can wake up without an alarm at 7 with no problem.
In other news, I did WAY too much walking yesterday and trashed my pubic bone again... but I slept okay and DH did the quick adjustments on me this morning and I think it'll be okay if I can find a way to avoid walking the dog today and rest tomorrow. DD has the day off school so I think we'll go to a beach (it's nice and sunny again) and I'll just throw sticks for the dog. That's kind of a treat for her anyway. I also need to help DD clean out her room as it's kind of like an explosion in a toy factory in there - if that happened and then ADHD-afflicted gnomes moved in and started playing dress-up, and misinterpreted what recycling bins and garbage cans were for, AND had a strong aversion to hanging up clothes. It's not entirely her fault, there isn't quite enough storage in her room for all her stuff - so I will help her sort through her stuff and get rid of things she doesn't need or want.
Veganyogamama - I don't know what the doula situation is where you are, but here there's a registry maintained by the "crunchy mom" centre (which is a store and a meeting place and offers prenatal classes and mommy yoga and baby groups etc.) that keeps track of new doulas who are willing to work pro bono in order to get their hours and write-ups for their DONA certifications. If there's something like that near you, I would HIGHLY recommend you make use of it. I'm on the "free" list kind of permanently (when I can work) because I'm not really in it for the money in the first place. So you might luck out and get someone with a couple years' experience and additional accreditations who just wants to make a difference. 
But either way, it's a good idea - even a brand-new post-partum doula will be able to help a LOT and you'll be helping her by providing some great experience.
Originally Posted by maydaymom10
Is there any chance of being able to hire a postpartum doula for a few days? Maybe asking people to donate $$ for that as a gift instead of some of the more traditional gifts? I know some people who have done that and it was such a wonderful blessing for them. You might also be able to find someone who is working toward her certification and therefore is a little cheaper. Hope you find a solution that works for you!
What a great suggestion! Perhaps your MW might even know of a doula in training or someone who might work for a smaller fee.
Writermama: Great news that baby is finding the head down position and staying there. :)
AFM: I have more to write and I'm not trying to miss the rest of you. Sorry. But, I should get back to work. I couldn't sleep last night and actually worked for about 6 hours overnight. It actually made up for my inability to focus earlier this week. I'm supposed to be onsite today and it's stressing me out that I'm not. I'm supposed to be onsite next week for training and the VP commented that I could take it at a later time. I'm worried that the training will only be offered while I'm on LOA and then my name will get on the "not complying" list, which would really stink company politics wise. I'll spare you the details. I am tempted to drive over just for the training. On the plus side, I used to see a chiro in North Seattle when we lived there who actually treats pregnant women, even has a table where the belly drops out so you can lie on your stomach. I had back issues with my last pregnancy, too. I'm tempted to make an appointment while I'm over there for my back which has been going in and out (mostly out) since Christmas. It might also make the drive home possible since a day in training is A LOT of sitting. 2 hours in the car. 4 hours of training. 2 hours in the car home, and that's only if I JUST go for the training.
SlimP, I am of the scientific bent too, but my emotional tension definitely results in physical tension. I've been noticing this pregnancy that when I'm more stressed out/worried/anxious about something, my feet get especially sore! A foot rub always feels good, of course, but if I've had a rough day, getting my feet rubbed *really* helps let the tension out. Kind of odd, but I'll take it if it works.
I haven't been getting hot flashes at all, but I guess it's good to know there's something else to look forward to?
writermama, my fingers are crossed! At least he is capable of staying in that position for a while - maybe it just took him a long time to figure out where he was supposed to be!
maydaymom, glad things are looking good, and that you're measuring back on track. And so exciting that your home visit is next week! We had to schedule ours - it's still four weeks out, but somehow the scheduling part just made the ticking clock that much more real. Babies are coming!
veganyogamama, that is really sweet about your last DDC. I have really enjoyed my experience with this DDC, and am happy there are good examples of people staying in touch afterward.
spughy, you take care of yourself! You want to still be able to walk by the time you go into labor!
Melany, good luck making your decision. If you do decide to do the training, I think adding in the chiropractor visit is a great idea.
As for me, I had my 33 week midwife appointment yesterday, and everything looked good. I was at 32 weeks 6 days, and measuring basically exactly 33 weeks, so I can continue telling everyone who thinks I'm going to pop tomorrow, or that I have twins, or that I overall just look HUGE, that I am right where I should be. 
My midwife actually had a really nice perspective on that - she says that being pregnant is like suddenly becoming a part of the continuation of "us," meaning our whole community/species. And that's kind of a powerful thing, and people really want to connect, and they don't know how, because our sense of community has changed so much. So they just say the first thing they think of, and it ends up being some kind of comparison about size, or something else awkward. So it's coming from a place of connection, even though it can feel judgmental. I am just going to try to keep that perspective in mind!
Baby also seems to still be hanging out in the same position as it has been for the past four weeks, and the midwife says it's in the ideal spot (head down, bum forward, feet to the right). Who knows what'll happen in the next 7 weeks, but I'm feeling pretty good that it's been stable, and I tell the baby it's in a great spot, even when it feels like the feet are going to go straight out my side! The midwife even kept her hand pressing gently on the feet while she was palpating the rest of my belly, saying, "I'm keeping my hand here because that *must* be uncomfortable!" 
I guess this baby likes to stretch!
And then we had a little neighborhood event, and then I got super hungry and pulled a Trader Joe's vegetable burrito out of the freezer and scarfed it down, and then proceeded to not feel very well for the first several hours of the night. Sigh. At least I feel better again today.
I agree with VeganYogaMoma - C.Chip's midwife puts other people's comments in a very nice perspective.
I have an appointment with my midwife tonight. Pretty excited as usual.
Gravol - my go-to drug for anything & everything (mostly insomnia and migraines.) But my doctor and pharmacist both told me not to take it when pregnant... I didn't do any research, so I never found out why (probably they don't even know why) and since I've only had 1 migraine this pregnancy (I should stay pregnant just for migraine relief!!) I haven't took any. I mainly used it because I work shift work and sometimes have a hard time getting myself back on a normal sleep schedule (and the odd time so I can sleep through the day so I can work nights, but I'm usually tired enough that's not a problem.)
Another day at work without MDC... Hmmm...
Well, ideally you shouldn't take ANYTHING that's not organic food or pure spring water during pregnancy. It's a risks vs benefit thing as always. I wouldn't take it for mild insomnia or anything - but when you're nearly completely non-functional due to lack of sleep, I think that state carries a higher risk than the occasional gravol. But that's a decision everyone has to make for herself - like taking tylenol or any other drug.
Had my MW appointment today. Baby isn't engaged, I swore she had to be by the way she's been pounding on me. Had the GBS test and I'm now keeping fingers crossed that it's negative.
My MW has her appointments out of a ND office and I scheduled a massage for after my appointment at the same office. My MW brought her massage table with the belly hole. OMG! So nice to lay on my stomach and the massage, which was for my back, ended up being mostly on my sore left shoulder. My back feels tons better, yet all the work was done on my shoulder. She told me to ice my shoulder, so I should get on that.
My understanding is that although GRAVOL is totally common in Canada, it is not available in the states. - Which may account for why the Canadians are all about it and the American's have nto heard of it. Just one of those random differences in meds across the boarder. (You also can't get Buckley's or Robaxosol in the US).
After work last night, I felt so funky. Like my eyes couldn't focus on anything and I started having "floaters" in my vision. I was contracting and my legs were super swollen. It freaked me out a little. (I know these are signs of preE, but my blood pressures have been great (even low, like 92/70) and my urine dips have all been negative.) I'm thinking maybe I was just dehydrated? And tired?
For those that have had pre-eclampsia before, did it come on super suddenly? And what were the initial symptoms?
Melany, that massage sounds great! I have "graduation from grad school" money given to me all the way back in last July with which I was supposed to go get a massage, and never have. I should go get a prenatal one now - I'm sure it would be awesome.
sunshinelove, I'm sorry you've had such a rough time of it recently. Are you getting enough sleep? That's always my first attempt to fix things - often it works.
Chapsie, I hope you were just dehydrated and tired! Which doesn't sound quite right when I say it, but you know what I mean. Try to take care of yourself - you're in the home stretch, but you want to stay healthy!
veganyogamama, I do think it's a good idea to have birth plans ready for just-in-case scenarios. We're planning a home birth, but will have some simple birth plans for if we need to transfer to the hospital, and also if I need a c-section. Then everything's covered. That said, I hope you're able to do the birth center birth you would like!
In non-pregnancy-related news, my husband and I watched Cabin in the Woods last night. Neither of us really watch horror movies, but this was a spoof, and a Joss Whedon film, and I will watch pretty much anything he does. I have discovered that if I take my glasses off during violent scenes, I can maintain a vague sense of what's going on (as blurry shapes move around), but not have to see all the gritty details. Guess it's one plus side to having poor vision! So while the movie was definitely bloody, in that spoof-of-all-horror-films kind of way, I got to avoid most of the gory parts, it wasn't particularly scary, and I got to enjoy myself and all of the humor and fun dialogue that is signature Whedon.
That said, my next Netflix movie is the first episodes of The French Chef with Julia Child.
Chapsie - I had "floaters" yesterday, too! I just figured I was a bit too tired... I had a pretty good sleep last night, so I hope they'll be gone today. Not that I want troubles for any one else, but it made me feel better logging on today to see that you had experienced them, too. Hope some rest fixes us both!
SunShine - I'm with you. I felt choked up during my entire MW appointment last night. Then cried when I woke up this morning (not sure why, I was enjoying just laying in bed resting after a fairly good night's sleep.)
VeganYogaMoma - I haven't started reading the Birth Plan thread yet, but it's on my to-do list today. I was content not making a plan for the hospital (since that's plan B anyway, and I figure if I end up there, it's because all my plans have fallen through and there's a bit of an emergency) but after talking with the doctor this week and my MW last night, they both suggest at least thinking about it. It won't be an extensive plan, and my MW says that as long as my team knows my wishes, I don't need anything written down (Vit. K drops, eye goo, that type of thing). We'll see what inspiration I get when I wander over to that thread.
My MW had suggested that I DO think about what I want to see during labor at home (food, support, etc...) and for some reason, I'm having a hard time verbalizing it without getting emotional. Finally last night I said that I could see just going to the bathroom by myself, locking the door, and coming out with a baby. I think this shocked DP a bit, especially when I said it's not important to me that he be at the birth, but he wants to be, so I'm respecting that. She said that was perfectly fine to feel that way and that hopefully I'd allow my team to support me, but she'd keep that in mind if it looked like I was getting overwhelmed with the "attention." She said she's had clients who've kicked everyone out before. And I'm not planning on that, I'm more just worried that I'll want that, but not want to hurt everyone's feelings. But I do think it was good that it was finally said, so we're all on the same page. Grrrr.... Did I mention I was tired of crying!
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