Well it's Monday. So it's time for a new update thread, yes? The other one's (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=422755)off page one so here's a new one.

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I got my GBS test results back today -- NEGATIVE! Woohoo! I'm thrilled. :D

My lower back is still giving me gobs of grief off and on and I've started using those Thermacare sticky pads, which I've been assured are totally safe. Does anyone have any info on them? I try to avoid heating pads for the electromag waves (I know some folks think that's silly, but it's a personal thing), and use rice packs instead, but it's nice to WEAR the heat sometimes.

Ordered a few more FB since my stash was looking a little iffy in terms of being able to realistically wash every other day. We're up to 32 FB and 38 inserts, so I'm feeling better about it all. I can always order more if need be, but I think that's a good starting place.

The only thing left to do really is general housecleaning stuff, grocery runs and making curtains for the nursery. I've got loads of fresh fruit that I've cut up and frozen in little I Can't Believe It's Not Butter containers. It's my version of a popsicle treat hehe and the freezer's full of them. But I've given up on the notion of cooking full meals and freezing them. I just don't want to do it, and my mom assures me she'll cook loads while she's here. So I'm not gonna feel guilty about it.

Everything else is way done. And I'm not eating as much it seems but I'm still gaining weight. Well, I did break down and buy some Little Debbie snackcakes, which is bad bad bad but they taste good! :blush Am up to 30.5-31 lbs total gained it looks like, which is good (I was 109 to start), but nothing fits anymore. My maternity pants are too tight :irked: as are the shirts but I refuse to buy more clothes. I live in PJs around the house every day now.

I think the new iron supplements are working as I'm not quite as winded as I had been.

Can't believe how close it's getting! I'm nearly 37 weeks! Wow. :thumb

Gonna go bake a chocolate cake I think. Or some cookies. Wow, my sweet tooth hasn't been awake in a while but the last few days -- yowzah! Sugar central! :love

Happy Spring Equinox, all! :flower :sunshine :flower

Hi all. I'm 36 weeks today!!! Happy bday Bradley! It almost my c/s date, 4/5. Getting nervous, but mentally trying to make myself not be. DH is like, wow, its so close... I said yes, wanna trade now? I work and u be preggers? I would love his life for a day. Except yesterday, he got hurt at work, pallet hit him in the eye and arm, looks like I beat the crap out of him,lol. Big ol shiner! My DD said, told u once dad, now we gotta hurt ya!
Its gonna snow tonight, the first day of spring, and it snows. I gave birth both times before during blizzars and told hubby that I finally get my non snow baby. Yeah right! It'll snow a foot the day I have this little guy! My luck anyway!
More bh and lots of back cramping. I take a lot of showers now... water bill should be sky high. Sorry hunny! I get my engagement ring out of the shop on Thursday! So exciting. I can't wait.
DH is going to help me finish my to do list this week. Today is his lat day working this week, unless bossman lets him have ot, I hope he does. I love ot paychecks!
My kids are fighting and I have no energy to stop them. DD hit DS in a certain spot that is sensitive in boys, even 2yo. Thought he was dying the way he cried. As you all know, I am not a man, but it looked like it hurt. He got over it and hit her with her own belt! DH stepped in and both went to time out, and had to apologize. DS is a neat freak for a baby, saw DD had put dirty clothes on floor and had a meltdown! Little child is not mine. I could live in a hamper, or my bed room, both pretty much the same thing. Gotta clean up my act.
Hope everyone has a good week! I'll try.

i am so ready to meet this little critter!

i cant sit comfortably ('rods)
i cant stand comfortably (baby on bladder)
i cant even lie comfortably except in bed with umpteen billion pillows.

but we got the dresser done and in the room and things are in drawers! we're ready! we dont have the crib matress, but since we're planning to co-sleep for at least the beginning, DH is not bothered. I am, but that's cause I want to be DONE. :lol

on a happy note-- FOOD IS STARTING TO SOUND GOOD AGAIN! For much of the past however many months (I'm 38 weeks tomorrow! ack!), NOTHING but NOTHING (ocassionaly mashed potatoes, cereal... sometimes plain pasta).... has sounded good.

But I've been having cravings and wanting to eat things! Its so fun. I'm so exited to start eating real food again-- and enjoying it!

Also, it's sunny, which totally helps. I'm so ready for summer, rose', picnics, and sitting in the garden!

Other than that, I am so not getting work done, cause DH and I look at house listings in Tucson and IM each other all day. :blush

i'm slacking to the max with the pagan holiday, though. bad bad me. ugh. i really should get off my butt and do something. maybe i'll beg DH to stop and get a packet of seeds to plant tonight.... not that we'll be here to see them grow! sigh.

hugs to all!

36weeks :D wow its starting to go fast now! DS was 4 :birthday: last week and his party was yesterday so life here has been very hectic, I'm looking forward to this week being a lot quieter :wink I still have loads to prepare for baby and our birth and I seem to have less energy by the minute.

I'm having weekly reflexology (with m/w, no stimulation of 'labour' points :wink )which is wonderfully relaxing and fantastic at helping my low back and hip pain. Sleeping is pretty bad, I'm waking up every 2hrs or so and its so exhausting, especially when DS is up for the day at 6 / 7am :yawning:

GREAT news today :D some of you rmay emember the sonographer mentioned a low lying placenta at 20weeks, after lots of research I was pretty sure it would move up with my growing uterus but I had these little doubts I couldn't shake. Today we went back for a scan, lasted about 30secs and of course placenta is high :jumpers: I am sad to have had more u/s exposure but I need to go into this homebirth without any doubts and total trust which I now can :D

Mysticmom ~ your birth is getting so close. I hear you on the showers, I could live in mine right now :)

Nighten ~ Wonderful news, so glad you got a neg :twothumbs

:wave

Moved.

have home visit tonight.

woo! :zzz

Grats Adina! :d

Wow we are all getting so close. :)
I am doing well. Have been super busy. Did a Women's Show for ICAN of Spokane this weekend and am exhausted from that. I am passing off ICAN to the new co-leaders now, so I need to get all the stuff organized and do some last minute stuff and then I am done. It will be nice to not have to worry about anything but this new baby (and other kids too) LOL.

Have our homevisit tomarrow. Am now 36 weeks.

My DS birthday is Weds so are planning a small party for that. Our good friends DD is diabetic so we are trying to plan a time for the party that she can eat and have her insulin. Making it difficult but I feel so bad when all the other kids get to have cake and eat treats and she has to watch because she can only take her insulin at certain times. So working on that schedule.....

Bad news for us though. The center my DH works for has been restructuring and he found out he is laid off as of April 1st. We knew that as of June he would not have a job which was fine because he is graduating and we are moving anyway. But April makes a whole new situation. We have a savings for the move saved up but now we have to live off that and are not sure if we can afford to move at all now. The sucky thing is he still has to go in for 22 hours a week because it is his practicum. So even if he found another job he would have no time for it between practicum and classes. :( Trying not to stress over it but man what timing!!

Other than that am doing okay. Baby is making moving painful. Pubic bone just aches and I am so swollen from being on my feet for so long this wkend. Hoping that goes down a little because my skin feels tight.

Wow I just rambled on and on and on. :lol

Glad everyone is doing well.
Allison

Hooray - it's officially spring! You wouldn't know it though from looking outside. But at least now I'll officially have Spring babies. :D Having dh paint our 1/2 bath today (my version of nesting - hey, I did the prep work :lol). Got my house cleaned (woohoo! it's never looked better). Almost 37 weeks! Installed the carseat which required moving the older kids to the back of the van. They haven't had a chance to try it out yet. Oh, and I've gotten a couple meals prepared & frozen. Of course, this morning we wake up to a freezer that's acting funny so hopefully the repair person can fix it today. Generally just being anal about keeping the house clean. I just know I won't go into labor with a messy house. :lol I'm just overall really looking forward to giving birth and meeting these kids. I have to admit I'm running through the "what ifs" of birth scenarios though. I'm sure everyone does it though, right? I know I've always worried about the safety of the baby until the baby is safely in my arms.

Adina - congrats on the move! What a relief that must be (although I know you still have a lot of work ahead).

Nighten - we're due the same day :D I'm predicting it will be in the 39th week for me. Doesn't seem too far off!

FreeSpiritMama - that's great news about the placenta. Peace of mind is essential to a good birth.

Moosemommy - I saw your nursery pics in the other thread - it looks fantastic! I hope your current baby adjusts well to your new one :D I sympathise with your discomfort, btw.

mystic2mom - I have the same issue w/my kids. I think I might stick them out on the curb with a sign that says "cute kids free". lol I love love love them, but boy do they get to me sometimes!

[QUOTE=love_homebirthing]

Moosemommy - I saw your nursery pics in the other thread - it looks fantastic! I hope your current baby adjusts well to your new one :D I sympathise with your discomfort, btw.

[QUOTE]

OMG, every time I feel pain, I think of you, take a good breath, and know that I have NO IDEA. :hug

Thanks on the pics! My cousin had her baby over this weekend-- and Moose wasnt sure what to think.... here's a pic of the stare-down (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jess847/detail?.dir=5237&.dnm=a8b5re2.jpg&.src=ph).

*hugs* Allison... what timing indeed! <3

Moosemommy, that pic is so precious!

Adina, congrats on the move! It must feel awesome to finally be in your place! Sending you thoughts of happy unpacking gnomes ;)

Good things are happening here. Penny Simkin met with me to discuss how my childhood abuse could come up in labor & matched me with her assistant, Jan Dowers, and apprentace, Molly Kirkpatrick, so now we have birth doulas! We are stoked. I really feel that, no matter what, (DH &) I will be well taken care of, quirks and all.

Our birth tub is reserved & our birthkit came. My nesting instinct has FINALLY kicked in (I thought I was going to be the exception for sure!) & I've had energy to do things like put clothes away & not live in filth :lol Our babyshower was awesome & intimate & we got a lot of loot (including a mini co=sleeper & stroller!) which took a huge load off my mind (& wallet). I feel loved :)

Happy spring!!! :love

Today is a good day! YEAH!
I went back to the doctor (went on Friday and had symptoms of Preeclampisa) and my blood pressure was down so no baby yet. I have to go see his colleague on Friday after my profile because he is going to be away. Not sure what I think of that...some other doctor I've never met making decisions...but hopefully my blood pressure will still be down and it won't be much of an issue. Then I go back to him on Tuesday when he gets back to town. And he told me to keep resting... So I asked him, What is resting???

Resting:
I am supposed to get 10-12 hours of sleep a night.
I can do mealsk, walk down stairs, small walks outside.
I CANNOT mop floors, do laundry or lift anything very heavy (I'm assuming that includes my 4 year old! LOL) so the laundry has been passed on to hubby.
AND I have to rest with my feet up for at least 2 hours every afternoon.

Doesn't sound so bad! :) It will be a little hard with the kids, but at least hubby is around most days in the next few weeks.

Sad part about the whole exam was he said the baby's head is still "really floating"...I thought with all the pressure/pain I'm having down there that maybe he/she was in ready position. Oh well, I know it doesn't mean anything really but I was a little disappointed to hear that. He didn't do a internal though, which I'm glad for!

I think the doc is still worried about my symptoms but we'll make it a little while longer!

Guess that's all for now! :)

Well today is a great day because its my BIRTHDAY!!! YEAH!! Been crazy lately since my twins birthday was the 18th and so we threw a party for them. now mine. my hubby and 5 yr old made me a cake last night and i am craving cheese fondue so my dh bought all the ingredients and i am going to start making it soon. yummy.

very uncomfortable, wishing i was 37 weeks but only 36. i keep thinking once i am 37 it will be OK to wish the baby out. not that it will help him come faster. i just feel bad wanting a 36 weeker to come now. i want him to be healthy and fully grown. but really dont want to do this anymore!!

my three children are driving me nuts and thats partly why i want the baby to come too. so my folks, friends and DH can take care of the big kids and i can just have an excuse to lay in bed and cuddle my baby!! oh i cant wait!

:birthday:

I was 37 weeks Friday. My darling really blessed me with help all weekend on my nesting projects~truly out of his love for me, as he didn't wanna do all this crazy work! LOL! (Switching bedrooms around.) The entire house is a mess, as we're working on this BIG stuff. I did post scriptures and affirmations all over the house too, and it's helping with my fear.

Today I've done 4 loads of laundry, including birthing laundry. Still hafta get some vinyl tablecloths, cloves, and find our heating pad or buy one, etc. I have some Q's and A's and other fun stuff to write up for my midwife that will be beneficial to her for birth. I made a simple dinner, so I went ahead and baked a turkey/spinach meatloaf to freeze. I still plan to bake and freeze a quiche and muffins and turkey/black bean soup.

I think that's about it here! (((((HUGS))))) and enjoyin' y'all! ~sandi

ETA *HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STAYATHOMEMOMMY!*

Stayathomemommy - Happy Birthday! One of the girls my dh works with has the same B-day.

I'm getting excited about Sat., since that will be when I can have the baby at home. Anytime after that. Yeah! I have my home visit tomorrow afternoon. Can't wait. My mw is bringing her weiner dog to play with our girls. Still need to finish cleaning the house. Found out last night we have one more goat that will be due sometime. I was feeling her belly last night and got kicked by little hooves. Totally cool when I can feel that. :love

Anyway, that is me for now, I will let you know how the home visit goes tomorrow.

haven't posted here in awhile, so i thought i'd jump in and say, 'hello'. i'm 38 weeks, 3 days. getting close, a bit anxious (in a nervous energy sort of way) about my upcoming homebirth. actually the homebirth part of it doesn't scare me as much as the natural childbirth thing does. i pray for the strength to get thru it (oh yeah, and an anterior baby this time :lol ) wondering how it will start.....how it will progress, etc.

feeling ready physically......my body feels like it may self-destruct at any moment. lots of little aches and pains and i'm sooooo tired all the time. and i have no patience.... i feel like such a bad mom to my 3 year old. all i want to do is lay on the couch and i bite his head off about the littlest things. :irked:

i do have a few last things i'd like to finish around the house....clean my bathroom, scrub my floors, etc. i keep thinking i'll go into labor and i'll have to look at how dirty my shower is....:lol

i am amazed how rude people can be with their comments....i feel like such a freak of nature. when i go out, i CONSTANTLY get comments about how HUGE i am.....that i must be carrying twins. today someone told me i was the best birth control for her teenage daughter b/c her daughter saw me and said, 'i never want to be that huge'. :blush i know she meant well, but really.....

Adina congrats on the move!!! i still haven't moved yet it is now scheduled for the end of the month...we'll see if that holds any water.

Well, I got my preterm labor under control and am still having bh but what I call normal bh and no more back pain. Stil working on my to-do list. I have decided and bought all the major appliances I was interested in. Now I am working on lights and chandaliers. Am ready for the wedding. Bought a dress for one of my dds, the other one I am getting a dress tailored for and for me well I opted to wear a dress that I wore to a wedding about four years ago when I was prego with ds. Getting my couches and carpets cleaned next week before the move.

Overall I feel better today than the last three days and for the first time in months I got a half hour nap which is amazing...I don't know how it happened.

I am still though very achy but the good news is baby is staying head down but still got a long way to go. I will be 35 weeks in two days.

BeanBean is really nuts this morning... :scratch I wonder if he's getting sick or something. :confused

Anyway... I'll be 36 weeks on Friday. I'm totally ready for the baby to come out, I have horrible heartburn day and night, I'm getting kicked constantly in the liver, and it feels like BellyBean is trying to strip the membranes from the inside, like she's trying to tickle my cervix. I've been having mad contractions, too. I'm so sick of being pregnant... :shake Ick.

The insurance company finally upgraded me to a minivan, though. :D Perhaps this means that my minivan will be ready sooner rather than later. :lol

One of the moms on BooBah's DDT had a brilliant suggestion for quick covers for BellyBean. Pure genius, just cut some out of leftover fleece bits from the kids' jackets using the shot-elastic covers as a pattern. I can actually do that! :lol I only wish I'd thought of it Sunday, when the kids were at my mom's. I'd be finished by now. :lol

I'm feeling super lazy today, I have no desire to do *anything*, but I have to get some things done. I need to go WIC shopping after Mike gets home, and I need to go through some of the stuff that Mike brought home from the minivan, and put away the last of the clean baby clothing. I also need to get some more side-snapping undershirts for BellyBean; a lot of the ones that I had from BeanBean were hand-me-downs, many have now been through at least 4 kids, and those things just aren't meant to last that long. :lol I'll have to let my sisters know, they're good at digging for that sort of thing. :lol I just haven't got the energy to shop on top of everything else. :shake

I really want to spend the day in bed eating Cream of Wheat and snuggling with the kids. I wonder if they'd be amenable... :lol

I'm 38 weeks today...still here and very pregnant :lol I haven't checked in much or even really been online even though I have computer access again. Just not much new to share and I'm extremely cranky :innocent I really didn't think 2 weeks ago that I'd still be pregnant now! I'm actually getting a chance to finish all the projects I really didn't think I'd get to, which is nice I'd suppose but mostly I'm using it as a distraction from being so uncomfortable. I finished knitting my newborn soakers (which are all washed and lanolized now too), froze a few meals (a kale & leek quiche, chicken enchiladas, lasagna and a giant batch of turkey meatballs w/sauce) that should be 2 dinners at least each, froze lots of cookie dough, cleaned my entire house, painted the entry floor and stairs (they were really old wood that can't be refinished, but we can't afford to replace them right now)...yeah I know I need to STOP with the nesting! :bag: I seriously can't relax in the evening if the house isn't spotless. I worry that I'll go into labor and the floors won't be vaccuumed that day or some other random nonsense :lol Pretty much if I clean the house today, go grocery shopping as planned then I'd be good to go in my mind to have the baby tonight...doubt thats happening though...

A friend of mine took me shopping at an outlet mall. She went into labor with her dc #3 after visiting the Carter's outlet there so she thought it was worth a try for me. No such luck though! :lol I did find some great deals on pjs for dd and then bought her a pair of sunglasses which she lost before we even had lunch :irked: Spent the afternoon with friends at the local park with the kids running wild all over the playground. Lots of fun, but I was completely exhausted when I got home. I was really hoping that all that activity would put me into labor but no such luck. I did notice when I was putting some EPO on my cervix that the baby is way lower, my cervix feels alot shorter and slightly more towards the front. Couldn't reach to tell if its dilated more but that all doesn't really mean much anyway. I really wanted to have this baby on the first day of spring. When I woke up last night to pee at 12:30 I was a little sad that it wasn't the first day of spring anymore and I wasn't in labor. I'm such a dork!

Last night I had the AMAZING fantasy of a dream: I woke up, stood up, my water broke, and out with it flowed a baby boy! NO PAIN! LOL! I've been happy all day after that one.... (((((HUGS))))) sandi~growing overwhelmed with the volume of what want to accomplish, and my hernia's a bit sore

Hi everyone,

So glad to hear it sounds like people's spirits have picked up this week! And it's exciting to hear from all you term mamas! Way to go and good luck!

We went to FIL's for the weekend to escape the paint fumes and when we got back the painters were done. I've never had any kind of contractor that was so good - showed up on time, finished on time, did a great job. We're so excited and our apt look so much better!

My mom gave me her ancient baby book that she used with me. I figure it'll be good for laughs. Does she seriously think the research has not advanced in 30 years?

My baby is oblique, that means diagonal, and the part that's up is probably the head. DH and MW keep telling me not to worry, that I'm only 34 weeks and there's plenty of time for DB to move. I keep thinking about getting a sono in a few weeks so I can be sure whether I should worry or not. Then I worry that maybe it's because I'm short and tend to slouch at my desk, so maybe there isn't enough room for DB to go vertex? So I've been trying to remember to sit up straight more - although leaning forward, because we don't want DB going posterior...ugh. Sometimes I'm too hardcore. Other pg moms are leaning back all day, eating their 'cravings' instead of forcing protein and greens, and never think about exercising or even doing their kegels. If I end up with a c/s after all this....

Have a good week, everyone!

Well, I'm still feeling crappy. I'm so lazy- I refuse to do the dishes and laundry at my house. My husband and brother have been using plastic plates. Why can't men help around the house?

I got really nervous last night about this whole baby thing. I hate being a first time mom. I'm having horrible thoughts about not being able to make it through. (I'm not going to have my baby at the hospital; I'm doing a homewater birth- now I'm wondering if this is a correct choice for me. I'm so scared.) Took my blood pressure and it was 130/86 with a pulse rate of 96- and this was at 7:30 a.m. this morning.

Oh well, I'm also debating about forcing myself to have this baby early, so I can get him OUT! My Mw has given me the go ahead to deliver whenever I want to. I'm thinking about going for a long walk and maybe finish taking some prenatal vitamins- which already has made me become 1 1/2 cm dial. and the baby'd head is already down and wanting to come out.

I just don't know, I'm NOT in a good mood.:irked: boovert

Well last night we thought might have been the night, but alas I'm still pregnant with no labor in sight. This is fine - I'd really prefer to hold out until April anyway. So last night just was an extreme case of diahrea for no apparent reason (fun fun). I've always begun labor that way so we thought that maybe that was the beginning. No contractions though except the occassional painless BH.

Got the 1/2 bath painted. I ended up doing most of the work after all (turns out dh is not exactly that great at painting - especially dark colors that show lots of mistakes). Maybe it was the fumes that got to me. Oh well, at least it's done. Of course he still has to remove the tape and who knows what kind of touch-ups will be required after that.

That's about it for me. 37 weeks tomorrow so I'm happy for that. And my Blessingway is this Saturday. :D I'm looking forward to that. Oh, and we did my belly cast this past weekend. Am I the only one doing one? I haven't heard anyone else here mention it. It's super easy to do (my dh managed :lol).

hey me too last night! :p i got kinda excited.... sigh. nothing though!

ok--confession.... i'm watching Baby Story on TLC.... DH hates it when I watch, because I get mad and yell at the TV... "hey, get these lights outta my face! Hey, mom! Try TOUCHING my skin, hello!" "um, ya think ya might wanna try laboring in some position other than FLAT ON YOUR BACK???"

shhhh, don't tell DH. :nono

i'm sooooo not focusing any more. work is impossible... and only partly cause I cant get anyone to write back to me to give me what i need to DO my job....

:sunshine i wanna play. i want it to be summer. i want to sit outside. all i do is sit on the sofa. all i;ve done for MONTHS is sit on the sofa. and that's not gonna change! ack! :yikes:

and....... yeah, the stress of the move... DH did find out yesterday that he has his job for one more month, so that helps calm things a bit, but still. i'm in no state to be figuring out selling the house and all that.... nope. :guilty

Oh, well! Really? I just wanna meet this sweet thing!:love

I had my GBS test today, so we'll see how that comes out. She said that baby is head down (yay), but hasn't dropped at all and my cervix is sewn up tight. I'll be 36 weeks tomorrow. I'm definitely ready to meet this babe, but it looks like it will be a while!! I just REALLY REALLY don't want to be induced -- I so much want a natural birth, but family history shows late (like, really late) babies. I'm trying not to worry too much. What will be, will be. It will come out somehow, right?

A bit of exciting news, though -- DH and I finally (after 10 years of marriage) decided where we want to live when we grow up :lol , and today he got a call from the hospital there (he's a speech therapist in rehab) that they have a full time opening, the job he wants!!!!! BUT...here's the kicker...my due date is April 19, and THE JOB STARTS APRIL 21!!! Yikes. Not sure how we would swing that one...and he was planning on taking 3 mos. of leave when the baby is born, which can't happen if he gets a new job. So, if he gets the job, somehow we're going to have to deal with a new baby (our first) and a move at the same time. This is very scary to me. Luckily, we have been sort of packing up stuff since last fall when we finally decided where to move, so a lot of stuff is in boxes already, but I just can't bear the thought of packing up while 9 mos. pregnant. Ugh. Yet another reason that I would love this baby to come sooner than it's supposed to. Not that it would be any easier to pack up with a newborn, but at least I could get some recovery time here before moving!!

I've been a horrible grumpy teacher at work. I really shouldn't be working anymore. Only 2 1/2 more weeks, thank goodness.

Wonder if next week's update will contain news of someone's birth? :) We're really coming around the bend here, ladies!!! :thumb

Mary

Well I'm just dead cranky right now. And surely going to hell (or some version of long-term purgatory), because I actually got MAD at the bean last night when she wouldn't stop moving.

I hollared YOU CAN WRIGGLE ALL YOU WANT ONCE YOU'RE OUT BUT PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF PETE GIVE ME FIVE FREAKING MINUTES OF PEACE!

I hollared at a fetus.

I'm so going to hell.

(It was nearly four in the morning, if that is any defense at all.)

I'm having one of those so incredibly unbelievably tired of being pregnant days. I've never been a big girl -- I'm 5'2" and used to weigh 98lbs. I've had issues with being underweight nearly my whole life, matter of fact, and had to gain weight on purpose to ttc, but I'm sick of being so freaking HUGE and not being able to bend over or see my feet or shave my legs decently. And I'm sick of my back hurting. :(

And I'm tired of not being on my medication (I have BPD) and the thought of remaining off it for another year while BFing is incredibly depressing. (And kind of scary.)

My wedding band is too tight so I had to stick it on a chain and that depresses me because now my Mary medal hangs sideways from the ring smooshing her. Stupid but it bothers me.

My head hurts and I wrenched (or whatever) that ligament in my abdomen again so not only is my sacrum still hurting but I've got a sharp stabbing pain in front everytime I move or walk. Lovely.

And I really want an Arby's Roast Beef but the closest one is way across town.

Wow I need to NOT BE PREGNANT ANYMORE PLEASE.

Week 38 starts tomorrow. I looked at DH when he got home from work, burst into tears and was like, "I really don't know how much longer I can take this misery."

And I'm serious. I really don't.

I really enjoyed reading everyone's updates!!! :D We're getting close! :thumb

Carley- you know Penny Simkins? That is so cool- I love her pregnancy book! (been reading it a lot lately trying to figure out what the heck is going on!)

I had a bit of a surprise on Saturday night because there was a "gush" of amniotic fluid... it was definitely fluid, but not like my water "broke", kwim? So my MW basically said it could be, or it might not be when I called her. I didn't have any additional gushes at all, though. She did come by on Sunday to examine me and check things out. B/c she was sure that my entire bag had not *broken* but we were still unsure about a high leak/other leak kind of thing my MW attempted to do a sterile exam to test for fluid... however she backed out when there was a gush of blood, and just said it was best to leave it. I went ahead and tried a homeopathic remedy to see if my BH would get regular or anything (some homepathics called CA/CI that is supposed to be equivalent to Blue & Black Cohosh she said) just IN CASE my waters had actually broken to see if we could get the show on the road. Basically, my BH got a little more intense, but nothing really happened, so that was more confirmation for the "it was just a leak" or maybe even some other fluid theory. I figured that if labor was ready to start, they would help, but if not, my muscles would get a bit more of a workout. :)

On Monday we went to my MW's lovely home and my doula came too, and they got to meet each other. Everyone liked each other, so that is great, no interpersonal tensions at birth or anything. :thumb

All along my MW has said there was a possibility that I would need to come to her home for the birth, b/c she has 3 kids including a 1.5 year old, and there was the possibility of gaps in her childcare. One concern that DH has had with homebirth is just that our home is very small and cramped, and he had concerns about how good it would be for a birth. (Small bathroom, birthing tub would have to be on different floor than the bed, etc.) I had sort of "come to terms" with this and was OK with it, but it seems he still had some hesitation. So we walk into the master bath at my MW's house and see the large jacuzzi tub and huge walk-in shower, and the king-sized bed in her bedroom and he basically says, "Why don't we just do it here?" :lol

So we talk about it for a while, and how it would affect her family in terms of their routines if we were here, etc. and I finally decide that I would be comfortable just doing the birth there. If I was leaving a home that we thought was awesome for giving birth or had more than one child, that would be different, but I think this will work out great. As I told my dh and MW, I wanted to have a homebirth but it didn't necessarily have to be *my* home. :) So now it is nice that we can just *plan* to be there, and I won't have to have anxiety if my labor takes a long time about my MW being away from her young child, and I know that will be easier on both of them too. My MW was saying how we would stay a few hours or until I was stablized and that she would feed us before we left, etc. and dh joked she should open a "Homebirth and breakfast." :lol

Something not so great though, is that the baby is posterior... AGAIN! I just knew she moved yesterday while I was holding dd during her nap. (my dd has a cold now, very clingy.) I just felt these big movements and all of the sudden OWIE b/c I'm feeling all the feet and hands in the front. So now I'm trying to get her to turn again, I really don't want to start labor with her posterior!

Got a call from the insurance company; apparently the body shop got the wrong seat in *again*. Thursday, at the earliest. :snicker As if. :lol

Tired of being pregnant. Yeah, I'm so there. On one level, though, I can believe that it will eventually end. I mean, I've already got two kids, and they both came out. :lol I think that makes it easier to cope with somehow... it will eventually end, I've got proof.

Well, I was 37 weeks on Thursday, and our home visit is this Friday...taptaptap. I'm getting so impatient for baby to arrive, but I still have 2.5 weeks to go until due date, sigh, I was hoping this baby would come a bit early. I've been sO tired the past 3 - 4 days and haven't felt like doing anything :(, but I have been gathering birth supplies, doing baby laundry etc. And hopefully we'll have the last of everything rounded up in a few days! Not feeling like labour is ANYWHERE near the horizon...sigh. Baby baby, we want to play with you! (Not that I'm entirely ready of course, in terms of material prep!)

38 weeks and a few days..
tired..cranky..irritable..uncomfortable..overwhelm ed...nervous...don't have energy for more words...hope everyone else is doing well.

boovert - I'm sorry to read how worried you are about the upcoming birth. I guess my only advice (if you could call it that, since I've never done a hb myself just an unmed. one) is that being in the hospital doesn't make it any *easier* for you in lots of ways. I hope I'm saying this in the right way - but no matter where or how you have the baby, it is still you doing the work. Even the hospital or doctor or midwife or dh can't do that for you. Being at home just means that you are accepting that fact of birth before starting the process. I'll be thinking of you and sending you good vibes! I hope everything goes beautifully and that you have lots of loving support through the process. One thing I can promise is that it will be awe-inspiring. All births are awe-inspiring.:thumb

As for my update this week - I'm totally relating to those of you who are expressing your end-of-pregnancy frustration. I'm feeling that too now at 38 weeks. I sometimes don't know what to do with myself, both physically and emotionally. On one hand, I want it to be over, but on the other hand, if I did go into labor right now, I would probably freak out because I still don't feel ready! Crazy.

I got a little bit of painting done on the baby furniture - just a changing table and a shelf for clothes. Other than that, we're not setting anything up until later. We'll have a carpenter doing work in our bedroom and an a/c company putting in a new unit this week and next. ARG! I don't know if I can handle the dirt and mess, but it's better to get it out of the way now and be able to relax once the baby arrives. I was planning on starting to wash the baby clothes today, but the dryer broke down. :angry

I'm struggling to get exercise every day. I just don't feel like it but I know it will make me feel better. I should be doing tons of pelvic rocks and all that, but again - somehow I just don't make time for that. On a good note, I've been drinking tons of water and getting plenty of veggies in my diet. Hopefully that cancels out some of the chocolate? I've also started alfalfa supplements, has anyone else taken that during pregnancy? I keep hearing good things about it, so I decided to try it, too.

OK - hang in there everyone! Pretty soon, we'll start going into labor and having our beautiful babies and reading all kinds of fascinating and wonderful birth stories. It's just a matter of days now! :D

Well, I had contractions all night last night-- painful ones that kept waking me up (and Mike as well). He wanted to know if I was in labor, and I told him no, I was too tired for it to be labor. And I was; if I was really in labor, I wouldn't have been able to sleep so deeply between contractions. :lol I'm still having them, and they hurt... and I would swear that I feel pain very low in my pelvis (that is, that the baby is at 0 or +1 "station," as it were). It sucks, but I'm going to do some walking today. I asked BeanBean what he thought about running some errands today and he said, "Great, let's go! Yeah!" Poor kid, he's desperate to get out of the house. He's right, we should. :nod

I am so ready for this little guy to be out in my arms. I cant sleep, everything I eat hurts me by either causing more heartburn or setting off my galbladder and my hips and pelvis are killing me and I am only 36.5 weeks along. Heck, with Kyle I was still pregnant for over 5 weeks past this point. I have a 10 mile long list and none of its getting done because I feel so crappy all the time. I spent half of yesteday puking my guts out because I broke down and ate a few taquitos at dinner time. If I eat fruits veggies and grain and thats it I'm usually OK, but then I am hungry every 5 minutes. Now I am so light headed and dizzy all the time. I have come very close to passing out twice, one of the times everything got black but luckily I didnt fall to the ground. I am soooooooooo ready to be done. Everyone always tries to tell me that its so much easier when they are inside, but at least once he is here I can be tired and overwhelmed looking at his cute little face and not be in pain at the same time...............

Everyone always tries to tell me that its so much easier when they are inside, but at least once he is here I can be tired and overwhelmed looking at his cute little face and not be in pain at the same time...............

:yeah:

:lol

Everyone keeps telling me the same thing...I keep telling them that I LOVE being pregnant...but I would like to be able to hand the baby to DH for 5 minutes. :lol

The other people are asking me if I am just readyto be done being pregnant. :lol This is only funny because of how long I tried to get here...:) I tried for three years to get pregnant, gave myself two weeks of three shots a day, had 18 eggs retrieved through my vaginal wall with a 17 inch long needle, then continued to give myself intramuscular shots for 12 weeks...I am pretty okay enjoying the last month or so of pregnancy. I remind myself every day that I may never get to do this part again, and I smile and enjoy it, even when my pubic bone hurts, even when my ribs go out, even when she seems like she is trying to get out through my belly button! :lol

I will miss being pregnant...I would have made a great symbiote (a la Jadzia Dax on Star Trek, or Tealc on SG-1) :lol

I keep waiting to see who goes into labor first...we are so close, someone should be almost there!:D

:yeah:

:nod

Ok, so.... we met with the realtor last night (ok, great, we need to do this, but from 7-9, omg, I am pregnant. Can I please go to bed now? :( ) ... and we have kind of a timeline now.... and it's really getting to the-- "Baby, it really will be easier on mommy and daddy if you are born SOONER than april 4th, because Daddy only has his job til the middle of april, and we dont want to start showing the house til after you're more than three weeks old, because Mommy refuses to have her in bed nursing be part of the "show"... but once Daddy's job is over, we will be reallllly eating into savings-- which, really, is your loss, so if you really do want to go to college, you'll be born sooner, ok?"

Think that will work??? I'm having some pineapple now.... brb. :lol

I will miss being pregnant...I would have made a great symbiote (a la Jadzia Dax on Star Trek, or Tealc on SG-1)

You're crackin me up!!!

I would make the WORST symbiote. The longer she's in there, the harder it's getting to share my body. THERE'S NO MORE ROOM!

I talk to her and play music for her and rub my tummy and all that good mama lovin stuff but really, it's time. It's definitely time. I WANT MY BODY BACK!

It's like going from owning a spacious home to renting a one bedroom aprtment. Okay, you know it's for a limited time -- not even a year -- so it's doable, but the months drag on and things get more and more crowded and uncomfortable and you do it as long as you have to but there comes a time after NINE LONG MONTHS when it's just too crowded and it's TIME TO MOVE, BABY!

I'm so glad (and truthfully in awe) that you're enjoying being pregnant, because if I had twins in here I'd be crying all the time. I'm that sick of being this huge. I cannot imagine what it would be like to have two in there. I'd die. You should get lots of presents for what you're doing. :Bow

Fotunately - I am not having twins! :lol

I guess I am just pretty philosophical about the whole thing. The fact that I may never ever get to do this again weighs pretty heavily on me sometimes. So while I complain to my DH, I tend to really temper it because I am aware that this may be it. Infertility does quite a number on you, and this is just part of it. My mom and I were talking about this last night...she got pregnant with me the first month she was off the pill, no hitches. But when I decided to come out, shehad complete previa, and I was breech, and two weeks early. She had a full classic c/s. My experience is the exact opposite so far. She is very worried about the birth, which I am not, partially because my conception was so tough. It never really hit her to be worried about that - even when I explained to her a year ago - that there may NEVER be grandkids...she just couldn't wrap her head around it. But she worries that something horrible is going to happen while I am birthing this girl. It is interesting the perspective we gain via our own experiences.

The funniest question I get..."What are you doing for birth control after the baby is here?"

:laugh:

Fotunately - I am not having twins! :lol



DOH! I'm sorry, *big blush* I got you and love_HBing mixed up.
Well, then, still, you're better than I am because right this minute I'm utterly sick of being pregnant and want the bean OUT. I understand where you're coming from and I think it's awesome that you're savoring it all, but I can't get past how miserable I am right this second. Earlier today I was feeling better and was okay about it all and was like, "Take your time, baby" and that's how it is the majority of the time for me, but then I have moments (like right now) that just totally overshadow the patience I'd built up.

And I just want her to be out and this to all be done with. (Not enough to request an induction though -- I'm not that insane -- I just wish it would get over, you know?)

Well, despite there being twins I still :love being pregnant. :D Does it suck sometimes (a lot of the time)? Yes. But I do love it. But I have kind of the Adina experience in struggling with infertility with my first, followed by 2 miscarriages, only successfully carry a pregnancy with medical help, and now I KNOW I won't ever be pregnant again (dh just got clipped), so I'm working on savoring every last moment. But then, I thrive on pregnancy & childbirth - a huge motivating factor in even having this (these) child in the first place! I'm a bit nuts like that. :lol

p.s. What's a symbiote? :bag:

p.s. What's a symbiote? :bag:

It's a little critter you let live inside you and share your consciousness. Or in some cases, it takes over and controls you (think Alien). Very sci-fi.

Well, I should feel guilty by comparison for wanting to be done with the pg when you two are so happily content, but I don't. In fact, I'm gonna go eat chocolate now and feel very sorry for myself. :lol

*grins wickedly*

Well, I should feel guilty by comparison for wanting to be done with the pg when you two are so happily content, but I don't. In fact, I'm gonna go eat chocolate now and feel very sorry for myself. :lol

Nah! You shouldn't feel guilty one bit. I'm a freak of nature - that's all - and even with that on my side (haha) I still have some hard core moments of "get these things OUT OF ME!!!" :lol It's all good. And chocolate always helps. :yum

Less grouchy today :thumb Thats probably because my chiropractor (and my MIL who was along for the appt to watch dd) has forbidden me to do anymore strenous housework such as vacuuming and mopping :lol :D :bouncy I still want our wood floors to be super clean (a pet peeve of mine- especially while in nesting mode) so guess what DH gets to do when he comes home...you guessed it! Vaccuum and mop the house for me! :lol

My back is hurting really bad today because I'm umm...a little backed up :o I feel like I have horrible gas pains and I really wish it would go away! When it started last night I was hoping it was labor, but its definitely just intestinal stuff because I don't feel anything down low or any cervical pain like labor. I just took some meds that should help me feel better in a few hours hopefully. I feel like an awful mama because I'm at the point where I can't really even keep a positive attitude about enjoying what could be the end of my last pregnancy because I'm so frickin' miserable :bag: I'm trying to be happy that I'm lucky enough to be pregnant and having a healthy baby...but its really hard right now. Maybe he doesn't want to come out cause he thinks I am a meanie cause I keep whining all day...:lol

I think the Alien creature was more of a parasite than a symbiote because it kills you when it's done with you :wink DH has been referencing Alien all the time and I'm very glad, Adina, that you referenced DS9 - now that's an alien living inside you that a person could love! :lol

I think the Alien creature was more of a parasite than a symbiote because it kills you when it's done with you :wink DH has been referencing Alien all the time and I'm very glad, Adina, that you referenced DS9 - now that's an alien living inside you that a person could love! :lol

/geek on

Well I figured the Alien reference was better known than the Stargate-SG1 reference, in terms of symbiote's who take over...plus there's the whole Goa'uld vs. Jaffa vs. Tok'ra thing....

/geek off

Boy am I happy that there are people who have some clue what I am talking about...when i pull out sci-fi references, I tend to get silence and blank stares. :lol

Of course we could always go with the Spaceballs one...at least he ttap danced! :lol

I can also relate to the end of pregnancy frustration! I am STILL morning sick, (need to eat every 1.5-3 hours, have heartburn up my back and sometimes up my chest) at nearly 37 weeks, and am tired, having BH and yesterday had a sore back. I thought things were starting, but no. "your body is practicing up!" the m/w said.

Good news: I am GBS negative!! and my liver levels as far as I know are still normal. And that means I don't need an OB unless something strange happens.

I just want to sleep today, so I am resting when I am not eating or waiting til I can lie down after eating.

Doing dishes and bending over have become very painful for my upper back and lower back :( DH does them when I ask, but I wish I didn't have to keep asking.

I am craving snow, so am food processing ice cubes to get the closest thing I can!! and warm baths daily, and foam stress balls, which we found this weekend at a local foam bed shop. I am happy when I am crunching on "snow" from ice cubes and holding my foam stress ball. How weird my cravings are!! I told DH at least they're legal!!

I miss regular food like crazy! I have developed a really restricted diet to save my esophagus grief, because I get heartburn anyways, but it is worse if I eat most things :( DH thinks I'm overly cautious, but I told him to try being heartburny for 8 months and see what changes he would make to try and keep sane!

Glad I'm not the only one who wants this over!

Take care, mamas!

Lots of regular, painful contractions, but I have no idea what's going on. I'm so confused... but I threw up today, that's a labor-positive sign (I almost never puke).

Glad to see sci-fi references. :lol I think I'd rather be Jadzia; her symbiote had a nice pouch *outside* of her body, so when it wiggled it didn't, say, kick her in the liver. :lol Teal'c's also has a pouch, but his pouch is inside his body.. yick. :lol

Symbiote-- both parties are needed for the survival of either; neither Jadzia nor Dax will survive if they are separated. The same is true for Teal'c and his symbiote (until the triconin... but there's no need to complicate things any further!).

Parasite-- one party can live without the other, one party cannot; if a goa'uld is separated from it's host, the host can survive but the goa'uld cannot. (Note: this is technically true, even though in most cases the goa'uld will take deliberate actions to kill the host when it dies).

I'm really miserable and fuzzy. I can't remember, for example, if they're real contractions if they hurt more when you walk or if those are the fake ones? Mine definately come more frequently and hurt more when I'm up and about. In fact, even sitting in a chair, everything hurts. Holy crap I'm so DONE. :shake

Okay I thought I had a high level understanding of geekdom but even now I'm getting confused...and yet I don't mind it very much; but I really wanna watch some Stargate now hehe.

So my mom calls and asks how I am and do we want to meet her and Dad for dinner and I'm like, Um. No.

That'd be a 45 minute drive one way and nothing fits anymore so it's a major chore to get dressed and I have on sweatpants that are way too small anyway and my pubic hair is sticking out the top I think but I can't tell because I can't SEE down there and even if I could find pants that fit then we'd not get home 'til like nine and I wanna be in bed by nine thanks and DID I MENTION I'M SICK OF BEING PREGNANT?!?

Er, I mean, Um. No. But thanks, Mom. Very sweet of you to ask. :)

Then she asks no, really, how am I and I tell her that really I'm just tired of being pregnant. And I know it's not much longer and the last few weeks are miserable for everyone, etc. And I'm fine, just tired.

So she volunteers to come up and "help" which is precious only we already put the baby's name letters up on the wall in the nursery and yet haven't told Mom the name (she'll hate it) and aren't going to until after the bean's born, so Mom can't come here until then haha.

(Which is no biggie as she lives nearly an hour away and is not the pop-in type regardless -- though it would've been nice to have someone else do the vacuuming today....)

Anyway. I'm hungry and starting to hate water. :P I'm so tired of drinking water all the time. Ohh wouldn't a BEER taste good! Dang.

*sighs*

I'm just the whiniest thing EVER! Lord I need to just lock myself in and hush.

Sorry. :/

:grouphug to all!

I had my home m/w appt. yesterday. She was impressed w/ our farm and took home some eggs. We have eggs up the wazoo. Anyway, I'm 36wks 3 days and m/w said I had two more days to go before I could have a homebirth. Think I'm going to make it. :thumb She did a vaginal and I'm dilated 2 cm's, -1 station, and 70-80% effaced. Woohoo! I have a feeling my prediction is going to be close of having this baby the first week of April.:wink She could feel the baby's head. :love My dh even brought out his book to reference the -1 station. I think he was so impressed with himself he took the book to work with him. I've been wanting him to read this book forever. I think it's called The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin. Anyway, a great book for your hubby's. I was secretly grinning under the covers from ear to ear. :lol If he's educated about what will happen I think he'll feel way better. He's kinda in the dark right now b/c he isn't. The babe's heartbeat was at 156 which was kinda odd since it's been down to 136 the last two visits. Maybe he was dancing around before she took it. :p I'm dreading going to my next visit w/out hubby though, it's the only one he can't make. I just feel bad if I forget to tell him something that she told me. Maybe I should take a tape recorder. He doesn't like to be left out which is way cool. :D
Anyway, just trying to get the last stuff washed and ready for the munchkin. Placing all my stuff in spots where I will be with the baby like next to my glider, my bed, the car seat, and the rest on top of the dresser where all the baby clothes are.

Anyway, that's me for now, besides having heartburn and being tired I'm feeling alright. Besides the minor cramping from the vaginal yesterday.

DH is reading The Birth Partner. It's a great book :) Penny's Pregnancy book has been my fave of all my reference books. It's LOADED with great info. I'm quite jealous of the Seattleites....

I saw my midwife today and had a great appointment! Because of wearing my support/binding, the baby is finally in good position instead of floating around in there katty-corner and has dropped a little! We hope this will give me good labor! My third son stayed diagonal, so when I went into labor he still hadn't dropped any, and she had to reach in and turn him more than once. It was loooong and HARD! I will most likely be wearing my binding during labor. Another client is dropping off a tub for me tomorrow to use in the latter stages birthing. Started taking 5W. I think that's about it.... (((((HUGS)))) sandi

Hey all! You guys crack me up.

I don't know what you all are complaining about. It is so special to share your body with your sweet offspring. I just wanna say how much I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE being pregnant! I wish I could experience this blissful joy for the rest of my life. I feel so womanly and special .......... NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol

Seriously, this sucks! I am having trouble breathing at night and am so huge, I feel like a freak of nature. My ankles are huge and my fingers are swelled up like fat little sausages. I feel so sexy. :rotflmao

Renee, I am sorry you are so uncomfortable. Your posts crack me up. You yelled at your fetus, huh? Too funny! I have also had middle of the night panic when I have been tired. However, speaking from past experience, if you think you are tired now, just wait until he or she is born and cries at all times of the night and NOTHING you do soothes him or her. Actually, I look forward to that. Like someone else said, at least I will be able to breathe and look at a sweet face.

Boovert, I understand your concerns. I just want you to know that you will be okay. Labor and birthing are often scary concerns for first-time moms. I can remember being freaked that I wouldn't have any energy to deal with my newborn. It is amazing how mother nature looks out for us that way. Just look at all the other mothers out there who survived and lived to tell the tale. You will, too.

I had a moment of "get this baby out of me now" yesterday. Then, he or she kicked me, and I felt his or her actual foot. It was so cute. I never got to experience this kind of movement with my DD, as she was transverse. This time, I know the baby is head down so I know what is where in terms of anatomy.

I had a dream the other night that my baby was born and talking to me. He or she sounded just like his or her big sister and I got so happy that we were going to bring a new baby into our home and family. In my dream, it was a girl. That is twice now that I have dreamed of a girl. Hmmmm ....

Okay I thought I had a high level understanding of geekdom but even now I'm getting confused...and yet I don't mind it very much; but I really wanna watch some Stargate now hehe.


I love that I am not the only one who watches these shows. :lol I am so going to miss SCI-FI Friday until it comes back on. :)

MW had to reschedule the homevist for next week. Her MIL is very sick, so her DH had to leave town for the week. I am a bit disapointed as that is the one last big thing I have on my list that I will feel "ready". And then darnit I feel guilty because hey she can't control this.

I am good to go for a HB on the 25th. So we'll see what happens. I had DS at 37 wks 4 days. Today was his birthday actually I cannot believe he is 3 :( Where did my baby go? had alot of contrax last night and it drove me nuts!!! I cannot wait to see this baby but please wait for 3 more days, I do not want another hosp birth!!

Allison

Darn it, my GBS test came back positive. I dont quite know what it all means since I have never tested positive before and didnt even give it a second thought.

Still mostly lurking here... I can't believe y'all are still pg! ;) Really! I keep logging in every day, expecting to read that someone's in labor or to read a birth story...

I won't do a belly cast till 40, 41 weeks...

I did my belly cast Monday night. Well, DH did it. It's so cool! I wanted to do one when I was pregnant last time, but my girl came too early...just a few days before the weekend we planned to do it. So, I had my 36 week appt yesterday, and babe is posterior. MW said plan on back labor. SWEET! I just love back labor! I had it with my daughter and was hoping this time I could experience what a regular labor is supposed to be like, but I guess there's no such thing. I'm trying to visualize her spinning into the 'proper' position a lot. I am just excited now that she can be born and I don't have to worry so much about having another preemie. I don't quite understand why I'm at 36 weeks though, when my due date is actually 3 weeks away. Whatever. I'm ready for this baby to come (anytime after this weekend because my mom bought us tickets to Cats, and I don't want to go into labor during the show, or waste the ticket.) Actually, I guess as long as my water doesn't break, maybe spending early labor in a play would be a good thing. I'm totally sick of being pregnant though too. Can't wait to lay eyes on this baby!

Because of wearing my support/binding, the baby is finally in good position instead of floating around in there katty-corner and has dropped a little! (((((HUGS)))) sandi

Sandi, what kind of binding are you wearing and when did you start wearing it? My baby is diagonal most of the time but at my last appt at 33 weeks my mw said there was still so much time so not to worry about it. But if there's something I could do to encourage a better position I'd love to know about it. Thanks!

Heather -- I think typically the positive GBS means that you go to the hospital/birth center earlier in labor so they can give you an abx shot (it's for the baby) then they have to wait a few hours and give you a second one. Both are done ideally so many hours prior to baby's birth?

At least that's my understanding. Are you having a hospital/birth center birth or a home birth? I guess your m/w can come early and give you the first shot then give you the second one when she returns during active labor?

Sorry I have no experience with this -- just a fuzzy memory of what I've read about it. I'm sure there are other mamas here with better info for you.

-------

Nadine -- this might be a longshot, but try it. My childbirth instructor said that to get the baby to rotate during descent they have the mom get in the shower and lean forward, then they spray the water directly on her lower back. The baby will TURN its head to listen (think drumming noise from the water spray) and that causes it to rotate.

Is there a spot you could spray water (or put a headphone and softly play music) to get the baby to turn around in you so it's not posterior?

I have no clue if that would work but it's worth a try to avoid back labor.

-------

Feeling better today so far (haha haven't even been awake for two hours yet though). Did a lot of research last night on breastfeeding and medications and whatnot and that made me feel better.

Plus the bean actually gave me a reprieve last night and stopped jabbing me a little after midnight.

Off to see the m/w -- we're on weekly visits now that I'm in week 38.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Swollen arthritis like finger pain kept me up last night, so I'm sort of drowsy today again :). Also some abdominal discomfort from baby shifting around onto internal organs or whatnot. Home visit is tomorrow ...ya! Our midwife says baby has been fully engaged for lik3 2- 3 weeks already so we're just waitng and waiting :).

Lots of regular, painful contractions, but I have no idea what's going on. I'm so confused... but I threw up today, that's a labor-positive sign (I almost never puke).
I'm really miserable and fuzzy. I can't remember, for example, if they're real contractions if they hurt more when you walk or if those are the fake ones? Mine definately come more frequently and hurt more when I'm up and about. In fact, even sitting in a chair, everything hurts. Holy crap I'm so DONE. :shake

if they go away when you move, tehy're not "real".... if they dont, they are!
:thumb

sitting gets me too. i had some good ones yesterday from sitting. i cant drive anymore, cause it puts me too upright, and i just have one big long contrx while i'm like that. good excuse to get DH home more. :lol um. also, he has to make dinner now, cause my feet swell if i stand that long. :mischief

i had some energy this am, thought for a moment it might be nesting! but it faded so fast. i looked at the bathroom floor and thought "oh, i should clean that" but it was soo far away, i didnt know how to get there... let alone get back UP.... :lol

i miss yoga. that's my big gripe now. :p

off to look for houses where were moving soon.... today my goal is to find one that's walking distance to the Zoo. :wink

Had my 37 week appt. yesterday. Everything went fine. Baby A is still head down although the mw wasn't 100% sure (she said 99% and wanted to do a vag exam but I said no - I know baby is head down and what good would it do me to know otherwise anyway?). She claimed she could feel that baby's back so maybe s/he's not posterior anymore. I guess that's good news. Oh, and she's guessing it's at -1 station. The other one is still transverse with lots of room to move. My feeling is that baby a is squished in one spot and baby b has this giant swimming pool sized sac that s/he's floating around in still. The mw does think I have a lot of fluid. Oh, and baby b's head felt quite large to her. She's guessing they're about 7 lbs now, which makes me happy. I'm aiming for a 39 week birth with 2 at least 8 lbers, so that puts me right on track for that. I didn't think I was swelling at all but my socks really cut into me yesterday so now I'm not sure. However, my legs don't leave indentations or anything when I poke them so I don't know what's up. I think that's about it for now.

Just got back from a really crappy 38 week MW appt :( First of all I asked the MW about this pain I started having last night right below my belly button, thinking that the muscles were just slightly separated. Nope, they are TEARING and I can't pick anything up now (including dd- tell her that!). Secondly my BP was 132/88 the first time she took it, then 124/90 a few minutes later. The bottom number has jumped about 10 points since last week, which is a warning sign of PIH. I do think part of the reason it was elevated was because I was dehydrated (crazy morning didn't have a chance to drink hardly anything) and also because dd started sobbing when she took my BP. Anyway you look at it, I'm suddenly at the point of almost being risked out of a homebirth :bawl Their cutoff numbers are 140/90 so my diastolic number was right there. She gave me instructions of a relaxation tea I'm supposed to make (which she said will make me drowsy-if it doesn't then I haven't taken enough), to take 2 epsom salt baths a day, eat lots of garlic, protein and cucumbers, take cal/mag supplements....so much fun. She did a blood draw for PIH while I was there and said she expects it to come back normal because I don't have any other signs like significant swelling or protein in my urine, but that I need to immediately work on getting my BP down or I may have to consult with an OB. She suggested a pelvic exam to see if that might get my body going into labor on its own because she's concerned my pressures may raise in the coming weeks of pregnancy. I didn't have any spotting at all and barely any cramping afterwards so I don't think it did anything.

So I'm sitting here gulping down a giant bottle of water and eating a cucumber...will take my BP myself in a little while and see what it is. I really don't think anything is wrong with me but I do understand that my numbers at my appt were not good. So I'm hoping this baby decides to come out before my next appt and that the MW doesn't show up until either right before the birth or right after. Ugh this sucks. I was feeling so good about my healthy pregnancy this morning...now I feel like I'm questioning my body again.

Moosemommy -- I laughed about your bathroom floor comment. I am so right there with you! I need to mop so badly but the thought of leaning over makes me hurt.

Becca -- have you ever tried Rescue Remedy? It sounds like you could use some. :) Sorry you're stressed :( Things will be okay!! Get a mantra. Mine's Happy Baby...Calm Mama.... (breathing in on HB and out on CM). It'll be okay. See if next visit your DH can take care of your wee one so you can have a little peace -- I'm sure her being upset is why your BP shot up, yes? And that's totally understandable!

Love_HBing -- you are so much a better person than I am to be so patient about the arrival of your TWO babies (and I'm so over being pregnant with one it's not even funny. I want her O-U-T). DH and I both decided Monday would be a GREAT day for the bean to come so all the way home from the m/w office tonight we were like, "Okay then, little bean -- we'll see you Monday!" He even started talking about how it would be perfect to start his vacation time on Monday, etc., and I was like, "She'll have a Moon in Pisces -- that'd be nice..." :lol

I have no clue how much she'll weigh but I'm freaking HUGE so she's bound to be a healthy weight, honestly, I don't see how she couldn't. So I'm not even worried about it at all.

Anyway my visit with the m/w went well but took forever. They did the stress test again and the bean was asleep (for once) during the first 30 minutes so they had to wait til she woke up -- it ended up taking over an hour ugh and I finally poked my tum a bit to wake her up. After she wriggled a bit and proved she was alive and kicking, I was like I have to PEE NOW. And they unhooked me.

Measured 37cm and am 37w1d according to their little wheel thingy so that's perfect. Gained a total of 32 lbs. Holy crap I'm ginormous. Trace protein in my urine but no sugar and my swelling is minimal which is par (but my BP was really low which I have no clue if that's good or not but it used to always be really low prior to pg and even during up until the last month or so, so I'm gonna assume that's a good thing).

M/w said if I keep my next Thurs appt (she laughed and agreed Monday would be good for her too) then they'll retest my iron but she's not worried about it. It wasn't scary low last time and I seem to have more energy (I do) than before.

We went to the grocery after and I bought a ton of stuff like bagels and extra breads and eggs and milk and juice and loads of fruit and some frozen California Pizza Kitchen pizzas (yuum!!) and Boston Market Turkey dinners. Yeah they're not the healthiest but I don't care I was HUNGRY and was like, okay! If the bean's coming Monday we'll need some quick food. DH said gotcha! And picked up a big bundle of toilet paper haha.

Wouldn't that be a kicker if she came on Monday? I'm actually gonna be disappointed if she doesn't, I think.....

Well, it's nice that contractions that get stronger as you move are supposed to be "real," but mine always do... and I still don't have a baby! :lol Argh, I too am sick of being pregnant, and at 36w1d, I've probably got loads of time to go. :shake Then again, I think this baby is nice and big for dates, so even if she's born soon (please, for the love of God, let her come soon!) she'll be a respectable size. Maybe not my moose baby, but not super teensy, either. :fingersx:

I feel very guilty sometimes; I know that there are people who'd give their eye teeth to be nine months pregnant at all, I know that I've personally met more than a few of them, but holy crap this is so sucky in so many ways... I really want to get to the baby part.

My kids are super freaking cute today, though. They're just gorgeous! So snuggly and loveable. My son is crashing a bus into things and talking about getting a rental if it's too damaged to drive ( :eyesroll the boy needs therapy, he's totally getting neurotic) and my daughter has found a marker and is drawing on her belly quite contentedly. :shrug Theyr'e so cute! Gosh, I love the kids.

BooBah still doesn't seem to quite understand that we have a new baby coming. It's strange, I don't know how to explain it to her; BeanBean was younger when she was born, but he understood from much earlier on what was happening (he totally got the concept at around 15 months, iirc; maybe younger...:scratch). I thought he'd kind of ignore it until my lap vanished, but he picked up on things much more quickly than I ever expected and explained it to me and his cousin one afternoon, that mommy had a baby inside of her and it was going to come out and be a brother or a sister for him, and he'd be a big brother. :shrug BooBah, for the most part, doesn't seem to have made that connection. :scratch One night Mike was trying to talk to her about the baby and BooBah said, "I want to see it. Where baby?" But when he pointed to my belly, she was just confused again. Meanwhile, BeanBean was looking at the pattern of sunlight on a wall, having filtered through a tree, and he said, "Look, that looks like the baby!" He explained that it looked like the ultrasound picture, and he was absolutely right, it *did*. :love What a doll. :love

Has anyone else seen (through their belly, of course) their baby "breathing"??? I've been noticing for awhile that at certain moments a little area of my belly (right where baby b lies) will rise and fall just like how your chest/back would when taking rythmic breaths. I didn't know what it was b/c it seemed too rythmic to be baby punching or kicking me, kwim? The pattern was just so steady. Anyway, last night I saw it again and asked dh to hurry and get me the fetoscope. So I put it right over the rise & fall spot and instantly got the most clear heart tones I've ever been able to get. They didn't coincide with the rise and fall (which was much slower then the hb - makes sense, right?) but it seems to me that it makes sense that I'd get a strong hb where the chest is, yes? Anyway, I could be wrong but I really don't think I am. They practice breathing in there right? Pretty cool if that's what it is! I wish I could see the bottom of my belly to see if the other one is doing it visibly too.

I haven't seen baby breathing, but I have seen and felt baby hiccups, which are so funny! And very rhythmic too :).

I have seen the breathing thing too. :D

Of course now she is posterior...so all i get is feet and hands. :lol

I've been seeing the breathing thing too, I had no idea what it was :o !

I've never seen the practice breathing, but that's probably because I'm too fat. :lol I have seen lots of dancing and wiggling of the minibuns, though. And have I mentioned recently that I'm so tired of this?!

Me too with the breathing, and me too with the posterier and nothing but hands and feet now! I think this kiddo is just doing the twist in there though because sometimes it's all hands and feet, sometimes I feel her back on one side, sometimes I see the breathing thing...that is really strange too. I had been wondering if that was what that was.

UGH! I just switched to a new laptop and it had my password for MDC saved on it. Well I can't remember it, so I switched to a new password, and now I'm LucyRev number 2, and I have zero posts, zero PM's, zero subbed threads. How annoying!

LucyRev = sorry about losing your identity!! That sucks!! Maybe you can e-mail somebody and they can help you get *you* back?

love_homebirthing, I've never seen that breathing thing, but it sounds so cool! Probably one of the babies had his/her back right up to the wall of the uterus right there. Sounds very neat.

Becca - how's everything going, BP-wise? I sure hope that it's getting better. This is exactly my worry too, after everything going so smoothly in the pregnancy, then to have something like that crop up and make the homebirth not happen. That, or going over 42 weeks.

nighten - I'll keep my fingers crossed for you on Monday!

I had a real quick mw visit Thursday. She was on her way to a birth, so it was just pee in a cup, get measured, answer a few questions... I'm looking forward to another longer visit, because I want to discuss some stuff about the birth. We'll have a doula and the midwife, and my mom is supposed to be here, too. I'm just wondering how all these people are going to interact and if it will be a madhouse in here.

We've had a house full of contractors this week and will next week, too, so I really don't want the baby to come while all this is going on. I feel like I've been cleaning non-stop, just to get up the mess from all these people walking in and out constantly. It's really sandy where we live, and so despite taking off our shoes at the door, there's still the dog and now all these guys traipsing through and everything is constantly filthy. That, and my bedroom has become a junk room for hiding the laundry, baby stuff, etc. It's full of boxes and baskets and piles of clothes. Basically, I am totally NOT ready for the baby to come.

LucyRev - PM Cynthia Mosher and she should be able to fix you up. :)

I really thought last night might be it. I think if my dh had been home (he works 24 hour shifts) it may have been but I kept telling myself that there was no way I could have the babies w/o him there. Every time I went to the bathroom (which was non-stop) I felt lots of pressure down there, frequent bm's, and lots of mucus (how's that for some TMI for your morning?). I wasn't real sure about the mucus cuz it seemed, umm, creamier than I'd expect from a mucus plug, but this morning I've got some with a bit of blood in it when I wipe so I guess something's going on down there. Oh, and my last birth was 90 minutes total so I thought I might have one of those experiences you read about where the woman thinks she has to poop and out pops a head. :lol I wonder if tonight it will happen since dh will be home??? I also didn't want to miss my Blessingway which is later today so perhaps that held me back too. Anyway, just thought I'd share. Still would love an April birth but sleep last night was so painful that I'm not going to be too upset if they come earlier.

LBH--I'm so insanely jealous. No plugs here. I honestly think I'm going to be pregnant through mid summer.

And to top it all off, I think I've got a raging sinus infection. One entire side of my head and ear are just aching with pain, I can't walk because my feet and legs are too swollen, lots of contractions and pressure but nothiing regular. And my FIL had the audacity to call me a race horse and said to hop to it as he was betting with his mother that I would go today. I nearly spit blood I was so angry.

If things don't progress on their own by Tuesday (midwife appt) at 39 weeks, I may consider induction. It's not what I want but I am beyond miserable and frankly in no condition to give birth.

Sorry everyone is so miserable. I think I may go VERY soon. I am not calling my dr. or going to l&d, cuz I want a VBAC! I have been contracting every 8-12 minutes since 2am... hope its soon. I gotta pee a lot and I feel sick to my tummy. I want to have this baby now, but if I have to wait another 11 days til my c/s, I will. Plus my kids are super sick. No fever today, but still only sleeping and going potty for them. Thats all they do. I did get them to choke down some soup this am. They are drinking lots of fluids when they are awake, but how much can that be if they only stay awake for an hour out of 6? DD is still having tummy trouble with this cold or flu... whatever it is. Keeps messing and having diarrhea. Poor baby. Now, I feel a sore throat and cough coming on, just what I need. Hope everyone feels better and has babies at just the right time.

Ooooh mystic2mom, sounds promising for you! It's too bad that your family is feeling well though, not great timing on that count! Good luck, and I'm sending labour vibes your way :).

We had our midwife home visit yesterday, and everything is okay. Baby is so deeply engaged that she can't get the head with her fingers, only the neck :). Blood pressure is hanging in there okay so far...just waiting now, waiting waiting :P.

Awww it sounds like we are going to have a whole bunch of new babes here really soon :) Last night I also thought stuff could be going on, but it puttered out by morning. I am getting really excited to meet this new little guy. We finally decided on a name too, so now he can come any time ;)

Awww it sounds like we are going to have a whole bunch of new babes here really soon :) Last night I also thought stuff could be going on, but it puttered out by morning. I am getting really excited to meet this new little guy. We finally decided on a name too, so now he can come any time ;)

Ohh, Becca. :hug I know A is a good boy, and he will make what is best for him happen. I agree with the RR. That stuff rocks. :thumb

OMG, on the breathing thing. I figured Baby was just rocking back and forth or something, but that totally makes sense!

Our babies are soo cool. I cant wait to meet them! :heartbeat

Well, spent the day scouring the house. :p I swept and mopped and DH vacuumed. Did laundry and set up the pack n play dstairs with diapers, and rearranged things in our bedroom so I can have the cradle by my side of the bed, then we cleaned the kitchen and I made banana bread!

DH carried the suitcase and Boppy downstairs and stuck it near the door and snapped the car seat into its base in my car. :)

I dusted and the only thing left is putting away the clean laundry but by the time I finished, my back was screaming!

So am saving the laundry til tomorrow.

But we are READY! I'm serious about Monday :lol

Ugh but my lower back is really unhappy and my head hurts now so i'm gonna go lie down I think.

But the house is ready, so that makes me feel good. :thumb

I'm gonna post on this thread but not sure if anyone will see it before a new one gets started tommorrow :lol I've been taking my BP at home (actually making DH do it so I have a witness) and its been consistently normal. This morning when he took it the reading was 105/75 and I've done nothing normal besides drink a cup of that stupid tea the night of my appointment (which literally made me pee every 45 min all night long :irked: ) so I think it really was just an anxiety reaction. Still I do understand my MWs concern since the reading of 120/90 would risk me out of a HB most likely.

I've been having lots of cramping all day today and walking is excruiating because he is putting so much pressure down there. Dh and I took dd to the park this afternoon and let her play like crazy while I walked around in the playground area. I'm hoping that a combo of that walking, the spicy Thai takeout I'm gonna eat for dinner and some dtd later will get *something* happening here. This baby just has to come out soon or I'm gonna go nuts. Sorry if TMI- I've had tons of what looks like EWCM the last 2 days which is not my normal at all recently (its always been creamy and not this huge amount like now) which I have no clue what that means. Someone please tell me that means the baby will be born tonight! :lol :wink Since I never went into full blown labor on my own with dd I am completely clueless!

Grats on the BP resolving itself :) the EWCM sounds like mucous plug material. I've read it can resemble that, and mine did too....

Good luck!

Grats on the BP resolving itself :) the EWCM sounds like mucous plug material. I've read it can resemble that, and mine did too....

Good luck!

Hmm, maybe that is it. I had an internal exam on Thurs which I suppose could have disrupted any remaining plug. My MW did say that she thought it was gone since I was a good 2cm dilated on the internal cervical os and much more than that on the external cervical os. Now thinking about it I think it actually started that day before the appt though :scratch My body is doing so many weird things right now I have no clue! I'll just tell myself it means I'm having the baby soon, that will make me feel better :wink :lol

LucyRev - PM Cynthia Mosher and she should be able to fix you up. :)

Thanks Adina! I'm using my old computer for now, but I'll PM Cynthia soon. :thumb

New update thread here: http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?p=4831873#post4831873