Due Nov/Dec 2002 (part 4) - Page 5

[lilyka]

That is concerning. I would have totally freaked out. HAve you talked to your MW about it? I would deffinitely see what she thinks.

Gees this weekend sucked. I have been really weepy for a few days but didn't think anything about it. Saturday morning I woke up feeling "wrong". The feeling is hard to explain but it started with being wide awake by 6:30am. So very not normal for me. Also very weepy and crabby. Within two hours I seriously thought I was going into trasition and my dh still wasn't home from the gym (our car was on it's last fume when he left and so he had to stop for gas : )It took almost two hours to get me admitted into the hospital (no insurance cards - we got them the day before and hadn't put them in out wallets yet, computer broke, and everything was slow) All they could tell me is that I was having strong contractions (really!!! you don't say. In the mean time I am reconsidering my vow not to get an epidural I am in so much pain) Finally my midwife shows up and assures me nothing is happening with my cervix and it is probably just a kidney infection or kidney stones (lovely) but since I wasn't officially admitted they still refused to run my lab work (witch was on ice by now). Fortunately people don't argue with my MW and she started an IV to stop the contractions and took the lab work down herself. Seceral hours later the preliminary lab work came back that I did indeed have a UTI and 30 minutes later I had the perscription and felt 95% improved with in 20 minutes of taking it. (I respond very well to antibiotics). The thing is, I knew from the time I peed in the cup (5 minutes after walking through the door) what the problem was but it took 4 hours to get something that made me feel better. That just isn't right. Oh well at least it wasn't preterm labor or kidney stones. I really was terrified at the prospect of having to the NICU thing again. Nothing sucks worse than leaving the hospital without your baby. I was surprised at how quick the UTI showed up. I swear, besides weepiness and a headache, I had no syptoms untill my back started hurting. This is the second one in this pregnancy and I totally blew off the first one untillit totally sucked and swore I wouldn't let it happen again and then this time it freaking ninja attacks me. Out of the blue I am completely knocked out.

On the up side temperatures should return to normal by the end of the week - high 50's and 60's- and my coat delima will be solved. Yippee

And my question of the day. Bean keeps sticking her foot out just above my belly button. It is just to much temptation to resist giving a little love squeeze. Do you think that is mean. She keeps doing it so she must not hate it but it just sorta feels wrong to grab them like that KWIM. none the less I love that we can interact in a physical way before s/he is born.


Hey has anyone had thier baby yet? I know I could go to birth announcements but you gotta tell here too.

[ekblad9]

I went to the MW today. She said that the baby was probably just laying on a nerve or something. It hasn't happened the last couple of nights so I guess I'm OK. I wouldn't let her check me today. I don't even want to know if I'm dialated. I usually dialate and efface really early and knowing makes the last weeks so much longer. I've never been more than three days early and I've been five days late twice. I just can't handle the "any day" sayings! I'm trying to be patiant this time.

My baby puts his foot out right by my belly button too. I will usually touch it or push it back in (if it's bothering me). I don't think it's mean at all. It probably makes them happy. I know it's crowded in there too!

Sorry about your weekend! What a mess. UTI's are no good! I get them alot when I'm pregnant. I also tend to get kidney stones which (knock on wood) I've managed to avoid this time.

Well, I'm off to read my new Mothering! Take care everyone!

[lilyka]

The thing that helped me most during my unbearable wait was that one day a church a friend came up to me and asked "So did you catch that basketball game last night" I don't do sports but he was trying so hard to not mention the fact that I was "still pregnant". It was very sweet. I just looked at him and we both started laughing hysterically.

[tea olive]

i've been entertained by my belly cast, it is an interesting form of self love, massaging plaster onto a form of your body and thinking about how to make it beautiful. i highly recommend getting one.

i have a hundred tasks that won't be done before the baby is here so that i won't feel so much like waiting. i guess having gone right past 43 weeks last time i am expecting it can't go for as long this time, and am trying to enjoy the family of four for now. though i am weary and getting slow.

the baby resting on your nerve doesn't sound like a concerning thing, though i have never experienced that much paralyzation. for the past few weeks my legs have been partially numb or pins and needles most of the time now, i am strangely used to it by now. i find the peeing more irritating than anything else, topped by blowing my nose forever the past few days, probably from unearthing closets.

i think it is great you are squeezing her foot,
this is the first preg for me, after two already, that i really understand that an actual baby is coming out of me so i do that kind of stuff too.

i saw my backup doctor today, legally required for homebirth, and had a good talk with my dh about having the kids witness the birth.

[BabygirldueNov25th]

I only have 3 weeks left until my EDD, and I am so anxious. Went to my midwife yesterday, and the baby is in the correct possition for birth (LOA) so I am hoping she'll stay that way. She sticks her butt out all the time, and I think it's so cute!
I can't wait to see her!

So, what physical appearance traits are you hoping your baby will get from you and your husband?

I hope she gets my hubby's eyes (they are really big and blue with gold rings around the pupils), but my vision. Both of us have full lips, so either or, but both of us have bigger noses, so I hope she gets my mom's or brother's nose. I hope she gets the bottom half of my mom's side of the family, and the top half of my dad's, so that she'll be evenly proportioned. I also hope my hubby's teeth because they've always been perfect with no orthodontic work needed.

[lilyka]

I can't imagine this baby looking any different than my other two -who are jusat about identical except for thier noses. DH and I look a lot alike so its not like there is a whole lot of variation in the old gene pool. dd#1 has dh eye color (pale blue) and dd#2 has mine (dark blue). In the end they look more like my MIL and SIL than me or DH. The resemblence is amazing.

[spyiispy]

Hello all! Boy, everyone's had an eventful couple weeks. Here are my wishes for no more UTIs, no more waking up numb, no more insomnia, etc, etc. Casina....I'd love to have henna tattoo done on my belly.......where'd you have it done (or did you do it yourself)??

Well....I know its silly....but I'm hoping for a green-eyed, curly-haired redheaded little girl. Does anyone have redheaded little ones? Did they have obviously red hair from birth?

Tonight........I have another pregnancy massage...ahhhhhh. I have to drive about 40 miles for it, but the best part is...its FREE! A massage school here in the area has been doing a workshop on pregnancy massage and they needed "guinea pigs" to do their final exams on. I had one of these about a month and a half ago and got a fabulous masseuse! She was a doula, already had her own massage business and was just specializing in pregnancy massage. Oh, it was fabulous. I'll let y'all know how it goes.....

I wanted to ask.......how many of you are having traditional "showers," how many are doing a sort of blessingway.....or are you celebrating this birth in some other way?? I'd love to hear all your ideas.

Another thing.....on my list of things to bring to the birth center was "FOOD....for labor (and for your midwives if you're feeling nice!). I definitely want to bring something for all in attendance to eat. I was thinking about making some yummy honey-whole wheat bread and a big pot of chicken noodle soup with matzo balls.

These next two months are be absolutely crazy. We're doing Thanksgiving at our house; as its 3 1/2 hours to MIL's house. Two Thanksgivings ago, I was about 7 1/2 months pregnant with Indy and we went to Thanksgiving there......on the way back, we got stuck in a snowstorm going over a mountain pass and it took us 11 hours to get home.

Alrighty all..

Lisa

[mamarosa]

I am due on the 14th of Nov. My son was late, but I doubt this one will be. If it is, it will surely be drawn out by the full moon on the 19th. In any case, I'm counting on it not being too early, as dh has an art opening on the 8th about a two hours drive frim here, and I want to go. My mom said yesterday that I seem to be 'getting a kick out of doing everything right up until the last minute'. I thought, whose getting a kick out of it? Do I have a choice?! I volunteer with two non-profit societies, and October was pinacle months for them. I couldn't just not be around suddenly.
Anyway. I'm getting a novel out of the library tomorrow. It is almost time to let go.

As for the question about blessing ways... I had one with my son, but no one has offered to have one with this pg. I have a friend that keeps asking me, 'Are you going to have a shower or blessing way or anything?' I just shrug. Is it me that is supposed to plan these. I don't think so. I don't mind not having one, but I am a little hurt that the friend who keeps asking doesn't just do one for me. If she wouldn't ask, I wouldn't notice it missing. I don't really need anything, and I feel mentally/emotionally prepared.
But it sure was nice the first time.

[ekblad9]

My best friend gave me a shower this time. It was a surprise and it made me feel so good. There were just a few people there but it was perfect. My true friends. She invited about 10 people and one of them had the nerve to say that I shouldn't get anything with my fifth baby. Whatever. I don't care. Obviously not a real friend!

I pack my days until the baby is born too. There really isn't a choice. I can't shut down for three weeks before the baby, then they're late, then you have to have a couple of weeks to feel better. That would be like 6 wks out of my life. I don't have time for that. Besides, being busy passes the time.

[tea olive]

lisa, i did the henna tattoo myself, i bought a kit and used a mirror to get the lower area and sometimes just pulled up on my belly a little. i practiced on my husband first. i have really enjoyed it though the idea seemed silly to me a few months ago.

i guess i have showering myself this time, really enjoying myself as much as possible.

[smaug]

lilyka, I hope you are feeling better. i know what you mean about leaving without your baby. my son had severe meconium aspiration and was in hospital for 2 weeks. i think the worst thing was being told we couldn't pick him up, touch him, or even talk to him!!! everything "agitated" him and he would try to pull out the oxygen tubes in his throat and end up being sedated. but that was then. i am counting on a "normal" birth this time. i need it to heal. i only wish my son could re-experience a happy birth. if that makes any sense!

does anyone know just how evening primrose oil works? I was 30% effaced and 2-3 cm a little over a week ago. I thought that meant my cervix was doing all right. But my midwife suggested e.p.o. to help out. I took it orally last night and got severe gas and had diarrhea. My first pregnancy I had problems orally and took it vaginally. Still went to 42 weeks, though. I won't do anything else (cohash, castor oil)I don't want to go post-term, I am so afraid of the meconium again, even though I believe the castor oil caused the problems the first time.

for those of you with kids already, do they get real clingy to you in the end of your pregnancy? my boy is like, obsessed with me. I think it is him sensing the baby will be here soon. do they stay like this after the birth , too? he won't let daddy do anything for him. he only wants mama to do everything. and I really need dh to take over some of that stuff after the birth.

there is a thread with belly pictures. has anyone here submitted on there? take care everyone!

[BabygirldueNov25th]

What is a blessing way?

Just curious........

I had a non-tradional shower last month. I planned the whole thing myself because no one could afford to throw me one, and I really wanted to have one. I know that's probably selfish, but I knew people wanted to come to one so.....
I did have help with the food from my mom, aunt, and mother-in-law. About 30 out of the 70 people I invited showed up. It was really fun because I invited men and women, and the men really liked the games (oddly enough). My hubby also had fun opening gifts with me. The whole thing was for the both of us, and the invitations even had "Jenni and Dan's Baby Shower" on it. True, I am giving birth to her, but it's our baby.....why not celebrate us as parents?!

[tea olive]

evening primrose oil helps with production of progesterone, it is benign in comparison to senna tea and icky castor. i'm surprised it caused stomach upset, i never had problems with it but that's all i know. when is your due date smaug?

[tea olive]

and yeah, my kids are leeches.

[ekblad9]

My kids are kind of steering clear of me. I guess b/c I'm super crabby and obsessed with cleanliness right now. Even my normally "attached at the hip (when I used to have a hip)" toddler has kind of backed off. She still demands her nursies every hour but that's about it.

I think I'm going to try the Evening Primrose Oil. Are you taking it in a pill form?

[smaug]

I have the gel capsules. Last pregnancy I got a "heavy" feeling in my stomach when I took them. I also don't tolerate flax seed oil. Maybe my body just doesn't like oil!!!
This baby is due on Nov.25th. casina, your belly pics are beautiful! and your boys! how old are they?

We are in the process of trying to finish our basement to have a family room. We have long since run out of money, and now have a leak from our water heater, ruining some drywall. There is white powder from the spackalding(sp?) all over the floor and everything else. We can't afford carpet (thought it would be $400 but it is $1100) and we have all this stuff upstairs that was to go in the basement. So, the way I figure it, the baby should come out now. So we can be absolutely unprepared!!:

is anyone having a homebirth? waterbirth? we are hoping to have a waterbirth in the hospital. anyone done that before?

take care, ladies!

[tea olive]

here's the pics, this is my first time posting fotos, the computer is new this year!

http://community.webshots.com/user/casina102

my boys are reed turned 4 in august, clay will be 2 in january.

well if i was in maryland i could help you do the carpet if someone could move it around, i've done it several times now we always use remnants and it never is over 300 for all supplies, and that was a fancy berber in an oversized room. sh-t. maybe i shouldn't have told you that.
last week i canceled doing a crazy much needed bathroom floor project, it was starting to make me ill cos for some reason it takes more energy to get things together to tell other people to do it.

i love water but waterbirth has never happened, i expect to enjoy my old deep bathtub at least, we were going to use the pool but it was getting complicated, my dh was nervous about having it, my boys would jump in it and that would make him nervous, what if we couldn't get it set up in time...

if anyone wants some contractions and aches, clay (see picture) will gnaw on you! i'm just glad i know that this baby will be born this year with a due date nov 18.

[spyiispy]

I've just been reading back over all our posts from the past month and wanted to respond to a few.....

Hey Casina....awesome pix! You did a fabulous job on the mendhi tattoo. Wanna come to Seattle and do one for me? So....any feeling as to whether you'll have a Ruby Mae or a Moss joining you?? I wanted to ask how your DH is doing with his bad back? We are on the WIC program (see vent later), as DH has been laid off for awhile. While the milk/eggs/cheese does help out, it is almost not worth the hassle. You mentioned you had read Peggy Vincent's "Babycatcher"--I'm headed out to get that book tomorrow. Have you read Peggy Armstrong's "A Midwife's Story?" It is an awesome book about a midwife who does her initial training in Scotland, then becomes a midwife in rural Lancaster County with the Amish. The portrayal of this simplistic, communal-living people is honest and touching. I completely related, as I grew up near Lancaster County, among the Amish. The birth stories are great and her description about the one stillborn birth she attended was beautiful written and gave me chills.

Alis.....I just realized you have a daughter close to my son's age (he'll be two January 29th). I'm due 12/9 with our first little girl. I really like your little girls' names. Are you planning on calling your newest one Oliva Rose, as in one name...or is it going to be just "Olivia?" Our new arrival's middle name will be Anna-Rose. Something timeless about those two names, isn't there?

greenfaeriedog......How are you coming on your decisions concerning the GBS and Vitamin K. I think Chloe and Christina had some excellent info and advice and here's where I stand: Our new baby will not be getting anything foreign introduced onto or into her body at birth, UNLESS a medical emergency would dictate it necessary. You were also talking about doing your pelvic tilts....still doing them??? Ya know what's great for your pelvic area and to make you feel rather fabulous in general is belly dancing. Grab a video at the library and go for it!

lilyka....."woman of width" LOL....I missed that til I reread your posts and it made me laugh. Are you still with us? Haven't read your birth announcement yet, so I assume the answer is "yes." How are you feeling coming down the home stretch? Have you figured out your hospital/ped dilemma? I sure hope so....I remember how uneasy I was about having Indy in the hospital. It definitely impeded my enjoyment of the whole thing. What's the latest??

smaug....Again, your comment about making sure you and the baby have clean undies made me laugh too! Clean undies are starting to be a scarcity here, since doing the laundry is falling on my priority list these last couple weeks. Just a suggestion on this subject for our first-time mamas......please, please get yourself some decent underwear SOON after the baby is born. You'd be amazed at what some comfy, pretty underwear can do for your mood My collection is pretty pathetic right now and I can't wait to revamp it! I look at my Victoria's Secret stuff and just sigh..... How is your groin pain? Still having troubles with it? I can totally emphathize. Every morning now, I lay in bed and strategize how I can get up with the least amount of pain....lol. Even changing positions in bed from side to side is excruciating sometimes. Just a few words on my hospital birth: The only reason I did it was to be able to use my insurance. I had a midwife (CNM...I called her my medwife) attending...but was not real comfortable with her. Her words to me after delivery were not "Good job, you did it!" but "Well.....I guess you got what you wanted." Meaning, a natural delivery....no Vit K, no eye ointment. I was extremely uneasy about Indiana being out of my sight and made my husband follow him like a hawk. Didn't want any "well-meaning" nurse to accidentally overlook anything on our birth plan. You CAN get the birth you want at a hospital.....but you will have to be extra vigilant.

Christina.......you guys are so funny! The whole chocolate donut thing was hilarious......for the baby, huh??? Well, I had an eggnog latte this morning. The baby simply insisted on it..hee hee You gave some excellent advice on Vitamin K....thanks for posting that. I, too, am emotional MUSH......compounded by a severe case of the grouchies! Not to mention the rain has begun, here in the Pacific Northwest. Ekblad...are you still pretty crabby too?? Cannot wait to start nursing again and get that "mommy high!"

Our two "Jen's" (Jenn and Jenni in Ohio) are getting awfully close. Are you two still with us, in belly & in spirit?? Or have your new ones arrived already? Jenni....just wondering how you're going to handle Thanksgiving?? That goes for all our mamas due near the 28th of this month or thereabouts. We're having Thanksgiving here, with all the folks......and me, about a week away from delivery. Oh, the fun to be had!

Wanted to say hi to our British counterparts, as well. How are you guys doing??

Alas, I have finished my eggnog latte (which was for the baby!) and must run.....

Take care all & much comfort....

Lisa in Seattle

[tea olive]

lisa, you have a lot of brain to keep track of us, i am impressed. we nixed the name moss so we still don't have a boy name though there's a strong feeling in the air that we are having a girl anyway. my husband is getting better slowly, he started working ten hours a week so that worker's comp wouldn't cut us completely off, we are gettin wic and some food stamps too. i know what you mean about the wic, it is not exactly the healthiest food it fattened me up this first time i was pregnant an i refused to get it the second time though i think i was poorest that time, the office here is slow and degrading too. i probably won't renew it after the baby is born since they will want to poke and prod and propagandize me on the immunizations.

though my husband is injured i am in heaven having his crippled company most of the time. this will also be the first time he will not have to work tons right after the beby comes. the money situation is possibly scary but i am too stupid with hormones to deal.

my last midwife gave me bad vibes on midwife's story so i never got to it.

yesterday i was at a friends house and i was checking where everyone was before i went to the bathroom and i found myself looking for my third child which was very startling when i realized that the third was right inside of me.

[feather]

Lisa, I am impressed as well!!!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to acknowledge all of us. I wish I could be so considerate. I AM reading all of your posts, and relating to most of what you are ALL saying. I am just not at my best with words at this point, and probably do more whining than I do helping.

I don't post too much because I am too tired at night when I get the chance to be on the puter. I basically just sit here like a zombie and read all that is going on with you guys. I only answer posts when the subject absolutely seems to warrant my reply. LOL.

I am just cranky and VERY emotional. So much is going on in my head right now that I am not even sure I could compose a sensible explanation. But if you guys don't mind, I will try because I need to get it off my chest.

My midwife and her assistants came to the house yesterday to make sure I had everything in order for the homebirth. My midwife wanted to discuss my *help* for after the baby comes............sore subject for me. Seeing as my mom(best friend/awesome person) died about 4 years ago, I have no sisters, and my 2 best friends are both pg and either sick or about to give birth themselves - I won't HAVE any help. Oh, I will have dh to help with dd and me and the baby. But for some reason, that didn't seem to be enough in the eyes of my midwife. (whom I LOVE, don't get me wrong) I think she just comes from a culture where there are always more than enough women around for the new mom. I only WISH that were true for me.

The whole conversation just put me into a panic and a depressed state. I was left feeling like *oh woe is me, I have noone that cares enough to come and bring me dinners and help me out*. It all made me realize what a cocoon I have been living in I guess. I don't connect with most moms in my area because of my parenting choices. It just isn't all that fun to be the only one at a playgroup that is bf my toddler, and everyone else is ff their infants. Just nothing in common - so therefore, no HUGE group of mom friends. It is depressing.

So, seeing as I am such an emotional wreck, I should be giving birth any day now. Seems like a sign to me.
I AM very excited about this baby though, and very excited about the homebirth. I am looking forward to being in control of the situation this time and being in tune with my body.

Due date is Nov. 29th, but I KNOW I will not go to that date. I feel it coming, and midwife says baby is in position with head in place.

Sorry I came out of nowhere and ranted. I shouldn't complain, I have a wonderful baby on the way, and that is such a miracle I know.

((((LOVE))))) to everyone here. Don't know what I would do if I couldn't come here every day and at least read what you all are up to-even if I am not always posting, I am here listening and feeling like I am not so alone.

Jenn