April Mamas Chat Thread: Aug.30-Sept. 6th

[proudmamanow]

Hi Mamas!

I think it's time for us April mamas-to-be to have a daily chat thread! You can participate as much or as little as you like, but I know I've found it a great way to get to know people and offer ongoing support on a regular basis. It's sometimes fun to have a question of the week too, but for now, maybe we can just chat...

I hope you will join me for a friendly, fun, supportive thread!

Our news:

We just came back from our first (and possibly only) u/s and we saw a ! This is further than we have gotten with any of our previous pregnancies so I am feeling very positive about this baby ing! We also got the usual prenatal package, complete with lots of useless info on formula, disposable diapers etc. Can't wait until we get transferred from our fertility specialist to our midwife in a few weeks! I've been feeling sick & tired on & off but nothing too unmanageable, just enough to let me know that all is well!

Looking forward to getting to know all you other April Mamas (and learning from your mama wisdom, as I think I'm one of the few first-timers on the board).

[Green4God]

Jesse - Yay for the heartbeat! That is so encouraging.

I'll join you, though I'm not much of a conversationalist. I'm with you on the first timer needing wisdom thing. We did get a heartbeat also and it measured like 180 bpm at 8w2d - guess I can't be worried about it being too low! I am feeling a lot more confident about this pregnancy also since the baby was measuring so perfectly and last time it was 1-2 weeks behind right from the start. I think I'll feel a lot better once we get past my next appointment on 9/10 at 11 weeks because that was about the time when we went in to hear the heartbeat last time (like we are doing this time) and we found out officially that I was m/c'ing. 11 long days until then.

[esqueue]

Seeing those little heartbeats is a life changing experience. Glad you saw them, it really makes things concrete. Going to by first OB visit Friday, so many questions. Plus, since my insurance dropped my old OB this a totally new doc for me, so that's a bit stressful. One of my nurse friends said she has heard good feedback about her though. Melissa, I'll be thinking positive thoughts for you. It's hard to wait.

[Stream]

Melissa and Jesse-- what fabulous news for both of you! Strong little hearts just beating away. I'm so glad to hear you both are having healthy pregnancies. We have been fortunate not to experience miscarriage first-hand, but I know it must make especially these early weeks so much more difficult.

We're just chugging along in our corner of the woods. I'm annoyingly paranoid about the possibility of twins. Enough that I *almost* wish we were having an early u/s to confirm one way or the other. I do feel like whatever I'm growing is healthy-- it's sure making me feel yucky enough! I slept a lot this weekend and am still sooooo tired. Ah well, it's all worth it.

Not that I'm showing, but I can finally see some evidence of this pregnancy-- the area right above my pubic bone has expanded a bit. It looks swollen, I guess, but when you touch it, it's very taut. DH wasn't especially excited about it, but I am!

[proudmamanow]

Melissa--congrats on seeing the heartbeat! I'm so happy for you and sending you a big for the next 11 days. I can totally relate to these difficult milestones and the stress you can feel leading up to it! I will be thinking of you...

esqueue-good luck with the new OB! I hope the visit goes great and you feel very comfortable with her....

Stream--glad you were able to get lots of sleep! Sorry you're feeling so gross & are worried about twins I too am getting a little extra belly, and some clothes are getting a bit tight--very exciting, isn't it? Makes it feel more real!

[esqueue]

Thanks Jesse. Stream, not to freak you out, since everyone's body is different, but I felt pretty awful right away and was not surprised when my 10 and 12 day hormone levels were through the overhead (multiple pregnancy).

I'm at the beginning of week 7 (post conception, not post menses) and have been showing for a few weeks now! I lost 30 lbs before I got pregnant and my pants that fit 30 lbs ago are getting snug now. Granted some fat has come back from constantly keeping food in my stomach to minimize the nausea, but a good deal of the convex belly is uterus.

The abdominal pain has been something else. Though the nurse at the OB told me that it's not unusual for multiples and older moms to have more intense pelvic pain (these old ligaments just don't stretch like young'uns do and when they're being asked to stretch more in less time they aren't happy about it).

My wonderful BF has been very supportive about my rapidly changing body (I'm thinking about putting him up for beatification he has been so wonderful throughout all of this) but I'm getting a bit freaked out, honestly. I thought I'd have a bit more time before the pants and bras got so snug. Good thing I picked up some maternity clothes at the thrift store, I have a feeling I'm going to be needing them for longer than anticipated.

[Stream]

Eek! I forget you have a trio of babies baking, esqueue. I'm no longer allowed to be worried about twins. When I say "paranoid," though, I mean it in the irrational sense. I have no reason to think I'm pg with twins. If anything, I have less m/s than I did with dd. No family history. I'm not growing really quickly or anything. We didn't use fertility drugs. The thing is-- I always thought it would be cool to have twins. DH and I both thought so. I grew up with twin boys as best friends and I think that most people just see twins as something... different and special. But now I'm scared of the unknown and afraid (a bit) that we might have wished something on ourselves that we couldn't handle. I guess I just generally believe in the power of visualization and positive thinking, and now I'm afraid it might have worked.

See-- irrational! And, in case it's not clear, I'd be thrilled. Just scared too!

[jessikate]

Hey, congrats to Melissa and Jesse on seeing heartbeats! Amazing, isn't it?

Esqueue - triplets? Wowee! That's going to be such an adventure, isn't it? I hope it's easy on you (as easy as pregnancy and then life with three at once can be :LOL)

We're doing well here. We all got sick last week with a stomach bug, but we seem to be recovered now. DD managed to cut two molars during all that, so we're still not back to normal yet. (What's normal?). All I can say is that I'm so glad she's still nursing. Life would be much harder at the moment if she wasn't.

But no pregnancy symptoms here, really. I'm constantly tired and have little appetite. I can already feel that my ligaments are beginning to relax - my pelvis is achy and the arch on my right foot is falling. Not exactly fun stuff. Thank goodness you're only pregnant for a finite period of time. It's a lot easier dealing with the pain when you know it'll be over sooner or later.

I still need to get cracking on interviewing midwives. We interviewed one right after I got the and then I slacked off. I have to call people, and I hate using the phone. I'm just not comfortable talking to people on the phone. Better get on it soon... we don't really want to have a UC (not comfortable with it for us, though it's a really intriguing idea).

[esqueue]

Well, there are 3 - for now. However, odds are good that all 3 won't last throughout the first trimester. If, by chance, they do then I have to have a selective reduction. Not thrilled about having that done but the risk is too high for me with triplets. I'm already a double high risk with one, twins is triple high risk, triplets is "shop for a casket" risk level.

In order for us to all have a decent chance of surviving this certain hard decisions have to be made. I'll be lucky to make it through carrying twins without any major problems. I'm not only a medically assisted, heavily monitored, perinatologist is my new best friend pregnancy, I'm already planning for bedrest for a lot of the time. Netflix is looking really good and wireless networking so I can use the laptop to surf the net in bed is in the works.

Stream, the idea of twins is scaring the daylights out of me, so it's not irrational to worry about that. You never know what can happen, but let's hope you just have one to deal with. It'll sure be easier. FYI, everything you're thinking is perfectly normal.

Jessikate, good luck on the midwife interviewing. I can imagine that it's hard to find someone you like and trust, especially hard to do over the phone.

[JoyAnne]

Hey Jesse- first time mom here too. We had our firsy US last week and heard the heartbeat, found out we were 9 wks rather than 8 (which I knew) and told our families. They were all very excited, but it was kind of anti-climactic, now everyone knows, that part was fun. Ah well, on to the next.

I feel HUGE. I have only gained four pounds- but my belly os just stuck out, I can't even hold it in. And TIGHT. I am small to begin with (5'2", 104 lbs at the start) so I am guessing that is part of it. Plus the fact that even though I eat tons of fiber and excersise an hour a day, I don't seem to use the bathroom muc. Except to pee, which I do every five minutes since I drink a bottle of water every ten!

Barely any ms- some aversion. All in all I feel great. Trying to decide whether to go in and talk to the us specialist about another us to measure the nachal fold- dh wants to talk to him at least, I don't really, but I want him to be part of all of our decisons- and I asked!

[Wackadoo]

Hey All,

Bleah is about all I can say right now. I'm 6 wks from LMP and just feel so tired and thick and oogy I can hardly stand it! This sooo didn't happen the first time 'round. I feel bad for my dd - she's watching entirely too many videos because I just don't have the energy to be creative!

Joyanne: I haven't gained any weight yet, but I most certainly have a belly! Granted, I had a little pooch pre-pg, but I look now like I did at 4/5 mos last time! Actually bought a pair of mens elastic waist cargo shorts at Target the other day just to have something to wear!

esqueue : what rough choices. sounds like you have already been through a lot just to get to this point. many healing and healthy thoughts your way.

That pretty much goes for all of you still worrying here in the first trimester. I know I'm still checking for that pink or red everytime I pee. I didn't think that one m/c 11 years ago (when I didn't even want to be pregnant) could still impact me so much.

Ugh. Sure wish I could have a glass of red wine right now to settle my tum.

Off to twirl in the rain...

[proudmamanow]

Hi everyone,
Dw & I went out to celebrate seeing the heartbeat with a big Szechwan Chinese meal last night. Wonderful food, but what a bad idea! I woke up in the middle of the night feeling sick and have been feeling gross ever since then! I also had to get blood drawn for HCG, Iron etc. today and that didn't help. Honeydew melon and some bagel seems to be helping a bit right now though.

Esqueue -- to you on what sounds like a challenging pg ahead! I hope it's as easy as it possibly can be under the circumstances & that you get great care (and enjoy your netflix )

Jessikate--sorry you were all sick and your daughter was teething too! not fun! Good luck with the midwife interviews...I know there are some great lists of questions to ask prospective midwives elsewhere on the boards..maybe in the midwife/doula section? We are really lucky in that we have a friend who is a midwife who has agreed to take us for sure, no matter when we're due. I just called and gave her our good news last night...but we probably won't see her until after we have one more appt with our fertility doc.

JoyAnne! Welcome aboard and nice to see another first timer! Glad all is going well for you so far I've gained about the same as you so far, and clothes are starting to get tight! But I want to keep this under wraps at work until at least October, so I think I'll have to focus on stretchy outfits!

Wackadoo --sorry you're feeling so ill ! I can relate at least today! Don't worry about your dd and videos, I'm sure you'll be back to your energetic self in a few weeks, no harm done.

to everyone and thanks for joining this chat thread!

[seren]

Hi all! I'm here and quite nervous. Sunday was 7 weeks from my miscarriage. So, I'm a bit scared. An online pregnancy calander has me due April 16. That's the day I was due with my ds. I was talking to dh the other night and realised that basically, even those it's two seperate pregnancies, they were so close together that it's like I'm going to be pregnant for 49 weeks. That's almost a year! And a very sad thought. Or maybe I'm just obssessing.

[Wackadoo]

Jumping back in to relay something that I found interesting: I recently dug out the preg journal I kept with ZaZa and as of yesterday, I weigh 4.5 lbs less than I was with her, but 2.5 " bigger around already! I think that's funny.

Two questions : what does vit. B6 do? And what's a good raspberry tea?

~L

[JoyAnne]

Jesse-

Your wedding picture in the paper is SO COOL! What an amazing thing to have!

Sorry the Chinese killed you last night- I know how you feel, it seems the only time I get really sick is when I jam on something I have been totally craving; i.e. cheeseburgers, fried chicken. Maybe that is God's way of keeping me on chicken and black beans and yogurt and fruit, ugh. Makes the cravings MUCH less fun.

Such heroes on this thread- having gone through and still going through so much- I shouldn't complain about anything. Great to be part of such a group.

[jessikate]

Lundy, Compleat Mother sells a good bulk RRL tea, from what I hear. Traditional Medicinals sells one that comes in tea bags that's also good, but spendy. I bet you have some good herb stores there that you could get it at. I just got some at Present Moment, and it's tasty.

Man, I could use some more sleep. I don't remember being this tired when I was pregnant the first time. Sheesh.

[esqueue]

Wackadoo: http://shopstashtea.com/030460.html will take you to Stash Tea's raspberry tea. I haven't found a tea of theirs that I don't like. They have a lot of organic teas too. HTH. Vitamin b6 is supposed to help with MS. Not surprised about your weight/size differences between last PG and this one. You can only ask your tissues to spring back so much, and now they know what they're supposed to do so they're complying by making room.

Jesse: bummer about the vicious Chinese food. Though nothing I eat lately seems to agree with me, so I know how you feel. It looks so good, smells so good, tastes so good, feels SOOO awful <sigh>. Maybe this will help (maybe help you too Joyanne)...eat less at a time. That has helped me a lot. Breaking one meal up into a few smaller ones has made me less nauseous when I eat. Hard to do with a BF who is a big guy and therefore big eater, but it's been the only way I can get enough food in. Thanks for your good thoughts.

Seren: I'd be surprised if you didn't have those feelings of nervousness and worry. A MC is scary and sad, I'd be surprised if you didn't worry a bit about it happening again. Lots of good thoughts going your way for a safe and healthy outcome this time. The odds are in your favor, most women who MC go on to have normal, full-term pregnancies.

Jessikate: If it's any consolation, my neighbors are in South Africa for a month visiting her family with a teething baby in tow. That's 20(!) hours on a plane each way with a teething baby. I think they may be masochists.

Well, I'd better get ready for the roofer to arrive. With our horrific rain storm last night (we made the national news it was so bad, severe flooding, over 12" of rain in 6 hours, tornados, 5 people dead, 10 still missing, lots of roads still closed or washed out, an 18 wheeler floated through one of the streets downtown the water was so high, governor declared a state of emergency, FEMA on the way) my yard is a mess, a leak developed in the bedroom last night, right over the bed (!), afraid to go check out the car (the water was right up to the running boards of my Burb, the sidewalks were at least 10" below water and I had to park in the street) so there's a lot of clean up waiting for me. I'm very lucky, minor damage and I kept my power the whole time, which is a miracle, still almost 60,000 without power today. However, Hurricane Frances is coming this weekend and if a Tropical Storm did this much damage we'd better be ready for the hurricane. Isabel trashed the place last year. I didn't have power for 10 days and there were so many trees down in the neighborhood that you couldn't go down any streets except on foot. I thought I left living in a state with a monsoon season behind when I left Hawaii.

[JoyAnne]

esqueue- I will try to eat smaller meals, thanks. Sorry to hear about lovely Gaston- I am down in Florida waiting to see what Frances decides to do...I am on the east coast so Charlie wasn't as God awful here.

DH and I are off to buy plywood tonight. We sent all ours (as well as all of our hurricane supplies) over to Port CHarlotte and Arcadia and need new. Good luck with the roofer- the tree trimers just left here.

I thought I read somewhere on this board that I am not to have Rasberry leaf till after the first trimester because of ms risk- I even stopped taking my Rainbow Lights. I swear- the more I read the more confused I get!

[Green4God]

I've been drinking Celestial Seasoning's Maternity Partner, which is red raspberry leaf tea with all kinds of good stuff like folic acid, vitamin c, nettle, peppermint, alfalfa, etc. I figure I can use all of the insurance I can get!

[proudmamanow]

Welcome Seren!
I too got pg fairly quickly after our last m/c (2 cycles later) so I can kinda relate...anyway, I know it's scary feel free to vent here, as many of us can relate! Kate St. on the Feb. board also got pg again v. quickly after 2 m/c and is now on her 16th week! Feel free to PM her, she's really sweet.

Wackadoo--that's fun.. I haven't taken any waist measurements yet but maybe I will soon!

JoyAnne--thanks for the compliments on the photo It was a very fun & special day! good luck finding yummy & healthy things to eat! (I hear you on the cravings!)

Jessikate-I know I've been a zombie the last 2 days which is rough when you work all day in your second language! My French does not get better when I am tired! I hope you get the sleep you need

Esqueue-thanks for the advice! That does seem to work to some extent for me. (of course last night's meal was all you can eat and no doggie bags ) I should try and have more self control What a storm! That sounds incredible. glad you kept your power & didn't sustain too much damage

JoyAnne, I'm with you on the RRL risk, though there are lots of opinions about that and many people say it's no problem. I'm a bit paranoid though and will wait until week 14 or so before I start drinking it with a vengeance!

Green4-your mat tea sounds great. As far as I can tell, none of these teas are avail. here in Canada. The last time I got one was when we visited New York in March...I think I may have some left but will probably wait as I said above.

Hope everyone feels ok !