Weekly chit chat November 8th - 14th - Page 3

[clovermom]

I had a visit with my midwife this morning. I did a glucose screen where I ate a big sugary breakfast after fasting and then a finger prick an hour later. She said the results (129) were a little high but nothing too concerning. The syrup and OJ was really unusual for me to eat so I think that's probably all it was. I did throw away the remaining Halloween candy when I got home and I am going to try to limit my extra sugar intake (I do have a sweet tooth in the afternoon and evenings that I tend to indulge when preg!).

My BP was also kind of high, well the systolic part. So, she said it can be affected by all kinds of things and we'll just keep an eye on it but now I'm wondering if there's anything I could change that might help it or prevent it from rising. More rest? exercise? meditation? Less coffee (I have a cup a day)? salt? Anyone have any ideas?

On a positive note, from her feeling and listening to the HB she thinks the baby is head down (for now) and that she could hear the placenta way up on my left side :: We made an appt for the u/s to check it for next Wed. I am so anxious to find out. Really, really, really hoping its moved and everything works out for the out-of-hosital birth I so want!

[LionTigerBear]

I don't know about the blood pressure-- mine seems to be perfect no matter what I do. Probably genetic for me I guess. But definitely don't skimp on the salt during pregnancy. Maybe switch to unrefined sea salt if you aren't already using that. (We use all sea salt.) Cutting out the coffee probably couldn't hurt either. As far as caffeine goes, I have a little coke once a month or so when we eat out, but no other caffeine foods for me right now.

My baby has been breech for a while now. I think it's kind of cute, feeling her head in my ribs when I lean forward, both of my boys were always vertex. I am definitely falling in love with this little inner bundle. I'm starting to grasp that it really is a real baby . . .

[Just1More]

Hi! I don't know that I've posted in a chat yet, but it's fun to read to see what others are doing. I thought I'd try to keep up, too!

I talked to my mom today...it seems my gma isn't doing very well. She's having trouble with her heart, and though it's not yet critical, it is serious, and the same thing my great gma died of. I'm hoping we'll be able to go see her over Thanksgiving, but it's far far away, and dh only gets a few days off work. I've not been able to talk to him about it yet, and won't until Saturday night. (He's gone on a business trip.)

I guess, things are good for me, excepting that I just don't FEEL like doing anything. It's not really a lack of energy, I don't think. I'm just happier being lazy. I'm having a ton of people over for brunch in the morning, though, so I need to get busy during this fleeting naptime!

I also need to establish care at the local hospital. For several reasons, I'm doing dual care (but we're planning a homebirth). I just really don't want to go and deal with the hassle. But, I need to. And soon...I just started the 27th week.

Anyway, hope everyone down starts to be up, and those of us who are up stay up!

[Queen of my Castle]

Originally Posted by clovermom

My BP was also kind of high, well the systolic part. So, she said it can be affected by all kinds of things and we'll just keep an eye on it but now I'm wondering if there's anything I could change that might help it or prevent it from rising. More rest? exercise? meditation? Less coffee (I have a cup a day)? salt? Anyone have any ideas?

The systolic reading is not the part you need to be concerned about, unless it is high as well as the diastolic. It can be affected by activity, stress...so many things. Usually if I got a high reading we'd take it again at the end of the meeting and it would be down. Try to rest (not run around) before the appointment and it should be accurate.
However, I dealt with hypertension in my first pregnancy, and we worked hard to 'prevent' it in my second. Some of the things suggested was to take a plethora of certain vitamins, one big one being kyolic garlic. I was also advised to rest/nap 3x per day, every day. I still nap 1x a day now, and I haven't had a problem since my first pregnancy. I can look up the sheet if you need more, but as I said, it really shouldn't be a concern unless the diastolic is high as well. Don't worry about the salt, and even while trying to prevent it, I've always drank 1-2 cups of coffee, as well as 1 black tea a day.

[Thursday Girl]

I've been reading, but not posting much. Not sure why.

How exciting that so many of us are in the third trimester already, and how surprising, it has gone so fast.

just1more I hope you are able to get up to see your gma.

I have started sewing small diapers. I am hoping that they work well on the babe. I am also almost finished with the babe's quilt. One more row to sew on then cutting the fringe and washing, washing washing.

She seems quite content head down, and has been for ages. I always feel movement down in the ring of my pelvic bone. My other girls never kicked/hit this place. Speeaking of other girls, I am not entirely convinced this little one is a girl. We shall see.

[Just1More]

Thursday Girl- thanks...

and, what kind of diapers are you sewing? I've been trying to decide what i'm going to do with this baby?

[mama-aya]

Hi!
Clovermom- I thought that avoiding salt wasn't the big deal in getting bp down, but eating lots of protein and dark green leafies was the biggest help? I'm not sure. Have you checked the Brewer's Diet? Its a pretty good diet guideline for most pg people, bp issues or not, I think.
Thursdaygirl- What kind of diapers are you sewing? I was just getting ready to start making dipes but now the sewing machine is in the shop and will be for who knows how long (weeks, I think).

I just got back from an OB appointment and I feel so much better now!
I've pretty much been laying down not doing anything for a few days, after having lots of contractions all weekend every time I started moving around. Then I felt the baby drop, and there's been a lot of pressure. That didn't make me feel any safer about avoiding preterm labor! I was worried that I was headed for bedrest again and kind of let myself get too freaked out, you know?
Anyway, the appointment went really well, and my doctor did a good OMT treatment, which so far always stops the contractions, and measured my cervix on the ultrasound. It is almost 4 cm still (it was 4.5) last time they measured, and is not funneling or anything, so YAY! The baby's head is down now, and low, nestled right in there, but my doc thought that was fine, not worrisome.
So anyway I'm psyched that all these contractions aren't doing much, and that I don't need to freak quite as much as I have been. Especially since DH signed me up to cater the food for our church's big fundraiser auction/supper Saturday. I like doing it, usually, but this year it seemed like a little much to do from bed....

[Larissa]

I am going to start sewing some size small diapers too. I have five yards of fluffy cotton sherpa that I can't wait to get my hands on! I have to start doing that soon. I am going to make fitteds. I already made enough covers.

About the BP. I have mostly eliminated sugar from my diet. But I do still have 1 cup of coffee each morning, and I still have low blood pressure. So the caffeine hasn't made a difference in my BP.

[Bluebird9]

Has anyone felt like they are being kicked in the cervix? It's a bizarre feeling and a bit alarming, I don't feel like she's going to break through, more of a "hey, it's too soon, stop messing around!"

She has been breech for the most part, honestly I think she does flips, I get kicked in the lower belly and then up near my rib cage, it makes me laugh all the time.

[nighten]

Well, I'm just a big whinybutt these days. The cold has moved into my chest and it hurts when I cough.

Thankfully my toddler is feeling much, much better at least. But I'm a serious grump, because I hate being sick. My ILs left this morning though (which is good) and my mom is coming up to help, which is wonderful.

[Jenivere]

This baby seems to favor laying transverse but it does flip flop a lot and I have felt it head down a few times. I don't remember at one point my other kids started to stay head down.

[mama-aya]

Oh nighten, being sick is awful enough when you're a Mom. Being sick when you're pg and have a sick toddler is terrible! You go ahead and be a big whiny-butt! I'm glad your in-laws are gone and your Mom is coming. I hope you can get lots of rest and tea and feel better soon.

[monkaha]

Originally Posted by mama-aya

Oh nighten, being sick is awful enough when you're a Mom. Being sick when you're pg and have a sick toddler is terrible! You go ahead and be a big whiny-butt! I'm glad your in-laws are gone and your Mom is coming. I hope you can get lots of rest and tea and feel better soon.

:

[Citykid]

Great article in the Times today about homebirth! The first midwife mentioned - Miriam Schwartzchild - is my midwife! http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/ga...pagewanted=all

[LionTigerBear]

Awww, Renee, that's awful. I hope you are feeling better real soon! Make yourself some good herbal tea and mix some unflavored generic Ester-C in there!!!

Originally Posted by Bluebird9

She has been breech for the most part, honestly I think she does flips, I get kicked in the lower belly and then up near my rib cage, it makes me laugh all the time.

Originally Posted by Jenivere

This baby seems to favor laying transverse but it does flip flop a lot and I have felt it head down a few times. I don't remember at one point my other kids started to stay head down.

Yup, mine flips from breech to transverse, and then back to breech. I need to explain to her that these positions are not considered optimal. She's a nut. My boys never moved this much, they were pretty much vertex most of the time. I'm thinking gymnastics for this one . . . too bad she won't be sixteen in an Olympic year. Our babies are just gonna miss it-- as close as you can get without making it. They'll have to wait until they're 19 to compete! Gosh darnnit!!! Oh well.

Originally Posted by Citykid

Great article in the Times today about homebirth! The first midwife mentioned - Miriam Schwartzchild - is my midwife! http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/ga...pagewanted=all

Cool!!!

[starling&diesel]

Originally Posted by Bluebird9

Has anyone felt like they are being kicked in the cervix?

I have. Feels oogy and not at all pleasant ... almost like my cervix is being 'plucked' from the inside, so to speak.

So for you mamas in the know, if I feel kicks up top, and kicks down low, and kicks off to the side ... does that mean that baby is fully repositioning? How can you tell which way baby is lying?

[nighten]

I think mine is still doing quite a few somersaults at this point, though I've started feeling more consistent pokes in specific areas (upper right, lower left, so kind of transverse).

First time around it was hard to tell what was what in terms of feet and hands and all. But I got used to it and by the end could pretty much tell all but one thing (which ended up being her little heels actually).

---

Thanks for the well wishes, all. I really do feel like absolute crud. I'm so glad my mom came up. I've been taking it easy and it helps a lot to have her here.

[Larissa]

This is my 4th baby and I still am amazed at those that seem to know what position baby is in. I just assume baby is head down. But I really have no clue. When baby kicks, I am never able to identify body parts.

[Everrgreen]

I'm in the third trimester!!! : I can't believe it!

I had a few days with minimal movement which had me very worried. Then I went to my midwife appt on Monday and told her about that and since then he's been so active! He must have known I was worried . The midwife thought it felt like he was head down, but then when we were listening to the heartbeat I got a kick just below my belly button. So she said she wasn't sure. But since then all the kicks have been up high and to the right. So maybe it was just a really good punch. I really have no idea. I just hope that he settles in with his head down in the end.

[LionTigerBear]

Originally Posted by starling&diesel

So for you mamas in the know, if I feel kicks up top, and kicks down low, and kicks off to the side ... does that mean that baby is fully repositioning? How can you tell which way baby is lying?

When I was first figuring it out (last pregnancy) having a visual really helped figure out my baby's position-- try this website-- http://spinningbabies.simplwebsite.com/belly-mapping

In general, if you feel a broader hard surface, that's the back, and if you feel a lot of little parts and punches in front and the belly is more squishy, then the baby's back is against your back. If the baby is breech, you can usually palpate the head somewhere around the top. The most ideal position for birth is for the back to be facing out (so the punches would be more towards your insides rather than outwards) and with the head down, of course. ETA: of course the babies have LOTS of time before they have to get into position!!!

Hope that made some sense! I'm so tired, I just got back from grocery shopping with my two preschoolers! Ugh. They're great, but it is such a project, plus a workout! Am I an awful mom because I finally stooped to bribing them with sweets?