week of October 25 - almost all done!

[Piglet68]

October Mamas (and Babies!) Roll Call :belly and :baby

mirthfulmum 10/03 Harrison 10/06
kraftykathy 10/04 Willow Cerridwen 10/13, 9 lbs
Jillerina Leo Paul 10/09, 9 lbs 9 oz, 21"
KateMary 10/06 Ruby Ava 9/25
Thia 10/08 Emily Vivian Esther 10/16
FutureMama 10/09 Miles Rocket 10/12, 6 lb 10 oz
bluehalo 10/10Noah Daniel 10/18, 8 lb 11 oz, 22"
mellybean 10/10 Willow 10/15, 5lb 13 oz, 22"
Lucysmama 10/12 Levi Sebastian 10/25, 8 lb 4 oz
ashleepurdie 10/12 Ella Lucille born 10/6, 7.5 lbs, 21.25"
momadance 10/13 Reed Jezmund 10/21, 10 lb 2 oz
Mandi 10/14 Jillian 10/19, 9 lb 14 oz
wannabmommie 10/15Mikayla Danielle 10/27, 8 lb 7 oz, 20.5"
MTBto5 10/15
krnflwr 10/16 GIRL! Emma Grace *prediction: Oct 16th, 10 hours labour*
gmvh 10/16 Owen and Gwynnen 9/25
Piglet68 10/18 Sasha Adam 10/08, 7 lb 8 oz, 21.5"
BeansMomma 10/20 Kennedy 10/20, 7 lb 2 oz, 21"
Court 10/21 Zander Julian 10/22, 9 lb, 21.5"
OakEmber 10/21 Oakley Kai 10/27, 8 lb 7.5 oz, 20.5"
mtnjenny 10/22
Ekatherina 10/22
Momma2Liam 10/24 Tara Grace 10/29, 7 lb 5 oz, 21"
Stanleymama 10/23 Quinn Carraig 10/21, 8 lb 4 oz
gottaknit 10/24 Henry 10/28, 7 lb 14 oz, 21"
3boyz4us 10/24 Ella Renae 10/22, 8 lb 13 oz, 21"
Ctmom70 10/24 BOY! Alex Richard
*prediction: Oct 14, 5 hrs labour*
aspiring mama 10/25
sunshinegal 10/25 Fiona 10/28, 8 lb 2 oz
AngelBee 10/25 BOY! Angelo Richard
truebluexf 10/27 Lillian Nora 10/31, 8 lb 8 oz, 20"
Soogie 10/27 *prediction: Oct 27 or 28*
ameliabedelia 10/29 Greta Marie 10/19, 7 lb 13 oz, 20"
flitters 10/30
AnnR33 10/31
guinnessinu 10/31 TWINS! BOY! and BOY!
BlueMoonTime 10/31 GIRL! Alexis


Okay, I think I've got all the births updated. Decided to give myself a project to occupy our nightwaking hours, lol!

Hope to see the rest of our babies making their appearance over the next few days. Good luck to our labouring mamas (especially Katie :supermod)

[mtnjenny]

Thought I'd check in quick in this early morning! No baby yet...trying not to drive myself too crazy. I'm officially done working and that feels fantastic. I was a bit worried that I would now just be sitting around, obsessing, but now that I can focus on my own child, instead of 26 other-people's-children, things might actually get movin'! We'll see...

Congrats to EVERYONE, you're all doing great! It's so fun to read all the excitement. :thumb

[Momma2LiamandTara]

Well I'm still here and pregnant. I don't know why but for some reason I just want to be done now. I'm trying to be patient but it's not working. I think i'd be better if I had some signs of something impending like a little bloody show or a bit of my mucous plug coming out. Nothing but a bit of BH ctrx. Oh well I guess i'm learning a lesson in patience.

Katie- I hope you've had your baby. Thank you nate for the updates.

Nancy- You lucky girl sounds like you're having your baby soon.

Thia- I hope all is well with you.

I think I'm going to walk the aisles of the gorcery store to see if that will kick in anything. Have a good day and happy birthing. I'm putting some mroe pics up on yahoo hopefully today. I have to go peek at all the cute babies and glowing mommies.

[ameliabedelia]

Congrats to all the new babies. I can't keep track of them all,

Quinn, Zander, Ella (did I miss anyone). :birthday and :ballons to everyone!!!

Sending :dust labor vibes to those who need it.

We had to go back to the hospital. On Friday Greta's bilirubin levels were really high and she was pretty yellow. She spent the next 24 hours underneath the lights. I stayed in the room with her and had a bed and could take her out and nurse here whenever she needed it, so it really wasn't that bad. She wasn't able to be held as much as we like to, but I could nurse here whenever we needed to. We went home Sat. night and had her tested again Sun morning. Her levels have stayed low, she is still a little jaundiced but not enought to be underneath the lights. We are taking her back into the doctor today. I hate hospitals, and me being in the hospital so much has been hard on DD. But I think we are good now, I read that once the levels go down, they rarely go back up.

One thing they did say is that jaundice is worse if the baby is early, (so all of you with "late" babies, be glad of that). I think it just happens because the liver is too immature and it just takes time. So the later the baby, the more mature the liver is.

[bluehalo]

Good Morning Mamas :)

Sorry if I sound disgustingly cheerful, I'm just having the best morning. DH went into work for the morning, and I really had no idea how things would go w/o him here to get Ethan breakfast, etc. like he's been doing all last week. Well, I've just been having the most fantastic morning with my two sweet boys. Ethan and I woke up before Noah, so we got to lay in bed snuggling for a good 30 minutes or so. E. is so in love with his little brother ... I was laying behind E., spooning w/ him, and Noah was beside Ethan, and E was just rubbing him and watching him and laughing as N. smiled in his sleep. It was just blissful :love

:grouphug Thinking about all you mamas still waiting to meet your babies. Waiting can be so hard. E. was 7 days late, and N. was 8 ... so I feel ya.

Nate, thanks for the update on Katie ... She's still in my thoughts. Can't wait to hear how things are going!

Amelia, what a great birth story. You sound so happy and empowered. That's awesome! :D

Off to be slightly productive ;) We have to take Noah to the ped. today ... since our ped. doesn't do rounds at the hospital where he was born, he wants to see him. Noah is a bit jaundiced too, not too bad, I don't think, but we haven't had any sunshine lately to hang out in, etc., and I'll feel better to get my ped's opinion too.

[kraftykathy]

Congratulations Court!!!!
:balloons :balloons :balloons :balloons

And welcome sweet baby Zander!!!!
:birthday: :birthday: :birthday: :birthday:

Oh, I hope Kate is to busy holding here precious babe right now to update us!!!!!

piglet - whoa, you sure got a head start today, lol!

Nancy - hope you are also holding your babe right now!!!!

When my water broke with my son's birth, it was just like that too. It broke while I was in bed, but when I got up there was no leaking. His head acted like a cork!

Meli - Wow! I'd be outraged to!!! How dare they refuse to give you something that belongs to you and your daughter! That makes me so mad. We had the same idea for our Willow (planting a willow tree), so I really, really feel for you!

amelia - glad to hear your little one is recovering from jaundice.

Momma2Liam - hang in there! not much further to go now ;)

mtnjenny - glad to hear your finally getting some time to relax before your little one joins you!

bluehalo - aw, so wonderful to hear how happy you are! I know what you mean. I'm feeling so much love for my sweet family right now too!

I can't believe that we are almost at the end of October! I am so looking forward to the final births for our group over the next couple of weeks! This past week has been especially exciting, popping in several times a day to see who's babies have arrived. So much fun!

Well, I'm going to go check out the pictures. I'll check in again later!

[sunshinegal]

I finally made it to the big 40! I was up last night with the absolute worst heartburn ever. It felt like all my stomach acid was just sloshing in my esophagus :irked: . Then I had the sweats and felt like I had to go to the bathroom. It took about 20 minutes to subside but I had to sleep sitting up so I didn't feel the burn. YUK! I have never had this before. I have also been having some mild contrax here and there for about 10 hours. We'll just wait and see!

Welcome to all the new babies and labor vibes to all the beautiful strong mamas that need it :dust :fingersx:

Nate- thanks for the update on Katie- hope all is working out well.

Piglet- don't know how you keep up with all the dates on this board and have 2 little ones !!! You are amazing.

Ameliabedelia- sorry to hear that you had to head to the hospital. You are absolutely right about the liver being a little immature. Sounds like she's going to be just fine now.

Can't wait to see who is next!!

blessings

[Piglet68]

christine, i know what you mean. i'm so tired these days, yet so happy. having 2 is hard work in the sense that i don't seem to ever stop - nurse one, bathe the other, fix dinner, etc. but i am finding that i'm getting this enormous feeling of pride in myself. i don't think i even feel this way in my career work. but getting 2 kids fed, cleaned, out the door, and just making it thru the day has made me feel so accomplished - maybe because its not about me, its my children. being their mother is so fulfilling. of course i was proud with dd, but it felt alot easier, lol. this is definitely hard work - but wonderful - like a good workout!

i didn't post a QOTW this time b/c i figured we all have lots to talk about these days!!

momma2liam :hug it must be hard to see so many arrivals, for you and the other late edd mamas. it will happen, that much you know! hang in there!

amelia, so sorry to hear about gretas visit, but so glad you are home again. i'm sure she'll be fine now! :hug

hope katie is doing well...

oh, if i left off anybody on the list, please let me know! i won't be around much until evening, but i'll take care of it overnight :zzz

[blessed2bamommie]

Just checkin in! I see Pig got our thread up! I was ready to do my temporary job if need be. :D I just got back from draggin into cycle class and thinkin while I was there and contracting on the bike, which is reaaaaaaaaaaally uncomfortable as your leaning over it, wouldn't it be awesome if I was like boom! 9! :LOL And wonderin if my water would break sittin on there...(I wasnt the only one! :LOL)
Then went to McDonalds :bag and then to the hfs to get some more alfalfa, where the guy who works there was sayin when I called to see if I had bought the last one last time that he was trying to look me up to call me back b/c his sister who is the natural health consultant said I lost my plug. :LOL I was like :bigeyes but she was telling the owner and he heard. :LOL He's crazy.

Nancy I guess we've been chattin so much you're in my dreams. I woke up feeling something like it was coming out and got up and thought it mighta been my water...nah. :shrug

I saw more plug and hey that stuff floats. :gross :LOL The deviled egg sandwich that I haven't eaten in yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaars that I used to love as I kid that I had dh make me well, made itself evident when I went to the bathroom and I tooted some out. :LOL :hide: I looked in the water and was like Hey! dh was upset that he missed checked the toilet. :shake

That's the latest with me.

Wonderin bout Katie again...don't Nate know...course, I'm sure he's a little busy he's our update pushaman. We need a fix. :LOL

:wave Check in later.

[OakEmber]

Ah...I am begininng to wonder if I am gonna have an Oct. baby afterall...we are fastly approaching Nov. :LOL I can't believe how off my intuition has been, so now it wouldn't surprise me. Thank goodness there is a full moon between now and then (28th)...maybe that will have an effect. :shrug

So the last few days I have been good about not obsessing about when it will happen and telling myself it'll happen when it's time...but this morning woke up thinking "OH COMMON", let today be the day :LOL Thanks Amelia, for reminding me of the perks of going over, hopefully jaundice won't be an issue for us. I am glad to hear that Greta is doing better now :)

I am starting to wonder if I am holding things up. Last night I was having some contx. and Ember was in bed sleeping and all of a sudden I got thinking how it would not be good to have to wake her up and transfer her to her Aunties...I am worried about how she will handle me leaving anyway, and having someone just come and stay here wouldn't work either I don't think...as it is if I wake up before her and go out into the living room when she wakes up I hear her ask Dh all panicked..."where's Mommy", so I wouldn't want to trick her like that, I don't think it would be a favorable way to introduce a sibling into her life. So the solution seems to be to go into labour during the daytime, okay Oakley? :LOL But seriously, I am one of those who believes that things will fall into place but I just want to hit it head on already...I am wearing myself out with all the scenarios, sigh.

MTJenny- Congrats on being finished work :thumb Enjoy these few days to yourself!!

[Soogie]

Happy Birthday to the new babies Quinn, Zander, Kennedy, Greta and Ella!! There was some serious birthing going on around here recently!

Katie - I hope you are over the moon and holding a sweet little baby today. Thank you Nate for keeping us posted.

Nancy - Sounds like things are getting close for you. Easy labor vibes to you.

Letia - you always make me chuckle! And I can't believe you are still cycling. :nut I can't seem to get my arse up the stairs these days without feeling like I'm going to die! Have you gotten the plumbing issues resolved in you apt?!?

As for me, I'm still plugging away. edd in 2 days. The onsalught of phone calls have started and the annoying questions from strangers. Yes, I am still pregnant, and yes, I still can get bigger, and I'm pretty sure my belly won't explode. grrr. Need to hibernate and stay away from the world. I'm having some gastrointestinal purging today, so I'm taking it as a sign as something is happening. Crampy and irritable, but no real contractions to speak of. Last night, DH and I did a trial run of filling the birth pool. And I spent over an hour in it last night, in absolute bliss. It was so comfortable and I was so relaxed. Damian joined me to make sure the water level wasn't too high with the displacement of 2 people in there. And for those of you that are still preggo and have a pool handy...bouyancy really helps intimacy!!! :blush DH has been deprived of sex for almost 2 weeks (which is a loong time for us) and being in the pool is just what we needed. sorry if tmi.

need to get back to swiffering my floors. Nesting?!?

[momadance]

ahhh... the house is empty except for me and snugglebutt! I'm in heaven :love It's really so amazing how awesome everything has been. I can't believe it!

Flitters! Oh Flitters, come out come out wherever you are!!!! :D

Oakember, I feel like your next! I think I dreamt about both you and truebluexf having your babes.


Tried out the hotsling, it's going to take some practice. My crappy beat up padded nojo is working well though.

I'm so thankful things are going so well with Miles. It's like nothing's changed. :thumb

thanks to all who are posting pics! I love checking out the babes, and seeing everyone! Gottaknit your dogs are sooooo cute!

:grouphug much love mama's! We'll all be holding our babes by thanksgiving :LOL

[blessed2bamommie]

Girl....don't be impressed! :LOL I think I did about 20 minutes of a 45 minute class, b/c I got there late and then I had to pee once I get there and set up my bike. Course, at this point I can get my heartrate up in that amount of time and even a sweat!
The water's clear...dh turned on the heat to get it to turn brown for them today. For some reason the heat is connected to the water....:eyesroll Dh said that if I felt like today was the day to open all the spicets. :irked: So, I was able to have a few tub baths this week so its better.

I think about fillin the tub but I'm so scared about it being filled for the real thing I haven't bothered. I was really wantin some jets last night tho. Dh said he could fart. :eyesroll

I won't tell him about the "perk" of the water....after that internal Thursday exit only. :eyesroll

I *was* gonna lay down but I got to doin stuff. I guess I'll start the laundry. :shrug

[OakEmber]

Momadance, ah bless you...I'd love to be next, and of course Amy too :love I think we are gonna hear news from Nancy soon, she's been MIA just long enough ;) And hopefully we get an update on Katie soon too...she MUST be holding her new one by now, I dreamt she had a girl last night so I am really curious. Funny how we are all dreaming of eachother :D

Your day is sounding absolutely lovely too Momadance.

Soogie- ooo, maybe the tub time will be the boost that you need to get things started :thumb

Letia :shake don't be making light of the fact that you are only doing 20 mins of a 45 min class!!! I can't even get motivated to go for a little stroll!! You are gonna be back in your prepreg clothes long before me I tell ya!! :thumb Glad to hear the water problem is fixed!

[mandalamama]

wondering where Katie is and how she's doing! :D and hoping the full moon brings wonderful labor to the rest of the Oct. mommies :D

i think i'm getting into a routine. Pan wears Willow after a big feeding at midnight, i take my meds and fall asleep. he brings her in with him around 2 or 3 a.m. and goes to sleep, she starts waking every 20 min. or so but i keep falling asleep when she does. i hold her in the crook of my arm on top of my body pillow with the covers tucked in tightly around her, holding her in place like a sling. if that doesn't help her settle, i put her in the carseat in the cosleeper next to the bed (she hates lying flat for some reason) and she zonks out that way. we just drift in and out of those tiny little "naps" until 6 or 8 a.m. and then i get twitchy so we get up. (weird dreams: we both use body pillows and woke up hugging our pillows thinking it was the baby and we were smothering her!) so i'm getting a solid 2 hours sleep at midnight, then about 2-3 hours in little short naps. if i even try to think that i have to do this every day indefinitely, i start to lose it! but if i take it one hour at a time i feel like i'm doing okay.

i'm surprised to learn a lot of things about this newborn! like, she hates being swaddled, she prefers to kick out in all directions. she cries so hard during baths and diaper changes, which breaks my heart, but as long as she's being held while she cries she's ok afterwards (i was worried if i couldn't help her stop crying that it's CIO, but we're always holding her). my nipples started out really large and rough, now they're small and smooth, my body changes to suit her needs and her mouth :) ahhh, i love babymooning :D

peace,
meli

[gottaknit]

Good Morning! Well, guess it's Good Afternoon for most of you!

No news here. My midwife called this morning to see how I'm doing and then said she would come over tonight to talk about everything on the "Prelabor/Prolonged Rupture of Membranes" sheet she hands out. And I'm thinking, but my water didn't really break... I've just got a little leak. :LOL But after 24 hours of walking around with a drippy crotch I guess that means my water did break. I think she was calling to reassure me about things cuz she thought I'd be worried, and here I am in total denial and not the least bit concerned. :eyesroll :LOL

So I need to start taking my temp every four hours (I don't even own a thermometer! Can I use the digital ear one I bought for the baby?), and being extra careful to prevent infection. Dang, no more sex. ha ha :bouncy

So send me those labor vibes! I'm not having anything other than the usual BH contractions I've been having for months. Maybe I'll be one of those women who don't have any painful contractions and then just go sit on the toilet and the baby falls out. :LOL Not likely, huh?

Can't wait to hear the news on Katie! :thumb You're my inspiration!
Hope everyone else is doing well. :D

[blessed2bamommie]

heeeeeeeeeeeeeey....I'm banking on being complete and ready to push. don't laugh! :nono

[mirthfulmum]

Meli - So happy to read that your beginning to find your groove. Sounds like your Dh is a wanderful help and a fantastic daddy. And don't worry, you will get to sleep for more than just 2 hour naps again.

Amie - Every time I log on here I expect to read that Oakley has arrived. I am thinking about you and your little ones a lot lately and I too have a feeling that you won't be waiting much longer to meet your little man.

Nancy - Keep us updated. Sounds like you'll be baby-mooning very soon!

Oooh I really really really hope that Katie is holding her little baby right now. I can not wait to get an update.

Wish I could write more but I'm being paged...

[Piglet68]

melly...its so true: i know this period of waking lots won't last forever. sasha seems to be a good sleeper. i'm sure it won't be long before he drops a night feed. dd did around hmmm...i think 6 weeks? i hate getting out of a warm bed, but there's no procrastinating when snuffleupagus is hungry (he makes these amazingly loud snuffly sounds and snorts, like a pig, when he's rooting around. it cracks us up!!). once i'm up i'm good. but yeah, more than 2 - 3 hours at a stretch will seem like heaven!!

good luck nancy!

thanks for the giggles letia :D your sense of humour is so fun!

[True Blue]

Hey did you guys see Wed is not only a full moon but a total lunar eclipse? Or at least someone said so on the PG board. Amie, maybe Wed will be our night!!! It'll be Amy/Amie night. ;)

Gotta go cook dinner just had to say that, should be back later. ;)

[blessed2bamommie]

:idea I thought that mil was sayin it already occured! This week...well, maybe that will help some of the rest of us along.

Well, just finished having a meltdown. I wasn't much good company to be around then! I made a doc appt for tomorrow. I'd like to have a doc's opinion on things right now. I'm concerned about the whole 40+ week thing. I never paid attention b/c I figured I wouldn't be in that position. I got Dr. Ditz tho. I'm so :splat. I have *no* confidence in her; but, she's all I get for tomorrow and the others I don't know from Adam. :eyesroll I want to get in sooner than later. I'm pretty anxious right now although I could use the time, its not worth something going wrong with this baby. I just won't let anyone come over! :shrug

Well, now that the meltdown is over, I should get back to laundry. :wave

[AnnR33]

Go Nancy-lots of labor dust to you :dust

Nothing new here either-39 wks 1 day -seems like this baby will never be here! Will I be last?? :scratch I'm so low I can only sit with my legs wide apart :LOL

Take care
Ann

[True Blue]

Quick eclipse info: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=15351

Should be cool to see. :) I saw one in high school with friend's telescope...pretty neat!

[sunshinegal]

truebluexf- Thanks for the eclipse info. Let's see- the Red Sox at game 4 in the world series, a full moon AND a total lunar eclipse??? Some of these babes will just HAVE to come out!! :love

[True Blue]

LOL Sunshinegal!!!! What a day that could be...potential sweep for the Sox, beautiful lunar eclipse, and the arrival of a newborn -- perfect! :love

Still hanging out here. Saw the mw today, everything is fine of course. I asked her what I could do to get things moving (just to see what she had to say, since I already know what I could do LOL) and she doesn't like anything to be done til at least the due date. Which is too bad bc I was seriously considering asking her to do some stretching or something. I feel so bad being so impatient this time but I am just so DONE!!! I mean at the same time I kinda like our little family of 3 but it's a little late now LOL. I just want my body back, to feel comfortable when lie down, not hurt when I get up, and be able to move freely again!!!

Katie Katie Katie we are all so anxious to hear how you are doing!!!! I do so hope you have your baby in your arms now.

Nancy you really are too funny. I think you have to accept the fact now that you are indeed pregnant and about to have a baby AND have to change poopy dipes. :LOL

[gottaknit]

I went for a long walk in the rain, sat in a coffee shop for a couple hours and tried to make progress on Thank You cards (they always sound so phony), then went to a baby consignment store. The woman working there is a doula and she said her water broke three days before she went into active labor. She had a homebirth and everything turned out perfectly. :D :thumb I love that I live in a city where every turn I run into another homebirther! It's so nice to get a positive reaction to homebirth, instead of the horrified blank stare of the in-laws...

I haven't told anyone about my water breaking, other than the midwife, doula, and you guys. I know my mom and MIL would be totally freaked out. We tried mentioning it to MIL yesterday on the phone (thinking I'd be in labor any minute), and she said, "If your water breaks, you know it." She didn't buy the whole hind leak or outer layer breaking idea. :eyesroll If it doesn't happen like it happens on 'ER', it's not real I guess. :LOL Funny thing is we are supposed to let her know as soon as anything happens so she can start praying for us. She's a devout Catholic and plans to spend the entire labor praying the rosary. And here we let her know and she doesn't believe us! Cracks me up. :LOL Oh well she had her chance.

Sooo... nipple stimulation. Is this just tweaking the nipples or does someone/thing need to provide actual suction? :confused: Things they don't teach you in school....

One more thing: Guess what we are naming the baby if it's a girl.... It's DH's grandma's name and we'd been planning to use it from the beginning, but with the Red Sox in the world series and all it's kinda funny now. Starts with 'R'..... (and don't any of you steal the name or else!!! :wink :LOL )

[flitters]

hi mamas!

i'm still around, thanks for checking momadance!!! :D :love :D

i LOVE hearing about all the new babies and seeing the pictures! congratulations :balloons to all the new mamas!

gosh, lucysmama, you're amazing. i hope active labor went well and you are holding your new baby by now!

wannabmommie, it cracks me up that your local healthfood store knows the status of your mucous plug!

i'm doing well. baby is SOOO low. had a midwife appointment today and even she was impressed with how low this one is. it is sort of our last appointment cause she felt no need to schedule another since she expects to hear from me in labor in the next couple days. i can't wait! i'm READY and so EXCITED!!! dh and i keep telling the baby to come out now. we'll take a belly picture today and i'll put it up on yahoo.

most of my body still feels really good. just my crotch is a minor complaint, and general minor discomfort at night in bed. we went and worked out yesterday which was great and i've started doing a fast jogging walk when we take our dogs to the park. dh laughs at me cause i'm quite a sight with my big belly, hustling along, not actually moving faster than him just walking.

it's interesting hearing about the waters breaking... i've had a couple times when i felt something drip, but it's always just discharge (obvious from its milkiness). fun. actually, the biggest surprise i've had in pregnancy continues to be the amount of extra shmutz. i don't like to sleep with underwear and i have to wash the sheets cause i leave little snail prints now. it's very silly.

can't wait to hear about more new babes!!!
and can't wait to share news about ours whenever it decides to arrive!!!

:grouphug

[OakEmber]

I'm so glad I have you guys...I am just :rotflmao: about just about everything that I just read...too much to respond individually cuz you're all crackin me up.

So I have been feeling a definate increase in pressure, can't tell if it's the start of something yet or if I am just sore from sitting on the floor with Ember for an hour...but I am having to run to the bathroom quite frequently too, so I went for a walk to try to see if that helps. Got back and Dh had cooked a yummy dinner that I have a definate appetite for right now so it's a good night regardless :LOL Maybe it's all just building up for Wed. that'd be really cool to be born under those circimstances :thumb Thanks for the info Amy...it would be totally cool if we have our turn together :D

Nancy I am so excited that you are getting closer! I think that taking your temp. by ear would be fine, you are really just screening your temp. and I am sure you will notice if it goes up. The nipple stim. they usually seem to refer to is actual suction (as in when they gather statistics) but I am sure that just tweaking does something too, can't hurt. There is also a spot on the back of your leg, it's supposed to be about 4 fingerwidths up from your ankle that is a pressure point for your uterus...maybe try that! And one other thing that I read in the same book, hold a comb in your hand with the teeth into your palm and squeeze during your contractions...it's supposed to make them stronger.

[True Blue]

Oh yeah! Nipple stimulation! I tried it a couple times the past week just to see how it works, and it does! I didn't use suction though, I just kind of rolled one nipple between my fingers while I played on the pc or watched tv for 10 minutes or so...and it certainly brought on some contractions.

Also wanted to add I'm about to post a couple pics of DS helping out at the mw today. He has the whole routine down and digs out the equipment before she can get the chance!!! :LOL

[Court]

Hey everyone, I was just checking in to see about Katie...I'm trying to read posts but I'm kinda bleary eyed. I'm almost kinda envious of you mamas still pregnant. It seems like a lifetime ago. I keep thinking, ah it was so much easier when he lived inside me. Just still adjusting to it all.

Nipple stimulation: what kicked my early labor directly into active was nursing logan for 20 minutes (down for a nap). Cntrx went from 7 min apart to 1.5 min apart- and freakin painful. Then afterwards they spaced to about 2-3 min apart. My mw told me about using the shower for nip. stim. also. Just let the water fall on your breasts. When I did this, my cntrx were right on top of each other. I would turn around and face the water which would bring on a cntrx, then turn back around to have the water hit my back. If you have a breastpump, that would work really well. Otherwise, Nancy - Logan's available if you want me to send him over. ;)
Rolling the nipples are also good.

Did I just write a whole paragraph about nipples?

My little nursaholic just woke up, so gotta go.
((((labor vibes))) to all you anxious mamas still waiting. I'm thinking of you all. I looked at my beads during some really intense times at the end of labor and it was very comforting.

[OakEmber]

Aw Court :hug...I hope that things get smoother for you soon, you are still reeling with hormones right now...I remember hearing day 4 PP refered to as "the crying day" which was about right for me. Are you taking EPO??
That's cool that you looked at your beads during labour, I think you are the first to say that....I am wearing mine but dont' think I will see them because they are on a necklace.

Amy- What sweet pictures of Mickade at your appt. :)

Ah, I feel better tonight knowing I have discussed the fact that Oakley might come during the night with Ember and knowing she is OK with going to her Aunties house....she knows she will get to walk her cousin to school so she has something to look forward to should it happen.

I am definately feeling closer (which is a given, I mean I have to be getting closer at this point right? :LOL), may even have lost a little piece of plug but I am not sure....was just a wee little bit.

So no Ekatherina at all today, hey?? Hmmm. She usually at least checks in. Pretty darn quiet in general. And still no news from Katie...I hope it doesn't mean that they had to do the hospital transfer....You are still in our thoughts Katie, hope you are babymooning.

[gottaknit]

The midwife and her assistant came by tonight to listen to the baby and talk about my options. She gave me the black and blue cohosh tabs, and told me how to go about using castor oil to get things started. Also suggested nipple stimulation, so I went out and bought a manual pump. (Courtney, thanks for offering up Logan's services! ;) )

I was going to start with the homeopathics and nipple stim tonight and do the castor oil in the morning, but I chickened out and decided to save everything for tomorrow after I get a good night's sleep.

I am fully out of denial. I am pregnant and having a baby and will have to change poopy diapers. Very soon. After I get some sleep... :)

I hope the reason we haven't heard from Katie is that she is too blissed out on her babymoon to type, and not that she's in the hospital. :fingersx:

What about Ekatherina and Thia? :W :lurk:

I plan to wear my beads, too. I should post a picture of my bracelet. I bought a few extra beads to fill it out, and the centerpiece is an elk! (Don't know if anyone remembers, but I had a dream after watching Pam England's epidural video, which featured a cartoon elk family, that I had the baby and it was a little elk.) It's a pretty funny little piece of jewelry.

Good night everyone. Hope to read about some more babies tomorrow! :D Maybe mine will be next.... :fingersx: :Sheepish: (I just totally jinxed myself, didn't I?)

[Ekatherina]

good morning everyone, i was reading all your posts but had no mood to post myself ...was afraid i will sound like naggin naggin nagging....but reading keeps my mood up and dh says: you are spending more time with your freinds at MDC than with me...:)
escpecially have been checking much more to hear something from Katie or Nate....i hope everything is really fine with her...
was really worried about Thia too and thought of her whole yesterday...we never heard of her again since she left her work on friday...:( but i really hope she is just babymooning....:dust...but i thought maybe nancy has some way to check on her somehow...;)
and was thinking of nancy, how close you must be!....:1praying:...active labor vobes to you...:dust....
I don;t know about nipple stimulation...it just seems annoying to me....:innocent...dh offered help but i just can't stand it....does someone feel the same????
still cramps and nothing new....but now i am waking up at night several times cause my hip joints hurt me soooooooooo much....:crying....i just can't lie still....i have to walk or do something....so tonight i told myself if this baby is not born tomorrow i will go to the hospital for induction, have epidural and make them do a c-section!! :irked: ....but well i changed my mind in the morning...:) that's enough ...i did sound like nagging...see? it's better i don't come out at all from my warm "baby waiting" cave.... :zzz
much much birth vibes to all who are still waiting....:dust

[OakEmber]

Finally SOMETHING!!! :banana :carrot :banana

Just woke up for my first middle of the night pee and there was bleeding!! So I am expecting this to be the start of things and for today (Oct.26) to be Oakley's birthday :D

Not having too much action yet in the way of contractions...just a few and crampiness. I am gonna try getting some sleep now, direct orders from my midwife :thumb

Hopefully things will pick up soon enough...I thought I'd give you guys the heads up now incase I am in too big of a hurry to get out the door....so if you don't here from me in the AM it means I am on my way to the hospital to deliver my baby :D Unfortunately I won't be able to go online until after we return home...which hopefully will be tomorrow by late afternoon. ;)

[Ekatherina]

Oakember!!! hope this is it for you..:thumb....much much wonderful birthing vibes for you...:dust...:dust...:dust
just saw my neighbours....wife looked at me with surprise on her face: why is baby not born yet if the due date was on friday??? :eyesroll ...and her husband told her: don't worry it happens sometimes i was born on the 12th month!!!! :dropjaw...his mom was pg with him for whole 12 months!!!! please please tell me it can not happen!!!!! :1praying:

[ameliabedelia]

nak - with both children

happy birthing amie!!! I hope it all goes well for you.

i am also anxiously waiting to hear from katie...i hope all is well

talking about poopy diapers, greta is a non-stop pooper (and nurser). every time she nurses, i need to change her, then she is all upset and crying from being changed so i nurse her again to calm her down and the cycle just repeats over and over.....

tandem nursing is allright. i am nursing both of them right now, but often times i really resent dd1 nursing. i just feel so touched out and my breasts feel so sore from being used so much...i am really hoping dd1 will slow down her nursing soon. i am trying to be sensitive, she has had it hard with me being in the hospital for so long (2 nights after birth and then another night in the pediatrics ward for the jaundice), and she would come visit during the day, but it was hard on her.

nancy, i hope things continue to go well for you and your babe comes out SOON!!

[sunshinegal]

me too me too!
Just got up and had some bloody show! I had contrax all day yesterday, mild and about an hour apart. Not as much action today, of course. But I figure if I keep moving things will get moving. That's how it was yesterday. I can't believe how happy I am to see blood-- YUK!! I also had a sneezing attack yesterday while we were at Sears. Some dust or something got caught in my little sniffer and I ended up sneezing all evening. Well, we will see.

Good luck Oak Ember!!

Nancy- good luck getting things started! Nipple stimulation did work for me. Just a little rub and things seemed to get all jazzed up. YOu are going to do just awesome!!

[mirthfulmum]

Oh Amie, sunshinegal and Nancy hope this is it for you :fingersx:. Hoping you 3 have safe and wonderful births. Can't wait to read that you're holdong your little babes! How exciting. Maybe we'll have 3 babies in one day!

Amelia - NAK with 2!?! :Bow. I can barely NAK with the one. Way to go supermom!

Mostly just checking in to see if Katie had reorted in and to check if any more babies have been born :lurk:

[blessed2bamommie]

I'm glad I came over. I was surprised that I didn't get an email notify. :shrug


:nod I guess I'm too close to the folks at the hfs...:bag they're great folks tho. always thinking of me. even got me some goodies from the natural food convention. :love

have an appt for the doc today. I'm really anxious about this being "overdue" and any potental danger. I would never forgive myself if this baby died too. I need to get in and have an md's take on things. The mws laid back attitude isn't enough for me right now. I *did* read the practices info on being overdue and the second of due dates and labor inductions in Peggy's new book so I can discuss it intelligently. It actually made me feel better. So, I guess the practice will want u/s or non stress and a cervical exam, neither of which I'm necessarily willing to do. :LOL It would be my third non stress and I really wanted to limit the u/s exposure. Although, Dr. Ditz doesn't know how to use a fetoscope (Dh was showing her! :rolleyes) so I *know* that doppler is on tap for today. I feel like its a waste really; but, tomorrow the slot is with a first year resident..although I wonder if that's what Dr. Ditz is...:irked. I'm was ready to walk yesterday; but, to be a new patient when I have this urgency to be seen, I've learned last year is *not* a good place to be in. They are *not* trying to get you in with any speed.

I *thought* I saw pink on the tp this am. But, could it be my red sheets and my drawless tail too. I never saw anymore.....*sigh* Anyway.....:eyesroll I thought if so and I needed to rest and it was still dark and dh was sleeping and so I skipped kickbox this am. :hide I bet my instructor was relieved. :LOL

Nothing on Katie....:scratch I really wanna know what's up! (Like we *all* don't! :eyesroll)

Amie I pray that your birth is safe and wonderful and sun you too! :hug

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeell...I guess I'm gonna...I dunno :shrug :wave

[flitters]

oakember, sunshinegal and gottaknit!!! wow! i hope today is your day and you all have wonderful births!!!

well, i had contractions all day again yesterday. towards the evening they were quite regular too... maybe 6 - 8 an hour, even after a shower and going to bed, but for some reason i just didn't think the 26th would be the birthday (and it was too late for the 25th at that point). i'm much more inclined to think i'll go into labor tonight or tomorrow night. the 27th resonates with me more for some reason, either as a birthday or going into labor day (or both).

i've been playing with my nipples (it doesn't feel great but ok) and other sensitive bits lately, sometimes with dh's help. i guess that brings on contractions, but i have loads anyway.

we're going to go walk the dogs!

:grouphug

[gottaknit]

Well, today is the day! I got lots of sleep, got up at six and had some toast, then slept again til 9. So I just had twosies breakfast and now I'm all ready for my castor oil rootbeer float (yum yum! :LOL ), to be accompanied by nipple stimulation and followed up with homeopathic measures later if nothing happens..... Let's just say it's a busy day here at the gottaknit residence. :D

DH stayed home from work and I plan to tell him I need Alone Time until things start going. I think I'll go hide out in my knitting cove and organize yarns and knitting books or knit or something. Phones are unplugged, windows all covered up, and all we need now is a sign outside that says, "Homebirth in Progress. Do not disturb!" But I think I'll wait to put the sign out. ;) Oh yeah, and we gotta get these yippy little dogs to the sitter...

Sunshinegal and Oakember, hope this is the day for you, too!! :thumb :dust

[mandalamama]

**good labor vibes** for OakEmber, sunshinegal and gottaknit!!

i'm panicking. ugh. well, i have a lot to be legitmately worried about, so i guess it's normal. Pan goes back to work Thursday, i'll need to be "on duty" for about 15 hours a day once he does, and i can barely manage mommy-duty of 6 hours a day now. even in little 1-hour shifts sometimes. my body is already failing me because of the fibromyalgia spasms and weakness, but i pushed myself very hard this morning to just keep carrying Willow around in my arms. she hates being in the sling when i wear it! actually she hates everything but being in a cradle-hold in my arms. with daddy she's agreeable to the sling, the boppy or the car carrier. i can understand wanting to be in mommy's arms, though! i just worry how am i going to take care of her when the spasms get bad and the weakness hits really hard. it tears my heart apart if i have to delay even a minute to pick her up when she's crying!!

[gottaknit]

:hug :hug :hug Meli, is there anyone else who can come over and help you out after Pan goes to work? A mom or sister or friend? It's so soon for you to be on your own. :crap

[mandalamama]

gottaknit: we have no one. i posted in "life with a babe" about the whole situation. we knew going into this how hard it would be, but how rewarding and so worth it! i keep telling myself we'll be ok. i mean, people do this all over the world all the time, many of them without any help, right?

[gottaknit]

gottaknit: we have no one. i posted in "life with a babe" about the whole situation. we knew going into this how hard it would be, but how rewarding and so worth it! i keep telling myself we'll be ok. i mean, people do this all over the world all the time, many of them without any help, right?

yeeeees.... I suppose lots of people go it alone, but it seems so unfair and difficult for you that way. If I lived in CT I'd come over and help you. :Hug

[True Blue]

Lots of luck Nancy!!! And Amie and Sunshinegirl!!! Lots of action going on here. :) I wish we'd hear from Katie....I have a bad feeling that the lack of news means she wound up at the hospital. Which isn't bad in general, I would just feel so bad for her bc I know how much she wanted this VBAC.

So I came here to post something specific and darn if I can remember what it was! :LOL Poo!!!

[kraftykathy]

Good Luck Nancy!!! Hope your getting into labourland right now!
Hope it's going well for all the other mama's on the verge of labour too!!!
I can tell that there must be a lot going on today. It's been sooooo quiet here!
I hope labour and birth went well for Katie :1praying: Looking forward to hearing from her again!
Meli - good luck with being on your own. Sure wish you had someone else to help you out though! :hug

Well, I have to go make a cake and decorate it like a spider's web. My daughter has her girl guides halloween party tonight! I'll be checkin in again later!

[momadance]

gottaknit: we have no one. i posted in "life with a babe" about the whole situation. we knew going into this how hard it would be, but how rewarding and so worth it! i keep telling myself we'll be ok. i mean, people do this all over the world all the time, many of them without any help, right?


I think we need to start a October moms life with babe thread! We seem to be having a baby boom around here!!! :thumb

[gottaknit]

I've been through two rounds of castor oil now, and while "eventful", it hasn't produced the event I was hoping for. Yet. I am having some contractions, and some abdominal pain, but I don't know if it's the contractions that hurt or my intestines turning themselves inside out. :eyesroll

Nipple stimulation with the Avent breast pump was quite unpleasant. I could see how nip stim could work really well if you are nursing a real baby or if brought on by someone with some emotional attachment, but with a piece of plastic it just hurt.

Haven't tried the homeopathic voodoo tabs yet, but it's next on the agenda. Hope everyone else is having better luck! :)

[True Blue]

I'm sorry Nancy. :( Try just rolling your nipples between your fingers, it's not painful and can produce the same results. I've also read that sometimes it takes 3 (yuck) doses of the castor oil. On the plus side, true contractions do feel a lot like intestinal cramping....so it could be labor starting too. I described them while birthing DS as a combo between "my worst menstrual cramps and diarrhea cramps."

[mtnjenny]

Hi all. Still waiting...

Good luck to laboring moms and good luck to you Meli. I wish I had some magic advice that would make this easier for you.

Maybe some of you have some advice for me...I was talking to MIL today, who just retired from being a pediatric nurse after 20 years. She asked me, "Have you gotten your flu shot yet? You qualify, you know." I explained to her that no, I hadn't, and that I never have gotten one. She went on to explain to me (or try to scare me, how I took it) that I could be exposed to the flu SO easily when I go back to teaching, and then I could give it to the baby, which could be VERY dangerous. It made me feel so uncomfortable, considering that we really don't talk very often at all, and certainly don't discuss anything very personal when we do...I feel like this is going to come up again, or that she's going to put dh on the spot about it and I want to have some things ready to say to her when it comes up again.

The fact is, I don't get sick! Obviously, this doesn't mean I won't get the flu, but why compromise my immune system when it's so strong right now? Is it selfish of me NOT to be getting the flu shot? (Dh and I have decided to do some delayed/selective vaccinations after baby is born.)

I don't know...if any of you have words of advice, I'd love to hear them. I know we can always use the standard, "It's a personal issue."

[mirthfulmum]

Jenny - You can tell your MIL that it is very unususal for a healthy, full-term breast fed baby to get any sort of major illness before the introduction of solid food. But I have the feeling that there is nothing that you could tell your MIL that would make her feel better about you not having the flu shot. Your best bet will probably be to stick to the "it's a personal issue." response and leave it at that.

It's been so quiet here today... I just know we'll be reading some birth announcments soon :thumb.

[True Blue]

Jenny -- I'm not even sure having the flu shot will protect your baby...can you still carry it anyway even if you don't actually contract it? I'm not sure.

Yea it has been quiet...should be lots of stories soon!! Not mine though :rolleyes :LOL

[AnnR33]

No news here either-my 5 yr old DS said "it was time for the baby to come out today" Wish he knew something I didn't!
What's weird is that I haven't even had any Brax Hix for 2 days and usually I have quite a few each day :scratch But baby is moving so not worried...

I'm so hoping that all is well with Katie-I'm starting to worry a little but praying they are just babymooning!

Sending lots of labor dust out :dust
Ann

[Momma2LiamandTara]

Still here and pregnant. Went and got some enemas today in case I feel like maybe getting things going. I thought I'd go that route before castor oil. I'm waiting until at least Friday before I go that route for now it's pressure points. I do have a good article on natural induction methods if anyone is interested.

I'm hoping all is well with Katie. I'm nerovus too about her. Also wondering about Thia too.

Sorry not in much of a mood to post. I'm just really pissed off at my upstairs neighbors. We live in a duplex and the guy who lives upstairs w/ his fiancee and 4 kids decided to stain some window frames downstairs in the basment and not in the garage becuase it was raining outside. Well you know I'm pregnant and hello you have 4 kids and are a fire fighter you should know it's not smart to have those awful fumes around.

Thanks to him I woke up from a nap w/ Liam w/ a horrible headache and had to leave the house for awhile because it stunk soo bad! Thankfully one of my freinds were home so we went over there for awhile.

Sorry for the rant!

Happy Laboring everyone. Hopefully i'll be soon.

Carrie

[Milkymommi]

Hi Ladies :wave I gotta jump in here... MS. LETIA!!! You are still pg? My word, when was the babe supposed to come I see you said you're overdue? I'm still so happy for you :D I have to track you down every now and then to check up. I can't wait to hear the good news!!!!

Baby blessings to all of the rest of you Mamas patiently (or maybe not so patiently :LOL ) waiting for your little bundles.

[sqoya]

I feel really, really bad I just dropped out of the board after Jillian was born! I'm trying to catch up with all the new babies and Mamas still in waiting.

I've been having a horrible time bf. Basically, Jillian sucks super strong and I have sensitive skin and small nipples. I was already bleeding after the first time she latched on right after birth! I did fine for a few days, then the pain became just about unbearable - cracked and bleeding nipples, scabs coming off all the time. Things seemed to be getting better, and then yesterday, after she latched on I saw bright red blood streaming from her mouth. I just lost it. I just feel horrible for her. I feel horrible that I don't look forward to nursing her. I called my mw, sobbing, and she came over - a wonderful woman! She comforted me and gave me all sorts of remedies (comfrey tea soaks, this green goo another midwife makes, similar to lansinoh, cool gel packs, nursing more frequently, not wearing a top ...) We checked her latch, which is still perfect, and talked about different positions besides cradle hold. I have my self confidence back and see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it's been rather hard. I just loved those first few days when I loved comforting her and couldn't wait for her to fuss so I could nurse her!!!

All of this makes it sound like I haven't loved the past week. I love snuggling with her at night, seeing her smile when she's getting ready to nurse, us just gazing into each others eyes for so long. I just love the way she smells! I am trying so hard to remember all the wonderful things when I nurse her bc I don't want any bad memories of the first few weeks!

I posted some pics of us. I still can't believe our big baby girl came from inside of little me! My dh is absolutely in love with her and spends hours making faces with her!

Thanks for listening! Sorry this post is all about me, me, me. I'm trying to catch up now! Sending happy labor vibes to all you Mamas still waiting!

[AnnR33]

:hug Mandi-I know how hard BFing can be! It's so worth it but so trying at times-with my first I had such a terrible time too and if it wasn't for my stubborn"ness" I would have given up for sure-but we nursed happily for a year so it can be done-the first 4 wks are the hardest though, that's for sure! So hang in there mama!

It was our 13th (yikes) anniversary today! We got to go out for probably our last nice adult meal in a very long time. ;) My nicest outfit was very tight and I felt HUGE! Black is supposed to be slimming except when you have a beach ball hanging out in front of you :LOL But we had a nice time and the kids are already in bed-yippee!

Anxious to see who's having a baby with that full moon on Oct 27!

Do you already have a sweet one in your arms Nancy!!?? Hope all is well.
Ann

[Ekatherina]

good morning everyone...:wave...somehow i woke up in a good mood today even feeling that it's ok if this baby is not born this week...:shrug....and looked out of the window and saw much much of snow and it made me feel so happy...:LOL...i'll post pictures on yahoo....
Momma2Liam, :hug...so sorry you are suffering from your neighbours...:hammer to them....i woke up from some noise today at 5 am too...my bengladesh neighbors are so crazy...i don't know what they were doing at 5 am there but it seemed like "elephant jumping" :nut...
Meli, so sorry you are having problems...hope they solve out for you soon....:(
oops my mw called right now...she wants to come and check on me... :eyesroll let's see what she says...she said something else in japanese but all I could understand is that she is coming now...:LOL...off to clean up a little bit...:hide:
much birth vibes to NAncy and everyone...hope everything is fine with Katie...:1praying:

[OakEmber]

Still here and still pregnant, sigh. Oh the day I have had! We headed down to Kelowna a little before 10am and didn't get back home until 8pm, argh. Had a NST at 1pm and an u/s at 4. Still having bleeding...it had tappered off but I had two vag. exams today so I am sure that's why. I am about 2 fingers dilated, even after 2 hrs of contx. 8 mins apart so I finally decided to go home (I wasn't in the hospital all that time, just for the procedures). My midwife and I both weren't sure if I should head home (over an hour away) but when my cervix hadn't changed at all we figured it would be OK. The procedures were just to assure us that the bleeding wasn't to do with the placenta or anything, and really just to ease our minds, esp. with the distance. Oakley's weight est. from the u/s was 9lbs...it will be curious to see how close it is, of course I know they are notoriously off but it will still be neat to see because he should be born within a matter of days (although at this point I am feeling like I gonna make it to Nov. :eyesroll ). This is really driving me crazy! I felt so intune with my body when I was in labor with Ember and this time I feel like I my body is playing head games with me!?!? I am sure there is some kind of lesson to be learned by it all but common! So how many days can this really go on for (don't answer that, LOL...I know I shouldn't complain because people like Katie have contended with so much more than I have so far, which only makes me in even more awe)

Mandi and Meli- :grouphug...I am sorry that you are each having a difficult time with things. I hope things do improve really soon. Mandi I do think it is possilbe for you to overcome this and enjoy nursing yet...Meli you will find something that works for you too, and I really believe that Willow can feel your limits and will adjust accordingly (KWIM? hard to explain but I think that babies are just so intune with their environment and can pick things up...)

So I better try to get a good nights rest...who knows what tomorrow might bring. Thanks for the well wishes and vibes.

[Ekatherina]

Mandi..:hug we x-posted...i am so sorry you were having problems and hope they solve out for you soon...but you also seem happy babymooning...will check your pictures now...
my mw was here just now and checked me internally (for the 1rst time..:innocent) she said the cervix is soft but im not dilated at all...:( not even 1 cm....but i was happy when she said it's ok to wait even for three weeks more...don't worry,...i mean of course i want this baby out soon but i don't want to force him out...and it is comforting to know that she wants it to take place "when everyone is ready"...i am so in love with my mw...:love...but just a question: if the cervix is soft so maybe i'll dilate soon and baby can be born soon...not another week to wait??? what do you think?? is there any chance he can be born within two three days or so?? :hide:

[BeansMomma]

Just a very quick note to say hello. Kennedy is amazing and we're settling into a routine and life is just blissful.

Meli and Mandi - I am so sorry to hear about the rough times - I can relate and can only hope we all find the strength to push through the rough times.

More later, I promise - I've been busy just trying to catch up on all of the posts. I did post a few photos on the yahoo site this evening.

Take care, ladies.

[Ekatherina]

oakember...:hug..i keep on x-posting... :eyesroll ..i hope things get more progressive for you....much much birthing vibes :dust....

[Piglet68]

NAK...

amie, how disappointing to go all that way then go home again! :hug wishing you some speedier labour vibes!

mandi, you are wonderful for sticking with bf-ing. i swear in no time this will all be a distant memory and you'll be bf-ing with ease! :hug my nipples weren't near as bad as yours with my first, but still remember counting slowly to five with gritted teeth to get through some latching pain. lansinoh was my friend. SO glad your midwife was so helpful and knowledgable!

ann, had to smile at your description of dressing up for dinner. exactly how i felt when dh and i had our anniv. dinner 2 days before the birth. :D

melly, i share your fears thinking of dh going back to work, and he won't be gone 15 hrs a day!! he has a job offer right now for april that would mean commuting to chicago each week - imagining no help for 4 days a week totally freaks me out!! but at least i have family here to help. :hug

i woorried about katie, too. she'll be heartbroken to end up in hospital, tho holding her new baby will hopefully ease that...

[gottaknit]

Contractions less than three minutes apart. (DH asking what the h*ll you doing on the computer???!!!!) I woke up about two hours ago with horrible side-effects (main effects?) of castor oil. (Won't even try to spell it right now as my mind is elsewhere.) Anyway, contractions started out boom right after that at 4 min apart, then quickly to three, now close to two min apart....

I can't believe it's finally happening! I was so happy I started crying in the shower! :love :LOL :blah :bouncy :nut :bgbounce :jumpers:

OK better get off this computer before I mess up my rhythm!

[ameliabedelia]

She went on to explain to me (or try to scare me, how I took it) that I could be exposed to the flu SO easily when I go back to teaching, and then I could give it to the baby, which could be VERY dangerous

My DD1 was born in Feb, and I used to be an elementary school teacher. I taught in a small independent, Catholic school and had 10 students in grades k-4. I never got the flu shot my whole pregnancy, and went back to work when DD1 was 2 months old (this was in April). I took DD1 to work with me each day and kept her with me in the classroom. She was exposed to all sorts of germs from the kids, who used to beg to hold her and love to play with her and such and she NEVER got sick. Granted, this was in April and May, not the winter, but she was right there in the classroom with me. The breastmilk really does protect them, so if you are going to teaching any germs you bring home, you will have been exposed to as well and your body willl make antibodies in milk to pass on to your baby. So, it is highly unlikely you give the flu to your baby, just the antibodies against it :)

[ameliabedelia]

Amie, sorry you had to go home, how disappointing. :hug just think in a few weeks we will ALL be holding our babes.

Meli, sorry you don't have any help. I can relate to how your feel since when DD1 was born, we had only lived where we lived for a little over a year and didn't have many friends. It can be very isolating. And, now I am feeling it again, since we just moved here less than 2 months ago, DH went back to work on Mon and my mom went home last night, so no more help for me. Somehow we will make it. Don't worry about the house or anything, just concentrate on the baby and try to get out as much as you feel able to. Also, since this is your first, I would really look into joining a moms group and LLL and other such things. You really need to find some other mama friends IRL you can chat with, even if they aren't AP or do everything you do, just having mama friends in real life makes a world of a difference! I am even thinking of attending a MOMs Club meeting today (I know I am brave to venture out with 2 kids myself so soon, but I am really feel isolated and trapped if I am not busy with playgroups and seeing other people and stuff).

Mandi, sorry you are having so many problems with nursing. Don't worry, it will pass and you will enjoy nursing again.. :hugs

Happy Birthing Nancy.......Good Luck!!!

[True Blue]

Ekatherina -- Just because you aren't yet dilated doesn't mean you can't have the baby today. :) Things can change very quickly.

Amie -- Sorry it isn't "it" for you yet....hopefully soon!

Nancy -- Hooray!! I'm so excited for you! Gotta tell you something funny though. I had a dream you were in last night. Except it was really weird. You weren't pg, and me you and my DH went out and I guess you were spending the night at our house. Well in the morning I talk to DH and apparently he slept with you that night! It was all very bizarre. :LOL

Mandi -- It will get better! :hug

So got up and went for a good walk this morning. I really must get this baby out!! I was actually in pain last night. The baby hits some nerve or something that sends a shooting pain into my groin muscles and debilitates me in the middle of walking. It's pretty awful. I don't think I can take this much longer! It was really bad last night. Lots of head grinding going on down there, and a major position change this week. Baby is on my left side, facing my right directly. MW was worried about it being a bit posterior the other day but I think it is dead center now, neither pos. or ant really. I don't know. PLEASE let this baby come today. I'm truly ready. And I can't imagine going late, I went into labor with DS on his due date. What's all the crap I've always heard about second ones coming sooner???? I NEVER thought I'd make it to 40 weeks....

[dharmama]

Still no word from Katie??? I've been stalking this thread for days. (Katie and I were on the TTC board together last year.) Sending lots of good vibes her way...

Congratulations to all the new mamas and peaceful birthing vibes to those of you still in the wait.

(now back to your regularly scheduled discussion :LOL )

~Erin
:love

[Soogie]

Yesterday I was having contractions 6 minutes apart in about 2 hour spurts. I would get a break of about an hour in between sessions. This continued into the night. But somewhere around 2am, they petered out. They've been sporadic all morning. I'm debating whether or not to do anything to start them back up, or just take this as a sign to rest. My mw would like me to stay pg until tomorrow afternoon at 3 pm and after that, i'm free to birth. LOL! We (mw's and I) are being interviewed by the news for a homebirth story. It was supposed to happen weeks ago, but breaking news seems to happen each time we have a time set. And DH has requested that anytime after lunch tomorrow is ok with him. He has a lunch meeting he doesn't want to miss. OK, I'll give the kid the memo, but no promises. I'll be sparse today...since babytime could be anytime.

WTG Nancy! I can't wait to hear the news!!!!

[mandalamama]

woohoo gottaknit!! i understand you being on the 'puter with surges 3 min. apart, i was posting on here until my doula came over to keep me company! *labor vibes to ya*

last night was the roughest so far ... i hope it's one of those "worse before it gets better" sorta things. i have horrible thoughts of "i can't do this" and "i wish someone would take over!" then i feel guilty as hell, i just hold her and look at her angel face and i'm peaceful for a little while, it's worth waiting for those silly grins :)

to all the mommas waiting for labor to start ... i'm not sure if this'll help, but in my other due-date-club pretty much everyone already gave birth - via inductions or c-births! and there are a ton of threads in their version of "life with a babe" where the kids just aren't as healthy as they could be. i think you are all amazingly strong and intelligent, and above all PATIENT! :) you've been my role models since i joined MDC. honestly, if i hadn't found this place i don't know if i would have rushed to induce. i LOVE the fact that the babies are so "slow" around here! *lol* y'all sure know how to cook 'em :D take that to heart, you are doing the bestest for your babes and i know you will all pop when it's the perfect time. :hug

[Ekatherina]

Mandi and Melli and Beansmomma..pictures of your babies are so so cuuuuuuuute...:love...I just checked the new ones...and thought: i want my baby too!!!!!!!! :crying
truebluexf....thanx for reassuring...:) i hope it won't be long for you now..much much birthing vibes to you..:dust...(and to me too...:hide: )
Nancy!!!! :thumb...hope you are holding you lit one now...
Katie, so worried about you.....:( really hope things went the way you wanted ...

[mtnjenny]

truebluexf, I was feeling the exact way yesterday and last night - the shooting groin pains and head-grinding! Those shooting pains literally stop me in my tracks. This full moon has got to do something!!

Ekatherina, I'm with you - due date sister!

My new thing yesterday and today is that playing loud reggae music and cleaning will get this baby out. Rational, right? :flipped

Thanks mirthful, truebluexf, and amelia for the flu shot advice. I talked to dh about it and he just rolled his eyes, knows his mum can present her opinions in not-so-nice ways. Amelia, that made me almost cry when I read about you taking your little baby to work with you. My principal and I have sat together and fantasized about how incredible that would be, but obviously impossible in a public school setting. Talk about authentic "practical life" for my little montessori community.

Go gottaknit, soogie, get off the computer and get busy!

[mirthfulmum]

Okay I'm starting to get worried about Katie too. I hope hope hope that she and baby are doing well and just to busy snuggling to get on the computer.

Amie - I was sorry to read your post this morning :hug. I was so sure that you would be holding your little guy right now. I totally understand how frustrating the waiting is... but maybe your little guy will make his grand debut today. He just wanted the be born on the most dramatic day possible.

Mandi - :Hug like so many of the other women here I too had trouble my first time breast feeding. I didn't have the pain or nipple cracking that you are experiencing but I can relate to the feelings of both wanting to just stop nursing and make up a bottle of formula followed immediately by feelings of guilt and failure for not being the godess mother I had envisioned before Alias was born. For me, it took about 6 weeks before I felt really comfortable and confident with my nursing. After that I never had any trouble and never regretted for an instant pushing thru the rough patch. Hang in there momma
:hug.

Meli - Sometimes I wish babies came with an on/off switch. Then we could just turn them off for an hour or so and get a good nap in then we could turn them right back on and be the happy rested mom we want to be. I can kind of relate in that I have no family here (other than a 92 year old grandpa) and when Alias was born I had no friends with kids. I was terrified when Dh went back to work and I was left home alone with Alias. And I don't have the health issues you do so I can only imagine how stressful the prospect of parenting all alone for a huge chunk of the day. But what really saved me was getting out and meeting other moms. I signed up for a baby and me yoga class and went to baby time at the library. Like Amelia suggested, check out what programs your community offers for new parents and go down and check them out, esp. your local LLL meeting. It can be a challenge to get you and Willow out of the house at first but you'll soon find it'll be so worth it. :Hug You are doing a wonderful job mommaing your little girl. Oh also wanted to suggest checking out the finding your tribe threads. There maybe a group of MDC moms in your area, or maybe you could start one.

My baby is 3 weeks old today! How did this happen? The time just flew by. He had his 3 week check up with the midwives yesterday and Harrison, who was born 7 lb 11 ozs, is now a whopping 10 pounds! The midwives were so surprised. They kept commenting that he did not look like a new born and that he looked more like a 2 month old baby. After going thru all 3 diapers that we had packed with us in a matter of an hour and a half, we had to use one of the disp. newbons the midwives keep on hand, and the diaper barely fit over his chubby little tummy. If he had peed or pooped more than twice in that diaper we would have had an explosion on our hands.

[Thia]

nak
Congrats to all the new moms around!!!
Emily Vivian Esther made her appearance Oct 16 at 10:40 pm. My labor started at 2:30 that morning. Birth was completely natural. I labored at home until 7 that evening, so my labor in the hospital was only a few hours. When we arrived, I was 6 cm, so things went pretty quickly, especially for a first baby. The "downside" to my birth experience was that I tore pretty bad; between 3rd and 4th degree. So, things have been sore... She's absolutely sweet, even when screaming at 2am. Bfing is going okay. The first few days were pretty bad with cracking, but the lansinoh helped a lot! Now, I am sore again, but that is b/c she is feeding so much, I think. My boobs just need a break; the lansinoh doesn't even have time to work! She already has a double chin, so I know she is putting on weight. Now, if only we can get some sleep. She had a four hour stretch last night, but now doesn't want to settle in for another stretch. Mamma is pretty tired.
Someone is fussy...gotta run.

[stanleymama]

Hi all!

Just wanting to check in. I have been in baby moon bliss :love Quinn is doing really well and all 3 boys have been gems. Collin is always asking us when will it be his turn to hold the baby..so cute. All 3 keep an eye on him too to make sure that he is always "ok."

Thia....CONGRATS on your baby girl!!!! I know how sore you feel. I too had a 3rd degree, almost 4th degree tear with my first. Do you do the sitz bath? That seemed to help me.

Ok, I am really worried about Katie and have been for quite awhile. I keep checking here to see if there has been any update. I even have dh worried about her now too.

Nancy...go mama go!!! You are going to be holding your little one soon :love

Ok, I have a question. How long does this engorgement deal last again? My boobs aren't too bad, but enough to cause discomfort. Just curious as to how much longer I am to wait this out. I can't remember how long it was with my others. Weird...you would think I would have all these details down by #4.

So the highlight yesterday was having President GW Bush in our small little town yesterday. We were able to get tickets and go listen to him. I know some of you aren't pro-Bush, but I like the guy so this was a real treat for us. Well, just in general though, having the us prez in your small dinky hometown is a big deal in itself.

Anyways, happy babymooning to all who are, and I am sending Patience/labor vibes to the rest of you!

[JoAida]

:eyes

I was just peeking in here to see if Letia had been around. We usually talk via IM or on the phone several times daily, and I havn't heard from her since yesterday morning. I wonder what's going on.......

:1praying:

[AnnR33]

Go Nancy!! :dust Hope you're holding that sweet babe soon if not already!

[kraftykathy]

Congratulations Thia and welcome little Emily!!!!!!!!!

:birthday: :birthday: :birthday: :balloons :balloons :balloons

Nancy - so glad to hear that things are beginning to happen for you! Hope you're holding your baby really soon!

Hmmmmm, Letia's missing? I wonder . . . .

[True Blue]

Congrats Thia!!!!! :)

My dad called me at 12:30 to let me know that Oct 27th was halfway over and he hadn't gotten any news yet. He wanted to know what I was doing gallavanting around at my friend's house when I should be concentrating. :LOL

[Momma2LiamandTara]

Congrats Thia on the birth of your daughter!!! Sorry to hear about your third/fourth degree tewar. I hope you have a speedy recovery and enjoy your lil one.
:love :thumb :D :heartbeat :jumpers: :balloons :birthday:

Well I had my first where is the baby call. My Aunt who means well is just so lost. She is so unsettled becuase the baby isn't here yet. I told her it would get here when it's ready to. Then she's wants to know what the doctor said. I don't see him until friday so I don't know. She wants to know when there will be some intervention. I told her I had no idea. My doctor isn't one who is induction happy. I think since my last ob's were she is thining the same way. Who knows! She's just freaking out. Oh well.. I told her I can't be pregnant forever.

I'm so sore in the groin and inner thighs today. Not much for BH these days. I'm sure things will happen soon. Just getting a bit impatient.

Well not much in a mood to post. Congrats on all you laboring mommas!

[Lucysmama]

IT'S A BOY!!!!!!

Levi Sebastian was born on Monday at 1:27pm after 4 days of ruptured membranes, 3 days of early labor, 2 days of active labor, and finally a ceserean. We transported to the hospital out of extreme fatigue and pain, I was about 5cms and had been for a long time. While there, I developed a high fever, and Levi started having late heart decels with contractions, that stayed low after they were over. We decided on the section, which was a difficult choice, but I was only 6cms and we were concerned for both of our safety. Our midwife stayed with us through labor at the hospital and thru surgery and she was amazingly wonderful.

Levi is 8lbs, 4oz and he was acynclitic, meaning the side of his head was presenting. He really just could not get thru any lower in his position. He is totally healthy, though his neck and head are pretty stiff and sore from being acynclitic in labor for so many days.

I had an infection of the placenta, probably due to the prolonged rupture. Still waiting on pathology, but I am almost better, and my fever is back down. Levi is nursing like a champ, and my milk is almost in already! We are probably going home tomorrow.

I haven't read any updates yet, but best wishes to everyone....I will be on later (if my lil sweetie allows!) to read up on everyone. I missed you guys!!!!

[True Blue]

Oh Katie congratulations!!!! I am so glad to hear you are both ok, we were all so worried!! You certainly gave it 500%!!! I don't know that I could have gone on for as long as you did. Awesome to hear nursing is going so well for you two!!!!!

[Momma2LiamandTara]

:love :love :love :love :D :D :thumb :) :hug :throb :heartbeat :twothumbs :twothumbs :clap :clap :Bow :bow :bow :wave :w :jumpers: :jumpers: :balloons :balloons :balloons :birthday: :birthday: :birthday: :banana :carrot :carrot Congratulations Katie! We are all so thrilled for you! You just did an amazing job trying for your Vbac and made the best choice for you and lil Levi. I wish you speedy and healthy recovery. Welcome to the world lil Levi!!

Carrie

[AnnR33]

Oh yeah Katie! Congratulations and Welcome Levi! :balloons I'm so happy for you and so proud of you for ALL your hard work! You did an awesome job!! :) :)
Blessings to you!
Ann

[mirthfulmum]

:drum: :carrot Welcome to the world Emily!!! :banana :drum:

Congratulations Thia!!!
We were all wondering about you... so happy that you were MIA because you were babymooning :thumb. As someone who also had a nasty tear (my episiotemy scar ripped wide open druing Harrison's birth) I totally know how you are feeling. Rest up and take care of yourself. I'm terrible about remembering to do them myself but Kegels are really great for helping the tear heal. The muscle contractions help speed blood to the wound and quickens up the healing process.


:bow :Bow :bow :Bow :bow :Bow :bow :Bow :bow :Bow :bow :Bow :bow :Bow :bow :Bow :bow :Bow :bow :Bow :bow :Bow :bow :Bow :bow :Bow
Congratulations Katie!!!!!!


:jumpers: :banana :balloons :birthday: Levi :balloons :banana :jumpers:

You really amazed us all with your strength, courage and dedication. I am thrilled that you are finally holding your little man in your arms. You worked so hard to get him here! You truly are a champion birther. I am so happy for you and your family. Can't wait to see pictures!

[BeansMomma]

Welcome to Earth, Little Levi!!!
Oh, Katie - you had us all on the edge of our seats. I am so happy to hear that you and your baby are safe - in the end that is absolutely the only thing that matters. We're all so proud of you for the work you did.

Welcome Emily! Congratulations, Thia! I hope you are able to heal quickly and the pain stays at a minimum.

Go, Nancy, GO!!!!!!!

Re: painful nursing; today I had to resort to using a nipple shield as the pain was excrutiating and I was starting to develop peeling / cracking. I felt a bit like it was a step backwards, but then I found I could enjoy our close time together again without having to hold in moans and grunts from the pain. The lactation staff at the hospital are so great so I'll probably pay them a visit tomorrow to see if we have a latch problem or if I'm just being a bit of a wimp.

Strong labor vibes to those of us who are still entering the birth phase. Good luck to all new moms.

[dharmama]

BIG Congratulations Katie!!! :banana I'm so happy for you! Welcome to the world Levi! :love

~Erin
:love

[Lucysmama]

Just wanted to say happy birthin' to Nancy and maybe Letia who might be laboring too!!! :love

Congrats to Thia and welcome to Emily!!! Welcome baby Reed and congrats, Momadance! :banana

And here is a picture (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/Lucysmama/LucyAndLevi.jpg) of my daughter and SON!!! In this picture, Lucy is meeting and holding Levi for the first time, about 5 hours after his birth. :love Don't mind the scratches on his face....he was born with really long fingernails and he really clawed himself up!!!

:love Happy to be back talking to you mamas....Erin and Dana, thanks for checking up on me, too! You guys are so sweet!

[danaalex]

katie, congratulations!!!!!!! i have read the oct 2004 birth threads for the past several weeks to follow your labor and delivery. i too was so worried for you, and i am so glad that you and your beautiful new son are home healthy and safe :).

Congratulations again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

[momadance]

WOW~ Welcom Levi :love :bouncy :twothumbs What strength Katie :thumb What absolute cutey's your wee ones are! And great name!

Welcome Emily! Sorry to hear about the tearing! OUCHY!!!

It's so exciting to check the boards and get the scoop!

Hope all is well with our laboring mama's! My thoughts are often with the October mama's! :thumb

[Ekatherina]

Thia!! congratulatulations and happy birthday little Amily... :carrot :carrot :carrot :violin :violin.....sorry for the tear...hope you recover quickly...
Katie!!! congratulations and so happy you are both safe and well..your little guy is so so beautiful...:love....
you can't imagine how worried i was about you and how :Bow...:Bow :bow...:bow I am of you....

[ameliabedelia]

tandem nak

Congragulations Thia!! Welcome to the world Emily!!!

Congragulations Katie!! Welcome to the world Levi!!! We were all sooo worried about you!! I am so glad everything is ok!!

[True Blue]

So did the full moon help anyone out? No action here!! I'm late for the first time ever....DS was born at 8:10am the morning after he was due. I can't believe this little one who tried to come 19 weeks early is now sitting in my belly 1 day late! :irked: I'm a little concerned about the new position it has taken up, it really seems rather posterior. And it's been there since Monday. Why does this baby seem determined to cause trouble? :mischief

The baby has been grinding on me so much that I prepare myself for a gush of water each time it moves...

On the bright side....How 'bout them Red Sox!!?? :twothumbs :clap

[momadance]

Yes! How 'bout them sox! I love watching the excitement on their faces!

Amy, Reed took up residence posterior on Monday, and was born without a glitch on Thurs. so not to worry!!! :thumb Man, you took a beating with all those hurricanes, and pressure determinded to put you into labor, and now everythings on hold! It must be totally mentally exhausting! Lots of labor vibes heading your way!!!


Reed has been coming to bed with me at 12:00, getting up for a dc and to nurse between 4-5, and then right back to sleep until around 9:00 am :love I can't believe how in sync our family rythm is AT THE MOMENT! I know it can all change in the drop of a hat, so I'm taking the time to be super thankful! :D

[True Blue]

Hmmm I was just reading a thread on feeding the birth attendants....we are so low on food. I guess I should make a trip to Sam's today??? Maybe if the baby knows there is lots of food here s/he will come already!!

Thanks for the reassurance momadance!! And congrats on the good sleeping. I can't even get my 2 1/2 year old to sleep more than a couple hours at a stretch. I'm really getting ready to lose my mind!

[Soogie]

Amy - you and I can commiserate together fellow due date buddy. The lack of birthing last night completely debunked my theory that all of my kids would be full moon babies. I'm blaming it on the eclipse! I did have contractions on and off all day yesterday, all in my lower back. I spent most of the afternoon sitting in a recliner with a heating pad on my back. This little bugger keeps shifting from anterior to posterior and it seems that when it's posterior is when I have the most contractions. But then they peter out and I'm back to square one. I did sleep wonderfully last night, 8 hours of continuous sleep, didn't even get up to pee. So I know my body is resting up. This happened before both of my other labors. But now I'm getting anxious. Damian was more than willing to do his part of helping things along this morning, but it hasn't brought on any contractions. He said he'd try again later. ;) So I'm just taking this lack of activity as a chance to rest up. Kind of hard with 2 toddlers, but I think they are catching on that I really do need to rest. I'm keeping Aidan home from preschool today cuz the idea of just schlepping them into and out of the car and answering questions from his little friends and teachers irks me. I'm in major hibernation mode right now.

Congratulations Katie! The pic of Lucy and Levi is so cute!

Welcome to the world Emily! Happy babymooning Thia.

Still waiting to hear from Nancy and Letia...

[mandalamama]

let's go Red Sox!! :D nak ...

i was wondering if the full moon would trigger labor for many women. a full lunar eclipse on a blood moon! well it apparently helped the Sox *lol*

i feel half happy, half sad this morning. Willow loves the swing very much :( i lay on the sofa right next to her and sang to her while she was swinging, and i still keep picking her up, can't stop touching and hugging her! but i felt awful watching her swing, guilty because my arms should be so much stronger. i have new respect every day for all the moms of the world! it is such hard work but so very rewarding. i got 2 hours sleep last night on an increased dose of my med - it should have knocked me flat! we increase it again tonight and hope it just flattens me for 8 hours so i can "reset my clock" and then go back to my usual cat-napping self. i can pump 1 oz. per boob at one time and still have enough to feed Willow no problem, Pan gave her her first bottle last night, a little sad but i did get some rest and she had no problems latching on this morning! it just seems that i'm getting farther and farther from AP which is frankly scary! but Willow is doing so well, i have to let that be my guide, right? i'm amazed at her resilience and adaptability :)

*more labor vibes* :D

when does our "life with a babe" thread start? lotsa babies! :jumpers:

ETA: Willow is already reaching for things! my face (she grabs my lips *lol*) or a bright, contrast-y toy hanging above her! she bats it to make it move. *beams with pride*

[Momma2LiamandTara]

Melli-

To me AP means being in tune with the needs of your child. I was the same way when Liam was born. You have to take care of yourself so you can be a mommie to Willow. It's ok to let her be in the swing while you regain some energy and strength. You're right there with her and interacting with her. It's also okay to have Pan feed her. It's a nice bonding experience for them. Plus you get to rest which you really need. I have learened a lot fo the past 2 years and realized that I couldn't be a good mommie if I didn't get a little rest and take care of myself too. I've put liam in those doorway bouncers, excersaucers, bouncy seats. He actually loved the saucer and doorway jumper. He really only was in the bouncy seat for when I'd take showers or making meals. I didn't have a good sling then. Some people frown upon using these things but I never just put him in these things and left him there. I was always right by him.

That is just my .02 cents. :)

Carrie

[bluehalo]

Oh yay Katie!! Welcome Levi!! What a sweet picture of Lucy w/ her baby brother :)

Meli, I agree w/ Carrie ... follow your instincts ... you can't go wrong listening to yourself and your baby. To me *that* is AP ... more so than following some misc. set of "guidelines".

[mirthfulmum]

nak

Raise your hand those of you who have compromised your original parenting plan to adjust to the realities of parenting :wave.

With Alias I wasn't going to use a swing. MIL bought him one wfen he was 4 months old. Ended using it almost every meal time. We'd pull the swing up to the table, Alias would swing happily and Dh and I could actually eat a meal together. I could go on and on with my "compromises".

[Piglet68]

nak all night....up every 2 hours last night :zzz

katie, you sound happy. we were all so worried. we were all obsessing about you! :hug you are amazing and a true inspiration!! i'm so glad bf-ing is going well...

thia - congrats on your dd! i added you to the list finally - sorry! i thought you were on it already.

meli - i feel the same way alot. i have a bassinet and bought a bouncy seat the other day - something i swore i'd never use. its different with 2, thats all i can keep telling myself. now wondering if i should think about introducing a bottle: never used one with dd, only own 1 - it came with my pump. sigh! still in mental block over the idea, but know i should consider it.

yay red sox!! (dd was born in boston - its a special place for us)

[mtnjenny]

Full moon didn't work for me either! I even went outside at 3:00 am and had a little talk with it...the moon, that is.

Meli, I agree with everyone here who has stated the most important thing about parenting is meeting the needs of your child, and YOU. You are doing fantastic, by figuring out what works for you and your Willow.

Teacher talk ahead...it does relate, I promise...feel free to pass. This AP discussion makes me think of my job as a Montessori teacher. So many people (schools and teachers and parents) misinterpret what "Montessori" means, and they get hung up in the details, the materials, the lessons, the training. Some people see it as too strict, while others see it as too loose. When you go back and read Maria Montessori's vision, it's to "follow the child." Meaning, it's my job to meet every child's need in my classroom. Perhaps skipping materials b/c they don't click, providing more structure to those who need it, allowing more freedom to those who can handle it, basically tweaking things as I see fit for each child to be successful, using the amazing tools that she has taught us - that's truly Montessori education. I see it relating to parenting. I think, to use AP as the basis of our parenting, but still be willing to tweak things to meet our needs is key. Many times, in my job and in my opinion, I've seen "A" of AP taken way overboard, so I personally plan on being very careful about that. OK, philosophizing over for now... sorry! :blush

Congratulations Katie and Thia! You ladies really had things buzzing around here! Welcome babies! :thumb

The next round of babies needs to get movin'! Come on babies!! :dust

[True Blue]

I agree with all the previous AP stuff. YOu have to do what works. Plus, if you are tried and frustrated, how are you going to act towards your child? (something I was considering last night as DS kept me up a ton again....time to work on going to sleep on his own again, though I know the timing is awful with baby due any second) Personally I see nothing wrong with the bouncy seat, swing, exersaucer...as long as your child doesn't spend ALL his/her time there! I have friends whose poor second babies just kind of hang out all alone all the time bc they are with the older child...it's not fair. Some of them think holding them too much is spoiling them. I wore DS all the time when he was little, to comfort him, to help him sleep. But, I also let him hang out in his bouncy seat, swing, and exersaucer when he enjoyed them. I think fostering a little independence is good too! And it gave me some time to feel like me.

Soogie, yes we can commiserate! What are our babies waiting for, a written invitation? :LOL

I'm off to Sam's to stock up!!! I know, it's not exactly fresh homecooked...but I don't have the energy to cook a bunch of meals up to freeze!! And it's better than starving! ;)

[flitters]

First, congratulations on the new babies!!! They are happening so fast I may have missed somebody (sorry!).

:balloons Yay Katie and Thia!!! Welcome Levi and Emily!!! :balloons

I'm relieved to hear that you sound like you're doing well Katie, and amazed at your strength.

Thia, I hope your tear heals well and quickly.


Well, I'm another one who was really hoping the full moon (and eclipse) would do the trick of starting labor. In fact, I think I had fewer contractions yesterday than the previous two days... having a good one now though. I'm reaching the point where I'm slightly insane thinking I'll be pregnant forever (despite all evidence to the contrary) and I'm not even at my due date yet. Learning a new kind of patience here. The baby is really active right now too... Hopefully pushing itself even lower.

The eclipse was absolutely beautiful though. Did anybody else get to see it?

labor vibes for all of us still waiting!

:grouphug

i'm off to check the yahoo pictures!

[Thia]

As for giving in to things that I said I wouldn't do.... :wave Count me in that group. I previously decided to do the pacifier instead of letting her suck her thumb, but wanted to wait a few weeks to introduce it...well, the night after she was born was a long tough night, especially with my sore nips, so I gave in. Two minutes after plugging her in, we were both sound asleep. She doesn't even like it very much and we barely use it, but sometimes, it is just what she wants.
Congrats to Katie. You are a very brave woman!!! Welcome Levi!
Last night we went out to visit dh's grandmother with the baby. While dh's mom stayed in the car with Em, we went into wal mart real quick. All that was enough to remind me that I am still recovering! My stitches were sore for the first time in a couple of days.
Guess what? We slept for almost 5 hours straight last night! She was up, wide awake all evening, guess she was tuckered out. I sure appreciated that.
Well, labor dust to all the laboring mammas. Wasn't the moon beautiful last night?

[ameliabedelia]

We have compromised lots of AP things too. The important things is to listen to your baby and respond to them,

Well this whole having 2 kids things is easier than I thought it would be. Heidi has been amazingly good with Greta, no jealousy at all, she is very sensitive and gentle and gets upset when Greta cries. She has no problem with Greta nursing, and has just been great. Yesterday and today I was/am on my own all day since DH is back at work and mom went home. Things have been going well. We have gone out both days, yesterday we went to a moms club meeting and today we went to the library. I have been managing to do a little bit of housework, cleaned the bathrooms and vacuuming. I find I feel so much better now than I did pregnant and have much more energy. I didn't realize how tired I was at the end, but I feel better now and am sleeping so much better, even with a newborn waking up to nurse a lot.

Just posted some pics on the yahoo group.

Sending labor soon vibes to those who need it. :dust

[Lucysmama]

I am now the proud owner of the biggest set of nursers in Ohio! Levi spent the entire night nursing last night - no exaggeration, we nursed almost non-stop from midnight to 5am. I woke up with two huge moutains on my chest! Yowza! Maybe my lil guy knew he needed real milk - he has lost almost a pound. I'm sure he'll be gaining now that my milk is in, though.

Amy - sending you lots of labor vibes. We have so many still-pregnant mamas! We REALLY took that job of cookin our babies seriously! :love

[momadance]

Well, I started an October mama's thread in life with a babe. I didn't really know if anyone else was interested in it or not! But there it is!

Piglets threads are much nicer though ;)

[JoAida]

LETIA HAD HER BABY!!!

I did some detective work and found Letia at a hospital in her area. Little Mikayla Danielle :love was born at 9:16pm on 10/27/04. She's 8lbs 7oz and 20.5" long.

I'll save details for Letia to post, but I wanted to let everyone here know. Mama sounds great over the phone, and despite some disappointment about not getting her homebirth, she sounds like she's in total baby bliss!

[AnnR33]

Oh yay for Letia! And it's a girl! What a wonderful surprise :balloons Congratulations!

No moon labor vibes here either :rolleyes I'm starting to think this babe is getting awfully comfortable in there-thinking we'll be at least another few days.

Take care
Ann

[Momma2LiamandTara]

Yeah Letia! Thanks for the info JoAida!! :balloons

So in a dilemma. DH and I are stuck on which name to use for the middle name for a boy. We've decided the girl is Tara Grace but they boy we are still stuck between Kyan Andrew, Kyan Lucas, and Kyan Robert. Maybe that is why this lil one isn't coming out yet. :) Sounds silly but which one do you all like?

I think I'm going to try and get things going this weekend. I'll be at 41 weeks on Sunday. I just feel ready to try and it would work out great for my support for Liam if I went into labor this weekend. My sister's husband will be home to help her out. That way she won't have 2 toddlers all to herself. :)
Nobody but Letia had their baby yesterday. Oh well I'm sure we will be there soon!

Off to scour the TP for more diaper covers. :thumb

Happy Laboring and Happy Babymooning.

Carrie

[kraftykathy]

Woo-hoo!!!! Congratulations Katie and welcome Levi. Love his name! Your kids look so sweet!!!
:balloons :balloons :balloons :balloons :balloons :balloons

Hey I just knew Letia was off having her baby!!! Congratulations, Letia and welcome Mikayla!!!!!!
Thanks for the update JoAida.
:balloons :balloons :balloons :balloons :balloons :balloons

Things are going great here. I'll definately be over posting at Life with a Babe. Thanks for starting it momadance! :love

K

[kraftykathy]

Momma2Liam - Of the three I like Lucas the best. :thumb

[weetzie]

Yay for Letia!!! I was just on here lurking, looking for her. :love

[bluehalo]

Letia!! How wonderful :) Welcome little Mickayla ... can't wait to hear the details!

[True Blue]

COngrats Letia! Can't wait to hear your story. :) And you stole my baby's birthday!! ;) I was really hoping this baby would come on the 27th, there are 4 of us with birthdays on the 27th of the month, the "27 club" as I call it (I'm part of it :) ). I thought it would have been cool to add another member....

It's so quiet around here. I don't think I like being at the end of the baby train! ;)

[Ekatherina]

good morning everyone...:wave...

Yay Letia.!!!!!! :carrot :carrot can't wait to hear more news from you....!!!!
Momma2Liam, I am with Kathy liked Lucas most..:) we are also stuck with girl's middle name (if she is a girl..:) maybe they are waiting for us to make up our minds...:shrug
mtnjenny..:hugs due date sister..:) so funny talking to the moon...i wonder what else can we try to bring those stubborn babies out....:scratch
Meli, I totally agree with everyone about AP...i don't have experience myself and it may be silly but i just remembered what they tell us on the airplane : "put the oxygen mask on you first so you will be able to help your baby"... maybe :OT
Here everything is the same...i slept so well last night and actually thought it means still long time till labor...but thanx Soogie for mentioning that it actually means the opposite..:duh...much happier now...:LOL
No news from Nancy.... :W
I just wanted to say that please don't disappear on the life with the baby october thread, new mamas...we will miss you terribly.!!!! :1praying: do keep on checking on us!!!

[Ekatherina]

truebluexf!!!! we x-posted.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! a little late though....:)
:birthday: :balloons :birthday: :snap :carrot
you meant it was 27th of october right?? :scratch...

[Jillerina]

I've been lurking only the last little while but all the good news from Thia, Katie, and now Letia has brought me out. Congrats Mamas on your wonderful babies!

Katie, I was also worried about you and am so happy to hear your and Levi are doing just fine - what an expereince his birth must have been!

Everything is still pretty topsy turvey at my house. DH is doing his best but I'm constantly feeling frustrated by him (things he's done or more likely things he hasen't done), Clara is acting more 2 every day (ahhh!) and I'm feeling overwhelmed by the idea of caring for 2 kids the way I want to.

Which brings me to the discussion of the use of "baby gear". I am using the swing and carseat an awful lot these days but I'm also using the sling more than I ever did with Clara. I think as mamas we have to use whatever we think is best for us and our baby. If we need to rest/get stuff done/etc then we've gotta put baby down right? I don't think there is anything wrong with using the swing to take care of yourself Melli and I'd be concerned about anyone who felt that way...

OK, gotta go mr hungy boy is a calling :)

[Piglet68]

Well, despite a rough night of lots of wakings, we had a good day today. I hibernated, lol. Sasha had a long alert period this morning and enjoyed watching me do dishes while sitting in his bouncy seat. He was there for about 15 minutes, long enough for me to tidy up and get my brekky started. He then napped most of the day. I was having trouble getting him to stay down when putting him in the bassinet, but I think I've discovered I was a) not waiting long enough and b) he likes to be swaddled if put down now. So hoping I can continue to get him to nap in there, as it really frees me up and lets me get things done! I even got to do some work on my paper today (work related) so feeling good.

Congratulations to Letia!! Can't wait to hear from her and see how Life with a Babe is treating her.

Katie, isn't it great to have full boobs? Mine were so damn floppy after pregnancy and BFing. They never got full during this pregnancy (prob'ly cuz DD was sucking the life out of them). I was so happy when my milk came in - I have nice boobs again! :D By the way, congrats on the BFing. I know you had trouble with DD. I bet you are really enjoying this. Way to go!

I am still going to stick around here until the last of you dear mamas has "popped", don't worry! We won't forget you! But I'm also going to start visiting Life With a Babe. Thanks for starting a thread for us, momadance! Haven't decided if I want to get that going, too, lol....

Amelia, so glad life with Two is working out for you. Looks like all of us second time mamas are finding our fears outweighed reality for the most part.

Okay, baby is asking for me. Lately he's been eating nonstop around this time of night, only to crash hard later on. Hope it happens again and that we get longer stretches of sleep again!

[stanleymama]

Congrats Letia and Katie!!!!!

Katie..I am so glad all is well. I was getting really worried about you. I hear ya on the boobs!!!! I will be thankful when mine disappear a bit, not too much, just a tad ;)

Quinn is a week old today...it goes too fast!!! I want to enjoy every moment I can. I love the newborn sighs and facial expressions.

Oakember is missing too I noticed...I hope she and Nancy are babymooning :D

Trueblue...Hang in there. I feel your frustration. It really will happen soon, this isn't one mean joke to keep you pg for forever. :Hug

[OakEmber]

He was born yesterday morning at 9:47 (Oct.27)...after my last post on Tues. evening I went to bed and woke up with my first contractions starting between 1 and 2 am. We ended up having to spend the night in the hospital...I have quite the story (one I maybe shouldn't share until we've all had our babies) but am way too tired right now to even read up on what I've missed. Just wanted to let you all know. He weighted 8lbs 7.5oz and is 20.5" long. He is nursing like an absolute c