Sept/Oct Mamas - Aug Thread - Getting ClosER! - Page 3

[StarMama]

Thanks Michelle! I remember reading about that, but had forgotten (my brain is not functioning lately...)

It just seems like every single time I go in to see them I have to fight about something.... very frustrating. I'm glad I won the due date battle though! My midwives suggest I don't completely cut out the Kaiser's appointments even after my labs are done, so having them not pressuring me thinking I'm 42 weeks when I'll actually be due will be less stress on my shoulders.

They did a blood test today that the Dr. said measures certain chemicals in my blood that would be elevated if I was having blood pressure issues. So I'll discuss the results with him next appointment. If they are normal, and my BP comes up normal next time (by *hand* with the larger cuff, and I will also know what it was with my midwives by then, and I think will be home monitoring, so I'll KNOW what's normal for me) I will want a serious discussion of the NST's and stopping or at least cutting back on them drastically unless he has a good reason for them. I'm all for doing whatever I need to for the safety of my kiddo, but I don't want to be doing un-neccisary things...

[Mommy StormRaven]

NP Lisa! GLad I coudl help.. Jsut make sure that they are tellgin you everythign - get the numbers of it all if you can. Some of it IS arbitrary so I'd jsut ask for copies of the results for your personal use. SOetimes they will give them to you.

Good luck and I knwo - we all do what we ahve to for our babies health!

[mamaley]

I talked to my mom last night about being dialated and put on modified bedrest, and she is freaked out. Everything is "we"..."we need to keep this baby in" and "we need to figure out what to do". Then she asked me if it was time that I switch to a doctor instead of my midwife--like a doctor is going to actually help anymore than my midwives right now. I wish she could just see that I need a lot of positive energy right now and stop panicing. Everyone else is being great though...I just wish we knew more people. Bedrest, even if modified, is really hard with a spirited 3 yo. And I actually hate not being able to clean my house--like I did it that much anyway, lol.

I'm trying to time contrations, but it's hard to tell if some of them are contractions, if that makes sense--i'm supposed to call if i have more than 4 in an hour, and this includes any kind of tightening. Am I the only one who has trouble identifying them sometimes?

[Sabrin]

Mamaley,

I have the same problem noticing if I'm having a BH or not. Sometimes I notice that my tummy is hard as a rock, other times my husband will be messing with the baby and say oh honey, are you have a contraction?

Um...yeah, Yes I am!! So, it's not only you. I do hope that you are able to make it close to your due date without problems!

Anyother mama's having leg cramps in bed? I'm about to look into amputation, this hurts so much!!

[petitemama]

I am now 36 weeks!!!!

I am planning a homebirth and have my birth tub now and feel ready whenever baby is ready!!

GBS- I haven't tested for it. Still debating if I even want to, but if I stall any longer I obviously won't be. It seems to me the risks are pretty low unless your baby is premature or if your waters break early on. My midwife offers a herbal suppository (Alfalfa?) if tested positive and then retests. She says it usually always clears it up. If not she gives the option of antibiotics only if you have risk factors ie. waters break early. or antibiotics no matter what. A positive gbs doesn't affect the ability to homebirth. An I.V. can be ordered to be given at home if not by the midwife than by a visiting nurse.

ALLERGIC to ANTIBIOTICS-- My opinion is that the risks of a reaction are more prevalant and dangerous than the risk of the baby becoming ill due to a positive GBS. Not all babies born to positive mothers pick up the gbs.

Good luck to you all on great births and healthy babies!!!!

[Rikki]

I had my 30 week appointment today, plus an NST. I'm diabetic so I will get weekly NSTs from here on out.

The appointment went very well. We are upping my long lasting insulin dose and adding a short acting one for dinner time only. I'm also to check my sugar levels before and after breakfast and one hour after lunch and dinner, so I'll be sticking myself less often at least.

My blood pressure was really good today. Normally it runs 140/80, but today it was 127/78. I was impressed.

The NST was no big deal... Baby's heartbeat was fluctuating between 155 and 175 and she got the hiccups at one point so the little button I had to push was wearing out my finger! LOL!

I've got my weekly appointments set up until Oct. 14th. I'm actually hoping not to have to keep that last appointment and go a little earlier than that...but I'll take the baby whenever we can get her! (It's just really unseasonably HOT here in Seattle and I'm not enjoying the HEAT!)

[Mamma Kathryns]

I've not posted to this thread before, so first I'll introduce myself. I am pregnant with my second daughter, due Sept 19. My only other pregnancy being my first daughter who was born 2 1/2 weeks late back in Feb, 1999. I recently discovered this forum and am really enjoying all the information here!!

I heard back on my glucose test today, it was great. They are worried about my Hemoglobin. I take prenatal vitamens, plus an extra iron supplement 12 hours later. I don't know what else to try that won't constipate me further! AGHH. Guess I will discuss that with my midwife at my next appointment.

As for leg cramps! I have them too!!! Horribly bad that I can hardly get to sleep. Last night I didn't fall asleep finally until 4 am on the couch with the tv going. Tried going to sleep in bed with dh, but didn't want to disturb him with all my tossing and turning. Then my dd gets me up at 7:30am ready to start the day. I am SOOOOOO tired all the time anymore. I wish there was something I could do to ease the pain in my legs and hips, short from amputation!

[cobluegirl]

Yes, I have leg cramps too. Mostly early morning before I actually wake up. I usually get them in my calfs, but did get a few in my thigh last month...freaked me out..lol I seem to catch them before they get really bad by pulling my foot towards my knee...stretching the mucsle. Dh had to help me last pregnancy with them..they aren't that bad this preg. yet.

I go in for my Group Strep B next week...argh..not looking forward to it. I usually forego as many tests as they allow but got a really funny look from the midwife when I mentioned it last time..UGH...Typically if you are negative..aren't u usually negative or does it actually change? I have been negative the last two pregs. Oh well...don't want to give them too many reasons to be freaky during labor. I hate hosp births......

[halah]

Welcome Mama Kathryns.... and congratulations!

I often wake up in the middle of the night feeling a leg cramp just about to come on, and I flex my foot immediately and it stops the muscle from seizing. I don't know why I've had the good fortune this pregnancy to wake up in time, except maybe my subconscious remembers the agony of waking to the full-blown ones during my last pg...I think my husband hated it even worse than I did, no one wants to be awoken in the middle of the night by the sound of your partner shrieking....

I have heard it is a slight calcium deficiency which causes this and calcium-magnesium (3:1 ratio) is a help.

I went to the chiro yesterday and she gave me an adjustment to open my hips and pelvis wider...the baby did seem to slip down a little today but now I have the constant sensation that his/her head is nudging my pubic bone apart! It's not terrible but makes me wonder what I traded my high baby and resulting breathlessness away for! : :LOL

[shanetedissac]

Leg Cramps: I had them the worst with my first. This time around I'm like some of you where I feel it coming and flex the foot. It sounds awful but the best thing for a cramping calf is to stretch it. Quite painfull (just think you can practice controlled breathing, if you do that)

I've been feeling stronger BH recently. Some that actually make me stop and notice. I always poke around my belly feeling how firm it is getting.

Recently I've also been trying really hard to figure out what body parts I'm feeling. I don't think that I'm very good at it.

Take care~

[Viola]

Originally posted by Louise
I am loving being pregnant in the summer! Geesh I should have planned the others this way. I feel fantastic.

You're crazy! Just teasing. The last time I was pregnant I lived in So CA and got pregnant in August and had my daughter at the beginning of May. It was a cold May, so I don't remember being particularly hot, while the winters were warm so I didn't freeze. I do remember my husband was cold while I was warm, so I must have been somewhat hot.

Now this time around, I froze for 3 months, out of proportion to the temperature and now I'm sweating all the time. But actually, it isn't too bad because I can really enjoy my pool. I am such a wimp normally and can't take 80 degree water, but that feels good to me now. The weather here has been really nice this week, however, breezy and sunny with temps right around 80 and humidity at around 20%. So I can't complain about being hot. I do think the pool is really helping me a lot. Whenever I start to feel like my feet are getting swollen, I know it's time for a swim.

[Viola]

Originally posted by shanetedissac
Quite painfull (just think you can practice controlled breathing, if you do that)

I only get the calf cramps if I induce them, but they've been easy to induce. I do it on purpose to practice my pain management techniques, but I'm such a wimp that I just end up stretching out of it.

I can't figure out what body part is where either.

[Viola]

Originally posted by mamarsupial
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.

I was up 1 pound the last time I went to the doctor--my start weight as 262 and I was 263 this time. I've been hovering right around the 255-260 mark for most of this pregnancy. Last time I started out at 250 and gained 25 lbs overall. I'm not sure why I haven't gained this time, but I'm not retaining much water and last time I bloated up right at the end.

[Sabrin]

Oh the weight thing....I lost 16lbs in the beginning, so I built that back up and I'm only 3 pounds over my pre-preg weight. But, I'm eating pretty well now, so we shall see what the scale says at the end....

[mamarsupial]

good morning?! a bear of a morning here. i lost my temper with e for the third time this week (um, third time ever, really). she slept with us last night, which was fine, but between her squirms and the baby's, i didn't sleep (did i mention we just ordered a king sized bed? we have a full long for pg me, dd, and 6'4" dh). plus, the babe did this tremendous series of movements and then stopped...and didn't move again for a while. so i layed in bed worried. all i could think about was this story i heard at the local childbirth collective about a woman who knew her child was in distress in utero, and went in and the cord was wrapped. i was freaking myself out big time. once s/he started moving again, i couldn't get back to sleep. i finally fell asleep again at 7am...then the dog woke me up at 8am. dh usually leaves at 8:15, so i had 15 minutes to do all the things i normally do in the morning...plus e wanted pancakes, so i tried to do that and ended up burning my hand on the cast iron skillet (i was too tired to think "hot pad") and nearly chucked the thing across the room. once they were made (after switching pans) e was happy...for about 2 seconds...she wanted syrup on the pancakes, then didn't. she wanted them cut up, then didn't. i tried to calmly explain that i can't undo those kinds of things...and she chucked her plate at me. i lost my temper, but instead of yelling i just got up, walked away, and sat on the stairs and cried while i listened to her explain to her papa that the pancakes needed to be put back into 'big peices'. my saintly dh is taking the morning off. they are downstairs watching 'fantasia' on the lap top (was this really the best time to have gotten rid our tv?). i was supposed to help a friend out today too and had to raincheck, so now i feel guilty on top of worried (dh taking time off we need for when the baby comes), grouchy, and tired. and hungry. and big and hot. and selfish.

[cobluegirl]

mamarsupial (((HUGS)))....

I know how you feel...lol
Dd was in bed with us last night and she puked all over us and the bed. I had to get up change the sheets while dh had her in the shower and then we had to wash her hair because she was caked so i had to crawl in the shower with her...then we all went back to bed..it was now past 1. Then ds was up at 6:30....ugh...we managed to stay in bed till about 8...not sure how..lol Then we finally got up and i offered to make pancakes. The whole time i am making the batter both kids are right under my feet stating that they want pancakes. I finally get there pancakes cooked ( on cast iron too..i did crab the pan once but lightly) so I then asked ds did he want syrup...he says no..then yes..he wants some to dip it in..well I poured some all over the pancake and left a little puddle on the plate to dip in. He freaked out..I don't want it on my pancake..Ugh..dh diffused it thankfully. I have a hot temper especially when I don't get enough sleep. I think it is worse being pregnant too..I have no patience. My poor kids.
So dear sister...no you are not alone!

Amywillo-----I would love to have a pool...we would be in it all the time...lol

weight gain..I am at 185--20lbs above pre-preg weight. 4.5 wks to go!!!!

[cobluegirl]

double posted

[mamarsupial]

cobluegirl - wow. we were leading parallel lives this morning.

dh took dd to the park. he is a saint. of course, i'm not relaxing...i'm posting and making phone calls. silly me.

[anabean]

plus, the babe did this tremendous series of movements and then stopped...and didn't move again for a while. so i layed in bed worried. all i could think about was this story i heard at the local childbirth collective about a woman who knew her child was in distress in utero, and went in and the cord was wrapped. i was freaking myself out big time.

oh boy, another one to freak out about.

no, but seriously. i too freak out about this-- too much for my own good. i've been about to call the doc's office like 4 times since the third tri started. sometimes she's so active all day long, it feels great!

then all of a sudden she just stays still for hours at a time. i seriously get worried-- hyperventilation, crying spells, the lot. : that's probably hormones too. but i just wish i could trust everything to be okay, at all times. if she needs to rest and take it easy for a day, i should let her! i always start poking and shaking her a bit. :LOL i'm terrible!

[Hikaru]

Ditto on the poking and shaking when the baby doesn't move for awhile. This one is just really mellow. His/her big brother was very active and I can't help comparing them. Also right around the time I realized I was pregnant, a friend's baby died a week after
birth without ever leaving the hospital...so this whole pregnancy I've been totally paranoid.
Deep breaths, mamas. And let's all repeat together...our babies are going to be fine. Our babies are going to be fine......