It's September!! - Page 2

[momadance]

33.4 weeks

lucysmama! Hope things are going better!

On the topic of maternity clothes, I'm ok with mine. I throw on my hippy dippy skirts with a tank or normal t and still feel pretty cute

Fear?! None now that I've decided to Homebirth. I had nxiety at about 20 weeks about the treatment of nb's in hospitals, and worrying about some kind of mix up. I'm opposed to vax, early pku, vit K, eye goo, and circ. of my babe, and worried somehow they'd get him! Plus, I worried about all the "just in case" procedures you run into. Now I have no concerns, other then popping this sucker out!



I felt the baby's head today! It had been about 4 weeks since the last time I could feel it with my hands. It's grown from a fist to the size of a nb! Amazing! A few white blood cells in my urine, but mw said it was most likely due to his head and hands rubbing my cervix! Wild stuff!

Sorry ameliabedelia you must be so disappointed! IT was a hard choice for us as well. We had medicaid, cause I had no hc, and our paying out of pocket for ours. Tuff, but well worth it!

[flitters]

31 weeks 2 days

hi mamas!

gosh, already lots of catching up and it's only monday!

lucysmama, i'm so sorry you're going through all this. i hope things ease up for you quickly so you can relax and have the birth experience you want. much good luck and hugs and wishes for no more contractions for another few weeks.

ameliabedilia, i wish the homebirth would have worked out for you. it sounds like you have a really good hospital though and it's great that the new insurance is really good aside from birthing.

wannabmommie, i've been worrying about the aquadoula falling through our floor too! thanks for the analogy gottaknit, it helps to think about it that way but i think the aquadoula holds about 175 gallons so that would be 8 very large nurses!!! i finally thought of a good place where we can put it - half way between our kitchen and our living room. they connect openly so there's not a doorway. at the transition there is a foundation wall cause the house was expanded many years ago (it used to end at the kitchen) so if we straddle the little foundation wall with the aquadoula on a pallet i think i won't worry too much about falling through the floor. i hope you figure something out!!! and congratulations on the decision to have a homebirth, it really sounds like a great choice for you.

truebluexf, congrats on making progress with the baby repositioning!

sorry to hear how many of you are seriously hating your clothes lately! like trueblue, i have been very pleased with my maternity wardrobe. it's no stretch for me though since i still pretty much always wear jeans and a t-shirt - they are just bigger and stretchier now! so i'm dressing pretty much the same way i have for the last 12 years. i'm not very adventurous with fashion!

QOTW: like many of you, i fear having a cessarian, mostly due to a breech baby. i also feel that if i have a cessarian i am likely to experience postpartum depression. needing one is very unlikely, i know, so i don't dwell on it too much. but days like today where there is a hard lump in my belly i worry the baby will go breech. honestly i have no idea if the lump is a head or a butt or a knee or a shoulder... i listen to the heartbeat regularly with our fetoscope (a seriously great $20 investment) and it's pretty much always down low on the side so i think the baby is probably head down, but those big hard lumpy parts make me wonder. i'm really not afraid of labor - i expect it to be probably the most intense experience i've ever had, physically and mentally, but thinking about it doesn't cause me fear.

i still love looking at the yahoo gallery and i look forward to more pictures!

also, here is a link to the thread i made so we could maybe have an october mamas song list... it would be great if more people share their favorites!

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=184335

i hope you all have a great week!

[Lucysmama]

Hey guys!!! Happy September! Babies should start coming in a couple weeks!

Things are looking up a little here. We are moving (everyone ELSE is moving us, actually - as I type! I'm just kind of sitting here watching.) into a small little apartment. I am not having as many contractions - only about 4/hour. My poor lil dd has been kinda lost in the shuffle, so today I arranged for some relatives to care for her, asking them to please spoil and dote on her. She really needs it!!! The only thing left to do is find a home for our doggy, who cannot come to the apartment with us.

QOTW: I have a lot of fears about labor and birth, but I am trying to work thru them. I am having a home VBAC, so that carries with it a lot of extra issues. When I had my dd, the doctors and my midwives speculated that my pelvis was too small or my dd was too large, and that is why she never engaged. 99% of me believes that is BullS--t, but I still have this nagging fear that this baby will never descend. I also didn't dilate past 4cm with dd before I was sectioned, so I worry about my progress being halted there. I read that that can happen with VBAC mamas - they can have a hard time getting past where they got hung up. I do have faith in my body to birth, but I guess not 100% faith, you know? I also have fears about having the baby before 37 weeks -though my midwife told me that she has attended a few 35.5-36 week homebirths before, when the mamas were SURE about their conception dates. I can't believe that in 10 days, I could potentially give birth at home!!!

Amelia - So sorry about the homebirth! But it sounds like your hospital is progressive and you can still have a lovely (water!)birth there.

Amy - glad to hear your baby is repositioning!!! That must be a huge load-off!

Piglet- hope you guys are getting all settled into your place!

[OakEmber]

QOTW- I guess my biggest fear is that my midwife won't be there for the delivery, for two reasons 1) my biggest worry is about not having my wishes re: nb procedures respected or having the cord cut before I want that sort of thing, with the midwife I am sure they will be respected but I have no idea if her fill in would, plus I really don't like confrontation and then would not be the time for me to feel I need to defend my wishes KWIM and 2) having travelled out of my way all this time to see her would seemed a waste of time...not a total waste of time of course as I have had good prenatal care all along, but really it's all about the big event.

And I bought the blue paisley hotsling that Mirthfulmum already showed the link for ...it was really hard to decide between that and the china pattern, but in the end I went with the one that I might possibly get Dh to wear (not that it will probably fit him anyway, but it's worth a shot)...Courtney, you are still the sole owner of the china but now that the others know there is one available it might not be for long

Mirthfulmum- 2 weeks to term! WOW :

Amelia- I am sorry that you are having to change your plans, especially so late in the game...but I must admit the alternative sounds awesome! I hope that you will have a very fullfilling waterbirth

Oh and about maternity clothes...I have been pretty lucky this time and have a lot to choose from, good karma I suppose for lending all mine out last time and not getting everything back. It's actually nice not to be wearing much of the same stuff again...but I am having the issue of things getting tighter and starting not to fit anymore, so if I really do go to the end of Oct. I will be in sweats cuz my jeans will long have been outgrown!

And Flitters, now I am by no means an expert but at my last appt. my baby was heads up and when the midwife (wives actually because her assistant was there too) tried to use the fetalscope down low she got nothing...so it sounds to me like if you hear the heartbeat down low babies head would be down.

Yeah Katie! Glad to hear that you have a home...and that you have help moving! So sorry to hear about your dog though, that is a real bummer! Wow, 10 days and you are in the hb clear, that's awesome! You know, I used to worry about premmies but I just have this feeling that Oakley is big and healthy and would be fine if he did come...I guess in part it's because my great-nephew was born at 30 weeks last year and is doing just fine and also because his dad was born at 33 weeks over 20 years ago and is fine (and 6'5" to boot). I just found out that one of my cousins who is 35 was born 6 weeks early too and was just over 4lbs...I hadn't a clue. Maybe that will ease some of your worries, though I know there are other reasons that it would be scary having a premmie, like having to leave the hospital before baby, can you imagine ...but at least for the health implications I feel pretty good about the day and age we live in.

[mirthfulmum]

For those of you who are interested in doing the bead swap...

Please PM me your full name and adresses. I will then compile the list and PM the name and adress list to all who are going to do the exchange. In the interest of time (babies could be making their grand apperance in as little as 2 weeks) I ask that those who want to participate in the bead exchange PM me with their info by Friday (Sept. 3). That way I can get the list out to everyone by the end of the weekend and give everyone a week or so to get their beads in the mail.

For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about check out this thread

Thanks again to Katie for suggesting this. I think it's a wonderful idea.

[AnnR33]

HI Everyone!
Time for some fun stuff! Some of you have signed up for the bead/secret swap on the other thread in the October forum (sorry don't know how to link that).
I'm organizing the swap part of it and it's just a fun baby/mama swap for us to celebrate our time together and the birth of our new ones. No specific value unless people want that. It can be anything you want: baby items, cloth dipes (they're just so darn cute), mama pampering stuff, etc. Homemade or store bought. It can be for mom or baby or both.
I will wait until the end of next week to see who all signs up on the orginal post and match names accordingly. I will remind in next weeks thread too so pass the word.
I already have a few things ready, I love baby swaps!

Ann

[ashleep]

QOTW: My only real worry is this little babe staying breech and having a c-section as a result. I am kind of worried that I'm not more worried about labor and birth, if that makes sense. Alright I've been lazy all day, it's time to get a move on. Hope everyone has a good day!

[blessed2bamommie]

to the October mamas! Why don't you intro yourself b/c everybody might not have seen the post you made. I tend not to look there...

[mirthfulmum]

Wow it's quiet here today.

I have a midwife apointment today. I'm going to ask her about my contractions (bee having 2 or 3 a day for a couple of weeks now). I'm not worried about preterm labour but I am wondering if my little guy is gearing up for a 37/38 week arrival. Oh I really hope he comes soon! I can't wait to meet him!

Welcome ashleepurdie. Happy you came on over and jumped right in. This has come up several times here and I don't know if you've taken a look, but have you checked out Spinningbabies.com? It's got some great baby moving suggestions. Also the latest issue of Mothering has a huge article about breech babies.

[ashleep]

Hi everybody! For those of you who didn't read my other post, I am 34 weeks pregnant (our first) with a stubborn little breech baby. We are planning a home waterbirth and are very excited! Originally we had planned to go the hospital route, but found out our insurance will cover 60% of our hb midwife, so homebirth it is.
mirhtfulmum, I haven't checked out the mothering article, but I have been to spinningbabies. I have done hand stands in water (about to go do more), knee-chest position, hot/cold on my tummy, but this little munchkin must be pretty comfy! I know we still have plenty of time before I should start worrying, but the sooner babe turns the better, because the only option for a breech in my area is c-section. So... off to the pool!

[Jillerina]

Welcome Ashlee!

Hey Katie, that is awsome news and I'm glad Lucy is getting some spoiling time with family. Just keep taking it easy mama and you'll be at term in no time.

Piglet, welcome home! Make sure you don't overdo it either ok??

Ann and Mirthful, thank you for taking on the organizational stuff for us October Mamas. You guy rock!

Ameliabedelia, the hospital you will deliver at sounds awesome. Don't get down about loosing your homebirth at least your second option is a progressive place. You obviously know what you want so you're gonna get it no matter where you birth this babe!

QOTW - My biggest fear is fear! I worry about getting scared during labor and wimping out and asking to be transfered to the hospital for pain meds. I'm working on this with DH hwo is now super supportive after our prenatal class last week. I know I need to be surrounded by confidence, I know my midwife is completely confident in my ability and now I am beginning to feel that DH is also just as confident so I feel better already!

My other fears are preterm labor (I really want to have my baby at the birth centre) and baby turning back to a breech position. I'm not scared of a Csection only because I'm so confident that I won't need one.

Last night I had my first expereince with serious insomnia - it was awful!!! I lay in bed trying to sleep until 4am. I think DD could feel that I was awake beside her because she kept waking up and tossing and turning and asking for things. I was going crazy. I figure I must have slept a bit during all those hours but it certainly didn't feel like it. Needless to say I am exhausted today and have just done something I've never done before - let DD watch TWO movies in a row!! She thinks this is the best day ever and keeps telling me "merci Mommy" over and over again (thank you mommy). Oh well, she's happy and I'm not being grumpy with her so I think it is a reasonable trade off!

Gotta go, Nemo is over!!

[OakEmber]

Awww...Jillerina, that's so cute about Clara thanking you for letting her watch 2 movies! Sorry to hear that you've joined the insomnia club.

Amy, haven't from you today, usually these days your our star poster...hope all is well! Hope that you didn't succeed in getting that baby into the optional birth position only to have her or him think it's time to come

Mirthfulmum...how was your appt?

Ashlee- there seems to be a club of stubborn babies around here, so your breech fits right in :LOL I'm in the same boat where I live...breech is a one way ticket to a c/s :

Oh and a question...for those of you that are pretty sure your baby is head down already...do you still feel thumps, jabs or the likes on your cervix? I'd like to think that Oakley has changed but I'm not sure...hopefully I'm feeling punches rather than kicks down there.

[mirthfulmum]

Had a great appointment today. Harrison is sounding and looking healthy (and so am I ) and the little guy is still head down. I told my midwife about my contractions and she confirmed that it sounded like he was getting ready for his big arrival. But she wouldn't say for sure that he would be arriving in a few weeks though as even with my contractions and Harrison's definate dropping (although not engaging) there's no garauntee I'd go into labour before my due date. That's up to the babe himself.

Amie - I know Harisson is head down and one of his favorite thigs to do while I'm out walking is punch me in the cervix . So yeah, even head down kids can get a good jab in now and again

Jillerina - You know some days you just have to get help from where ever you can get it. I've been feeling guilty lately too as Alias has been watching a lot more movies (we don't have TV) than usual. He usualy watches about 30-40 minutes in the morning when I'm showering and getting dressed and that's it. But lately I have been putting in a whole movie in the afternoon before Dh gets home. By 3 or 4 I am so pooped I just need something to distract him so I can get some rest. Especially when he skips his nap.

Tomorrow is a big day here. Alias starts his part-time day care. He'll be going Mon, Wed, Fri from 8 am to 12:30pm. I know he'll have a great time and meet lots of new friends (we thought he'd enjoy having some time and space to himself to just play and be a kid without someone telling he can't do that right now or to keep it down 'cause the baby's sleeping/nursing/fussing etc.) but I'm a bit nervous and sad that Alias has gotten to be a child, he's not a baby anymore. I know I'm going to sleep terribly tonight just being excited and nervous for him. Fortunately tomorrow is the firt day so parents are with their children for the entire time. And as the days progress the parents leave for longer stretches in the day until on day five the child spends the entire time at the daycare witout parents. It'll still be a bitter sweet morning tomorrow.

[mtnjenny]

School officially started, but I'm really going to try to keep up with you all! It's hard! Hopefully I can still be one-of-the-girls! So far, so good. Sweet kids, sweet parents, sweet coworkers - everyone seems to love a pregnant lady, YK? Yesterday after work, I lay down in bed at 6:30, just to read a magazine and put my feet up, and slept 'till morning!

Maternity clothes - so sick of 'em. Especially now that I have to look halfway professional each day, but I just can't justify going to buy new clothes at this point. People will just have to deal with seeing me in the same five-ish outfits for the coming weeks!

Amelia, I mentioned this in an earlier post, but I'm having the baby at a really progressive hospital and I'm feeling really good about it, too. Nothing would be better than having the baby right here in our cozy house, but this it what will work for us this time around. The hosp. has jacuzzis, cloth diapers, full rooming-in (no nursery at all) and views of the mountains! Oh, and another cool thing is that if your baby needs to stay longer due to complications, for $10/day you stay with him/her with 3 meals a day until the baby is ready to go home. They never send moms home without their babies! I just love that! I know, I know, justifying my hospital birth...makes me feel better for being wimpy!

Welcome Ashlee!

I love hearing about all your other children, seems like there's only a few of us first-timers here!

I got to hold a 2-day-old, homebirthed, baby today! OMG! I just can't wait!

QOTW: No overwhelming fears, to be honest. Probably because I'm blissfully unaware at this point. I'm determined to go drug-free, so I guess I'm a bit fearful of giving in, having it so close and accessible. All I really want is the baby to be delivered safely and gently as possible, whatever it takes.

Jillerina, sorry about the insomnia - I get it now and then and usually it's because my mind starts racing! Sometimes it helps me to get up and make a list of the things I need to do. It's like doing that gets it out of my head, and onto that paper, so my mind can get cleared and I can go back to sleep!

If anyone feels like sharing, I'm wondering what breathing/relaxing/pain relief techniques you all have used or are planning on using during labor and delivery. Anything that has worked especially well that you would recommend? We learned SO much at our birthing class, it was a great mix of all sorts of philosophies, but it's a bit hard to narrow it down to what we really want to remember to try. We'll definitely be using a birthing ball and water, some of our own versions of Lamaze-type breathing, and massage, and maybe singing! I'm not too into the visualization or "distraction" techniques. Thought it might be fun to share!

Heads-down vibes to all!

[OakEmber]

Jenny- First of all your hospital sounds awesome I think for me, the most important thing was just going with the flow of labour, and letting be KWIM? For example, during the transition stage I would be in the shower for what seemed like 2 seconds, then I'd be like "nah" and I'd go back to the birthing ball, get rubbed with some essential oils and then wash it all off again in another 2 seconds back in the shower :LOL In my mind, I knew that this meant I was going through transition (and I kinda found my behavior comical) I think it was really important that no one interfered or tried even tried to offer "helpful" suggestions to make me want to stay in one place. So do what you need to do, and hopefully everyone will leave you to it...I think that's why homebirth appeals to so many of us. Other than that, I did find the birthing ball very useful, as was the shower, and really the toilet too, hehe.

Mirthfulmum- Glad your appt. went well...I am getting so excited, when anyone of us has their baby it will feel like "our" baby, at least until ours arrives, don't you all think? Good to hear that I could be getting jabs even with head down. I hope that tomorrow goes really well, it sounds like a great place with the parents attending until the kids are used to it like that! I am sure that Alias will have a blast...but I do understand your feelings about this milestone

[bluehalo]

another insomniac here I just lay in bed for an hour, exhausted, but struggling to fall asleep. it sucks. Add indigestion to the mix, and just plain ole unable to get comfortable. I know, whine, whine, whine. Sorry you guys ... but I figured I'd get a tad bit of empathy here I did get out of bed to make a list, so at least all those random bits and pieces floating around in my head are on paper and hopefully will leave me more clear-headed and restful when I head back to bed.

Jenny, what a good idea to share coping techniques. Mainly, I plan to turn to habits developed through my meditation practice, which is also deeply rooted in my spirituality. I hope to find strength and comfort in thinking of the generations and generations of women, back to the ancient times, of women who have trusted their bodies and birthed healthy babies. I hope to feel their spirits along side of me, along with the support of the Great Mother, Mother Earth. (sorry if this is too whoowhoo/out there for some of you guys ) I've borrowed a bit from here and there of different philosophies ... from Birthing from Within we've practiced Breath Awareness, Non-Focused Awareness, Centering (focusing on the center of the discomfort) and Edges (focusing on the "edges" of the discomfort). From Bradley, I'm having DH coach me to a "happy place", which I think will be my bathtub I can imagine vocalizations, almost "OHM"-ing, working well for me. I went through Ina May's Guide and wrote down all the techniques that she suggests. I plan to switch positions as I feel compelled to do so. Right now, I *love* sitting on my birth ball, and can imagine the rocking, bouncing sensation of it being a comfort in labor. Mostly, I want to allow myself to go to that inside place where I'm aware and present, but out of it enough not to focus on all the distractions that will probably be going on. Hrm, that's all I can think of for now. Curious to hear what everyone else is planning...

[Court]

almost 33 weeks

Hello, finally getting around to posting.
First off - QOTW: I don't think I have any fears, other than not getting to homebirth for some reason, like an early baby, but I don't think that will happen. I'm really looking forward to birthing. My only real concern is how Logan will react. I just hope he doesn't freak out or anything. I think most likely he'll be fine, though.

Welcome Ashlee!

Amie- I feel cervix jabs from my head-down babe too. I was driving the other day and he hooked his feet under my ribs and used them to propel his head downward into my cervix..ouch. He kept doing it over and over. Needless to say he caused some bladder leakage. I also feel some tiny hand punches occasionally too.

Bluehalo- I like your take on coping with labor, that sounds wonderful.

Jillerina- sorry about the insomnia- isn't that weird how the kids pick up on it? If I'm next to Logan and my eyes pop open at 3am or whenever, inevitably I hear him start to toss and turn and pretty soon we're staring at each other wide awake. Then we usually get up and share a bowl of cereal together and go back to bed.

I can't wait to start reading birth stories! I was thinking we should have a seperate thread just for the birth stories here in the OCT forum, just so we can keep tabs on who's delivered - and have all the stories in one place. Can you tell I'm getting anxious?

Gotta go do some grillin' before it rains tomorrow.

[True Blue]

32 weeks :)

Thought I'd take a quick sec to post since I saw Amie get concerned I popped in earlier to read but we are busy busy getting ready for Hurricane Frances, as of right now it is headed STRAIGHT for our front door. Thank goodness we rent, right? Dh is in the Coast Guard so he will actually be leaving me alone tomorrow as they take the ship somewhere safe. He thought he was going to have tomorrow off to do stuff but the hurricane sped up. At any rate, he had to get all the outside stuff in, and load up the car with the bins of our photo albums and home videos I put together, since there is no way in heck I'll be staying here to ride the storm out. Category 4 -- no thanks!! I'm only about 2 miles from the beach (in a straight line, that is...it takes 20 minutes to drive there LOL) so it's not the safest spot to be. Our house is in a flood zone too, so we're trying to make sure anything important is up off the floor. Tomorrow I'll pack clothes and toys for me and DS, we'll be leaving either tomorrow or THursday for I think Tampa most likely. Wherever isn't in the path of the storm!!!

As for baby....it popped it's little head back into my pelvis when I wasn't looking and is nice and posterior again. Little toot!!! We'll keep working on that.

For birth -- this time I'm trying out Hypnobabies...only on week 2 of 5 so not sure about all the specifics yet! Last time I just did what felt natural...I kind of zoned out during contractions -- I have a feeling I was self-hypnotizing to some extent without formal training.

Gotta run and get some sleep. I should have time to pop back in tomorrow, I Hope everyone actually gets to sleep tonight!!!!

[bluehalo]

Amy, hope you guys stay safe and sound! Check in when you get a chance!!

[OakEmber]

Yikes Amy! You sound so calm in the middle of all that, glad that you checked in with us though! Keep safe!

Bluehalo- I didn't think of that earlier but I totally did the same thing, (thinking/connecting with woman from generations past) and of course that would be a coping mechanism ...you were much more eloquent in discribing it than I would have been though!

Court- I sort of have been thinking that each baby and story needs it's own thread...I keep trying to peek in on the Sept. club to see how many births they've had but with trying to read through all the congrats, etc. I get lost! I wish they would do what I am sure Piglet will due for us and just have a list at the top of the thread that tells us exactly how many babies have been born already :LOL