Sept/Oct Mamas - Aug Thread - Getting ClosER! - Page 2

[kerikadi]

Hi there,
Are there other homebirthers due in September or October?
I am behind most of you in that I am just now 28 weeks and not due until the end of October, 12 more weeks to go
I have been pretty fortunately with this pregnancy, a couple of nose bleeds but not bad. My biggest complaint is that I feel like a have a pulled groin muscle, it's been uncomfortable for about a month and seems to get a little bit worse just about every day
I have a nursing 13.5 month old and am concerned about what she will be doing during the labor. I am hoping to go in the middle of the night and maybe she'll be asleep I can dream, can't I?
This is #4 for me and likely our last and I feel a bit guilty because I haven't been keeping a journal like I did last time - I really need to get on that. I also plan on having my picture taken professionally near the end

Keri

[Nik's Mommy]

I'm 32 weeks tomorrow!! Wahoo!!! I am so excited about seeing this little baby. The anticipation is killing me!!

The weather has cooled off a bit (but only a bit), and the a/c is fixed at work, so I'm feeling a bit better..... but still tired. I told HR my last day at work would be September 12th..... but now I sort of thinking it may be the 5th. I don't know if I could make it another week..... I guess we'll see. My manager said he would let me stop working whenever I felt I had to.

I pretty much have nothing ready. This is so not like me!! I finally got around to buying some small diaper wraps (I am selling all of the ones I used with ds, because they didn't work well for us.) I still have all the diapers, but still want to buy 3 or 4 or 6 small ME Sandy's and a couple AIOs. I need to sell my "not being used" diapers before I do that. I think I'll try and post them on e-bay tomorrow. I need to wash all the diapers and find the "baby" clothes and get those into the room as well. I have no idea where I will find the energy to get this done. Plus, I wanted to have some cute small diapers sewn for baby to come home in (and for the nurses to comment on)..... and I wanted to have the Halloween costumes sewn this month as well. AUGH!!! I think I'm in over my head.

[Hikaru]

Originally posted by dallaschildren
Can anyone dispute that ultimately no matter how a woman has her baby, as long as they are both healthy, it doesn't matter?

I wouldn't go that far but yes, a healthy mother and baby is certainly the goal. I had an unexpected c-section with Ds three years ago and was totally devastated that I didn't get to have this empowering natural birth. Finally told myself to Just get over myself since I was actually resenting the baby for not cooperating in **my** birth experience. Ridiculous, no? It was just my big fat ego, when really the birth was about giving my son the best start in the world, not about me!

That said, La Leche League says that a mother should be aware and actively involved in the birth experience, and that Mom and baby should be together "early and often" in order to promote successful breastfeeding. Along those lines, even a hospital birth with necessary interventions (and yes, sometimes interventions are necessary in spite of all our planning) can still be empowering.

[Anmarie]

Dallaschildren, you are right, ultimately it doesn't matter.

I'm telling that to myself today after receiving some distressing news yesterday. I found out I'm GBS+

I'm almost 36 weeks and have been planning a homebirth. Yesterday I thought for sure that meant I would have to have a hospital birth (which wouldn't be so terrible - its the 48 hours of observation in a "semi-private" room afterwards that depresses me). So today I've been reading everything I can get my hands on on GBS. I have an appt with my midwife this Thurs and my OB next Wed. Hopefully, between the three of us we can come up with a plan. I'm trying now to boost my immune system (Vit C and Echinacea) and am looking into other homeopathic remedies.

I feel like I'm being selfish still wanting a HB, but so much to me depends on a good beginning - with bonding, breastfeeding, etc.

Can I put in a plea for good thoughts???? And if it comes down to having a hospital birth, help me to remain positive... Because ultimately it boils down to a healthy child.

[kerikadi]

I was GBS+ last time and it did not impact my labor/delivery at all. I had a home waterbirth. The plan my MW and I decided on was that IF my water broke, after a certain amount of time - I forget how long - we would administer antibiotics for 20 minutes every 6 hours. I wasn't keen on the possibility of an IV but tried not to worry. DD was born 10 minutes after my water broke so no abx at all. Also no internals.

Keri

[halah]

Keri I'm due right about the same time you are and also planning a home birth (my 2nd)

I remember last time I would get an awful cramp or sprain feeling in the right side of my groin, right where the leg joined the body on the inside, it made it difficult to walk. It usually coincided with B-H contrax. My baby was very low for the last month, don't know if it had something to do with it or if it's the same thing described as "round ligament pain". (It was painful, all right!)

As for the GBS+, my midwife recounted the same scenario and protocols if I turn out to test positive. I will put up with the possibility of IV antibiotics if it means staying at home and probably needing no interventions with it at all.
Anmarie, talk to your midwife and see if they will do the same for you at home.

[StarMama]

I'm planning a homebirth as well Keri! 34 weeks along today!

Anyone have GBS+ and is allergic to penicillin? I'm wondering what my midwives will do for me if I am (haven't found out yet) because I'm also allergic to erythomycin and emoxicillin, and some hospitals will use one or the other of those instead... so I have no clue what my midwives would have available... I'll have to ask them, but at my last appt I totally forgot...

I'm SO busy with appointments right now! I have to see my midwives every 2 weeks, and until I get all my labs, have to see Kaiser every 2 weeks as well. Then there are my 3x a week chiropractor appts (for upper back and neck issues), and then this sat is my baby shower, and the woman throwing it and I had words and she isn't doing it anymore, so I get to do it myself (I started a thread on it if anyone wants the juicy details)... and I'm gonna strangle the photographer who is supposed to do my pregnancy photos! She did our wedding photos, and they were beautiful, so we spoke in email, she said August is fine, but we haven't nailed down a day, and she doesn't answer her business line (I don't know if thats normal for her, I never contacted her by phone and know the photography is a 2nd job for her) and isn't replying to her emails. ARG! I don't have anyone else lined up to do it for the reasonable price she's going to do it, and I really LIKE how she does photos... Here's hoping I get ahold of her *soon*

[kerikadi]

Lisa,
I am also planning on getting some pg pics done but I haven't found a photographer yet - I need to get on that!

I was GBS+ last time. The agreement my MW and I came to was that a certain number of hours after my water broke I would receive abx for 20 minutes every 6 hours. Well, my water broke and DD was born 10 minutes later so it wasn't even an issue. We also didn't do any internals as that can increase risk. I thought I would want her to check me but I was so glad that she didn't feel that she needed to - I didn't want anyone anywhere near my cervix! I had a waterbirth, got in the water after my water broke.
I have not been tested for GBS yet but I expect if I am + again we will have the same plan, no big deal really.
I have not seen a dr. at all this pgy just my MW ever 4-5 weeks. I will start seeing my chiro again in September to start doing the Webster

Keri

[dallaschildren]

Hi All,

Anmarie...thank you...I'm sure all of us can agree that a healthy baby and mom are our ultimate goal whether we end up with a homebirth, waterbirth, hospital birth, or a C section.
The reason I asked was because of the unwanted militant sounding response/advice I received from Weesej on my post asking those what their pain experience was if they've had more than 1 C section. It made me feel bad, not to mention p*%&*$( off. I'm doing what I feel is best for my next child and although all of us dream of having an unmedicated uncomplicated natural birth where everyone ends up honkey dorey, that is not the reality for some mamas. And the kicker is weesej is an apprentice midwife......it is exactly her type of atttiude that will end up turning woman off to alternative birth choices.

Ok enough of that....

Last night I threw a party for 150 of my neighbors...I am the neighborhood crime watch chairwoman and it was National Night Out yesterday. It was 103 degrees and needless to say, my OB and family did NOT want me to partake in the soiree, but I was responsible and felt obligated to follow through. It turned out really well, I drank a ton of water, and sat down alot. My feet look like sausages, but hey...I always get swollen at this stage of pregnancy. My Group B test came back negative last week and we are scheduled for our last sono next week. All in all things are moving along, and I am still "nesting" a bit every day. If I can finish prepping his nursery, I will feel a lot better.

Thanks for letting me vent. Hope all of you are doing well and feeling excited....5 more weeks for me !!!! Yahoo!!!!!!
Have a great day!

[mamaley]

I'm 32 weeks now, and went to my mw appt today. I told her about some "symptoms" I've been having--lots of pelvic pressure, increased discharge, more BH that are a little painful, and it feels like the baby is REALLY low. So she felt around my belly and said she couldn't find the babies head, she was that low. So she then checked me, and baby is a -2 and I'm 1 cm. They put me on modified bedrest and told me to call if I have more than 4 contrax of any kind in one hour. I'm trying not to worry, but it's hard. The strange thing is, I've been having a strong feeling that this baby is going to come early, and I've had dreams about preterm babies.

[cobluegirl]

whoa didn't know you had started this new thread..I am not keeping up..glad someone posted about it in the last thread..or I wouldn't have figured it out..hehe..

I am 35wks and feeling pretty good. Am ready to meet this girl/boy. I am not so squished yet but will be shortly...I am sure he/she is.

[mamarsupial]

anyone else having LOADS of hip and rib pain? how can this babe get any bigger? i'm maxed out! hee hee.

also, in light of the recent weight gain poll...how much have y'all gained so far. i've gained about 35....aaaand counting. no swelling really, so this is all babe, placenta, milk (which is in a bit already), and beautiful, round me. hee hee.

[cobluegirl]

I have gained 20 and will probably max at 25 which is what I am aiming for. I still have 15 lbs from #1 preg. don't want anymore extra..hehe...I am normally really huge at d-day so...give me time..lol I think I am carrying this one differently. I have a little water weight but not much.

I am experiencing sciatic nerve problems tonight...ugh...gotta love that.

Here is a photo dh took on Sunday..

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...spreg8-3-3.JPG

[shanetedissac]

I'm just over 33wks and can't imagine this little critter coming. With the busy summer life and two little boys, what am I going to do? Well, at least me and dh now know (98% or so) that we will not be having another child. This #3 was unplanned but very exciting to be having. I say we know because dh went and had a vasectomy done this past Monday. He is still sore, I guess kind of like being sore after giving birth vaginally. He waddles and everything

Here are some responses to other posts:

Does anyone else get nosebleeds

I got them with my first two but I think it had to do with the very dry weather of winter here. Seeing that the humidity is way up there I’m not having that problem this time.

Can anyone dispute that ultimately no matter how a woman has her baby, as long as they are both healthy, it doesn't matter?”

I feel that as long as the mom to be/couple are informed in their decision making then it should not be an issue. Being able to took back on the birth with a positive frame of mind can be the most important thing to a woman. Yes, things may go differently than planned but knowing that you were a part of the decision and comfortable with the decisions make a huge difference.

Are there other homebirthers due in September or October?

Yup! We are planning out second. We had a home water birth with our second. Water is the wonder drug for me at least. And it gets the skin so nice and supple for stretching.

[shanetedissac]

We don't own a scale so I weigh myself, when I remember, at the chiro. Today I weighed about 20lbs over prepreg weight. It has been the same for both of the consecutive pg's, as soon as I get to prepreg weight I get pg. Go figure

[StarMama]

10 Pound gain as of today (but I was a big girl before this... and I also don't count the 9 lbs I lost and then regained either )

Now can I share my icky dr's appt today? It was my first visit to the "high risk" Ob (for GD controlled by diet, I think classifying me "high risk" is silly. So do my midwives thank goodness), so I figured I was probably in for more testing and poking that normal... Well first they lost my chart. Had it last time, I transfered from one facilty to another, but it somehow got lost now...

Well my blood pressure came back high on the automatic machine (140ish over 80ish). Just like it always does on the machines that do it automatically (I think because I'm overweight, and the machine wants to squeeze down to what a normal sized arm would be, but I'm just guessing). I've always had fine readings when the nurse does it by hand. So I request to have it redone by hand. Well the Dr. just goes on to assume I have high blood pressure : and says he'll have me do a NST and then get my blood pressure redone there. Fine, no problem, I figure they'll do the NST, see I and baby are fine, do the blood pressure by *hand* see its normal (last time it was 117/70) and let me go home... The NST is no biggie, the lady is nice, does an ultrasound to measure fluid and I got to see Orion *really* well! But she wouldn't give me photos for "liablity" reasons even though she printed them out for the dr. (I'll be asking the dr next appt if I can at least have a copy of them, Dh would love to see)... but she redoes my blood pressure on the machine again. Arg! Comes out "ok" 138/79. I KNOW it would have been fine by hand, but she says she trusts the machine more... and since its "ok" she doesn't have anyone come in to do it by hand. But because its a rise from my last prenatal (which they are taking my word on since they lost my chart ) I now get to go do NST twice a week. Plus see the Dr once a week. This isn't including me seeing my midwives every 2 weeks (since thats seperate), and my chiropractor I see 3 times a week. TOO many APPOINTMENTS! And I get to start taking my blood pressure at home, measuring protein in my urine, keeping track of how much I pee a day and about a hundred other things (I have to see a RN to get "trained" to do this all) and this company will call my daily to get the results. And the dr says he doesn't want me doing "much". Not bedrest, but just not doing "much"... Sheeeeesh all this for my BP that I *know* is really ok?? I mean ok fine, if I need it, and if my BP is creeping up, and if I may have PIH ok, I understand, but before all this can't they just take my BP by hand? *Sigh*... Guess I'll at least get to see if my BP is ok with my midwives next week... I hope everything is dandy and stays that way, I don't want to loose my homebirth, but whatever is the safest for me and baby is important too I know (my philosophy is that when there is a risk, well then it makes sence to see a doctor and have a hospital birth, for myself... just hoping I don't end up with a 'risk').

One good thing though!! I got him to agree with my due date! WOO! So at least no rushing me to induce just based on a due date of my last period!

[cobluegirl]

shanetedissac

You are not alone in feeling a little overwhelmed with the prospect of #3 coming..hehe..I am too. Ours wasn't planned as well. I have a girl and a boy but my girl is busier then my boy ever has been..lol Cheers!!!

[Mommy StormRaven]

Hi Ladies.. sorry for being SOOO MIA! DH has been off for the summer (he is a HS Science Teacher) so we have been pretty busy!

Well, 34 weeks 1 day now! And today at my midwife's visit thigns all look good - even position is FINALLY changing!

HEre is all teh pertinant info.....


1.5cm dilated
30% effaced
-3 station
Fundal height down from 32 week visit - from 42 to 41
BP slightly elevated (typical for me when I'm within 2-3 weeks of birth)
Morrigan's position now Left Occipital transverse instead of Right occipital posterior (YEAH!)

I've yet to actually make it to an EDD so It's lookign liek I'll probably pop this girliw out within the month! Mary Ann says so long as I dont' go before the 17th I'm ok for home.

I havent' been tested for GBS and probably won't be BUT I feel liek I'm gettign my standard right before I pop sinus infection/allergy yuck thing anyhow so I'll see my family doc for that and have my antibiotics anyhow.. no biggie there.

And I have to add for anyoen having a malpresentation issue at this point - find and read Pamela Scott's Sit up and take notice The postures and excercises in that book are what has gotten this one to rotate to teh proper position after only two days of practicing them! ANd this kiddo has been ROP for at least 6 weeks!

Anyhow - Hope all is well with everyone.... DH goes back to school on the 19th so If I havent' had Morrigan yet tehn I'll be posting a bit more then!

[StarMama]

I'm seeing an OB to do my labs. Otherwise I'll have to pay for those out of pocket. And Kaiser's policy is that women with gestational diabetes have to see a high risk doctor... I didn't think the blood pressure was an issue, because quite frequently the machine reads it wrong, and the nurse just takes it again and they put down the lower number. So I just assumed no problem, they'll just take it again. And the doctor did say that they'd take it again when they did the NST. I just assumed that it would only be the one NST because my blood pressure readings would be fine...

I suppose I'm putting up with these tests (the NST ones and the blood draw) on the off hand chance that the doctor is right and my BP is slowly creeping up, and that rising BP & gestation diabetes is reason enough to want to keep a closer eye on the baby because of possible complications... I'd feel horrible if I refused the NST and then Orion wasn't doing well and we didn't find out early. 40 minutes of my time a week doesn't seem to be a bad trade off to know he's ok... even if it is frustrating.

And oh yes, I did some reasearch on taking blood pressure readings and my last reading may have been off because they did the reading on my forearm instead of my upper arm. And prior to that I was never told what my number's were, just that they were "ok"... This would all be so much easier if they had my chart and could really see what my BP has been all along on average...

I'll see what my BP reading is with my midwives next week. I trust how they take my BP. If they say my BP is higher than it should, I'll believe them, because they've taken it twice when it wasn't what my normal numbers were. And I'll ask them what they suggest. I trust them far more than Kaiser...

[Mommy StormRaven]

Lisa-Lynn

If you are even a littel bit overweight you may want to make sure your OB's offic eis usign a large adult BP cuff - it can make up to 20 BP points fo difference in accuracy on a reading so I'd make sure if that is the case.