~~*~~August 13 Weekly Thread~~*~~ - Page 3

[QueenOfThePride]

Kelly, you should post in the pets forum. There are lots of experienced pet owners there. Maybe your dog needs a different kind of shampoo and more thorough rinsing.

[dctexan]

Kelly - I say have DH take your pup to the vet and get some prescription shampoo. When I was growing up our dog kept geting hot spots (so gross BTW) that we eventually got under control by using a special allergy shampoo (I don't think it was REALLY an allergy shampoo - but it has something in it that calmed her skin) AND by changing her diet (turns out she was allergic to Pedigree).

QOTP - Sorry the babe isn't in a good position for a membrane stripping - but how cool is it that your midwife was honest with you! I suspect a lot of other practioners would have done ahead and stripped you, even if it wasn't going to do anything (except hurt). Please trust your little one and your body to work together when the time is right.

Question for those getting VEs? Do they hurt? What is the point? So far I have been declining because I am scared of the pain (things are tender enough down there, thank you very much) and because I wasn't really sure how much useful info I would get.

[QueenOfThePride]

Originally Posted by dctexan

Question for those getting VEs? Do they hurt? What is the point? So far I have been declining because I am scared of the pain (things are tender enough down there, thank you very much) and because I wasn't really sure how much useful info I would get.

VEs do hurt, but it's not that bad. I wanted to get one today specifically to try to stir things up. Maybe not a popular choice here on MDC, but hey, I'm 40w2d and I'm ready. Knowing how dilated you are doesn't tell you how soon your labor will start, so I guess it's sort of pointless for that kind of info. If you knew you were getting induced though, it could tell you how ready your body is and therefore how likely an induction would be successful.

[ashleep]

Emily, I only decided at the last minute to get one at all. Purely for curiosity's sake. I had one at 39 wks w/ dd and found out I was 3 cm. I went into labor the next day with the idea that if it was long and hard, I had gotten 3 'free' cm. It made me feel better.


So this time I thought all along I would say no thanks. It will not tell you anything about when labor will start, or how long it will last, etc. But I was just very curious. Turns out I'm almost 3cm at 39 wks (just like before, oddly).

My long winded point is...You can go from no dilation to complete in a matter of hours, or start labor at 4+cm and take a whole day to get to 10. I just like to know.


ETA: cross posted w/ QOTP. I find them slightly uncomfortable, but not painful.

[artgirl]

thanks for all the replies about my stinky dog.

She's been to the vet, is on antibiotics and healing pretty well now... BUT you're right... still stinky. We've tried several shampoos... conditioning, anti-fungal, prescription, etc. My dh has even tried blow drying her. Sometimes I wonder if it's not actually stress induced or something. The vet also actually gave us some steroid spray, some drying wipes to wipe off the itchy area and shaved her neck where the hot spots are. : Although... we haven't investigated her diet???? hmmmm......

She will have to be washed before the baby is born. I can not handle the smell. I'll just keep my fingers crossed that the hot spots don't flair back up.

[Vaquitita]

Originally Posted by ashleep

So this time I thought all along I would say no thanks. It will not tell you anything about when labor will start, or how long it will last, etc. But I was just very curious.

This was me too. I didn't think I would get one, but then was very curious if all the ctx I was having were doing anything. I didn't have bh with ds. But I was the same at 39 weeks with ds as I was at 39 weeks this time -very ripe and some effaced (my midwife doesn't really give numbers) and not dilated at all. I still hope that my labor will go faster, with ds it took 18 hours to get to 1cm and another 18 hours before he was born (I didn't have any VE's inbetween the first after 18 hours and the second when I was ready to push).

My VE didn't hurt. It isn't fun certainly, but not painful. I didn't experience any pain or bleeding or even increased ctx afterwards.

[Twinklefae]

I'm getting so frustrated and jealous of all the people who have had their babies already! I'm not even officially due yet, (tomorrow) but this stupid rash is ruining the end of my pregnancy. :

It's awful right now, it covers my whole belly (every single sretch mark and I've got a lot) halfway down my thighs all around, my knees and calves and the tops of my feet. I'm planning my whole life around things that make me less itchy!

I'm trying to look on the bright side, I haven't really had any major problems at all this pregnancy (not even bad morning sickness) and was kind of worried that something would go wrong with the birth because, Murphy's law something had to wrong eventually. If this is it, it's not awful. (vs. say, a c-section or somethng) But still.

I guess I don't really have anything to say, I'm just venting. And scratching. Send me some labour vibes ladies, I"m so ready to be done with this!

ETA: At least DF is now taking this seriously, and has been fantastic! I love that man!

[Vaquitita]

Originally Posted by Vaquitita

I was the same at 39 weeks with ds as I was at 39 weeks this time -very ripe and some effaced (my midwife doesn't really give numbers) and not dilated at all. I still hope that my labor will go faster, with ds it took 18 hours to get to 1cm and another 18 hours before he was born (I didn't have any VE's inbetween the first after 18 hours and the second when I was ready to push).

I was thinking about this, that my cervix is the same this preg as last preg, I guess this means that the EPO I've been taking for weeks has had no effect. Also, the fact that dh and I have dtd much less this preg hasn't had any effect (only like once a week for the last couple months vs. my preg with ds I was very amorous).

Hmm, also realize I can't count. It took 8 hours of mildish but frequent back labor to get to 1cm. Then 12 hours of mild ctx every 10-20 min. Then it picked back up and ds was born 16 hours later. The 20 hours of early labor seems (in retrospect) to have been getting ds in a good position, since when labor picked back up the second night I no longer had back pain. So I'm trying to get this baby in a good position now. Though she moves around so much, she won't stay in a good position, but hopefully that also means she will easily move into a good position when labor does start. Whereas ds stayed in one spot for 3-4 months prior to his birth, I guess I should have known he was going to be stubborn!

[dantesmama]

Ack, I still have to update my siggy!

Jasper is a week old now, and things have been going well. He's a natural nurser, which is a huge relief after 2 initial months of struggling to get the hang of nursing my first son! Here's to hoping we can skip the thrush and mastitis this time. His cord stump fell off last night, and yesterday he got back up to his birth weight after losing 10 oz before my milk came in. Today he gained another ounce, up to 8lbs 10oz, which is exciting.

And then there's me. Can I vent? Emotionally, I'm great, no baby blues or hormonal issues, but I wasn't prepared for how much harder recovery can be for #2. My abs were stretched so much that they're still like jello. My back is constantly sore because my abs can't properly support it, and I have a rather impressive belly pooch. I developed PUPPS at the very end of my pregnancy, and now most of my lower belly still has this thick, red, bumpy, insanely itchy rashy patch. The itch isn't as tortuous as it was a few days ago but it's still pretty bad. I guess I'm lucky it hasn't spread elsewhere - I just pray that it goes away soon and that my skin doesn't stay disfigured. Seriously, it looks like I was burned or something. *shudders* And then there's my perineum . . . after I had Jasper, I never really checked for tearing because I didn't have much pain at all, just a little tenderness. I figured I had a skid mark or two, at the most . . . well, I actually checked the other day, and wouldn't you know . . . my old episiotomy opened up! I still don't have any pain, just a little discomfort, which I think is mostly psychological. But I don't know how long it's going to take for this to heal. It looks like it's healing pretty well on its own, but I'm not exactly poking around there to get a really good look. So it's making me paranoid.

I wasn't prepared for this after such an easy pregnancy and birth!

[mama2walden&luna]

Things here are going ok. Luna is a great sleeper and nurser, which is awesome, and Walden is helping me with overflow/engorgement. No complaints from her in that department. Although, we are definitely having some issues with her trying to adjust to not being the center of Mommy's world. The poor kid is beside herself. She's gotten very very contrary and does the opposite of EVERYTHING I say. She's hitting DH a lot and just being generally aggressive and stubborn. I know it's because she's confused. We tried to prepare her for the baby by talking about it, letting her feel kicks and hiccups, playing with dolls, drawing pictures. But I guess the reality of it is like a big slap in the face for her. Having DH, my mom and my sister alternately taking care of her for the first week and a half hasn't helped like I thought it would. None of them know our routine, or don't follow it when I tell them and that has thrown her off. She's acting like she's angry with me as well. It's been rough. Today I actually had the energy to play with her a little in the evening, first time since Luna was born, and it seemed to help. Then I had DH walk Luna to sleep while I nursed Walden down, I think that helped as well. I feel so bad for her, it's always been her and me 24/7 since she was born. Sometime in the next couple of days I'm going to make her some pancakes and let her help. I keep trying to think of special things we can do together. It's hard dividing my attention with two kids, I hope I get better at it. Any advice from more experienced mamas?

[lyttlewon]

Originally Posted by artgirl

thanks for all the replies about my stinky dog.

She's been to the vet, is on antibiotics and healing pretty well now... BUT you're right... still stinky. We've tried several shampoos... conditioning, anti-fungal, prescription, etc. My dh has even tried blow drying her. Sometimes I wonder if it's not actually stress induced or something. The vet also actually gave us some steroid spray, some drying wipes to wipe off the itchy area and shaved her neck where the hot spots are. : Although... we haven't investigated her diet???? hmmmm......

She will have to be washed before the baby is born. I can not handle the smell. I'll just keep my fingers crossed that the hot spots don't flair back up.

We had a dog with skin problems and we started putting garlic oil on his food. We bought it from a pet store. I don't remember the brand. It really helped him.

[lyttlewon]

Originally Posted by walden's momma

Things here are going ok. Luna is a great sleeper and nurser, which is awesome, and Walden is helping me with overflow/engorgement. No complaints from her in that department. Although, we are definitely having some issues with her trying to adjust to not being the center of Mommy's world. The poor kid is beside herself. She's gotten very very contrary and does the opposite of EVERYTHING I say. She's hitting DH a lot and just being generally aggressive and stubborn. I know it's because she's confused. We tried to prepare her for the baby by talking about it, letting her feel kicks and hiccups, playing with dolls, drawing pictures. But I guess the reality of it is like a big slap in the face for her. Having DH, my mom and my sister alternately taking care of her for the first week and a half hasn't helped like I thought it would. None of them know our routine, or don't follow it when I tell them and that has thrown her off. She's acting like she's angry with me as well. It's been rough. Today I actually had the energy to play with her a little in the evening, first time since Luna was born, and it seemed to help. Then I had DH walk Luna to sleep while I nursed Walden down, I think that helped as well. I feel so bad for her, it's always been her and me 24/7 since she was born. Sometime in the next couple of days I'm going to make her some pancakes and let her help. I keep trying to think of special things we can do together. It's hard dividing my attention with two kids, I hope I get better at it. Any advice from more experienced mamas?

We are experencing a little of this as well. Mostly the not listening. I have been trying to get her to cuddle with me more. If the baby is nursing I have been asking her to sit by me. Part of it is she realizes I won't get up off the couch if I am holding the baby so I have been getting up more often even though it is a little hard to stand up. Plus I have had a couple of play dates with her friends so it takes her mind off of me and the baby 24x7.

[mamamoo]

Originally Posted by lyttlewon

We are experencing a little of this as well. Mostly the not listening. I have been trying to get her to cuddle with me more. If the baby is nursing I have been asking her to sit by me. Part of it is she realizes I won't get up off the couch if I am holding the baby so I have been getting up more often even though it is a little hard to stand up. Plus I have had a couple of play dates with her friends so it takes her mind off of me and the baby 24x7.

this has been happening here too...they know I can't jump up right away to see what's going on and are fighting more. violet actually told me to get away from her today when I was trying to get her to sleep(which has sucked!! she's been staying up til midnight or 1 am lately which makes it hell on everyone, she seems wired, it's weird). the baby is pretty easy though, sleeps good, eats good, she has a rash though, i'd bet it's something i'm eating, but what? either that or it's because she has poo every half hour, just a tiny bit.

we went to two park days today just to get out of the house and so I could let them run and not make any more messes in the house.
I'm exhausted, but vi fell asleep by 9, yay!!