Weekly chat thread 9/18 - 9/25

[annakiss]

How about a weekly chat thread? We can start them each Sunday. This way we can all get to know each other and complain about how we're feeling and such.

So I'll start - I'm Anna kiss - due May/June ish. I was over in TTC for a while. I started talking about conceiving in April and planned to try in August/September. Then our situation changed and we decided that since we didn't hit the mark our first month out in August that if we didn't get preggo in Sept we would keep trying anyway. My dh, Jon, is in a PhD program that he just started at Case Western. I've been following him around to schools for the last six years - this will be his final degree, thank god (he has 2 others)! We've been married for almost 6 years and have one son, Aleksander who turned 2 in August.

Aleks was born with a severe cleft lip and palate, so we took careful measures to not get pregnant on accident again. I've been taking 8 mg. of folic acid daily as well as a prenatal for several months now. I'm also taking flax seed oil daily I guess for fun. I try to do a spirulina smoothie every morning, but have recently gotten out of the habit.

I found out I was pregnant at 6 or 8 days past ovulation, depending on who you ask - me or fertility friend. I think I released two eggs this month and therefore have a sneaking suspiscion that I may be having twins. This is based on almost nothing, but here's my list of reasons:

1) had a dream about quints

2) had a huge sudden wave of nausea on Saturday at 3 or 5 dpo.

3) I'm pretty sure that due to my slight temp rise followed 2 days later by a bigger temp rise that I released 2 eggs this month.

4) I met 2 women with twins on Monday.

5) Got a super early BFP.

6) am now already exhausted and feeling dizzy, sometimes nauseous.

I had a homebirth with Aleks and will be doing the same again as my mother is a midwife. We live 3.5 hours away from her though, so we have yet to figure the exact logistics of that, though there is plenty of time. lol

I'm deathly afraid of miscarriage, though I have no reason to suspect that I might have one.

I am having a few symptoms already, but I think I'm also coming down with a cold so I could just be feeling fatigue due to that.

I am very nervous about having another child, though tremendously excited as well. I'm having a hard time imagining how hard the pregnancy with a toddler will even be.

um... what else... I take weekly belly shots and keep a pregnancy journal. We took the first photo last night. And I suppose will take them on Fridays from now on.

I want to take prenatal yoga... must sign up for that.

I am usually underweight, so gaining in pregnancy is hard for me. Wanting to try harder this time so that I can carry my twins to term (:LOL).

So who are you? What'cha up to?

[annakiss]

4.5 weeks

Please include how far along you are in the subject heading, like this.

[Desdamona]

Desa (Desdamona) 5wks (?)

Originally Posted by annakiss

So who are you? What'cha up to?

Hey Anna, I'm game.

I'm Desa, due last week in May. This baby was a complete SHOCK !!! I just gave away all my maternity clothes that I had amasses during 3 pregnancies as well as all my layette up to about 12 month sized clothes and to boot bought enough feminine products to last a year!! Sure way to get pregnant!! I just hope my friends remember how generous I was when I let them pilage my clothes and share the wealth with me!!

My husband is Dave (sr). We've been together for a dozen years and have 3 dynamic boys. Davie who'll be 9 when arrives, Donovan will be 6½ and Gabie-baby will be just 2½. An age span that I swore I would NEVER repeat!! My first 2 are that far apart. I found it to be extremely difficult and overwhelming. Now that I will have another 2 that age difference I am trying to get into the mind set that it was as hard the first time because I had a c/sect, horrible recovery and PPD. I also remind myself the Davie and Don are each others best friend and constant playmates.

So what else... I nipples are beyond sore. I am very impatient with the on for a minute, climb all over me, pop off, come back, nurse, stick a finger in my eye, sing while nursing that Gabriel is doing. He doesn't quite understand the concept of "Do nice nursie or I'm going to put you on the floor and we'll play." Since i am still available to him to play (or what have you) he'd much rather do all of the above with my nipple firmly rooted in his mouth. Like I said my nipples are sore.

I run a homebirth support group. We been meeting monthly for 2 years now and to date have had 11 babies born into the group. Helped (brainwash, errrr, i mean) educate and support 3 of the from the trasition of planning a hospital birth to homebirth. Only one mom has transfered for a breech baby who's position wasn't discovered until her water had broken.

Before Gabriel was born i worked as a doula and childbirth educator. It was the most challenging and reward calling I had ever persued. I loved the empowering births, strong and beautiful families I worked with. But HATED ever moment of watching a doctor look at his watch (because he was due in the office in 45 mintues) and then cut an episiotomy, having to hold my client and try to comfort her as she begged for the OB to stop while he manually explored her previous c/sect scar for no reason other than his own curiosity, having a nurse treat me like a second class citizen and ask for my credentials before allowing me to be with my clients, or having a resident tell me that doulas were just the latest fad...

With that said, I don't think I 'll ever be able to go back to attending births in the hospital. I truly feel that my calling is midwifery and being a doula is a stepping stone to that goal. I will not practice in a state that does not recognize DEM, CPN or lay mw's.

So that's part of me a a BIG nutshell. I'm going to be gone for the next few days, so I hope everyone has a great weekend and I'll catch up with you all middle of the week.

And PS I felted 2 wool sweaters today. Hopefully I'll get a chance to sew them into soakers in the next couple of days. Thinking this might be a really good (and cheap) way to diaper this new !

[wende]

7 weeks tomorrow...

I think. Isn't today Saturday?

I'm Wendy and baby #5 is due May 8th. I'm also deathly afraid of miscarriage and for no good reason. I've never had one before, though I had a psychic once tell me that I'd have 4 kids, 2 boys, 2 girls, which I currently have. I have had just a bit of nausea and today I crashed on the couch for 2 hours with the baby. I can't stay up past 11pm anymore. I swear, 4pm hits and I'm ready to sleep, 11pm hits and it doesn't matter where I am, I am asleep.

I've been married for 9 months to the most amazing man. Together we have a 14.5 month old DS, Kaiden and I have (although he claimst them all equally) a 6yo DS, Aspen, a 9yo DD, Alexis, and a 12yo DD, Kendra.

I currently co-sleep, breastfeed, and (usually) cloth my baby and plan to do it with the next one as well. All of my kids have been breastfed and co-sleepers, but this is my first go at cloth and using cloth on a newborn will be a totally new experience.

I have had all my babies at the hospital, all but the last naturally, the short version of why I had an epideral with my last was that durring my entire pregnancy we thought I would miscarry or that he would never make it to term and may not live if he was born premature. They thought that my placenta was abrupting and had me convinced that I was going to have to have a C-Section. When I went into labor 8 weeks and 2 days before my due date I panic'd and asked for an epi. He was born vaginally and perfectly healthy, needing no help breathing, and stayed in the NICU 3 weeks learing how to nurse and keep his temp up. The "abruption" turned out to be a fibroid sitting behind my placenta. I will have this baby at home. Since the only experience that my dh has had with pregnancy and childbirth was my last one he is not comfortable with a UC, but has agree'd to a homebirth with a midwife. We met with her last week and are very happy with her.

Did I forget anything?

[nym]

7+ weeks

Hey, Im Vanessa

I am currently 7+ weeks preg in my third pregnancy. Or 10 weeks based on my LMP. But since I have PCOS and DH and I only DTD one time, I know I conceived on the 9th. I had a ultrasound to check dates, and because my first was a miscarriage at 13 weeks, blighted ovum, I really wanted to see that it was okay. Now, I am not scared of a miscarriage. The baby, I saw at 6 weeks, had a heartbeat already and was looking awesome.

My DS Kai was born at 38 weeks, after I was induced. I had PIH from 13 weeks on and was on a BP reducing drug the whole pregnancy. I had pre eclampsia and was induced (gel only). I had an epi and my BP crashed and DS was born in an emerg csection. I am good with it. I am glad my son was okay, and I healed quick and it really didnt bother me that much.

DS just turned a year old. he is actually 13 months on the 20th. We were planning on trying for #2 after he turned a year old, so it was funny that I ended up pregnant. My specialist had told me that I would have to take drugs and stop BFing to get pregnant, and it happened anyway.

I don't have m/s that badly. Sometimes it hits me hard, but mostly I feel like poo at night time. I do have heartburn already! I am not too exhausted yet, but the last time that didnt hit til the end of my first trimester either.

I have high BP already again this preg, so I am seeing my doc every 2 weeks. He thinks it is awesome that I am BFing, and that I want a VBAC. He is totally cool with all of that. I dont have a midwife, I live in frozen hell, but I might have a doula coming from edmonton.

Uhm yea, so that me in a nutshell, pistachio are good!

[zebrabelly]

5 weeks 5 days

BTW, can anyone who does a pregnancy diary online share the link if you are so willing? I love reading them! mine is http://babycase.diaryland.com

So, I'm Bonnie. I've been married to Alex for almost 4 years. Our dd Margie will be 2 1/2 in October. She was born at home as will this next one be. I love my midwife.

Anyway, I'm feeling next to nothing so far. I feel very tired and need a nap daily or I'm worthless, LOL At first I was starving all the time and now I'm losing my appetite somewhat. Not quite nauseated - well a little bit - but mostly just not hungry. And then suddenly it'll sneak up on me and I'll be starving again. LOL I'm not feeling the same sort of cramping I did w/ Margie... Occasionally I feel something but with her it was daily and much more obvious. Or maybe I'm just forgetting.

Nice to be here!

Bonnie

[nym]

I blog, it is in my sig

[_jenn]

6w 3d

hi all im jenn, and im due with dc3 may 10-13 depending on the softwear i use.... i have been married to dh for 10mos. and this is his first biological baby. however my other 2 boys call him dad. we lived together for a year before we were married, so especially my 4 year old cant remember before that.

we live in a 2 bdrm apt, and co-sleep in one of the rooms. we use the other for a playroom. its not so bad. we have 2 walk in closets, so one is my computer room and the other is the clothes closet/storage. we have a pretty cool layout.

i breastfed until ds was 2yrs, and will child led wean with this one. i had ds1 naturally at the hospital, and ds2 at home with my fab. midwife. i hemoraged last time....so will need to build a plan for that into my birthplan. i plan to research how to lessen the possibilities of that happening again. (i did get the oxitosin shot after the birth last time to clamp my uterous and there was alot of tummyb massaging and nursing involved) i am going to have another homebirth and dh wants to catch the baby.

my mother, mil, ds's, and dh will attend the birth. i like family around me.

both my ds's are intact, and dh is onbord with that. this will be our first "real" experience with cd. we used them extremely part time with the other children. i also plan not to routine vax, which will also be a first for me.

i am currently doing daycare for another mother, because i want to stay at home with my kids. i feel like im not going to be doing this long, and will have to cut expenses further as a way to stay home. my kids are not happy with my devided attention. also its hard to do daycare when i just want to nap.

i got my first wave of nausea today no puking but definately ill. i have a cold too so i am feeling pretty crappy.

ok ill wrap it up. im going to check out that baby diary thing today. sounds cool.
ciao

[slightly crunchy]

7 weeks tomorrow

I'm slightly crunchy, married to DH for 4 years. We have one son who is 2.5 years old. I have been a SAHM since he was born. I thought this pregnancy would be easier as last time I worked many hours, in a somewhat stressful job (what job isn't?). But, so far, it's harder. Before, I could often go to bed when I got home from work; not quite the same anymore.

We waited until our 30's to have kids until DH was completely done with school and we were established. It has been wonderful in that I can stay home and we can still live comfortably, however I feel a little sad that our children will not have a really young mom and dad like both dh and I have.

I am so happy about this pregnancy. But this time, I am more worried about a miscarriage. I think part of it is that ds already knows I am pregnant, so it would be tough. Also, hanging out on ttc boards this time makes me all more aware of them happening. I didn't think about miscarriage at all the first time around.. Oh, I know what else, I also have hypothyroidism which started well after ds was born. That is another thing that is on my mind more this pregnancy, and I go to the endocrinologist every month.

I'm also going to take prenatal yoga! I did it last time and did it on my own at home. It was wonderful. I didn't plan to start so soon, but the place near me starts a session this week, so maybe I'll go ahead. I remember I felt a little silly last time in my first trimester, when most of the mamas there had big bellies already.

Guess that's it for now, and it's time for dinner. I'm enjoying reading all of your posts!

[sparklemama]

7 weeks 2 days

Hiya, I'm Danielle and I'm 28 and have been married to my dh for 2 1/2 years and we've been together for a total of 7 1/2. We have a 25 month old son named Zachary. Zack has autism and he is the happiest, most wonderful child and we are so blessed to have him.

I'm a WAHM now since the beginning of this year, and started staying home in October of last year. I worked more than full time up until that point. When Zack was 3 months old I had to go back to work and dh stayed home and did the SAHD thing which he loved. He did that for a year and then I decided to stay home and he went back to work. I never thought I could be the stay at home type, but I was way wrong!

Zack's birth was not at all how I want this one to go, well, other than having a beautiful baby come out of it. I didn't know very much about my options and I have to say that being on the boards has opened my eyes to so much. I was induced with Pitocin because my water had broken, even though I was already having regular contractions and it all went down hill from there. Anyway, I haven't exactly decided on my birth plan this time, but I hope it will include a doula and no drugs!

We have used cloth diapers with Zack since he was around 1 year old and I'm really looking forward to cd'ing a newborn! I also can't wait to try again to have a longer, better breastfeeding relationship with this new baby. Zack had problems with latch, reflux and just absolutely refused to bf and it was heartbreaking.

Anyway, that's about all I can think of right now!

[cakes78413]

7 weeks

hi, i am linda.

i am pregnant with baby #3 and am very excited about it. ds is 3 and dd is 19 mos. i have been EXHAUSTED and want to sleep all day - maybe that has something to do with the fact that i cant sleep at night. i am not sure why, maybe it is because when i finally relax to go to bed, all i can think about is this new little baby growing inside me. i dont know but even if i dont nap during the day, i still cant sleep at night. any suggestions?

i have been cding dh for about 6 mos and i adore it! unfortunately dh HATES cding. it has been THE source of contention in our marriage. i compared it to his playing computer games which i am not crazy about but he loves it. he hasnt said anything since. i look forward to changing dd diaper and am a little (just a little) bit sad that she is so interesting in toilet learning. she calls her cds underwear and is such a big girl wearing them. we keep some disposables around just because dh insists on putting them on her when he changes the dipes. i change all of them wehn i am home and i love that i get to. i actually look forward to changing dipes!

my friend and i have been sewing our own dipes and we have been having TONS of fun with it. the other night we were up until 11:30 sewing and laughing and pretty much having a lot of fun with the babes all in bed.

i am a little concerned of a miscarriage but i have had a blood test and my hcg levels were high enough i was told not to worry. that has eased my mind. i havent been sick and that is why i thought i was going to have the MC. i have had two but am feeling like this one will last to full term.

my nipples are incredibly sore and although dd is weaned, she thinks it must be her handle to pull on if she needs help standing up. when she does i tell her it hurts mommy and put her down. i am concerned a little about how she is going to take to baby. she loves baby but i am afraid that she loves her mommy more. i have heard that between the 2 and 2 1/2 year is the worst time to have a baby so i hope that we can work something out with it. i tell ds and dd daily that mommy is having a baby and ds thinks he is having one too and dd cant have one. i tried to explain simply to him but he is insistant. i hope that he isnt too disappointed when he doesnt habe one too. i will have to share.

lately i have been craving bacon and pickles. i just learned that bacon microwaves in one minute per slice. had some today and i bought a bunch from costco and now i have decided that i dont like bacon. funny how things go.

[annakiss]

Well welcome all! Here's a question for everyone - what have your previous pregnancies been like? Do you enjoy them? Are they hard? Easy? What's your pregnancy "type"?

[coleslaw]

5 weeks

Hi everyone! I'm Keri, 33 years old and have a dd who is 3.5+ years old. I have been married to dh for 9 years.

We have been trying for this baby for more than 2 years including a m/c earlier this year. Interestingly enough, I am not worried about a m/c this time around. It's there in my mind, but I expected to be paranoid about it. I think because I have been through it before, I know how strong I am and that I can handle it if it happens (at least I hope).

My last pg was induced, which I am still very irked about, so I am not relying on anything that happened last time. I'm starting fresh with a group of midwives at a birthing center. I would love a homebirth, but I am in CT and here, it's very difficult to find one. A lot are getting sued here by doctors and they are leaving their practices. Very sad.

I look forward to gettin got know everyone while we and our babies grow bigger and bigger!

[annakiss]

Well I called my midwife's office and told them I was pregnant again. I won't be going in for a while, but they're sending me the pregnancy verification form so I can get medicaid.

I also got two new diaper covers in the mail for the new baby and oh, they are so cute.

You think maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit? I took another hpt today to make sure that my line was getting darker to make sure that my hvg is increasing and it was quite dark. So I think we're doing okay so far. I got some B6 at the hfs today b/c my mom said it's supposed to help with morning sickness. Not sure about this, but it can't hurt. I always thought it was protein that was supposed to help ms. I guess I'll just do both.

Thought I'd answer my question as well - I love being pregnant (I say that now - :LOL). I had a pretty easy pregnancy last time excluding the morning sickness which was pretty constant starting at 8 weeks and lasting until 16, but I never really threw up, just was nauseous all the time. That really was the worst of my pregnancy. The only other thing that even happened was I got 2 bladder infections and 1 supposed ear infection that was diagnosed based on vertigo. That was it. The waiting was hard because I went over by 15 days, but this time I'm expecting that. In fact, I'll probably join the June due date club too! lol

Desdamona - you're thinking of doing a UC, right? I think it's awesome that you're a doula! I also am thinking of midwifery as a calling one day... Kinda weird to be in the family business though. I don't think I'd ever want to be a CNM like my mom though, a direct entry midwife is much more up my alley. Are you already studying to become a midwife? Do you go to a school or are you planning on going to one?

Wendy - congrats on choosing homebirth! I really recommend The Birth Partner By Penny Simkin (or is it Janet Balaskas?) for your DH. It's a great book for showing what birth partners DO and how to do it.

Vanessa - I was basing my date on my LMP, I dont know what everyone else is basing their's on... There was some good information about controlling BP and pre-eclampsia with diet from early in pregnancy somewhere on this board... I can't remember where, though. Good luck with that.

Bonnie - I'm having the lack of appetite too! Then I'll be starving. I can definitely tell when I need to eat again though because I'm getting headaches.

Kim - so that's your name!!! You got pregnant fast! I love prenatal yoga, probably better than regular hatha yoga. During my first pregnancy it was the only way I really got to talk about my pregnancy and I loved knowing other preggos. And I also started the first time in my first trimester, but there were others who were right where I was so it didn't matter. Plus, it's good to be in a practice of some sort when all you want to do is sleep or sit on the couch battling nausea early on.

Danielle - I think a doula is a great idea! congrats!

Linda - Hope you and your DH get the CD thing worked out - I saw you post on the other thread about it. Has he tried them at all? They're really not that hard.

Keri, I'm so glad we're over here together!!! I hope you find what you need with the new group of midwives.

Dh is calling me, saying "you're not making dinner a priority." it's his big joke.

[slightly crunchy]

I loved being pregnant last time! Even the nausea was all right, I was just really happy to be pregnant. I had some trouble with sacroilac pain, pretty badly, through the second trimester, and a lot of pubic pain the last few weeks (but I think a lot of people have that?). But mostly, I felt really happy and connected with my baby.

The only thing I would have done differently was at the birth. DH and I had decided we wanted it to be just us at the hospital, although I had talked about a doula. This time, having been there once already, I *know* I need at least one labor support person, so we are definitely looking for a doula.

Keri, I'm glad to see you here! I followed your story some over at ttc and now you're pregnant! Congratulations to you! And of course to all the rest of you here!

Anna, yes, I'm shy about putting my name out on a bb. Don't tell, I've also been diaper shopping over the weekend, after I said I wouldn't! I'm looking for some AIO's, since I figure I'll be out and about earlier with this baby.

[hollyhobbie]

8 weeks on wednesday!!

i tear up a little as i write how far along i am b/c last time i was pg, i knew in my heart i wasnt going to make it when i reached just about this far along. this time i dont have that fear. i just feel good about it but i still am counting the days til i am 8 weeks b/c it seems like a magic gate even though we all know it could still happen.

i am hayley, mom to cassia who is 19 months and nursing like a tiny baby some days. we started cd'ing about a month or two ago after we gave up when she was a nb. i am buying diapers like mad since i already have most of the other things! i am 38 and have been married for over a year but we've been together for about 3 years i think. i have been a SAHM since i gave birth to cassia at home in feb 2003.

the whole birth and pregnancy were one of the best experiences of my life. i felt like i had been waiting for this for a long time and so i wanted to do it right! i had excellent midwifery care and that goes a long way. i felt i was prepared for anything but was very lucky to labour quickly and smoothly.

i am having more nausea and food aversion this time round. last time i was eating like mad but all healthy and couldnt figure out why every pg mom didnt do that. now i know. yuk. i can barely think of anything i want to eat never mind worry about protein and veggies! last time i was more active in terms of regularly going to the gym. this time i have a toddler. i am afraid that i am not exercising enuf and it will affect my birth. i think though realistically my abs and uterus muscles are genetically well prepared for birth!! i had wide hips and a big butt and they are there for a reason!

[nym]

You know, this time around I don't really feel pregnant. I gues it is because I don't really think about it a lot. I mean I do when I feel like crap, but that isn't that much this time either. There is part of me that worried because I dont have strong consistant m/s. It comes and goes, more often present in the evening/at night.

I dunno, Im just rambling..

[annakiss]

Welcome Holly!!!

So now I'm all confused about my ovulation date. I changed the tuning on my fertility friend chart and it gave me a much earlier ovulation day (6 days difference!). So it's either the 2nd, the 6th or the 8th... Anyone got an expert opinon? http://www2.fertilityfriend.com/home/4b049

[hollyhobbie]

annakiss,
my vote is definitely for the 6th looking at your previous charts and using the guideline of 5 temps below coverline before O. i am not a total expert but this is cycle chart #32 for me and that includes a pg and miscarriage!! i use ovusoft. i havent charted every one of those cycles but TCOYF is well worn around here. i tell everyone i know to chart and explain the whole thing! i love it. so, that is my fairly informed opinion!

[annakiss]

Thank you! I think you're probably right. That's the day I was going with before, even though FF had me on the 8th until I changed it to research mode tonight.