Weekly Thread April 2 - 8 - Page 3

[Jilian]

The scariest part is that although we have 8 weeks left, we will technically be considered "term" in 5 weeks I'm trying not to think that way because I'd rather plan on going the full 40 weeks (maybe even 42). But I want to make sure I have everything ready for "term" not due date.

[Marvelleaux]

Originally Posted by Jilian

The scariest part is that although we have 8 weeks left, we will technically be considered "term" in 5 weeks I'm trying not to think that way because I'd rather plan on going the full 40 weeks (maybe even 42). But I want to make sure I have everything ready for "term" not due date.

Yeah. I'm with ya, sista!

[Robbins0614]

Originally Posted by Jilian

The scariest part is that although we have 8 weeks left, we will technically be considered "term" in 5 weeks I'm trying not to think that way because I'd rather plan on going the full 40 weeks (maybe even 42). But I want to make sure I have everything ready for "term" not due date.

That almost gave me a panic attack the other day!! I was taking a bath when it hit me and I nearly keeled over right there!

[brookibabe]

Originally Posted by rock_dr

brookibabe - what wrap did you get? I still cannot decide...

I decided to go with the Moby wrap. There are so many out there, it is hard chosing one.

[mataji4]

Oh, see, I LOVE that I could technically have this baby in about 6 weeks!!! The way I am feeling, 9 weeks is just too long of a timeframe and I get sort of freaked out thinking of having to feel like this til then! Though, I must say, my theory about readjusting to new growth might be correct, as I'm feeling much more "normal" today.

I got the moby wrap, too. I tried it on and put my daughter's doll in it! It seems like it will work much better without the belly in the way! But it was really easy to wrap, once I got over how LONG the thing is, and seems like it'll be comfy. Hot, maybe, but everything is hot here this summer no matter what!

Marvelleaux- my shower is the 28th too!!

[vannienicole]

**

[WhiteWax]

I told DexP I was 8 months now (but maybe that's really next week... hmmm)

He asked if I was ready...

I said "NO"

He asked if I was nervous...

I said "Yes"

He asked if I was scared...

I said "Yes"

He asked if I still wanted him in delivery...

I said I didn't know.... I dont know what to do about this. My thought is, when I am in pain, he is ALL I'll want... But I'm sacred of where he'll be when I call him (ie: out with girlfriend). I'm scared too that having him there will amplifiey Post partum depression by not having him there after... But I dont want him to miss the birth of his second child. WHAT DO I DO????

Does anyone have ALLLLL the answers for me ? I'd really appreciate it!

[WhiteWax]

another question....

I have midwife appointment tomorrow... the first that he has wanted to come to other than the ultrasound. I have to explain to my midwife why I have lost so much weight, how stressed I am and how worried I am about the babies because of the stress and food issues right now...

SO.... do I ask him to leave the room while I explain that part?

or do I just say it all infront of him... I dont want him to think that I'm trying to make him feel bad or guilty or anything but my Midwife needs to know what's going with me.... what do you guys think I should do?

[Jilian]

I think you should say it right in front of him. He doesn't need to be protected from your hurt, HE is the one who made you feel this way and it's time he owns up to some of that. Don't take his feelings into consideration, he isn't really taking your feelings into consideration. And you don't owe him anything, so if you don't want him to be there for the birth then don't have him there. Unresolved feelings can slow or stall a labor completely. Wait until you are in labor to decide if you want him there or not. Birth is a vulnerable time, you deserve to be surrounded by people who love and care about you.

[wombatclay]

I agree with Jilian...emotional concerns can play a big role in how a birth progresses, and although he may be the first thing that comes to mind when you're in pain...well, it may not be the best thing for your birth to have him there. Somewhere in the back of you mind there could be a moment of "as long as I'm in labor he's here with me"...and that is NOT the voice/goal you need in your head while bringing your babe into the world.

If he does come to the midwife meeting with you then I'd suggest doing whatever you feel comfortable with at the time. If you think you wont be as open and candid with the midwife with him there, then ask him to leave! And maybe ask yourself why he wants to come, or why you want him to come. Of course, he's your baby's father and has an important part to play...but the situation is still so raw for you that again, you need to think of yourself and your health (physical, emotional, mental) so that you can heal and support your babe. You want your midwife to know what is going on...so if you think that will be easier without him in the room that is totally YOUR RIGHT.

I know this totally stinks, and I wish there was some way we could lift some of this off you...but hang in there. At the very end this is YOUR birth and you deserve support and love and encouragement without strings or second thoughts.

Edited to add- I almost forgot, but check out Penny Simkin's The Labor Progress Handbook if your library has a copy...it's got great suggestions for addressing the emotional/mental root of "stalls" during birth and for figuring out when a labor moment is due to a physical issue and when it's an emotional issue. And of course Birthing From Within has a lot of supportive ideas for mamas who find their birthing time is less peaceful/smooth than their dreams.

[wombatclay]

One another note entirely...

I had a visit with my care provider today (the husband half of the husband/wife team this visit...they alternate) and he actually suggested EPO and other holistic induction ideas for possible use later on! Including hypnosis, acupuncture, and PN6 (an herbal formula) My first babe went to 42+ weeks and since this is a VBAC they would all love it if I gave birth a bit sooner than that...they don't induce VBAC mamas of course, but they've said things about keeping their fingers crossed. And I certainly wouldn't mind being a touch early!

but still, I thought it was neat that they are so totally "crunchy".

On the down side, my ever so crunchy community is going through a birth option crisis. My two current OBs, the two family practice docs I used last birth, and two of the 4 midwives who have hospital privledges...have all lost their hospital birth privledges as of July 2007! So I got in under the wire so to speak. Anyway, there is a big public meeting later this month to discuss what happened and why and what to do now...but basically the list of available providers who can use the hospital is now down to something like 11 (of which only 4, two MDs and 2 midwives, are women...and only two of them have actually had kids of their own!). It's really sad and hopefully there will be some sort of positive resolution since this whole region really prides itself on being natural/crunchy/progressive/holistic and so forth.

On a more up note...according to the OB office I'm 31 weeks one day now (though I've been counting the weeks from Friday to give myself more of a "I'm not late" cushion). So while full term may be 9 weeks away (and with my record, birth could be 11 weeks away), I'm in the "maybe 6 week" club too! Ack! That seems sooooooooo soon!

[willoLevin]

I can't be the only who's been wondering, who will be the first to have her baby in our DDC?

Probably not me--I'm due at the end of the month.

But I peeked over at both May and April DDCs yesterday. Interestingly, no one in May had had her baby yet (and many of them were hitting 36 weeks already), while April had its first baby in January (still in NICU--prayers for that family!) and several more in February.

Is it rude of me to be getting so interested in this question already? At least, now that we are all 28+ weeks, I feel like it isn't so dangerous anymore...

--willo
(who is not at all ready to have her baby yet, but fascinated by the thought of someone else from June DDC doing it soon! : )

[Jilian]

I keep thinking I will have this baby early, but I know I'm probably just setting myself up for a miserable time when I go overdue. I'm due June 4. I still have contractions here and there and my cervix is still about a fingertip dilated. I'm trying really hard not to psych myself up for a 37 week delivery, but it's hard with all of this PTL stuff.

Watch, now that I said all of that I'll be the LAST one in this DDC to deliver

[willoLevin]

Originally Posted by Jilian

I keep thinking I will have this baby early, but I know I'm probably just setting myself up for a miserable time when I go overdue. I'm due June 4. I still have contractions here and there and my cervix is still about a fingertip dilated. I'm trying really hard not to psych myself up for a 37 week delivery, but it's hard with all of this PTL stuff.

Watch, now that I said all of that I'll be the LAST one in this DDC to deliver

That would be impressive since you are due several weeks before some of us!

--willo

[Shell_Ell]

Jilian that actually happened to me with my first. LOL I had to be on meds until 36 weeks, and I thought for certain I'd go into labor right after that. So I had everything ready at 36 weeks. I didn't save even the smallest thing to get done. I delivered at 40w5d. : And yes, those last weeks sucked. I'm trying trying trying not to have expectations this time, but it's hard! I don't want to assume I'll go late and then not have everything ready, but I also don't want to have nothing to do for the last few weeks to keep my mind off of it.

[momtokay]

Originally Posted by Jilian

I keep thinking I will have this baby early, but I know I'm probably just setting myself up for a miserable time when I go overdue. I'm due June 4. I still have contractions here and there and my cervix is still about a fingertip dilated. I'm trying really hard not to psych myself up for a 37 week delivery, but it's hard with all of this PTL stuff.

Watch, now that I said all of that I'll be the LAST one in this DDC to deliver

For my whole second pg, I had this feeling that my DD2 was going to be a Pisces (silly since I'm not into astrology). She was born exactly three weeks early and was indeed a pisces though had she come a day later would not have been. I'm trying hard not to expect this little one at 37 weeks as well. DD1 was born at 38 weeks so I suppose it's possible I'll go a bit before my due date again. It is hard to be mentally prepared to hit your due date and possibly go two weeks over and at the same time to be ready three or even four weeks early. I definitely know where you are coming from!!

As a change of subject, I survived my 3-hour glucose test yesterday. I hate getting my blood drawn, but I must say that drinking 100 grams (that's like 2.5 colas) of sugar on an empty stomach made me feel so awful that the blood draws were the least of my worries. I almost passed out!! How embarassing!!!

Next week I hope to get the baby's "room" in order. Even though I know it'll be a long time until baby actually goes in there other than to get dressed or a diaper change, I still want it all ready to go before her arrival. Nesting is starting to kick in, which is fun as I didn't get that at all with DD2 and I couldn't do much about it with DD1 as we were remodeling our house while I was pg with her (pg insanity I tell you)!!

I'm 30 weeks today. Eek!! Time is flying!

[wombatclay]

Since my first went to 42+ weeks after literally months of "pre term labor scares" I'm REALLY trying not to get attached to the thought of an early babe. But it's just sooooooo tempting. Especially when my care provider started talking about it yesterday.

Like setting your clock ahead so that you wont be late...I've tried to tell myself this babe is coming later so I don't have that sort of letdown. But just like with the clock, my brain has caught on and now it keeps popping the "what if she does come at 37 weeks" scenario into my mind!

[jstar]

i started realizing in a few weeks i should pack a bag and wash baby clothes and be ready just in case. i went to almost 42w with my first....but should realize that may not happen with the 2nd. (hopefully won't happen)

[willoLevin]

I am just so lazy about all the preparations this time.

Seriously, I keep reading these posts with this vague, "Yeah, I oughta do that..." feelings, then I forget about it.

I think I had my hospital bag all packed by this point in my first pg. I had folders for each set of grandparents prepared with the hospital info and exactly what I expected from each of them in terms of helping out and whom they would call. I had a map to the hospital and all doctor info and a waterproof pad in each car.



Am I going to be ready for this one? Sheesh! (I keep telling myself I'm just so much MORE ready for this one, you know, but maybe I'm really lazy?!?)

--willo

[jstar]

i think with the first one you just have so much time. now i have a toddler to occupy me instead of thinking about stacking and restacking baby onsies

i don't know when i packed my bag last time. probably at 36 weeks or something.


ok here's my big dilemma: what do i want to WEAR for birthing? (serious consideration i know...) i'm birthing at hospital. i want the polka dot jammies from the gap. i'm ordering them in a M so they'll fit in my postpartum lazing around the house months. so they probably won't fit when i go into labor. last time i just wore the hospital gown. i should probably just wear the gown again. i got completely bloodied during birth. but something cuter might be nice for pictures as if i'm really going to look cute at that point



what are you going to wear hospital birthers????