Calling all the Pregnant PS''ers

[Mara]

happy birthday amber!!!

my coworker went for like 2 weeks at 3cm dilated. she said that all sorts of fun stuff was coming out at that point as well. 1cm is not too bad, another coworker went for 1.5 weeks that way then boom! i am hoping you go fast amber (or wait you wanted to wait right?!!)..! umm put the crib together? hehe.

snlee...i sat in the chair for a fair amt of time last nite holding portia (my sample child! HAHA) and i guess since i am pretty tall that it works well for my body...leaning my head back it fits perfectly on the headrest, my back isn't scooped out, etc. but i also don't forsee spending like hours in the chair...i would get bored there anyway. our couch is super comfy so i imagine i'll spend a lot of time on there. our house is very small, so i imagine i'll be moving all over for some variety! but good to know the chair is fab for reading time, since i plan to be doing a lot of that when he is bigger.

 

[AmberWaves]

Thanks Mara! I''m just so freaked out because I really thought I''d be closed up tight! She didn''t say what station the baby was at, just that she''s definitely way down in there. I need to pack my bag, clean the house, wash the dog. How weird is this?

 

[MonkeyPie]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMBER!!! Time to pack that bag, woman

Date: 11/5/2009 12:56:04 PM
Author: Mara
my coworker went for like 2 weeks at 3cm dilated. she said that all sorts of fun stuff was coming out at that point as well.

Oh EW. I imagine she lost her mucus plug, but what ELSE comes out?

 

[Burk]

Happy Birthday Amber!

I won''t go into detail again (since I''ve shared many times) but I also had what I would consider an "easy" delivery. LOVED my epi!! Maybe why I''m back at it again!

 

[Mara]

MP, imagine that your previously closed cervix is slightly open a few cm. This is my first time doing this, hahaha...but Moms have told me that you get a little ''leaky'' I guess while the cervix is open. I don''t think 1cm does much, but I think larger has potential. Fun!!!

 

[curlygirl]

MP, with my 2nd, I walked around for a couple weeks at 2-3cm and NOTHING came out! I never lost my mucous plug, no extra discharge or blood, nothing!! I guess everyone is different so don''t worry too much about losing parts of yourself if you''re dilated!

 

[NovemberBride]

Happy 30th Amber! I hope you do something fun with DH tonight. I love that you have wash the dog on your must do list. I usually wash our pooch since he is calmer with me than DH, but DH has had to take over that task since I can no longer bend over.

I wouldn''t freak out too much about being dilated, it seems like it isn''t much of an indication of when you''ll actually go into labor. One of my friends that just had a baby walked around at 4 cm for 3 weeks. She tried every home remedy in the book and still did not go into labor. I have several other friends that were told they were closed up tight only to have the baby within 48 hours or less. Since I am 38 weeks and not dilated at all, I am hoping to be in the latter camp!

Cello, I hope you dr. is able to come up with a solution to help you feel better. You have had a rough pregnancy with a lot of life changes, so it is completely understandable that you are feeling the way you are.

I just found out my work is throwing a shower for me next Friday, which is really nice since we recently filed for bankruptcy and I know everyone is stressed out with a lot on their minds. I am hoping that will be my last day in the office, although I am tempted to keep working until I go into labor (due date is the following Thurs.). On the other hand, I really don''t want to go into labor at work since I don''t work near DH or my hospital and have no real plan for getting home or to the hospital if I do go into labor here. What is everyone else doing in that situation? I am considering asking if I can work from home that last week so that I am not using up my leave.

I am so ready for Olivia to come, I think part of my problem is that I am such a planner I literally have nothing to do but wait. Her room is done, every article of clothing is washed and put away, the house is clean, my hospital bag is packed, camera is charged, etc. Others have suggested doing things with DH that we won;t be able to do for a while after baby is born, but I am getting so uncomfortable that there isn''t much I feel like doing. Oh well, it won''t be long now.

 

[Sha]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about labour and delivery, everyone.

It seems that epidurals make the process a lot pleasanter, huh? I don''t think I would be feeling so anxious now if I was going to have a scheduled C-section or epi, honestly. It would be more excitement about '' meeting the baby''. Now, my excitement is clouded by thoughts of all the pain I have to go through before I get to meet my little one.

It''s reallly making me anxious - but I guess I just have to mentally prepare myself. I don''t have a choice! Even if I wanted an epidural I couldn''t get one easily, as they don''t routinely them in my country the way the do in the U.S. Most of the births are natural births with just a bit of pain relief.

So trust me, I''ve heard lots of horror stories in the past few days! It really isn''t making the thought of labour any easier. ]

The primal screaming thing is also sooo not me.....I''m a very private and calm person usually, who hates being in the spotlight. The thought of writhing around, howling in pain in front of a bunch of nurses and doctors is really, really unappealing!!

Then there are all the wonderful thoughts about tearing and episiotomies.

It seems as if my doc likes to do them regularly...so I''m trying to lessen the chances of getting one by doing the perineal massage. It is kind of uncomfortable and weird, ''stretching'' out that area, but I guess it''s nothing compared to the discomfort I''ll feel while giving birth!

MonkeyPie, there''s evidence that the perineal massages lessen your chances of tearing/episiotomy by 20% I think. Worth a try, in my book.

 

[Sha]

Date: 11/5/2009 4:09:31 PM
Author: NovemberBride
Happy 30th Amber! I hope you do something fun with DH tonight. I love that you have wash the dog on your must do list. I usually wash our pooch since he is calmer with me than DH, but DH has had to take over that task since I can no longer bend over.

I wouldn''t freak out too much about being dilated, it seems like it isn''t much of an indication of when you''ll actually go into labor. One of my friends that just had a baby walked around at 4 cm for 3 weeks. She tried every home remedy in the book and still did not go into labor. I have several other friends that were told they were closed up tight only to have the baby within 48 hours or less. Since I am 38 weeks and not dilated at all, I am hoping to be in the latter camp!

Cello, I hope you dr. is able to come up with a solution to help you feel better. You have had a rough pregnancy with a lot of life changes, so it is completely understandable that you are feeling the way you are.

I just found out my work is throwing a shower for me next Friday, which is really nice since we recently filed for bankruptcy and I know everyone is stressed out with a lot on their minds. I am hoping that will be my last day in the office, although I am tempted to keep working until I go into labor (due date is the following Thurs.). On the other hand, I really don''t want to go into labor at work since I don''t work near DH or my hospital and have no real plan for getting home or to the hospital if I do go into labor here. What is everyone else doing in that situation? I am considering asking if I can work from home that last week so that I am not using up my leave.

I am so ready for Olivia to come, I think part of my problem is that I am such a planner I literally have nothing to do but wait. Her room is done, every article of clothing is washed and put away, the house is clean, my hospital bag is packed, camera is charged, etc. Others have suggested doing things with DH that we won;t be able to do for a while after baby is born, but I am getting so uncomfortable that there isn''t much I feel like doing. Oh well, it won''t be long now.

That''s nice that your work is throwing you a shower!

I think it would be a bit risky to work right up till you go into labour, if it would be difficult for you to get home to or to the hospital. Working from home the last week sounds like a good compromise, though!

I''ll be working up till one week before my due date.

 

[sunkist]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMBER!!

Wow, I can''t believe you''re already dialiated 1 cm

I haven''t had an internal. No idea what I''m at. How exciting!!!!!

 

[MonkeyPie]

It''s good to know I won''t possibly be leaking fluids for weeks up to the labor lol. My luck will be my water breaks at work or something - yay!

Date: 11/5/2009 4:09:31 PM
Author: NovemberBride
I just found out my work is throwing a shower for me next Friday, which is really nice since we recently filed for bankruptcy and I know everyone is stressed out with a lot on their minds. I am hoping that will be my last day in the office, although I am tempted to keep working until I go into labor (due date is the following Thurs.). On the other hand, I really don''t want to go into labor at work since I don''t work near DH or my hospital and have no real plan for getting home or to the hospital if I do go into labor here. What is everyone else doing in that situation? I am considering asking if I can work from home that last week so that I am not using up my leave.

If I were you, I would hold out as long as possible but the moment you feel ANYTHING like labor (back pain, headaches, or what have you), bail. It''s hard when you work far away from everything, so try to give yourself some leeway.

 

[AmberWaves]

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, everyone!

November, I plan to work until I pop (please not the water, though!), but that's because a.) I work closer to the hospital than I am at home b.) DH is also closer to the hospital at work c.) if DH can't leave right away my co-workers will take me d.) I have a very low stress job where I sit and nap or play Facebook scrabble all day. If I were you, I'd probably work from home if you could, since the idea of being farther from the hospital would drive me insane. The shower from work is so sweet! Yeah, the only thing that's keeping me from going home right now to bathe the dog in my hospital bag while doing the crib linen laundry out in the backseat of our car is knowing the dilation really isn't a sign things are going to happen right away. Otherwise I'd be laying on the ground in a tizzy. It sounds like you need to help ME get ready for our baby! [ It's funny, all the stuff you have done I haven't done. Well, her clothes are (mostly) washed and put away.

Sunkist: When do you think your doc will do a cervix checK? I get another one next week.

ETA: I forgot to mention: I'm Strep negative! Such a relief.

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

Date: 11/5/2009 4:17:45 PM
Author: Sha
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about labour and delivery, everyone.

It seems that epidurals make the process a lot pleasanter, huh? I don''t think I would be feeling so anxious now if I was going to have a scheduled C-section or epi, honestly. It would be more excitement about '' meeting the baby''. Now, my excitement is clouded by thoughts of all the pain I have to go through before I get to meet my little one.

It''s reallly making me anxious - but I guess I just have to mentally prepare myself. I don''t have a choice! Even if I wanted an epidural I couldn''t get one easily, as they don''t routinely them in my country the way the do in the U.S. Most of the births are natural births with just a bit of pain relief.

So trust me, I''ve heard lots of horror stories in the past few days! It really isn''t making the thought of labour any easier. ]

The primal screaming thing is also sooo not me.....I''m a very private and calm person usually, who hates being in the spotlight. The thought of writhing around, howling in pain in front of a bunch of nurses and doctors is really, really unappealing!!

Then there are all the wonderful thoughts about tearing and episiotomies.

It seems as if my doc likes to do them regularly...so I''m trying to lessen the chances of getting one by doing the perineal massage. It is kind of uncomfortable and weird, ''stretching'' out that area, but I guess it''s nothing compared to the discomfort I''ll feel while giving birth!

MonkeyPie, there''s evidence that the perineal massages lessen your chances of tearing/episiotomy by 20% I think. Worth a try, in my book.

Sha, where are you? I''m in the UK and I only had an epi because I was induced at one point. They aren''t routine here, although they are an option. I''d booked a waterbirth suite, so if things had gone to plan, I wouldn''t have had one at all. I was offered the epi when we decided it was safer to induce labour, but I went a good seven hours beyond then without it and it was ok. The pain was ok, manageable and positive. I don''t even want to call it pain, because it was different to anything I''ve experienced before. You will cope with it, because it''s part of a process. I''m not explaining this very well, but usually when you''re in pain it''s because something is wrong that you need to fix / stop from happening. This is different, that imperative to stop the negative thing isn''t there. Does that make any sense at all?!

I had the epi in the end on the advice of my midwife because I was getting so tired and at that point we were still hopeful for a VB. It wasn''t because it was too painful or unbearable or anything, it was just to give me a ''rest'' so I could push later. I was more scared of an epi that I was of pain, to be honest (needle phobia) but it was totally fine, I barely noticed it.

I''m a fairly private person too, and I didn''t make any noise (but then, I didn''t have a VB in the end either). The hospital staff seemed fairly tuned in to me, and if anyone was doing anything um, intimate, they would make sure there wasn''t anyone there who didn''t absolutely have to be (that was in my birthplan). They were very respectful and for all it isn''t pretty, I never felt like I lost my dignity or that I lost control of what was happening. I remember laughing a lot and joking with my anaesthetist (a lovely man, we''ve stayed in touch) about whether we should shave DH''s eyebrows when he fell asleep "just for a moment" LOL.

Please don''t be scared, it''s going to be fine. Honestly. If I got through it happily, you will be absolutely fine. Before my pregnancy, I had a very real medical phobia -of hospitals / needles/ anything invasive. It was so extreme at one point that I refused treatement for a suspected eptopic pregnancy. I signed the waiver essentially to go home and die rather than accept surgery (obviously I didn''t die, but at the time, it was a real possibilty). My Dr even tried to get a court order to over ride my non consent. I am aware that I sound like an out and out nutcase here,

but my point is that if I can not only get through L&D but actually enjoy it, then ANYONE can!
I''m just annoyed that women tell scare stories, because that blighted my own pregnancy. I just want to redress the balance a little. I''ll shut up in a moment, but please know that you can do this (Sha and anyone else here who is nervous) and you''ll be soooo glad that you did. It''s totally worth it, and it''s fine. Honestly!

BTW, PS is good for this - Mrs Salvo talked me down when I was truly afraid before L&D. I actually remembered her words on the drive to the hospital. I''m very grateful to you, MrsS!

Jen


Jen

 

[Sha]

Date: 11/5/2009 5:23:33 PM
Author: Mrs Mitchell

Date: 11/5/2009 4:17:45 PM
Author: Sha
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about labour and delivery, everyone.

It seems that epidurals make the process a lot pleasanter, huh? I don''t think I would be feeling so anxious now if I was going to have a scheduled C-section or epi, honestly. It would be more excitement about '' meeting the baby''. Now, my excitement is clouded by thoughts of all the pain I have to go through before I get to meet my little one.

It''s reallly making me anxious - but I guess I just have to mentally prepare myself. I don''t have a choice! Even if I wanted an epidural I couldn''t get one easily, as they don''t routinely them in my country the way the do in the U.S. Most of the births are natural births with just a bit of pain relief.

So trust me, I''ve heard lots of horror stories in the past few days! It really isn''t making the thought of labour any easier. ]

The primal screaming thing is also sooo not me.....I''m a very private and calm person usually, who hates being in the spotlight. The thought of writhing around, howling in pain in front of a bunch of nurses and doctors is really, really unappealing!!

Then there are all the wonderful thoughts about tearing and episiotomies.

It seems as if my doc likes to do them regularly...so I''m trying to lessen the chances of getting one by doing the perineal massage. It is kind of uncomfortable and weird, ''stretching'' out that area, but I guess it''s nothing compared to the discomfort I''ll feel while giving birth!

MonkeyPie, there''s evidence that the perineal massages lessen your chances of tearing/episiotomy by 20% I think. Worth a try, in my book.

Sha, where are you? I''m in the UK and I only had an epi because I was induced at one point. They aren''t routine here, although they are an option. I''d booked a waterbirth suite, so if things had gone to plan, I wouldn''t have had one at all. I was offered the epi when we decided it was safer to induce labour, but I went a good seven hours beyond then without it and it was ok. The pain was ok, manageable and positive. I don''t even want to call it pain, because it was different to anything I''ve experienced before. You will cope with it, because it''s part of a process. I''m not explaining this very well, but usually when you''re in pain it''s because something is wrong that you need to fix / stop from happening. This is different, that imperative to stop the negative thing isn''t there. Does that make any sense at all?!

I had the epi in the end on the advice of my midwife because I was getting so tired and at that point we were still hopeful for a VB. It wasn''t because it was too painful or unbearable or anything, it was just to give me a ''rest'' so I could push later. I was more scared of an epi that I was of pain, to be honest (needle phobia) but it was totally fine, I barely noticed it.

I''m a fairly private person too, and I didn''t make any noise (but then, I didn''t have a VB in the end either). The hospital staff seemed fairly tuned in to me, and if anyone was doing anything um, intimate, they would make sure there wasn''t anyone there who didn''t absolutely have to be (that was in my birthplan). They were very respectful and for all it isn''t pretty, I never felt like I lost my dignity or that I lost control of what was happening. I remember laughing a lot and joking with my anaesthetist (a lovely man, we''ve stayed in touch) about whether we should shave DH''s eyebrows when he fell asleep ''just for a moment'' LOL.

Please don''t be scared, it''s going to be fine. Honestly. If I got through it happily, you will be absolutely fine. Before my pregnancy, I had a very real medical phobia -of hospitals / needles/ anything invasive. It was so extreme at one point that I refused treatement for a suspected eptopic pregnancy. I signed the waiver essentially to go home and die rather than accept surgery (obviously I didn''t die, but at the time, it was a real possibilty). My Dr even tried to get a court order to over ride my non consent. I am aware that I sound like an out and out nutcase here,

but my point is that if I can not only get through L&D but actually enjoy it, then ANYONE can!
I''m just annoyed that women tell scare stories, because that blighted my own pregnancy. I just want to redress the balance a little. I''ll shut up in a moment, but please know that you can do this (Sha and anyone else here who is nervous) and you''ll be soooo glad that you did. It''s totally worth it, and it''s fine. Honestly!

BTW, PS is good for this - Mrs Salvo talked me down when I was truly afraid before L&D. I actually remembered her words on the drive to the hospital. I''m very grateful to you, MrsS!

Jen


Jen

Hi Mrs. Mitchell,

Thanks so much for your encouragement and positive words!!!

It does make me feel more comforted.

I really hate pain, although I can tolerate it if I have to.....but it sounds like you''re ''worse'' than me!

So I guess I can get through it as well.

I completely get what you''re saying about the pain being ''part of a process'' (a wonderful one, at that!), and not that something is wrong. I plan to remind myself of that during labour....the fact that every ''pain''/contraction brings me closer to meeting my little one!

Whenever I think about that I do feel a bit less anxious. Thanks for that reminder!

By the way, I''m from a tiny island in the Caribbean..... no routine epidurals here!

 

[sunkist]

Amber, yay for being strep negative! Hey sounds like you have a cool job I guess I"ll ask the doc on Monday when he thinks we''ll start doing internals.

November, I worked 45 minutes from home and hospital and I just started working from home this week. I was thinking I''d work at the office until I went into labor, but now working from home is pretty sweet too But if I were at the office, I was just going to head home when I felt any sort of contraction start. Drive while I still could, you know. I figured most labors come on gradually and not all at once, so I thought I''d have time. But if you can work from home, I''d recommend it. There are so many fewer distractions now, I feel like I''m mostly on call and I can do other stuff in the mean time! It''s great
Yay for the baby shower at work! That will be fun. Sorry to hear about the company filing bankruptcy. I know all that money stuff is so stressful. I hope you guys turn out ok.

 

[Sha]

Enjoy your last pre-mom birthday, Amber!

drk - I meant to chime in earlier and agree with everyone that you look really TINY for 22 weeks!! Amazing!!

 

[lili]

L&D:
Add mine to the uplifting delivery story.
I had a pretty fast and easy labor w/o drugs.
I didn''t feel any contractions until 1.5hr after my water broke.
Pushed for 15 minutes for my DD to come out.
So depending whether you count water breaking or contractions as start of labor, my labor was 2-3.5 hrs long.

Perineal Massage:
Didn''t do any prior to labor.
My midwife did it in between pushing.
She did have to do a tiny episiotomy because I was starting to tear.
Ended up w/ 2 stitches.

Pain:
For me, the painful part of L&D is when I was in the transition phase where I dilated from 7 cm to 10 cm.
Didn''t really feel much pain when it came to pushing.
The burning sensation was uncomfortable but definitely bearable compared w/ the transition pain.
Didn''t even know that the midwife did the episio until I heard the snipping.
She gave me a local anesthetic prior to stitching, so that process was more like getting a shot.

 

[lili]

DrK--
Yup, you really look tiny for 22wks.

Sunkist--
You too.
Such a cute little belly.
And how nice of your community church to throw you a shower.

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

Sha, it will be fantastic! You don't need an epi - nice optional extra but not essential! I'd trade it for a week in the Carribean any day.

When's your due date? I'll send you all the positive vibes I can find!

If I can do it, OMG, anyone can!

Enjoy every minute, it's really precious. I loved it in the end. Truly. Five minutes after it was over, I asked DD if she'd like a sibling.
Jen

ETA I still hate pain - I just cried (really!) over a paper cut LOL. L&D is just different.

 

[qtiekiki]

Sha
Don''t worry too much about the pain. Everyone I know who went natural said that the whole experience (the feeling of pain and just being in control of the body) was empowering. I am sure you''ll do great.

 

[meresal]

Happy Birthday Amber!!! Hope you have a great time tonight!!!

 

[vespergirl]

snlee, you''re the only other person I know who pushed for 4.5 hours! I pushed for the exact same amount of time, but mine did end with vacuum extraction.

I agree with snlee''s story in that while I did have a very difficult labor (with an epidural) it was absolutely rewarding in the end. However, I was one of the only 10% of women who''s water breaks before the baby started dropping position at all and natural contractions never started for me, so that doesn''t frequently happen - they had to force the baby out with Pitocin when he wasn''t ready to come out, but my situation was very rare, and not at all a typical labor experience.

Sha, I think part of what made it so scary the first time was the fear of the unknown, being a first-time mother. As weird as it sounds, I am actually looking forward to labor and delivery now with my second. I know now that there really isn''t anything to be scared of, and I can handle whatever comes, and it will be totally worth it in the end. I do highly recommend an epidural if you can get one.

I also have to say that my episiotomy went perfectly. It was tiny (only two stitches) and the doctor told me that he had to do it for the vacuum extraction. I had absolutely no tearing, only the episiotomy, and it was totally healed in a few days - there was very little discomfort.

 

[drk]

Not-so-fun day with more tightenings than usual here, so all this birth story stuff is a good distraction.

Amber - glad all''s well!

Thanks for the nice words about my crummy photo. I guess when you''ve got a small baby (she''s measuring behind, I think maybe 20-25th percentile) and you''re 6'' tall, this must be the result. I''ll be trying to pack in more calories before my next week''s visit, and will be praying all this uterine activity settles down again. I cut the midday dose of my progesterone in half yesterday, and cut it out entirely today, as well as spacing the two doses out to 12 hours apart. Just please let me make it 8 more days to 24 weeks with no cervical changes. And then minimal cervical change after that would be great till about 32 weeks too. I''m getting more hopeful as the weeks pass and things stay ok, but I''m still terrified that that could change at any time. I''ll just have to keep on praying for the best.

I''m looking forward to seeing everyone else''s bellies tomorrow. It''s really amazing how differently each of us carries.

 

[swimmer]

DrK, will you have bleeding b/c of cutting the prog down so quickly? It took me three weeks to wean off of it b/c my doc knew that I would react poorly to blood. She said it would just be from the prog level changes and would be meaningless, I am sure you know of this s/e but just wanted to check in on it. Mostly, how can you be so insanely tiny lady? the prog had me so bloated with constipation I looked like a piggy, it was such a relief to go off of it. Above all, your baby is going to be so amazing!

 

[ChinaCat]

Just popping in to say happiest birthday wishes to AMBER!!!

And congrats to VIZLA!!!!! I''ve been lurking on this thread waiting for your news!

I just love the name Charlie. Hope you''re doing well and hope to see you on the newborn thread when you find some free time.

 

[ljmorgan]

It is wonderful hearing all of the positive L&D stories. My best piece of advice RE: labor and delivery -- be flexible! It is fine to have a birth plan, to be prepared, to visualize and practice -- but in the end, be flexible. The most important thing about birth is that your baby is here! Sometimes women become so focused on the delivery, how the plan went awry, how they feel betrayed that they ended up with a C/S, that they lose sight that the whole experience is such a miracle no matter which way it goes. My birth resulted in a not living child, and was still an amazing experience. Just be excited about meeting your baby very soon!

So I had a OB/GYN appt today and was prescribed sublingual Zofran and Phenergren (sp?) to combat my severe m/s. Have now lost 8 lbs. and was definitely sitting on the kitchen floor this morning dissolved into tears after a particularly bad night/morning. So tired of the throwing up, haven''t been able to keep food/liquids down, etc. My OB was so sweet, switched me to the sublingual Zofran because it absorbs into the system better/faster than the tabs I am taking now, and the other medication for night time. She is concerned about dehydration, and if I can''t keep anything down by morning she says I''ll need to go to the hospital for IV hydration

She isn''t worried about food intake, she said that in the first trimester it doesn''t matter, it''s just the dehydration that becomes a problem. Can I just say that I have great insurance, but that 20 days worth of the GENERIC sublingual zofran cost $212! Insanity. The generic non-dissolving tablets cost like $14 for 20 days... so crazy. I swear, these dissolving pills had better be freaking miraculous... if they actually work it will be well worth it, but I''m a little skeptical since it''s the same medication that hasn''t been helping me. We''ll see how I am in the morning...

 

[qtiekiki]

Forgot to say happy birthday to Amber.

HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY AMBER!!!

Your birthday is our wedding anniversary.

 

[anchor31]

Thanks again for the comments on L&D. I have my birth plan, yes, but I do understand the important of being flexible, I know that things don''t always turn out as planned (it certainly didn''t go as planned for my mom who had premmie twins or my grandma who had two emergency c-sections!). I just want to make sure that DH and mom are aware of my preferences so they can speak on my behalf if needed. DH and I also wanted to discuss worse case scenarios. Not a fun conversation to have (poor DH confessed he had a nightmare about me dying in childbirth and he cried

), but I think it''s important to talk about our fears.

drk - Yeah, I guess you being so tall helps! I''m just 5''1", so it makes a difference. I''m sending you some dust for no cervix change... I hope things get easier for you.

Lindsey - I''m sorry your feeling so crummy. Medication is so expensive! Do you have insurance to cover it?

 

[drk]

Swimmer - for now he just wanted me to cut back to 200 twice a day rather than three times a day. I did that at 13 weeks, without any problem, and just went back up on the dose at 16.5 weeks when all this started happening. I think by this stage of pregnancy, the placenta is supposed to be pumping out good levels of progesterone on its own anyhow, so the amount added by the suppositories is probably not as significant as it was at 13 weeks. At least the cervix bleeding from yesterday''s not-so-fun speculum exam and swabs has gone away again, so that''s a relief. Tightenings are maybe a little less this evening, so hopefully they''ll be better still by tomorrow. If I have another bad day tomorrow, I might just up the progesterone again, and try again next week.

Talked to my department chief tonight - sounds like they''re coping just fine without me, and haven''t cancelled any ORs, and he wasn''t upset to hear that I''ll most likely be off for another 5 weeks, so that was good news to me. And my H1N1 arm is only a little sore tonight, and the nausea is gone.

 

[Mara]

drk, sorry to hear you are having a rough day..just stay relaxed and try to enjoy the time...with every passing week hopefully you will feel a bit better. eat some ice cream too!

lindsey, gee sorry about the extreme m/s! were you this sick last time?? honestly as crappy as i felt during the first tri...i know that so many ladies have it way worse, i just kept reminding myself of that. not that i am saying you should, becuase you hvae it WAY rougher, but it passes, that's the good thing. i just kept reminding myself 'finite period of time'.

i am 28 weeks on sunday. it's kind of crazy, on one hand the time passes so slowly for me because we are anxious to see our little boy, but on the other hand the weeks seem to pass overall quite quickly. speaking of him, thank god today he has been bladder behaving and seems to have moved back up into his usual positioning.

made us chicken and dumplings for dinner and got us a punkie pie for dessert, YUM! lots of whipped cream for me please. this is the end of the third week that i have not gained any weight. most of it for me is that i can't eat a lot..and at night i get heartburn so my portions are not very big. and i am walking every other day...not very far but i guess it's something.

amber, yay for strep neg!
sunkist, lol sorry to freak you out about being almost next..

november, enjoy your shower! that is sweet.
mrs mitchell, i am a huge wuss when it comes to pain too, but i hope to be able to just suck it up. epidural for sure i think.
anchor...aww your poor DH. i don't have a birth plan, i almost want to stay in denial and just also be flexible with whatever needs to happen. i guess we should also talk about what might happen, though that sounds depressing re: worst case...it probably is good to have down.

re stopping working, i am going to take the 2 weeks CA affords before the birth since my company will pay up to 8 weeks (2 before and 6 after) at 100%. so i figure why not. depending on how i feel i might work from home for a week or two beforehand. the only thing is if i am a week or two late, i don't know how that works for the 8 weeks...gotta find that out.