Weekly Chit Chat 3/16 - 3/22 - Page 3

[Jane456]

Hi guys!

Carrie - you're going to love Oahu! Make sure you get around to the windward side of the Island, my DH is from Kailua, which has an amazing almost tourist-free beautiful beach. Definitely well worth a day trip. One of my favourite things to do is drive up through the center of the Island, past the pineapple fields, to Haleiwa, then around the windward coast all the way back. There are some amazing little towns, lots of fun places to stop, and some beautiful scenery. We got married at Turtle Bay Resort on the north side, and it is an amazing resort, if you're looking for a place to stay!

Bailey - wow, where is your DH from? We wanted to go back for a baby luau at 12 months but we had just moved, and couldn't get there... Ottawa Canada is a Looooonnnngggg way from Hawaii it seems. Luke was baptised in Hawaii at 6 months old, and he is now the same age as your little one!

Jora - I'm about to join you in the maternity clothes world. Everything is so tight and uncomfy, and although I didn't want to jump into my mat clothes until the 2nd trimester, I think I need to, for the sake of my nausea!!

Tara - My OB said it TUMS were fine, so I took tums last pregnancy, but I found Rolaids were better. I can't remember why, I think something about Rolaids had less calcium, and when I was eating like 40-50 of the things a day, I didn't want to overload. They tasted better too, less chalky to me. Ugh, heartburn - I forgot about that. I'm not looking forward to it. Have you tried ICE CREAM??!!! Its a daily staple in my pregnancy diet. Seriously, it works every time! And certainly is medically required to get through the heartburn!

Clay'sAngie - great news about the twins potentially having their own sacs, that is so cool. And I'm so happy they are doing so well!!!

I sometimes think I may be feeling flutters, but I remember feeling something similar when I was NOT pg, so I'm sure its gas. I didn't feel DS until around 21 weeks, so I'm not expecting to do so REALLY early this time. It also depends on where the placenta is too, DS's was right on the front, so no wonder I didn't feel much.

Erin - I'm still nursing as well, although I do notice my supply is getting lower. I'm not as engorged as usual, and letdown takes forever!!

I'm 10w3d today, looking forward to the eventual end of the first trimester. WE have an ultrasound March 31 that I can't wait for - it'll be so fun to see that this little bean is doing well!

Lindsay

[DreamsInDigital]

I have my first prenatal this weekend. We don't do Doppler so we won't be trying to find a heartbeat. In fact I'm not even sure why we're doing this prenatal as I don't generally subject myself to much testing. I guess I'm just excited to see my midwife since I haven't seen her since shortly after my DD's birth.
Apparently my mom thinks she's coming to my prenatal. I'm not sure what she intends to get out of the trip. It's an hour long drive there and I'll have my DD with me so it'll probably mean a lot of pulling over to comfort her. Poor little peanut still hates the carseat.

[casemnor]

Originally Posted by DreamsInDigital

Question: Is anyone feeling movement yet? I've felt a few of those butterfly feelings low in my pelvis, too low to be gas and I'm certain it's the baby moving. :

Originally Posted by Jörð

I think so. I felt some flutters the past few days.

Ok, I thought I was going crazy, but definitely felt flutters today...I'm 11w2d. The flutters were very low in my pelvis and did not feel like gas moving. I actually posted to ask if it was possible to feel them this early because I was just sure I had. Glad I'm not the only one. They aren't regular at all, in fact, they were the first and last (so far) I've felt..and followed quickly after I wolfed down a klondike bar.

[kristenburgess]

I felt flutters with DS2 at 12 weeks and I can't wait to feel flutters with this little one.

Me, I feel like barely warmed over death. The nausea is really bad; much like you described yours, Tara. It sucks because I eat food that is good, but just a few minutes later my stomach is churning. I can get no enjoyment from it I have been having a super, super hard time cooking and we're eating a lot of chicken and rice >.< Preconception and in the early early weeks I worked really hard at cooking good meals 3x a day and DH has lost about 15lbs. I feel like if I can't keep it up that weight loss will stop and he's so excited about it. We were also taking a lot of walks and I just don't have the energy right now. I have got to be sleeping at least 12 hours a day because I keep catnapping here and there. I keep reminding myself I only have a few weeks to go of this (8 weeks now blah) and then I'll feel tons better.

I am super excited today because we found out my daughter made the lottery for the 1st grade class of a charter school in our area. I am beyond thrilled. The school is on 250 acres of woodland and it's just gorgeous!! She's super excited about it too, which I love. I've been homeschooling kindy b/c schools in our old state were horrid. And I'm also happy to know that she'll be happy at school and I'll have one less little one to worry about when the new baby comes (though really she would be the most helpful one to have about). But I think this school is awesome and I can just feel how passionate the teachers are for their kids. I'm excited we'll be part of it. I'm sure that'll be the highlight of my week.

We also got our downstairs floors redone this weekend (you'll see them in my belly pic ) - the men did a great job so it was worth all the stuff me and the kids hauled upstairs last week lol! DH and the men moved all the furniature though. One of our vents was messed up and the vent cover sat really badly. I told the worker we have a baby coming and I was worried about him/her crawling near that, and the worker took extra time to cut the vent to the right size so the cover fits flat We bought new covers too and they look great with the flooring.

You ladies who get to go on vacations, how lovely! It sounds like the perfect time to go too, babycakes. My DH grew up on the islands and say they're lovely to visit, crummy to live on lol. I would love to take a summer trip but I told DH I'd rather have him take time off to be with us after the baby is born. So maybe next year with baby in tow

[Bayleesan]

Jane456, my dh is from Kailua, on Oahu. And yes the flight to HI is REALLLLLLY long. We flew from CT to ATL, then direct for 10 hours to ATL.

OMG, I feel like barely warmed over death too. Everyday I wake up with a headache that progressivly gets worse until I basically want to die. Today we went to downtown Hartford for a hearing that basically made it illeagl for two of our homebirth midwives to attend births. It was really crushing emotionally. So I am really wiped out today, I ffel like the left side of my face has been beaten with a sledge hammer. Argh!

On Friday I will be 12 weeks, and we are driving to VA for Easter to visit my crazy family. I so hope I feel better by then. 11 hours in a car with a cranky toddler does not sound like my kind of party right now.

[russianthistle]

Originally Posted by DreamsInDigital

I have my first prenatal this weekend. We don't do Doppler so we won't be trying to find a heartbeat.

Dreams...,
Can you please tell me, concisely, why you've made the decision to not use the doppler. Something about the doppler worries me...I've not yet gone to see my doc and was heavily thinking of leaning toward the no-doppler decision. I just feel so torn.

I understand that the doppler has effects similar to that of the ultrasound (which I did not do the first time and do not plan to do this time...unless there are two heartbeats...). But, what exactly made you decide against the doppler?

TIA
Erin

[triple07]

Originally Posted by russianthistle

Dreams...,
Can you please tell me, concisely, why you've made the decision to not use the doppler. Something about the doppler worries me...I've not yet gone to see my doc and was heavily thinking of leaning toward the no-doppler decision. I just feel so torn.

I understand that the doppler has effects similar to that of the ultrasound (which I did not do the first time and do not plan to do this time...unless there are two heartbeats...). But, what exactly made you decide against the doppler?

TIA
Erin

I have actually heard of more harmful (possible) effects using doppler than with u/s... of course I have not done extensive research...

[PassionateWriter]

Originally Posted by Amber Lion

Are you talking about taking your pregnancy tea? Will they not let you carry herbs with you? I recently had to travel, granted by car, but I bought those disposable tea bags that you can fill yourself and just added my herb mix to those and put each one in a quart jar for each day I was going to be gone... then I just filled them up with hot water at the hotel and let them steep. But I have no suggestions if they won't let you bring them onto a plane!

how many quart jars did you take? where do you get the disposable tea bags?? if i can wrap my quart jars in my check in luggage, that may actually work really well.

[DreamsInDigital]

Originally Posted by russianthistle

Dreams...,
Can you please tell me, concisely, why you've made the decision to not use the doppler. Something about the doppler worries me...I've not yet gone to see my doc and was heavily thinking of leaning toward the no-doppler decision. I just feel so torn.

I understand that the doppler has effects similar to that of the ultrasound (which I did not do the first time and do not plan to do this time...unless there are two heartbeats...). But, what exactly made you decide against the doppler?

TIA
Erin

Doppler waves are actually more intense than ultrasound and while a Doppler is only used for a few moments, it is used at every prenatal exam and no research has been done to prove the safety of this amount of exposure. Or, well, any amount really. For me, the potential risk of the Doppler use far outweighs any perceived benefit, which is really minimal considering it will only be 6-8 weeks before we'll be able to use a fetoscope to hear the baby's heartbeat anyway. There really is no benefit to hearing your baby's heartbeat, aside from peace of mind but I have no worries about it and trust my body, my baby and just the process of pregnancy I suppose that I am not concerned enough to risk possibly exposing my baby to something harmful only for my personal benefit. But I take a rather hands-off approach to pregnancy and birth. Obviously, my choices may not be right for everyone, this is simply what I do and the conclusions I have come to.

[triple07]

Originally Posted by DreamsInDigital

Doppler waves are actually more intense than ultrasound and while a Doppler is only used for a few moments, it is used at every prenatal exam and no research has been done to prove the safety of this amount of exposure. Or, well, any amount really. For me, the potential risk of the Doppler use far outweighs any perceived benefit, which is really minimal considering it will only be 6-8 weeks before we'll be able to use a fetoscope to hear the baby's heartbeat anyway. There really is no benefit to hearing your baby's heartbeat, aside from peace of mind but I have no worries about it and trust my body, my baby and just the process of pregnancy I suppose that I am not concerned enough to risk possibly exposing my baby to something harmful only for my personal benefit. But I take a rather hands-off approach to pregnancy and birth. Obviously, my choices may not be right for everyone, this is simply what I do and the conclusions I have come to.

Well I have been "converted" on yet another thing . I see that there is no real use for a doppler and will simply decline it at any prenatal visits. Although I will be getting one more u/s at approx 20 weeks because I *cannot* wait 20 more weeks for that surprise lol. I know, I am weak

[JMarie930]

Wow, add me to the list of feeling like death warmed over. Bleh. I feel absolutely awful. DS decided he needed to share his cold with me, so I'm all sneeze-y and cough-y right now. Add that to the complete and utter exhaustion, and you have one mommy who can't even manage to make a decent dinner one night a week.

The m/s is getting worse, and since I didn't have any with DS, it's all new territory for me. I try to eat, I really do, but it's not working very well. My MW was very reassuring, telling me fluids are more important right now and to just try to take my prenatals. I get them down about half the time.

I'm just slightly envious of you all who are getting into the 2nd tri and getting away from this yucky feeling. At least DS is being a great little guy, taking naps with his momma in the afternoons. I love that I can just flop on the bed, and he comes running with his pillow and blankets - "momma! I can cuddle with you! It'll make you feel ALL better!" He's such a little sweetie.

[triple07]

^ Oh I feel ya mama! I hope you (and your DS) get over the cold/sick soon and that your m/s eases up. I am into 11th weeks and mine hasnt eased up a bit, and its so much worse than it was with DS. I don't wish this on *anybody*

[Amber Lion]

Originally Posted by PassionateWriter

how many quart jars did you take? where do you get the disposable tea bags?? if i can wrap my quart jars in my check in luggage, that may actually work really well.

I took 3 Quart jars with the teabags made up and brought one already steeped for the way down, cause that was as long as I was going to be gone. But I suppose you don't actually need that many b/c you can rinse them out and re-use them. With the teabags you don't have to strain either, so that made it super easy. The kind I have have a long upper part so I just hung that over the side of the jar and closed the lid around it and that "sealed" the bag b/c they're open topped. I got the tea bags at our local grocery - "Melitta" brand "for brewing loose leaf tea". I'm sure you should be able to find them or something like it. I needed to use 2 teabags for each brew b/c I stuffed so much herbs in them though. Good luck!!

Originally Posted by DreamsInDigital

Doppler waves are actually more intense than ultrasound and while a Doppler is only used for a few moments, it is used at every prenatal exam and no research has been done to prove the safety of this amount of exposure. Or, well, any amount really. For me, the potential risk of the Doppler use far outweighs any perceived benefit, which is really minimal considering it will only be 6-8 weeks before we'll be able to use a fetoscope to hear the baby's heartbeat anyway. There really is no benefit to hearing your baby's heartbeat, aside from peace of mind but I have no worries about it and trust my body, my baby and just the process of pregnancy I suppose that I am not concerned enough to risk possibly exposing my baby to something harmful only for my personal benefit. But I take a rather hands-off approach to pregnancy and birth. Obviously, my choices may not be right for everyone, this is simply what I do and the conclusions I have come to.

: We've chosen to wait till the average 18 wks to hear the baby's heartbeat to avoid the doppler too. And my Midwife is open to avoiding it in labor (even second stage! Yeah!) too. We will use it however if they are not able to hear the hb and really need to for some reason, but not just for the reassurance factor.

Moi- taking my last final today, selling back my books, and looking forward to 1.5 weeks off of school! Yeah!!! My mom, sister, and BIL are arriving on Sunday and I'm super excited. We've also decided to take a last minute trip to the coast to camp on Fri/Sat and it should be good weather with a full moon. So I'll be busy with fun stuff!

9 weeks today!! Time has finally picked back up and doesn't feel like it's dragging anymore... it's flying! I'm feeling like I'm in the "home stretch" too Baby Cakes; funny how the 2nd tri feels like the finish line right now! You're closer than me though!

[russianthistle]

Originally Posted by DreamsInDigital

Doppler waves are actually more intense than ultrasound and while a Doppler is only used for a few moments, it is used at every prenatal exam and no research has been done to prove the safety of this amount of exposure. Or, well, any amount really. For me, the potential risk of the Doppler use far outweighs any perceived benefit, which is really minimal considering it will only be 6-8 weeks before we'll be able to use a fetoscope to hear the baby's heartbeat anyway. There really is no benefit to hearing your baby's heartbeat, aside from peace of mind but I have no worries about it and trust my body, my baby and just the process of pregnancy I suppose that I am not concerned enough to risk possibly exposing my baby to something harmful only for my personal benefit. But I take a rather hands-off approach to pregnancy and birth. Obviously, my choices may not be right for everyone, this is simply what I do and the conclusions I have come to.

Thank you, Dreams....
I feel much the same as you say you feel. I am very convinced that a hands-off approach to pregnancy and birth is an appropriate choice for me. In my first pregnancy, I avoided near everything (with the exception of the doppler...) including having my cervix checked. I did not have it checked until I was 11 days overdue...and that was only because the on-call doctor started to threaten induction...the nerve!

I am working with both a doctor and a midwife...my doctor (not the on-call discussed above...) is fabulously connected to the low-to-no-intervention
philosophy that I suspect many of us believe in. She also supports homebirth in a place where many people are extremely afraid and under-educated about birthing---esp. natural and home birthing. I am going to talk to her about the doppler when I see her. I'm interested to hear her perspective.

[DreamsInDigital]

Originally Posted by triple07

Well I have been "converted" on yet another thing . I see that there is no real use for a doppler and will simply decline it at any prenatal visits. Although I will be getting one more u/s at approx 20 weeks because I *cannot* wait 20 more weeks for that surprise lol. I know, I am weak

I completely understand about waiting for that surprise. I've never made it through an entire pregnancy without having just one u/s to find out what we're having. I'm going to try to stay strong this time but I'm afraid I might cave in.

[kristenburgess]

Hah I hate to say it but I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one feeling like warmed over death I think guilt has been making it worse - feeling guilty about not providing good meals for the family. A friend at LLL yesterday suggested I just make crockpot meals til I feel better. So I planned all crock pot meals for the next week. Hopefully that will help because I got the crock going at lunchtime which is usually when I feel best, and now I know it will be ready tonight.

I totally see where you ladies are coming from with the doppler. But I'm really looking forward to hearing the heartbeat at 12 weeks :/ I can wait on the fetascope from then on but I just like that heartbeat at 12 weeks. And I can't wait to see DH's face when he hears his first baby's heartbeat. We'll probably do an 18-20 week u/s too, for gender. DD was a surprise and I haven't wanted to be surprised since that one I do think I trust my body and the babe. But something about that first heartbeat. Though you gals are right, it's not that much longer to hear with the fetascope. It's a hard choice for me.

How do you feel about the doppler during labor?

Has anyone started a daily prenatal yoga routine, or daily walks or anything? I need to start my prenatal yoga again. I think it would help me feel better and the kids always like doing it with me

[DreamsInDigital]

We don't do Doppler during labor either. My midwife is very open to this and is happy not to listen to heart tones at all unless I specifically ask.

[russianthistle]

I agree, no doppler during labor...just the fetoscope. I don't even think my mw has a doppler...perhaps she does...I've never seen one w/ her.

I've started daily walks...In fact, I started walking daily as soon as I found out. If I don't start now, it'll be too easy not to do it later. I walk for at least an hour or so everyday (except, sometimes, on the weekends). Some days, Casimir (who's 2) will walk for the hour...those days we make it about a mile. I try to shoot for around 2-3 miles at minimum if I'm pushing him in the stroller or pulling him in the sled.

We still have tons of snow here...I live on the south shore of Lake Superior....yesterday we got 8 in. at my house! I'm incredibly sick of the dreariness, the ice, the cold, and the snow. It makes it very easy for me to want to sit inside my house, what with my lack of energy and all...

Hooray, tomorrow, for being the first day of spring!!! (Equinox is 12:48 a.m. EST...if you live on the west coast, today is the first day!)

[PassionateWriter]

We arent doing the doppler either. I agreed to one u/s but I am thinking I will schedule that for 38 weeks and maybe just skip it.

I made another appt. w/ my MW that im seeing for prenatals for next Monday. We are leaving on Tuesday (the baby and I) and I promised to make another appt. I don't really want to go b/c there is nothing to be done. But, I am going to talk to my MW about my VBAC and about how my labor went last time. I want to make a request for my records also, as I think there may have been some malpositioning going on but I didn't know enough last time to ask.

[TaraRae82]

I completely agree with everyone on the doppler thing. Why do something when you don't know if it's harmful or not?! Better safe than sorry I think. I'll have 1 u/s at 20 wks which I'm not terribly excited about only because we don't want to know the sex of our baby and I'm afraid we'll accidentally see it, especially since I'm getting a boy vibe. My OB is, thankfully, very supportive of using a fetoscope during labor.

I feel pretty crappy today too. I about died teaching my 2 classes today. Ugh. It seems we're all pretty miserable. It's nice to have others that understand and can complain to w/o feeling guilty or like attention-hogs. I think I may take a nap and then go see a movie by myself. Hopefully I'll feel a little more energetic after I wake up. I'm not sure if I want to go see Juno or Penelope though.