March Mama's week of July 18th - Page 3

[Isfahan]

I just found this site - due March 22nd

Hi, I'm Shannon - we live in Seattle, near the U. I am 37 and have a 3 year old. We just found out I am pregnant - and I'm not having any strong symptoms yet. I get occasional dizziness, some fleeting nausea (if I get hungry), lots of saliva and I'm very tired. That could also be the heat (91 degrees right now). Last time my morning sickness only took hold in Week 7 so I am not assuming this is it quite yet.

I'm in a bit of a muddle about prenatal care. Last time I arrived in Seattle from Australia 3 months pregnant. I'd not had any prenatal care and an OB was recommended, so I went there. Actually, it turned out to be a great practice - they managed to heed my wishes and avoid a medicated birth despite some risks which could have offered them the excuse for a C-section or drugs. They were also supportive of my choices not to have any prenatal tests other than a level-2 u/s. However, I know I would prefer the midwifery approach. I attend a naturopath who was a midwife and she's very on my wavelenght.

I guess I'm leaning toward the OB I know, just because it was ok... and I liked her a lot. But also because I am afraid of these abstract 'risks' of a birthing center or less monitoring. Objectively I know its not true.. but.. one of my schoolfriends died recently due to birth complications. She was in a hospital and all.. and another nearly died 2 weeks ago. Its bizarre odds, but knowing them has tapped into my own neurosis.

I guess I shall just have to see where my heart leads as I get a little more pregnant

Shannon

[Finnsma]

Hey Preggos! Hope you are all doing well! I'm having a heck of a time keeping up! Seems like as soon as I have some quiet time to catch up on here, I'm too exhausted to form any coherant sentences! LOL So I thought I'd try earlier today with DS on my lap.

Things are going well here. We got to see baby again, still looks great with a nice strong heartbeat. I had a bit of a revelation this week. Just started taking my own advice really. Just because I'm classified 'high-risk' and really do need to be followed more closely that does NOT mean I have to be subject to every docs little whim and demand! I refused the pap that was scheduled this last wed. My fav doc was fine with it but said he'd continue to ask later on in pg. I said that was fine and I'd continue to refuse. I'm not about to add any stress to this already stressful pg! I tend to bleed normally with paps and with the heparin, I bleed like crazy, I'm just not gonna do that to myself. Plus there's the higher insidence of false + as such during pg. Yup, not gonna do it. I've also put my foot down about going back to that terrorist/peri that I saw last week. For those who missed that post, to sum, he ripped into me about how I HAD to have a c-section and was putting my baby at a large risk of injury and death if I didn't and it would be my fault. I rescheduled my 29th appointment for the 3rd. Told the high-risk nurse what had happened and she was very supportive and scheduled me with a notoriously friendly peri. Feeling very... "I am Mama hear me ROAR" lol We need a little lion smilie! Oh AND it's looking very promising that I'll still be able to deliver at the Birth Center! WAHOO!

Symptom wise, pretty pukey, very very tired, emotional, the whole gambet. I'm 7w3d today, can you tell I'm sucking it in?! Here's my belly pic from today. People are starting to ask when I'm due. LOL And are shocked when they hear not till March! :LOL This pic's a little odd, when I reduced it I lost my breasts in the process! :LOL
http://www.duckybunsetc.com/images/7w3ds.jpg I love it though!

Uh oh, crises among the children, gotta run. Have a great night everyone!

[pixiemama]

Nice little belly you've got there Eva.

[CityGirl]

I am beyond amazed that anyone is showing at 7 or 8 weeks. How is it possible? The uterus is still behind the pubic bone!!

Are you sure it isn't bloating or gas?

[TRIBE]

Once you have been thru a pg your muscles are much looser and usually subsequent pg's do show earlier.

Of course every pg is different too. With #1 I showed at around 20-25 wks, #2 I was showing around 9-10 weeks and in maternity clothes at 10wks. With #3 I didn't need maternity until 26 wks and then I was just barely showing. There is no telling now that I am on #4 when I may show!

[Finnsma]

Thanks morningtillmoon! [edited to fix the name, sorry! lol]

CityGirl- lol Honestly, I don't really care. I love every little bit of the fact that I'm 'still' pg, after 4 losses, every little bit of joy I can get out of this, I'm all for it. We were able to easily find the baby through abdominal u/s on wed, so it's high enough for that, but sure, most of this belly is my guts that's being pushed up. And this is pg #7 so my body knows what's coming and has done it early. But who cares! I'm pregant!

[CityGirl]

I wouldn't be upset by it either, actually. I carried so small during my first pregnancy and I really received so many rude and hurtful comments about it (e.g. "YOU'RE five months??" "YOU'RE seven months? You look like you're three months!" and so on) that I can't wait to show and would love to have a big belly. When I was pregnant last time I never wore maternity clothes--ever. I was wearing medium size stretchy Gap tank tops and drawstring pants (non-maternity) at nine months pregnant. I wouldn't mind carrying a bit bigger this time. Or showing a bit earlier.

[Finnsma]

Aw, I'm sorry to hear that. I've always had the opposite. I've always shown early and big. At 6 months most think I'm due any minute. And I often get rude and potentially hurtful comments like "Wow, you're really bloated" or "You're so huge! Must be twins!" Even when I say, no there's only one, they'll laugh and say "Are ya sure?!" And while I absolutely love baby bellies and have a lot of fun with it, the rude comments can get very old.

I hope you get to show earlier and bigger!

[luvmy3boyz]

I don't have either problem....mine is I'm so heavy to begin with that it takes forever to show and even then people hesitate to ask anything because they aren't sure if I'm pregnant or just fat. On the plus side I know I'll have an easier time hiding it from people I don't want to know until way into the pregnancy.

[CyndiN]

Can the keeper of the due date list please add me? I am due 3-11-05.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who is "showing" already. I'm 40 lbs overweight and most of it is in my stomach. Although my weight is exactly the same as it was pre-preg I am having trouble putting any pressure on my tummy so I can't wear the same clothes that pull it in and I can't really suck it in well either. So I really look like there's something in there! When I tell ppl I'm pregnant they say, do you know the sex yet? I'm only 7 weeks! (and they started asking at 5 weeks)

Worst symptoms are severe fatigue (have spent a couple days pretty much just in bed) and boobs that are bigger than my head and in horrible pain (can't wear bras anymore and I now have a 2" cyst). I get nausea on and off, sometimes severe, usually mild. If I force myself to keep food in my stomach I'm okay. I've lost most of my appetite and have changed my food prefs a lot.

I have tons of cramps, especially if I do anything active ("active" for me included a couple hours of clothes shopping from my wheelchair or pool walking). No vomiting but horrific diarhea with cramps. Am also struggling with edema though it's mostly gone now. I gained 8 lbs of water in the first week but have lost it.

Had my first prenatal visit on Thursday and that was fine. I'm planning a home birth but will also see a backup MD just in case.

[mimim]

Eva, thanks for that pic. I thought I was crazy thinking that my stomach was sticking out already. I'm only 6 weeks and I can totally see the roundness starting. Yay! Pregnant bellies!

[CityGirl]

I think also that one aspect to whether you show a lot, and early, or don't, is the length of your torso (perhaps more so than pre-pregnancy weight). I am medium weight (136 lbs) and medium height (5'4") but I have short legs and a long torso. I think that might have had something to do with not showing for a long time and then never getting big.

Anyway, people will just think up incredibly rude comments for just about any situation, won't they?

[cholderby]

It is so encouraging to hear that other people are already having clothing issues!

I had a full on clothing crisis this weekend when we had to go to a birthday party. My work clothes are so baggy that it will be quite some time before I can't fit into them but I am completely out of nice casual clothes that fit! And what I really don't understand is how my body shape has changed so much and I've only gained three pounds. How is that even possible? There are a bunch of jeans that are too small for me now. They don't fit in the rear though, not the waist. Between that and my chest, well, I just have too much T&A going on to fit into anything!

I bought my first maternity outfit last night. I *might* wear the pants sometime soon as they are so stretchy and comfy plus I think I could get away with it but the shirt will have to wait. I was a little disturbed by how small the clothes are. This is my first pregnancy but if my friends are any judge, I will outgrow these maternity clothes by the end of the 6th month. And I bought them one size larger than I normally wear. Oh well. I'll just ask for a muumuu for Christmas.

[Patchfire]

Come over to this week's thread...

Week of 26 July