Weekly Update Thread - April 28-May 5

[kjoy2]

(I took the liberty of starting this new update thread since the server just came back up.)

WOW! Does that say May 5?!!

How is everybody doing?

I'm still pregnant - today was 40 week EDD. On Saturday we went for a hike, then to the pool, and then washed the cars... didn't do anything! Though I think that the hike combined with a baby-thrown rave in my uterus the night before has resulted in the babies sitting even lower, which is promising. PUPPs has spread to my legs and arms, and I am trying everything to get rid of this - infusions of nettle, dandelion, and pregnancy tea; homeopathic Apis Mellifica; PUPPs soap lathers, etc... not sure any of it is doing a thing yet! The greatest relief I've gotten so far has been from calamine lotion. I am going to try to get an acupuncture appt tomorrow to see if we can jump-start labor, which between the incessant itch and the feeling of my stomach splitting in half down the middle, would be very very welcome. Plus I just want to meet my cute little squishy babies

Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend! Looking forward to hearing your updates!

[mkmama]

awww kjoy, of all the frustrating things that go along with waiting this last week...and PUPPS attacks. blech. Thankfully I hear it pretty much just goes away once the babies are out!

I'm still here...and my anxiety and sleeplessness increases as Saturday approaches, the day my parents leave for the USA. My dad arrived Saturday and took my mom away to their hotel (too small of an apt to stay here). Its been fun and i have been walking at least 2 miles a day. I feel great physicaly. But i search for any sign of pain nightly.

I have a dr. apt today, never thought i'd make it. Being a VBACer they have you see a dr. one time a month here. I am "against" stripping of membranes but i'm going to ask to have it done. this scares and saddens me, i wanted everything so natural. But like DH said, even RRL tea that i have faithfully drank 3 cups of for 3 months is an intervention of sorts. Sigh. I'll update how it goes, or if she will even do it!

[kjoy2]

Oh, Mkmama, I had hoped your babe would have arrived before your dad... I'm sorry At this point, it seems like you are in a place to look into interventions without feeling guilty about it. My MW also has mentioned stripping membranes... though I can't find any 'for sure' evidence that it works. What have you found? I have read of a 50% success rate for acupuncture, though - I've never had acupuncture before but am willing to try it at this point. I really hope I can get an appt for tomorrow/Monday.

I hope your dr. appt goes well today. Give an update later!

I guess I should try to sleep despite the heat (warm day) and the itch

[snugglebutter]

I had an acupuncture session Friday morning, was very crampy all Friday-Saturday, then on Saturday night was getting real/regular contractions. But they fizzled out after a few hours. I can probably get in for another session in the morning, but part of me doesn't want to deal with going in. Everyone there (it's at my chiro's office) is so chipper and gushy and that just makes me want to vomit. lol

Sleep was not really happening much tonight so I am up with a big bowl of cereal. At least MDC is back!

[3for3hb]

Kjoy2 - I am so proud of you for still being pg at 40 wks... with twins!!! You are almost there
Mkmama - lol, I never thought of RRL as an intervention but I can see your dh's point. I don't think you getting membranes stripped at this point is too bad a thing. that it jumpstarts something!

Sara- chipper and gushy is never a good thing at this point in pg, eh? I do hope that you get good strong labor started soon

My update is that we are doing, well, great! Caedmon is 5 wks old now and is such a sweet little man. I think I've finally decided that he really does have quite a mellow temperment (: THANK YOU!!!). I kept my hopes in check, just waiting for some sort of sign of another willem (very high intensity and thus high needs) but I think I have another son with closer to a gabriel temperment. He had some colicky/gassy problems a few weeks back but it was because I was eating tons of garlic in an effort to stem off any yeast. I've been doing coconut oil and GSE capsules instead regularly and think that has been easier on him.
We had a nasty stomach/fluish bug for the past two weeks that I think has mostly past. Me and my older two boys have still been getting stomach aches at night so I'm wondering if we have some sort of parasite issue to deal with (my mom gave us a ton of pork products). Dh has horrible pollen/kitten (yes, we got a kitten two weeks ago) allergies that have him in a slump with asthma type reactions. He finally gave in and took an antihistamine last night and I am hoping it gave him enough relief to finally sleep restfully.

On another baby note, all our newborn diapers are getting too small in the rise so I've been working on sewing a stash of small fitteds. I sure wish I had done this when I was pg (but just didn't have the ambition or energy then) because it's hard to sew with three little ones around. I'm mostly using recycled tshirt knits for the outers, sherpa for the inners and anything from old doublers to microfiber for the soaker parts. DH loves that I'm using aplix (he hates snaps). They are turning out quite nice, despite the fact that I seriously SUCK at sewing

[thomlynn]

Still pregnant here too. Today is my edd. Woke up feeling crampy but nothing promising. At my mw appt last week we didn't schedule an appointment for this week but since nothing is happening I'm expecting my mw to call today and schedule an appt for tomorrow.

[xekomaya]

Originally Posted by willemsmamma

Caedmon is 5 wks old now

5 weeks!?!?! Out growing newborn diapers?!?!? No fair. I want my baby!
Glad everything is going well for you

Not much happening here. I'm 40+4. Finally got the baby back LOA - it had been in a good position 38-39 weeks and dropped, but decided to claw its way back out of my pelvis last week and spin around like a wild thing, finally stopping ROA. So I got serious this weekend about positioning and got him/her back LOA, and now she's dropped pretty low again. Hopefully it will help. At least the heartburn is gone.

I have to schedule an appt. for the end of this week. I don't want to do it because I know my m/w is going to walk to talk interventions - "just talk". I kinda get that she has to discuss options and make a plan just in case, but it already feels like I'm on the clock at 40+4! I've been super super cranky lately and just want everyone to leave me alone so I can have my baby in peace!

ETA: My brain is frizzled. I truly don't know my right from my left, but I did not spend all that time putting the baby on the wrong side ROA/LOA switched.

[NaturallyPeachey]

hi mamas! i'm 40w+1day and quite the little brat. i've been so mean and grumpy towards poor DH the past two days. did a three mile walk yesterday with nothing but mild "menstrual" cramps late last night, DTD this morning and am drinking double strength RRL and contemplating yoga. Have a drs. appt. tomorrow and they are "insisting" on an internal (I've avoided them up to now), non stress test and US. I think I will do the internal just to see if I've made any progress, not sure about another US though. Right now I feel as if my cervix is sealed tight and this little baby is just going to hang out in there until he's 18. I do have to say the past week has brought some mighty strange dreams about nothing having to do with babies or pregnancy - just bizarre dreams.

Sending labor vibes to all of us still waiting! ::

[pixiepunk]

i'm still here too - 41+1. my m/w is coming over this afternoon (actually, i should really get off the computer and straighten up a little my house is a wreck!). she doesn't seem concerned in the least about my being 'late' which rocks. though i do want to ask her about what happens if we end up with another prenatal appointment a week from now, just so i know where i'm at. and frankly, by the end of this week i'm goign to be seriously inquiring about some acupuncture, if not homeopathics to get things going, so i'm interested to hear what she has to say about that kind of stuff too.

i had a great day saturday, we went for a walk down to our pond and hung out outside pretty much all day. DH tilled the garden, the kids played... it was gorgeous weather and i felt pretty happy. yesterday i was a miserable cuss. after having a semi-unpleasant talk with my mom on the phone (which is *really* unusual) i was depressed and weepy and in a funk all day long. i guess i'm somewhere in the middle today. at least i feel like i have some energy, so i'm hoping to do some cleaning, dishes, laundry.

and ya know, i love living in a small, rural area, and normally i love going to the store because you see 10 people you know every time you go. well, i had to go to the store this morning, and i just knew i would run into folks who were shocked and amazed i was still pg. and i did. in fact, i ran into 3. the one guy was very cool, though, his daughter's on my DD's soccer team. he and his wife have 6 kids, one of whom was apparently 10 days late. so at least his comment was "well, you're doing the right thing, getting out and walking around. that baby will come soon, don't worry." which was such a relief after hearing twice in 5 minutes "i can't believe your doctor hasn't induced you yet!!" - a lot of people around here know i'm planning a homebirth, but not everyone apparently, and i didn't feel like getting into it, so i just said "nope, i've still got some time before there's any talk of that."

and oh man, if only i was so popular with the phone calls when i wasn't 'late' having my baby - my dance card sure would be full. people are just crawling out of the wood work, lemme tell ya. part of me thinks it's nice that people are thinking of me and want to make sure i'm OK. but the cranky pregnant part of me wants everyone to leave me the hell alone until this baby comes

oh - and i wanted to share this website that i found over the weekend for those of us who are still waiting on babies: http://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz/ac...roduction.aspx
great information on using acupressure for pain management during labor, as well as inducing ctx.

[mkmama]

I'm back from my appointment.

Willemsmama its sooo good to read your post but 5 weeks already! WOW! I am truly happy to hear how things are going for you.

I too am a brat. Today DH spilled his coffee on DS' carseat on accident (its kept in the house b/c we don't have a car and its kinda for emergency use as we only use buses), and i threw the carseat into the bedroom. Poor DS was so worried he didn't make a sound, just stared at me with a concerned look. so sweet. I told him i was sorry and wasn't mad at him and was being ridiculous.

I'm so glad my parents are here tho. They are helping SO much. DS adores them. In fact he listens better to them and doesn't throw tantrums for them...but does for me. WTH.

****Ok ok, my doctor update. Well, first of all i think the medical care is so crap here. She said i'm 1cm and not effaced. right. bull crap. i can FEEL that i'm soft and am having BH i can feel all day every day for 3 weeks. It is also 3 1/2 weeks since i dropped. My midwife told me she was completely engaged and this doc said she is 4/5. The baby also flipped back to her old "not so good" position (facing my left side, she was perfect all last week. ).

Then yes, i got the membrane sweep. it sucked but i'm glad i did it. altho i feel totally normal.

I am 41 weeks now. She gave me medicine and bloodwork for next week's c-section schedule. . I don't think i'm taking the meds tho. (Ranididne and metroclopramide for nausea/acid). My parents leave Saturday.

I am a mess with anxiety.

[tinyshoes]

hey mamas....it's nice to see this thread!

I feel like I'm going CRAZY....I am just waiting and waiting and waiting.....yet, it has only been a few days! I'm just 40w4d, but this is the longest I've been pregnant!

I didn't think that the whole "due date" thing would mess me up....I mean, I'm cool, I'm so earthy-birthy pro-nature, I'm a doula, I know that the EDD is simply the middle point between 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after, etc., etc.

But it IS messing me up. I'm just a pouty grumpy mess.

My gestation wheel, based on LMP, says my due date is 4/24.
My mw's gestation wheel, based on LMP, says my due date is 4/25.
Based on the fact the average pg is 280 days, my due date is 4/26.

and throw in the fact it's a leap year, so we've ALL been patient for an extra bonus day!

No prodromal labor, not even spans of 'tricky' is-this-it? contractions.

[kjoy2]

Originally Posted by tinyshoes

I feel like I'm going CRAZY....
No prodromal labor, not even spans of 'tricky' is-this-it? contractions.

Oh I could have written this. I didn't think my EDD would mess with my mind, either, but I am so DONE. And apparently no acupuncturists around here work on Mondays. ARG.
I have to schedule an OB appt for this week and really really really hope that I go into labor prior to it...

Mkmama, do you have to have a c/s at 42 weeks? Any room for negotiation there?

Willemsmama, I can't believe he's 5 weeks old already! You must be so thankful to be blessed with a mellow baby.

And to all of us, labor fairy dust!
(I feel as though our babies are laughing at us )

[celestialdreamer]

Big hugs to the mamas still gestating

I'm honestly *still* in shock that I didn't even make it to my due date. If I was still pregnant I'd be 41w4d which is when I had my older ds...yet I have a 2 week old! I'm healing well from the c-section and have my one and only check up with the OB that did the surgery this afternoon. I'm really nervous to talk to her about the possibility of VBAC in the future since we live in a highly VBAC unfriendly area. This doc is one of the only ones in the area that does do them still though, so at least there is that positive point. It feels strange to need to know about the possibility of future babies when I have a newborn but I really do need to discuss it

Charlie is doing fairly well, but caught a cold from the other 2 kids : The same exact thing happened when Alex was born, Anna gave him a cold and he got all stuffed up. This time I'm pretty sure Alex's snotty kisses gave it to Charlie. He's eating fine but is really stuffed up in his nose which makes him fairly miserable. The thrush is doing way better, but is still there a little bit in his mouth.

I'm doing a lot of journaling to deal with the emotions from my homebirth turned emergency c/s. I feel like I'm in a much better spot than I was because of it. Still having a hard time reading birth announcements/stories but I am sure that will get better in time. A very close friend is planning her first homebirth (3rd baby) this summer, and I feel like I need to get my head together soon so I can be supportive.

[Jennisee]

Copying what I posted in Alpaca's thread:


DS is 4 weeks old today!! The first few weeks, he was very laid back, but I'm starting to realize that was code for "sleepy." Now that he's starting to be awake more, he's getting crankier and less likely to tolerate being set down. Despite that, he's still calmer than DD was, and he tolerates DH better than DD did, so we still feel like he's pretty easy.

He's really starting to look at things like windows and ceiling fans, he kind of half-heartedly swings at the toys in his Gymini, he scrunches towards his side a little bit like he wants to roll over but can't, and he's smiled a few times. He has tolerated the car seat great so far (either falling asleep or looking out the window), and I'm hoping beyond hope that it continues, because my DD cried in the car seat until she was 1.5 years old and it totally sucked. Right now, he'll go to sleep pretty quickly when I stick him in a carrier, which has made it possible to help DD at tumbling and Story Hour, but we'll see how long that continues.

The other thing we've noticed about him is how sturdy he's been. He was almost 9 lb at birth, and he never really felt like a tiny newborn to us. He's growing so quickly--he's already growing out of his newborn diapers and 0-3 month/50 cm clothes. He held his head up in the delivery room, and his control of it gets better all the time. He started fighting swaddling when he was about 2 weeks old, unlike DD who had to be swaddled for months. He is also such a strong nurser--efficient, handles a strong letdown, rarely spits up, and burps easily. Because of that, we figured out nursing lying down when he was 2 days old, and it has made cosleeping easy. I almost feel guilty about the amount of sleep I've gotten since he's been born.

[mkmama]

Originally Posted by kjoy2

Mkmama, do you have to have a c/s at 42 weeks? Any room for negotiation there?

i don't think so...this is pushing it she said. they will break my waters first if my cervix is "favorable" (whatever that means) and see what happens for 2 hours and then they will c-s. i will not handle that well if this happens. i have such a hope for a VBAC and grieved 2 years over DS c-s after i labored (on my own, no induction) to 9.5cm. i know every single thread is down and complaining. i'm not so excited to meet my little girl at this point, just want it over with....

BUT...i know that my first words will be "You were worth the wait..."

[celestialdreamer]

Originally Posted by mkmama

i don't think so...this is pushing it she said. they will break my waters first if my cervix is "favorable" (whatever that means) and see what happens for 2 hours and then they will c-s. i will not handle that well if this happens. i have such a hope for a VBAC and grieved 2 years over DS c-s after i labored (on my own, no induction) to 9.5cm. i know every single thread is down and complaining. i'm not so excited to meet my little girl at this point, just want it over with....

BUT...i know that my first words will be "You were worth the wait..."

Just sending you a big I'm sending you lots of good thoughts that you go into labor very soon! Don't forget that you can say NO to anything, you are in charge, not them

[pixiepunk]

to you mkmama. we're all rooting for your HBAC and sending you loads of love and hurry up baby vibes.

well, as for me, i had a complete and total emotional meltdown earlier today. i mean seriously just completely lost my sh*t, was sobbing hysterically for well over 30 minutes. my poor kids were totally freaked out and i was so upset i just couldn't even reassure them very well that i was OK. it was silly, just a straw that broke the camel's back kind of thing, and i suddenly felt like i just couldn't go on. i haven't cried like that in years. it felt pretty awful at the time, but since then i snuggled some with the kids, had dinner, and took a shower, and i feel like it was a fine a way as any to get some of the emotional stress out of my system. i feel.... lighter.

and i am officially a woman with a mission. i've got a chiro appointment in the morning, a reflexology appointment tomorrow evening, and an acupuncture appointment either thursday or friday morning (waiting for confirmation). i may not need any of them, or i may need all of them. hell, i may get through all of them and be heading to the health food store for some homeopathics friday afternoon. but it feels good to at least have a plan, and to be trying to do more proactive things to get this baby to come. my m/w is super cool and not stressed about me being 41+2, but she's also cool with me starting to take measures beyond the basics to get things going. i can't really imagine what a basket case i'd be if i was getting pressure from her on top of it all, and i really feel for those of you guys who are getting pressure from your care providers. i can only imagine how much stress it must be adding to your situation.

[ChristyH]

Elizabeth is 6 days old today!! I swear I don't know where the time goes, she's already changing so much.

I feel great! I had such a wonderful, easy birth that I really don't even feel like I just had a baby. People keep asking me what I'm doing out and about but for me that's just how I am, I can't stand being cooped up and I have to be out doing something. We are already back into the swing of things at home and DH goes back to work tomorrow.
Elizabeth is a wonderfully, sweet baby who is already a gem at night. She goes to sleep at 11pm and wakes at 3am to nurse and goes right back to sleep and sleeps until 7am. I'm not even tired because I get so much sleep at night.
She seems to be going through a growth spurt right now because she nurses constantly during the day but we're getting through it.
The other kids seem to be getting over the new-ness of it all too, they were all about the baby and hovering constantly and wanting to help but they seem to be settling in to having her in the family.

[kjoy2]

Hugs to you, Mkmama. Can either of your parents extend their stays a bit?

Pixiepunk, I am with you on the mission... At my MW appt yesterday she massaged my cervix but could barely reach it. Apparently it's not even 1cm and around 30% effaced, so we've got some work to do! I can't believe that with all the BH contrax since week 26 onwards, that my cervix is still so stubborn. I am now doing nipple stim every hour (never thought I'd use the breast pump prior to babies' arrival!), taking a labor tincture, have acupressure points to work with, and am going to my second acupuncture session today. I really don't know what else to do... :

ChristyH, send me your baby.