***High Risk Mamas Support Thread*** - Page 3

[soulshine]

yes, its the same, the mthfr... and it does seem to be very common, if you get tested. i have continued with baby aspirin, no one has told me not to... actually i just called the ob office and asked and they said if i wanted to try to i could stop the baby aspirin for 2 weeks but need to be on it for the remainder of the pregnancy. what? its so frustrating that they just don't know!

well, after your appointment, did they say to stay on strict bedrest or did they modify it? just curious, because your scan went so well, i didn't know if it affected your motility level.

what is really frustrating is the huge realm of opinions ranging from one side to the opposite spectrum. bedrest. no bedrest. i have talked to 3 separate peri's over the past few years and they all had very different perspectives on most things. its bothersome, because, i mean, you can always find someone who will tell you what you want to hear or are hoping to hear, but does that mean that it is correct? i read online that mostly they tell you bedrest so that you don't feel responsible if you lose the pregnancy. that it doesn't actually do anything to improve the sch. this is all second hand from what the women's doctors are telling them, but you get the gist of it. it will be interesting to hear what this new peri has to say.

one thing i am doing is drinking lots of water! that seems to be helping, this is the 4th full day of bedrest and i didn't have any bleeding yesterday

so, did your sister move in to help with your daughter? its nice she is helping with the cleaning. we have 3 hairy dogs and they are like fuzz machines, the house is really fuzzy right now! husband cleans on sundays

i think about the bedrest alot, wanting to get off of it... its beautiful summer and i need to be working, etc. but, the thing is, how quickly i forget, how terrified i was on sunday when i had that big bleed, and how much i love this baby, when i am not bleeding, it is easy to think 'well its all better' but i know its not. it is really scary waiting for another bleed.

thanks for chatting chesapeakeborn

[ChesapeakeBorn]

Yeah, I've run into the same thing - a huge spectrum of opinions regarding bedrest. I have found that most doctors say pelvic rest is the way to go. But most SCH women say bedrest. The truth is that I could not trust what the doctors were saying until I found a doctor I can trust. Does that make sense? I could always tell that the other doctors did not really have much experience with this condition or they weren't really sure about what they were seeing on that u/s screen. But this doctor is different. The equipment he used for the scan was different. I finally have complete confidence in someone.

He said that I should get up on my feet a little more; I need to keep some muscle strength up and it also wouldn't be bad to let that blood that is in there drain some. So I am continuing to work from home and basically stay at home (too scared to have a gusher anywhere else). But no bending, twisting, lifting, etc etc for me. I have been lying down for nearly 2 months now, so I still have to get the courage just to sit up. I noticed I get crampy when I go to my doctor's appointments so I never want to be up for long. Bedrest was really hard for me at first. We are a very active family and spend a lot of time outdoors. Eventually I got used to it. I just so want a healthy baby.

My sister and nephew actually moved in because they sold their house and needed a place to stay while looking for another one (and waiting on a divorce settlement). The timing couldn't have been more perfect. Rather than paying rent (which I think would be ridiculous), she helps my husband with cleaning, shopping, errands, and taking care of our daughter. It looks like they are going to be here for awhile and that's great. I so appreciate her help around here.

I will be easing off my progesterone supplements this week and am nervous about that. I will be starting progesterone shots around 18 weeks because of my history of preterm labor. I am assuming you have been on supplements too? If so, how long are you staying on them?

[soulshine]

i am on 1cc(50mg) progesterone in sesame oil, IM once a day. not too bad. i stopped estrogen at 10.5 weeks made me really bloated and look like i was 20 wks pregnant at 12wks! now i look more normal for 14 weeks.

i'll stay on the progesterone thru week 16. right around when you are getting geared up to start yours! i am a little nervous about stopping too, although placenta will be well into making its own by then. r.e. said to stop at 10wks, ob said 13wks, and peri said 16wks, so peri wins (peri always seems to win).

so, that's awesome about your sister!! great timing and works for everyone! my mom comes and goes, it figures she is gone the day i started bedrest! she'll be back this next week, so that will help, at least with the dogs! they are starved for a good walk!!

well, my job is alot of running around, and standing around, with some twisting, bending, and lifting thrown in for good measure. if i can go back, it will be in a limited capacity. i was working the night before the big bleed, and i did something really dumb- you know, i thought things were going alright and the spotting was consistant and light, so i lifted something really heavy and then the next day, bam, into the e/r. so, no more dumb stupid things. i was in absolute tears thinking that i lost this baby because i did something dumb like that. i won't be stupid again. the thing is, you just forget, almost, because it is all second nature stuff- activity is something you don't think about, you just do it. so, maybe being in bed is better, anyway. i don't know. i am going to sit outside this afternoon, get some sun on my face.

whoopie!

[avivaelona]

Well of course the bedrest mommies are dominating the thread, what else do we have to do?

CB I hear you about it being hard to get up again, you get into a groove and it feels almost transgressive to upset it. Take it slow and see what you can do. I also get crampy if I do too much and then I know its time to take it easy for a while.

IC they are also really iffy about whether bedrest helps or not, last time my doc was pretty conservative, this one (same office just different doc) is less so, I was planning on being up a little more this time though so it jibes with how I was feeling.

We haven't had TV for the last 6 years, since we moved to this house. Yesterday we finally hooked up satellite TV and I'm both loving it and hating it...but my son in just one day, my son who hates TV, has gotten hooked on Blue's Clues. I'm horrified, but also secretly thrilled. Its actually hard if your child won't watch TV.

[blairinargentina]

we don't own a tv either (going on 9 years now) but honestly, i don't know if i could handle bedrest without one! i mean, i am not on bedrest so what do i know, but it seems like a good time killer (assuming you don't get too zombied out on it-- although maybe zombie is good sometimes??). we have netflix and watch alot of stuff online, but it doesn't compare to satellite!

my appointment went well today, uneventful, which is good. got to hear the heartbeat, which always nice! it was fast, which is making me reconsider my "its a boy" theory. basically the mw said that we'll decide what to do after the 20wk u/s schedules for aug 5th. still waiting and seeing i guess.

[soulshine]

blair,
good news about your appointment so, how fast does the hb have to be to be a girl hb?! i got 161 today!

well, we have satellite, but upstairs in bedrest central, we have a small b&w tv that only gets abc,cbs,pbs,&nbc. i watched a soap opera today!! jeez, nothing ever changes in pine valley!

i would love it to get like, an entire season of satc or sopranos or weeds or any other tv phenomanom (that word is so hard to spell) that i managed to miss. but, i am lucky to get my afternoon decaf i won't push it!

2nd day of no bleeding!

[blairinargentina]

Originally Posted by soulshine

blair,
good news about your appointment so, how fast does the hb have to be to be a girl hb?! i got 161 today!

well, it's an old wives tale, but i've always heard that 150-160ish means girl and 130-140ish means boy. who knows though!

yay for two days of no bleeding!

[soulshine]

btw, blair, i love love love your etsy shop!

so, tell me more about it? you make all those clothes?! they are really adorable and make me crave a baby so much! do you know those cute babies that model the clothes?!

well, when i get there, i bookmarked it so when i am ready to get this little one a little something something, i know where to go.

[blairinargentina]

aw, thanks soulshine! it's a pretty fun business to have, most of the time! i make 99% of it myself, with the exception of wholesale orders, which i have two additional seamstresses for. all the models are the kiddos of friends here in town, and of course me own kiddo! this one's mine: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...ng_id=12342593 though she's a little bigger and has longer hair now! in general i like it alot, though i will likely close shop indefinately when this baby comes along. childcare here is awful so i dont even want to entertain the notion of trying to keep up with everything!

thanks again! : (i love that smiley!)

[blairinargentina]

hey ladies, i was wondering if any of you have tried guided meditation type exercises? i have found them to be VERY helpful with the stress of high risk pregnancy. a friend gave me one (that is actually more for people with chronic pain, but whatever) when i was pregnant with dd. it was a lifesaver! i am not usually into that sort of thing (i can never clear my head, sit still, etc) but i honestly think it did a world of good for helping me relax, focus on being healthy, sending positive energy to my baby, and just enjoy being pregnant, even if for a few moments here and there.

i thought it might be helpful for those of you on bedrest... for those times when you can't get comfortable, much less get your mind off of where you are at the moment, etc. the one i have is by a lady named ruth belle naparstek, i am sure she has some pregnancy ones at as well, but any of them are great!

just a thought

[ChesapeakeBorn]

I've tried some meditation podcasts (and Mindfulness for Beginners), but can't seem to find one that suits me. I really like the idea of finding one that focuses on healing! Maybe there is even one for pregnant mamas. Off to do some searching.....

[blairinargentina]

the one i have focuses on healing as well, so it really works well for me. plus her voice is just super soothing to me for some reason.

[soulshine]

i used an anji cd for relaxation specifically designed for ivf patients... it was incredibly helpful, very soothing, guided imagery. then, i realized she does them for 1st, 2nd, 3rd trimesters, also birth, AND cesarean birth (just realized this and so happy i found it!).

here's the link... http://store.anjionline.com/-strse-P...Categories.bok

i bought the one for the 1st trimester, but, confession, have never listened to it because i was just too darn nervous!! so, i am thinking of getting the 2nd trimester one, and i know you can download them directly or wait for the cd by mail.

anyway, that's my suggestion. i swear, the ivf cd really relaxed me thru that stressful process. i am sure her others are very similiar.

if you scroll down the side bar of that link, she's got lots of cd's worth...

woops! here is one just for bedrest!! http://store.anjionline.com/-strse-1...bor/Detail.bok

i may order this tomorrow!

how's everyone hanging in? avivaelona, i know you're chillin' on the veranda... blair, your daughter isabel is very, very adorable! thanks for the link! chesapeakeborn, how is your modification of the bedrest going? were you ambulatory today? i was exhausted today, no idea why. a little depressed, maybe?

this is one full week for me! my a$$ is killin'! my dogs are bored. but, baby is alive and inside, and, according to ff's pregnancy calendar...

"Your baby measures about 3.7 to 4.1 inches (about 9.3 to 10.3cm) from crown to rump and weighs about 1.75 ounces (50g).

Your baby's bones still consist of soft cartilage but they are now beginning to harden and the development of the bones and the marrow continues. Her ears are developing into a more recognizable shape and any hair already on the head and brows will become thicker.

Your baby may already be sucking her thumb.

Her skin is thin and translucent and all her blood vessels can be seen through it.

Her hair continues to grow on her head and her eyebrows. If her hair will be dark, the follicles will start to generate pigment to color her hair.

Your baby is moving more now and is becoming increasingly flexible. She can bend her arms at the elbows and wrists and she can make tiny fists with her hands."

[blairinargentina]

oh, that's great there is one for a c-section, i was thinking about that just today. i am hoping that they will let the babe stay with me afterwards (as i get my tubes tied and all finished up, and in recovery) but in case they won't or can't it would be really good to have something else to focus on!

[ChesapeakeBorn]

Thanks for the CD links, soulshine! Can't wait to check then out. I have exhausted days even on bedrest. Doesn't seem like we're doing much, but our bodies are!

Yeah, so, my modified bed rest is not so modified. I am too scared to change anything! I get achy and crampy when I am sitting or standing and I know I need to keep my pelvic/abdominal muscles strong, but I haven't been able to do it. How do I get past this?

[soulshine]

blah. one week of bedrest and i am going berserko.

(although, this time last week, i thought i was losing the baby, so i really cannot complain too much here...)

the problem i am having is that husband and i have our own business, and with me not there, the things that i am in charge of are obviously not up to standard and it is driving me bananas!! what am i supposed to do about this?

like, for instance, blair, what if someone else had to make your baby clothes while you were on bedrest, and you took a look at one of them and like, there was no buttons on one, or something was sewn really shoddily... so frustrating!!

i don't think i am a control freak or anything, and i am just hoping for the best, but... it is so frustrating to be stuck with my a$$ to this mattress!!

(googled our business and it got a bad review on wednesday- we never get bad reviews!! waaaaahhhhhh.)

so, while i am more than happy to do whatever it takes to grow this healthy baby for 6 more months, i don't know how to come to a place of peace about my 'other' life going on without me!!

[soulshine]

chesapeakeborn,
i have no idea, because i feel the same way! maybe you can save your times of motility to when your husband is home and things are 'safer', so if something happens, you have that safety net... i worry something is going to happen and i am home alone.

when my husband gets home, he doesn't want to see me doing anything! he has gotten so protective over the bedrest. blahhhhhh.

i wonder when we will feel 'safer'.
even if i get the green light to go back to work, i am going to do it in a very limited way- just an overseer, not a do-er. i can be a hero after this baby is born healthy and safe!

[blairinargentina]

i've pretty much decided, soulshine, that if i had to go on bedrest, the business would be closed indefinately. i have two good seamstresses that i trust with *some* things, but there are other details that i would not want anyone else doing!

[ChesapeakeBorn]

Oh, man soulshine. That is a tough one. I kinda know what you are talking about. I mean, I deal with the same "I'm not involved anymore and things are going to !@#$" thing just around my house (DH is a sweety but has different priorities ). But it is different when it is a business. Have you spoken with your husband about your concerns? If you have other employees, maybe you could call a meeting (via speakerphone?). And it may be a good idea to post a notice in your storefront (either physical or website) in which you ask your wonderful customers to have patience as you work through this challenge. That way they'd think twice before they give a negative review. Would that help?

Let us know how your scan goes today! Hope you get some answers.

Oh, btw, I downloaded the bedrest meditation from anji! I can't wait to listen to it. I'll come back with a review for you all.

Hope everyone is doing well today. Sage, how are you? Any more pain?

[soulshine]

chesapeakeborn,
ok, i am back form my u/s and i want to have some 'sch' talk with you

from your description of your u/s, i had high hopes. the usual peri is on vacation so i got the fill-in peri.

the u/s tech took a ton of anatomical measurements to date baby, etc. fortunately and most importantly, baby looks great, measures 5 days ahead of my calendar dates, and was active and had a healthy heartbeat, and if i do say so myself is adorable, especially in profile (don't care for the 4-d images as of yet because baby doesn't have alot of soft-tissue at this point...) anyway,

the u/s tech took a few pics of the sch, measured it, and then went to get peri. peri comes in and asks us what we know about sch, i tell him a boatload of stuff, and he agrees with it all.

tells me, sort of in a vague way, after i asked, where the sch is, where the placenta is, how big the sch is, and then reiterates that there isn't a damn thing they can do about. his take on bed rest is that you definately bleed less while on bed rest, but there is no proof that bedrest will change the outcome of the sch in terms of the pregnancy being successful or not, or even if the sch will shrink, bleed out or get larger.

he told me if i had a big bleed again to get to the hospital, and it isn't unexpected that it could happen again. he said the sch could stay around the entire pregnancy!

he said at 24wks, the sch start 'driving the doctors crazy' because the bleeding could be masking other causes for bleeding, like PROM or placenta abruption. he also said the sch can cause those 2 things too, or at least make the risk of them higher than a 'normal' pregnancy.,

so, he ok'd me trying out a few hours of work a day, light work. he said strict bedrest makes you insane, so getting up and moving around 'making friends with the remote' are all good bed-resty things to do.

it is so scary thinking i could have a gigantic bleed at any moment!

he didn't say whether there was blood in my uterus from it, the u/s tech didn't do any measurments like that. my cervix is long and closed! woohoooo! love that.

so, i guess what i want to know, chesapeakeborn, is- is that what your's said, or was your more detailed? did he give you a precise measurement of the sch? like XbyYbyZ numbers? did he give you a precise placement of the placenta in terms of where it is in the uterus compared to exactly where the sch is? did he have any other comments?

anything you can tell me is so appreciated. i was hoping for more info, and i guess the thing is, i was hoping for better news, like the stupid thing has gone away.

sigh.

but, that baby sure is cute! couldn't get a look at the gender yet- or the u/s tech felt that it was too soon to venture a good guess, so she just breezed on by!!

well, how is everyone else doing? i had some brown spotting last night. after 3 days of nothing! thank goodness for my doppler! (i know that isn't very popular here on mdc, but, well, if the majority of people on mdc has losses like mine or yours, they may understand a little better the mental sanity a doppler gives you for the 10 seconds you use it)