Jan. Mamas Jan. 16-22 - Page 6

[rubysmomjess]

Nicole- Hugs to you and Will!

Andy- Yay! Can't wait to hear from you.

Jessitron- I walk around with the bottom part of my belly hanging out most of the time. Luckily it's been in the 50's and 60's all week so my belly isn't freezing.

Mar- I understand it must be hard to not intellectualize your own brith when you know so much. Maybe meditation or a mantra or something to come back to when you start to get to "thinky." I'm a Numbers gal so I like to count to 10 or 20 over and over.

P&A- hang in there. Your baby will come soon. And all this practice will pay off I'm sure.

DD has a cold. I wish I had more friends 'cause I'm lonely and I would like someone to come hang out with me. I'm feeling a little nervous and blue today. I had some pretty painful cx last night...coupled with dd's cold and I really didn't sleep well. And somehow the house is a mess so I guess I will tackle that today. I really just want dh to stay home with me...but he has to work.

On the other hand it's supposed to be really nice today so maybe i'll take dd for a nice walk in the sun...do us both some good.

Have a good day everyone! Hope to hear about lots of new babies soon...

[Malama]

good morning.
Mar- you are so in the same place as me (but I'm more "due" than you, lol). I know that I have had problems being too much in my head and intellectualizing my birth. When I had ds#2, and I had just taken one teeny mw class, I went over in my head all of the pelvic landmarks as I was pushing him out- yuck. This time I considered having a UC but I know I'd get way too heady and will have my mw there to do any thinking that needs to be done- that sounds so lame- but she knows me so well, she can remind me to stay out of my head.
I've also had new concerns that maybe the baby is just not in a good position. THere's no hand over head or anything, but it's been ROA- on the right my whole pregnancy. The optimal fetal position folk say that's not ideal- those babies tend to go posterior. Of course, I've had 2 kids and there's room in there, but it's just one of those toooo many tidbits of knowledge that keep creeping in there.

I've had 2 days now of some nice and painful and fairly regular contractions. But when I lie down or sleep they go away- i.e. not "true" labor. they get me all excited, and we've walked adn GIO and stuff.... but clearly it's not yet my time.
Yesterday I stayed home all day which, in hindsight, was a mistake. Too depressing. Today we have to go out and do SOMETHING.... too much time to think about not being in labor at home!

I dreamt last night that I was tired of waiting for labor so we decided to visit my parents in LA! We flew there (can't imagine they'd let someone this pregnant on a plane) for a few days because I was sure the baby wouldn't come then. my mom is coming here on Sat anyways, so we were gonna come back in time for that? was weird. Oh, and Scattered Tribe lived across the street from them- I knew that, but was having trouble hooking up with her. weird.

Nicole- you're sounding a little more at peace this am. I thought about you and Will every time I woke up last night. All you can do is deal, right?

And all of us on the verge of labor- .... we need it

[Malama]

we need labor vibes here. everyone is falling apart!
my dh is a VERY on it type of guy- has been running his own business for years- does huge projects, etc..... well, yesterday he was feeling like he was loosing stuff left and right and really frustrated. Today.... supposedly has a long day today- shoot and meeting, etc.... I got up to say goodbye and we realized that he thought today was friday. lol. At 6am he's all ready to drive an hour away. geesh. poor guy. Now he knows what it's been like the last 10 months for me!!!!

[Azreial]

Nicole, I'm sorry the visit didn't go so well. That must be really scarey. Will sounds like he's pretty healthy otherwise so hopefully the surgery will go ok.

Pam- Sorry things stopped happening with you I know how that feels. But we'll all have our babies, when they're ready

Jessitron, I hear you on the maternity clothes no longer fitting. When the baby dropped I lost a lot of my shirts, and now the baby went even lower I have even less to wear. Since I'm not working anymore its not really a big deal. I pretty much only get dressed to go to mw appointments and the occasional errand. Other than that I'm hanging out in dh's t-shirts, with the heat cranked up so I don't have to wear pants or a nightgown. Actually I think I've been wearing the same t-shirt since Tuesday :

rubysmomjess, I felt the same way about dh last night. It was snowing and he usually goes plowing with his cousin's dh but last night I got all sulky cause I didn't want him to leave. There ended up being no need for him to go, but ofcourse we had to talk about why I was sulking and I feel like a jerk. Its weird becuase I see dh all the time now and it seems like the more I see him the more I want him around.

Mar, Your baby seems awfully stubborn about being born. Maybe you need to go on one of rides on a bumpy road to let little chirobaby know that your womb isn't quite so comfy anymore and he/she should just get a move on.

I have been so sleepy lately. Both yesterday and today I got up around 11 and that was quite a struggle. I think I may be kinda dehydreted, I thought I drink lots yesterday but I still have that dry feeling today. I'm going to work on getting lots of liquids in me today. DH is going to get ds from the bus again today. That was supposed to be my job once I stopped working so he could work some more but since our "dry run" the other night his parents have been insisting that I do nothing (dh works for his dad). I'm not going to complain with baby down so low walking to the toilet can be trying, never mind trudging through snow with at least one dog.

[jessitron]

Nicole, I am very sorry to hear about Will's heart trouble. That surgery won't be fun, but here's praying he gets through it and recovers quickly. One of my friends here, his baby son had open-heart surgery a few months ago. Within a week the child was running around the house slamming into the couch exactly like he was wont to do before, no ill effects at all. The whole thing was much harder on the parents than on the baby.

P&A, just think, when you do have the baby, it'll probably be really fast, after all this preparation! But I'm sorry to hear that the baby is not out yet. What a long day with no baby at the end of it.

Mar, have you tried DH's coat? I've outgrown one of his but his new one still fits me. I'm wearing his shirts half the time, too, and his exercise pants on weekends.

I'm a Numbers gal so I like to count to 10 or 20 over and over. - Jess
ah, knitting works well for this. It is a great distraction, especially since it's hard.
Sorry to hear you're getting lonely at home. Coming over and counting contractions sounds like fun.

Karen, ROA isn't a big deal, is it? Posterior babies get born all the time, right? I'm just happy with head down. Mine is not engaged yet, mw says, but head down in the pelvis, with hands down there too. Hands up, baby! and stop trying to kick your way out the belly button.
Ha ha, that's pretty funny about your DH. He's falling apart too. C'mon out, baby, and then all that work stuff won't be so important.

Anyone else have DHs who are catching our prego-brain? Last weekend mine caught the clumsies from me and knocked things over all the time. It was driving him nuts.

Az, surely your DH has more T-shirts. That's hilarious.
Drink lots of water. My mw says milk and juice don't count, alth pregnancy tea does, for water intake.

What else is exciting? Big production weekend coming up at work. My manager is very accomodating, even protective, thank goodness. I'll be working Sunday, it looks like, and probably some extra hours next week, but no middle-of-the-night activity. That's good; I told him that I will not stay awake for more than 18 hours straight, so if I need to be up at weird hours, tell me so I can sleep in the day. Sleeping in the day is not hard.
Or maybe the baby will come and I'll get out of all of it. Nah, better for the baby to stay in until due date and then the transition will be way easier for people here.

Here are some nice fat baby vibes for everybody. :

[Malama]

re:maternity clothes- what a farce THEY are. This is the first pregnancy I got any (was too poor before)-I naively thought they'd last the whole pregnancy. Not so- most tops leave me hanging out in the bottom and the dresses- tight tight tight around the belly. I know I'm not that huge either, compared to many women-- what do women with twins do???? geesh- and they're so $$ to boot.
I CAN'T wait to get rid of them ALL!!!!

[Human_Being]

Wow, Nicole, so glad the proble mwas identified and is fixable....lots of hugs and prayers for you all...Heidi

[jessitron]

Maternity Clothes:
Oh. Tuesday for our anniversary dinner I put on this black Old Navy dress I've been hoarding since the beginning of the pregnancy for such an occasion. Oops, nope, too pregnant for this maternity dress. It was tight at the belly, and the result was all these fold lines radiating outward, all pointing toward my protruding belly button. Mmm, no.

Chiromom, read your signature a few times.

[fromscatteredtribe]

Nicole, you and your babe will be in my thoughts and prayers. I'm so sorry your baby is sick. thank goodness your baby has a loving momma to help him through. make sure you get the real life support you need too. I've never had a child with such a serious medical need, but two of my boys had really bad asthma and have been hospitalized on multiple occasions. sometimes fighting for the ability to be together in the same room was hard (on more than one night i have crawled into a steel cage crib at a hospital to nurse a babe to sleep; signed waivers with toddlers to get an adult bed for them to sleep next to me; gone nungry for hours because it was against hospital policy to feed a lactating mom a tray of food and i wouldn't leave my babe unattended...) sometimes it is easy to think that if we would do something differently our kids would be "perfect." having good friends to come hold your recovering baby while you shower or get a sandwich or nap is nice. rest assured that you are doing what he needs most and he will be better very soon.

hugs to all of those with "late" babies; crazy husbands, bizarre dreams, drawn out labors, impatient friends and family, turned around or (please not) upside down babies, and bellies that we don't notice are peeking out until the teenage boy working at target stares a little too long with a horrified glance

[Azreial]

Originally Posted by jessitron

Az, surely your DH has more T-shirts. That's hilarious.
Drink lots of water. My mw says milk and juice don't count, alth pregnancy tea does, for water intake.

DH does have lots more shirts, but only a few comfy ones, most of his clothes are work clothes, and he does plumbing so do I really want to wear that shirt with the mystery brown stains??
I've been drinking tons of pregnancy tea, about 2 pots a day. I pretty much only drink water and tea anyway. I couldn't drink milk even if I wanted to, and the only juice I'll drink is orange, but my tummy hasn't been too happy and I'm not going to chance it. I think I'm just sweating out all my fluids at night with dh turning the heat way up. Ok maybe 64 isn't way up, but I'm pg and hot, only sleeping under a sheet in the coldest room in the house. He can get a 2nd blanket, or take a bed warmer, ahh I mean dog, from my bed

[3_opihi]

Nicole - I kept thinking about you guys all night. I hope you are feeling a bit better today, and please remember that we are always here for support. You're right, it is sooo lucky you found out about his problem now, instead of later. He is lucky to have a mama who cares about him so much.

I've also had new concerns that maybe the baby is just not in a good position. THere's no hand over head or anything, but it's been ROA- on the right my whole pregnancy. The optimal fetal position folk say that's not ideal- those babies tend to go posterior. Of course, I've had 2 kids and there's room in there, but it's just one of those toooo many tidbits of knowledge that keep creeping in there.

Karen - yes, it sounds like baby could be posterior or someting. Violet was like that my whole pregnancy too, and ended up coming out posterior. BUT remember - I had a two hour labor No biggie - I suppose thats the benefit of having two previous babys - they already paved the way, yk? I wish I could hop over there and give you a hug Hang in there.

P&A - Your body is not broken. In fact its just the opposite - its working perfectly!! Take this little break to have a hot bath, eat some food, go for another walk, scrub the floor, lol....your body is taking a break so you can rest. It WILL start up again, trust me

Andy - OMG!!! Whoo hoo. I hope you are a birthin that baby already!!!!

Ok, there is no way I could reply to everyone. Just know I'm here and I'm sending peaceful labor vibes to you all. It sounds like we have quite a few mamas in early labor here. Maybe we will have some full moon babys. Or some waxing moon babys? I don't know - whatever stage the moon is in babies! Jessitron - I got your bead! Mahalo!!! Its beautiful!

Ann

[Proudmom]

s to you Nicole. You and Will are in my thoughts. remember that you are both strong and the problem was discovered early.

Originally Posted by Azreial

I think I'm just sweating out all my fluids at night with dh turning the heat way up. Ok maybe 64 isn't way up, but I'm pg and hot, only sleeping under a sheet in the coldest room in the house. He can get a 2nd blanket, or take a bed warmer, ahh I mean dog, from my bed

This is my dh to a tee. I came home from the grocery store today and the heat was at 73 We live in Arizona for criminy sake!! It has been in the 80s the last few days. I had turned the heat off. He was cold because the house got to 69...Holy crow I may have to walk around naked if he keep sthis up. And THAT is not pretty

Good birthing vibes to everyone. Our babies will be born. They can't stay inside forever!!!

Karen - this baby has also been ROA. At my last appt, my mw said she had moved a bit and was in a perfect birthing position - LOA??? I worry about a posterior babe too. However I haven't even had a signle contraction this week - just crampy-ish feelings...Hmmmm, the waiting game.

Proudmom

[Killick]

I just want to thank everyone again. It really feels good to know that so many people are rooting for my little man. I know in my heart that he will be fine, but the head part of me keeps thinking about the "what ifs." Poor kid has only been here for 20 days and already so much has happened to him.

Proudmom: I know what you mean about the heat. I can't believe that I am thinking about using the AC. IN JANUARY! This is ridiculous. I hope it cools off soon. I have been having massive hot flashes at night. I thought those would stop with the delivery of my boy. Oh well.

Happy birthing vibes. Has anyone heard from Lisa? Wonder how she is doing. Good luck to all of you who are having contractions. I hope you are holding your kiddos soon.

Nicole

[Malama]

Originally Posted by Proudmom

I had turned the heat off. He was cold because the house got to 69...Holy crow I may have to walk around naked if he keep sthis up. And THAT is not pretty

Ummmm..... you mean I'm the only one who is never wearing clothes : ? I feel so sorry for my poor sons. I try and dress and then I just get so hot and can't stand it. I just cleaned the bathroom sans clothes and then yelled at the kids sans clothes.... wonder if they have a harder time taking me seriously like this.... at least they know what a naked woman looks like.....

[Chiromom]

I'm at work, groovin' to some 80's tunes (Jessie's Girl) and eating sushi and rice crispy bars. Why can't I always be this calm?

I've been wearing DH's boxer briefs to lounge in the pm....which he can't stand! He thinks I'm stretching them out of shape. Tough.

The kids have been really really clingy lately. I don't know if they just sense the big change coming or if it because they have been sleeping exclusively with dh lately and miss their *mama contact* even though they are asleep?
Maybe both?

Baby is on my left side and most likely LOA, because I feel little jabs almost exclusively toward the center and right side. What I have noticed in the past few days is when I am having contractions, a little wiggling and jabbing way low on my right side-like up inside my right ilium (hip). It is that little wiggle that make me worried an arm is stuck out or something. I do a lot of work in pregnancy (with self and with my patients) to balance the pelvis and uterus so baby can line up optimally...so this is kinda *my area* and it would really suck if baby isn't in that happy place I have worked so so hard to make. To be honest...it probably is in the optimal position (or will get there in active labor) but I gotta have something to worry about. I'm pretty peaceful otherwise...except for just being way too antsy.

Mar

[jessitron]

Originally Posted by chiromom

He thinks I'm stretching them out of shape.

you are stretching his shorts out of shape? Remind him that he's the one who caused this insane stretching of your body. Then buy him replacement boxers, really cheap itchy ones.

Malama, good for you for choosing comfort over propriety.

[Pam_and_Abigail]

Wow this board is so busy I can't keep up! I want to respond to everyone!
Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I've been having surges again, and they're more intense. I have managed to let go somewhat, and leave it in the baby's hands. I guess the frustrating part is dh took off today and yesterday cuz we thoguht the baby was coming, but now he's gotta go back to work tomorrow if nothing happens. And every day he takes off is one less day he can spend at home when the new one comes. However, we had a lovely day yesterday, esp while dd was with mil, we went for a moonlit walk and had some nice couple time.

The full moon is soon! Here come some babies!!!!

[fromscatteredtribe]

Originally Posted by Malama

Ummmm..... you mean I'm the only one who is never wearing clothes : ? I feel so sorry for my poor sons. I try and dress and then I just get so hot and can't stand it. I just cleaned the bathroom sans clothes and then yelled at the kids sans clothes.... wonder if they have a harder time taking me seriously like this.... at least they know what a naked woman looks like.....

i'm right there with you. unless it is below 70 degrees in here I can't STAND to wear clothes. I have been trying to be more modest with ds1 (who's almost 7) but it is tough. I've heard people at church say they thought byt he time your kid was 2 or 3 you should be clothed around them, but then one of those men grew up in a brothel in the Philippines and was surrounded by nude women who would apparently occasionally squirt him with their "nipple milk."

Clearly it is the need to be clothed people who have issues. i will continue to do the dishes in the nude for a little while longer.........

[Malama]

Originally Posted by fromscatteredtribe

I have been trying to be more modest with ds1 (who's almost 7) but it is tough.
Clearly it is the need to be clothed people who have issues. i will continue to do the dishes in the nude for a little while longer.........

Well, my kids have passed the 7 mark. My ds1 is 12. It's all normal for him, but it sucks when the friends are around. I am NOT comfortable being naked in front of the 11 and 8 year old boys from next door.

I treated myself and went to the movies alone. What a nice thing to do. It's air conditioned and it was just easy to try and forget about wanting the baby to come for awhile. I needed it.

Pam, I hope this is it for you!!!

[Human_Being]

Well, I foresee you all moving on quite soon. The moon is waxing....

Jesse I'll hang in there with you- were the first timers due at the end of the month- we'll end up here for a few more weeks pregnant amongst all the nursing moms! I don't think mine is coming anytime soon....I am honestly not even that uncomfy, I wake up to pee and forget that I am pregnant until I glance the mirror.

I am finally getting to just be pregnant. Ok, I did have to sub in for the midwife this morning for a little labor sitting this morning since there were two births, but it was fun. And I got to leave to get acupuncture and massage when I wanted to. I am mostly conserving energy for myself and baby now. I am having fun washing diapers and baby clothes. I got in a good beach walk yesterday, something I envisioned doing all of pregnancy, and have done just a few times. I am going to enjoy the next few days/weeks and do all the self nurturing/connecting things I haven't been able to do since I was so busy. The belly is more fun now too cause I can find a real foot...so I am liking being pregnant now, except for the heartburn and waking up totally alert at the end of each REM cycle, but I am in really in no big hurry to get baby out.

Tomorrow a friend/photographer is doing belly pics for us. And I'll probably cast the belly this week end, too. Just getting all things out of the way in case I go on time or early, but I am 39 weeks tomorrow, and will probably pull a "lisa" and go two weeks late- which is not till Feb 11th. So maybe I'll get time to paint the cast, too. Maybe in two weeks I'll be impatient, too! Now I am just grateful for a breather.

Good to hear babies are out, those of you due now can have all my labor vibes....Heidi