Weekly Thread Nov. 22-28

[lauren]

I was bound and determined to start ONE of these, and we are all running out of time, so I was glad to see I got here first due to the boards being down!!!

It's early, I haven't had a cup of coffee yet, so I don't even know if I have anything noteworthy to say!!

I am 38+ weeks, and I am so ready to have this baby. We're pretty well set, stuffwise, and I feel ready emotionally. Could use a little sleep......

I am so large, and I have one more day at work....today!! Then I come home to seriously nest, sleep, etc. Of course, my other children (6 and 9) will be home the rest of the week for the holiday, so I can't check out for too long, but it will be nice to focus completely on the birth.

[green betty]

37 weeks, 3 days


Shalena, I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I wish things could be different for you.

I'm having a not-so-good week, and I'm profoundly grateful MDC is back! Last Thursday I went in for a check-up and my blood pressure was high (150/80). The nurse had me lie down for 15 minutes and it went down to 128/74. I got a lecture and told to take it really easy. Then yesterday I went in for another check and it was high, 155/100! I ended up spending 4 hours at the hospital doing tests and being put on the fetal heart rate monitor and having my bp checked every half hour--it never really went below 145/80. Now I have to go back on Wednesday and do it again. They're talking about keeping me overnight for observation. And I'm not insured here yet--it would cost me almost $2000 for them to do that for just one night! I can't AFFORD complications!

So now I'm on strict bedrest and my husband is in the middle of a big work push and stressed and he just got mad at me for letting one of the dogs out without her tie-out (she is crazy and ran off because I haven't been able to walk her for days) and then the other dog barfed on the new couch pillows.

I want my mom. (Or, at least, A mom. It doesn't necessarily have to be mine!)

In the positive column, 150/85 is about what my bp was before I got pregnant, so hopefully it's just returned to that and won't get any worse?

[~MommyAmanda]

I am going to be 37 weeks on Thanksgiving! Seems like a perfect day for a baby to me!

If I go past my due date someone is going to have to sedate me. I think I am a little farther along but still. I had 3 night/afternoons of regular contrations lasting at least 90 secs for 4-6 hours and then they just stop. I am hoping they are making gradual changes and labor will be a little less.

I had my homevisit yesterday. She is estimating the baby to weigh about 7 pounds right now. My urine was clean except for ketones but she just told me to eat BIG! At least I have permission to pig out on Thursday.

My next appoihtment isn't unitl Dec 2nd becuase of the holidays backing everyones appoiontment up. Maybe I will have a baby by then?

[Jenelle]

almost 35 weeks...

I had a busy weekend, but tried several times on Monday to get on here and I am so glad to have the forum back!!!

I had a dr. appt. yesterday... everything is "normal". I've gained about 32 pounds so far.

Nursery is done - yay! Now we're just putting things away in there... organizing, nesting, etc. I am waiting a couple more weeks to wash the bedding and clothes so they don't just hang out in there and get dusty. I suppose I should wash a couple things to put in the diaper bag "just in case" we have to go to the hospital early for some reason.

Also trying to get Christmas shopping done, and wrapping. I just wrapped 6-7 presents a couple weeks ago, and I sat on the floor to do it (like I'm used to doing when not pregnant) and by the time I got up I could barely walk between the pubic bone pain and back pain. I was hobbling around the house like a little old woman - big time.

OMG, I don't know what the deal is - but I am getting seriously bombarded by pop-ups all of a sudden! This has never happened before. I am just trying to type out this message and it's like I'm frigging under attack! I've got to go figure out what's going on and come back when things are working better.

[nannymom]

36 weeks

I am so glad MDC is back!
I had a very diffucult weekend. I have been feeling crampy and having cervical pain (it feels like there is a needle in my cervix and the baby is rubbing her head into it). I also feel very emotional. I've been irritiable and I have been crying a lot. I thought maybe I was going in to labor but nothing is consistant. I have an apt. Tommarow with my MWs. I figure it is probably just a hormonal surge. I really don't want to have my baby early or late-does that make sense?

Jenelle- I know what you mean about the wrapping and shopping being so painful. I have so much christmas shopping left to do that last night I cried about it.

uuelisabeth-Hang in there. I am sorry you're struggling.

[nikirj]

Shalena, I'm so sorry about your mom

I am 34 weeks. I think the baby dropped, my belly looks and feels lower. It is early for that but I am not experiencing symptoms of labor. It was accompanied by excrutiating round ligament pains, especially in my right side (after about 6 hours of incapacitating pain, I was so very close to running to the hospital to see if my appendix had burst or something of the sort, when the baby turned so that its back was to my left, and the pain went away). My poor daughter (4.5yo) was so worried, she kept asking me if the baby was ok and I was ok, and kept doing sweet things like rubbing my belly, getting me blankets, getting me water, etc, trying to fix it. It might have been a somewhat-drop and not the whole thing, if that makes any sense, there is probably some downward-space left, even though a lot got covered.

We watched some birth videos with my kids yesterday - the first non-tv ones they've seen (so the first where there wasn't blocking out of the important parts). They were so excited. And now they ask all the time if I'm going to have the baby now. When I'm on the toilet (there was one birth that happened mostly on a toilet), and last night I was in the bath and they came running in, clamoring, and I had to dissappoint them (no, no baby tonight, just washing). I wish I could just look at birth with the simplicity they see it - mommy's body will tell her it is time to have the baby, mommy will call them, the baby will come out, mommy will hug the baby and we'll meet him/her. For them, that is all there is to it. They look forward to it with an excitement I could not have anticipated (they have been ready now for months, they are so eager, so worried about missing the event). They even ask me every now and then, will the baby come soon? They don't want to miss it. They want to meet the 'new baby'.

Of course I am excited too. But it is still too early. My MW and I agreed that the earliest homebirth date would be Dec. 9th (the 37-week mark). Time is flying and that should be here so fast.

[Changed]

Crap. I posted on the other thread. I have no idea how to C&P it all so just go read it if you care to....lol! Elisabeth, you ought to try the cream of tartar BP thingy.

According to Susan Weed, it's 2 tsp cream of tartar, 1/2 the juice of 1 lemon and 1 cup of water once a day for 3 days, rest on the 4th day and start over on the 5th. It's supposed to lower your bp15/10 pretty quick and keep it down. It's worth a shot. It's harmless. Did you know that cream of tartar is an acid left over after grapes ferment.

[PatchyMama]

38.5 weeks or so...

I want to be all happy and uppity, but im frustrated, LOL. I think both the midwife and I had our minds set that this baby would be early cause she is so big and things started happening so far... but here i sit still HUGELY uncomfortable and prengnat still. Last time she checked me (about a week and ahalf ago I think) I was 3 cm and 80% effaced and baby was at 0 and engaged. We went for another prenatal yesterday, but she didnt check me again. Baby sounds fine still... but she is now measuring 43 cm ... and thats after she has already dropped some! I hate to admit it but I'm kind of getting scared that this girl is going to be HUGE!

The last 3-4 days have just been SO uncomfortable.... horrible back pain, crampiness... then i get at least 1 bought of HARD contractions that will last for an hour .. then just stop - happens EVERY day. I just feel like we are on some roller coaster.... I probably just need to relax, im just having a hard time doing it.

The good news is I did finish the babys diapers! If you are bored and want to look at cute little newborn diapers I have pics up here: http://www.girlwomangoddess.com/gallery/album05
Now I just have to finish the diaper bag/changing pad and I will be all set!

to everyone having a crappy time right now..... lets try to think about why we should be thankful as the holiday approaches. Maybe that will take some of the edge/anticipation off.... or at least I hope :LOL

[kazmir]

36 weeks!

I am so sorry to hear of your loss Shalena, my heart goes out to you. Take care of yourself and your new baby. Your mom will be with you always in memory.

I had an OB appt yesterday and found out my OB won't be back until after the first of the year so I am at the mercy of the on call OB, which I was anyway. Good thing, I like 2 of the 3 OBs alot, especially the one I saw yesterday. He was very sweet to my DD and has delivered 4 of my fiend's babies with no problems. Bad thing, I don't like one of the OBs much, although that is based on one visit with him during one of my misscarraiges, so things could be different with a birth. I should schedule him on one of my weekly checkups to get to know him a bit. Just in case.

Everything at the visit went well, negative on the genital herpes test so thats all good. I measured 34 cm so I'm right on track. Now I have bad soreness in my pelvic area that started last night. It feels like I rode my mtn bike 20 miles yesterday. I hope it eases up soon.

I overdid it yesterday after my appt. I went to get stuff for Thanksgiving and DD took off and got lost in the supermarket. I was looking at turkeys and she didn't see me and started to wander around the store. I found a clerk and they put someone at each exit. DD went to the flower booth and told the clerk she was lost. Then she told them her name and my name, I heard it over the loud speaker and it was only 5 minutes between losing and finding but I ran around the store so much I must have pulled something. DD did great and we talked about what to do if it happens again. I just hugged her so hard when I found her. She was very calm and really did a great job of getting back to me. I was proud of her . After that we finished up shopping (with her in the cart) and I barely made it home before collapsing.
I feel better today, but am moving very slow at work and may leave early.... I only have about 3 more weeks so everyday counts.

uuelisabeth - I hope your BP gets under control.

mama2kayla - I am very jealous of your stash. I just got some things in from ebay but am going to need to get more if I really am going to do all cloth!

Hilary is still not here? Anyone know a way to contact her to see if everything is okay. I PMed her last week and no reply....

[PatchyMama]

mama2kayla - I am very jealous of your stash. I just got some things in from ebay but am going to need to get more if I really am going to do all cloth!

:LOL Well if it helps im jealous of your location What I wouldnt do to live in Santa Cruz! We used to live in south san jose... i miss it so much!

[green betty]

Thanks for the tip, mhl! I just had my first glass--much less yuckky than I feared, really just like tart lemonade. I'll let you know how it works.

[Oregonicmama]

36 weeks!

Hi Mamas!

Shalena, I'm so sorry for you. Of all the times to loose your mom... I wish you the best. I bet your baby will remind you of your mom a lot.

I am 36 weeks as of yesterday! I am so excited the baby could come anytime now. I am due 12/21, but it seems like it will come earlier. At my MW appt. yesterday, they were commenting on how I'm "all baby" and it seems like it could come next week! I am hoping to go a little longer than that though. Everything is normal as far as BP and things go. I'm only measuring 34 weeks, but MW thinks its b/c the baby is engaged.

Speaking of which, I checked my cervix the other night, just out of curiosity, and I felt the baby's head! It was the coolest thing ever! I could just feel this big hard round thing behind my cervix. I thought at first it was a part of me, but I poked it a couple times and it moved away from me. I feel the baby through my belly all the time, but this was really different. The layer between is just so much thinner.

I have begun a wierd nesting phase. I have been obsessively cleaning everything for a month or 2 now, thats not it. Now I want to clean everything, but just don't have any motivation. It's driving me nuts. My house is a mess, but I am just so cumbersome and so tired I just don't want to do anything! I really want to deep clean the house before the birth, but I just don't know if it will happen. It doesn't help that standing for long periods makes my back hurt, and I start having contractions! : I'm thinking about assigning myself a project a day, starting this Saturday, and that ought to get it all done before the birth (unless all that cleaning sends me into labor!). Thank God I am not hosting Thanksgiving!!! :LOL

We still haven't figured out the diaper thing. Its not such a big deal b/c I couldn't make anything myself anyway, so I just have to order it all. But its kind of annoying. I just want to have this one thing figured out at least! I guess if I have to, I can go buy a pack of disposables just to feel a little better. And get the cloth diaps after the birth.

I missed you all so much over the weekend. I am so glad to have the MDC back! And by the way, i got NOTHING done over the weekend. :LOL I thought I would do a lot, but I totally slacked! Oh well.

Glad to hear you are all doing well. I find it so exciting that some of us have already given birth. It will probably be one right after another from now on! YAY! :

[shalena]

Thanks for all the kind words guys. I feel so alone without her now. I hadn't seen her in months, and we only talked on the phone maybe 2 times a week, but I always knew she was there. And now its so hard to think that I'll never hear her voice again. I keep replaying the last times i've talked with her, and wondering what I could have done better. What if I had gone up there? What if I had had more patience and understanding. What if I wasn't in denial since I found out she had Cancer? I feel like the worst daughter in the world. I spent all my teenage years pushing her away, and now more then anything I want her back so badly. I need her so much

MHL - I havn't gotten your package yet. I promise I'll send a PM as soon as it arrives. I'm starting to worry about it. I'm hoping the mail is just slow right now with the upcoming holidays.

I think I'm retaining fluids. I want this baby out. I'm going nuts! I want to roll over in bed so badly. :

edit:

I just want to add in my fears about PPD. My aunt had it and killed herself shorty after her third baby was born (2 months, maybe?). My family is prone to Seasonal Affective Disorder, and I usually have a real down time every winter. How common is PPD? I'm scared that I could get it. I've looked into a post partum doula, but I just can't afford one. Is there anyway I can prevent it?

Also, DH wants to Co-Sleep (YAY ) and I was wondering where to start? I looked all through the family bed forum for the basics, but I can't find what I'm looking for. Is it okay if the baby sleeps in between DH and I? We have a king sized tempurpedic mattress and a down duvet. I was thinking that maybe the duvet would be to fluffy? I am not worried about the mattress itself, as at 130 pounds I barely sink into it, and it has had plenty of time to air out. I am also wondering how many sheet sets we should buy in advance, I am assuming we can expect some leaks. We have 3 atm, one is flannel. Is a full mattress protector better, or would it be okay to get two of those small pads like they use in hospitals? I was thinking one can go under the sheet, and one over. We also have a teflon cover already on the mattress, but I know it won't protect through the night if I don't catch a leak just as it happens.

Sorry for all the questions ladies, I just thought of them and am hoping for a little guidence from the BTDT moms

[Changed]

Crap. It's been a week since I mailed it out. When I mailed it I may have written the address wrong. I wasn't sure if I did but thought afterward I may have. If so, it will come back to me and i'll just have to mail it again. Your email said Pl NE and I think I mistook that for pine. Dang!

I've been having contractions since 3 or so. I don't want to go to the hospital. It's about to storm really bad. It's flooded everywhere here.They are about every 3 minutes and 30 seconds long. I've tried laying down and taking a bath, ibuprofen, tons of water, nothing. I went to the OB and she really irked me. Said she didn't know I'd had a c section and never noticed it in my chart until today and that she would not ok a homebirth at all with a previous section. Not that I need her approval but she just kept ona nd on about uteruine rupture. It really upset me. To this point actually. They aren't bad contractions it just worries me that they keep coming. I want this baby to stay in until at least December. My BP was up a little more today. 130/84. Not bad but it's a trend.

Oh ya, and my midwife is like 11 hours away on Thanksgiving vacation. Great time to get pissed off and go into labor huh?

Her doula/apprentice is here in town and is wonderful so i'm ok.

[~MommyAmanda]

I forgot to mention that my husband is nesting! Anybody elses?

[lauren]

Shalena, keep in touch w/ your midwife about PPD. It is real and should be taken seriously. There are some great websites but I have to look them up. Remind me.

Re: family bed. We have a queen bed, and we use one of those little infant side-sleeper things in between us for the baby (it's like two triangles of foam, keeps baby on his/her side.) We have a sidecar crib on the open side of the bed (a crib with one side off), so baby can also sleep adjoined to the bed in there. Another option is to put a bed rail on the open side of the bed for when babe is on that side. When I needed to switch the baby to the other side, I scooted up and slid the whoel side-sleeper over to the other side. Maybe this makes no sense to you.... (now that I'm reading it back I think we used chucks under the side sleeper for waterproofing. They also sell disposable pads in the adult incontinence section of the store. They're called Underpads and they are about 2 feet by 3 feet which is about right for a baby. You could also use a whole mattress protector, but I don't like them because I can't stand that crinkly sound under me. Hope this helps!

m-h-l-- take it easy, can you get in the tub and slow things down???

[Jessviola]

Shalena, I'm so sorry for your loss

I was having a kinda crappy week/weekend but things are looking better today. We finally found an AP friendly family practitioner who would accept the new baby (and hopefully us in the future ) I'm very excited to meet her, she sounded really nice on the phone and came highly recommended. This is such a weight off my back because the ped we'd been taking dd to is very AP unfriendly and I dreaded taking her back, let alone a baby boy. I don't even want to think what he'd do to an uncirced penis.

I feel like I'm on the complete opposite wavelength of most of you all. I am not ready for this baby to come at all. I mean, I'm very excited and can't wait to meet him, but I feel like I have so much to do still and actually am hoping he comes on the late side. I'm not too uncomfortable, although he's positioned so that I get rib pain on either side when I lay down to sleep and I'm feeling quite big now. My shirts do not cover the bottom of my belly so it's often hanging out without my realizing. I think I have exactly one fleece sweater that covers it decently (ironically, it's a size small ).

Also, my blood pressure is on the low side. At the last visit it was 92/something. I can't remember exactly now. It's always on the low side, but is there something I should watch out for with low blood pressure? I think I remember a thread about that a while back, I'll have to search for it...

I went crazy cleaning the house today and afterwards noticed my ankles swelling for pretty much the first time this pregnancy. I remember last time they were permanently in Flintstone mode :LOL

I've sewed exactly one fitted diaper so far and it came out really bad. I don't even know if it'll be usable :LOL I'm planning to brave the crowds and head out to Joann's on Friday because they're having a big sale on flannel, 99 cents a yard for all types! So I'm going to stock up so I can make a bunch (of mistakes! :LOL) I've knitted up quite a few soakers, but each pattern produces a finished product that looks to be pretty different in size from the others. I'm afraid to make a bunch of one and then have it not work. But if I don't do it now, I know I won't have time when the baby arrives.

I was supposed to have an appt tomorrow to meet the last MW in the practice, but it got rescheduled for Dec 2, and for another MW. They said the other one was booked until Dec 15. Hopefully when I go in in person I can convince them to book the next appt with her.

I'm trying to figure out who we can have watch dd while we're at the center. I really want her there with us, but we need someone else to be officially in charge of her. I don't have any friends who will be close enough to be there for the birth. I have family around, but no one that I want at the birth, well except my grandmother, but she can't drive at night because of eye problems so we'd still need a night option. I really DON'T want my mother there. She's somewhat of a control freak and wouldn't shut up about what she thought should be happening, etc. and I'd never be able to relax or focus. I'm really having a tough time figuring this out.

[mamamoo]

17 days to go!!

Hey mamas~Things are tough here...just so weepy, everything sets me off. My back and pelvis are killing me, and I can't even roll over in bed and I keep peeing myself on the way to the bathroom in the middle of the night, because it's all I can do to hobble while clutching the hallway...LOL

Tiff...those dipes are great! What a lucky baby to have such a talented mama!!

For PPD~I have had it with my last two pregnancies...my last time was very, very bad. I am having someone prepare my placenta for me(she will dry, powder, and capsulize it), after the birth at my midwife's urging. It is supposed to really help. One of the main causes of PPD is the extreme drop in hormone levels when you deliver your placenta(which is why most mammals eat theirs after delivering). I am also going to make sure I am taking my vitamins...and just generally keep close tabs on my feelings afterwards. Last time is hit me at 2weeks pp. I am really hoping to avoid it this time, but feel like I may already be having some issues(I have a history of depression anyway, that is actually a bit better while pregnant). You can take extra B vitamins, and there are some other natural remedies out there...go look on the PPD board here...there is a ton of info on PPD and cures/remedies.

Debi

[cinnamonamon]

mhl, my midwife told me a small glass of red wine will stop preterm labor -- don't know how you feel about that, but thought I'd let you know.

mommyamanda -- my dh isn't nesting, but he's being a good sport about helping me with everything I want done.

shalena, re: cosleeping, I would get a wool pad instead, or put a couple flannel receiving blankets on top of the hospital pad as otherwise it will make you SWEAT -- yuck! As for him sleeping between you & dh, it depends on if he sleeps lightly or not -- mothers instinctually are in tune with their babies -- not all men are. If you put the pad & blankets or wool pad on top of your sheets, then you should only get leaks on that -- and remember your breasts will probably leak quite a bit at first -- I put gerber prefolds under me, and only had to change the sheets once or twice a week.

If I were you I would look into finding a PP doula who will volunteer for a reduced (or free) price. I just read a thread with several links in it today -- I think in "I'm Pregnant."

s to you!!


lovelocks -- that is so cool that you felt the baby's head like that! I felt it way down low (below my pelvic bone) yesterday at my mw appt. & was excited about that.

kazmir -- how scary about losing your daughter! I'm so glad she knew what to do!! And re: the pelvic pain -- I had that "bike butt"/pelvis feeling for several days a few weeks ago -- very unpleasant, but it's gone now.

mama2kyla -- your stash.... ... oh, ... oh my! :LOL Pet that wool for me, k? Sit in a comfy chair and just play with your dipes, that should relax you!


I was going to respond to everyone, but ds is going crazy....

[Changed]

Hi again. I finally got the contractions to stop pretty much. I'm going to take yet another hot bath and get into bed. My doula thought it was positional. She's a message therapist and said the shooting pains down my inner thighs meant that he was on a nerve and irritating my uterus. Makes sense to me. The other day when the MW did a pelvic touching my cervix was enough to make me contract bad. I'm hoping they are chilled for a long while since I have a boat load of work to do tommorow. I have tons of baking to do and Meg has therapy then I have to pack everyone and drive an hour. I really NEED things to be stable. Maybe i'll pick up a bottle of wine. That feels so wrong to me but then again I'd have to compare the potential harm of being born at 36 ish weeks to that of a glass of wine. Seems like the thing to do and hey it's holiday wine.... right? I won't have any time tommorow to get online but I ope you all have a wonderful thanksgiving and beautiful healthy babies!!