Weekly Check-In 12/18-12/24 - Page 2

[beachcomber]

It's great to see how you're all doing!

The weather here on the BC west coast is kind of balmy. Lots of wind but it's pleasantly warm after a few days of clear skies and just below freezing temps. Yeah, I know. I'm totally spoiled, weather-wise. That's why we moved to the Coast!

I'm at 38w5d right now. Will be 39 weeks on Wednesday. I'm not feeling any "signs" or anything. Just an increase in my B-H contractions, and I'm feeling those more intensely than I used to. But no regularity or anything. Carys is moving well, more wriggling now than kicking. She's head down facing to my right with her little feet "tickling" my right side ribs on a regular basis. She engaged about 2 weeks ago which made my life much more pleasant. Put an end to my chronic heartburn and gave me an appetite. I've gained about 5 pounds in the last 4 weeks or so, which is a good thing. I haven't been gaining a lot through this pregnancy. Maybe 15 pounds to date. So a little extra padding is welcome.

I quit working a week earlier than planned. My S-I joint just couldn't take the hour commute, the office chair, the having to walk too far to the bathroom, the copy room, just about everywhere. Since I quit working I've felt SO much better. That last week, just getting ready for work would have me in tears of frustration because I was overtired, clumsy and emotional. Now I just help Relic get ready in the mornings and then go back to bed to relax. Heh.

My pelvis is still giving me a lot of problems and I really pay when I overdo it. So my physical activity has been pretty limited. I want to clean my house from top to bottom but I can't so I've had to let that go. I've satisfied my nesting instincts by reorganizing the baby clothes a half dozen times and packing and repacking the hospital bags. Heh.

Overall, I'm not feeling like she's coming out any time soon. Of course I have no idea what she's going to do but the way I'm feeling right now, I'm not in a hurry to get her out. She'll come when she comes and I'm good with that. I don't know if I'll still be feeling that way on my due date, though!

[LoveMyLil'B]

I'm 34 weeks now. I feel like I still have a ways to go. My midwife will be in the Bahamas for 4 days while I'm 37 weeks, so I'm hoping this baby holds out until she gets back. My DS was born at 38 weeks, so I might cut it close! The OB will be there if the MW can't make it, but I'd rather have my MW.

My pelvic pain is steadily improving with each chiro visit. I highly recommend chiro care for anyone experiencing this pain (I know ther's a lot of us!). I actually went for a 2 mile walk on Saturday!

I'm not sure if I'm starting to nest, or if I just want everything to look nice when people come over on Christmas. Either way, my house is looking better, and my DH likes to dote on me when I'm pregnant, so I can get him to do lots of stuff for me!

There probably won't be a white Christmas here either. It was about 50 today, although we did get some ice last week.

[MamaTaraX]

Wow! Look at all the people posting! Where have you all been!?! I've been cluttering up the board almost by myself lately.

Hey Tara you have a two year old, are you planning on having him attend if he wants?

Yes, he will be there. We watch birth videos a lot. I pretend birth a lot too. I make labor noises and pushing noises and we talk about it a lot. My midwife lent us a book called "Mom and Dad and I Are Having A Baby" that he absolutely adores! We read it at least once a day. It is very graphic and very cool. It's a homebirth and it's written so that it can be read to either a small child or an older child. We've wtached all kinds of videos, including the birth of his big brother. We look at birth photos a lot and I tal about the baby coming out daily. So far, he wants to be there, he wants to help cut the cord and asks about holding Rythm (which he says more like "Ribbon") My mom will be watching him at the birth so that if he gets upset, he can leave. When I throw up, it sounds strangely like when I'm in labor (the moaning and such I mean, not the actual vomiting part -- sorry for TMI) so he's been hearin gme do that for a long time. As of a few days ago, he started syaing he wants the baby to not come out, but then later he'll ask about the baby coming out and holding him/her. He asks if I'm okay a lot too, which gives me a great opportunity to talk to him about how when I'm labor, sometimes it will sound like I am not okay, but I will be okay, I'm just working hard to have our baby. His big brother will be at the birth too to help talk to him, which is super cool. The other night Big Brother read the midwife's book to my toddler, which was beautiful to watch and listen to I think I've done about all I can to prepare him for the birth...between videos, books (various kinds), and practice labor, I don't think there's much else I can do. I'm looking forward to him being there.

I don't know how long it took me to write all that but I only had one ctx during Then again, I stood up to write part of it LOL Darn computer addiction...

Namaste, Tara

[ozzyemm]

Hey all! Thought I would pop in

I am 39 weeks tomorrow. Last Tuesday, I had to pee in the early morning (3:am) and my mucus plug came out!!! Yay!! I was expecting contractions, or something (even though I knew it could be weeks before I have this baby), but nothing happened . Then, on Sunday morning, there was blood when I wiped. I know that SOMETIMES that can mean labor within 48 hours. I called the hospital and they told me to come in, but I was only 1 cm when they checked me.

As of today I am still having bloody mucus, but no contractions at all.

I have my c-section scheduled for Wednesday afternoon (the baby is STILL breech). At this point, we believe that I may have a septated cervix or uterus which is causing the baby to not go vertex. This baby has NEVER been straight up and down, either way. He always points toward either hip, or is transverse.

We will not be having a white Christmas, unless it is foggy that day . WE are at 700 feet, and the weather is in the 40s normally. Today I think it was in the upper 60s. People were wearing shorts, and I was burning up!!!!

Does anyone know if I have to do something different to breastfeed a baby after c-section? I have made it clear that the baby is not to be formula fed at all, and if he is given water it needs to be by syringe or spoon. I am worried that it might be harder to breastfeed this baby after major surgery. Advice would be great!

[MamaTaraX]

Emily -- a c/s baby can nurse while youa re still on the operating table, you just have to demand it Usually they come out, they are taking to a warming table to be suctioned...and then they can come straight to you. They can weigh and meausre them as well, but they really can come to you right away, barring any funky complications. Other than that, put baby to breast as soon after surgery as possible. C/s babies sometimes take a little longer to nurse...i.e. with natural vaginal babies, we like to say "put baby to breast within the first hour", with medicated vaginal babies, we give them 1-2 hours, and with c/s babies, we give them 2-3 hours. This does not mean they need anything else in that time, though hospitals are very quick to give them water or formula or whatever. Newborns don't really come out hungry as much as they come out wanting to suck. Something else about nursing post-op: Cradle hold and pillows will be your friends. Cradle hold is good anyway because it give you a good view of baby and your nipple, but after surgery, it's pretty much gold because you don't put baby across your incision site. When putting baby across your belly, always use pillows (which you'll do anyway whenever you laugh or sneeze or cough for a while) Nursing laying down (on your side) is great too. It's not much harder to nurse after a c/s than anything else. IF you are in pain, there are safe painkillers you can take. It's a little harder to find positions, but it can indeed be done. Moms who have c-sections are more likely to bottlefeed (breastmilk or formula) because of the discomfort associated with holding baby, so having good support around you is essential if you are having any issues at all. Hope that helps!

Namaste, Tara (who is really sick of standing up to type )

[Hollin]

Tara did a good job of saying everything that I've learned about nursing after a c-section! I just wanted to add that I was a c-section baby and my mom was able to nurse me while she was being wheeled to the recovery room. I'm sure it will take a little more work in the early days, but you can do it! Good luck!

[GreenMommy]

I had a c-section and nursed for 3 years. My milk came in on day 3.

Alicia

[mamazig]

Hi there -- haven't been too active on here besides lurking, but since I'm up I thought I'd give you my data...
I think I'm 38 wks -- was 2-3 cm dilated 2 weeks ago when mw checked and 80% effaced and I lost the plug 2 Saturdays ago . . . and I'm still "hanging in there" (as I say to my co-workers a thousand times a day) -- tonight I was having especially painful/uncomfortable baby movements and contrax every 15 minutes so I thought I'd get up to really time them. They've stopped altogether. I think I'm too prepared now. Anywho, can't sleep worth a darn and my 2 year old has decided she's the boss of everyone and if she doesn't get her way or if someone doesn't understand her, she throws a major major fit. Everyone says she's sensing baby coming, but I don't buy it. I think she's just hit a testing stage. And boy, is she testing. So, another mw appt. tomorrow am -- don't know if she'll be interested in "checking" but with somewhat regular contrax tonight, I might be interested in having her do it. My last labor was really fast (although I ended up pushing for almost 4 hours -- her head has almost sideways) and I don't want to have a highway baby trying to make it to the hospital...(see Dec 2005 board -- re: Kelly's baby...) I don't know -- we'll see how I feel tomorrow. Oh yeah, my sis had her baby via c/s yesterday -- everyone is fine (although I haven't seen them because I wasn't allowed to travel) but the placenta was on top of the baby and doc said it was a good thing they c/s because of that and besides her pelvis is funkily formed . . . ok - whatever. I'm just happy that they're both healthy. I'm going to attempt to fall asleep now. Wish me sleepy vibes! :yawning:

[Stargirl]

Wow! What wonderful updates! It is so nice to be able to "hear" how everyone is doing.

All is well here! I am having a little insomnia tonight (and last night...) so this is a quiet time to catch up.

Here is my scoop: I have had quite a lot of edema recently and my hemoglobin is low so my energy hasn't been great. I am a teacher so feeling worn out is par for the course at this time of year. Yesterday was my last day and although I will really miss my kids, it was time for me to stop. DH helped me move out of my classroom so now I can focus on getting things organized here at home. We have been painting and reorganizing so it looks like a bomb went off around here. I haven't decorated for Christmas yet but the first floor is basically back together now so let the nesting begin!

DH is anxious for me to pack my hospital bag and I am not sure if I am in denial that labour is just around the corner (I am 37 wks 3 days) or if things have just been too chaotic to deal with it. Alas, I have started my list of what to pack.

Our MW is coming for a home visit tomorrow. I am embarassed by the state of the house, but I am excited too as she has been away so it will be lovely to catch up.

We are hosting Christmas this year (yes, I am more than a little nuts) and although it is just a few days away, I am just going with the flow. Isn't it amazing how having a baby gives life perspective?

My precious little one is also running out of room. Movements are definitely more wriggly than kicking. I am still so enjoying being pregnant that I think that I will really miss this special time we have together.

We already have snow but it is supposed to be very mild this weekend so a White Christmas is anybody's guess.

Wishing everyone the best during this last stretch and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

[ashcox]

I'm about 38 weeks now. I just went to the OB yesterday and I'm not dilated, not effaced, nothing. She started talking inducing and I'm not happy about that. I've told her all along that I do not want to be induced. If I had known how induction happy she is I wouldn't have gone with her in the first place. My EDD isn't until Jan 6 but I really don't know when I conceived, I had gotten lazy with charting. But I think it's possible that she may not have my EDD right. And good grief, it's perfectly normal for a baby to be up to 2 weeks "late." So I think she's set an induction date for Jan 12 because that's the latest I could get her to put it off. I really don't know why she's in such a hurry. I've told her DD was 8 lbs 13 oz and I had no trouble pushing her out. And she keeps saying that this baby is still a whole lot smaller than that, which makes me think he may just not be ready to be born yet. GRR.... If I have other kids I'm not going to this lady again I don't think.

Sorry about the venting but I just feel a little frustrated. Anyway, everything else is going well. I have loved reading everyone else's posts. We're supposed to have 70 degree weather here today which is crazy because it snowed a little last week (nothing stuck but it still snowed!) So I think I'm going to take DD to the park today.

Well, DD's getting wild so I'd better go.

Ashley