Calling all the Pregnant PS''ers

[ChinaCat]

Fiery- That is such a cute story, thanks for sharing. I am not really a baby person either, but it already feels totally different for me. I am sure it will be a million times more emotional than we can even imagine.

Robbie- Nice you have been able to stay home for a few days. I would have killed for that a few weeks ago, though I am okay for now. Fun for feeling hard kicks- that seems so far off to me. Do you mind sharing what you do? I think I remember you working for a newspaper???

I think practically everyone I know is preggo right now, which is so fun. Of course, none of them live where I do, so only commiserating by phone/email, but it''s still nice to have people to go through it with. I talked to a friend yesterday who is 6 weeks and she is freaked out and worried, like we all are/were, and it was so interesting to see what a difference making it to the 2nd trimester makes. I am just so less stressed than I was. I know there will be more to stress about, but it''s nice to have a break.

Does anyone do pilates- like on a reformer, not the mat pilates? I have been doing it up till now. My doctor said for sure I could do it until 15 weeks but then she wasn''t sure I should be on my back. She wasn''t quite up on the specifics of Pilates though- my instructor has been modifying it for me already and he said I could keep going if I wanted (and of course if my doc okayed it) and he would just modify everything and keep me off my back as much as possible. He has had women go through their 8th month still doing Pilates, so I know it''s possible. Any thoughts? Of course I will ask my doctor, but just curious if anyone here knew anything. At this point, it feels really good to do it, it stretches me out and is really good for my back which gets achy. But I don''t want to take any unnecessary chances.

 

[robbie3982]

China, I used to work at a newspaper, but now I work for a company that designs and manufactures mining equipment. Always been in Marketing though. There''s no way I would''ve been able to work at home for my last job.

 

[Courtneylub]

Dreamer, are you hangin'' in there? How are you feeling?

NYC, how''s everything going at home?

 

[mela lu]

Hi Girls!
Just a quick check in - I have people coming for an early dinner today since DH and I took a few days off work. I''ve been layed up with sciatic pain, running on my left backside and down my butt. urgh. It started out as just pain on the round nubbie bones, but has since become shooting nerve pain. Now I ''get'' what some of you (Courtney for sure) are going through. omg. Thank God DH is cooking.

Um, Robbie - my DH is a medical ''freaker'' and is always ready to call the doctor or rush to the hospital at the slightest twitch. I''m the opposite. I''ll try every homeremedy first, then consult a dr. Looks like you and I will be talking them down a lot once our LOs are born. Knowing my DH, he''ll overreact to every sneeze, cough, and barf.

Cant really play a lot, but I''m here! (with my D boobs now!

) Growing giant tatas is a bit of a curse, so for all you ''petite'' busted gals - be thankful!!!!!!!!!!

k, take care!
Mela 25w6d

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 2/12/2009 1:20:08 PM
Author: Courtneylub
Dreamer, are you hangin' in there? How are you feeling?

I'm doing well. I think things are trucking along. I have been having a tonne of BH contractions the last 10 days, I think the baby has dropped and perhaps engaged (which seems to have caused less pelvic pain, ironically), and for the last 2-3 days I have been having intermittent period-like cramping and mild back pain. I am hoping this means I am effacing! I have also been having lots and lots of watery/creamy CF and some CF that looks like it *could* be the mucus plug? Apparently the plug can disolve rather than coming out all at once, so I wonder abou that. Anyways, things are happening!

This afternoon I have an u/s scheduled to assess the fetal health/size. The m/w wanted to get a baseline measurement of my amniotic fluid in case I go past due and they need to assess again... also she wants to make sure that my supposed "labile blood pressure" (read ONE high day

) hasn't affected the baby. It annoys me to be monitored so much, but I will go along with it of course. Maybe will get an estimate of baby's size too, which would be cool! She had me start doing kick counts too... supposed to make sure there are 10 movements in 2 hours... I get 10 movements in about 15 minutes during baby's active time! LOL!

I am tempted to ask about gender, should be obvious by now

But DH would kill me.... I'll post pics if we see anything, though I think all we will get are shots of a leg or an arm or bits and pieces, there is not much room in there now!

38w4d

 

[robbie3982]

Mela, it's funny because with all of DH's experience with kids (our 9 nieces and nephews are all on his side. He's been an uncle since he was 9) I'd think he'd be a little more laid back about this stuff. Who knows though. Maybe once the baby gets here I'll freak out about every little thing too. Sorry to hear about your sciatica! I hope I skip that pregnancy malady. I've been having the knobby pain and I'm crossing my fingers that it's not a sign of what's to come.

DD, do the period-like cramps count as contractions? I thought that's kind of what contractions are supposed to feel like...Maybe you'll get a video that you can pause and have fun interpreting like I did.

I was going through my closet and trying on non-maternity dresses for Valentine's Day (we're going to dinner at a nice restaurant) to see if anything looks halfway decent now that I'm showing more and found one that I bought in high school, but then never wore out in public because I felt like it was too clingy in the tummy area and it made me self conscious. So, brutal honesty now, do I look like a ridiculously delusional pregnant lady trying to squeeze in a non-maternity dress or does this look cute?

Frontish:

 

[robbie3982]

side:

 

[lili]

Robbie--
You couldn''t be any cuter!

 

[snlee]

Cute! You look great robbie!

 

[pavelover]

Robbie- I think you look adorable. I bought a non maternity dress and wore it to a wedding. I thought it looked cute and not ridiculous- Yours is cute as well. Have fun on Vday!

Hi to all you preggos- see you on the mommy thread before you know it!

 

[fieryred33143]

DD-Thanks! I need to stop paying attention to every little thing that''s going on. I didn''t know your LO was so active!!

Robbie-I think the dress looks great on you! Did you cut your hair?

 

[robbie3982]

Thanks ladies! I want to surprise DH with the dress since he''s never seen it on anything but a hanger in my closet and probably doesn''t even remember that it exists.

Pave, depending on whether or not this dress still fits in 3 weeks, I''m thinking I might wear it to DH''s cousin''s wedding instead of the maternity dress I bought. I might be dreaming to think that I''ll be able to squeeze into in 3 weeks though. It''s stretchy, but not that stretchy.

Fiery, I finally got a hair cut last week. It''d only been about a year since my last one, lol. It was completely spur of the moment. I was at Curves with my mom and all of a sudden I just really really wanted to get my hair cut. Pregnancy has made me really impulsive.

 

[cdt1101]

Robbie - you look so cute!!! Great dress!!

Dreamer - good luck at the appt today!

 

[Courtneylub]

I''m glad you''re doing ok, Dreamer, but the cramping and back pain has got to be getting old. I''m so overwhelmed as to how I''m going to tell the difference between cramping, BH, and REAL contractions. I suppose it''s all in the timing.

Robbie, you look great in the dress! Cute haircut too.

 

[lili]

Courtney--
For me, the real contractions felt like you needed to go #2.

 

[lili]

Wow DD --
You are so close. I think it''s any day now.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Robbie: Dress looks great! No worries there.

Courtney & Robbie The period like cramps are fairly constant and from what my friends have said it is common to have them on and off for days or even weeks before you pop! And the back "pain" in very mild. I would say that it is all pretty intermittent, I would be surprised if anything happens in the next week or so (sorry lili! LOL!). I grilled my friends about the difference between BH and real contractions... BH start at the TOP of the uterus and don't really hurt at all... your belly just hardens into a rock! Very odd. Real contractions are much lower, where you would feel period cramps or bowel cramps like lili said! The ycan go around the back. Apparently unless there is a clear pattern to the feelings, you aren't supposed to sweat it (once you are full term I mean, pre-term you should contact doc right away!). So I am pretty sure I have not had any real contractions yet.

Sooooo I had the u/s and the tech said baby passed! Apparently the baby has 30 minutes to engage in a variety of behaviors, like breathing, swallowing, moving etc, and our baby did it in 19 minutes!

They also check blood flow to the uterus, the umbilical cord, the placenta, amniotic fluid, and do an estimate of size and measure the cervix! I should get the detailed results at my checkup tomorrow.

Poor DH didn't come because I thought it would all be business, but I got the best show of the baby! It was amazing. I say baby move, swallow, she showed me the stomach and bladder filled with fluid, I say a gorgeous front on face shot and profiles, she showed me the spine and the hands and fee. Amazing. Now I can't wait to meet our child, he or she looked really cute and I am not biased at all

ETA Fiery I would nevr have said our baby was àctive`... there are about 4 or 5 times a day where I feel lots of movement, and the rest of the time I don`t really feel anything. But when I did the ués the baby was moving tonnes and I couldn`t feel a thing! So I think there is lots going on in there I don`t notice.

 

[pavelover]

dd that is so great you had a wonderful U/S! It can''t be too much longer now, I think! well,maybe? When are you hoping for? Are you anxious to get moving like I was? How do you feel?

 

[Sabine]

Awe, DD, that''s so great that baby is doing well and you got to see so much of him/her. I''m so excited for you to get to meet your lo!

 

[Blenheim]

DD - so glad that everything looks good with baby. Sounds like your body is gearing up - I can''t believe that you''re almost there!

Robbie - that dress is REALLY cute on you.

Fiery - that''s so sweet about your friend.

Mela - sorry about the sciatica.

China - I''m not sure about pilates, but I thought that it was okay to be on your back unless you felt uncomfortable. Of course, if you''re physically exerting yourself on your back it would probably be harder to tell if you''re actually uncomfortable or not. I dunno.

My midwife mentioned on Tuesday that my ankles were starting to look a little bit swollen. I hadn''t noticed anything until then, but since then - yikes! I had to take my wedding ring off midway through the day yesterday, which made me feel grateful that I had the sense to stop wearing my engagement ring - I don''t feel as horrible about just throwing a $100 gold band into my purse if it becomes majorly uncomfortable to wear as I would feel about a diamond ring. And then my ankles and feet were so uncomfortable last night. I''ve tried so hard to keep my feet up today, even when I''m in meetings with our Regional VP and should be behaving myself (pregnancy gives me a pass, right?) and it''s still uncomfortable. If this keeps up, and if I get DD''s evil crotch pain and the other wonders of the late third tri, I can see how people suddenly feel VERY ready for the baby to arrive.

I''ve had some comments in the past couple of days that I''ve "popped" again, so if I can get myself off the couch (with my feet all nice and propped up) I may take a photo.

32 weeks exactly. Yowzas.

 

[mela lu]

Robbie - cute cute cute. You''re nutin but cute

DD - Is it wrong and selfish of me to say that I''m not ready to see you graduate to the Mommy''s thread.

You too Blen. Stay a while longer would''ja!?
Dreamer - great news about the u/s and all that good video time you got. Too bad DH couldn''t have been there, but your LO will be here so soon. wow.

 

[Blenheim]

Oh, I''d love to stay longer. I''m really not ready to go yet. I''m also not ready for DD to go, but that''s for purely selfish reasons.

I just realized that my ab muscles have separated. Lovely.

I dunno - have I popped out more? I''ve had a couple of people tell me today that I have, but I can''t tell.

 

[nycbkgirl]

Court- thanx for askin. I have doc appt tom and am dreading it bc I think I may be back at hospital...but I will do everything I can to stay at home bc I am just not a hospital person and will just be sick again. Breathing and turning is the biggest pain for me. I just need to make sure im ok with those adrenal glands and not becoming anemic.
Almost 26w...and I want them to bake as long as possible but I want O.U.T already! I wish I could be one of those preggos that is fine til the very last day but alas aint happenin!
Will update 2mor.

DD- still waiting.....

 

[Courtneylub]

Dreamer, thanks for explanation! It''s so hard to know what to expect. That US sounds wonderful! I wonder when he/she will be ready to show him/herself!

Blen, you are so cute!! I see a little difference, but not much. How did you notice your ab muscles separating? That does not sound pleasant!!

 

[sunkist]

Dropping in to say, Oh my gosh Robbie you''re such a cute Preggo!! Love the hair cut too

You are all doing such a good job cooking those babes in there. Keep up the good work

 

[Blenheim]

NYC - I hope that your appointment tomorrow goes well and that it''s ok for you to stay at home.

Thanks, Courtney! My abs have looked really weird whenever I contract them for the last two weeks or so (see below picture - I took it maybe 1.5 weeks ago), and I just realized today that the middle bulgy part is soft. 2 finger widths or more of softness means that your abs have separated, and I have somewhere between 2-3. Google tells me that most regular ab work is out, so if anyone else notices that they have this please do not take pictures of yourself flexing your abs on an exercise ball like I did! I emailed my midwife to ask what I should do to help it or at least prevent it from getting worse.

 

[Dreamer_D]

You guys are all so sweet wanting me to stick around! But today I have officially decided after seeing a FULL SIZE baby in my belly that keeping my baby in my tummy much longer is akin to letting my 20 year old keep living at home -- totally unnecessary!

I have enjoyed being pregnant a lot up until about 3 weeks ago when the physcial issues really began. I feel for all you mamas-to-be who have been having serious physical discomfort for so much longer! Today I walked to and from my u/s appointment, which is about 2km each way, and it felt soooo good to walk again! But now I am paying for it with some evil crotch pain

I also think I am coming down with a cold, and that means I will go into labour NOW when I am sick and overtired

Blen you look about the same in the picture but maybe different in person. That belly thing is odd! I notice that there is a bit of a dip down the middle of my belly, especially when I have BH, but it is less than a finger width.

NYC good to hear you are hanging in there! I remember NF saying that 32 weeks is a big milestone for twins, so maybe try to think about only 6 more weeks so you don''t feel like giving up? I know you will keep them babies in there as long as possible, but maybe if you don''t have to imagine 14 more weeks it won''t feel as bad!

China I personally would seek out a secodn and third opinion keep doing pilates ... the rule of thumb is that IF you have been doing the activity before being preggo you can keep it up during! Many women run 10ks when preggo and do well as long as they are in shape for it! I don''t see how pilates could hurt your baby, women the world over do much more strenuous things! Anyways, I''d seek out a second opinion. SOunds like your doc is just toeing the party line.

 

[sunkist]

Hi DD! I wanted to post in the Preggo thread and say good luck with the fast approaching delivery! I''m so excited for you. Your scan of the baby today sounds awesome! That''s amazing that can see all those things before the babe is born. Thanks for all the expert research help you give to us in the TTC thread

 

[robbie3982]

DD, Blen, Mela, and Sunkist thanks for the dress compliments!

DD, ok, so period cramps that have no pattern are not active labor, but ones that are timeable and with a pattern probably are? Glad to hear your u/s went well! Your baby sounds like a little overachiever. Awe. I''m with everyone else. I''m not ready to have you leave. I''m hoping you have time to stick around a bit after your little cutie pie is here.

Blen, sorry you''re swelling. I was having some a couple weeks ago, but it seems to have stopped. Not sure why. Maybe because I''ve been working from home with my feet up, lol. I don''t know that I''d say that you''ve popped again, but I think the belly has gotten a little bigger. Not a ton bigger though so I''m not sure why she''s making it out to be such a big deal. Did she think you''d stay the same size for the next 8 weeks? The separated abs sound painful. Owie. My aunt had that when she had my twin cousins.

NYC, good luck at your appointment today! I hope you get to stay home.

I''m working from home yet again today. I drove in to work to find that the power is still out and today our server is down too so I''m unable to even connect to our vpn. Oh well. I''m glad to work from home, but I''m annoyed that I had to drive in to work to find this out.

I thought my old hamstring injury (circa 1997 gym class) was acting up as it does every now and then, but I realized this morning that it''s actually sciatica since it starts right around those little knobby bones and goes down the back of my left leg.

At least it''s not as bad as what I thought sciatica would be. Hopefully it won''t get any worse.

 

[robbie3982]

Meant to mention that it''s a good thing I''m working from home since I''m pretty grumpy today due to the sciatica and some crazy dreams keeping me up. First I had a dream that we had a party at our house and someone came over and dressed our cat Katana (the white one if you''ve seen my pics) up in all, these silly outfits. I''m guessing that was from watching The Office last night since Angela was talking about doing it. Then I had a dream that DH and I decided to go on a babymoon to Sandals, but when we got there he morphed into my exbf and was a total jerk (quite in character for xbf), getting drunk and ignoring me and telling me that I needed to loosen up and have a beer. I screamed at him that i couldn''t have a beer because I was pregnant. I woke up mad at DH before I remembered that it was a dream and he''d never do that. Plus it wasn''t even him in the dream, lol.