August Mama's...thread number 4

[MamaSoleil]

Hey there, the other one was getting LONG!!! :LOL

Peace,

Mamasoleil

[Yin Yang]

OK, good to know..........
I was going to ask you all.......is it really necessary to have a breast pump? Can I wait until the baby is born and see if I will need it at all or it better to buy it anyway?

[MamaSoleil]

Pavlina~I would wait, and see if you need one. JMHO though. I'm going to wait.

Mamasoleil

[Wooby]

I would wait to purchase a breast pump. I am still nursing my 25 month dd and never used one. If you do get engorged (I did) you can hand express or borrow a friend's. Best, though is just to put that babe to the breast round the clock!:bf

It is such a big purchase... If you do decide you need one ebay is a super option.

[Yin Yang]

Originally posted by Wooby
I would wait to purchase a breast pump. I am still nursing my 25 month dd and never used one. If you do get engorged (I did) you can hand express or borrow a friend's. Best, though is just to put that babe to the breast round the clock!:bf

It is such a big purchase... If you do decide you need one ebay is a super option.

That is the reason I was asking, because it is very expencive. Thank you though! I will wait, don't have a choice anyway.

[kaje62]

gbs was negative, bp is still up, non stress went well today, having another on friday and an ultrasound monday, blood work drawn again today, monitor, monitor, monitor

meeting with my doula tonite, gotta finalize that birth plan

[Colorful~Mama]

hey

kaje62 - congrats on the negative gbs. i got my negative today too. woohoo!
mamasoleil the only reason i did the gbs is that my ped doesn't have privs at the hospital where i am birthing (unfortunately dh is way too traumatized to home birth and the birthing center won't do me after 2 cesarean births). so my midwife let me know that without my own ped, the ped on call will try to hold me and baby longer if i declined the gbs. this way i may get out of the hospital pretty quickly

and breast pumps. never owned /used one with either of the girls. This time i may get one to try - my sister swears by the avent isis manual. those are like $40 i think new and she says most comfortable one she's tried. dh wants me to consider pumping on occasion so he and my 13yo can help when i get a bit frazzled during growth spurts

[kaje62]

i got the purely yours by ameda and it can be sold and shared when you get new tubing

i recommend before you buy used check out the medela website etc. there are so many that should not be shared including the medela pump n style

[birdwomyn]

Hey mamas...

Going to the hospital orientation/tour in a little while. I am going to do my best to keep my chin up and stay optimistic... this hospital is the only one my Dr delivers in and so we really don't have a choice since we really like and trust the Dr.

My GBS test came back negative, too.... YIPPEE!!!! My feet and ankles are still pretty swollen, but my legs are better. I spill protein off and on.... and my b/p is still not so great.

I am starting to feel like my hips are splitting open to make way for Sam to come -- it hurts so bad sometimes!!!!

Mamasoliel -- I am sending you tons of baby stay in there vibes from now through Friday.... it sounds like you have tiny babies -- are you scared at all about the boy being so small???? Big babies run in my family and I appear to be carrying a big boy, too -- I think I would freak with a baby smaller than 7 or 8 lbs! Most of my nieces and nephews have been in the 9-10 lb range at birth...

I join all of you other mamas in thinking that I probably won't make it until my due date -- and then I go read the July mamas thread and listen to all of them who are overdue and I know that some of us are gonna end up in their shoes -- OVERDUE -- and of course, I just KNOW it won't be me!!! LOL.....

Is there a line to stand in to sign up for an early deliver?? If so, point me in that direction!!!!!

Opps, DP should be here to go to the hospital tour any minute, gotta go change!!!

later~!

kathy

[MamaSoleil]

it sounds like you have tiny babies -- are you scared at all about the boy being so small????

If this was my first, I might be worried. but Soleil was small too, and completely healthy and developped. Size isn't everything
Seriously though, Soleil is in the higher percentile for her height and she's strong and healthy...my babies just grow grow grow on my bm, rather than in my belly for some reason!

Kaje, congrats on your GBS also being negative!!! And Byrdwomyn too!!!
CM~I tested for GBS last time, I fully understand your reasons for swabbing, if it means getting out of the hospital quicker than great!!!!

I know, the July mamas are spilling into August mama's, are we then going to spill over into September mama's????

Hope not, here's to delivering a little early, or not a day past our due dates~~~~

Mamasoleil

[Sharon]

I just got a call from my little bro...he's going to be in town next week for a couple days/week. YAY. One more reason to hope for an early-ish baby! All my family lives far away, so it would be really cool if the baby decided to come while he was here. I'm jealous that all of dh's family lives within 2 hours. I wonder how my bro would react to me in labor! heehee. (He's 20)

[Luckymomma]

Congratulations to all the negative gbs'ers out there! Colorful Mama and Kaje62, it's an extra load off when going for a vbac, isn't it? (not to leave out any vbac'ers, I just knew you two off the top of my head.) I'm at 37wk4days, and now that it's safe to go at anytime, I have tremendous fear that it isn't going to happen for another month It's possible.

I got a speeding ticket today. I'm so incredibley bummed We just bought a new car about two weeks ago, and it drives so smooth compared to our old beater that I was over. I noticed and was slowing down, but the bugger had already decided to ruin my day. Geez. Giving a 9 month pregnant woman a $100 ticket. What ever happened to giving a warning? I suppose in the grand scheme of things, this is nothing, but it sure has ruined my day. I know I was wrong, but 99.9% of the time, I'm a perfect citizen. I do volunteer work, I help old ladies reach things at the grocery store(I think they think I work there ), but one momentary lapse of concentration, and... poo. Sorry. I'm not catholic, and have nowhere to go for confession. I guess if anyone wants to say, "hey, forget about it, it's no big deal", I'd really like that. Thanks for listening.

[Sharon]

Luckymomma, I guess today wasn't your lucky day, huh? If it makes you feel better, I had my car towed a couple weeks ago. That was $120 for towing and $38 parking ticket. Parking by my office sucks and I work from home most of the time so I usually just stop by the office for meetings or to pick up/drop off something quickly. Well, one day I just got sucked into a project and COMPLETELY lost track of time. The place that I had parked was only free until 4:00pm. I looked at my watch at 4:45 when someone was leaving for the day! I was SO mad. To make it worse, I had remembered earlier that it was Friday and the dentist office in our building is closed on Friday and they've told us we can use their reserved places...so I ALMOST moved the car, but figured I wouldn't be there long enough for it to matter. Some days are like that, aren't they!?

[Luckymomma]

Yup. They certainly are. Time for me to quite being so myopic and realize that. Thanks Sharon.

[Chanley]

I will be 35 weeks on Wed and I swear I am beginning to dialate.
The midwife will be checking me Wednesday.

The Braxton Hicks are getting SO strong. I really hope that I go in about 2 weeks but we have a b-day party planned for my dd on Aug 9th. *sigh* and there is so much left on my to-do list.

Why oh why cant I be as carefree as I was with the last pregnancy, all i had to focus on was being pregnant. it just seems like life is so much more complicated now.

[kaje62]

i know i will not spill into September maybe in July.

oh luckymama i am sorry you were not so lucky today!!!

Glad so many negative test results today. I heard women often test positive in the summer. We are proving them wrong.

Mind if I post my VBAC birth plan. here goes. would love your input.

Birth Plan for Kathy Jo, Jerome and Baby #2 Peterson (Due Date: 8.8.03)

We wish to share our hopes for the birth of our baby with the staff of Fairview University hospital. These decisions have been made after much research, consultation and thought. Your help in attaining these goals is very much appreciated. We understand that birth is unpredictable and trust in the expertise of the Midwives of University Specialists and nurses. You can be assured that in the unlikely event of complications, our full cooperation will be rendered after an informed discussion with the midwives has taken place and we have had adequate time for private discussion. We hope to birth our baby as safely and naturally as possible without medical interventions unless the benefits outweigh the risks. I understand that final decisions will be discussed and agreed upon in the delivery room with Kathy’s well-being and the safe birth of our baby as the most important considerations.

About us:
•Second baby (Charles Andrew - March 19, 2001)
•Miscarriage, 2000.
•Kathy is a WAHM whose primary focus is Charlie. She does some grant writing, marketing and selling on EBAY from home.
•Jerry is a painting contractor and owns his own business. He will take at least a week off after the baby is born.
•We are committed to as natural of a birth as possible.
•Kathy is the oldest of five and Jerry is the oldest of three.
•We have chosen Angelyn Rosemarie, (our mother’s Angela and Lynda) and Edward John (Kathy’s brother and Jerry’s father).

Our labor and delivery preferences:
•Labor companions will include doula Carrie Dunbar (and/or backup, Sarah Biermeyer) and possibly, Christa Bauman, friend and photographer. Jerry will be present at all times.
•Plan to use tub for comfort, prefer room (462 & 460) with larger tubs as she’s a bigger woman.
•Kathy prefers the room to be dimly lit, calm and quiet. We will provide our own music. She requests to not be interrupted during contractions.
•Kathy prefers to not have residents or students during labor and delivery.
•Vaginal exams only upon consent, as few and as gently as possible to avoid premature rupture of membranes.
•Kathy hopes to change positions when need be, walk around as much as possible, squat, be on all fours, use tub, shower, etc. (prefer not to have bed broken apart)
•Since mobility is important, Kathy would like Intermittent Monitoring for as long as possible. During active labor she would like a waterproof telemetry for monitoring.
•Wish to not have constant fetal monitoring, which will impair her movement and may stall labor which would cause more interventions.
•Kathy may wish to drink tea and juice and have Popsicles that she will provide for nausea or exhaustion. She may also wish light snacks during the first stage of labor.
•Please do not offer pain medication. We hope to avoid the use of all medication.
•If she needs an IV, she prefers heparin or a saline lock.
•When she is fully dilated, she will trust her body's instincts to push the baby out naturally. She would like to feel the urge to push before starting this phase.
•Kathy prefers to not be coached in pushing or contractions, except during crowning she welcomes staff coaching and assistance for slow, natural pushes to avoid tearing.
•As long the baby's heart tones are good and that the baby is receiving sufficient oxygen, she would like to be free of time limits on pushing.
•She prefers perineal massage with oil by midwives and hot compresses by her doula or Jerry rather than episiotomy. Kathy would rather tear a bit than an episiotomy.
•Kathy prefers to not have artificial rupture of membranes.
•Jerry will announce gender and will place baby skin-to-skin on Kathy, immediately following the birth with cord attached and he will cut the cord after pulsing stops.
•Please do not wipe the baby’s hands.
•Kathy would like to breastfeed immediately, or shortly following the birth.
•It is our hope that this will be sufficient to control bleeding, as Kathy prefer’s not to receive pitocin, uterine massage or pulling on the cord unless bleeding is excessive.
•Please delay all routine exams and procedures and perform in mother’s room; weighing, vitamin k, antibiotic eye ointment, etc. until at least one hour after the birth to allow time for bonding.
•To protect the baby’s eyes, please no bright lights during bonding.
•If warming required, mother will hold baby on chest with blankets.
•Mother or father will bathe new baby in the tub with them.
•If there are complications during or after labor, we prefer to be informed immediately. If the baby needs to be taken from the room, Jerry will go with the baby and doula will stay with Kathy.
•If stitching of perineum necessary, please use local anesthetic.
•Kathy and Jerry ask that the baby not receive sugar water, formula, water or pacifier.
•Newborn to stay with parents at all times, not in the nursery, please.
•If baby is a boy, no circumcision.
•We would like all phone calls held until we inform staff we are ready for phone calls.
•Jerry to stay over with mother for first night, prefer double bed.

C-Section:
•If Kathy has c-section, she prefers a spinal if time permits and wishes for Jerry and Doula to be present in the operating room.
•Kathy and Jerry prefer to hold baby immediately after c-section if baby is doing well and baby to stay with parents for first feeding, breast feeding.
•Delay all routine procedures until after.
•Please remove IV and catheter as soon as possible following baby’s birth.

We thank you in advance for your support and kind attention to our choices. We look forward to a wonderful birth.

[Chanley]

Kathy-Jo,

i was told when I did my plan for my dd's birth to leave out the personal stuff. I was told to keep it as short as possible so that in the event of an emergency, the nurses could read it all very quickly.

So I had the OB and the Ped sign off on everything and stuff that was procedure, I took out.

I was told to keep it at one page for easy reference.

Hope this helps some!

[Wooby]

Lucky mama,

I can't believe you were given a ticket, not a warning. Could we be any more obviously pregnant at this stage?:

Kaje, you have obviously put alot of time and research into your birth wishes. (Such as indicating which rooms you want to use for their nice birth tubs.) Good for you for being so informed. I agree with, Chanley, though. I was also told (for dd's birth) to keep my birth plan short and sweet because the odds were GREAT that it would be scanned, not read . I hope that your hospital staff is more considerate than mine, and they probably are! :

Chanley, I think our due dates are very close. I am due Aug. 31 my midwives think I will birth earlier than that. I am also having TONS of great BH contrax daily. I would love to know if there are certain indications to dilation that you are aware of? Is it your intuition that tells you dilation is likely happening or something else? It would be great to be a bit dilated this time going into labor instead of the fingertip dilated I was with dd on birth day!

Mamasoleil,
Don't even joke about us being Sept. mamas! Although, with my late Aug. dd it is sure a possibility! I just can't imagine that I can get any bigger, any more tired, or any less mobile?

[MamaSoleil]

Sorry about the bad September joke...
It's getting harder and harder for me to walk, and roll around in bed, and get comfortable and yadda yadda...i could go on. But, I love my belly. I love feeling him move around, and if this is my last pg, I want to enjoy every moment, I just wish the damn pubic pain would GO AWAY! Everything else, I can deal with.
Luckymama~Some cops can be such as***, sorry you got the bad one!!!
Chanley, I know, it's not as easy, but you are doing great, you'll be able to do that bday party no problem...I thought I was going to be in the hospital for Soleil's party, but I was there!

Mamasoleil

[mamabeard]

oh my

you are all so organized!!

all i know is.. i want a home birth. i want everything to go smoothly. i want no drugs, no interventions. i guess i should make a plan, tho. and pack a bag just in case. i've washed all my newborn cloz..

but my main goals seem to be in organizing my home and resources before i'm too overwhelmed for all that. yikes.. better get on the ball.

and actually, i myself hope i go until late august, even tho i am verrrry uncomfortable (sitting, and in bed especially). reason is because it is damn hot in my apt and i've no air conditioner. it's always in the 30s here (90s in the states i think), and my apt is the same, minus the occasional breeze. i don't think it would be good for my sanity to be sleep deprived in this kinda heat. so mamasoleil, you keep your bring on the baby dust to yourself, thankyou!


glad everyone seems to be doing well.. stay so!