Chat thread from 8/9 until...

[plantmommy]

Ok, I am not doing a Jen awesome recap. Sorry people!

I wasn't up at 5am this morning! ...

I was up at 4:30. :irked:

I seem to have the first yeast infection that I've had in years and years. Garlic has been put to use. I've never tried that before, but many swear by it, and I want to knock this out before it gets bad. I've had thrush before and never want to again!

Oldest dd is off to the grands for the week, we haven't decided whether we'll drive up to pick her up next weekend and spend the night, so the other two get to spend some more time with them, or whether it's just too long for me to contemplate sitting in the car (almost 2 hours each way). Both of my girls have a great relationship with them, but ds and grandma are like oil and water. He's a very sensitive little boy and she is convinced that he needs "toughening up". grrrrr.

The idea of possibly going into labor while I'm there, if we do go, is enugh to make me want to stay home! Not the environment I would want to labor in. Although father-in-law is a retired MD, and is very supportive of our decision to hb. m-i-l stresses me out, though.

Is anybody else having lots of strong/er toning or BH cntx? I've had hours of them, virtually non-stop. They do call attention to themselves, but I trust they're helping a lot for when it's time for the real thing, so I guess it's good!

[MamaAcorn]

I've been having some crazy B-H contractions lately. I had an episode on Saturday night where they wouldn't stop for 2-3 hours and were quite strong and regular, making me contemplate going to the hospital. Thank goodness they slowed down and eventually went back to my regular B-H type contractions.

Well we made the big move into the new place over the weekend. I'm glad to be done packing, but now we have boxes everywhere! I'll be unpacking and re-arranging stuff all week long on top of working all day. And sometime before next weekend we have to finish cleaning the apartment before our exit walk-through. So still lots to do, but I'm so glad that the bulk of the move is done with!

Alex has been really super cuddley with the baby lately. He came up to me yesterday and pulled up my shirt to lay his head on my belly and fell asleep. It's been well over a week since he's nursed, so I'm wondering if that means that he's weaned. He's gone two weeks before without asking though, so who knows. Only time will tell.

Well plenty to do, so I better get going. Hope everyone has a good week!

Pam

[Caroline248]

Plantmommy...the garlic works awesome!! My husband thought it was the oddest thing, me inserting garlic "there"...but wow. I can't believe I never tried it years ago. With that and your contrx's, could labor be looming? I ALWAYS get a yeast infection right before birth...matter of fact I noticed a slight burning last night...

Pam, glad the move went smoothly..at least that is one thing you have done now!!



I am the same...went for a walk last night and had major lower back pain, but nothing....That and the beginning of "the burning"..maybe I am getting ready. We took the shower apart and scrubbed the bathroom, my husband will be done with our room today...and I got hte pack and play put together. Baby;s bag is packed..just gotta do mine. So, I guess I am almost ready!! Hmm..since my due date was moved to August, I guess I am the first one due?? Closely followed by Jen, and someone is due on the first??

Caroline

[plantmommy]

I am... 36 weeks, 3 days.

gee, Caroline, I hope not yet! I would prefer if he came early, but I'd like to wait until the end of the week, at least, and ideally until after the 22nd. (DD's 4th bday)

Although, I am feeling kinda crampy, to be honest. Also exhausted (up at 4:30 is no fun). I was attributing the cramping to irritation from the garlic, or the tea tree oil, which I just put on my fingers and uh, massaged in last night, since it is also supposed to help.

generally crampy, but not timable crampy, iykwim. however, I have to admit my hips also feel achy, and that is a typical sign for me. could also just be he's moved, though.

I think not yet. Hope not yet. I'm not quite ready. Although my midwife did say he's a good size and she'd be ok with anything after the 8th.

[adventuregirl]

Happy Monday, ladies!

Pam, I can't believe you are working all week AND unpacking/arranging, AND taking care of a toddler! Boy, I thought I had a lot on my plate a week ago. You go, girl!

Caroline, there are a few of us due in the first days of Sept. We should re-do the due date list we had a while back, maybe copy/paste it to the top of new threads.... If someone has time...? I will have time next week.

I fully caught my dh's sinus infection, yech! Cancelled our plans yesterday and took it easy, called in to work today, although if they are desperate, I'll go in for the last two hours of the day, but I really don't want to. I had an awful night's sleep last night, I had to get up to pee so many times, it felt like it was every half hour, ugh! Then each time I had to blow my nose and even had to eat once. Not to mention it was very painful to roll over, and get up and down. Not really good to heal this cold.... :sick

Looks like most of us are in full nesting mode. I can't stop thinking about this and that I need to get done, and Oh, we don't have that, better go shopping!

Hope everyone has a great week!

[Caroline248]

Plantmommy...could be something going on there!! But, i had that for weeks with my second baby. Just as long as all goes well...maybe this baby wants to have his bday BEFORE his sister!!

I was thinking about updating the list, but really there are many people on there that are not around anymore and several who are around aren't there...(I was looking for plantmommy's date). So maybe we need to do a new one...ok..see new thread...

Caroline

[JenInMpls]

I'm "due" the 2nd, Danielle is due the 1st and I think Sheryl is due early in the month, too...?

My B-H have been fairly mild and occur mostly when I've done too much in one day. Sprout is still riding high but may have sunk just a touch.

Had another infamous irrational hormonal crying jag last night. It was so irrational, I don't even remember what it was about anymore. Oh yes I do - being so big and clumsy and feeling helpless. It was after Jo offered to get my bear for me which had fallen on the floor next to my side of the bed. You'd think that I'd be grateful for her offer of help, but no, instead I bawl. :eyesroll puffy eyes today, I think after I swim I will put some eye solace on my eyes and maybe I'll fall asleep.

I swear these stretch marks are going to go clear around my back and meet at my spine.

Happy Monday, hope it isn't too manic (whoa-oo-oh)

jen

[sistermama]

Anyone else's abs just given up the ghost? I can't even roll myself over in bed anymore without it being a major ordeal. Plus I've got muscles hurting in my pelvis/groin that I never even knew existed!!

Got the rest of my bins (from moving) sorted through last night. Finally found the quilt and bumpers I made for the cradle. Jack is so sweet - he saw them set up in the cradle this morning, and he said, "oooh, nice in there mommy!" Now I just have to prepare myself for a huge garage sale in two weeks, and then I should finally have some room around here!

Today is Jack's second day of school (he goes M and W) and it didn't really go any better when I dropped him off. "Please Mommy, don't close door on Jack" Talk about tearing your heart out. But, they called me at 10:30 and told me that he was doing great and that he should stay for the whole time. So I feel much better.

How did we all get so preggo? I can't believe we'll have babies soon. I've got a mw appt this afternoon, but I'll be in a rush to get to work so it will just be all business. Hopefully my iron has come up some. I need to start taking nettle capsules - keep forgetting to pick them up!

[Robertsgirl]

Hello Mommies!

I'm feeling way behind on everything in our life!

Sistermama- My abs gave up a long time ago. I seriously was wondering if Robert was going to have to roll me over at night, but then I went to the chiro last week and had my hips put back together, ahhhhh. MUCH BETTER! I'm glad Jack's day is going better today than last week.

Jen- From end of last thread.....All the wives tales are saying girl for you huh.....then I'll guess boy for sure!! LOL! ;) I've been fighting crying urges too. Saturday night I was so tired that I just cried and freaked Robert out. It really was pure exhaustion.

Sheryl- I can't believe you are still working. YOUR NUTS! Enjoy your down day, especially not feeling well. Veg on the couch!

Pam- ARE YOU CRAZY? You make me feel less than a woman. I can hardly even make sure to have dinner ready every night any more, much less move, pack/unpack and chase a toddler. Your a super woman. Can you send some of that over this way??? :innocent

We had a good weekend although I way over did it....for me. Reading about ya'lls lives, I can tell I'm obviously the biggest wimp of the group...oh well. Friday Robert had off work so we went and bought all of our birth supplies, not that we unpacked and organised them in any useable fashion, but at least they are in the house now. Saturday we drove an hour away to my Aunts house, VERY UNCOMFORTABLE CAR RIDE and it ended up being a surprise shower for us. We got lots of stuff although none of them live the same lifestyle as us, so I will be returning about 90% of it. I feel bad, but what am I going to do with sposies and wipes out the wazoo. And I think we got 4 copies of every sleeper. It was a nice surprise since we didn't think we were going to have any showers since we don't know anyone here yet (we just moved to CA in Jan). Anyway, the running around on Fri and then all day on Sat wore me out and I was in pain and an emotional wreck on Sat night.

I'm having B&H about 20 hours a day and have been for a week. Is this normal? My belly is ALWAYS HARD!!! And when Spud moves it hurts so bad. He/she hasn't dropped so I know I"m not even close to labor, but this is really uncomfortable, can I call time out??

Sleep. I'm finally getting some. I finally listened to my MW and started snacking at bathroom breaks at night, and I am sleeping so much better. I have a ziplock of peanut butter crackers on teh sink in the bathroom (I KNOW GROSS, I AGREE, but what ya gonna do???) and when I go potty each time I eat one and guzzle some water. It has made a huge difference. At least now my sleepless times are shorter and when I do sleep it is a sounder sleep.

Anyone else getting excited about the olympics? I just LOVE LOVE LOVE them. And Robert ordered us cable so I can be couch potato extraordinaire once they start!!! YEA!

Thank you for all of your well wishes on us getting to have our homebirth. I'm really excited, but a little nervous that things might not progress smoothly. I just want a realitively fast birth so maybe I'll at least have a chance to deliver Spud, and then move on to anything that might happen to me!

I posted a progression of belly shots on in my journal on another site, LOL!!! They are hysterical.
http://boards.weddingchannel.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=3683487#post3683487post3683487
HAPPY MONDAY!

[4under6]

Christi-
I love the Olympics, too!
I'm a very competitive person by nature, I guess.
I love watching the gymnasts and the swimming, and the diving. I have an old friend who came really close to being a National Diving champ, so I was into diving for awhile there.

Yep, I'm due 9/1, whoever was wondering.
I have BH all the time, and sleeping is pretty much a joke these days!
Rolling over is a huge ordeal, isn't it?

Well, my Donny-boy is 5 today!
:balloons

[chumani]

36weeks 3days
Happy Monday!!

plantmommy- I have been fighting yeast the past few days as well. I have been using a homeopathic inserted every night before bed and it works really well. It has been almost 9 years since I had a yeast infection this is only my second time to experience yeast. Hope you are feeling better soon! Braxton hicks are really picking up here too. I have about 3-4 hours every evening where they are about 3-4 mins apart and make me pay attention. They always go away during the night though.

Pam- congrats on getting moved!

Sheryl- health and healing coming your way! I hope you are able to stay home and rest.

Jen- I hope you are having a wonderful nap. I have been feeling pretty moody too. My sis let out that we are tentatively planning a home breech birth to the rest of my fam and they are falling apart! I have been having awful dreams where everyone is attacking us. However last night I had a great dream, it was about you!! I dreamed you had a baby boy with tons of dark hair. He was so gorgeous and he smiled during my whole dream. It was great to "meet" you in my dream.

Sarah- Here's to Jacks great day!!! Good luck with the garage sale!

Christi- Hoping your placenta doesn't cause any more worries/problems!!

3under3- Happy birthday Donny!!

I had an appt. with the backup ob I have been seeing. Babe is doing great. He would prefer that I deliver at the hosp if she is still breech when I go into labor (he does have breech experience). I overheard an interesting conversation between him and another doc in the practice. My dr is the head of the practice but the other dr thinks he is being to laid back with my "case". The other dr was insisting that I need bi-weekly u/s and nst as I have a history of low fluid. My dr kept telling him that the last u/s for low fluid was normal and that I am keeping track of movement and that he trusts me to know if something is not right. It was nice to have a dr stand up for me. I had a great surprise mother blessing this last Sat. We went for a picnic/gathering of a natural moms yahoo group I am part of. They were all camping nearby. It was so fun to finally meet some of the moms from the group. It was nice and cool at the campground. All the kids had a blast. The ladies all gave me a bead and put a braid in my hair. I received a henna kit and a belly cast kit. Two of the ladies live near me so they will be doing those on wed. All the ladies there took home a candle that they will light when I start labor. I finally opened all my beads yesterday with my family. I will update my post on the bead thank yous. I am so excited to put them together. I haven't decided whether to make a bracelet or necklace.


Have a wonderful day!!
Sarahb

[plantmommy]

Well, I had a nap, and am not feeling crampy anymore. So that's good!

[hjohnson]

Well ladies I am starting to lose little bits an pieces of my mucous plug. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow so I will find out if I am dilated at all. This kiddo dropped at 34 weeks so I am wondering if I am going to join Caroline with an August baby or not. I am due on September 3rd.

We have money woes right now. I want to order my cloth diapers but some annoying bill keeps coming up. Right now we have $400 in the checking account until Thursday which is payday. Almost half of that will disappear tomorrow for our Car Insurance. I hate living paycheck to paycheck lately. Thankfully I have some AIOs so I do have some diapers for this kiddo. What else will go wrong next?

[Tree Swallow]

Hello everyone! I've been scarce, but I've just been too busy to be online -- no more "Hoof and Mouth," thank goodness. :D

My abs have totally given up the ghost. I have a vericose vein where God surely never intended such a thing to happen. :angry This morning I found tying my shoes was utterly impossible. And my fingernails aren't awesome anymore. I guess baby decided he needed ALL the vitimins and I'm not getting any fringe benefits any more! LOL

We're still house-hunting, after intending to build all summer. Unfortuantely that fell through. So I was either in the car or on my feet Friday evening through last evening! My back aches, behind aches ... hips -- fuhgedabowdit! My due date is Sept. 18, but I'm thinking it'll be more like the first, second at the latest, week of September. My son was two weeks before his due date. If I go all the way and gain a pound a week, we're talking an 11 pounder here. Yipe!

So, in summary, I move slow, or else I barely move. Everything hurts. I want this babe in my arms now! Before I fall completely apart! ;)

[plantmommy]

Heather! :HUG

Sounds like you need a "pamper me" moment! Losing some mucous is exciting, since it's neat to know that somethin is happening, but it could still be weeks away. That said, I always also get really hormonally moody at a point in early labor or just before.

Ellen, sorry about the house building falling through. I hope you're either sitting with your feet up, or laying down!

[Tree Swallow]

Ha! I'm sitting at my desk at work on my hemorrhoid pillow, attempting to get some work done! Soon will be my hourly adventure walk down the hall to pee.

[CdnAloha]

Hey there, I haven't posted in a while and I can't really say why...hmm maybe the 'my brain is there but kind of fuzzy feeling' I have all the time?!

Bean just started kicking my ribs all the time these past few days and B-H contractions are a regular occurrence. Last night I woke up in the middle of the night and thought about going to pee but decided against it. Then when I woke up again it really hurt. So, as I struggled across the room to the bathroom I thought about my hypnobabies script and decided it didn't have to hurt...and guess what I stood right up and walked pain free! Whether the scripts work or not for the birth, I must say I have appreciated the feeling they give me every day. I don't usually wake in the night and I sleep so well. I do have my achey nights, but overall life is good.

Everyone is getting so close! I am so happy for all of you/us! What a sense of anticipation. I am also due on Sept 18, and I hope we will make to the date or at least the week before. Wed. is the MW visit at home and I am eager to see what she says about the whole process. I think she will give us our list of supplies needed. Yay! It's really getting close.

And I'm counting the days till work is done....8 left!

All the best!
Julia

[JenInMpls]

Oh, Julia, you're so close to done with work! yippee!!

SarahB, wow, how cool that you dreamed about me! :D and of course, now that all of the tales have said that it's a girl, you dream about a boy! Lots of dark hair would be consistent with the old wives' tale about heartburn... bleah. Lately, though, the indigestion woes have been primarily from the garlic capsules I'm taking, along with vit C and a mega-dose of acidophilus, to convince any strep b hanging around that it had better hit the road. My culture is tomorrow, I hope the results come back QUICKLY so that I can know whether I can be done with this yucky garlic nightmare. Or maybe I will change to taking it at night so that I can be garlicky overnight and no one will know or care!! By the way, I'm glad to know that your baby is still staying put. I know months ago you were expecting to go way early, but your due date is nearly here! Hooray! And how super that your Dr. stood up for you.

:birthday: Donny!!!

We also are big Olympics watchers. We got our cat Sydney during the last summer Olympics. Agonized over a name for nearly a week and then it hit us like a ton of bricks that all had the word "duh" inscribed in them! I joked to Jo that we should name our daughter "Athena" if it is, indeed a girl. Unfortunately she latched onto *that* one. So... it's a decision, now, between Jorja, Alexa and... Athena? No, we're not naming her Athena! I still am waiting for the name to hit me. It hasn't. Sigh.

Sarah, I'm glad that Jack is doing better at pre-school.

Well, we have such a nice dry wind, I really should do some laundry and take advantage of it. My cousin surprised us at the family reunion yesterday and gave us about 12 onesies she "just couldn't leave lying on the table" at a garage sale. All colors and sizes, even some pink ones to which she said "if it's a boy - oh well, I'm sure he won't care!" - our sentiments exactly. I finally feel comfortable that we have enough clothing. Only significant things remaining on our list are the breast pump (and we have enough Target gift cards to get that, but you know, that generous Target dad at school... we may just hang onto the cards for cat litter and shampoo) and drawer latches, and both of those can wait a little while.

:laundry !

jen

[Robertsgirl]

OMG! It just hit me that we are going to have an actual baby for us to care for and raise soon. WHAT??? I've been going thru this pg thing for so long that I guess I've just blocked what is really about to happen.

What do I really know about taking care of a baby? Do I really need anything more than diapers and my boobs? What if I don't do it right? What if I hate CD'ing? What if I am so overprotective that my family hates me? What if my baby doesn't like me, or worse, I don't like it?

Any of you other first timers starting to feel a little anxious? Experienced Moms, HELP!!!! :help

[plantmommy]

teehee! Christi, take a few deep breaths.

You really do just NEED diapers and boobs. A few little blankies are nice to have.

Baby's are quite easy: they either want to be fed, changed, burped, held, or put to sleep. If it cries, check the diaper, feed it, check the diaper again, walk it/bounce it/burp it.

If you hate CDing, you buy sposies.

Family always complain about something. They'd get bored if you were perfect, so by not being perfect, youre doing them a favor!

You may not always like the baby, nor it, you, but you will always love each other!

[adventuregirl]

Christi, I have had those thoughts fleetingly as well, along with, holy crap, I have to GIVE BIRTH to this enormous thing inside of me! I think we would be completely abnormal if we didn't have moments like these, we'll do fine.

Jen, when my SIL was here we did all the old wives predictions for fun, including the ring, and got all girl. About two nights later I had a dream it was a boy, hahaha.... Can't trust any of it! Hope the test goes well tomorrow.

Heather, how exciting that your mucus plug is on its way, oh boy!

Danielle, Happy Birthday to your little dude!

Abs are useless here too, and BH happening a lot more often lately.

Can someone describe how it feels to drop? I'm feeling more pelvic pressure, but am not quite sure if this qualifies, maybe a stage before dropping? Dunno...

Getting rest today, got the full day off, really hoping I can kick this thing over night...

[mum2tori]

AB muscles... what are those?? I feel like a turtle on its back trying to turn over . :LOL :LOL I know DH enjoys watching my try to turn over. He's started helping me roll over the past weekend. :LOL

Anyone else walk like an 80 year old man shuffling around whenever you first getup and start moving?? :LOL

Radish has a foot FIRMLY planted against my lower right rib. And he likes to PUSH occasionally, just to remind me he's there. :rolleyes

No B-H lately. My feet decided to swell up this weekend. :( David has been so sweet and been rubbing my feet and calves a lot to help ease the fluid out. I spent a lot of the weekend on the couch with my feet up to try to get the swelling down. Radish has moved down "slightly". :rolleyes He is still riding high.

Saturday there was a big get together at the Galleria mall for World Breastfeeding Awareness Week. I went with Jack to show my support. Jack weaned a couple of months ago (I still feel badly that my supply disappeared on him) but he's been looking down my shirt more lately and occasionally patting on breast then smiling at me. He might start nursing again once Radish is here and I have a milk supply. I'm definitely starting to feel a little more fullness (David said he can tell a difference too :rolleyes) but I still can't express anything. Anyways it was so nice to see so many nursing moms sitting around enjoying the day.

I have an OB appointment tomorrow. I think he might check me, I'm not sure. David is getting ready to go to Austin for 2 weeks for NG AT. Still no word if he's going to get deployed... most of his unit has been though. :( :( Luckily they are really good about if I was go into labor while he's up there for AT, they'll release him. The drive is about 2 hours so hopefully he'd make it back in time. I'm not really worried about going into labor early. Both Tori and Jack came on or within a day of their due dates.

Pam- Tori has gotten really cuddley about the baby lately too. She comes up and hugs my belly and pats it. She also tells me "Baby needs to come out". Keep telling her soon but not yet. ;) Glad to hear that you are all moved.

Sarah- Yeah!! That Jack had a much better time at school today.

Christ- don't feel back returning the stuff that you don't want/need. It was the thought that counts. Get stuff that you will use and need. :)

Now breathe in and out... in and out... it will be okay. ;) Totally agree with Plantmommy.

Every so often it hits me... I'M GOING TO HAVE THREE CHILDREN!!!! AAACK!!! :LOL I remember turning to David in the car on the way home from the hospital with Tori... "they just let us leave... she's really all ours... no one stopped us..." :LOL David says sometimes it still hasn't totally set in that we are parents and we have been for over 3 years. :LOL

Danielle- Happy Birthday Donny!!! :carrot :carrot

Sarahb- That is so awesome that your OB is supportive and has confidence in you. I know a lot of women don't get that with OBs. What a wonderful blessing event too. :)

Heather- sorry to hear about the $$ woes. Its so stressing. :(

Ellen- ugh about the vericose vein!!! Glad to hear the H&M is over. I feel your pain... I think I'm falling apart too.

[chrissy]

AB muscles... what are those?? I feel like a turtle on its back trying to turn over . :LOL

This is exactly how I feel too!

Sarah, I'm so glad to hear that preschool went better for Jack today. I'm sure you were a nervous wreck until they called.

Sheryl, Good for you for taking the day off to heal yourself. So now only four more days of work, right?!

Happy Birthday Donny!!

Well, I was hoping to get a nice long post in but I hear my boy fussing so he must be ready for me to take him to bed.

Happy Sleeping,

[JenInMpls]

Hooray for cool fronts! The wind is blowing like crazy and it's 64! And it's supposed to be in the 60s for the next 3 days! I'm loving it!! No sweating or swelling! Bliss!! The weatherman keeps complaining about "The Summer That Never Was" - he can keep his summer! This is great!!

Oh, about ab muscles - my prenatal aquacise teacher keeps trying to get us to do dolphin kicks which totally involve abs - hahahahaha! I just laugh at her and flop around as best I can. And yes, when I get up in the middle of the night to go pee, I do shuffle like an old man.

Christi, I think sometimes I've learned an awful lot about parenting from teaching: you can still like your kid even when you hate its behavior, because deep within you, you know it is capable of being better. Don't worry about being overprotective of a baby; you will find a balance between protective and freedom-giving as your child needs it. Don't fear dirt, it washes off and strengthens your child's immune system. When you feel like you want to yell, remove yourself from the scene if you can, and count to 10 and breathe deeply. If you do yell, forgive yourself and apologize to your child. Tell a child what to do, not what NOT to do. And don't be afraid to laugh. The founder of Waldorf education said that teachers should laugh at least once a day with their classes. If they aren't, they need to change something in their teaching.

Plantmommy I loved your post too. Someone told me to sleep when baby does. I plan to do that so I guess I'll spend a lot of time napping. Is that how the dishes/wash/housecleaning ends up going undone?

Sheryl I hope you're feeling better soon.

I am going to go clean up the bedroom floor, the reading material pile next to the bed is getting a little out of control. I'm so glad that Jo's pile is on the side of the bed that isn't visible to the rest of the world! I like living in ignorance!!

j

[hjohnson]

Christi I don't know what it is like to cloth diaper a newborn because I didn't start my first child in cloth diapers until he was 9 months old. Thankfully I have a husband who loves to save money and saw the benefit behind cloth diapers. It should be quite an adventure.

[mum2tori]

I am going to go clean up the bedroom floor, the reading material pile next to the bed is getting a little out of control. I'm so glad that Jo's pile is on the side of the bed that isn't visible to the rest of the world! I like living in ignorance!!

j

OMG!! I'm lucky too that David's side of the bed (the disaster area!) isn't visible to the rest of the world too. At least mine are neatly stacked under my nightstand and a few on top of my nightstand... his an explosion of magazines and books that spreads across the floor.

:LOL :LOL :LOL

[StacyL]

What a relief to read this thread and realize I am having normal discomforts. This is my first baby so I feel like I don't have a clue. My BH are so strong and sometimes so continuous I feel like I am made out of cement from my sternum to my pubic bone. I can barely drive. And the way the baby moves now has gone from amusing to totally uncomfortable. Yeah, I'm a turtle too. I had no idea I would be this big and slow! It's nice to know that I am apparently normal. Why don't those stupid pregnancy books get more specific about what it actually FEELS like to be pregnant? I can't wait for this baby to be on the OUTSIDE!!

[sistermama]

What was I thinking starting pillow shams for my bed at 10:00??? Didn't I know I wouldn't go to sleep until I finished? I'll catch up in the a.m. Night, mamas.

[greenbeing]

Good morning ladies!

Sarah, I'm glad Jack had a better day yesterday! And look at you starting a project after bedtime!

Danielle, Happy Birthday to your little one!

Sheryl, I hope you're feeling better today. Only a few more left!

Christy, I get those same anxieties about the new little life who will be here soon. But, one day at a time.

And thanks plantmommy for the words of wisdom :)

All of you are talking about BH, and I really don't think I'm feeling them that often. Should I be concerned? I know I've felt them after exercising and after sex, they are really strong :blush But, other than those times, I'm not sure if they're happening. I go to my midwife today, so I'll talk to her about it.

Also, I've been so weepy lately. Not that I'm glad some of you others are moody, but I am glad I'm not the only one. Yesterday, I think I really scared my dh because he came in the room and tears were streaming down my face. I think with going back to school and having to find a sub and write lesson plans and still get this house in order, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed.

I'm going to head out for a walk. It's been pretty cool here. I love weather in the upper 70's or so!

Enjoy,
Meredith

[JenInMpls]

Meredith, now that the school year is around the corner I can't imagine going back to teaching. I thought that this baby had really bad timing, coming in the beginning of September, but now I realize that I really have had it good, with a whole summer of little to do except care for myself. I would be crying too if I had to go back to school before Sprout came. Heck, I don't and I'm crying anyway! Keep your chin up and good luck finding the perfect sub for your absence!

Stacy - if anyone wrote a book about what pregnancy really feels like, the human race would die out :wink

Samantha - yah, exactly, that is what happens on the other side of the bed - the floor is littered with books, magazines and clothing that does not make it to the hamper 4 feet away! The funny thing is that our dear cat, Sydney, has a thing for Jo's mess... she will tiptoe around among the books and stuff and occasionally she will just slyly bend over and bite the covers of the paperbacks, putting a little hole in them with her canines. She *never* does this to my books, even when they're lying on the floor next to my side of the bed - I think because she can actually step around them. But Jo has tons of paperbacks that have little holes in the corners of the covers! It makes her SO mad, but she realizes that the only way to get Syd to stop is to put her books on the shelf! Happens once ever couple of months or so. But I don't have to see her piles now, since they're between the bed and the outside wall, and I SOOOO love it!

Syd just stretched and looked at me as if to say, "who, me? destructive? never!" She also likes to pull kleenex out of the box.

The pain in my pubic bone has become *unreal* at night when I'm trying to roll over. Holy cow! :bigeyes and suddenly, out of nowhere (it seems), I am once again dealing with hemorrhoids :angry I started taking a homeopathic remedy already, I'm not waiting around this time to see if the witch hazel pads, creams and sitz baths work. My homeopathy for pregnancy guide indicates another remedy that might be better, I will have to see if the co-op has it.

Today is appointment day - chiro, mw, and visit birth center this evening. I'm kind of unexcited about the chiro because every time she does work or adjustments, the kid spends 2 nights jabbing me in the cervix. I'm not keen on spending 2 days out of ever week for the next month being poked that way. But maybe she can do something about my stinging belly.

:wave

jen

[wardermom]

I have an appointment with the mw tonight. I hope I can do this without having an anxiety attack.

[banana girl]

You guys are so freaking chatty!!!!

I've been away from my computer for 5 days.... it took me hours to "catch up" I should have taken my own advice and simply jumped in! The worst was when i realised a new thread had been started that was 2 pages long already!!! Yikes!

Well I survived the weekend... we didn't go into labor 5 hours away from the midwife as i secretly feared. Lots of Braxton Hicks..... but here I am home and safe.

We left thursday for my brother in laws wedding, which Jerome was in. Traveling was really hard on me and sleeping in weird small beds, sucked! I missed MY Bed sooooo much! I woke up thursday morning with a terrible cold / flu. Sore throat, fever cough... almost didn't go to the wedding and now almost wish i hadn't. I am still so miserable sick today, 5 days later.

The rehearsal stuff was on Friday, lots of family making a big fuss over me.. gifts and compliments, that was pretty fun. We had a huge hot tub in the hotel room which I soaked in about 5 times while we were there!
The wedding was on Saturday and i pushed myself too hard, did too much and felt like terrible later on. Had to go back to the hotel and sleep instead of hanging out at the reception.

On Sunday we went to Eau Claire, to stay at the farm overnight... did some painting on Monday and then drove back, just in time for birth class.. didn't even go home first! So it was about 9:30 by time i got to go home from the most tiring weekend ever!

Had a huge emotional reaction to leaving the farm on Monday... it was due to not having enough time to finish the painting project we had started and to the realization that the next time I was there..... I would be a mother. I would have a baby in my arms the next time I walked into the farm!!! Jerome drove me down to the river and we listened to a special birth chant and waded in the water for awhile while I cried. He washed my face with river water and held me... It was very special.

Now, here I sit in front of this dang computer, under these flourescent lights with a runny nose and cough. I'm pretty much out of paid sick leave and have too much to do. It is only about 12 days till I'm done working, but even that seems like too much!

So... anybody got some cheese and crackers... cause I've got all the whine you could ever need. Whine, whine whiney whine!

P.S. I missed you guys. I'm really glad everyone is hanging in there. Good sticky babies waiting till the time is right!

[hjohnson]

I just got done with the joys of the doctor. They poked my finger to test my iron and also did the Group B Strep test. I did find out that I am 1 1/2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. The doctor said my cervix is very soft. At the end of the appointment he told me that come August 27th if I am tired of being pregnant they can induce me if I want. I looked at him and said, "I was induced the first time and did not enjoy it!" He told me we won't push it on you. Ok whatever!

[JenInMpls]

Short reply, then must dash to mw appt:

Anna, I think you must have the most absolutely sweetest darlingest husband on the face of this planet.

:love

[indiana ima]

well, first of all, thanks to jen in minneapolis for coming to find me. blame it on placenta brain, but i forgot i used to read here all the time! i unsubscribed from an old version of the thread and then just never resubscribed to the new thread. that was probably like, what, two or three threads ago? oops!

just in this part of the thread alone there have been a million things i want to respond to.

hjohnson: i so completely agree with you: definitely don't let them push induction on you without a really, really good MEDICAL reason!

wardermom: i missed something! why do you fear an anxiety attack from seeing the midwife?!

JenInMpls: definitely do your best to sleep when your baby sleeps, but don't fool yourself into thinking that will give you a lot of rest! babies wake up frequently, and some of them take weeks, even months to get into a convenient nap schedule, as opposed to a bunch of little 20 or 30 minute cat naps throughout the day. the house will be a mess and the chores undone because the baby will want you almost every moment of the day and night - for food, cuddles, rocking, burping, changing, etc. parenthood is a major adjustment. thank heavens, it's worth it!

mum2tori: i really hope your hubby can stay off active duty long enough to be there for the birth and a while after!

adventuregirl: the feeling of having had the baby drop is commonly described as "having a basketball/ bowling ball/ watermelon between your legs. it is probably unmistakeable. :)

as for me, i've always thought i would make a great "don't be a teenage pregnancy statistic" poster or (even more graphic) TV commercial. i do NOT make a good stoic. ;)
and i have no abs either.
and i have lots and lots of contractions and i don't like them either, but i know they are doing me some good. i give birth relatively quickly and the well-agreed upon theory is that it's largely because by the time active labor starts i've been "practicing" for weeks, sometimes months! a bit like training for a marathon, really.

i think i have most of my birth supplies in the house, somewhere. but i have to find the rest of them!

more later. i think i've used up my space allotment for this msg. ;)

[sistermama]

Heather - it is so cruel for doctors to offer induction to women! How hard it would be to say no when you are so big and uncomfortable! Glad your appt. went well otherwise.

Jen - Holy pubic pain! I feel like I'm going to split apart!

Meredith - I really didn't have any B/H with my first one either. Weird this time in that I was having a lot of them in May and June, but really none since then.

Anna- I second Jen's comment about Jerome! I missed you, glad that you are back.

Jack and I had a horrible night and morning. Dh let him nap until 5:30 yesterday :irked: which means Jack didn't go to sleep until 11:00 pm!!! Then he woke up for some reason all irritated at 5:00 after tossing around for an hour. So I was exhausted all morning and don't they just always know when you aren't on top of your game? At least I didn't hit him (what I always tell myself after I have been a horrible mother)...

[Robertsgirl]

Jen- Patiently awaiting your report from your visit with your midwife. I hope she has some help on the stinging belly as mine is driving me nuts!!

[StacyL]

I got something in my second trimester at the drug store called Sarna Lotion for my stinging belly and itchy boobs. It helps a lot.

[mum2tori]

Had another appointment today. BP, weight and everything is good. Did the GBS test today and he checked me... nothing. I'm still pretty high or rather Radish is still pretty high. No B-H lately which I don't mind, especially for the next two weeks since David is leaving on Friday. I'd rather Radish wait until David's home again before getting fully ready to make an appearance. ;)

Jen- I only have to see David's mess when I use our bathroom (the door is on his side of the bed). Luckily the mess only scatters a couple of feet because otherwise I can't use the bathroom and then I get crabby. :LOL :LOL So he 'tries' to keep the mess from spreading too far. :eyesroll :eyesroll I have one cat that loves to "love on" whatever book I'm reading at the time. Bot-bot my white (the Alpha Male) cat loves to lay on top of my book if I leave it on our bed. He never does that to David's books though. :shrug Just marking his territory I guess. :LOL

Sheryl- Pretty much you will KNOW when the baby has dropped. :yikes: Suddenly you will have a waddle like no other. :LOL And you'll be able to breathe... but you'll have to pee at the drop of a hat. :rotflmao

[banana girl]

Pretty much you will KNOW when the baby has dropped. :yikes: Suddenly you will have a waddle like no other. :LOL And you'll be able to breathe... but you'll have to pee at the drop of a hat. :rotflmao

Hummm.... that sounds awfully familiar. I don't feel like there is a bowling ball between my legs though... someone mentioned that.

I had a lovely surprise today, one of my co-workers approached me about having a baby shower... next week! Seeing as how I only work for another 2 and a half weeks I guess it is now or never! After I happily accepted, and gave her some pertinent info she proceeded to invite about 100 people via campus e-mail!!!!
So, I have been updating my online registry, adding lots of "local info" to help people out. And lots of general advice about what to get and what not to get... findgift.com is great that way!

Well I am gonna take my sleepy self home to my sweet husband and the dinner he's cooking! Good night everyone... sleep well and be happy!

[msrog]

I'll write more later, but here's an album I just made of my little cloth diapering area! http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeAM2TRszcsWz4Q

I just need a diaper pail, two pail liners, and something to put in the wipe solution bottle. =O)

[MamaAcorn]

Hey, I just took pictures of my changing table (http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?collid=324540383105&photoid=741442235105&Ucollid=324540383105&Uphotoid=761642235105&refreshkey=1092193816722) and newborn diaper stash (http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?collid=324540383105&photoid=164542235105&Ucollid=324540383105&Uphotoid=761642235105&refreshkey=1092193816722) too, before I emptied it all to wash all the dipes! I :love your set-up. I may have to use a couple of your ideas!

Pam

[JenInMpls]

Chiro: adjusted sacrum and pubic bone and spine, myofascial work on belly of course opened everything up and the kid is flopping around like a fish now. :eyesroll At the appt, kid was back to my left side. DC recommended taking DHA for a while since the fatty acids are good for brain development and ***helpful with mood*** esp postpartum. I think my mood could benefit from some fish oil right now so I started taking them tonight!

MW: fundal ht 37.5 (about 1/2 cm ahead), hb 128, my bp 126/68 which was high for me but was easily attributable to the hectic day and the pain of the screaming hemorrhoid. GBS culture today, mw agreed that hemorrhoid was screaming and nasty, cervical exam revealed baby at -1 station, 0% effacement and 0 dilation. mw also said that she had seen a woman today who had the same stinging on her belly. The verdict: nerve getting pushed or stretched by the uterus, stinging will hopefully go away when baby drops or is born. (Hopefully...!) Oh: and by the time I had my mw appt, baby had switched to have its back on my *right* side. And by the time I had gotten about 3 blocks away from the clinic, it floated right back over to the left side. Smartypants!! :irked:

I'm off to bed to get off of my bum - this is a very nasty pain. Let's hope that this remedy works quickly!

oof,

j

[msrog]

Anna was right; ya'll have been freakin' chatty!!! I'm afraid to even begin...

Jen, sorry about the 'rrhoids, and the pubic bone pain! Glad your appts went well, though. Sounds like that baby wants to stick around! And I had to laugh about the mess beside the bed. I thought we were the only ones with that mess. And my cat likes to sit on my reading material.

Pam, that's funny that we both did changing area pix tonite! Your setup is quite organized and nice. I didn't have anywhere for a real changing table, and had thought we'd have to put our "station" on the floor or bed... so it was exciting to realize I could clear off the vanity. I saw another mom (Karen's diaper site) that puts the changing pad on top of the dryer. I thought that was quite clever, too. Your diapers are GORGEOUS! And it doesn't look like you'll have to do laundry very often, haha...

Anna, please get some rest! I'm exhausted just reading about your weekend... And Jen is right, your hubby is INCREDIBLE. I would probably be emotional too, realizing you'd have a bundle in your arms next time at the farm. And Yay! :carrot that you get a college shower!!! Those computer-savvy folks are more apt to actually use your online registry, I would think. (I love your registry and was inspired to create my own, thanks.) You can see mine at findgift.com, under Savannah Rogers, Georgia.

Samantha, sounds like Radish wants to wait until Daddy is done, too! Good appt!

Sarah, sorry to hear Jack's schedule was off and you both had a grumpy day. Those are the worst! And I am SO impressed that you made shams in 2 hours. I am a sewing ignoramus. Do you have pictures?

Heather, you're definitely getting close, aren't you??? Though I remember being 80% effaced and 3 cm dilated for... THREE WEEKS with Nicolas, even with walking and sexing and cohoshing and stripping membranes, egads! =O) But you've got the right idea... All that was still better than laboring through an induction, yuck.

Indiana, welcome back! Jen is pretty clever that way. She is our "shepherd" haha...

Wardermom, how did the MW appt go? I'm sorry she stresses you out; I hope you got to talk it through with her??

Hugs to the weepy, cranky and fearful moms! (I guess we all take turns going through the gamut of emotions, eh?) It's amazing how quickly you'll learn your baby's cries and cues. Wow, in a month or so we'll nearly all have little babies to snuggle! Can't wait to see all these beauties, can you??

I love this due date club. It is so funny to read all of your reports on new discomforts at the exact time I'm starting to experience them also! hahaha... I cannot believe how achy and old-manish I am when I get out of bed! It is quite uncomfortable, and I DO shuffle!!! :D

Hey, Christi, it took me some serious searching to find those pictures on page !! 52 !! of your journal... but how cute! You really do have a nice big 'ole belly now! You look great. The beach picture is still my favorite. When was that shower picture taken? This past weekend? I see the giant basket (cake?) of diapers in the background, haha... We also have received tons of diapers. I don't have receipts for any of them, so I don't know if they can be returned?? But at least I'll have something to offer to all those non-CD friends I have when they have showers!! I also expect to use some of the sposies when CD-scared family or sitters are changing them. But gracious, I spent way too much on my cloth dipes to "wait" to use them until after the sposies are gone, no way! =O)

OK, I have to run. I had my 35 week appt today, but will update you all on that tomorrow, when I can report on my perinatal appt at the same time. Oh, and I'll have a new belly shot. I'm sure you'll be anxiously awaiting that with bated breath... hahahaha

[HeatherB]

I just realized there must be a new thread going on! :LOL

Is anybody else having lots of strong/er toning or BH cntx? I've had hours of them, virtually non-stop. They do call attention to themselves, but I trust they're helping a lot for when it's time for the real thing, so I guess it's good!

I've been thinking of posting the same question... I am having so many BH (some a twinge uncomfortable)! I'm hoping this will pay off in labor. It's not too bad right now, but sometimes it gets annoying to have the tightening seemingly with anything I do. Oh, well, just a few weeks to go! :D

So, this is only a reply to one post... but I don't think I'm gonna get through them all tonight! DH is trying to put a very fussy 2yo down to bed and all I hear is "Moooom! Whhaaa! Mooooom!" ... so my time here is limited, I think. Sigh.

[JenInMpls]

I'm going to be a big old CRAB today, I can already feel it. Been up since 4, now. Can't get back to sleep. Had a nice glass of milk but Sprout must have thought it was a Coke or a Red Bull or something since s/he decided to do a lovely, spirited dance. Oh, guess where those little feet are again, yes, right ribcage, meaning baby must be back on my left side. Must have just wanted to give the midwife a thrill switching over to the right.

:cuss this is how my rear feels!

I wonder what's on tv at 5:30 AM besides local news. it will be another half hour - hour until I can get back to sleep, even though I feel tired in my bones.

yawn, j.

[plantmommy]

Poor Jen! I know from grumpy, believe me.

Hey, if you've got a boppy pillow for nursing, use that to sit on. It'll take the pressure off the 'roids! So far that isn't a problem for me, this time, knocking on wood.

I still have feet in my right ribcage most of the time. I trust he'll move over a bit tummy to front when the time is right.

[Lazuli]

We get carpet installed in our bedroom today, whee! At least the weather is really nice so I can open the windows in there and close the door. I hope it doesn't smell too bad! My husband is in Oregon for the week and it' lonely and boring. *sniffle* He gets home Saturday morning, is home for a week, then he has to go to Detroit for a week. Eep! A friend is coming to stay with me that week in case I go into labor while my husband is away.

I liked looking at the pictures of the changing areas. :) I've decided to get a changing table from Ikea when we go to get our dressers. I wasn't going to have one, then realized I really need a place to keep everything all together. We still need to get a diaper pail. I did a bunch of shopping online yesterday. :D Ordered things like liners for the diaper pail and another diaper cover and a nursing bra and a sling. Now I just have to wait for the packages to arrive. I'm getting so antsy to get all the baby stuff put away and organized and I can't yet. Ack! I got all my cloth wipes finished yesterday and today I get to start working on my cloth pads. I hope I bought enough fabric.....

My mother in law has been making me crazy. Somehow it came up when my husband was talking to her on the phone that the information I got from the doctor says I'm not supposed to do anything the first week, just rest. Well, you know she was at a job interview two days after having one of her babies and back to her normal routine on the third day. :eyesroll Good for her! (She also doesn't believe that a woman can actually be in labor for 36 hours straight, that it's just not possible, it must start and stop a lot.) I told my mom about the job interview thing and she thought that was pretty nuts, she had to spend a week in the hospital after having me.

So is it bad if baby is head down but on the right instead of the left? As far as I can tell Vaysh is quite content to stay in that position. I hate getting out of bed, it hurts so much when I sit up. At least the cooler weather has been good for my blood pressure. :) I still don't think I'm having any b/h, but I'm not sure I'd really notice them anyway.

And now I'm going to find some breakfast then go sweep and mop the bedroom floor. Hope everyone has a good day!

[CdnAloha]

Isn't it great to be getting everything ready? It's so close. It's cool to see what set-ups others have for their changing stations. I bought two diaper pails and micro-fleece yesterday for liners. Also got a couple more hooded towels - so cute, and some more terry washcloths. We have tons already, but I want to use these to back flannel for diaper wipes. To buy terry cloth by the yard worked out to be waaaayyy more expensive then just buying pre-cut cloths. Go figure!

Today is my 35 week mw apppt at home. I'm looking forward to it cause I want to ask some questions about how things will go. I'm also looking forward to seeing our mw again. She has been on holiday for a month, so we have met with the back-up. She's good too, but you know how you get used to the one you know best!?

I'm thinking the beans head may have dropped a bit as I now have the "must pee urgently" sensation all the time and then nothing comes out. Pelvic pressure ain't fun. ;( So sorry to hear about your discomfort Jenn. I hope it all is remedied soon. Amazing how a bad night's sleep or a good night's sleep can affect us. I was crabby all day yesterday cause of bad sleep and the bean was pretty tired too I think- barely moving all day, but today back to his/her normal self. I look forward to seeing what this baby was doing when they come out cause there is some serious boxing and dancing going on.

Anna, I am counting the days with you till the end of work. Are we the only ones in this group still working? Supposedly there is a shower going to happen for me here, but I tend to be the planner, so I'm not getting my hopes up for anything!

One more week for me!
Hugs to all,
Julia

[sistermama]

Julia - I'm still working, too and will be until I go into labor!! For me work is a little bit of a rest, since I get to sit and don't have to chase a toddler around for two hours.

Jen - You might try some dermoplast if you get really desperate for some relief. I don't know that it would work on roids, but I assume it would since it worked on my huge tear from Jack.

Savannah - try returning those dipes to Wal-Mart. They will take anything back!!!

After saying I wasn't having any B/H, I'm having really strong ones this morning. So much so that I just checked my cervix in the bathroom at work, so that if they keep up I can check myself again in a couple hours and make sure nothing is changing!

I've started doing some of the basics of that stupid flylady (http://www.flylady.net/) stuff, and I've got to tell you, it makes a big difference to wake up to a clean, pretty house. I'm trying to get some stuff under control in the house before the baby is born, cause I'm not one of those people who can stand to let it get messy for weeks. When my house is a mess, it makes me such a bitchy grouch and I'm really awful to dh. Probably because I think I shouldn't have to do it all, but that's another rant! :eyesroll

[wardermom]

My mw appointment went alright. I cried through most of it though. Cried because dh picked a fight right as I was leaving-about the state of the house and how we can't handle what we have right now. Nice.
I cried about that. I cried about the anxiety attacks.
I saw the mw that I'm comfortable with, thank goodness. It turns out that she will most likely be the one I see from now on and most likely the one at my birth.
I had a minor problem getting to sleep because my body, looking for an excuse to freak out about something chose to worry about the snappi I lost yesterday. After searching the house, I finally found it and was able to get to sleep. Stupid, but at least I didn't end up with a full blown anxiety attack.
The mw wants me to see the homeopath that operates out of the same office. I may make an appointment with her.
I've got most of my birth supplies ready. I still have to find a place that sells blue pads. This will be my 6th homebirth, and the first time I have to track these down. Well I have a couple more places I can look still.

[banana girl]

It is one month to the day that Jerome is convinced I will give birth. Personally i'm hoping for the 9th (A powerful number for us)
I wish i felt more prepared... It's pretty overwhelming. at least i will be home this weekend and can get some stuff done. A friend of mine is visiting on Saturday and maybe i'll put her to work! My MIL offered to come help with anything, and I may just take her up on it!
Having another baby shower planned is almost making the stress worse.... now i need to wait again and let people buy stuff on the registry instead of just getting it myself! But if people want to be generous.... I'm not about to stop them!
There is this diaper sewing website I've been waiting with bated breath to have reopen, well it just opened up again and I think i will order a bunch of stuff. But now, i wonder if I will have time or energy to sew my own dipes?? I want to, I just don't have any time!

Feeling much better today, slept pretty well, but had a weird morning. I am still seeing my doctor in case I transfer from home to the hospital. So, anyway I was scheduled with her "partner" who covers for her and vice versa. Well, I knew that my regular doc was gone on vacation... what I didn't know was that she would be gone untill the 20th of September!!! What the @#%*!!! Maybe she should have told me she would be gone during my EED??? That would have been nice to know! So, now this other woman is my back-up and I have no relationship with her, had to insist on using fetoscope, was chided about my weight gain, and was generally annoyed by the whole dang thing!!!

Boy am i glad we decided to pay out of pocket for a homebirth instead!!
grrrrr!

[adventuregirl]

Quickie....

3 more days of work, yahoo! Today we go to the zoo, fun!

Did we ALL have appts yesterday? I did too. Baby is low, but not dropped yet, phew, don't want to walk around the zoo all day with a bowling ball between my legs! Overall, everything is good.

Just wanted to check in , have great days!

[3boobykins]

Wow, I'm so behind again! I smell a poopy dipe on dd, so I just have a moment here. I can't believe some of you are 37 weeks! I'll hit 34 on Friday. I think this babe is pretty low already, though, judging by the amount of times I'm peeing each day. I keep meaning to count, but I'd say it's at least every 20 minutes. I actually lasted an hour and a half in the car the other day without stopping--dd was sound asleep and I didn't want to miss out on a peaceful drive.

It's fun seeing the dipe changing areas. I'm going to work on ours today. We have two in dipes, so I'm trying to find creative ways to arrange everything. DD tends to pull everything in reach onto the floor, so I have to put stuff up high. I'll post pics once I get it figured out.

The newborn dipes are all washed and I just ordered our "fishy pool" for the birth. I have my 34 wk. appointment today, and then next week the midwives come to our house. It seems like just yesterday that they made their home visit before dd's birth, and she was born the following week.

I'd better go take care of that dipe. I'm sorry to not reply to individual posts, but hoping everyone's aches and pains and grouchy moods (mine included, I am a big crank pot these days!) improve soon! We'll be reading birth announcements very, very soon! Should we have a separate thread for that?

Heather

[4under6]

Wheeee! 37 weeks!

Something is causing great discomfort under my left ribcage, and I can't figure it out, because the baby's back is on the left. In bed last night I couldn't get comfortable unless my left arm was raised above my head.
Maybe it's all my organs shoved up there.

I am starting to get increasingly worried about having too fast of a birth and that we will have the baby on the road. Seriously.
I know that every birth is different, and I may not have so fast a labor this time. But what if I do? Staying at home and having an unassisted birth I suppose would be better than trying to get to the hospital, but it freaks DH out.
I think I'm getting those late-pregnancy anxieties, and just getting more tired of being pregnant.
Someone tell me to chill!

[JenInMpls]

:coffee

Unfortunately I can't drink any coffee, because you're not supposed to mix coffee with homeopathy, but at least I'm in a better mood. I did indeed sleep until shortly before 11. Got a call in German from my best friend's mom which required me to wake up and pay attention. And I'm still shuffling around like I have a pole up my you-know-what, but I just remind myself that no, it's really just a witch hazel pad.

Lazuli: Yes! - changing table - IKEA - cheap and attractive! Sorry your hubby is gone so much. It's not bad for baby to be on the right side, just means it has some twisting and turning to do in order to come out face down.

Danielle - chill! ;) HCMC is not that far from your house. And if it gets really serious, I've got a friend who lives in Crystal who is a doc and has delivered a *lot* of babies. There, no longer unattended! ;) I'm sure you'll be fine, have a long chat with Finn about how you want him to wait til you get where you're going, at least the construction on 394 is pretty much done. But then there's always 55.

Anna - the son of a former co-worker of mine was born on 9/9/99, at 9:09, and weighed 9 lbs 9 oz. No, I'm not kidding. I even think he was 19 inches long. I have wondered if the nurses would fudge something like that, but the whole family swears that it's true. Sorry to hear about the snafu with your OB, that's obnoxious! (OBnoxious?)

Melanie - I'm glad you made it through your appt with your midwife and very sorry your husband picked a fight, that's no good. Sounds like he's got some last-minute jitters too! Glad you found your snappi. You might find blue pads at a health care store, like one that sells supplies for home care.

Sarah, I hear you with how nice it is to wake up to a clean house. Jo doesn't understand that it's easier to keep a house clean than to clean it when it's messy, so I of course end up being the one who goes around and picks everything up from day to day, which makes me resentful too. But as you said - that's another rant.

I'm off to go lay down again and find something to read or a letter to write, perhaps. Enough sitting for now.

j

[banana girl]

Well my brain is actually working today... and I'm horrified / overwhelmed / apathetic about all the stuff that needs to be done before I leave (forever) in about 11 shifts! Yesterday my brain couldn't even begin to sort thru all the tasks... today I'm aware of a dominoe effect of tasks all waiting to be knocked over.
I halfway don't even care anymore... "so what, it'll get done, when it gets done." I halfway am obsessed with finishing every thing i can before I leave... "I am the only one who REALLY knows how to do this stuff!" what a weird combination!
Been having alot of BH today... i want to go home and sleep, but I really can't! I'm out of sick pay, or nearly and I still have lots of appointments to go to before my last day.

All you organized mamas are inspiring me to get my baby stuff clean and organized. most stuff has been folded up in our dresser drawers for about 2 months now... but all the new stuff is lurking around in various gifts bags and cardboard boxes, waiting to be washed and folded. I think I'll do alot of nesting this weekend!

Well, gotta go get some of this stupid work stuff done, so that it's DONE!

A general message to all...
Relax, breathe slowly and deeply. You don't need to worry about all this stuff so much. It will be okay. The baby will come when it comes and how it comes... there will be some dissapointments about timing and circumstance, but that stuff is secondary to the REAL DEAL. Your baby is almost here!

with love

[Brisen]

I haven't posted in quite a while, I've been away visiting family. I'm relieved to know I'm not the only one who is tired and overwhelmed. As a warning, this post will likely be one long complaint...

Dh had a week off in July, and we drove out to see our parents. They live close to each other, but about 8 hours from us. I actually managed to get most of the packing done before the evening we were going to leave (we drive through the night so our boys will sleep). I had a lot to do, things kept coming up, but we managed. We stayed the week that dh had off with his parents. His sister and her family were there too, and she's due about 4 days after me. She married last summer and now has 3 step kids. There were other cousins there too, the boys had a good time, except there are mosquitos there (we live in a city that sprays, they live in the country) and they inherited my extreme swelling reaction to mosquito bites. Darwin could hardly walk, one foot was so swollen and blistered. And we were sleeping in a tent, which wasn't so bad, until the second night that it rained and the waterproofness just gave up. My feet and hands swelled for the first time in any of my pregnancies, it was really strange. Dh's mom was very sweet to me and her pg daughter, always telling us to go sleep or sit down and rest. Then at the end of dh's week off, the boys and I went and stayed at my parents' for three weeks. Oh, we also brought our cat, who stayed at dh's parents for about a day, and then went over to my parents because some of the cousins there were a little too enthusiastic with her and were chasing her all the time. Anyway, my parents were both working for the first two weeks. It was very mosquito-y there too, so we spent a lot of time either inside or shopping. The evenings were difficult, since my parents get home late and the boys would be all excited to see them, they would get really wound up. I would usually fall asleep with them between 9 and 10 after the exhausting ordeal of putting them to sleep, and then wake up around 2 and not be able to sleep until after 6. We ended up watching a lot of tv, I would be so tired in the morning and no one was around to look after the boys so I could shower. I felt so badly about that, but my parents house has lots of hazards. I was cleaning up one morning (almost no cleaning was done other than what I did :eyesroll ) and found an aerosol can of furniture stripper under the livingroom couch, for one small example. Gah. It was stressful being there, the boys were unsettled and acted out a lot, and I was tired. My belly grew a lot while I was there, I had to buy new clothes even. My parents communicate with kids very differently than I'm trying to. They are really nice, but.... I try to tell my kids, especially my toddler, what to do, as opposed to what not to do (as I think Jen mentioned earlier). If Solomon were doing something he shouldn't be, my mom would just stand there and say "Don't, Solomon, hey don't Solomon, Solomon, don't DO that!" in a really annoyed voice. It gave him absolutely no information about the situation. I explained to my brother (he's 18) at one point that I try to tell him what to do, since don't is so easy to miss and it gets confusing for kids, like telling someone not to think of a purple elephant or whatever. He was then always correcting my mom when she would say don't, it really bugged her. Anyway, I did like visiting, but I was also looking forward to going home. My parents drove us home, I was in the back between the boys for the whole 7 hours. It was very uncomfortable. And I was trying not to drink too much so I wouldn't have to pee. My parents couldn't really do much to amuse the boys from the front, and we were all cranky and tired. Ugh. I was just thinking of how wonderful it would be to get home, to my home, and be able to relax, and see dh. He was actually working a double shift that day, but figured he could be home by 10 or 11. He had called the day before to ask if it was a problem for the downstairs bathroom to be out of commission, there was some problem with the toilet and he hadn't been able to fix it. I said it wasn't a problem. So I open the door, and the laminate flooring is gone. And I open it wider, and the walls are gone. The drywall on the ceiling is gone. All of the appliances, fixtures, counters, and cabinets are gone. The downstairs bathroom is gone, except for the toilet. And I'm thinking that something must have gone horribly wrong with getting the toilet fixed and he had to gut the whole kitchen. Then I realize that Darwin is standing next to me, crying. I called dh, and apparently the cash and opportunity to do the kitchen renovations we had thought about came up, but only about 3 days before we were coming home. He wanted it to be a surprise, and thought that more would be done by then. Darwin cried and cried, said our house was destroyed, why did dad destroy our house, etc. Poor kid, he had just been going crazy in the car for like the last hour of the trip, and then he had to come home to that. His bedroom was the same, the upstairs was all the same, so we went there. I was thinking we would also have the basement, but that's where all the stuff from the main floor was being stored. My parents considered staying at a hotel, and I thought they would since we just had our room and the boys' room and literally nowhere else for anyone to sleep, but when I said that they boys could sleep with dh and I they decided to stay. They took us out to dinner and we got back late. I just wanted to cry and sleep, and my parents were standing around mostly watching me struggle to get the kids ready for bed, and helping a little bit. Dh didn't get home until 2 am. I didn't fall asleep that night until nearly midnight, and then I woke up when dh came home, at about 2 am. I had just started to drift back to sleep finally at about 3:30 when Darwin wet the bed. He had a pull up on, but I realized after that he hadn't peed since lunch time, and the pull up just wasn't enough to contain everything. Oh, we didn't have a washer or dryer either. I was wide awake again after dealing with that, and couldn't fall asleep until after 6. Solomon woke me up just after 7. :irked: We went to church that afternoon, and dh ended up driving me home to nap while they were there (it's 3 hours all together). This week has been exhausting. I had to buy a bunch of stuff, we're basically in the boys' room (the big bedroom) all the time if we're not out. I've been running errands in the morning, which makes the boys cranky, and then I need to rest all afternoon. Luckily we still have the fridge and microwave. But the microwave and dry foods are in the basement, the fridge is on the main floor, and we eat upstairs, so it's a lot of work to do anything. Dh washed a bunch of laundry before they started, but something happened and none of them were dried, or if they did dry, they were outside on the line, right next to where they threw all the drywall, so they had to be washed again. Now that the washer is working, it's in the basement and I dry them upstairs. I can't believe how exhausting it is just carrying the laundry around. Dh is working full time, he can't get any time off right now, and he's also putting in a full day's work on the renovations every day, so he's busy and tired too. I still haven't had a mw appointment since I've been back, it's been a month. I haven't had the home appointment yet and I'm 36 weeks; we also have yet to buy/get together anything we need for the birth. I delivered my first two at 38 weeks. I have to take the cat to the vet's and get her registered. In one week, my dh leaves for a scout camp for 4 days. I'll be 37 weeks then, I hadn't realized that until yesterday, and I had a minor meltdown. Dh doesn't think he can get out of it, but the park rangers will have phones that work there, so maybe I can call him and he can canoe out of the bush and drive the 4 hours back here if I go into labour. :irked: The following week, he's helping out with another youth activity for a few days. He hasn't talke to anyone at work about getting parental leave yet. September is when thing really pick up, and about half of the managers in his position quit within the last few weeks. I'm just feeling so overwhelmed by everything. I had so much more strength and energy with my first two pregnancies, with this one I feel like I'm falling apart. I know dh feels badly that the renovations haven't gone smoothly and I don't want him to think I don't appreciate all the work he's doing. The kitchen will be way better after and he is working really hard on it. I didn't want to complain or say I couldn't help out when he needed it, but by today I just told him how badly I was feeling, how little sleep I was getting, and that I really needed to get more rest, for the baby and for the kids (I get really cranky as the day goes on if I'm doing too much and not eating/drinking well enough). He's stressed out too, but I knew if I didn't say something he would keep asking me to do things I wasn't up to doing and I would just do it and then be angry with him. Today, though, a friend of mine called to say her daughter was available to come over and look after the boys for a few hours. It's been wonderful. They get so cranky with me, we're always running errands, taking care of stuff here, or I'm trying to rest and not giving them the attention they need. They're putting up walls tomorrow (dh's day off) so I think we'll be at the children's museum for quite a while.

Lol, as I go over and read that, it would seem like I've been living through this forever. We came home Sat night, so it's really only been 4 days that we've been home. The freezer is now stocked with tv dinners, frozen pasta dinners, and pizza pockets, and we have cold meat and buns in the fridge, and veggies and dip and lots of fruit. And cheese and crackers, and granola and cereal bars, and yogurt cups. I bought a bunch of craft stuff and little junky toys at the dollar store to keep the boys amused. I just hope this is done soon!

About feeling the baby drop -- I have never really "felt the baby drop." Maybe it's because I'm so short, it really isn't very different. At my last appointment, the mw said the baby's head was getting low, but it wasn't all the way down yet. I'm not feeling much more kicking in my ribcage, but I am feeling pushing and stretching between my hips and lower. So I'm guessing the baby has dropped or is dropping. But it's not really like night and day for me, I don't think it would have occurred to me that anything was very different if I hadn't heard about the baby dropping. Breathing is still difficult especially when I lie down, and I still have heartburn, and if I'm sitting I'll still get some kicks up in my ribcage. But like I said, I'm short, maybe that's why.

It's been neat reading through what I could of everyone's experiences. My hat is off to you ladies who are still working, I have no idea how you do it! Just shopping with the boys for a few hours in the morning exhausts me for the rest of the day. And I get to spend money then, not work to make money.

My kids are getting more cuddly with the baby too. Solomon is convinced that there are two babies in my tummy. He wanted me to carry him the other evening when we were out for a walk. I carried him a little bit, and when I tried to put him down he cried and cried. I started to explain that there was a baby in my tummy who was getting very big, and I just wasn't strong enough to carry him too. He started insisting that there were two babies in my tummy. Lol! I'm measuring small for dates, so I really don't think it's twins. Though the midwives have never had to search for the heartbeat, it's always right there when they put the doppler on... hmmm...

Take care everyone!

[banana girl]

D@#n Shannon, that sounds awful!!!!

I may be whining about my job, but at least I sit most of the day and can sneak lots of time in to post online!!! And my dearest darling hubby pampers the bejesus out of me when i do get home!

Hang in there dear, it will get better!!!

P.S. I think you win the prize for the longest freaking post ever!!! :p te he heee.

[Mom2baldie]

Everyone who has posted about having had the GBS test, what happens if you turn up positive?

I had my 34 week appt. with my midwife today and she gave me more info to look over in regards to this. I still havent decided what I will do, but I thought it was quite interesting that she gave me so many options if I do decide to test and come up positive.

My choices if positive are:
1. do nothing
2. automatically have IV antibiotics in labor (which doesnt risk me out of a homebirth or anything)
3. have IV antibiotics ONLY if I have risk factors such as prolonged rupture of membranes.....during labor
4. give baby a shot of penicillan after the birth (she said that this is what a hospital in our area actually does. except they give EVERY baby the shot after they are born because many of the moms havent been tested at all!)

If I decide to test, I will also get to do the vaginal swab myself which is nice.

I have my home visit in 2 weeks and we will go over my birth plan. Theres lots of questions about how I have been visualizing this birth, what my fantasy birth would be like... and Im nervous about giving it back to her because I havent really been thinking about it that much at all. I may be giving it back to her with all one word answers.

Whats your fantasy birth? Peaceful.

Everything else is going well. Baby is head down, but posterior. My midwife gave me the "you dont want a posterior baby" lecture, which I thought was funny since I am always giving girls that lecture on the VBAC forum here and with ICAN (Intl Cesarean Awareness Network).

I measured 34 weeks, bp was 126/68 (I think) and I weighed about 134.

[chrissy]

Lynsey, my options are pretty much the same, well except #4, I think. I was + with Noah, had the IV in the hospital, and we were all fine (no thrush even, which I was worried about. I did take acidophilous to avoid it.) This time I think I am planning on being tested and if + will do alternative remedies first. I haven't researched much on this yet but I know there are lots of things to try. Then we'll have IV antibiotics on hand but I will only get them if I develop a risk factor in labor. This is/was a tough decision for me. I don't want to take antibiotics if I don't need to and the risk of baby getting sick, even with a GBS+ mom, is very low. But then if MY baby is the one to get sick then the risk wasn't too low, you know what I mean? This seems to be the toughest decision I've had to make with this pregnancy.

I have lots of itchy poison something and it is driving me crazy!! ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JenInMpls]

P.S. I think you win the prize for the longest freaking post ever!!! :p te he heee.

Glad someone else won that distinction! :LOL

Shannon, holy cow! If I were you I would be looking for the nearest rock to crawl under. To you, and all of the mamas who are caring for other children while you are pregnant (especially Melanie, looking after 6!), I stand in awe, I don't know how you all do it. Taking trips and running errands and everything... sheesh. And some of you working on top of all that.

Oh - Shannon - have you ever tried Apis mellifica for mosquito bites? It's good for any red, swollen insect bite that ails you. I know not everyone is into homeopathy, but it might help... *shrug*

Lynsey - I haven't completely decided what to do if my GBS test comes back + . I think I will cross that bridge when I come to it. I found this at gentlebirth.org:

So, in this area, some OBs and pediatricians have a new approach; for cases of prolonged rupture of membranes, they're only giving antibiotics if the mom runs a fever. Otherwise, they just do a simple blood test on the baby (can be done from cord blood or a heelstick if they miss the cord blood opportunity) to check for C-reactive protein. This is an indicator of an acute infection. If it's negative, everyone can be reassured
that baby's fine, even though mom didn't get antibiotics; if it's positive (for whatever reason!), then baby will be appropriately treated for an acute infection. This has great potential for focusing the treatment where it is most needed and not exposing all the others to unnecessary side effects and increased risks from resistant bacteria.

My midwife had never heard of that.

Well, Jo is home and we're going to my friend's for dinner (to see their new house and teach her husband how to cook steak!), so I'd better run... waddlewaddlewaddle,

jen

[4under6]

(((((((SHANNON))))))))))))
Hang in there, mama!

[Lazuli]

My bedroom has carpet, woot! I did get a really nasty headache though. :( Between the lovely new carpet smell and the aftershave/cologne that the one installer was wearing, bam! Horrible headache. I'm having a half caf latte which is helping, as did getting out of the house. I have the bedroom door closed and the windows open, so hopefully that will help air things out.

My hips hurt. I noticed this when I went to the grocery. Of course, it could just be because of the cool damp weather. The roofer finally showed up and said our roof is just fine, it's not a roof problem, most likely it's a plumbing problem. I guess we'll know when my husband gets back from Oregon and goes up in the attic to look.

Shannon, your situation does sound pretty awful, I hope the renovations get done soon!

I should start my dinner soon. Food would be good.... :D

[wardermom]

My decision about GBS:

Last pregnancy I was +. I took natural remedies and it was still +. I chose to do antibiotics only if there were risk factors:fever, ruptured membranes for a long time. I didn't need them.

This time I tested + when they did my other tests around 4 months. I'm choosing not to test again. I'm sure I'm still +. I'm not really doing anything for it. I will treat if there are risk factors. I hate the thought of going in to the hospital for antibiotics during labour. (A few years ago, I had intravenous antibiotics for a really bad case of mastitis. The antibiotics made me feel really sick on top of feeling sick because of the mastitis. This is the last thing I need while labouring, that and leaving the house.) I just hope nothing comes up.

[fourlittlebirds]

Gosh, Shannon, what a trying month you've had! Ugh. About your husband's commitments -- I understand people are relying on him, but if he explains the situation (that he screwed up, basically, thinking that he could do all that stuff right around when you are due) maybe it would be extra motivation for some compassionate person in charge to find a replacement.

[msrog]

OK, here's my update: OB visit yesterday; forgot to measure my fundal height, but I have gained 30 pounds now. He did my strep B culture and did a vaginal check. Ick! My cervix is quite high, and I think he must have fat hands, haha. (And I've been crampy off and on since the exam. ggrrrr. he better not have tried something funny like strip membranes or something.) He said I'm beginning to efface, but no dilation. No reason to believe labor is coming, though, says he. I believe it, too; Nicolas had me effaced 80 percent and dilated 3 cm for a whole agonizing three weeks! Both babies were head down.

Today, went to the last peri visit (wow). They wouldn't raise the table very far, so predictably, Baby B flipped to transverse and by the end of the session was breech. Grrrr. There is a reason I don't lie flat on my back, nor do I want to labor that way!!! Anyway, no big deal, I think the baby has already settled back head down by this evening. Nice strong heartbeats and "practice breaths".

OK, here's my 35 week Torpedo Belly, haha. http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeAM2TRszcsWz6Y
Tonight I measure 50 inches around from my high waist to my belly button, but 52 inches if I measure straight around from my belly button (to top of hips).

[greenbeing]

Look at that beautiful belly! You look great!

Yesterday must have been the day for appointments. We had one, everything is going well, but my mw had a little doubt about the position of babe. She said she was 75% sure the baby was head down, after feeling around a bit. For some reason, at my last 2 appointments, we haven't been too sure on babies position. Maybe he's still moving around a bit? I feel movements all over. And the stronger ones are up top, so I'm thinking he probably is vertex but just that little doubt gets to me.

:hug hugs to you Shannon, I hope things look up soon!

I must get to bed, way too long of a day today.

[msrog]

:hug Shannon, I'm so glad you got all that off your chest! That's what we're here for, haha. It felt like I was in a boxing match reading your ordeal; right jab, ugh; gut punch, ugh; oh, another to the chin! :grouphug I'm praying things hurry up and settle down calmly and happily for you, and that DH comes to his senses! =O)

Thanks, ladies, for the great info on + GBS. All I've heard as my options are, IV antibiotics. It will be nice to have some different options to discuss instead! I'm just praying yesterday's swab proves negative. So much lurks to conspire against my plans to labor and deliver UPRIGHT and without intervention with these twins. Grrr. I wish I just had gone with a homebirth and not allowed any ultrasounds, even though I suspected twins all along.

Boy, some of you are so close! CHILL, Danielle! ;) You will not have the baby on the way to the hospital. (Hey, did you read that wild birth story in the July or August board along those lines? hee hee)

Anna, what a monstrous aggravation that your doctor didn't mention the prolonged vacation!

Melanie, hugs! Sounds like the birth is looming large for your dh all of a sudden. I'll bet he has already apologized for blowing up at you like that. If not, I'd definitely bring it up. Heck, one mom can only do so much in her last month of pregnancy! Give us a break! (Oh, and maybe put those kids to work, haha...) I'm glad the appt itself went well.

Lazuli, yay to carpet laid! Boo to dh leaving!

Julia, I hope your coworkers surprise you by pulling off a super shower!

OK, gotta go put up my feet and fold some laundry. Then dishes and bed. Today was BUSY. (Oh, I forgot to mention I met an MDC mama that lives in my town today! We arranged a meeting at the park with our kids, and we all had so much fun. I meet some more on Friday at the same park. I get to "show and tell" with my diapers. It's great having them in that basket; I can just pick it up and take it with me, haha!)

[Brisen]

Thanks for the hugs and support everyone. It did help to get it off my chest; I've been telling people about what's going on, but just the interesting stuff, not all of the things that are aggravating me.

I had forgotten about the GBS test. I don't remember having it done with #1, and with #2 I did the swab. It was nice being able to do it on my own, but I wasn't sure if I was doing it right or not. I think I'll skip it this time, the midwives here have to follow certain rules that I think are overly restrictive. My test last time was -ve, so I'm not terribly concerned. Jen, I'm going to print that info off and have it with me at my next appointment, it does sound interesting.

Jen, I don't know much about homeopathy, but I would be interested in it for the boys' bites if we need it again. The best remedy I find for mosquito bites is more mosquito bites, so something homeopathic would probably be up my alley for this.

[plantmommy]

Anna, that would really tick me off, the Dr. not saying that s/he wouldn't be around anytime close to my EDD! It's like he wanted to get as much of your money as he could before the trip. grrrr!

I think the prodromal labor has begun. I've been having mild cntx for about 45 mins, about 2 mins apart, lasting about a minute. I am NOT getting excited, since this happened with dd for weeks before labor, but instead, I will be encouraged. It made labor much easier. I expect them to peter out fairly soon. Funny thing is, last time it was about the same time; they'd wake me at about 5 am.

However, this makes me think I'd better get serious about getting this baby anterior! He's still typically back to the left side of my tummy.

[plantmommy]

Petered out after about an hour, as predicted.

It is so humid here today, and really wet/rainy, dark and dismal. Lousy day to be up from 5 am.

[Caroline248]

I think the prodromal labor has begun. I've been having mild cntx for about 45 mins, about 2 mins apart, lasting about a minute. I am NOT getting excited, since this happened with dd for weeks before labor, but instead, I will be encouraged. It made labor much easier. I expect them to peter out fairly soon. Funny thing is, last time it was about the same time; they'd wake me at about 5 am.
.


Ugh, I was up at 5 with the same. But they lasted two hours (and had been going on and off through the night). The back pain was unreal...

BUt you are right, I think all this early stuff makes for an easier labor when the actual time comes....

sleepy-Caroline

[Caroline248]

Well, just got the results of my GBS...positive. Now I ahve to see what I will do. With my quick labors, antibiotics may not be an option, and I am not comfortable playing the "wait and see" thing...

THis sucks.

:crying


Caroline

[CdnAloha]

From Plantmommy: "However, this makes me think I'd better get serious about getting this baby anterior! He's still typically back to the left side of my tummy." I thought that back to the left was the right position? That is what I interpret from Spinningbabies.com, but I get confused by the diagrams.

I had my mw in-home visit yesterday and it went great. She is happy about the baby's position and about my health in general.

We talked about GBS, now is the time isn't it?! So, it seems that here in Ontario (Shannon I noticed you are in ON too. :) ) ...anyway seems that here if you don't test they assume you are positive. Odd! My mw finds it odd too, but she has to go by regulation, so I think I will test and treat if there are risk factors only. Luckily it does not impact the homebirth choice at all. Phew!

I found out I have ab distenstion - basically the abdominal muscles have split as everything moves up to accomodate the baby. It's uncomfortable, but not really a problem. I will be able to exercise it back into shape eventually. So now I am just trying to take it easy. Jen, made me wonder if that is the pain you are experiencing. Apparently it can sting and be irritated if it takes a while to happen.

Shannon, I hope things turn around soon and then you feel better for having a place to vent. I feel for you and give you lots of respect for all that you have managed to do without falling apart completely.

Savannah, what a belly! Me thinks those babies will be healthy and strong from the looks of their home. :) I have my fingers crossed for your ideal birth working out.

Jenn, I would like to know more about homeopathy. Can you recommend a good book for a beginner? Have I asked this before? Sorry. I know you use Wise Women's Herbal. I should get a copy of that too.

Hugs to all,
Julia

[plantmommy]

Aw, I'm sorry about the GBS+, Caroline. What does your mw say/suggest?

I'm not testing, and will only fret if there are other risk factors, like prolonged time between membrane rupture and birth (which has never happened with me before) or fever or something.

Julia, I read that about back to the left on spinningbabies.com, too, but I don't understand why the difference? I think completely anterior would still be better, though, so if I can just pay attention to how I sit, etc., then why not, I figure.

[StacyL]

Wow, 50" !! But you are having twins... I was at 41" last time I measured, but I only have ONE baby! I wonder if that means my baby will be big? :scratch

I'm 35 weeks too, but here's my 34 week belly:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/share/welcome?i=EeANmTRqycNWzqw&notag=1&sm=1&sl=0

[JenInMpls]

OK, here's the one whine I'm allowing myself:

MAKE IT STOP HURTING!!! :bawl

All right, I'm done now.

Julia and others: the homeopathy book I am using right now is called Homeopathy for Pregnancy, Birth, and Your Baby's First Year by Miranda Castro. It is a very all-encompassing book with a lot of emphasis on healthy pregnancy. The healthy pregnancy part is kind of redundant when you look at the Wise Woman Herbal and even some other birth books like Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. It does have a very good, thorough "Complaints" section where you can look up what's bothering you and cross-reference all of the remedies to make sure you get the most exact one for your symptoms (repertorizing). I got mine on eBay for $3.50, it retails for $13.27 on amazon. Miranda Castro also has another general book on homeopathy and since I really like her style of writing and presenting homeopathy, I may try to hunt that one down too.

An article in the Sept/Oct 2003 issue of Mothering recommended the book Homeopathic Medicine at Home: Natural Remedies for Everyday Ailments and Minor Injuries by Maesimund B. Panos, MD and Jane Heimlich. I have not yet located this book locally but it is readily available at eBay, amazon and half.com. Do me a favor, don't outbid me on the one on eBay right now, ok? (My ID is trumpetjen.)

Caroline, I'm sorry to hear that your GBS test came back positive, but don't stress yourself out too bad over it; if you want the antibiotics in labor it only takes 20 minutes, or it can be given to the baby after birth.

Meredith, my little Sprout is still moving around a lot (giving me hope that little Sprout is, indeed, little), especially after I've seen the chiropractor. At my mw appt she asked if she could do a cervical check in order to get a better feel for where the baby was, which she achieved by giving the baby a push on the head. So you're not the only one!

Back to left side of belly is good! When labor starts they're right in position to tuck their heads and be anterior.

Off to go do *something* (anything!),

jen

[MamaAcorn]

Jen, so sorry that your hurting! Thanks for the book recommendations. I'll be keeping my eye out for those.

Caroline, I'm sorry about the positive GBS results. That sucks! Try not to stress about it too much, easier said than done, I know. I have mine to look forward to next week.

Beautiful belly shots! I just measured mine, and I'm at 43" at belly button level! I'm only 34 weeks! I've been feeling smaller with this pregnancy compared to my first one too.

Shannon, I hope things are coming together at your house. I can't imagine your shock to coming home to that. Wow! You're a trooper!

Back to work before we get hit by two more hurricaines! Up to 14" of rain says the local news, and we're in NC! I can't imagine what it will be like in Florida or Georgia.

Pam

[CdnAloha]

Thanks Jen for the book titles. I managed to find Homeopathy for Pregnancy, Birth, and Your Baby's First Year at the library, so I requested it.

The other I could not find, but don't worry I won't compete with your bid. I will see how I do with the first one and then see how I get into it. I should also get a copy of the Wise Woman Herbal for Pregnancy. Oddly they don't have it at my library.

Funny that so many of you are measuring your "waist". I'm not going to, cause I figure it doesn't mean anything. I mean what if you just carry the baby sticking out? That's why they measure fundal height cause it's not dependent on how you carry. It is interesting to read the numbers though. ;)

[banana girl]

Hey y'all!

Bopping along, getting stuff done. It's been a productive last 2 days at work, which is nice, but not. I generally like being busy rather than bored, but I'm wearing myself out at work.

Last night I tried to stay up and watch a movie, but we had to turn it off half way thru. You know how an overtired little kid will cry when you try to put them to bed instead of letting then continue to exhaust themselves.... that was me. sniveling and whining about wanting to see what happens next in the movie, crying and sniffling with a silly little quaver in my voice. The more i protested going to bed, the more I proved how badly I needed to go! Jerome was laughing so hard at my ridiculousness, which caused me to laugh and cry in response. Pretty silly, i must admit. BUT I am still dying to see the rest of the movie!!!

Having lots of Braxton hicks again today.... it's funny.... if I had been feeling this sensation this often earlier on, it would have freaked me out. But, now that I'm getting REALLY sick and tired of being pregnant, i almost welcome them. It means my body is getting READY!!! Also, I've become so acustomed to being in discomfort (over the last 8 months) that it doesn't faze me much. That and I'm stubornly insisting to myself that it DOESN'T actually hurt. I'm NOT in Pain... it's just a "strong sensation" This is all part of my masterplan to convince myself that birth doesn't need to hurt... it's all how you perceive it... I'm trying very hard not to let myself perceive this as pain. This is just the beginning!! The beginning of the END!!! Hooray!

[Brisen]

That's too bad, Caroline. I hope you can work something out that you're comfortable with. I remember reading or hearing, maybe from my mw, about the gbs test being unreliable, or maybe just that it can come and go? That if you test positive, you might test negative again before the birth. Does that sound familiar to anyone?

plantmommy, what do you mean about paying attention to the way you sit, for baby's position?

[banana girl]

plantmommy, what do you mean about paying attention to the way you sit, for baby's position?

http://www.spinningbabies.com Check it out.
But don't get to freaked out about baby positioning... my midwife's response to my questions was to reassure me that it is during labor that the baby gets moved into the "right" position. So, don't sweat it too much!

[plantmommy]

Shannon, it's from the website www.spinningbabies.com

[Robertsgirl]

Quick fly by post.....

I have a great homeopathic book recommendation. We use homeopathy exclusively in our home and that is how we treated my infertility. Anyway, the best laid out and easy to follow beginner book that I've found is
Homeopathic Remedies by Asa Hershoff. I like it because it is laid out in a way that helps beginners find remedies before their case taking is very good. There's another great children's homeopathic remedies book too, but I can't find it to give you the exact title yet, but I'll get back with it.

[Lazuli]

Can't. Stop. Eating. I have been ravenous all day, I just can't get enough to eat. Eep! I'm about to go raid the kitchen yet again. Anyone else have days like this?

[4under6]

Savannah-
Love the belly!

Stacy-
What a hotty pregnant mama YOU are!

I suppose one of these days I better post a shot of me, since haven't yet.

[JenInMpls]

Lazuli: hear. you. there. Today I was a total chow hound and needed to stop because I was going to aquacise class and swimming with lots of food in belly = way bad heartburn! Everything i saw in the fridge looked good, and the two eggs + cheese in a burrito was not enough, I had to follow it with a hummus chaser and even a bite of bumble bar (energy bars that the co-op I shop at makes with sunflower and sesame seeds, peanut butter, coconut and honey, MMM). Thank goodness my heartburn was not so bad once we got into the deep end. There were only 2 of us at class tonight.

And swimming for an hour is better than a sitz bath, WHEE! relief!

Shannon - the thing that my midwife emphasises about posture is keeping your belly forward when you're sitting - being Buddha-like, spreading your knees and letting your belly hang forward instead of sitting back. Ladylike-ness must be thrown out the window. :) And for sleeping, if you can remember it in bleary moments: on your left side, lean forward onto pillows and throw your right knee up and over; on your right side, keep your hips and legs at a right angle to the bed. I honestly don't know if it really works - my kid always readjusts her/himself first thing after I get up and get vertical - but supposedly it works.

It seems that Sprout is still at swim class. :eyesroll

xo, j.

[StacyL]

:laugh: :laugh: :rotflmao :laugh: :laugh:

I hear ya, sister. Been there several times myself. Maybe it's because our stomachs are so squished and small you have to keep eating all the time since they don't hold very much. I feel like a freakin' hummingbird.

And on that note, I am off to the kitchen to make a mint chip ice cream cone... :Sheepish:

[sistermama]

Food, food! I don't feel like I even have enough time in the day to eat as much as I want! But I'm trying to watch it though, because I think I sometimes get hungry when I am actually thirsty.

Crazy day - forgot to give Jack his morning AND afternoon meds, so he was a hormonal nightmare by the time I figured it out. We had our friend and her two year old over, we had fun but the house got trashed, of course. Then made dinner with Jack in the sling because he was so out of control. Then helped dh put Jack's new swingset together in the backyard. (New to us, we found a great one used for $30!!!)

I'm so sick of the local news, because they always blow this hurricane business so out of proportion and freak new people out. Now I might be concerned if I were in Tampa, but we are so far inland that anything that comes from the west coast can't really do us that much damage (unless it were a category 5 or something!). Dh works at Home Depot, so you can imagine what his night is going to be like tonight.

Anna - are you going to have internet at home after baby?????

[JenInMpls]

Sarah - so can I expect our college kid in Miami to be all right in this hurricane?

Woke up around 4 I guess, lay in bed for a long time and finally got up when the cat started walking all over me and I realized that we probably had not fed them last night before going to bed. (True enough.) Everyone is fed now.

Hot date tonight to sit on the couch and watch the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Anyone have any ideas for what I want to eat for dinner? Jo will bring me whatever I want.

Well, I suppose I'll try sleeping again.

j

[plantmommy]

Sarah, are you superwoman, running around cooking with your 2 yr. old in the sling at this point?! I can't imagine! Wow!

[chrissy]

Beautiful bellies (and mamas!!) Savannah and Stacy!

Sarah, I forget- what are Jack's meds for? I too am way impressed that you were able to carry him in the sling at this point.

I must be on the opposite end of the eating spectrum. I don't seem to be that hungry these days. I still eat but just not tons and sometimes it takes me a loooooooooong time to think of something that sounds appealing.

Caroline, bummer about the GBS! What is your m/w suggesting as an alternative?

Christi and Jen, thanks for the book recomendations. I will have to check them out.

Jen, those Bumble Bars sound delicious!

I think some of the poison sumac(?) on my leg is getting infected so I'm going to head in to our family doctor this morning. It is very puffy and angry and red and kind of throbbing. :(

We're supposed to be going to a potluck at my midwife's house tomorrow to discuss waterbirth, but I'm wondering if it is going to be cancelled due to the storms. Hmmmmm....

And those with good thoughts and prayers to spare, send some my mama's way. She and my step-dad live in Venice, FL, which is on the Gulf Coast. They don't seem too too worried but I'm a little worried for them.

Happy Friday to all you mamas and babies!

[blipla]

I just can't keep up with you chatty mamas! I read through about half the thread and will try to catch up more later.

I wanted to say thank you to all of your kind wishes for my grandfather. I'm glad I went to visit when I did, he passed away a few days after I left.

My girls are back in school now so I have a bit more time during the day to get things done. However, I'm still not feeling too much of that nesting instinct and am procrastinating. I want to do a major a clean out and have a yard sale in two weeks. We just have too much stuff. I also need to find and wash all the baby things.

I sprained my ankle two weeks ago and it's still swollen and I don't have full mobility but it doesn't hurt too much anymore. But that has slowed me down as well.

I think we have something going on every weekend until my due date. Next weekend it's my dd birthday party, then the yard sale, then we are going to Florida for my brother's wedding, then there is a big kids consignment sale I'm selling at the next weekend. No wonder I'm overwhelmed- there just isn't enough time.

Hope everyone is well- I'm lookign forward to birth stories and announcements soon!

[banana girl]

Hey ladies!

Me. Too. Very. Hungry. All. Day. the most frustrating part of being hungry all the time is that I am currently trying very hard to improve the protein ratio of my meals. It can be really hard to get lots of protein. (I did some testing with a glucometer a week or so ago and had some kinda weird results to a urine sample testing.) My midwife wants me to try and adjust my diet a little and test again once I've completely kicked this head cold. I even cut soda and juice out of my diet!!!! Been drinking hot tea to avoid caffeine withdrawl headaches and am slowly weaning myself off of caffeine again. ( I hadn't had a caffeine addiction for about 2 years before pregnancy!)

Work beckons, must jump!

[plantmommy]

[banana girl]

Anna - are you going to have internet at home after baby?????

I'm working on it... really, it's on my to do list. You know, that overwhelming list of things that keep getting put off in favor of going to bed early or getting the dished washed.

I need to find a solution by the end of THIS month or I will be cut off as of the 27th!!!!

[sistermama]

Blithe - I hear you on the full weekends! I'm booked solid and after th