Weekly Thread March 12-18

[PatchChild]

I'll take my turn to start off the new weekly thread.

Here I've been, feeling all kids of lucky as everyone around me has gotten sick with one type of bug or another. Me? I've been as healthy as can be. Drinking my grapefruit juice, getting plenty of sleep, feeling great. Until Saturday. : Icky fever, I think my nose has started training for a marathon, headache. My DH has had this for a week. A week?! I have parent teacher conferences to run this week, two team meetings scheduled, the second to last observation for my reading practicum, an ultrasound today and DR appointment tomorrow. This is NOT the week to feel sick. I left work half way through today to come home and sleep because I know that I have to make it through all my meetings tomorrow.

On the good side, I had the ultrasound today to follow up on possible previa and, at least according to the tech, everything looks good. Baby Imp was being both good and bad for the appointment. Good because he's solidly head down, bad because that blocked the view of the cervix and they had to do an internal to get the view they needed. Icky.

It's finally starting to warm up around here!!! Robins are back and pecking at the snow. Apparently no one told them that real spring doesn't start around here until late April. These are going to be some hungry birds.

[wombatclay]

Ahhhh...the internal ultrasound wand! Like something out of a bad star trek episode IMO. I'm glad you got some good news, sorry you feel crummy though!

I'm recovering from the Boston trip but still feel totally out of it. And I was running late this evening so I really walked fast to get home (it's about a mile with lots of hills) so now my hips are insanely sore. I can hardly make it across the room! I hope DH isn't doing a lot of small detail pipet work at the lab today because I really need a back rub/hip rub.

[herbmama3-7]

I got the yuckies too: but luckily I am on the end of it, just very congested, I want to breath again! We are having some beautiful weather here, had a picnic at the park today and loved it, although I felt huge in the tank top I wore becuase everyone kept staring at me, I just wanted to scream "yes I am about to pop" (two more months, but no one needs to know that ) Anyway, the baby is moving quite a bit, I feel like it is running out of room because the movements feel a little more "strained" if that makes sense. I looked at a new place to move to today, we have been talking about it and I really liked this place, it is in a great location too! I think we might try to make it happen, which could be by the 1st.: But I would be happy and feel settled before baby comes!

[willoLevin]

Today I hurt my back picking up DS after changing a poopy diaper in the hatchback of my station wagon. I'm taking Tylenol and applying heat and cold packs, but, basically, I'm in pain from my hips to my lower-middle back.

Made a chiropractor appt, which I'd been meaning to do, and she just had surgery herself so can't see me until Thursday. I sure hope resting a lot clears this up before then.

Must go back to couch. Sitting (walking, lifting, ANYTHING) is so uncomfortable.

--willo

[vannienicole]

**

[Shell_Ell]

I'm going to whine too. LOL

I'm sick! I was sick overnight last night (throwing up) and I've suddenly now developed this terrible cold.

The baby is kicking REALLY HARD lately. He's definately not little anymore.

My left side is producing colostrum. My right side (which is the only side I really nurse off of) still makes a bit of breastmilk. Weird huh?

[Marvelleaux]

to all of you sick, injured, and stressed out Mamas

I'm getting over a cold too. Oh MAN do I miss the days of Nyquil, and I guess with a little one coming I can say goodbye to those days pretty much forever. Many times over the past week I've found myself thinking of you who already have little ones and are sick, and how hard it would be to get that important extra rest. Special to all of you.

Other than this darned cold everything is still going pretty smoothly in my neck of the woods. Spring is definately in the early stages of arrival and this time of year always elevates my mood. The next time we TTC I will certainly be shooting for a spring delivery. I feel energized and renewed. Nesting is actually fun!

In the pregnancy department: Has anyone else noticed a shift in how you feel it lately? Previously the focus for me was on lots of kicks and jabs, I'm still getting those (they make my whole belly shake!) but I'm also getting tons and tons of little elbows, knees, feetsies and hands rolling across the belly. I no longer have any sense of direction for where the baby is at, except of course when being clobbered in cervix and/or bladder . And when I lie on my side, baby takes the opportunity to then orient his/her feet with the mattress side of my belly and I swear it's like they've already discovered the entertainment value of jumping on the bed.. It's really cute

Who else has got spring fever?

[Corri]

Spring? HAH. I want to move down to where all y'all are finding spring. I'm in countdown mode for everything, it feels like - two more days until the next ultrasound, three days until the next appointment to look at my hand, two weeks until we visit my mother for Passover, a month until the end of my students' school term... just call me Waiting For Godot.

[Jilian]

I'm sorry that everyone is having a rough week, big hugs to everyone

Things are good here. I'm feeling like I'm as big as a barn these days. I looked at myself in the mirror last night and was shocked at how big my belly was, it seems to have tripled in size overnight. I can't believe I have 11 more weeks of growing, I'm not sure how much more I can grow. My baby seems to be running out of room too, his movements are more squirmy these days. I think he's still breech and I'm starting to worry a little. Here in FL breech=cesarean. I've been doing some exercises to encourage him to flip but they aren't the most comfortable positions to be in.

I'm also officially "on call" for my last Doula client before my own baby is born. I'm really excited for this client, it's her first baby and she's really wanting a natural birth. I can't wait to attend her birth!

[WhiteWax]

Things are pluggin along over here... DD has a cold but i dont have it yet... I know it's inevitable that I will though! but for right now I'm "OK" I got a new maternity shirt on Sunday which is very cute....

Sorry every one is feeling crummy... I'm really jsut trying to "hang in there" you know???? Shocked and scared about how close we are... not sacred about labor or anything.... just scared about doing this all alone...

OH!!!! And DexP has been a pill about his phone!!!! He only has a cell phone now and some times it dies and he plugs it in over night and never turns it on, or it's in the other end of a HUGE (grrr) apartment and he doesn't hear it, or he accidently hits this little button on top that turns the whole phone on vibrate (It's Nextel, I know this is all true because it has happened to me and he's always been aweful about keeping his cell charged and on!!!) SO anyway it seems like I'll call him to ask him an important question, or remind him of something (this is still crucial since we still have alot of stuff in both our names) any way he wont answer.... I'll try to call back later.... he wont answer.... I'll start to get frustrated and blw up his phone and sitll nothing and finally get a hold of him the next morning!!!!! I tell him "It's only took me 5 hours to have the first one!!!!!! And I'm really not looking to go through labor alone!!!!!!!!!!!" It's happened a few times now... good 10 -14 hr spans.... really really irritating!!!!!!


OK done with my rant! I'm off!!

[wombatclay]

Can you catch a cold online?

I woke up this morning with a sore throat and gunk. Ugh. It's amazing how little you appreciate the "miracles" of the modern grocery store cough/cold aisle until you're sick and pregnant and everything is a "no-no". Sure I love my alternative therapies, but there is only so much tea and tincture I can stand, and since I am caring for a sick babe all day and then heading into a night shift at work...I could REALLY use something a little stronger!

Other than that we're having a wonderful sunny spring day. Though they say it's going to get cold again this weekend, which isn't a surprise...we usually have snow till April so this is a nice change. The down side is that as the snow melts it reveals 6 months of trash and dog poo and other nasty surprises and leaves pools of nasty oily snow melt ick on the streets and sidewalks. Since dd is a BIG puddle splasher our morning walk turned into a real mess and everything (including my outfit) is in the laundry waiting to be decontaminated. On the one hand I love spring, on the other I could really do without the mess!

And in terms of mess...we're putting up new cabinets in the kitchen. We got them at IKEA the other day and it's going to be great once they're up. But right now they are on the floor and all the stuff from the old cabinets is everywhere! I'm terrified of finding dd sitting in the middle of a pile of former cooking supplies and having to clean it all up. The thought of heavy cleaning with my cold and ever growing belly? Ugh.

But overall, the weather is nice and what more could you want?

stay healthy/get healthy all!

[Keeping up]

I started another thread re possible IUGR - so if you have any thoughts - here or there (measuring 4 wks behind, gained 15lbs. and also started to 'flip' a tad because baby really isn't that active - especially since some of you are feeling elbow/knee kicks - I am still at the slow rumble stage!)

Otherwise - doing half decently. I am tired after a weekend away. The baby (14 mnths) didn't appreciate the new environement so neither dh or I got much sleep. The older pair loved it (massive indoor water park).

No sickies here yet - thankfully - hopefully they will stay at bay!

[Neve]

Hey All,

Spring feels likes it's finally starting to peek out from behind the snow banks up here in the North East. It makes me feel SO MUCH BETTER. I do not like Winter at all (who does I guess?). I'm definitely getting more active and feel like more and more outings.

My baby has perched herself diagonally in my belly--her head is way down on the far, far left bottom "corner" of my uterus, and her feet are kicking away at the extreme right of my lower right ribs. She has literally never ventured to the left upper side of my uterus for at least a couple of weeks now. She's a stretcher too--it's neat when I can feel her at the same time in both my lower left and upper right! No painful jabs yet--just the occasional pirouette on my cervix...yikes. I am carrying her kinda low from what I can tell--at least when I look at everyone else who is about as pregnant as me. My torso/back are very long and so far that seems to explain it (plus she's a girl--but I'm not 100% sure I believe that girls carry low and boys high...). I'll have my 30 week appointment on the 30th and the doc wants to try and determine if she has settled in properly!

Feeling pretty good though. I've been swimming and doing pre-natal yoga now for about 3+ months. I've had no back issues, no sciatica issues, hardly ever feel my round ligament pain. My hips ache a bit at night and I have to turn frequently--but even that is starting to simmer down. I think all this mild exercise is actually paying off so far. Also just think my body is getting used to be being pregnant--it's getting stronger I think.

I have been DYING for milkshakes lately. I NEVER craved milkshakes before the pregnancy! Now I had to run to the store and buy malt, chocoloate syrup, strawberries & vanilla ice cream. My mouth starts salivating when I think about them sometimes. I feel like I'm in a movie...it's such a cliche! But also, so true!

Thanks for listening and sharing all!

[54mama]

Originally Posted by wombatclay

Ahhhh...the internal ultrasound wand! Like something out of a bad star trek episode IMO.

With my first babe my husband and I were in for our big ultrasound and she wasn't cooperating so they had to do the vaginal one. Well just as the tech is inserting my husband mouths to me, "Does it feel good?" I almost died. I was laughing so hard the tech couldn't read anything and I couldn't explain why... it was so bad. Totally OT, your comment just reminded me of the story.

[wombatclay]

Okay mamas...I need some reassurance!

For some reason I have been hit back front and center today with stories about and images of stillborn babes. The article in the recent Mothering Magazine, a local news-story, some threads here at mdc, and a few other places.

I had a mc right before belly babe took root, and with the anterior placenta getting in the way of most of my feelings of belly babe moving (and the fact that c/s mamas tend to be at higher risk for stillbirth anyway)...well...the pregnancy hormones are hitting and I'm getting worked up over something that really shouldn't be a concern!

Any advice on how to focus/calm down/remain sane till belly babe becomes happy/healthy outside babe?

Thanks!

[ChristineIndy]

Originally Posted by wombatclay

Okay mamas...I need some reassurance!

For some reason I have been hit back front and center today with stories about and images of stillborn babes. The article in the recent Mothering Magazine, a local news-story, some threads here at mdc, and a few other places.

I had a mc right before belly babe took root, and with the anterior placenta getting in the way of most of my feelings of belly babe moving (and the fact that c/s mamas tend to be at higher risk for stillbirth anyway)...well...the pregnancy hormones are hitting and I'm getting worked up over something that really shouldn't be a concern!

Any advice on how to focus/calm down/remain sane till belly babe becomes happy/healthy outside babe?

Thanks!

First off,

According to everything I've read/heard, this sort of worrying is so totally normal for the third trimester, it's not even funny. I, too, had a m/c before conceiving this babe, and I know that going through that has made me much more worried and sensitive than I would have been otherwise.

The three things I do to reassure myself are: 1) Think about the vast number of babies who are born full-term and healthy, even in spite of their mothers not taking nearly the sort of care of themselves/baby that I am

2) Remind myself that hormonal worrying jags are natures way of ensuring that I continue to take good care of myself and my baby while I'm pregnant - if, evolutionarily, we "forgot" about being pregnant, think of the harmful things we might do! Worrying keeps us from doing them.

3) DISTRACT, DISTRACT, DISTRACT. I normally love good literature, but when I'm worrying, cheap grocery store novels are my friend. As is nesting (can't worry too much if I can start obsessing over whether the linen closet looks like something out of Martha Stewart!) Find something constructive to channel that worry/obsession into until you can get a handle on it again.

Also, sometimes a good cry is the best release there is.

Hang in there!

[Marvelleaux]

Originally Posted by ChristineIndy

First off,

According to everything I've read/heard, this sort of worrying is so totally normal for the third trimester, it's not even funny. I, too, had a m/c before conceiving this babe, and I know that going through that has made me much more worried and sensitive than I would have been otherwise.

The three things I do to reassure myself are: 1) Think about the vast number of babies who are born full-term and healthy, even in spite of their mothers not taking nearly the sort of care of themselves/baby that I am

2) Remind myself that hormonal worrying jags are natures way of ensuring that I continue to take good care of myself and my baby while I'm pregnant - if, evolutionarily, we "forgot" about being pregnant, think of the harmful things we might do! Worrying keeps us from doing them.

3) DISTRACT, DISTRACT, DISTRACT. I normally love good literature, but when I'm worrying, cheap grocery store novels are my friend. As is nesting (can't worry too much if I can start obsessing over whether the linen closet looks like something out of Martha Stewart!) Find something constructive to channel that worry/obsession into until you can get a handle on it again.

Also, sometimes a good cry is the best release there is.

Hang in there!

Wombat, thanks for posting about this. Christine, Thanks for responding with sound wisdom. The same issue has been on my mind and I've been feeling a little embarrassed about it.

[mommamin]

Originally Posted by Shell_Ell

I'm going to whine too. LOL

I'm sick! I was sick overnight last night (throwing up) and I've suddenly now developed this terrible cold.

The baby is kicking REALLY HARD lately. He's definately not little anymore.

My left side is producing colostrum. My right side (which is the only side I really nurse off of) still makes a bit of breastmilk. Weird huh?

Hope you are feeling better!

That is weird that one is still making milk and the other colstrum!

I wonder if I am doing that...but DD's poop has changed and is a bit more yellowish...gross I know but I figured it is from the colostrum.

[wombatclay]

Thanks! I know it's not something I have any control over, and normally I just shrug it off, but the other night the subject sort of ganged up on me!\

I had my GD test today (they'll call if there's a problem) and my 28 week appointment. I told them I don't really have the time for every other week appointments so we "compromised" on every three weeks. And I got my pre-reg papers today for the hospital so it's starting to feel really close now.

It rained most of the day but at least the weather is staying warm and we've been able to have the windows open. I don't know if it's nesting or just plain old spring cleaning but I really want to get things done and spiffy the house up. I know we may be moving soon (or at least putting the house on the market) so that is part of the "urgency" I feel, but I'm sure the hormones and spring sun are helping it along.

[Jilian]

Wombat, I've been worrying about that too. In the past few weeks I've stumbled upon several stillbirth threads here at MDC and I cannot help but to read them. My heart breaks for these mamas and I often wonder if I'm being naive to think that it cannot happen to me. I also had a m/c 2 mos before getting pregnant this time. Then that leads me to worrying about having a HB and opens up a whole can of worms. Sometimes I wish I could just fast forward to the end of pregnancy when I have a healthy baby in my arms.