weekly thread nov.28th-4th

[nannymom]

I am jump starting this thread b/c I am at Dh's office and am bored and they have nice computers.

I haven't been here in a while and I can't beleive three of us have already had there babies. I am so happy for them.

Not much new here I saw the MW on Wed. everything was the same. The baby has been active. I have had some cramps and my back is killing me in a new and different way, but I don't really thing any of it means anything.

How was everybodies holiday?

[Oregonicmama]

Not too much exciting going on here. But I did just find out my Mom is getting me shearling slippers and a luxurious bathrobe for Christmas. With bath products to go with (all natural even, love her!)! I never get to have luxury items for myself and am so happy. The floors in my house are really cold, so I've been having to wear my shoes all the time. I want shearling slippers BAD! Go Mom!

I finished the gift I was making for my midwife and I wanted to show it to you all. I am really happy with how it came out.

http://www.imagestation.com/album/?i...il-AlbumInvite

Have a great week!

[Jessviola]

WOW! That is gorgeous Deirdre!

[cinnamonamon]

Deirdre -- what a neat idea -- and it turned out so well. I just bought some woman beads and candles from the attachments catalog. I'm going to make her & my doula up a couple necklaces & put them in a pretty little cloth bag with the candles and something else...

Nice to "see" you, nannymom! Our Thanksgiving was really nice, & the house is shaping up wonderfully, so I'm feeling more & more content. I hope everyone else is feeling all right, too!

I'm having to take breaks from my cleaning cause my back starts hurting & I start getting bh contractions, but I have to get the house shaped up; my friend is throwing me a mother/baby blessing tomorrow & for some silly reason I wanted it here. :LOL

[Changed]

Carollyn, are you nervous about your HBAC and the whole uterine rupture thing? Im getting a little nervous and scared. I almost feel guilty that I'm worried since my midwife is doing my whole birth for free and all that. Is this your first HBAC? Does it depend on the reason you had a Ceserean to begin with?

My blood pressure last night was still creeping up there and I gained 4.5 pounds over the last week. Too much pie! I'm going to have to go for a long walk today. I'm only 36 weeks I guess so I have to keep this baby in another week and I don't want to gain any more weight. I'm up to 21 pounds now. Makes me wanna cry. Hopefully if I work to get it off as soon as he's born it will be easier. My mistake with the other kids was taking it easy and not trying to get back into shape for like a year. By that time the fat is permanent.

[NeKisha]

38 weeks

it is getting so close to the end, but my fear is now that the baby will want to stay in till christmas! hopefully not lol.

i had a great thanksgiving with dh's family. they distracted me long enough to clear the table and throw us a little baby shower. it was very sweet, and just helps me feel closer to them.

i am measuring way small. i went to my mw wed and was measuring 3 cm behind, but since i had an ultrasound mon to see how the baby was doing she wasnt worrying. the babe measured only a half a week behind and was estimated at 6lb 9oz. thats a pretty good sized babe after all this worry over my only gaining 8 lbs.

the baby has been really quiet since yesterday. is that a sign of imminent labor? the baby's movements had been very strong and frequent, but yesterday the baby was quiet, with very little movement. and so far the same today.

i bought a small bookcase yesterday to use as a baby bureau. we are living in very small quarters, one bedroom, and the bookcase makes much more sense. it feels good to have all the baby clothes put away and my bag packed for the hospital. all i have to do now is get together important phone numbers, buy a phone card, and buy some film.

this is my first and i still feel a little aprehensive about becoming a mother. i know that must sound odd considering ive had all this time to adjust, but the feeling is still there right along with all the excitement and joy.

in the meantime, i have gotten so much done since ive stopped working. the stress i had been feeling has all but disappeared because when i stop to think about all the projects i have left to do to get the apartment totally moved in, i realize that i have all day to do it. i still have some curtains to make, some liners, and maybe one more soaker. besides that, i think right now is just a waiting game.

[shalena]

Nekisha - my baby has been really quiet too. The past few weeks have been nothing but movement, and yesterday I barely felt him at all. I shook my belly to wake the baby up :LOL

I cleaned my house last night, and this evening the baby's dresser/changer arrives so there is nothing left for me to do. I've even gotten my "labor tool" ( a little egg with a baby's head sticking out one side, and its rear and one foot sticking out the other) in the mail on friday. My bag for the birth center is packed, and just needs one or two things (menstrual pads and something for me to wear home). I managed to snag 10 or so pairs of those fish net panties while I was in the hospital, which I am really glad I did. They're really comfortable, and I don't have to worry about ruining my nice ones. All of the baby's clothes are washed and waiting - there is seriously nothing left for me to do! I am so ready for this baby! Here's hoping.

Yesterday in the mail I got the announcement my mom made up before she passed away. She had choosen two pictures of herself, and a really nice poem. She called them her "memory cards" and had them made to be sent out to everyone after she died. It was really hard for me to open up the envelope and look inside, because I knew what it was. She had told me a few weeks ago that she was going to be making them (and here I was, presuming she was way to far ahead of the game and being silly making all these arrangments for her departure ). I guess she just knew her time was coming. Its hard for me to come to grips that she is gone. I usually call sunday mornings after church, and here I am sitting with no one to call. I miss her. How can I be a good mom when I don't have one to help me along anymore? Sorry for being a downer, ladies. I guess sometimes I just need to vent what I am feeling.


Tuesday I have my "labor preperation" class that I'm hoping I won't need. I'd rather have a baby by tuesday, instead of going. My doula is coming over to get familar with our house this wednsday too - I wonder what that will be like? I'm a pretty private person, and am not exactly sure what she means when she says "I want to know where everything is".

I'm still crampy, but nothing has really changed.

Sending labor vibes to all who need them!

[PatchyMama]

Deirdre - that gift is awesome!!! well done!

hang in there mamas... you will be holding babies before you know it!

[Changed]

Hmmm... I am also hoping that my next appointment is my last. I'm suposed to see my MW on Monday and my OB on Tuesday. I'd love to pop any time now but I have to take Meg to a wheelchair clinic for a fitting on Tuesday after I see the OB. She really needs it and her therapist have taken off that day to go with us for the fitting. I HAVE to go like it or not so this baby better wait until the weekend. Then I'm worried about disrupting everyone workweek. We've discussed herbal induction alot and I think the time is coming.

Has anyone tried the cream of tartar BP thing? I took the mixture this morning and I'm hopeful that it works. If not my doc is going to bug me about my BP's upward trend and try even harder to talk me out of my homebirth. I just went to get a new bottle of prenatals. I want to remember to keep talking them after baby comes but seems like after they come out everything about life goes out of wack. I'm normally so structured and tightly scheduled but I know when I have a newborn nothing is predictable anymore.

I'm done with everything I can possibly do. Except, I still haven't bought the midwife a gift or the doula actually...I was planning on a birth stool but I really can't afford it after all the expense of the plumbing disaster we had recently. Top that off with Thanksgiving and Christmas, which I haven't started on and I'm broke. I'm going to give everyone a framed picture of all 3 kids this year. I just can't fight metro shopping right now. I''m tired and huge. I feel bad that I am not putting much thought into what people would like to recieve this year but what can I do, send DH shopping? I am going to send out Christmas cards.

Btw, I'll join you on the downer Shalena. I have no important things to sulk about but I'm REALLY sick of everything I have to wear. I bought ahead and got winter maternity a size up. They're still a little big and it's not cold! I've been walking around like an idiot in sandals and capris in late November.

[Oregonicmama]

M~H~L

I am concerned about losing the weight after the birth too. I have gained over 30 lbs (that was how much I gained 2 months ago, so I can only imagine!). With DD being born in July, I was able to go for long walks/hikes in the Nat. Forest by my house everyday from 1 month PP. I lost all the weight by 3 months PP.
With this being a winter baby I'm not sure how I'm going to do it this time. It rains and is miserable here all winter, well into April. Will I still be able to loose the wieght if I wait until almost 5 months PP to try?
I have thought about getting a video or something, but I only have a DVD player and haven't seen any PP excercise videos on DVD. Any suggestions?

Nekisha- I used a bookcase for a baby dresser too. I put it on top of my dresser to save even more space. It worked really well. Infact I was still using a bookcase for her until we moved over the summer!

M~H~L I bought size L winter maternity clothes and most of the pants are still HUGE on me! I thought I'd be able to wear them PP for a while, but I don't know if they'll even stay on me with out this big belly to hold them up! I don't have anything that will fit PP from my non-maternity clothes, and I really can't buy anything for that in between time either. I don't know what I'm going to do. Its extra annoying b/c I am really picky about my clothes and ill fitting clothes drive me crazy!

Shalena You are allowed to vent as much as you need to. If any one of us needs that right now, its you! I would be way beyond venting if I was in your shoes. Please, let it out as much as you need to. Thats how you will be able to deal with your loss, talk about it. I think that was really thoughtful of your Mom to make those "Memory Cards." I would treasure something like that forever.

And honestly, you will be ok without your mom to guide you. I never ask my mom for childrearing advice. In my situation, I'm better off looking in a book or on MDC! Women used to pass on much younger than we do now. Many of us have raised kids just fine without a Mom to help. There are tons of Mamas to support you right here (though I know its not the same at all). In fact, have you been on the Grief and Loss board on here yet?

Oh yeah- Tiffany- Kyla has the most georgeous hair color! I love it! She is so cute (Willow too of course!). My DD loved looking at the "Big Sister" pictures.

Hope you new mamas are enjoying your babies! And hey, the rest of us, lets try to enjoy these last weeks of our pregnancies! I know, for me anyway, this is probably the last time I will experience this.

[Changed]

I'm THIS close to getting some castor oil or something. I swear, I'm about to loose my mind. Is 36+5 really THAT early? I'm afraid my dates are skrewed up. How can he possible be at LEAST 6 pounds and at most 8 right now? It's unbelievable how huge I feel.

Actually, MW said I can start doing EPO vaginally tonight along with all the sex and walking I can handle. If those things make birth, you were ready, she says. She says herbs have to wait until either my BP is too high to wait or I'm farther along.

[laurata]

Can I complain a while? (way tmi)

I feel so sick and icky. I'm nauseous SO much, from the pressure the baby has been putting on my stomache. PLUS, I feel constipated. Except, I don't know how I can be constipated when my bowel movements are fairly normal? Regardless, I am seriously toying with the idea of an enema. The rectal pressure if making me INSANE. I haven't done it yet because I'm afraid it might push me into real labor, and I'd kind of like another week to get things packed for the move. But at the same time, I am tired, and I imagine I could pack with a newborn too, if I had too. Anyway, in an effort to get things moving, I had a serving of prunes last night, oatmeal with raisins for breakfast, an apple, and two more servings of prunes this afternoon. Plus about 2 qts of RRL tea and 3 or 4 servings of water. Had a tiny bowel movement, but it wasn't *normal,* ykwim?

M~H~L: I feel ya on the weight thing. I am planning to go re-join WW right away after the baby is born. I've gained almost FIFTY POUNDS!!! That puts me close to 90 lbs overweight. :-( I imagine the first twenty or so will come right off, but I have a really, really hard time losing weight after gaining it. Pregnancy related or not.

[Changed]

I was just kidding! I promise!....


My mw called to tell me she got back into town if I needed anything. I told her about my BP and all that. She wants to come over and check me, my urine for protien, my BP and all that. She said from what I told her she thought we should start slow induction. Reflexology for my BP and labor, tinctures and all that ball of wax. She said the goal is to get a good 4 hours of contractioons out of me and then let them peter out for a nights rest. Then start again until it sticks and the baby has had hormonal cues to get moving and does. I am freaking out. SHe and the doula will be here at 7. TONGIHT! I did a quick spot cleaning and finished blowing up the pool. Still have no hose! I kept forgetting till now. I'll let you all know how it goes....

[~MommyAmanda]

I am jealous MHL!

I am cramping away and really want to go take a bath but .....

We visited a new church today and I am really excited about it. A lady just stopped by and when I told her we were homebirthing she said, oh lots of peole at our church do that. One of the midwife apprenetces goes there too! Thats very rare around here... :LOL

Jason is going out of town tonight and will back tommorow night. H eis only a few hours away but my mom insisted on coming to spend the night.

[rainy32]

what a great birth box! so cool!

nothing new here. Unless we count even fewer contractions and less crampiness as "new' : dh said, "maybe he's decided its really comfortable in there and he wants to stay in until Christmas?!" :

luckily, since I'm not as crampy and my back doesn't hurt as much, I am feeling better and more cheerful. we spent a really nice day in our backyard planting things today. I'm off to make a lentil stew and think about having to go to WORK this week (was really hoping to be done on Friday!).

-Rainy

[Jenelle]

35 1/2 weeks

Hello all... I don't know how but I got so behind on these threads!!! I must have had some busy days around here. I still have 3 pages of last week's I'd like to read. :

Congratulations to those who've had their babies! How exciting! Hope you're all doing well. I can't wait to get on here every day and see a new name being announced!

Shalena, feel free to "talk" to us about your mom! I am so sorry for your loss. But you will be a great mom even without her guidance, I am sure. MDC and books are a great source of info, you know! And I don't know what your faith is, but I believe she will be watching over you and the new baby.

For those of you concerned about PP weight loss... here's my 2 cents. Nursing really did it for me! It didn't happen overnight, but I lost over 40 pounds by 10 months PP. And I wasn't exercising at all for the first 8 months of that. And when I did finally start some exercise, it was a mile on the treadmill every day or two - that's it. No real "dieting" at all.

I'm with you on the clothes frustration. My low-rise pants are comfy but won't stay up where I want them so I am constantly hiking them up, and the pants with the full-belly panels are just plain itchy and uncomfortable but I have to wear them anyway. I have a very limited number of long sleeve maternity shirts and I refuse to buy more at this point, so if I forget to throw a load of laundry in for a few days then I end up in something I feel pretty dorky in. And the things I am most comfortable in, I feel like a barn in. :

I am keeping myself occupied with Christmas shopping and wrapping, otherwise I think I would be going nuts that I have 4-6 weeks left! The nursery is done except for washing some things and a little more organizing. It is so odd to try to picture our family Christmas parties, because I have no idea if we'll have Eli with us (on the outside) or if he'll still be cooking. Or if we'll be in the hospital, missing the festivities! :

I don't have another dr. appt. for a week. That is when she will "check" me for the first time. I'm hoping with all these BHs I've been having that there will be something going on.

Everybody have a great week!

[mamamoo]

38 wks 2 days

I really, really thought I would have this little one by now. I am glad she isn't here yet(still so much to do), but I just am having issues with the uncertainty. :LOL My ds#2's birthday is tomorrow(so I really want her to wait til after that), and I would love it if she came on a friday...that way dh could stay home with us for a few days before going back to work(not to mention he has no emergency leave or anything yet...only been on the job 6 months, and we can't afford for him to miss a day).

Dh is FINALLY getting on board with helping around here. I just wish I were a better housekeeper, I feel bad making him do so much, but I physically can't do it right now.
I have the WORST heartburn!! I can not eat anything at all without feeling crappy! And Laura, I am right there with you with the weird bowel stuff going on. I have the SAME exact symptoms you are having...but I am actually going here and there, and yesterday I went probably 10 times. But it is not helping that feeling of being constipated. WTH? LOL I think it is contributing to the hb stuff too. Ugh.

I still need a few things for the birth kit. Does anyone know how important it is to have things ultra sterile? I don't see why the towels and receiving blankets need to be sterile...or even the latex gloves...we are in our home and used to the germs here and all. What do you think?

Shalena~Please do not feel bad about talking about your Mother. I can't imagine loosing my mom at a time like this...it would be so hard. You sound like a strong lady, and I know you will be a good mother. We are here for you, please talk if you need to.

MommyAmanda~I feel like a total idiot!! I am your secret swap person, and I SWEAR I thought I sent your package out already. I just found it in the van!! I am going to try really hard to get it out tomorrow...it depends on when dh gets back from work. I am so, so, so, sorry.

I am not terribly concerned about PP weight loss, but mostly because I have SO much to loose. I wish I could go to Curves. I had a trial membership there(a month free), but they are not open when I could go(either super, super early, or after 7 or 8 pm), not to mention I can't imagine trying to get the money together. I am hoping I will have the energy to eat better, and do some sort of exercise...I have a prenatal yoga dvd, but no motivation to do it. My mw is not too happy bout that.

Anyway, I hope you all have a great week, and welcome to all the new babies!! This is just amazing! Oh, does anyone know if we will have an announcement sticky, or something? I could try to do it, if no one else wants to.
Debi

[cinnamonamon]

38 weeks 2 days


Wow -- so much going on with everyone -- I think everyone said something that I am also feeling/doing. I'm so tired that I don't have the energy to respond to it all, though! It was a wonderful 4 days with dh home -- he's been an absolute angel. No complaints about everything I was wanting done, etc., & spending nice cuddle time with ds & I.

I moved furniture around (it slides on our tile floor, no big deal, I swear :LOL) last night to fit in the glider chair I bought second hand on Friday, and have just been doing the general nesting stuff.

My mommy/baby blessing was today, and it was really nice -- lots of yummy food (and I got all the leftovers!), and everyone brought a bead & I made a necklace with them all to wear when I'm in labor -- I think it will be a great thing to focus on -- the different textures & colors are great.


MHL -- I'm not nervous about the whole uterine rupture thing -- unless you start with hormonal/drug inducers, your increased chance is .05% -- and that isn't even catastrophic rupture -- that percentage is even lower. Just remember to trust yourself & your body & baby!! Good luck tonight!

[michray]

37 weeks, 1 day

I am so jealous of all of you who are holding those adorable lil ones now! I wish I had something new to report..but its the same old thing. After almost 2 days with very few contractions, they are back. Irregular, uncomfortable and wearing me out.. but they don't appear to be doing much!

At least the house is almost competlely clean, the co-sleeper is all put up, the car seat is in.... now I just need a baby! Mom is arriving Tuesday morning, and she is thrilled that baby has held out this far, and hoping to make it here for the birth. I would love to have her here..but I think I would love to have baby more!

DH and I have been having a great sex life and I am getting lots done, but man oh man... am I TIRED! I have gained 35lbs ( pretty typical for me) and I am measuring 32cm ( down from 36 previously). MW says baby has moved way down, but just isnt quite ready, apparently! Im taking EPO morning and night now, and trying to pamper myself a lil each day.

Crossing fingers for everyone who is ready!!!

[lauren]

I'm with everyone on the big and little frustrations. I'm 39 weeks 2 days and ready to roll. I have gained 50 lbs! which is a record (gained 46 with each of my others). I have to say it must have just come off after them through nursing, because I didn't do any dieting or anything, but I"m a bit older now and a wee bit concerned if this will happen. For a long time I couldn't walk because of the hip pain, now I can again and it's too dark in the morning and night.

I finished work last week so I should be able to pamper a bit more this week and get my self in gear for having a baby! MW appt. today. Hope she thinks things are moving along.

Hugs to all who are in frustration land!!