February mamas--week of Aug 9 - 15

[coopsmama]

I guess I'll start it since it is my birthday today! Yipee!


Kater07 February
Chiku due Feb 1 birthing center
Parker'smommy (Heather) due Feb 1
Lisashepp (Lisa) due Feb 1
Sadkitty. Due Feb 1st
Dandylion (Stephanie) due Feb 2
Truvie due Feb 2
PeacefulVegan (who also answers to Tracie) due Feb 3
Lou due Feb 3
Orange due Feb 3 Birth Center with OB
Twin Mom (Deb) Due Feb 4, VBA2C homebirth
Free Thinker (Mandy) due Feb 5
HelloKitty (Kitty) due Feb 6
Letabug (Arleta) due Feb 6
LianneM due Feb 7 homebirth
TexasSuz (Susan) due Feb 7
Happymamajenni (Jenni) due Feb 7 hospital/OBGYN
LesleyLuu (Lesley) due Feb 7 (or 9th?) hospital/OBGYN
DeirdreAlison (Deirdre) due 1st week Feb homebirth, maybe waterbirth
New Life Due Feb 8
Shannon 0218- due Feb 11 hospital birth with great OB
ella-makes-3 (Jasmine) - due ~ Feb. 11 midwife/natural birth at birth center
Tug due Feb 12
Firefly due Feb 13
Christi due Feb 14 hospital birth with fab OB
Periwinkle (Karen) due Feb 14
Fairymomma (Pamela) due Feb 14
Jorie (Margorie) due Feb 14
AmBam (Amber) due Feb 14 homebirth
Wtchyhlr (Joy) due Feb 14
rose angel (Karen) due Feb 16
mama2m&m (Denise) due Feb 16
HydeParkB due Feb 17
Karennnnn (Karen) due Feb 17
Coopsmama (Kristen) Due Feb 17
Shyly (Monica) Due Feb 17
Gretchen Due Feb 18
weesej (Jen) Due Feb 19 homebirth
mehndimama (Stell) due Feb 22 unassisted homebirth
heveasoul due Feb 21, h/b with m/w
woolfairy (Elle) due Feb 27, baby #2 homebirth
Ekblad7+ (Amy) due Feb 20 Homebirth
KateSt. Late Feb. Homebirth
Chloe'sMummy #2

[coopsmama]

Ok,

so I really wanted to post a new thread because I have a question for all of you seasoned fertilty goddesses. My closest childhood friend is pregnant after two miscarriages. She has a son who is the same age as ds. The miscarriages happened after first baby. Anyway, she has been spotting since Friday, off and on, with no cramping and finally (I have been harrassing her since friday to go) went to the Dr. She had an ultrasound which showed a yolk sac and fluid, etc. Dr. said it is too early to see anything more and speculated that she is bleeding due to a dip in progesterone levels. I asked if he gave her a prescription for supplements and she said that his response was "that is voodoo."
I told her that was total crap and that she should call back and demand a prescription. Her compromise was to go to the health food store and get wild yam and vitex, which I feel won't help much at this stage.
So, the question is, would progesterone at this point be worth trying? And is her Dr. the idiot I think he is or does he know something? I haven't had any experience with progesterone, so I have no idea. Any insight would be helpful. TIA

On a side note, I got an US yesterday and everything looks really good. We got to see fingers and toes and waving and bouncing. Baby is measuring a good week ahead, but so did ds. My friend guesses girl, and I am keeping my fingers crossed.

[shannon0218]

Hey Kristin!! Thanks for starting the new thread and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
How far along is your friend?? As for the progesterone, I have researched this ad nauseum until my eyes bled. Basically, there is no solid proof it works--reason being, for there to be solid proof it works, a control group would have to be willing to know their progesterone level is low but not take the supplementation. Until we can find a group of a hundred women or so who are at risk for miscarriage from low progesterone but are willing to do nothing, we will not have proof.
Here are the primary facts I did find during all my research.....
1) Of the doctors that believe in progesterone supplementation they are split as to wether starting supplementation late (ie. after week 4) however, the agreement is that it can't hurt.
2) There is NO danger to the baby by supplementing and the side effects for mom are mainly increased morning sickness, headaches, and worse constipation.
3) You would have to soak in a vat of wild yam cream to absorb enough progesterone to do any good.
4) Taking the progesterone as a suppository (either rectal or vaginal) provides the best bio-availability.
5) Progestone suppositories CAN cause spotting and/or make it worse, because it enhances blood flow to the pelvic area and thickens the lining, it can also cause the cervix to become irratated--this problem was solved for me by using it rectally instead of vaginally.
6) I have found NO studies anywhere showing possible danger to mother or baby by using progesterone during the first trimester (and neither could either of my doctors)

Ultimately, whether it actually helps or not, my take was unless it will hurt me or my baby, after 3 miscarriages I was willing to try it even if the chance it would help was slim to nil. Until now I have never carried past 10 weeks. Is it the progesterone, the heparin, the baby aspirin or just fluke?? I don't know, never will know and don't really care, as long as something is working!! I will be at 14 completed weeks this Friday, so something is working.
I would suggest she either see another doc or ask her doctor to show her proof that progesterone supplementation is dangerous and if he can't (which he can't) I'd be telling him to humor me and supplement anyways. Keeping in mind that you won't find many people who don't agree that the earlier supplementation is begun, the better.
If she needs any more information, tell her to feel free to email me at [e-mail]
Hope this helps and again HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!

[Orange]

Happy Birthday Kristin!!

I agree with Shannon, it couldn't hurt your friend to see another doctor. I'm curious why she is so lackadaisical (sp?) about it though? Seems I would have already gone to get a 2nd opinion at this point...

[tug]

[subscribing]

sorry - can't stay, just wanted to not lose the thread!

[KateSt.]

Subscribing...
Back from long weekend away. Haven't read thread yet. Will be back! Hope all you ladies are doing well.

[Mama2Chloe]

Let me just say that I am so exhausted! Everytime I think the sleepy fog has lifted, I have a day like yesterday. I thought I was going to die of exhaustion yesterday. I babysat for my friend's little one year old and Chloe was having a hard time sharing (wanting everything that Emma played with) I know they can't grasp this concept yet, but it was a hard day. DD would just fall apart crying. She also didn't get but a 20 minute nap and was so irritable for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

I'm tired even first thing in the morning when I wake up. Maybe it's because of the 3 -4 times of getting up to go potty.

I'm 11 weeks 2 days today and am hopeing for easier days to come with more energy to face the day. Take care! Talk to you later. :yawning:

[AmBam]

Good morning ladies! Just have a minute. I am babysitting a 3 month old and a 16 month old along with my own 17 month old. So needless to say today is going to be very long! My ds was up almost all night not feeling well so I haven't had much sleep.
Anyway, I am having crazy dreams. Last night it seemed like I dreamed all night. (When I was able to sleep that is! ) I dreamed that this phsyco guy was chasing me and I was running through a trailer court in and out of all the trailers hiding from him. It was sooo scary. Then I dreamed I had a baby... still born... He was a boy. I saw him so clearly. I was holding him all wrapped up in a blanket. Dh wouldn't hold him or look at him. It was awful. I pray I am never faced with that. It makes me a little paranoid ya know. I hope everything is okay with my wee one. I am sure it is. It's amazing how dreams can get to you though.

Gotta run! I have 2 screaming children!!

[mehndi mama]

Hi, everyone! Nothing happening here.....still hungry, but feeling queasy if I don't eat enough, or if I eat too much :
I tried looking up what our baby should look like at 12 weeks in "A Child is Born", but they only had photos for 2 months & 4 months. Oh well. Amber was fascinated with the little 2-month toes and fingers
I just got a teeny-tiny newborn diaper in the mail yesterday. It's SO CUTE! And in a really nice orange dragon print, too.

[coopsmama]

Thanks so much Shannon, that is exactly the information that I needed. I am actually not sure how far along she is, she thought she was 9 weeks, but the us showed a much smaller pregnancy. She did the same thing with her ds. I am guessing that her luteal phase is ultra short (she doesn't temp) and this is due to low progesterone.

Orange, I have no idea why she isn't being more agressive with this. She keeps calling me for information, which I am glad of. I would rather she called than not. But she has always been a rather passive person, and that is a lot for me to say, because I am an extremely passive person.

Do you have to have a prescription for progesterone suppositories?

Anyway, thanks for all the info. I hope everyone has a good week. DH went back to work this week (he teaches) and so Cooper and I are struggling to get used to it just being us again. We fought like cats and dogs yesterday. I vowed today would be better and then we got to Wal-Mart for dog food and he refused to get out of the car. Oh well.

[mama2m&m]

hello everyone. flitting in and out as usual lol.

mendhi ... have you checked about.com ? http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/ultras.../blusindex.htm
they have cool belly and u/s pictures plus lots of other info. i haven't checked it all out and they do have an annoying pop up but i love to look at the picture galleries.

ambam i have those crazy dreams too. i had one dream that i was term and went into labor at home. i was walking to tell my dh and i felt the baby crowning. the only thing was the baby was born at 3 months gestation. fully formed. it really freaked me. it was like the baby just fell out of me. but i do know that everything was fine as of yesterday so i'm chalking it up to nerves. after a loss last year not a day goes by that i don't think about what can happen. i try not to but it just happens.

mama2chloe, tha seems to be one thing i haven't experienced this pg but it can be so debilitating. i would try to take a catnap in the afternoon if possible when i was pg with dd and got tired like that. not a cure but it seemed to help a tad.

coopsma - happy birthday! btw, i think i would get a second opinion pronto if i were your friend. if she's having recurrent miscarriages, i think the doctor should be figuring out why and not poo-pooing her concernings. my thoughts are with her.

shannon - how's it going today?



i still have m/s. the all day naseau sesems to have passed (knock on wood) though most foods still don't seem appealing and i still vomit every evening. i think i'll give up eating dinner for a while. dd was using the *only* potty in our house lat night when i got sick. she's 3 and insists on sitting until something comes out so there was no way i was getting ahold of that potty : after that i just cried. i really thought i was turning the corner. so i think i'm just extra slowly moving out of this phase (I HOPE).

i'm wearing all maternity now, except for a few loose tops. when idid the tp test, i still have the same measurement but it's all belly now. i think i can feel the fundus but it makes me naseaus to touch anything lowr than my boobs or higher than my thights so i don't generally try to feel for it. i think i feel the baby is moving but i'm not totally sure that's what i'm feeling either.

so now i'm finally getting somewhat excited about this baby. thinking of the future, names, etc. even dh is excited. i can't believe that in six months i could be holding a brand new life in my hands.

sorry this is so long!

[Christi]

subscribing

[MommytoL]

Hi, I'm checking in for the week. Went to my midwife exam at 12.5 weeks today and we got to hear a little heartbeat (157 and kicking!). So cool. I have been taking progesterone pills (50 mg.) for about 3 weeks now. My level was a little low (I think 17.5) at 8.5 weeks and midwife wanted it to be around 20. I've had no extra effects from the meds. Guess it's just a little dosage. She did a blood test after one week on the progesterone and my level was where she wanted it (can't remember the number), but she told me to continue the meds until 14 weeks just to be sure. My level is probably low cuz' you you know, I'm one of those "older" moms (shhh....40) and they say progesterone decreases as you age. Some of us didn't start children until we'd been married 18 years!

Anyways, the nausea waves are quieting down and I'm getting a little appetite now. Yea!!! I've gained 3 pounds so far..better than the first babe...I had gained about 8 pounds by this point!! Of course, it was all boobs , oh yes, and butt... Maybe BF is keeping the boobs at bay, and, oh yes, dd sucked everything out of my butt by extended BF. I do think my boobs are shrinking this time, but dh says the butt is sneaking out!! Oh yes, the fun times of pg!! :LOL

I like to hear everyone's progress and little short stories about where they are at this point. Sometimes if the weekly thread gets too "busy", if you know what I mean, I get lost in there somewhere.

Carol
Mommy to my 32 weeker dd (5/2002) and new one due (2/18/05)

[ekblad9]

Can't stay. Just subscribing. We're vacationing and I'm so exhausted. Not a vacation!

[wtchyhlr]

Hey Ladies,
Just a quick note to say hi. We had a lovely quick trip to Chicago. Taking the train actually gave us some decompression time each way, so we got back actually feeling like we'd had a vacation.

The guys at work have a pool started as to if I'll come back to work after the baby is born. Just amuses me.

At the midwife appt yesterday we listened to the heartbeat... a whalloping 158 bpm. sounded like a horse. She thinks my due date is Feb 4 based on both my LMP and that I'm measuring a big big. *shrug* either way, i' still know that the ONLY time we gio that month was around 22dpo. We'll see.

So, when do first time mom's begin to need maternity clothes? By the midwife's clock i'm 14 1/2 weeks, by my clock, 13 1/2. Still wearing the same jeans i was, albeit not quite so baggy, when i concieved. Only part of me thats needed bigger clothes so far has been my boobs. Kinda curious... more because i'd rather be showing than just looking like i've gotten chubby, kwim?

[Mama2Chloe]

With my first PG I started really needing to wear maternity clothes around 17 weeks I think. It will be much sooner this time though. I seriously thought I was having twins or something because of how fast I popped out this time. I'm not, as confirmed by U/S. I had heard that with the 2nd time around, your body remembers what direction to grow, but was still surprised.

Better go for now. Talk to ya later! Tricia

[jorie]

subscribing

[Dandylion]

Hello. I haven't posted in forever, but I have been reading intermittently. I thought I'd pop in and say hi.

I'm almost 16 weeks now and I'm feeling definite movement. It's mostly been just little fluttery movements that make me wonder if what I'm really feeling is baby, but for the past week or so I've also had the occasional definite baby kick. It's very exciting. In fact, this morning I was lying on my back and I was not completely awake, but not completely asleep and I felt this rolling sensation, kind of like what it feels like later on, when the baby is bigger and it's butt or elbow or something slides by. I put my hand on it and felt it again, but since I had been half asleep, after I truly woke up I started wondering if I had dreamed it. I haven't felt anything like it since.

My friend gave me a big bag of tea, which is a mixture of red raspberry leaf and um.... I don't really remember but it's a recipe from a book called Natural Pregnancy (I think!). I'm not a big tea drinker but I liked this, especially iced, and it's good for my uterus! Woohoo!

With my first I didn't need maternity clothes until I was about 5 months or so. Of course with this one I popped out right away and now I'm wearing maternity clothes whenever we leave the house, but at home I just wear sweatpants or shorts.

[milk_maker]

Good morning all! I had a very stressful and scary day yesterday. I was at work and had these intense pains in my abdomen that doubled me over. I almost fell down (in front of a bunch of people no less) and barely made it to my desk. I called the advice nurse at my clinic and left a message for her...she never called me back. I called the advice nurse at my old clinic and she told me to get in to see someone as soon as possible. After 45 minutes on hold (god I hate the Army health system) I finally got through to someone at the OB/GYN clinic and they told me to come in. My midwife was booked solid so I had to be seen by this doctor (I didn't like). He rushed in chewing the remainders of his lunch, asked me what was wrong, poked my stomach, and tried to find a heartbeat. Couldn't find it. Tears started to fill my eyes because it was just like last time...tried to find the heart...it wasn't there...sent me home...started spotting the next day. He tried to just send me out of there, but I adamantly refused so he heaved an all-suffering sigh and took me to the ultrasound room.

I got to see the "embryo" or baby as I like to say. Even the doctor had to admit that it was dancing around...it was so funny. It was waving its arms up and down and jumping around...DH says he was doing the Beavis and Butthead dance, but I prefer to think the baby's going to be a raver like me

So everything's okay and I'm having terrible round ligament pains. They're nothing like what I was having before and even though I know what they are, they still scare me because they double me up in pain every time. I really think mine are stress induced...I've been drinking so much water my eyeballs are floating so I'm not dehydrated. I'm under tons of stress at work though, I'm training my replacement, taking the place of another assistant who had to take a month off, and I'm still doing my old job since my replacement can't figure it out yet. I'm so stressed I usually end up crying at some point during the day (and I'm not a crier) and I need to stop it. If only I knew how...

[KateSt.]

Oh Monica How scary that must have been! I'm so glad your baby is okay and you got to see him/her dancing. I hope your work situation starts to look up very soon. Thinking of you and sending you warm thoughts....