*~ Weekly Thread Feb 3-9 ~* - Page 2

[Neve]

Hey all,

It's fun to read everyone's stories! Sounds like we are all having some of the same experiences...baby moving finally, getting the nursery ready, feeling BIG!

I have a NASTY cold/sinus infection thing that has been raging since last week. I FEEL better, but still have major amounts of stuff backed up in my nose and throat. TMI--I know. My doc gave me an antiobiotic, but he wants me to wait until end of week to make sure I really need it. Not much fun--mainly because all the post nasal drip makes me really nauseous in the morning. Feels like I'm back at week 13 instead of 23! Trying to stay hydrated and taking it kinda easy. The 13 degree high yesterday, makes the taking it easy part real easy since all I want to do is hibernate.

I've had a strong nesting instinct this week too. I cleaned out my office and had my Hubby & Dad move it all into the basement to start getting the nursery ready. I cleaned out closets and cubby holes and all kinds of things all around the house that I haven't touched since I moved into Summer of 2005! We are doing the nursery in a caribbean/under the sea type theme. IKEA, here we come! Probably start painting and decorating in next month or so.

Does anyone else have to PEE every 14 minutes?! My gosh--they tell us to drink 64 oz water a day, but I'm not that active, and it's Winter, so I just PEE all day long. It's actually kind of uncomfortable! Plus, I had BH contractions, so I'm really supposed to drink and pee. Yikes.

Thanks for sharing and listening all!!

[Shell_Ell]

I think I may have scored a free doula last night. We had our montly meeting for my local doula organization and I asked (jokingly) if anyone wanted experience with homebirth and would want to do my birth for free. LOL But afterward I talked to one of the ladies, she's the longest standing doula in this area... since the late 70's. She said she'd do it. I'm glad to have the option. I want to do as much of it alone as I can, and only planned to have my midwife, but it would be nice to have that option open.

[Jilian]

Wow, lots going on for everyone this week!

My nephew was born last night at 7:00 pm it went great! Sis was induced but real contractions didn't start until 1:00 pm and he was born at 7:15 pm after about 40 mins of pushing The hospital staff let me do a lot, including warm compresses on the perrineum. He had a nuchal hand and was 9 lbs 5ozs and she only had a very minor tear! I was RIGHT THERE to see him born, it was amazing to see a birth up that close!

Sis is doing great but babe is having some breathing troubles. He's on oxygen for some really fast breathing. We are hoping he starts breathing ok and can come home tonight with her.

[wombatclay]

I wish I could find a doula!

I'm actually a doula myself (DONA, though I got pregnant before I'd completed all my certification births) but I had such a horrid experience with my doula last time that I have a real hang up about finding the "right" person now.

None of the local doulas have experience with VBAC mamas, and none are VBAC mamas themselves. My OB has suggested talking with a few of the local homebirth midwives to see if one of them might be willing to doula for me (none of the local homebirth mw will "take" a VBAC mama). So I'm hoping.

But ugh...I'm trying to keep stress to a minimum and sort of wish a doula would simply fall from the sky, you know?

[Shell_Ell]

I feel you. I have major hang ups about the whole thing too because I don't want to invite someone into my "circle" and then regret it. Even though this doula is very experienced and I like her as a person, she still might not be the right fit for me, ya know? So I'm keeping the option there, and I think if I really need or want her there, I will. But I won't feel bad if I don't call her either.

I pretty much know all of the doulas in my area personally because of being a doula myself, and it's still hard for ME to decide who I want there, if anyone. I'm just comiserating. I think it's hard for anyone.

[Shell_Ell]

And Jilian! Congrats to your sister!!!

[herbmama3-7]

Yeah Jilian That is really great, congradulations to you and your sis! It is really great to hear such a good birth story, glad it went well! Thanks for sharing, I always like to hear such good birth stories!

[GenomicsGirl]

Jilian - that is so cool! I would love to experience someone else's birth! How awesome of your sister to allow you that spot and how awesome of you to be so supportive. Great family!

[willoLevin]

My sister-in-law and nephew (age 3 -- 8 months older than DS) arrived last night after their first ever cross-country flight. They are still sleeping. Hurray! Some of you may recall that I invited them during my "January sucks and I'm going crazy for a vacation or adventure" stage...

Last night, getting ready for bed, I saw myself in the mirror from the side. Holy cow! I'm freakin' ENORMOUS! Honestly, I was shocked. Clearly I look bigger from the side than from the front. Sheesh.

I was also so happy to finally find the last box of maternity clothes. Now I have SHIRTS to wear with all the pants. I was afraid I'd have to go buy more, and I really thought I was all set. I think I'm in pretty good shape now, though a lot of my stuff is kind of lightweight. I find I can layer one of my non-maternity long-sleeve tops under a maternity short-sleeve top and look all right, so that might keep me decent through the winter.

--willo

[Jilian]

Originally Posted by willoLevin

Last night, getting ready for bed, I saw myself in the mirror from the side. Holy cow! I'm freakin' ENORMOUS! Honestly, I was shocked. Clearly I look bigger from the side than from the front. Sheesh.

I've been having a few of those moments lately. For some reason I still consider myself "newly pregnant" and not almost 6 mos pregnant. I keep thinking I have so much longer to go. Then I see myself walk by a mirror and think "OH WOW, I'm really growing now!" I forget how big I really am.

[wombatclay]

I have the same "ye gods I'm huge" moment when I see the photos from the end of my last pregnancy. I gained soooooo much weight. I haven't gained as much this time (yet) but I'm still doing a double take when I see myself these days.

You're right though...it's just a matter of telling myself that I'm more than halfway done and getting big is a good thing!

[herbmama3-7]

I am right there with you. I was really stressed over a few things last night, dh was consoling me when he said "if it's any consolation, you've popped out even more today"! Ummmmmmm.....not sure that was a consolation at the time, but I am sure he didn't mean it to hurt my feelings I actually like my cute pregnant belly, I will miss it when it is gone as this is (God willing) my last pregnancy!

[Robbins0614]

Originally Posted by Jilian

I've been having a few of those moments lately. For some reason I still consider myself "newly pregnant" and not almost 6 mos pregnant. I keep thinking I have so much longer to go. Then I see myself walk by a mirror and think "OH WOW, I'm really growing now!" I forget how big I really am.

I've been having this same reaction!!! I don't think about how far along I am, so then when I see myself I am amazed at how big I am! DH thinks it's cute though! I cannot believe how fast things are going right now. I keep thinking of all the things I need to do to get ready-but that's as far as I get! Then I go do the things that don't really need to be done-like reorganizing the linen closet!

[Marvelleaux]

More than feeling big, I'm feeling HEAVY--like I've been lugging a backpack full of books around all day. I'm doing my best to stay physical so this feeling doesn't increase with the baby weight.

[NullSet]

I've never posted on these weekly threads before, how exciting everyones' lives sound. I found out today I'm having another little girl! Yay! Plus, I'm super-happy because I just picked up a HUGE box of dipes at the post office this morning. I got one momma's entire collection of dipes that she had for sale on the TP. She said if it all went together she would let it go for a really inexpensive price. I've been using prefolds and a random hodge podge of dipes on my dd since she was born, but these are all fbs! I can finally afford to get something I've really wanted, yippee!

Now, I've covered the happy stuff... now on to the not-so-happy stuff. Gained 9 lbs at my appt today, which I know is too much for me because I've been eating horribly. I'm also worried a bit about the effects of stress on the baby. Lately one of my foster kids is acting up and I feel like she's constantly screaming and having fits. I'm on constant watch because she's doing things we had gotten her to stop doing a while ago (totally normal 2 yr old stuff but annoying nonetheless). She cries at the drop of a hat, literally at EVERYTHING. My stress level is just a lot higher than normal.

Well, aside from those few bad things I feel great!

[wombatclay]

Congrats on the baby girl and the dipe score adpecaut! I hope your fosterling smooths out soon too...

[WhiteWax]

: : : : : : Horray on the girl apecaut!!!

[vannienicole]

*

[wombatclay]

vannienicole - oh my goodness! Big hugs, health, healing, and hope to you and yours! What a torrential downpour of...well...everything. I hope it smooths out soon.

So...I bit the bullet and sent out emails to several local doulas. I've been avoiding contacting doulas, despite the fact that I am a doula myself, since I had such a bad experience last time. (long story extremely short- my doula was unprepared for a long/difficult labor and as a result was less than supportive after the first few hours. When I eventually needed medical interventions and went to the hospital she was very upset with me, and when I eventually had a c/s she actually told me she couldn't be in the same room with me since a c/s violated her beliefs in natural birth. She had a different doula provide my post-birth visit since she wasn't comfortable helping a c/s mama. Needless to say, I'm not her biggest fan, though I honestly think she didn't "mean" to be unkind).

Anyway...I know how important a doula is for a VBAC mama, heck, any mama delivering in a hospital (no matter how supportive the hospital...and mine is bend over backwards mama/babe friendly) but I've been putting it off. but now, I've done it. Emails away (even though a short, ten sentence email took me literally an hour to write and send) to three doulas my care provider has suggested.

So now I just need to see if any still have openings! I live in a small town with a LOT of doulas, so I'm hoping the perfect one is waiting for me.

On the down-ish side (and to hop subjects a bit) I ordered the hypnobabies home study course and got the standard shipping option. Now I find out that it will take another week to get here, maybe longer! It's UPS ground (going from CA to NY) and with the winter weather in the middle of the country the arrival date keeps moving backwards. Argh! I want my serenity now!

[sparklett]

This week started out great, but went downhill real quick! I came down with the stomach flu Tues night, and threw up so bad that I did something weird to my nose and it wouldn't stop bleeding. Then my face turned purple from all the puking and I developed two black eyes. After twelve hours of sheer ickyness, we went to the doctor who said, "wow you look really bad, but I can't do anything for you, so go home and eat some banannas". I've eaten seven banannas since then, and am actually feeling better!

Ultrasound is on Friday, so I have something to look forward to!