Calling all the Pregnant PS''ers

[Blenheim]

Indy, that makes sense. I''m aware of the chance of miscarriage, and really don''t want to buy things like clothing where the baby would need a certain size during a certain season. But we could use some other basic stuff regardless of when our baby actually comes, and that''s the stuff that I keep looking at. I''m also not eyeing very pricy items. Basically, there''s a wrap that I love that I just found on sale - $67 down to $47. It''s not returnable. But I''m sure it will be there later, you know? It was just easier to resist buying baby stuff before I got pregnant.

How far along are you, again?

 

[curlygirl]

Yikes, I can''t believe how much l&d activity there has been around here.

jen, I''m so glad you and the girls are doing ok. I give you TONS of credit for still dtd!!!!!!! DH won''t come near me with a 10 foot pole when I''m pregnant and to be honest with you, I ain''t complaining!!! Zero interest on my part!

snlee, what happened???? I hope all is well. Give us an update when you can.

Jackie, I can''t believe everything you''ve been through in the past few days after having such a great, uneventful pregnancy. Hopefully the boys were just testing your sense of humor and playing a mean trick on you! Now that they see you can handle it, I hope they will stay put for another couple of weeks. So sorry about the bedrest, that has to suck but you gotta do what you gotta do. Hang in there and please keep us posted. I''m glad you''re doing ok.

 

[Independent Gal]

Blen, a wrap for you or for the baby? As long as you don't think you'll associate it with a lost embryo, I don't see what's wrong with it! I think some people wait because they think that it would be weird for stuff that they buy for this particular embryo to simply be transfered along to the next one if this one doesn't make it. For me along those lines, I wouldn't see it as different from hand-me-downs. But if you don't think you'd have emotional difficulties there, or that looking at the stuff would make you sad, then hey, why the heck not?

Plus, chances are still 3 to 1 that all will be well!

And to answer your q: I'm closing in on 11 weeks pregnant. And hence, the window-shopping has begun in earnest!

 

[Blenheim]

Jen, I''m glad to hear that you''re doing okay too. Yikes.

 

[Blenheim]

Apparently I have too many tabs open to be able to keep up with the conversation here!

IG - I thought you were about 2 months ahead of me, and it looks like I remembered correctly! The wrap is a baby carrier. I saw another mom using it last week and loved it, so she told me what brand it was (Gypsy Mama). And then I just happened to find it on sale.

 

[snlee]

Date: 8/3/2008 4:40:27 PM
Author: sk8rjen

Well, ladies, must have been something in the PS water these last couple of days b/c I, too, spent my evening in labor and delivery

But I''m fine and the girls are fine and heartrates were good. (Thank god) Anyway, around 8 last night, DH was making a quick trip to the grocery store and I went to use the bathroom and was bleeding (pretty heavily). Naturally that wasn''t ok to me, so I called my doctor''s office and spoke to the on-call nurse who told me she''s gonna have to send me to L&D. I figured that was the case, and called DH home (our call was the shortest ever: ME: ''i''m bleeding'' HIM:''I''ll turn around'') and so he finally got the ''tour'' of how we get to L&D. I was hooked up to the monitors for about 2 1/2 hours and then the nurse there double-checked to see if i could go home (still spotting at that point and not heavy). I was happy they let me leave b/c she told me they *might* keep me overnight (ugh!) So I''m on ''pelvic rest'' hahaha -- this was most likely due to intercourse from yesterday afternoon! So my *mom* (who came over to stay with the boys) thought that was hilarious and wondered out loud what we must have looked like (EEK) DTD as huge as i am. Thanks mom.

And no, my dr hasn''t told me to cut out sex before now and i''ve never had my cervix checked (and they wouldn''t last night b/c of the bleeding) For anyone who cares to know this, the nurse informed us that doggy-style penestrates deepest, so even though it''s a more comfortable position later in pregnancy, it can also be a problem for that cervix. Just a TMI FYI

We got to tour NICU on our way out at 11pm and everyone there was great...private nicu rooms and level 3 and twin-twin sleeping arrangements. Successful 23 weekers and up -- eases my mind a bit. Just wanted to update -- be back later!

jen

Seriously!? What is up with Jackie, Jen, and I all having to get into L&D this week?

Jen, I''m glad you and the girls are doing well. Your mom is funny wondering out louad about you two DTD. Thanks for the good laugh!

I am back from getting my second steroids-in-the-butt shot (jas, aren''t we lucky!? Now my a$$ is majorly sore.

)

On to my preterm labor story...

 

[jas]

Date: 8/3/2008 2:44:32 PM
Author: lisa1.01fvs1
Thank you for all the warm welcomes.

JAS - Sounds to me like you are in a good place given the PTL. 33 weeks is a fantastic milestone and I''ll bet you make it to 36!
FWIW - I used to be a NICU/OB Medical Social Worker in Palm Springs (level 3) and had a consistent case load of antepartum mom''s and about 15 NICU babies all in varying degrees of health. Even if u were to deliver today your babes would be considered ''feeder/growers'' unless there were other issues that developed from delivery or discoverd afterwards. Probably they would go under 02 hood and be given course of antibiotics for about a weeek but u probably already know this. The neo just has to prepare u but I never saw (in 3 yrs) 33 week healthy twins go that south. Technology is amazing, really. Hell, I saw 24 weekers sail through after full intubation (high frequency vent) for weeks!

Nonetheless u are doing everything u can to keep them in there & doing a great job!

If I were to get u on my caseload I would guess your stay would be short and sweet. Hopefully I wouldn''t see u at all!!!

SNLEE, I hope everything''s OK today. PTL scare? Are u on tocolytics?

INDY, I too feel like I''m swimming through jello very slowly. Maybe eat a red, juicy piece of meat tonight - yuck!

Thanks Lisa...good to have your perspective...yes, the dr. was generally very positive and talked antibiotics...

i''m generally feeling like i''m in a good place!

 

[erica k]

Indy, a thought on car seats--If you aren''t driving or in need of a car seat (we''ll get one since we love driving excursions), maybe it would be worth waiting until the twins are a little bigger. I was talking to my SIL and she said her 6 month old was nearly outgrowing her infant car seat. It seems that many people buy an infant car seat first, and then get a larger one later on. So, with twins, even if you''re spending $70 per car seat, that''s still $140 more than you might want to spend if you aren''t going to use them.

I have some baby clothing that I''ve been buying for the past two years, but most of it is being saved for baby showers. I''m researching baby carriers right now, but I think I''ll wait to go nuts with the shopping until after the bambino is born. I''m also thinking of strollers, especially since my mom will be living with us for a while and won''t be able to sling it as easily, but I''ll wait so I can test drive them with the baby. It''s awesome that your grandmother is going to help out with the strollers!

How''s the m/s? It left for a while but is back again, sadly, for me. It definitely hurts in terms of productivity...

. Off to battle with my university administrators tomorrow!

TG, interesting about the hep-lock, or lack thereof. It''s not that I want a super natural childbirth, but I would like to keep the interventions to a minimum (especially any pitocin augmentation that doesn''t seem to be medically justified). I''ve heard that the OBs and nurses at my new hospital are good at working with different types of mothers and their expectations, but ultimately, as long as I feel like I was treated with respect, if the baby is healthy, that''s fine.

Q, I''m glad that your delivery went so quickly and that recovery wasn''t too bad at the hospital!

 

[snlee]

Short story -

I had preterm labor, was monitored in L&D for almost 9 hours, was given lots of medication, and am now back home resting. I am being closely monitored because I'm at an increased risk of preterm labor.

Long Story -

I had some abdominal and period like cramps on Wednesday night. Although they were a bit more than mild pain I was able to fall asleep within 15 minutes. I thought it was just a bad stomach ache. Some very mild cramps continued but I thought it was normal. Maybe my belly stretching or the baby moving and putting pressure? Saturday around noon, I noticed some brownish spotting (old blood). I called the doctor's office and the on call doctor told me to go to Labor and Delivery right away. I wasn't having any contractions so I wasn't expecting to go in. I was shocked!

I checked into L&D and they put my into a birthing suite to monitor me and the baby. The baby looked fine. But to my surprise, in 30 minutes I had two minor contractions.

I didn't even feel them! The on call doctor (who isn't part of the group I see) looked at my 20 week u/s, saw my placenta was in a good place, I wasn't having major contractions, and sent me home. They gave me a pamphlet to read on preterm labor. I was only there for about an hour.

I went home and followed the directions on how to monitor uterine contractions. What worried me was I wasn't feeling them. I lay on my left side and placed the fingertips of both hands on either side of my belly. When he uterus is relaxed, you are able to indent the entire surface. But if you're having contractions, it becomes tight and firm to the touch. I did this for over an hour. Surprisingly I had about 10 an hour, each lasting about 20-25 second.

I think I only felt one of them. I called again to tell them what was up and the on call doc said to come back to L&D. In retrospect, I shouldn't have left the first time!!

I was back at L&D at around 6pm. Went back into the birthing suite and was monitored, where soon after they saw I was having contractions 3 minutes apart! Although I was having some minor cramps, I still wasn't feeling the contractions. The nurse freaked me out when she came in and said "you're contracting quite a bit - every 3 or 4 minutes. Let me inform the doctor." That's when I started to worry. I'm only 28 weeks. It's way too early to have this baby.

I tried to stay calm but I was worried. At 6:40, the nurse came back and said I need to give you Terbutaline to stop the contractions. She warmed me about how nasty this drug was and boy was she right! It stung going in and a few minutes after I got the injection. Immediately after the injection (that stuff works fast!), I had uncontrollable shaking all over, including chattering teeth. Thank goodness it didn't last long, about 5-10 minutes. It's also supposed to make your heart race, but I didn't feel that much. But I was out of it. Felt like I had no control of my body! Within 30 minutes, I felt back to normal. Except I was farting uncontrollably. At least they weren't stinky!

Throughout my stay, I had to wait many long periods of time. I didn't mind. I wasn't in any pain and I had nowhere to go that was more important. I knew the nurses are understaffed and there are many other patients who need the nurses attention more than I did. The nurses were all wonderful. The one taking care of me the majority of the time was so nice! I really liked her. After waiting close to an hour, DH went to see where my nurse went. A new nurse, the one who took care of me most of the time, came in and said that that the drug definitely decreased my contractions. I was now having what they call irritability, which is like small contractions every once in awhile. We hadn't eaten dinner so she hooked us up with some sandwich boxes with some snacks. The cook wasn't there anymore so we couldn't get hot food. Although I've stayed away from deli meats my entire pregnancy, I took a few bites of the turkey sandwich after the nurse said it was the least processed deli meat. I was starving!

After being monitored for another hour or so, the nurse informed me that the doctor said we could go home but he wanted to put me on Nifedipine, which stops the contractions like Terbutaline, but the side effects aren't bad. I didn't want to be on any drugs so I asked if it's an option to wait and get checked out on Monday by my regular doctor. He felt comfortable letting me go home without the drug, if I had an u/s done and my cervix measuring was 3-4 cm.

We waited for the u/s tech to arrive and at around 10pm I had an u/s done. We saw our baby boy briefly. He was kicking a lot! So cute! Unfortunately the results weren't good. My cervix was measuring at a little over 2cm, down from 4cm at my 20 week u/s. That means the contractions had shortened my cervix and I had preterm labor - regular contractions that caused my cervix to begin to open (dilate) or thin out (efface).

] Everything else looks good though - the amount of amniotic fluid present, baby's growth, gestational age, and position. He was head down sunny side up. Not the best but it's still early do hopefully he'll turn over. And his heartbeat remained in the normal range (usually at 130's-140's).

The doctor called me to talk to me about the results and his recommended treatment and to answer my questions. It was all so overwhelming. I wish they had a speakerphone so my DH could hear too because I could have used another pair of ears! He prescribed three medications - Nifedipine to stop the contractions, Betametnasone (the steroid-in-the-butt shot) to speed up the development of the baby's lungs in case he's born early, and Omnicef (a antibiotic) in case I have a minor infection. Even though my urine sample came back negative, many women's preterm labor is caused by a small bacterial infection, so as a precaution they give me the antibiotics. The doctor seemed very confident of this treatment plan – he said it stops 50-60% of women's preterm labor and he hasn't have a baby born before 34 weeks in a long time (a year or years? I can't remember).

I was finally discharged at midnight and after another 30 minutes of getting my prescription filled, I was back home by 1am. We had a long day and were so exhausted!

I went back to L&D today to get my second butt shot. On the way there I called the doctor's office. I wanted to give them an update on what was happening since it was a different on call doc yesterday. To my sunrise when I arrived, they were expecting me and said I needed to be monitored again. The doctor from the office I go to wanted to see me herself. I got my shot, was monitored, and waited for the doctor to see me. Finally a doctor was seeing me in person! She did a fetal fibonection on me since it wasn't done yesterday. She also checked my cervix and confirmed that it is indeed shorter than a normal 29 weeker. I was still having irritability. She changed the frequency of the Nifedipine. An hour and a half later, I was on my way.

The doctor called me shortly after I checked out while I was picking up my other medication. My test came back positive, which means I'm at increased risk for preterm labor. I'm supposed to be on bed rest now (take an easy and no housework) and go in to the office tomorrow so they can check my cervix. If there's a change, I'll have to be admitted. If there's no change, I can go home and be closely monitored. I think I'll have to go in every day for a check up this week. It's definitely a day by day thing now and I'm not sure when or if I'll be able to return to work. I feel bad for leaving suddenly but there's nothing I can do about it.

Each drug I have to take every X hours and different lengths of time and the antibiotic can't be taken with my prenatals. I can't keep it straight in my head! I have a drug schedule to keep me on schedule. I have to wake up in the middle of the night to take one. I'm not very pleased about that.

I know I can't dwell on this and all I can do is rest and hope for the best. But I keep thinking WHY ME? It is something I did that caused this? Probably not. Up until now I've had a very smooth pregnancy and I'm young so I thought luck was on my side. The only thing that puts me at a higher risk of preterm labor is the spotting I've had in the second and third trimester (I've had spotting at 8, 12, 19, and 28 weeks). But I've had an u/s after each spotting and with the expectation of yesterdays u/s everything looked good. So I never thought I would go into preterm labor. Sure, I worried it could happen but never thought it would happen to me. I haven't even packed my hospital bags! Now I need to get on it!

I'm 29 week tomorrow. Hopefully this baby doesn't come out anytime soon. I'd love to go full term but if ealier, after 34 weeks would be best.

If you got this far, thanks for reading all the way through! Sorry it's so long.

Thanks for all the good thoughts ladies.

 

[Skippy123]

Jackie and Snlee, I am praying the baby's stay put for awhile. Sending giant hugs too to you {{{{{sweet ladies}}}}}}}

 

[sk8rjen]

oh, Snlee, I'm so sorry you are going through this! I know it must be nervewracking having to wonder what each day is going to bring, but I am glad to hear you will be closely monitored. 29 weeks is early, but the odds are in your favor (and the little guy's)... and you KNOW that this isn't anything you've done to cause this!! We're ALL doing the best that we can do with these pregnancies and they are all different, and there are just many things that are out of our hands, you know? Stay strong, don't overdo anything and know that we're all rooting for that little man to stay in there for several more weeks,k? (((hugs)))

Thanks for all the kind thoughts ladies! Yeah, DTD has not exactly been a *priority* for a while, so I kind of looked at yesterday's adventure as a "one last time for a LONG time" if ya know what I mean...and I guess that's exactly how it turned out

But what I think is most interesting and probably TMI (sorry) is that this is the only pregnancy where I have had the desire! My libido is through the roof! DH is never the guy who makes the moves around here, but he won't turn anything down that's being thrown his way, so he was game and tried to be as gentle as you can be in that situation. I figure it'll be months before i get any action again now

haha The only bad thing is that I noticed I am still spotting a few minutes ago, so I need to keep a close eye on things...

Jas -- I dunno that I'm "lucky" -- like I said he's not the one coming on to me. And for the record we didn't DTD *one single time* through my entire 1st trimester b/c DH was freaked out.

I think yours was probably more concerned for your safety (and for the boys') ya know?

Hope everyone else is doing better!
jen

 

[jas]

Date: 8/3/2008 8:55:07 PM
Author: sk8rjen
oh, Snlee, I''m so sorry you are going through this! I know it must be nervewracking having to wonder what each day is going to bring, but I am glad to hear you will be closely monitored. 29 weeks is early, but the odds are in your favor (and the little guy''s)... and you KNOW that this isn''t anything you''ve done to cause this!! We''re ALL doing the best that we can do with these pregnancies and they are all different, and there are just many things that are out of our hands, you know? Stay strong, don''t overdo anything and know that we''re all rooting for that little man to stay in there for several more weeks,k? (((hugs)))

Thanks for all the kind thoughts ladies! Yeah, DTD has not exactly been a *priority* for a while, so I kind of looked at yesterday''s adventure as a ''one last time for a LONG time'' if ya know what I mean...and I guess that''s exactly how it turned out

But what I think is most interesting and probably TMI (sorry) is that this is the only pregnancy where I have had the desire! My libido is through the roof! DH is never the guy who makes the moves around here, but he won''t turn anything down that''s being thrown his way, so he was game and tried to be as gentle as you can be in that situation. I figure it''ll be months before i get any action again now

haha The only bad thing is that I noticed I am still spotting a few minutes ago, so I need to keep a close eye on things...

Jas -- I dunno that I''m ''lucky'' -- like I said he''s not the one coming on to me. And for the record we didn''t DTD *one single time* through my entire 1st trimester b/c DH was freaked out.

I think yours was probably more concerned for your safety (and for the boys'') ya know?

Hope everyone else is doing better!
jen

Jen, I hear you...i hope I didn''t upset you with my comments. I''m totally out of my gourd today with exhaustion.

 

[lisa1.01fvs1]

SNLEE - so scary!

You have a very good understanding of everything that is happening! I''m so glad you have such great
monitoring and caught the "cervical shortening" now. I have always wondered what it felt like to be on the terb. and
you described it so well. The reason Docs RX so much bedrest is that they really don''t know what to do for a woman
with certain complications beyond a certain pt. I guess it''s common sense to slow down completely. Did they say anything else about the + FFN test?

Please don''t beat yourself up about the PTL. There is nothing u did to cause this nor anything u could have done to prevent it.

If anything u are pursuing every available tx to help and keeping sane the whole time!

Pls. keep us posted.

I think the 2 things I saw the most were PTL & PIH.

 

[Kaleigh]

Snlee,
Wow you are going through it aren't you. I had pre term labor, stayed in the hosiptial 3 weeks before Rob was born. I know you are having this earlier, but the meds they have now, are far superior than what was available to me 18 years ago. I am hoping things settle down!!

This is the time where you make your bed your haven. Get lots of comfy pillows if you don't have them already. Have the latest magazines, books and videos at your disposal. Make sure you have enough water at your bed side table, can't get dehydrated. It's hard to be confined, but you can make it fun. I'd even enlist someone to come and give you a manicure!!!

Sending prayers your way, hang in there!!!

I just wanted to add, there is nothing you did to cause this PTL. So please don't be hard on yourself!!

 

[Independent Gal]

Lisa, what''s PIH?

SNLEE so glad things are under control for now. It must have a huge shock for you! I''m so glad you caught it and that things are OK. YIKES!

Erica, good luck with the administrators tomorrow! Let me know what happens, OK?

So, I never told you guys this, but the day I got in to see my doctor about the bleeding when he couldn''t find the heartbeat yet, just leaving the office I got a call that my Roberto Coin custom 7 stone had come in, presumably as God''s cosmic way of distracting me until the next u/s a week later. I finally posted it because I finally found the digital camera. It''s over in SMTR.

If I were superstitious, I would definitely think of my new band arriving just at that scary moment as a sign that the pregnancy was really A-OK.

 

[lisa1.01fvs1]

Indy - love the U-prongs!

PIH - preg. induced hypertension (any form of preeclampsia). The only real "cure" is delivery of baby. Well after they put you on mag. sulfate for a while.

 

[sk8rjen]

Jen, I hear you...i hope I didn't upset you with my comments. I'm totally out of my gourd today with exhaustion.

Jackie -- i guess you are just exhausted enough to think you could upset me -- c'mon now, i knew what you meant! oh and i'm not easily upset, even as a hormonal preggo

I actually was really jealous of all the young ladies i know (at babycenter)who were getting it on in early pregnancy while my dh didn't seem to want to have anything to do with me... i guess i would rather have to politely decline my dh than not have him come on to me at all. I hate always being the instigator....even harder as the Goodyear Blimp! Anyway, i know i'm just miss TMI tonight, but i laughed at your comment (and my responses don't always write out like they sound in my head) -- so no worries! Hope you get some sleep... I'm going to go try to get some shut-eye myself...
jen

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 8/3/2008 10:27:03 PM
Author: lisa1.01fvs1
Indy - love the U-prongs!

PIH - preg. induced hypertension (any form of preeclampsia). The only real 'cure' is delivery of baby. Well after they put you on mag. sulfate for a while.

And that stuff is naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasty.

Gals, I want all baking to stop. Don't even look at the cupcake thread. There are way too many scary early labor stories here and reading your stories is wreaking havoc on my blood pressure! I'm doing the baby sticky dance around my house, which fortunately isn't that taxing as all I am doing is just clinging to my living room wall.

Hang in there ladies!!!

 

[lili]

Whoa, hope you ladies Jackie, snlee, and Jen are all okay.
Can''t believe the flurry of PLDs going on.
Could it be the heat or something?

I''m joining Tgal with in the dance too!
And stay off the cupcake thread is right

 

[lili]

QT
Thanks for sharing your birth story.
Sounds like you had a very fast and easy L&D.
Better not dillydally at home with baby#2 then.

congrats and can''t wait to see more updates of Meena.
Take plenty of pictures because they change right before your very eyes in the first few weeks.

 

[pavelover]

Wow do I have a lot to catch up on! Whew.

First of all I want to say that I am glad all you mommies to be with pre-term issues are doing well!!! I am sure it must have been so scary- I can''t even imagine. Thank you all for being so willing to share and tell us about your experiences.

Jas- sounds like you are doing well and following all the drs. orders. Sorry that your dh had to go to the wedding without you but I am glad that you had family around to keep you company/take care of you! Did you say in your post you have a puppy? How old is it? You are brave to take on a puppy and newborns. I think we have to get rid of my dog since she bit a little kid a few weeks ago- it was scary but minor for the kid(more like a scratch to his face)- I am not minimizing but just saying the kid is ok. Sorry this is getting off topic. I am just interested in how ppl do with their dogs and newborns. Tell the babies to keep up their good listening/obeying skills and stay put!!!

Snlee I hope you are feeling ok and reading all the posts that say you haven''t done anything to cause the issue. Please take good care of yourself and do your best not to worry- that''s coming from a chronic worrier,lol. Are the medicines causing you any yucky side effects? I hope not. I am so glad that your dr from your office checked you out. That has to be comforting. I''m sending more good thoughts your way!!!

Jen- you too!!! You are not kidding there is something in the ps water- I am sitting here wondering if all the time spent on the computer is bad for my little one. It sounds like your trip to the hospital was short- I guess that is one good thing about it. I am glad you got to see the nicu too, so you know what to expect or what things will be like. do all twins go to the nicu or is this just in case?

ok what else????

Ummm Congratulations LIsa! I have been following your story on ttc- i just mostly lurk over there now but am sooo incredibly happy for you. You had quite the little rollercoaster with the positive hpt then negative then positive... Lots of sticky dust for you....

Also Blenheim Welcome and congratulations! Glad to have you here. Did you buy the baby carrier? We have been holding off on most purchases but I am going to inherit a ton of stuff from my bff. I saw some receiving blankets while I was in line at ross and grabbed them cause they were cheap and I hear you can never have too many. Otherwise I am obssessed with strollers mostly. I think I need to register soon. My mom is gonna have a shower for me in Phila in September.

Erica good luck with the administrators tomorrow. I hope you get somewhere(besides frustrated)!!!

Indy I''m gonna have to go check out your ring. I bet it''s sweet! I have been eyeing some earrings...maybe after the baby? are you still eating the twizzlers? I am considering adding more fattening foods- more like snickers and such. I am stressed that I haven''t gained weight. I know I am going to regret worrying in a few weeks when I start packing on the pounds.

Neatfreak welcome back from vacation!!! How are you feeling? Good to have you back. Are you gonna get your dh a onesie? or a tshirt? just curious...it kind of makes me giggle to picture an adult male onesie...

Jas12 were you the person mentioning rickie lakes documentary? Just wondering which if any books on birth you read?recomend? I was in borders tonight and looked at ina mays something or other- it looked good and then the thinking women''s book by geir? I think anyway. Then I also saw a book on hypnobirthing that looked good. and my dh wants to get pregnancy sucks for men. he is so sweet- lol.

omg Qtiekki please forgive me I have been meaning to write and congratulate you and welcome beautiful little meena. her face is perfect. How are you feeling? Are you getting any sleep? Do you have any family around or is DH able to help? I guess at the beginning its the momma alot if you are breast feeding so not too much others can do. Sending you some resting vibes.

Dani I have been reading a bunch about doulas- and I am wondeirng- most of them say in their websites that they don''t offer medical advice and don''t try to push you one way or another but some articles I read said that drs/nurses can be turned off by them or ignore them altogehter. Curious about your opinion and also- if I can find one that works with my hospital maybe that will be better?
Also- does your hospital do scheduled inductions(for convenience) much? My dr. had recomended this as a way of making sure she would be there when I deliver- as I am pretty anxious to end up with a dr i do not know on the big day. If I don''t have my dr. I feel like a doula would be a great support person during my labor and may make me feel comfortable no matter which dr. ends up delivering me. I tried to research the pros/cons of induction(she said when my cervix is ready and she is on call) and I realize that although it is used somewhat frequently it is not something I should go into lightly? If I have a better bishops score then is there a better chance of the induction being successful(vaginal birth- not prolonged, stalled etch labor).
I realize alot of people will not agree with this idea and that is o.k. I am not totally sure what I will end up doing- still have lots of time and am trying to figure out what will be best for me.

Isn''t Kay back from vacation? I want to hear about the rest of your trip! And talk to you about strollers,lol.

LIa good luck studying!!! We miss you. how are you feeling?

sbde hi and hope you are doing great. I know what yo mean about the belly at the end of the day. I went out to eat today and was thinking i kinda looked just fat in the tummy but after dinner- yeesh. I definitely looked pregnant.

MRs hope you are feeling well. I was just reading about your 6 wk u/s but I think that was from last week. time flies I guess.

Gemma- haven''t seen you for a few days! How are you?

DD glad you had a great visit with your midwife. I hope you enjoy your vacay- I think that is what you said.



Ok well I did my best not to miss anyone! see you soon-

 

[lili]

Date: 8/3/2008 10:27:03 PM
Author: lisa1.01fvs1
PIH - preg. induced hypertension (any form of preeclampsia). The only real ''cure'' is delivery of baby. Well after they put you on mag. sulfate for a while.

Good news for you chocolate lovers.
Read in one of the baby magazines that eating a daily servings of chocolate (preferrably dark chocolate) can help reduce the risk of preeclampsia.
I didn''t research into it, but just thought I passed that bit of info for you preggos to look into

 

[lili]

Congrats to Blenhem and Lisa.
Hope your stay on this thread is nice and long

EricaK
sorry to hear about your maternity leave situation.
good luck with the admin and hope they are more supportive.

 

[Kay]

We are back from Burgundy and Paris! I am skimming quickly to catch up on the last 2 weeks, so I will not be able to reply to everyone.

Qtiekiki, congratulations!

Welcome baby Meena!

What a little cutie she is. That was a fast L&D!

Indy, I am so sorry to hear about your mom. Although the odds are worse than you had thought they’d be, she sounds like a fighter. You’ll both be in my thoughts. Lol re Romulus and Remus – glad your u/s went well.

Blenheim and Lisa1, welcome to the party!

JackieJas, sounds like a scary experience. Glad to hear the twins are still hanging in there.

Snlee, I hope your exam goes well tomorrow. Sounds like a scary weekend.

Jen, I can’t believe you had to go to the hospital too. Glad you are ok. LOL re the TMI FYI – good to know.

Eph, thinking about you and hoping everything is ok.

Pave, funny you mention strollers. I was having lots of trouble sleeping on our trip, so I went online to check my Babycatalog.com registry late one night. The UPPAbaby Vista was (and still is) on sale for $549, plus an additional 10% off for members ($25 annual fee), plus they have free shipping on all orders over $49. So I ordered it in green – I was so happy to get it for under $500. I also picked up the car seat adapter for $36 with discount. This was our second “big” baby purchase – very exciting.

Our trip went pretty well, although I was slowed down more than I expected. I have had really painful foot and ankle swelling the past few weeks, along with weird red blotches on the tops of my feet and my ankles/lower calves and some bruises on my arches. I am going to try to get an appointment with a foot specialist ASAP.

I will post details and pics of our trip later. I just needed to come on here and try to unwind a bit before bed, as it has been a really rough day. I called my parents this morning to let them know we were back safely, and they told me my favorite aunt died while we were away. She was 90 and in poor health the past couple of years. I know she had been ready to go for a while (she commented several times about how hard it was outliving her husband and all their friends), but it is still so hard to lose her. I woke up this morning thinking I needed to call her – I wish I had made the time to do so before our trip. She was the only one in my extended family with whom I really had a lot in common – it is so hard to believe she is gone.

 

[curlygirl]

snlee, holy crap, what a story. I hope you are resting comfortably now and you better have a talk with that little guy and tell him to STAY PUT!

I think I may stay away from this thread for a while--I''m scared that PTL is contagious!

 

[Independent Gal]

By the way, while I was visiting my mom, I knit two pairs of these, one with burgundy laces and one with lime green. Gender neutral! Now I''m making a pair for my friend who is expecting in December.

 

[nytemist]

I usually read through this thread... my best wishes to you all having healthy bebes!

It must have been something about Saturday 8/2. No pics yet, but my husband''s sister had her baby Saturday evening. 6 pounds, 10 onuces, 21 inches.

 

[Dreamer_D]

QT meens is so cute and it sounds like you had a very good L & D! I hope you are enjoying your first week with her and that you are not toooooo tired!

snlee well that all sounds really scary, but as others have said, the medications they have these days are really good. I know two people who had PTL and were put on bed rest, both earlier than you, and both went on to deliver full-term and health babies! I''m sure you will be the same! PS- I am from Vancouver, Canada. Great weather her so far!

jas & jen as the two big-bellied twin mamas on here that is really cosmic that you both had issues on the same day ... and it is also cosmic that you are both still hanging in there! Squeez thos legs shut and let those babies bake longer!

OK back to vacay mode! Just had to drop in and comment on all the drama around here!

 

[sk8rjen]

Gals, I want all baking to stop. Don''t even look at the cupcake thread. There are way too many scary early labor stories here and reading your stories is wreaking havoc on my blood pressure! I''m doing the baby sticky dance around my house, which fortunately isn''t that taxing as all I am doing is just clinging to my living room wall.

Hang in there ladies!!!

TGal -- holy cow i didn''t even think of this -- the boys and I baked cookies just the other day! LOL re: sticky-dance

Pave -- not all twins go to the nicu, but since many of them are born early, it''s common. Every week the twins stay in the belly, the nicu time is shortened up until around week 36 where very few have to do nicu time at all. The nurses there said the rule of thumb is that they are usually ready to come home around their due date. I hope mine don''t have to be in there, but if they do, i feel fortunate that my hospital is so well-equipped!

Lili -- thanks!

N/F -- love the onesies! LOL about your dh wanting a matching shirt...

Kay -- I''m really sorry to hear about your aunt

It''s never easy, whether it''s expected or not (((hugs))) Looking forward to hearing more about your trip!

Curly -- you can''t abandon this thread -- we won''t let you

Indy -- those are adorable booties!!

Nytemist -- congrats to your SIL and good to "see" you again!

Dreamer -- legs are squeezed thanks for checking in!

Lisa and Blen -- i forgot to mention it the other day, but i hope both of you are prepared for possible twins!! the odds of having twins around here (PS)are astronomical and it wouldn''t surprise me in the least if one of you were carrying multiples!

Snlee and Jackie -- how''s it going today? I hope you both are feeling good!

Well, my spotting has stopped (phew) and I''m still taking it easy. My DH managed to throw his back out this weekend, so he''s home and it''s kind of comical here with both of us walking funny

Guess i need to go take care of him for a change...

jen

 

[pavelover]

Date: 8/4/2008 12:19:38 AM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 8/3/2008 10:27:03 PM
Author: lisa1.01fvs1
Indy - love the U-prongs!

PIH - preg. induced hypertension (any form of preeclampsia). The only real ''cure'' is delivery of baby. Well after they put you on mag. sulfate for a while.

And that stuff is naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasty.

Gals, I want all baking to stop. Don''t even look at the cupcake thread. There are way too many scary early labor stories here and reading your stories is wreaking havoc on my blood pressure! I''m doing the baby sticky dance around my house, which fortunately isn''t that taxing as all I am doing is just clinging to my living room wall.

Hang in there ladies!!!

Tgal I wholeheartedly agree!!! this place is scary!!!!