Chat thread from 8/9 until... - Page 11

[banana girl]

36 weeks 3 days

Originally Posted by Mom2baldie

How did your home visit go?

I have mine next week and Im kind of nervous and curious about it...

Well Lynsey, i had a home visit yesterday as well as Sheryl, so I guess I'll but in and say it went really well and I wish all visits could be at home! It helps that the house was extraordinarily clean since my MIL was here last weekend! We showed the mw where the tub will go and got her advice on moving the bed over a little.
I felt very relaxed and organized... had list of concerns and questions to talk with her about and that helped. Jerome cooked dinner while we sat at the table and talked. I am doing some additional testing with the glucometer again this week. We are gonna try and pin down some food culprits and get my blood sugars in check. It's not bad... but borderline, so we are doing what we can to figure this out.
Tonight there is a group meeting at the mw's house. I am hoping to attend. They will be discussing GBS testing, which I am still trying to make a decision about.
Hey blue violet could you link me to an article in Mothering from about a year or so ago about GBS testing? Or any threads that have discussed this intelligently. You always seem to know where that stuff is! My mw recommended reading that article.

Baby is still head down with the rear end ideally positioned. I can't imagine the kid moving out of this position now... there's no room to move!!! The heart rate has slowed a little and is closer to birth rate than ever before! Pretty cool! This baby is almost here!

Work beckons.... I must go

[Brisen]

37 wks 5 days

msrog, I'm glad all went well at your appointment! Especially the pre eclampsia, what a relief.

caroline, you must be super organized to pull everything together for a big party for your dh. Ugh! I would feel accomplished for baking a cake... and then I would eat most of it.

Lazuli, I agree with having your friend come to protect you -- unless your hubby is very, very good at standing up to his mom and mil at the same time!

Anna, can you send me some of those good sleep vibes? Please?

Jen, the renovations are coming along. Not super fast, but things are happening. Dh was supposed to leave for the scout camp today, but he managed to find someone to cover for him. It turned out well, actually, because it was the father of one of the boys, the dad really wanted to go, but he didn't have a vehicle and the other ones going were full. He'll be driving our car and taking dh's place. It's a good thing we're planning a homebirth! And dh has the next 5 days off work, so he can pamper me and work on the kitchen. Woo hoo!

I never knew there was so much to go through when a partner was adopting. Caroline, that's crazy! Makes no sense.

mum2tori, we should swap kids. They sleep pretty late in the morning. Actually, Solomon often wakes early. I'm the opposite, I would like to get to bed earlier and be up earlier. I find that once it's light outside, I can't sleep well. I've been doing a lot of afternoon kids shows while I doze on the couch, that's when I get tired. The problem I have with tools and dh is that he'll use one and leave it out or put it in a weird place, and then expect me to magically know where he left it the next time he needs it. The problem is, 95% of the time I DO "magically" know where anything he asks for is, so he keeps asking.

MamaAcorn, I hope you're feeling better. I'm so lucky with headaches in pregnancy, but I'm such a cranky wimp when I get one.

I've been an emotional mess too. Monday was awful... A friend of mine was keeping a bunch of stuff in our freezer while she moved, and she (her family too) came to pick it up Sunday. Our phone was unplugged, she had called to say she was coming, we didn't know. Anyway, they showed up, and all three kids were trying to play in our crowded basement. My kids were cranky from being in there all afternoon and were so hyped up when she visited. She was swinging on our rope ladder (which takes up most of our free floor space) and Darwin was pointing our dustbuster at her like it was a weapon. He misjudged her arc and she bashed into it and got a gash on her forehead. Darwin was a bit shocked too -- I found him later (after I found our first aid kit) going up to his room saying he needed quiet to think about it, then he wanted to know where the girl was so he could apologize (he was just about in tears himself). So I was thinking it was an accident, he didn't mean to and he's sorry. My friend (she's basically my closest friend) emailed me the next day to say that she didn't want Darwin playing with her daughter until he isn't so "violent" anymore, as she had seen that he did it on purpose "just to see what happened". She said she didn't want her daughter to think that friends abused each other or to follow that kind of example, so she discussed it with her daughter and said it was better to stay away from friends like that for a while. I can completely understand her POV, I would be protective too. I don't think she's wrong in what she's doing, it's just that I was already feeling so down, this really didn't help. I just cried and cried when I read it. I was supposed to have a mw appointment that morning, but she was at a birth. Our phone still wasn't working, I showed up (10 mins early, a first!) and found out. Then I got the email, and then dh said he wouldn't have time to go grocery shopping with me. OK, not the end of the world, but I just felt so unsupported. I was crying to a Metallica song on the radio on the way home from groceries. Ugh. I'm feeling better now -- dh getting out of that camping trip was so wonderful.

Mucous plugs -- I so far have lost mine once labour was well started, like ctx 3 mins apart for a while. My water broke about an hour before Darwin was born, and while I was pushing with Solomon. I don't seem to get signs very long before the birth that things are happening -- good thing, I would go crazy with impatience!

[adventuregirl]

Morning girls!

Jen, yes, still in the market for some Queen sheets, got a lead for me? Glad the adoption process is going well, I had been thinking of that too.

Lynsey, the home visit was great. My mw got a little lost finding the place, so it was a good dry run in finding us! I basically showed her around, looked at all my birth supplies, talked about a few more things I might like to have around, then talked about our birth wishes. We pretty much went over a birth plan, when to call, what to expect, perineal support, catching the baby, cutting cord, etc. We listened to hb, she felt the baby (said its prob upper 6# range now), I grew 3.5 cm in a week! We put on paper refusal of Vit K and the eye goo, and I need to read the nb screening test paper before I probably refuse that too. Oh and we talked about emergency plans too.

What is everyone here doing about the nb screening? Most of the stuff seems so rare and like it would be terribly obvious without a test that its not worth making the baby go through the blood draw. I'm curious to hear others' input/decisions.

Well, I went and overdid it prior to the visit yesterday and spent the evening feeling crappy. I cleaned the hot tub, house, and did mountains of laundry (hanging most of it outside to dry), and ended up with a wicked backache, belly pains and just plain old exhaustion, yech! Guess I got a little over-excited about getting things done, gotta really pace this stuff, I do not want to feel like that again.

My Grandma sent me some diapers yesterday, I have never seen flatfolds before, they are pretty neat. With those I am set, although I still really really want to win an ebay auction on some Kissaluvs this week!

Alright, better go, getting things done at a slow pace, not over doing it, I have plenty of time....

[Brisen]

Originally Posted by adventuregirl

What is everyone here doing about the nb screening? Most of the stuff seems so rare and like it would be terribly obvious without a test that its not worth making the baby go through the blood draw. I'm curious to hear others' input/decisions.

We do the nb blood screen. I'm not sure about the other things it tests for, but I know that although PKU is very rare, once it's obvious that the baby has it (without getting tested) the brain damage has already been done, and that's irreversible. We do it no earlier than 7 days after birth, though; earlier tests (specifically the one the hosp likes to do within 24 hours) aren't really reliable. I had thought about having dh and I tested to see if we were carriers, but carrier testing is majorly expensive. I assume that using cord blood isn't an option because the baby hasn't eaten anything yet (for PKU purposes, anyway). Darwin had his test done at the hosp when I wasn't there, but Solomon had it at my 1 week check up and he didn't seem to notice it at all. The mw wrapped a wet, warm towel around his foot and massaged his leg to encourage blood flow and did one little prick while I was holding him. He barely flinched. Anyway, that's just my experience with it.

[Caroline248]

Originally Posted by adventuregirl

Morning girls!



What is everyone here doing about the nb screening? Most of the stuff seems so rare and like it would be terribly obvious without a test that its not worth making the baby go through the blood draw. I'm curious to hear others' input/decisions.

....

3



We have to do several tests I would rather not do, but with Bridget being born with a blood disorder, heart defect, etc etc, we need to be more careful. If it weren't for the fact that I *know* we have these issues, I would try to skip as much as possible....at least until the first week....

Caroline

[Caroline248]

38 weeks 2 days

I am off to the MW....I had irregular cntrx's from 6 pm last night, all night, and this morning. They seem to be slowing down now (of course) but I am SOOOOO ready. I am hoping I go in and she says "Wow, you are 6 cms". Yeah right. I think I really have until next week....after praying for this guy to stay in...please baby, come out now!!

Caroline

[banana girl]

blessings and love

Caroline,
We will be thinking of you today... good luck and be at peace.

lots of hugs!

[wardermom]

I had contractions all night too.

I had a mw appointment last night. It went well. She sent me home with a vial of ergot. So if I have a big hemmorhage, they'll inject me with it to stop it.

We won't be having the eye goop, but we will have intramuscular vit k and the pku test done.

[plantmommy]

Sending labor vibes to Caroline!!!

[Mom2baldie]

Glad to hear that both of the home visits went well! I have been trying to keep my house clean and ready for mine next week, but it seems I am fighting a losing battle with 2 kids and a long haired dog. I guess all I really have to do is just little nit-picky stuff, but I wish I didnt have to clean the same things every single day. :

Sheryl,

We will be doing the PKU blood draw at around 1 week of age or a few days before. From what I have been told by a friend with PKU and from research on the net, if the baby has that it can be treated with a special formula and diet, but if its not found or treated the baby would end up profoundly disabled (trying to be PC here, hoping not to offend anyone)...

Anyways, thats the way I understand it (could be wrong though I guess) and even though its rare, I dont have a problem with a bloodtest done by my midwife while I am holding or nursing the baby.

We have opted out of the vitamin K and eye ointment though. Theres no reason for us to have the eye gunk given and unless I have a horribly physically traumatic delivery Im not sure theres a reason for the vitamin k shot either. I guess some people have the hep. b vaccine given at birth also, but we dont vaccinate, so thats out as well.

Anyways, I wasnt sure which newborns procedures you were talking about so I figured I would write about all the ones I can remember....

[JenInMpls]

So I fell asleep to contractions which felt like menstrual cramps. I'm assuming that probably means something? They were either possible to sleep through, since I fell asleep, or they went away. They haven't come back today, though.

Totally T but confidential to everyone who ever wears wool socks: LLBean has SmartWool sandal socks on sale, a two-pack for $6.95 which for SmartWools is a steal. Found them in the sale section at llbean.com .

I bought myself PJs for hanging around after birth today, they're BRIGHT striped flannel. Jo is kind of getting on me to pack stuff for myself for the birth - of course everything is packed for baby I ought to do that.

Is everyone doing a little better today?

jen

[chrissy]

sounds like something is going on in there jen! how exciting!

so i wonder if caroline is in the hospital having her baby????

[Lazuli]

I had a doctor's appointment this morning. All is well, baby is still nicely head down and has dropped some. My blood pressure was a little high in the office but the doctor wasn't concerned at all, yay! I mentioned that my husband was going to be gone next week and so Vaysh better stay put until daddy's home and the doctor said they'll hold off on an internal exam then. I plan to decline that though. I stopped at the bead shop and made my bracelet on the way home. I'll have to take a picture and post it, I'm quite happy with how it turned out.

I decided I'd put the changing table together when i got home, but sadly that isn't going to happen. I can't for the life of me get one of the legs on, I'm just not strong enough. The other three I got on with no trouble, but that one....it's being stubborn. Still, I got the thing put together halfway which is something of an accomplishment.

Sounds like people are having better days today. Yay! I think I'll do some cleaning now.

[Caroline248]

Originally Posted by chrissy

so i wonder if caroline is in the hospital having her baby????

No..Caroline is sitting here pouting. I am three cms, but not really effacing. So I am going to take the evening primrose oil gel tabs vaginally and try to get that going. I was so dissapointed, with all the pain I was having, I hoped something more was going on. She said next time I was contracting all night, to come in and she could strip my membranes if I wanted. But, i think the plan is now my mom is coming Saturday to stay, so it would be good if I could hold off until then. I really hoped I would be in labor now....I hate the last week of pregnancy...

Caroline

[JenInMpls]

Originally Posted by chrissy

so i wonder if caroline is in the hospital having her baby????

Now we know Caroline's not (bummer), but I'm wondering about Danielle!

[chrissy]

I'm sorry Caroline, Soon, soon, soon!!!

Hmmmm, you're right Jen, where are you Danielle?

[msrog]

36 wks 2 days with twins

Omigosh, FIVE of my September moms on the Twins board I visit either just had their babies in the past week or are in the hospital now!!! Egads!!!! Too close for comfort, hee hee...

The ones who have checked in were about 36 or 36 1/2 weeks, and had to have babies in the NICU. Apparently that one week is crucial; if they get to 37 they usually don't have to stay in the NICU at all.

Did I mention the bottom fell out of my belly? :LOL I got these horrendously wide stretch marks in the past week or so VERY far down on my belly, right at my pubic hair line... Now my belly makes this strange pouch above my pubic bone that hangs DOWN and seems to get bigger and lower by the day. Too bizarre. I'll try to be sure to capture this interesting development in my next round of belly pictures! I'm sure you're all anxious to see, ha ha.

[chrissy]

Savannah, I think I'm in for some new stretch marks down low too. My lower belly has been very very itchy the past few days. I'm glad it looks like your babies are going to stay in until at least 37 weeks so you (hopefully) won't have to deal with a stay in the NICU. You are doing such a great job growing those babes!!

[Brisen]

38 weeks today and You might be a procrastinator if...

Originally Posted by msrog

Did I mention the bottom fell out of my belly? :LOL

At first I read "my bottom", and I'm thinking things like prolapsed uterus... even though I'm not really sure what that is and I think it only happens after you give birth. Or some sort of perineal collapse. What a relief to see I was wrong!

Well, I think I might be in labour, or something like it anyway. I woke up with contractions, fairly regular, 3 - 5 mins apart, but pretty short. I had a miniscule amount of blood in my mucous when I was in the bathroom. Then I came down here to read, and felt a little gush. Now, in past labours, my water hasn't broken until I was in hard labour, so this was a little odd to me. I wasn't sure if that's what it was. I'm getting little leaks now and then, and had a bit more blood (very little bit more). The ctx are easing off, but things still feel different down there. I realized that I haven't taken out or washed any of my newborn clothes, and we don't have any newborn diapers on hand. I haven't had my home visit yet, and I lot the list of things to have on hand... I think we have most of the stuff from last time, though. I also haven't lined up anyone to look after the boys while I'm having the baby. Yeah, I'm a procrastinator! :

[plantmommy]

Go Shannon!!!!!!! :

Short and easy labor magic vibes: