Let's all get updated!!!

[saskmom]

Just thought we could have one of those threads where we check up on everyone and see how things are going!! (monthly chat)

So I will start......

I have only 5 weeks left and I cant believe it!!!! It is crazy how fast 9 (10) months can go!! I think we are pretty prepared for this baby but I think I need to mentally start preparing myself a little more. I seem to be more and more worried and scared about the delivery and I don't understand why!!

DP is always away working and the whole month of November he will be gone. Once I go into labour I can give him a call and he can meet me in the city where I will be having the baby....Here is the scoop.....Once I go into labour I will call my friend and get her to pick up my two kids.....I then have to drive myself two hours to the nearest hospital and wait for DP to show up which could take him anywhere from 4 to 6 hours to get there.....let's hope I don't have the baby by then.....I will have to labour by myself which i am not ok with and I think this labour will be fast so I highly doubt my DP will make it in time!! I am truly depressed about this....this is NOT how I want this to happen. I wish I was like more mom's on here where I was comfortable enough to have a baby at home unassisted so I wouldn't have to worry about all of this. I want my kids to enjoy the birth of their sibling and I just don't think it is safe for me to drive myself let alone them two hours away while in labour. I have no family around and the family I do have really don't want to help me out. The friend who is taking my two kids can't drive to meet me in the hospital because she has two kids of her own. This is getting really long! Anyway, my dream birth would to have my DP, and children in the room with me while at home delivering our new edition.....I want a water birth and can't get it in the hospital.....my actual birth is going to be me driving myself to a hospital without my kids and DP anywhere around me!!! I HATE THIS!!!!! I can't get a midwife or a doula to come to where we live because Canada barely has any midwives to begin with let alone in a little town in the middle of nowhere Saskatchewan!! Ok Ok, enough!! I just have to accept the way this is going to be and deal with it!!

Other than all this complaining I have been feeling really good. We bought a new king size bed and I must say my hip pain, pelvic pain and back pain have gotten A LOT better!!! I can actually walk again!! Some days I have energy and some days I don't. I measured myself and I am 43 inches around. The baby's heart beat was 125 last visit which seemed really low to me but the doctor said it was fine.....my blood pressure is low and my weight gain to date so far is about 27 pounds!!! (reallly really really good for me) my fundal height is measuring about 2 weeks ahead......ummmmm.....I think that is it!! Now let's hear about everyone else!!!
Sorry for my long vent!!
I want all details from everyone else and pictures too if you have any!!!

[wanderlost]

OK, the stats:

I am 35w3d - which puts me more pregnant than I have ever been before, as ds came at 34w5d

fundus is at 36

waist 41"

weight gain - aprx 20lbs

baby hb at last apt - 150s

Most baby prep is done. I am nesting quite a bit. My body hurts - indigestion is bad, hip pain is bad. I am ready and not ready for baby at the same time. I am so anxious to meet this child, but nervous about having another one in the house to love and care for. 5 weeks to go!

[Mrs_Hos]

I think I'm 33 wks...I keep getting confused.
Last week I measured 33 wks, but was only 32 wks (yep, that sounds right)

I have gained my 25lbs already...I was 41" around last I checked....

My dh is deployed, and will miss the homebirth. But I have 3 birth attendants whom I really trust and I know I will be just fine in their care!

I've been overtired recently--ate some collards (iron?) and felt better--have days of extreme cleaning and success at getting things done, then a week of hardly able to roll out of bed.
My poor dd doesn't know if I'm mommy or 'mean mommy' each day--my moods and tiredness vary too much...

I'm worried about loving #2 as much as my dd...I'm also worried this baby will be a boy since I only know my girl...even tho I KNOW I WILL love this baby as much...and it's gender won't matter a bit.

I've had an easy pg--my chiro is wonderful--the only negative is some vulvar varicosities probably from pushing for 3 hrs with dd...the vv's sometimes are annoying.

I'm very excited about using my slings again, my cloth diapers again, and nursing again...

Hmm...what else...

[mama2toomany]

34 weeks and 2 days with twins

measuring 35 weeks.

each baby weighs aprox 4.5 pounds.

I have gained 11 pounds so far.

I am still on the trib pump and still on strict bedrest. I have 6 contractions an hour... and I am getting antsy for these babies to get out of me and go to there parents

[One Art]

I am 34 weeks today, and at my last prenatal (33 weeks) my fundus was at 32... I have gained 17 lbs so far, hoping to gain more as weight gain is still concerning me, though my midwife (and mother) told me some midwives never weigh women because of the stress it causes... I ordered and received my pool that I hope to labor in, which is very exciting... I need to blow it up to make sure it will fit in the living room (our living room is very narrow). I am very excited and can't wait to meet "Roo," though last night I had some terror about it, the birth, the recovery, managing with two... and I thought I must be crazy to have gotten pregnant a second time! Mostly I am excited though... I am trying to mentally prepare for a very fast birth, because dd was born in 4 hours... of course it could go the other way too, but as having a baby in less time scares me more I am trying to figure out ways to be ok with how intense it will be.... I am swimming 3-4 times a week which should help with the labor... in any case it keeps my body from aching too much. We watched some birth videos with dd last night which was good... she turned her head away at one point though, so I am a little worried that she will cling to me during the labor in worry though I have talked to her about everything that might happen... I'm also wondering if I am in the pool if she will want to jump in with me! I am getting more achy all the time and sleeping is becoming difficult. My right hip is also hurting as it has since the beginning, and I can't walk very much at all without getting intense cramps and tons of bh's. I still have not tackled anything on my list, which is making me anxious... but really, the hardest thing is suffering the after-shocks of having had dh almost leave... we are doing ok, but I guess I am starting to become very sad and a little resentful that he hasn't been a part of the pregnancy... we did discuss our birth plan, but now for the postpartum plan.... which I am scared to discuss with him because I'm afraid he will want his parents around all the time.

[sunshine*girl]

Just coming into week 33 so only about 7 more weeks to go. I was feeling earlier that the baby might make an appearance before my edd but now baby has to wait until we get some things figured out.

My birthing plans have all gone out the window because the hospital where my midwife works out of denied my application to have her "do" my labor and delivery because of my previous medical history. : She promises a homebirth experience in a hosptial setting-the natural progression for us to have a hb next time. I was so sad and then pissed-sure my last pregnancy had lots of problems but not even one of those has surfaced so far. And of course there is the fractured pelvis from a car accident in 2002 but they never checked that before denying me. The best part? They said I can't have Diane (my mw) deliver my baby in a hospital but I am more than welcome to try a home birth with her. So now we are on the hunt for a hospital to give birth in. A home birth at this point is not really an option.

Other than the hospital trouble things have been ok. So far I've gained around 8kg....I weigh myself, Diane has never done it.

blood pressure 140/70 and second try 135/70

blood sugar 4.3

iron 120

Numbers are fantastic since last time I had gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. I need to stop gaining weight though.

[paxye]

Hi everyone...

Well... I am about 33 weeks and I am coming to grips with the fact that I may be having a solo-birth depending on when and how fast labour starts and how the kids are. (Dh will be taking care of the kids)
I was thinking about hiring a doula but It doesn't feel right... kind of like paying for a friend... and really I don't want a stranger to be there for the birth...

My neighbor was nice and offered to come over and get the boys for an hour or two if I want if labour starts hard and DH is at work (if labour doesn't coincide with rush hour it takes him about 3 hours to get here, if it does than it will take a bit around 1 1/2 hours... )

I got some of my birth supplies yesterday... a few chux pads and mattress cover etc.... I decided that I was not going to get a birth pool finally since I am not sure if DH will have much time or patience to inflate it, fill it and keep it at the right temp etc...
I am going to try to make my small bathtub work instead...

Anyways... besides that I am sore and getting uncomfortable... love my chiro lately!! My body is slowing down on me but I really feel the need to keep moving...

I have also decided to get involved on a Decluttering challenge thread here on MDC... I am seriously working on decluttering my house... I had started decluttering a few weeks ago so the timing is perfect and the thread keeps me wanting to do more... I am tired of having so much stuff and even now with what I have done to date it really shows and it is getting much easier to keep the house clean...

I also have quite a few meals done... which will make time after baby be so much easier...

[BathrobeGoddess]

35 weeks here. Baby dropped yesterday and is now really engaged. I'm small, measuring 33 weeks but that is par for me. Babe is posterior (Hence the smaller measurement, we are spine to spine) something I really want to change after having 2 posterior labours already. I have no idea what to expect from my labour, first one was 6 hours second one was 32 hours even though they were both pretty much the same size! Not getting a tub since I have a huge bathtub, its longer than I am and I can lay down completely in it...I'm really lucky, I know!

I think I have karmicly set myself up for early labour! JK! My dd has an Irish Dancing Feis on November 5th and I am planning to get her a solo dress while there since it is by far the best time to find a good one used. I'm now certain I'll be in labour since isn't that how it works...it happens when you least want it! Anyway, my mom's BD is November 7th and I would love the babe to share that date with her without any interventions to make it happen. My mom passed away 8 years ago this November so maybe she will be rooting for me!

Felling good but VERY pregnant! I'm the texbook norm on everything.

[AllisonR]

I'm week 34, but because I am uncertain with dates and don't trust the official scan date, I will not be upset if DD decides to come a week or two early, or even a week or two late. As long as I have my homebirth, with my two midwives.

Feeling reasonably healthy and emotionally in a good place. Went on maternity leave and 2 days later the day care centers all went on strike. This is now week 3 of the strike, so all my time off that I was supposed to enjoy painting, cleaning, preparing and pampering myself are out the window as I have DS home with me.

Last birth was 42 hours and ended with emergency cesarean, so I am trying to be open about dealing with any type of birth, since I can't control it anyway. My biggest hopes are to be able to relax enough to deal with the pain, to not have a misaligned head or brow presentation and to OPEN, OPEN, OPEN.

[mom2emerson]

33 weeks today. I've gained about 15 or so lbs which is great since last preg I had GD and thrilled that I didn't this time around. I had been measuring right on until the last appt when I measured 1 week ahead.

Feeling tired almost all the time. Any physical exertion brings on BH's and if I overdo anything I have extreme hip/sciatic (sp?) pain. Yoga 2 nights a week is a godsend. Going to Calistoga with some girlfriends in 2 weeks for my bday and looking forward to an hour and half prenatal massage!!!!!! Yippeeee!

I'm feeling a little stessed because we haven't really gotten everything ready for this little butterball yet. We need to wrap the crib mattress (which she won't be sleeping in for quiet some time but for a possible nap here and there, but I still want it done), pull out all the infant clothes and stuff that is in storage, sort, etc and all. I guess part of my stress is that I'm still working (2 very long 14 hr days per week) and am so wiped out recovering from those days that right now I have little to no energy to do anything. DH was told last night that this Sunday MUST be dedicated to getting some of those things done so I can breath easier.

Birthing wise, for some reason also feeling unprepared, which sort of makes no sense since I've had two wonderful natural births, used Hypnobirthing last time around and am very much looking forward to using it again. Maybe it's that last time we did the full class so early and this time we are doing a one day refresher with the instructor (who after the last birth became a friend) but not until 10/21. We will be having a minimal to no intervention hospital birth and are fine with that. We had a good experience last time with the hospital respecting our birth plan. I tend to have big babies (8-13.5 and 9-8.5) and that always makes me nervous. I need to start doing some visualization of a wonderful, short, smooth birth.....

Sorry for the long post. Guess i really needed to share....

[egoldber]

Well, my update is long and not particularly pleasant. The upshot is that my docs are pretty worried and now want to deliver this baby at 34 weeks.

I've been having contractions for about 3 weeks now. I am taking terbutaline and I'm on modified bedrest (and slowly going out of my freaking mind....)

I saw my peri (high risk specialist) last week. It was a previously scheduled appointment where they wanted to do an ultrasound to try and see my uterine scar and check out the thickness of the uterine area where I ruptured last time. (FYI, I had a catastrophic uterine rupture in my last pregnancy.)

The news was...inconclusive, but not good news. The complicating factor is that the baby's head was low and kind of in the way, so he couldn't get a terrific view of the entire lower uterine area. The part he WAS able to see was thinner than they like to see. It was 3.5 mm when they like it to be at least 4 mm. There was a distinct area (I could see it too) where you couldn't see the uterine segment at all. So that means one of two things: a) the baby's head made it hard to get a good view or b) that area is really thin (which is not good news).

In light of the contractions I've been having and continue to have, the peri is inclined to be more conservative and move up the delivery date. He was also inclined to do this because the baby was already measuring 5 pounds. (She's been consistently measuring at 8, 16, and 23 weeks, so I tend to believe this more than if it were an isolated measurement.)

So here's the new plan. My amnio has been moved up from 36 to 34 weeks. If lungs are mature, then they will go ahead and deliver then. If the lungs come back immature, what we do next depends. Lung maturity is measured on a scale of 0 to 4, with 2 being mature. If I'm close to, but not quite a 2, then they will give another series of steroids and then deliver. If I'm not close to a 2, then they will give the steroids and do another amnio at 35 weeks. So we're looking at an October baby pretty much one way or another.

We discussed the possibility of putting me in the hospital as a precaution. He didn't think it was a bad idea, but since we live so close (literally 3-5 minutes depending on the lights), he doubted insurance would cover it, especially since I don't contract when resting. But he didn't think it was critical and said he would have a hard time saying it was REALLY necessary to the inurance company. If we lived an hour from the hospital, that would be different.

I will be doing twice weekly non-stress tests at the OB's office until the 34 week amnio. (Which is actually scheduled for October 11, at 33W6D since they were booked on the 12th.) If they start picking up contractions at the NSTs, then we'll go ahead and deliver even before the amnio. Otherwise we'll just monitor and see for 2 more weeks.

I'm so not sure how I feel right now. I think I'm still a little in shock. My poor DH was petrified after the visit, but I'm glad he went so I didn't have to try and explain this to him and he was able to ask the peri all the questions he wanted.

I was kind of in shock last week, but I've recovered and gone into hyper research mode. I've been trying to gather all the info I can on 34 week preemies, breastfeeding a preemie, etc. I've hired a doula to be with us as a second support person in the OR and with me in recovery in case the baby needs to go to the NICU (which I am hoping not, but am making plans for just in case).

Its all such a whirlwind right now. I can't believe I'm going to have this baby in NINE days!!

[lilysmama1124]

I am 32w4d. I had gained about 25 pounds last time I checked about two weeks ago and my fundus was right on target at that time. I have been very tired and I am getting very frustrated because I can't seem to get anything done. Also our air conditioner broke in our apartment and of course it got hot again here in Iowa plus I am having hot flashes. Hopefully it will cool down here for the rest of the pg. My hips are really starting to hurt at night and I can't get comfortable. Alright enough complaining! I am so excited to meet dd and I am excited about the birth. I do have moments of being very scared about the pain. I do have a doula and my dh has been pretty invovled in preparing to have a natural birth.

[LavenderMae]

I'll be 36 weeks tomorrow according to LMP but I am actually more like 36 weeks and few days now (I ovulate early in my cycle). I feel like I'll have this baby soon. My bh's are becoming more and more uncomfie and I'm losing mucus plug everyday now (which is kind of cool because I didn't notice losing it with my other two). I'm the biggest I've ever been pregnant and I hope that means this baby (even though I'm pretty sure he/she will be a tad early) will weigh more than my others did. I'm hoping for at least 7 lbs (my others were only 6+lbs).

egoldber, I'll keep you and you little one in my thoughts and I'm wishing you the very best!! From everything I've read about 34 week premies they do really really well. I haven't read whole lot but I have looked into it because of how I've felt this pregnancy! I'm sending you big healthy baby and mature lung vibes, oh and a good sucking reflex too!!!!

[Tiffany_in_ga]

Hi everyone! I'm 31w5d.

Gained over 50 pounds so far :-( I gained close to 70 with DD, so this is just what my body does. But it certainly doesn't help with the aches and pains. (and I'm running out of clothes that fit)

No problems this pregnancy though..I had preeclampsia with DD, but nothing has developed this time.

LOTS of aches and pains though. CONSTANTLY feel like I'm getting my period. Lots of hip/leg pain when I'm sleeping, LOTS of bladder pain (I'm carrying sooo low).

TONS of frustration because we are SO not ready for this baby. We finally got the furniture out, but it needs to be cleaned and we need to buy a mattress for the cradle. UGH. There just doesn't seem to be any time, as I work fulltime and my boyfriend is putting in 60-70 hour weeks.

I have a really sneaky feeling this baby isn't going to term.

[yasmel]

I will be 35 weeks tomorrow. I am off work on "bedrest"
I plan on finding something to do so I won't have to go back to work for a long time.
My first ds is in KG and I am really debating homeschooling him.
Their father is not in the picture and doesn't care to be either
This will be my 1st time cd and my 1st hb.

[midwestmeg]

A few replies; I'd love to respond to everyone but my time is short this morning!

Sheacoby; the mucus plug is interesting! That didn't happen to me with dd#1- in fact my bag of water never even broke.

Egoldber; goodness, mama I feel for you. You react to stressful situations the way I do; read and prepare. Sending strong baby vibes your way.

Saskmom; : that's quite the birth preparation!! And Paxye; your dh is possibly 3 hours away?!! That stinks- how quick were your other labors? I always use my back-up doctors words about fast babies: "if the baby comes so fast that you can't go anywhere, then the baby is fine".

Sunshinegirl; that stinks about the birth plans... I'm sorry. And Mrs. Hos; that is great that you love and know your birth attendants- I'm sorry that dh won't be there with you. He'll be awfully proud of you, though!!

All you low weight gainers.... grrrr. My weight has been shocking me this time since I was a 20 pound total weight gain with dd#1. I know its a goofy number and just a point of vanity, but STILL- I'll just admit yes, I am vain! : I'm sure I'm approaching 30 lbs, although the stress of my life currently might be slowing that down..

Where I'm at.... I don't even know! : All of a sudden my pregnancy has taken a backseat because it seems we'll be making some decisions about when to schedule open heart surgery for my husband. He had a little stroke over the weekend from a clot and that's when the doctors found the hole in his heart. Now that he is home on blood thinners until we know enough to schedule I am finally starting to relax a little.

I haven't been sleeping, eating or stopping. I HAVE cooked, cleaned, tended to dd, learned all about the kind of heart defect dh has, loaded and schlepped pumpkins for dh (we grow and sell pumpkins; it's dh's favorite 'hobby'). And did I mention I have a miserable cold?!

When I talked to my dad, he told me that I should be careful because the stress and situation could affect my unborn child.... my 65 year old dad has been taking college psych classes for fun and I think its making him a little nutty! I'm sure he has a point but I can't really slow down to think about it right now.

Things will get better, but it looks like surgery for dh is at least a month off, so when my baby is born, dh isn't really going to be able to help me because he will still be recovering himself. That makes me sad. I haven't even thought about how we will work all this out financially. I am all of a sudden very grateful for our insurance policy that I've always felt we paid too much for.

Sorry to be debbie downer, but it is nice to share these things with you all instead of my nosy neighbors.... Meg

[LavenderMae]

Megan, many healing vibes to your dh. I'll keep him in my thoughts and I'm hoping his surgery goes well and he recovers quickly!!! Take care of yourself and that little one your growing!!!

[MiamiMami]

33 weeks here and nesting like crazy: I've been super stressed out on organizing stuff and cleaning up. We've been renting this little 2/2 house for a year, and I am just now making it look like a home Now it actually looks like we plan on staying awhile. I also really want to get the carpets steam cleaned in the next 2 weeks.

I got the OK from my insurance to cover my homebirth as in-network So thats all set. Babe is breech right now so I am seeing a chiro for the webster technique. I went on Monday, I have an appt on Wed and Friday. I am not panicking yet as I believe this and excercises will work. BTW, this is a vbac

Still need to do some homebirth supply shopping. I already have the fishy pool. My sis is giving me a shower, but apparently its a surprise: I made a wish list that is mostly diapers. I hope to score some of that. If not, I have a lot of ordering to do.....

[living_organic]

Well, according to my calculations I'm 34wks, but my OB changed my due date after the first ultrasound so according to him I am 35wks.

I have been in horrible pain and having contractions for weeks now. The pain is from carrying her so low. And from what I've read the second baby always hurts more than the first.

Weight Gain-0
Weight Loss-15lbs. (Hypothyroidism...long story)

My first baby was 10lbs01oz and this one feels even bigger to me. OB says she doesn't seem to be big, but they told me my first was about 7-8lbs.

Anyway, that's me.

I'm really glad I found MDC, you all have been a great help to me while I've been lurking and learning!

Tricia

[lilysmama1124]

Egoldber- I just wanted to let you know I will be thinking of you and to hang in there. Also, I was born at 34 weeks as was my 10 years younger sister. My mom actually went into labor with her at 33.5 weeks. Although we were in intensive care it was mostly because we didn't weigh 5 pounds yet. We were both healthy. I didn't need any help breathing and neither of us had any lasting effects. My mom was able to breastfeed both of us. It was a bit tougher getting started but she eventually was able to do it. Also that was 17 and 27 years ago so medical care has improved since then. I know it is just 2 babies stories but hopefully it helps!!