Calling all the Pregnant PS''ers

[lover in athens]

YAY!!!

CONGRATS CURLY AND SNLEE!!!! so very excited and happy for both of you, and anxiously awaiting the birth stories and pictures.

(my internet was out yesterday and it was KILLING me!!!)

also...thanks janine for checking in. was wondering if there were going to be 3 PS babies over the weekend.

xo,
LIA 33wks, 5 days

 

[Independent Gal]

Yooohoooo SNLEE & Curly! Hoping for pictures as soon as it''s convenient (haha, like 8 weeks from now, right?)

Kay, I hear ya on the feeling lazy. And 3 loads of laundry is darn good!

Janine, check in with us often, ok? We''re thinking of you!

Did anybody else have an old injury flare up with this pregnoid thing? Could it be related to that round ligament thingy? My old bum knee which has been fine for years has gone ballistic! I can''t walk! Maybe it''s my brain''s way of putting me on bedrest because of the constant contrx.

 

[nycbkgirl]

Thanks kay! U totally deserve 2 b lazy and not go anywhere u aren''t comfortable
Not drinking alcohol or even caffeine is the unfortunate price we have 2 pay but its worth it! I also read online u should stay away from deli meats (ok there go my sandwiches) and soft cheeses..amongst a lot of other yummy stuff...so what''s left lol???

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 9/28/2008 9:29:02 AM
Author: nycbkgirl
Thanks kay! U totally deserve 2 b lazy and not go anywhere u aren''t comfortable

Not drinking alcohol or even caffeine is the unfortunate price we have 2 pay but its worth it! I also read online u should stay away from deli meats (ok there go my sandwiches) and soft cheeses..amongst a lot of other yummy stuff...so what''s left lol???

Date: 9/28/2008 9:29:02 AM
Author: nycbkgirl
Thanks kay! U totally deserve 2 b lazy and not go anywhere u aren''t comfortable

Not drinking alcohol or even caffeine is the unfortunate price we have 2 pay but its worth it! I also read online u should stay away from deli meats (ok there go my sandwiches) and soft cheeses..amongst a lot of other yummy stuff...so what''s left lol???

There''s a lot left, but also a lot to be aware of. I am sure your doctor or hospital has a handout with everything to avoid on it.

I''ve heard you can eat deli meats if you microwave them, but I don''t really know because I don''t eat them anyways! My doctor also said that in the US *most* soft cheeses are fine because they have been pasteurized. He told me as long as it said pasteurized on the label I was fine. But as always you should ask your own doctor.

 

[nycbkgirl]

Yeh just thinking about microwaving deli meats..make me wanna ...well yeh not pretty lol...im sure there''s a lot u can eat but all the stuff that im used to I can''t...esp..sushi! Ugh that''s a big one for me lol
I don''t have a regular OB yet so don''t have any of that info yet.

 

[janinegirly]

So today is my official due date. I''ve had some uncomfortable nights--lots of cramping and then my stomach hardens and is raised on one side. I''m assuming that''s where the baby is and that these are BH? This morning I had (TMI alert!) blood in my underwear which has continued--kinda like a light period. I have my weekly dr. appt tomorrow--so I guess I''ll see where I''m at then. Maybe I should pack my bag! (been kind of delaying..).

Looks like Kay and I are next...and I wish we knew how eph was doing too!

Can''t wait to see pics from Curly and Snlee--sounds like they had smooth labors, it gives me hope!

 

[nycbkgirl]

Janine- congrats girl! U are 2 calm for me lol..id b freakin out right now...soooo exciting n scary and all emotional I bet. Good luck...hope u have an ez LnD

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 9/28/2008 11:25:19 AM
Author: janinegirly
So today is my official due date. I''ve had some uncomfortable nights--lots of cramping and then my stomach hardens and is raised on one side. I''m assuming that''s where the baby is and that these are BH? This morning I had (TMI alert!) blood in my underwear which has continued--kinda like a light period. I have my weekly dr. appt tomorrow--so I guess I''ll see where I''m at then. Maybe I should pack my bag! (been kind of delaying..).

Looks like Kay and I are next...and I wish we knew how eph was doing too!

Can''t wait to see pics from Curly and Snlee--sounds like they had smooth labors, it gives me hope!

Kay, that sounds like it might be bloody show!! And it that''s the case, those may not have been real BH, but rather early early contractions. It may mean the show is getting on the road... but my midwife was pointing out that the early phase of labour (where you have light contractions and the cervix is thinning out but not really dialating) can last a couple of days or even a week. So really really try to rest and eat well for the next while so that you have lots of energy when the real thing starts! Apparently you don''t really need to go to the hospital until the contrax are about 5 minutes apart and last about 1 minute and this pattern has been going on for an hour. Of course, you can go earlier if you want, but that was my midwifes rule about when to call her to come over... that is what sort of defines active labour.

Keep us posted, what a baby mania!

 

[sbde]

welcome Derek and Lucy!!

congrats to snlee and curlygirl - hope you both are enjoying the time with your little ones and are able to get a few naps in!

we're all waiting to see pics and hear abt the births, but take your time!!

what a baby fest...janine & kay good luck to you, you're almost there!!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 9/28/2008 12:31:02 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 9/28/2008 11:25:19 AM
Author: janinegirly
So today is my official due date. I''ve had some uncomfortable nights--lots of cramping and then my stomach hardens and is raised on one side. I''m assuming that''s where the baby is and that these are BH? This morning I had (TMI alert!) blood in my underwear which has continued--kinda like a light period. I have my weekly dr. appt tomorrow--so I guess I''ll see where I''m at then. Maybe I should pack my bag! (been kind of delaying..).

Looks like Kay and I are next...and I wish we knew how eph was doing too!

Can''t wait to see pics from Curly and Snlee--sounds like they had smooth labors, it gives me hope!

Kay, that sounds like it might be bloody show!! And it that''s the case, those may not have been real BH, but rather early early contractions. It may mean the show is getting on the road... but my midwife was pointing out that the early phase of labour (where you have light contractions and the cervix is thinning out but not really dialating) can last a couple of days or even a week. So really really try to rest and eat well for the next while so that you have lots of energy when the real thing starts! Apparently you don''t really need to go to the hospital until the contrax are about 5 minutes apart and last about 1 minute and this pattern has been going on for an hour. Of course, you can go earlier if you want, but that was my midwifes rule about when to call her to come over... that is what sort of defines active labour.

Keep us posted, what a baby mania!

Sorry to call you Kay!! For some reason I get you guys mixed up

Can''t wait to hear an update Janine.

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 9/28/2008 11:18:54 AM
Author: nycbkgirl
Yeh just thinking about microwaving deli meats..make me wanna ...well yeh not pretty lol...im sure there''s a lot u can eat but all the stuff that im used to I can''t...esp..sushi! Ugh that''s a big one for me lol
I don''t have a regular OB yet so don''t have any of that info yet.

You can eat sushi - here in the UK they say it''s fine as the fish is always frozen for 24 hours anyway. The worry apparently is that you might get a tapeworm which if live in the developing world and have malnutrition could be a problem, but I can''t see why it would be in countries like the US/UK.

I can''t be bothered with the whole do/don''t eat this, that and the next thing. Right now, I eat whatever I can - which is not much. I''ve always gone by the maxim that you need a good dose of dirt in your life which possibly explains my cast-iron immune system. If you''ve surrounded yourself with disinfectant all your life you might need to be more careful.

I think people can get over-obsessed with things. You are just as likely to get something from salad - last two cases of listeria in the UK were from lettuce.

Alcohol, tobacco and caffeine I am avoiding 100%, but I''m eating everything else - it''s actually quite hard to find unpasteurised cheese these days.

Check out ''The Panic-Free Pregnancy''.

 

[nycbkgirl]

Pandora- thanks 4 the info but since im only 6 wks...and still very scared I will stay away from anything that''s even possibly bad for u...once I hit my 2nd trimester I will ease up on that and eat what I want but as of right now..more fruits n veggies n some healthy fish n meats for me...pizza works too lol...the caffeine part for me is the biggest problem but its ok ...I drink my water..apple juice n ginger ale....the sushi I wouldn''t risk bc u don''t know how the specific restaurant deals with the fish etc. But many rolls and other things on the menu are not raw anyway..so I stick 2 miso soup and chicken teriyaki for now

 

[Independent Gal]

Date: 9/28/2008 3:13:03 PM
Author: Pandora II

Check out ''The Panic-Free Pregnancy''.

Hey, did you happen to come across a book called "The Low-Grade-Nagging-Worry Free Pregnancy" ?

I could use that about now.

Although I have implemented my new strategy, entering this, the critical stage of monochorionic pregnancy. At the end of each day/week/month, I''m going to say "YAY! Another day/week/month and the cubs are still OK!"

Seriously though. I do think people can become ridiculous or irrational. You have to understand the level of risk involved and make an informed decision.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 9/28/2008 3:55:53 PM
Author: nycbkgirl
Pandora- thanks 4 the info but since im only 6 wks...and still very scared I will stay away from anything that's even possibly bad for u...once I hit my 2nd trimester I will ease up on that and eat what I want but as of right now..more fruits n veggies n some healthy fish n meats for me...pizza works too lol...the caffeine part for me is the biggest problem but its ok ...I drink my water..apple juice n ginger ale....the sushi I wouldn't risk bc u don't know how the specific restaurant deals with the fish etc. But many rolls and other things on the menu are not raw anyway..so I stick 2 miso soup and chicken teriyaki for now

There are plenty of sushi-esque options at sushi restaurants that ARE cooked as well. Most rolls with shrimp or crab and veggies...all cooked. Eel is cooked too. Probably better to be safe than sorry in the early weeks as even though freezing kills off most bacteria it won't kill listeria or non-mature tapeworms, the only thing that will kill those is cooking.But really, Pandora makes a great point about bacteria...they are everywhere! I'm a big advocate of getting a bit dirty too, it's worked for my immune system so far!

Not to mention the high amount of mercury in a lot of fish...just too many things to worry about and since people in the US are sue happy I think Dr's just don't want to be sued for telling someone these things are ok to eat and then having them fall sick and miscarry ya know?

 

[Pandora II]

I had dinner on Friday night with my Sri Lankan friends and their parents - they are people I know through politics but we''ve become close friends over the last few years and they came to our wedding etc so we decided to let them know our news.

Their mother was a midwife - who delivered her own daughter on the kitchen floor

as her husband was out and the ambulance didn''t get there in time!

She was working in special care baby units while she was pregnant with both her kids and spent the whole time having a quick go with the oxygen as she''d been told that more oxygen equalled more intelligent kids (both of her''s are super-bright so who knows)!

Anyway, I''ve been told I have to go round to their house one weekend and she is going to cook me all the Sri Lankan pregnancy dishes (apparently it''s good luck to cook for a pregnant woman) and she wants to do the wedding ring trick and the horoscope to find out if it''s a boy or a girl.

I''m not a believer in such things, but it should be fun!

I discovered that very hot curry is something that my m/s approves of. It''s the first thing I''ve been able to eat with no problems at all. I think I will be measuring the bebe in terms of chilli peppers rather than grapes, raspberries etc

 

[Pandora II]

Janine, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you! I'm sure you won't be there all lonesome for long!

Happy Anniversary for tomorrow by the way (My BIL got married the same day).

 

[nycbkgirl]

Pandora- that woman is superwoman! Lol wow that is some amazing story she can tell her kid!
I looove cultural foods...I bet that will be some amazing home cookin she will make...im getting hungry just thinkin about it..isn''t that funny how curry agrees with ur m/s...u would think it would be the opposite..go figure..
I don''t have any symptoms still!..maybe its bc of the nexium I take every mornin?? But its worrying me.

 

[Blenheim]

Congrats, Snlee and CurlyGirl!!!!

I can''t wait to see pics and hear your stories.

Indy, love the baby feet. So cute.

Kay, thanks! I know that I''m fairly small (especially compared to how I will be soon enough), but it''s enough of a change that the women who sit next to me at work guessed at 9 weeks based entirely on the belly (and then started noticing other stuff that supported their guess). How far along are you again? (I know you''re getting near the end, I just don''t remember how near.)

Janine, sounds like it''s going to be really soon for you!

DD, you definitely look pregnant to me. Your belly is really cute.

Nycbkgirl, a lot of women don''t have symptoms for another week or two. Don''t worry about it.


I ate a bunch of sushi yesterday. Yummy. And I second the Panic Free Pregnancy recommendation.

I completely exhausted myself hiking earlier. And apparently my sense of balance is going - I fell down twice while trying to get down hills. It felt really good at the time (minus the falling), but I think I''m spending the rest of the evening on the couch now.

Oh, and I almost flipped out in the grocery store yesterday morning because they didn''t want to take my coupon. Sound familiar?

 

[ljmorgan]

I agree that the list of "off limit" items seems dizzying! I think that as long as you do your homework, go with your gut. I do plan to continue eating sushi during my pregnancy. In the US, the fish must be frozen before it can be served raw in order to kill parasites, and after that you''re just dealing with a normal food safety issue. Honestly I eat bagged salad which is probably riskier to eat. I read that you shouldn''t eat prepared salads but... I definitely buy salads from my work cafeteria.

On the other hand, I''ve cut out all soda except for the occasional ginger ale (thanks tummy!) I even cut back on my beloved iced tea to several times a week. Butttt I don''t think caffeine on a daily basis really hurts anyway. It''s just one of those things I don''t really miss, so I don''t mind giving it up. But if french fries weren''t recommended during pregnancy, I''d definitely still be getting my fill!

Eating with morning sickness has been so difficult for me. One day I only want tons of grapes and strawberries, and the next day all I want is Spaghettios. It''s terrible! When I first got pregnant I thought "oh I will only eat healthy and organic." And thennnnn the sickness set in, and you''re in survival mode. One night hubby and I were in the grocery store, and I was turning up my nose at all of the breads, I had a hard time finding one that was whole wheat with no additives. The next day we were back in the very same bread aisle, my husband frantically searching, with me screaming "I SAID the softest white bread!!" LoL. Honestly it was all that I could stomach!

So I really respect all of you preggos eating healthy foods! The past few weeks I''ve been on Zofran which completely stopped the vomiting, and I''ve just off and on nausea through out the day, which is much more manageable. On Thursday I stopped my Zofran (it was causing terrible constipation, and there I was pondering whether I''d rather puke or not be able to go to the bathroom.) Since then I''ve been taking the Unisom/vitamin B6 combination and it''s working!! It doesn''t have the Zofran side effects, it just makes me sleepy, but that I can deal with!

In personal baby news, I switched OBs last week and I am so happy. The new doctor spent a good 45 minutes with me and my husband, and really took her time discussing everything. My old OB had us in and out in 10 minutes tops. My OB decided to re-run my blood tests, because she couldn''t believe my antibody results. If the blood tests are correct, it means that MD Anderson really screwed up, and transfused me with Rh positive blood (I''m Rh negative.) Unfortunately this week we found out my husband is O+, so the baby could be Rh positive. Butttt there is a chance the baby could be negative. So I am really hoping! Either way she is referring me to a specialist, who will be monitoring me for the rest of my pregnancy. The good news is that after like 14 weeks I will get a weekly ultrasound. I''m only 9 weeks preggo and I''ve already had 3! So they will keep very close watch over baby to make sure that it isn''t distressed.

 

[ljmorgan]

Congrats Snlee and CurlyGirl! How wonderful!! I cannot WAIT for pics!

You are acting like you''re both busy with newborns or something!

 

[Pandora II]

Hey Lindsey,

Sorry to hear about the m/s - I know exactly how shit one feels. I''ve stopped throwing up, but the nausea is constant.

I also hear you on the organic healthy thing - I had planned to eat ''better'' - right now, I seem to want potato crisps/curry/jars of pickled onions and ginger biscuits. The thought of real food just makes me feel bleugh.

The only great thing is that I used to smoke and was finding having given up really, really tough - now even the thought makes me icky and it is effortless! By the time that feeling wears off I will be past the withdrawal stage. Hooray!

I have a feeling my GP won''t give me anything for the m/s or nausea, so I''d be interested to know about the vitamin thing you are taking - is it OTC? Does it help with the nausea?


I can''t believe your old OB could have done that with your blood - incredible. Is your DH rhesus positive? If so, the baby will be positive too - is that correct? Or can you have weird situations where the dominant gene doesn''t come through?

I suppose the up-side if everything goes okay is that you''ll have a lovely album of pre-natal pics!

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 9/28/2008 5:26:46 PM
Author: nycbkgirl
Pandora- that woman is superwoman! Lol wow that is some amazing story she can tell her kid!
I looove cultural foods...I bet that will be some amazing home cookin she will make...im getting hungry just thinkin about it..isn''t that funny how curry agrees with ur m/s...u would think it would be the opposite..go figure..
I don''t have any symptoms still!..maybe its bc of the nexium I take every mornin?? But its worrying me.

I know, and she''s teeny tiny! The baby was about 7 lbs as well!

The kid is now 27 - and pretty thankful her mother knew what to do!

I LOVE Sri Lankan food and their mother is an AMAZING cook, so I will definitely be accepting her offer.


I didn''t get any symptoms at all until I hit 6 weeks - my next-door neighbour who is now nearly 11 weeks has no symptoms other than feeling tired. Grrrrr, so not fair.

 

[nycbkgirl]

Blen- thanx for the reassurance...I hear all the sickness stories but I still feel like if I felt sick it would be a positive thing..will regret sayin that when it happens but nonetheless lol I take nexium everyday so maybe that keeps some sickness away or maybe its just 2 early...neway u are some trooper goin hiking and all...u can''t drag me outta bed lol and funny about lol! What is it with hormones and coupons lol.

Linds- I totally agree that u shouldn''t be in a bubble when it comes 2 isolating foods but then again I do believe certain foods have healthier nutritional value ..esp for growin fetus as opposed 2 others...so that''s y I will choose 2 stay away from certain foods...but I hear ya about the french fries lol! And I sooo agree about having a good doc who takes their time its so impt! Im still tryna find one..harder for me bc I need a high-risk doc.
Hoping for the good baby blood type

 

[nycbkgirl]

Blen- thanx for the reassurance...I hear all the sickness stories but I still feel like if I felt sick it would be a positive thing..will regret sayin that when it happens but nonetheless lol I take nexium everyday so maybe that keeps some sickness away or maybe its just 2 early...neway u are some trooper goin hiking and all...u can''t drag me outta bed lol and funny about lol! What is it with hormones and coupons lol.

Linds- I totally agree that u shouldn''t be in a bubble when it comes 2 isolating foods but then again I do believe certain foods have healthier nutritional value ..esp for growin fetus as opposed 2 others...so that''s y I will choose 2 stay away from certain foods...but I hear ya about the french fries lol! And I sooo agree about having a good doc who takes their time its so impt! Im still tryna find one..harder for me bc I need a high-risk doc.
Hoping for the good baby blood type

 

[Kay]

Indy, I have had trouble with old injuries too (left knee and right ankle). The extra weight, looser tendons and foot and lower leg swelling have definitely exasperated my old leg injuries. I am hoping the problems will go away soon after delivery.

Nycbk, there is still a lot left – like ice cream!

(That has been my big indulgence.) My doctor is actually very laid back about restrictions. The only thing that was forbidden was unpasteurized cheese. I gave up caffeine years ago (except occasional green tea, which I am avoiding), so that was not a big deal for me. My Dr. is fine with an occasional glass of wine (like once a week), so I have a little on occasion – it did not sound good to me in the first trimester or now, but I had an occasional glass in the middle period. The NP said deli meat is fine because it is cooked. Microwaving it sounds gross, but I made some tasty grilled sandwiches. I guess every Dr. has a different approach. I can understand being nervous in the first trimester. I had so many food aversions in the first tri that things like sushi were not an issue for me. Miso soup did go down easily though.

Janine, sounds like it might be time!

Sending you easy labor vibes. I can’t wait to hear about your lo. Happy Anniversary!

Pandora, that is a wild story – I can’t imagine a do-it-yourself L&D! The food sounds yummy.

Blen, another coupon incident, huh? Sounds like a PS trend, lol. You’ve got to watch those falls.

Lindsey, glad you have a new Dr. you like. I am RH negative too (DH is positive), and it is not a big deal. (It''s a pretty dumb mistake for your former Dr. to make though.) You will need 2 injections of Rhogam during your pregnancy, and a 3rd after delivery if the baby is RH+.

Kay
37 weeks, 5 days

 

[qtiekiki]

Janine
Sound like you are having bloody show and early stage labor. I bet your baby will be here within a day or two. The same thing happened to me, and I had Meena 25hrs later.

GOOD LUCK!!

nycbkgirl
I know what you mean about sushi. I missed them so much during my pregnancy. I mean I ate the cooked rolls (CA, dragon, etc), but it''s not like the raw stuffs that I love. I did sneak one piece here and there. I told DH before I gave birth that the first meal after baby will be sushi.

But for me, I err on the safe side.

In the beginning, I avoid caffeine completely. Then in my 3rd trimester, I drink iced coffee once every couple of weeks.

Pandora
The dinner at your friend''s house sounds like it''ll be fun.

Funny that you can take spicy curry. Your baby likes it HOT. hehe.

Lindsey
I don''t know your story, so you might have mentioned it before. What make you think your MD transfused you with Rh+ blood? Did you have a reaction?

Glad you like your new OB. It''s always good to find a doctor you like and trust, especially during your pregnancy.

Kay
You are getting close. Good Luck.

 

[nycbkgirl]

Kay- actually I even heard that ice cream isn''t even good lol! But I think it was just soft serve ..ugh 2 many things ...everything contains some bacteria but I rather stay away from certain ones at this crucial time. That glass of wine sounds so good right about now lol..im not much of an alcohol drinker...im more of the occasional cocktail fan but not being able 2 just makes u want it more! Im wonderin is decaf coffee ok or still not? I usually drink soy lattes but I''ve stopped everything completley for now.

Qt- yeh nothing like fresh salmon sushi..mmmmm...but I love miso soup so im still ok with that and the cooked rolls n chicken....is soy good for preggers?

 

[ljmorgan]

Kay, unfortunately Rhogam injections won''t do anything for me. They prevent Rh negative mothers from creating antibodies to Rh positive blood, so that the mother''s blood won''t attack the positive blood with her antibodies. Unfortunately since I was transfused with positive blood, I have already created those antibodies. They give women Rhogam to prevent them from creating antibodies like I already have....

qtiekiki, we found out because my OB did a normal blood screen, but they discovered anti C and anti D (the Rhesus factor) antibodies. The only way to have those antibodies when you''re Rh negative is by being exposed to Rh positive blood, through previous childbirth or by way of transfusion. I have never been pregnant before, and my level of antibodies are pretty high, showing that I was exposed to a large number of positive blood cells. So yes, it was definitely from my transfusion unfortunately.

 

[tiffanytwisted]

Lindsey-For someone to get the wrong blood is actually a huge mistake. And honestly it wouldn''t have been the doctors fault. When someone needs a transfusion, blood is drawn from that person and sent to the lab to "type and cross" so they type your blood and then crossmatch it to a unit of blood. The lab would then send the blood to the nurse with a label stating the patient''s blood type and the type of blood in the unit (both with the type and the rh factor). That''s how it works in the US anyway. The doctor doesn''t specify the blood type when he orders blood to be given.
People who are rh+ can receive both rh- and rh+ blood. People who are rh- can only receive rh- blood.

 

[Delster]

Congratulations snlee and curly, and to your families, and big welcomes to Lily and Derek! Yay!!!