Spoooooky Weekly Chatter: Oct. 31 - Nov. 7 - Page 5

[laisett]

mmm, placentas....

i was very 'eh' about mine with DS, too, but my parents really wanted to plant a tree over it for DS, wc they did (a pomegranite tree). at the time we lived about 50 yards from them. now we live across the country, but, crazy things that we all are, we're planning to freeze this placenta, put it on dry ice and SHIP it to my parents, so they can plant another tree for this baby over it (fig or plum, they are not in agreement, lol).

anyway, that's my plan

as for PPD...i did not experience that last time, tho i'm a bit wary this time, since i feel i'm far more isolated, socially. we'll see. i've read that maternal levels of essential fatty acids drop quite a bit after birth and that low levels of essential fatty acids can be related to depression, so my current plan it to do some EFA supplementation.

[snugglebutter]

Yay!!!!! More babies are here!!!

(I'm just excited )

[Queen of Cups]

Re: eating placenta - not my thing! I know I couldn't stomach it. As a biologist I know that the main reason animals eat their placenta is as a passive defense mechanism (a placenta lying about is a giant neon sign to predators saying "Young tasty babies here!" so animals eat their placentas to remove evidence of a recent birth. makes total sense for an animal, but I don't buy the argument that since animals do it we should take a hint), and I try to eat very nutritiously and have a good support system in place for after baby is born so I'm not too worried about PPD.

I'm still hanging out at 4cm/70% effaced/-1 station and trying to stay out of labor till I get my GBS result back - hopefully tomorrow. Then the wild sex, spicy food, and long walks will ensue!

[*Amy*]

Morning all. It's 4:00. Well I guess my sleeping "streak" of 2 nights is over. It's OK though...those two nights really did do me a world of good.

I had a good day yesterday - yoga followed by errands that were mostly fun. I got everything else we needed, except for the bed rail. I keep forgetting that! : Also managed to get all of DH's birthday shopping done quickly and easily. I love Kohl's 50% off sales!! The only downside is that after a long day on my feet, my legs are still aching.

I came home to find like 3 birth announcements. Things are really starting to happen around here!!!! I can't wait til it's my turn! Well I am officially 37 weeks today, which means she can come at any time! I've been having talks with her the past couple of days telling her that even though it's comfy in there, it's *way* more fun out here. I'm definitely thinking of going the accupressure route if she goes over 11/24.

So......who's going today??!

[samsmamma]

For some reason, lack of baby's arrival is starting to bum me out. I know it can come at any time, so I'm sure a lot of it is hormonal. I just feel so spent. I can;t do anything at home, I'm grossed out by all food except cereal, fruit and bagels, all I want to do is sleep, I have no desire to schlep into the office...

And of course, baby is doing just great. Had my 37wk appt yesterday and all is well. My weight gain has tapered off, baby is still moving the way it has been throughout the pregnancy, heartbeat is good, I'm measuring 37.5 wks, baby has dropped more and is more anterior, GBS was negative (yay!) and basically this baby is coming when it comes.

The weird thing about how I feel now is that I kind of just want to go away from everyone. I wish I could have a few days away from DH, away from Sam, away from my family....like if I could just have some time for me and baby that we could talk and get things moving. But that's just not realistic.

I think I am also scared now of being late - because everyone has been so sure that I'd be early. And of course rationally I still COULD Be early - I'm not "due" till around Thanksgiving. Which is why I think this is hormonal. Because my mind understands that a lot of what I'm feeling just doesn't make sense.

So, I reall don't want to go to work today, but I have no choice. Tomorrow night DH will go play poker so Sam and I can just bond at home and that will probably be really good for us. And I think Saturday I'll finally take him to the Wallace and Gromit movie, because I'm convinced that doing something I want to do will set things off.

We have basically decided not to do EPO or anything like that because we want baby to come when it is ready and not try to move things along. If only I had the energy to have sex...

[BensMom]

MOrning all. This cold has GOT TO GO!! I woke up at 4am to go potty and could not get back to sleep - mind was racing. Then at 4:30, Ben got up to go potty so after I helped him, the coughing kicked in. I jsut coughed and coughed for 90 mins or so. Feeling horrible for keeping DH awake. Getting madder and madder.

I finally slathered my chest in Vicks (hope thats not contraindicated in pregnancy) and the coughs got less scrtachy and a little quieter. I then went onto the couch, cried a bit and eventually fell asleep because DH woke me at 6:30 when my alarm was going off.

And now that I have DS on the bus, I cant go back to sleep because I have to leave in an hour for a Dr appt. I decided to go ahead and do the GBS swap since I am having a hosp birth. I guess its worth seeing if I am neg, otherwise they will treat me + regardless. And while I know I can decline abx, I just dont need one more battle to fight.

I worked on my birth, baby and Cesarean plan last night. Very daunting to be thinking about battles that I was hoping not to fight.

Oh and heres some great news. I spoke with my HB MW last night and she said she would like to accompany us in a doula role for the birth. I didnt expect that at all, due to the politics and legal status of lay MWs in this state. So it will be great to have a "doula" who will be able to check fetal heart tones and palpate and even a VE if I choose before we go to the hospital - all those things that *real* doulas do not do. So with her and my doula friend and DH, maybe I can get through this birth!

Now just please send me some Stay In Baby vibes! My OB is off call tomorrow (out of town) so if I go into labor then, he said none of his partners will attempt a vag birth. So its an automatic Cesarean. Any time after Sat, I think we are ok. So if I get any signs of impending labor, I will send then on to you ladies!

Hugs to those who are ready to go now! Just try to remember how much easier they are to take care of while they are inside. And enjoy these last days with your family as it is. Try to do things you wont be able to do with a babe for awhile - watch a movie uninterrupted, do something messy with your older DC, something like that....Good luck everyone!

[Queen of Cups]

I'm feeling really... "weird." Last night, DH and I dtd and I was really crampy and had contractions for about an hour afterward (not BH!), so I think I'm even more dialated than yesterday. I've also been having diarheah since Tuesday, so I know I'm getting really, really, REALLY close to having this baby. I really hope I get my GBS result back today so I can feel totally ready and just relax and let my body have this baby.

I'm actually having some worries/fears about birth, which I've never had before. I'm worried that I won't "live up" to my experience last time - 7 hour unmedicated labor, never asked for pain meds even with pushing 2.5 hours, was ready to start ttc again the next day, was up and about 2 days after birth and painting our house the next week... I feel like I set the standard too high last time! What if I don't live up to it this time?

[*Amy*]

QoC, is there any way you can remind yourself that each birth is a different experience BUT that if you did it so wonderfully the first time, you are capable of truly amazing things!!

Jenn, that's great that your MW is going to be there as your doula!! I am sure that will make things easier for you. I'm sending STAY IN vibes until your OB is available again!

Oh and congrats to you both on recently making senior member!


Erica, sorry you are having the blahs. It must be hormonal, and I have definitely had days like that too. I still have really good days though, like today, so I try to remind myself on the down days that it is going to get better.


I know I just posted like 4 posts ago, but I had to come back to report:

I'm GBS NEGATIVE!!!!



: : : : : : : : :

[HoneyTree]

QoC, this is to be my first birth, so I have no frame of reference, but it has been helping me to think of Kavita's lovely little mantra -- this birth is not a test of my grooviness. This actually came up at my mw appointment with my family on Tuesday. My sister (recap -- L&D nurse) was giving what she thought was a humorous and entertaining rendition of "wild women" in labor, those who arch their backs and scream and click their tongues and go crazy-eyed. She put on quite a show. My midwife smiled, then said so pleasantly I could have hugged her, "Yes, well, however Teresa births, we're going to support her. Every birth is different." I really appreciated that attitude of freedom -- I have not been nearly so pre-emptively forgiving of myself, and working on the losing control or not meeting my own standards thing has been a constant challenge for me.

(Sorry to go on and on -- your comment just really struck a chord with me!)

Amy, I got one of your nights of sleep last night -- WOO HOO!!! Nearly 10 hours! I flopped into bed at 8:30, was asleep by 9, and with only TWO pee breaks throughout the night (my usual is 3), got up rarin' to go at 6:45. And HIP HIP HOORAY for your GBS neg result!!!

I called my own mom in a moment of panicky worry this morning about PPD, the fact that DH is going to be taking a second job after baby arrives, being alone in the house with my beasts (dogs) and the baby, all my family being 4+ hours away, etc. She gave good mom advice -- yep, that will suck, but you'll have your baby, and you can't even imagine now how that will help your perspective when things seem really bad, etc. So that allayed my fears for the time being. Or at least convinced me that I have something to look forward to BEFORE I have something to freak out about. Sometimes moms can be pretty cool.

[Gunter]

Not sure how I feel about eating the placenta. I would be willing to do a placenta smoothie but as a vegetarian, eating organ like stuff in the raw kinda makes me uncomfortable.

I have my 37 week MW appt. tonight. The babe's head feels so low! I was at +1 station last Tuesday and I totally think it's lower now. Last night it felt like the babe was headbuttting my cervix and saying, "let me out".

Dream analysis, anyone? Then I dreamed it was a chunky dark skinned girl who breastfed. We forgot to put her in the car seat though and she was just strapped in with the seatbelt even though she was less than one year old. She had a neat outfit with super cool brown Robeez shoes that were too big for her feet. She looked just like my friend's babe who is adopted from Guatemala. I did e-mail that friend before bed.

Spughy- I got to see a placenta in my childbirth class so maybe you could donate it to a mid-wife or someone who teaches childbirth classes.

About PPD- I recently saw my ex-therapist in Target. I told her that I may call her soon b/c I want to avoid PPD. She said that research doesn’t show people who once suffered through depression were any more likely to have PPD. I bet you could find info on the likelihood of PPD related to existing or non-existing depression.

I have read that the biggest contribution to avoiding PPD is good support from a partner (partners/friends/doulas/family?) after birth. Having support in place in one thing I am trying to plan now. Maybe I cannot regulate my own hormonal shifts but I can have people sign up to bring me food and walk my dog and vacuum my house!

Samsmama- Hugs to you. Can you stop working soon?

Bensmom- I do hope that your babe stays in through Saturday! I hear you about letting the babe’s stay inside as long as they want. I am in nooooo rush. Sleeping last night was pretty uncomfortable and I was in child’s pose for quite a while b/c the head is so on my groin. But I really want to wait on the babe to make it’s entrance when it is ready.

Amy- Yay for a negative GBS result! I have my 37 week visit tonight so I may find out then. I have this horrible feeling that it’s positive for some reason. I forget, are you having a HB?

Teresa- Do you have neighbors who could help out with dog walking or anything like that? If you get concerned, would you hire a PP doula, maybe? I know a great one here in NC…oh, guess you are a little further south, eh? How about the phone numbers of LLL leaders or other supportive people? You always have us here at MDC!

[3for3hb]

Acupuncture last night was soooo good. I'm so glad I went. Even though $$ is tight it was worth every minute. She said that my kidney meridian was severly depleted in both the yin and yang energies... and according to traditional Chinese medicine the kidney is the "umph" to the rest of the body. So she wasn't surprised that I've had prodromal labor for , what is it 4 or 5 weeks now with nothing really happening. She felt the baby's pulses (chi) and said it wasn't the baby it was me. My body just doesn't want to start labor and not have the stamina to last through it. So we did needles and moxa on the kidney points and I responded very well. Actually slept through the night even though I woke up 3 times to eat... yay, my appetite has returned. Everytime I woke up I was literally soaked in sweat and ravenously hungry. I take that as a really good sign. And she told me to EAT A STEAK!!! She said red meat was what my body really needed right now to build up stamina. I thought that was really funny but I'm going to do it.
And the funniest part... she gave us these Chinese medicines for during labor to help with stamina - they are called "black chicken balls" . They are little herbal balls wrapped in wax that when you are in labor you take the wax off and make tea out of the herbs. We laughed a good deal about where they got the name.
We also talked about rebuilding my chi centers after the baby is born because that is what seemed to really affect me postpartum last time. And in addition to herbs, the acupuncturist agreed that ingestion of a portion of the placenta is a very effective way to restore that energy almost immediately. So.,....

I'm taking it easy today, having a completely new outlook on why I'm still pregnant. Honestly I'm excited about all the babies that are being born but come on, I'm only a couple days short of 42 WEEKS and it's getting really hard to come here and see how many more mamas have gone and had their babies. Bailey228 I don't know how you've done it. (I went 16 days over last time and that was enough for me). So I'm just trying to let my body gain strength because I have a feeling it's going to be a long labor again.

[laisett]

morning!

well, today is my EDD i'd like to see this baby soon, but honestly i can't believe how much better (physically and emotionally) i feel now as compared to this point in my pg with DS! we'll see how long it lasts, but since this time i had NO expectations about having baby before my EDD it's really helped. i see my mw tomorrow and still can't quite decide if i want an internal- wc i suppose means i don't!

QoC- i agree with the other mamas...every labor is different (at least that's what i'm told!) and this one will be excellent in its own way. still, i kwym about feeling that it "should" be a certain way...i was a little disappointed after my first labor, i felt like i'd not done as well as i could (broke down during transition and wanted drugs, for instance) and by the time i was pushing i was so eager to have it OVER i felt i missed some of the magic of DS enterance to the world. and then a couple weeks later there was an article in the paper about a couple who'd birthed w/my mw in her birth center and my mw was quoted as saying what a beautiful birth it had been. i totally started crying!!! cause you know, i felt like mine hadn't been...i feel better about it now, tho

willemsmama- wow your acupuncture appt sounds great! i kwym about *still* being pg while others have their babies...i went thru that with my last pg (everyone in my DDC had had their babies, i was the last by a week!). hugs!

jenn- yay for the good news about your mw/doula!

[MamaFern]

well im SICK ! i feel like hell and i dont want baby to come till im better.. i mean i Want so badly to meet this little one! its been a looong 9 months, but a few more days to get better would be nice. elwynn does have pinkeye, but we got medicated eyedrops and this morning they already look way better and i havn't gotten it yet *crossfingers* i slept really well last night, but feel like ive been hit by a large truck this morning despite it im making some honey, lemon ginger,mint tea, hopefully it will help my body kick this.

AMY woohoo! congrats on being GBS neg. i tested pos. with elwynn and was so bummed but then he came before i could retest.. and my MW wasnt worried. this time i didnt test at all..

QOC it will be perfect. how ever it happens.. keep strong momma!

Laisett happy EDD! i hope you meet your babe soon!

willemsmama im glad to hear your acupuncture session went well! sending you labour vibes!!

bensmom im right there with you on the sick thing. it SUCKS! stay in baby till the time is right!!

and who will be next? thats my question!!

hope you all have a beautiful nov. mornin.

[spughy]

MamaFern, sorry you are sick : That is such a bummer. I pray every day to the health gods that I don't get sick before I go into labour - I feel like I'm on borrowed time though since I haven't had a cold since I first got pregnant, which would have been back in March (!) and I usually get two a year...

Anyway I definitely won't be the next to have a baby. I had a MW appt this morning and she asked if I wanted a VE and I was curious so I said yes... should have waited til next week with the other midwife with the longer fingers ! Ouch. Anyway, I am only a fingertip dilated and my cervix hasn't started to efface at all but it is very squishy - basically I am exactly where one would expect for 38 weeks and a first pregnancy. She also said that they would offer to sweep my membranes and the only downside to that was moderate discomfort and crampiness. Does anyone know of any documented downsides to membrane sweeps? Any bad experiences? I won't do it next week, but maybe the week after, which would be past my due date - but I know that first babies often cook a little longer so maybe I should wait a week past then if necessary... hard to say. It's not a procedure I would exactly look forward to. And at this point, I am not in enough discomfort generally that I'd go for it.

Aside from that, baby is fine, head is definitely down but not thoroughly engaged (she wasn't worried about that, and I'm not either - I think wee Blobby likes her freedom to wriggle) and she figures her for a "good sized baby".

Oh and I put on a pound and a half since last week and was told to stop being such a piggy-wiggy. By both my MW and DH. : But they are right, sigh.

[BensMom]

Had my OB visit today. I think I like him! I went in for the GBS swap because I did not want to be treated like I was + just because we did not know. He went off on a mini rant about what a stupid protocol that is. Then he was telling me about a conversation with a CNM who wanted specific rules for when a VBAC can be done and he was telling me why that was a bad idea and how each case if different. So as if I didnt already think he was a reasonable doctor for what he has already agreed to, I feel like he is one of the few left in this town who will treat women like they have brains! Oh and he did the swab and nothing else. And I was in and out of there in 20 mins.



Sorry you are sick, Fern! It stinks. The doc said I can take Robitussin and while I am loathe to take meds while pregnant, I might have to go for it so I can get some blessed sleep tonight! I am so sick and sore from coughing. Poor baby, has had way too many weeks of being bounced around by my coughs, with back to back colds!

[Queen of Cups]

Yay! I'm GBS negative!

Now that I feel totally okay about going into labor at any moment, it will probably be another week or two!

[laisett]

awww, fern, i'm sorry you're sick! i hope your little girl stays put just a bit longer

spughy, i think i was exactly the same at my 38 week appt with DS. you are taking the news much better than i did! i was so impatient i wouldn't worry about weight gain at this point...(tho i DID just eat a bunch of organic cheesy poofs, lol!) i have hardly weighed myself this pg, but at one point when i had my mw made a comment about it and i was sooo upset....then the next time i told her my weight she was like "great!" and i hadn't said anything to her about being upset and my weight gain was still at the same rate...weird!

QoC- yay for a neg result!

ok, so i have a question for you all. i'm 40 weeks today and seeing my mw tomorrow. she'll strip my membranes if i ask her to (provided i'm dilated enough for that, i guess!). i'd pretty much decided to wait til next week (so, 41 weeks) before trying something like that, but today i realized that my DH is going to be away for nearly 48 hours at a conference nov 19-20. i'd really like to have the baby as far in advance of that as possible....so what to do now???

[3 for me]

Okay so I have been meaning to post in the chat this week but everytime I get to it something stops me . . . until now. I am happy to hear about all the neg GBS tests! I am also neg!!!! YAY! I don't even remember them asking about it with ds#1 and ds#2 I was pos. so I am excited about being neg this time while trying to VBAC. I don't want anything flowing in my veins that doesn't need to be!!! Well here I am at 38weeks and no baby. Lots of contrx though and no baby to show for it. I am 4cm and cervix extrememly soft and squishy. I know if I can get a good reg bout of strong contrx to come and STAY I can get her out of me. DH has been gently stripping my membranes for the past couple days and all it has done is pushed me to 4cm which I guess is good but I need baby out. We have been walking, walking, and more walking up hills and down hills. Come on baby I am ready for you. Both the boys tell her to come out everyday and I just want to get her out already. SORRY RANT-RANT-RANT! DH and I are gonna try some sex althoguh I am so sore with pressure and contrx I am not sure how well it will go. I miss the lovin!!! I want to love my honey again, lay on my tummy, put my own shoes on, paint my toes, sit comfortably and sleep comfortably! WHEN!!!! AAAAHHHHH!!!! Okay so what can I do to help push myself over the edge. I know I am almost there! I will try almost anything as long as my butt doesn't have to be sore! (I have been having diarrhea on and off but mostly on for the past 3 weeks)


Well as for the rest of my life . . . I feel like I haven't been on top of my game with helping ds#1 with school work like I need to and I know I haven't given ds#2 enough mommy time when he is needing it. I am trrying but I am being stretched to thin until I can be my own person again at least on the inside!!! LOL!


I am sorry so many have been sick! I have had a little cough mostly at night is when it affects me and its mostly when I turn over or breathe hard. Not too bad though especially because the family has gotten sick off and on the past month and a half with fever's and cold flu like symptoms.


I too have been up at night not being able to sleep although I haven't got online much or if I have been its only been to peek. I haven't been online at night in the past week and a half since the contrx have really been wearing on me!!!


Okay so I am having alot of very uncomfortable and painful contrx here so being online for me right now needs to come to an end. Maybe its labor!!!!!! Send me vibes although I am not getting my hopes up yet. Okay guys talk to ya soon enough. Have a great evening!!!

Christina

[DreamsInDigital]

I have been nesting like crazy the last two days and now I think the baby has settled down even further because now I can barely walk. I totally have that bowling ball feeling and I can feel every time he turns his head, it grinds on a nerve. Owie.
Last night I dreamt I broke my own water to start my labour because I was so impatient and my midwife came to my house and tsk tsk'd at me and told me I was in trouble with her and had to go to the hospital for a full induction.
Argh. I'm 38 weeks on Saturday. Time is sure not flying. I can't go into labour until my birth kit arrives anyway so I'm trying not to be impatient but it's storming tonight and barometric pressure is dropping which is a good thing to induce labour. But like I said, tonight's not a good night.
OMG I feel like ass. Ow.

[*Amy*]

Christina, hope your discomfort comes to an end soon and that you are holding your baby the next time you read this!!!!

QoC, YAY on your GBS-. We are sure one group of beating-the-odds mamas!

Jenn, wonderful news that your OB seems so awesome! That is great that even though you are in your less-than-ideal situation, your care provider seems to be on the same page.

Mamafern, sorry you are sick and have a pink-eye boy to deal with! I hope you are both feeling better very soon so that you feel OK about Ngaio coming!!

Spughy, I know how you feel! I think I gained like 3 pounds between visits so the nurse was kind of surprised, but I had been stuck at the same weight for over 4 weeks so I wasn't too worried about it. Her reaction made me feel bad though!

BTE, glad your mom gave you some reassurance. I hope that even though we aren't all there IRL that we can provide you with enough support to help you through any rough spots if you are feeling down after birth.

Well I got another good night's sleep! Woo hooo, this must be a record! I could have kept sleeping but it's DH's birthday today and I wanted to get up and make him breakfast in bed before he goes to work. He is always so good to me, and pampers me all the time so I wanted to make him feel extra special today. So I'm just waiting for the quiche to bake and the coffee to brew. Tonight we're having a few friends over for cake, so that should be fun.

There's the oven, gotta good. Have a good morning all!