Calling all the Pregnant PS''ers

[Pandora II]

Kegels: DO THEM RELIGIOUSLY!

Seriously, Daisy had better bladder control than I did for the first couple of weeks PP and now almost 6 months later, I still wouldn''t say that it''s 100%. The physio''s said that the reason I was getting control back as fast as I was was entirely due to having strong core abdominals and pelvic floor muscles to start with.

Sunkist - Get the biggest pads you can get your hands on. I didn''t bleed that badly - lost most of it on the floor of the OT I think - but I still used two at a time the first few days, and if you have any degree of incontinence then you will definitely want the large ones!

Epidurals - Mine was a breeze. Painless going in and the world was a happier place within minutes. Mine was patient controlled so I kept it at a level where I could feel that a contraction was happening but had no pain. Once I was 10 cm, they left me to rest for nearly 2 hours so that the head could descend more, during this time I let the epi wear off so that I could feel as much as possible for pushing. Unfortunately I never got the ''wanting to push'' feeling as her head was already jammed in the wrong place, so I had huge problems working out how and where I was supposed to be aiming my pushing!

I can''t comment on the throwing up thing - I''m opiate dependant, so I tolerate very high doses of morphine etc, although I do normally take an antihistimine as they can make you very itchy, and so would be unlikely to be ill.

 

[Bliss]

Date: 11/10/2009 5:25:57 PM
Author: Pandora II
Kegels: DO THEM RELIGIOUSLY!


Seriously, Daisy had better bladder control than I did for the first couple of weeks PP and now almost 6 months later, I still wouldn't say that it's 100%. The physio's said that the reason I was getting control back as fast as I was was entirely due to having strong core abdominals and pelvic floor muscles to start with.


Sunkist - Get the biggest pads you can get your hands on. I didn't bleed that badly - lost most of it on the floor of the OT I think - but I still used two at a time the first few days, and if you have any degree of incontinence then you will definitely want the large ones!


Epidurals - Mine was a breeze. Painless going in and the world was a happier place within minutes. Mine was patient controlled so I kept it at a level where I could feel that a contraction was happening but had no pain. Once I was 10 cm, they left me to rest for nearly 2 hours so that the head could descend more, during this time I let the epi wear off so that I could feel as much as possible for pushing. Unfortunately I never got the 'wanting to push' feeling as her head was already jammed in the wrong place, so I had huge problems working out how and where I was supposed to be aiming my pushing!


I can't comment on the throwing up thing - I'm opiate dependant, so I tolerate very high doses of morphine etc, although I do normally take an antihistimine as they can make you very itchy, and so would be unlikely to be ill.

See, Mara? Pandora is wise!

Go ahead and try the #2! LOL. You're on your way to Becoming A Kegel Master!
Don't do it when you're expecting company, though!

They say it's helpful to do kegels while brushing your teeth just because that's built in time twice a day.
Mara, you can do yours while frosting cupcakes! LMAO.

 

[sunkist]

Kegels and frosting cupcakes!! Classic

hahahahaha!

 

[Sha]

Date: 11/10/2009 3:44:06 PM
Author: Bliss
Hahahahaha! So true.

The good thing is, although it makes us *feel* like we have to pee...
If we do them, we won''t actually PEE when we LOL! (Hopefully!)

Sunkist! I always forget, too. Maybe we should do daily reminders...and mix it up with different numbers of reps and sets!

ROFL.

I was just thinking, across the US... PS women will be doing random sets of Kegels at their desks in unison!
One...two...three...

Awesome!

Ha, ha! Thanks, Bliss!

I''ve been meaning to do mine but keep forgetting!

Doing them now...

 

[MonkeyPie]

I tend to do it all day long, without realizing it. But when I did it on purpose earlier, it just made me feel like I had to pee rofl.

Though I guess this is good - since I got pregnant, it''s like the switch in my head that tells me my bladder is full is totally gone. I never know if I have to pee or not, so I just make myself pee every couple hours, more if I have a lot of water. It''s annoying.

 

[steph72276]

This is probably a stupid question, but are you supposed to do Kegels if you are having a c section? I never had an issue with it after my first c section, so I don''t know if there is a difference?

 

[steph72276]

Oh also, since it appears all baby stores are taking off their roman shades for safety purposes, what do you guys think about this valance in my nursery? Does it go with it?http://www.rhbabyandchild.com/rhbc/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=rhbc_prod102158&navAction=jump&link=link=mi_pin_dot_cotton_canvas_valances&cm_re=MI-_-MainImage-_-PinDotCottonCanvasValances Thanks!

 

[qtiekiki]

I was admitted to the hospital last night for severe left back pain. OB thought that I have kidney stones, and he was right. They found two stones in my left kidney at the u/s. It was so painful. OB prescribed vicodin and antibiotics. I basically have to drink lots of liquid for the stones to pass. I''ve been throwing up every time the pain medication starts wearing off. It''s horrible.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 11/10/2009 8:38:56 PM
Author: steph72276
This is probably a stupid question, but are you supposed to do Kegels if you are having a c section? I never had an issue with it after my first c section, so I don't know if there is a difference?

Nope! One of the benefits-no incontinence issues.

Although they never hurt anyone!

 

[sunkist]

Oh my gosh QT! I''m so sorry to hear you have kidney stones

I hope you feel better soon! Take care.

 

[cdt1101]

Date: 11/11/2009 1:01:30 AM
Author: qtiekiki
I was admitted to the hospital last night for severe left back pain. OB thought that I have kidney stones, and he was right. They found two stones in my left kidney at the u/s. It was so painful. OB prescribed vicodin and antibiotics. I basically have to drink lots of liquid for the stones to pass. I've been throwing up every time the pain medication starts wearing off. It's horrible.

Oh man....I feel your pain. I had kidney stones too during pregnancy. Honestly I thought the pain of that was much worse than labor. I also threw up quite a bit from the pain. I'm glad at this point they are at least letting you try to ride it out. For me, the pain got so unmanageable they put a stint in to open up my ureter and kept it in until after I gave birth. The stint was the MOST painful thing in my life! I was put on bed rest just to cope and on a lot of pain medication for the last 7 weeks of my pregnancy. I REALLY hope you are able to pass the stones quickly and no stint is needed! Hang in there

 

[steph72276]

QT, oh no! I hope you feel better really soon. So sorry you are in pain. Take care of yourself.

 

[drk]

QT - so sorry to hear this! A stent (if necessary) would be better than urine staying backed up in the kidney and potentially becoming infected. I sure hope it doesn''t get to that point, and that the stones are small enough for you to pass them in the very near future.

MFM appointment in another 3 hours. Hope all still looks good. I went over to our new house yesterday with the designer to take measurements and stuff. He''s such a fun guy, and I love my new house, so it was a good morning. Even though I was worried at being more active than usual. Then last night we went to our first of 5 hypnobirthing classes. Luckily there''s only us and one other couple (the Sat class is super full, this one 1-3 couples short of the usual), so it didn''t take the full 2.5 hours. I was able to lie on a yoga mat with a pillow the whole time without feeling to strange, which was nice. And the organic homemade chocolate cake the teacher brought along for a snack was fantastic!

 

[steph72276]

Good morning ladies. I'm feeling a little down today...I'm sure it's the hormones hard at work

. I think I am just letting everyone's comments about how I look get to me. Like the comment from my MIL last week when she said "are you sure the baby's okay, you look too small". And looks from strangers when they find out how far along I am. I think yesterday just did it for me. I worked as a volunteer at my son's school for an event they were having. One of the other moms came up to me...she was VERY obviously pregnant and said "I saw you rubbing your belly, are you pregnant?" I said yes and she asked how far along I am, and when I said 28 weeks, her eyes about bugged out of her head. She was only 13 weeks along but at least double, if not triple, belly size. I know I shouldn't worry since we've had several ultrasounds and he's been right on track, he is super active, so I feel him move all throughout the day, and all my office visits have been fine and my doc has said nothing about my belly being on the small side. I have gained anywhere from 22-24 pounds (depending on salt intake), so I feel normal in that aspect, it's just not going to the belly. I just can't get people's words out of my head and I am worried he's not developing normally. I was HUGE with my first son, so I guess that has something to do with my worries too. Anyway, I just needed to talk it out to others going through pregnancy. Thanks for listening!

 

[MonkeyPie]

QT, I hope they clear up quickly and without a stent - I have heard that those are more painful than the stones. At least they caught it right away!

steph, I''m sorry people are being insensitive

One of my best friends had the same problem, she was super tiny throughout her whole pregnancy and delivered a healthy 6 pound baby girl. Just keep thinking of that, that your LO is healthy and happy in there

 

[taovandel]

Easier said than done, obviously, but try to push their comments out of your head. The only opinion that matters is your doctors. If they aren''t saying you are measuring small then you are fine.

People have different ideas of what people should look like pregnant. In the same day (within hours) I would hear comments saying, "You are so tiny" to "you are huge!". As long as my doctor said I was fine, and I felt the baby moving---their opinions meant nothing to me. I would just smile and say, "I''m measuring right on, according to my doctor."

 

[Mara]

Steph, Tao is totally right, everyone has their own ideas on what''s normal for pregnancy. I also can hear ''you are so tiny'' to ''wow you''re getting big'' in the same day. Sometimes people tell me I''m so small. I feel like a hippo so of course I know I am not small, but I also have seen other preggos who are carrying much larger than me at the same time. And as at the same time, we know here are others who are very small! As long as you are measuring ok and your doctor is not worried, I would not be either. I go in to see my Dr today for my 4 week so she''ll see what I am measuring at...last visit I was 1.5 weeks ahead. So when people tell me I am small I would say ''that''s funny, doctor says belly is 1.5 weeks ahead!''. I love when they look all confused.

But I hear you on the hormones too... the last few days I sometimes get really low for no reason, just feeling not quite like myself and all these big changes coming, but thankfully it only lasts for a little while and I feel better. I also typically can ''recognize'' it as hormones even if it doesn''t make me feel better hehee.

Hang in there, we are close, esp you...closer than me!! You look fabulous and I am sure everything is just fine.

steph, i didnt click on the RH link yet, but before i forget wanted to say that they are having 20% F&F this week starting thurs so if you want to buy it, wait one more day..!! I wanted to get sheer green curtains to hang on either side of our shutters in the nursery, and I found some at BBB for a steal, $9.99 on clearance but I don''t like them on the windows, and the color is wrong, too sagey. So boo. I might nix that idea as it might be too much of a PITA.
I am super excited... we registered for the frog critter chair from PBK and i just looked at our registry and someone purchased it. it''s sooo cute, i can''t wait to see it!

Drk, hope the appt goes well!! And yay for new house stuff, how exciting! All sorts of fun things to look fwd to.

QT...sooo sorry to hear about the stones UGH! Hang in there and hope that they pass on their own, others have told me it''s horrible and to have to deal with it during pregnancy, really not fun. Was the back pain the only symptom? Are people more prone during preggo?

had another semi-restless night last nite. I am starting to feel like my happy sleeping days are over. The chinese cabbage is SUPER active now when I try to go to bed and it just keeps me from falling into a deep sleep so I wake up a lot. I went to bed really early at 9pm, so I got enough rest, but hopefully this doesn''t keep up. I remember Mandarine with her ''two bad nights, one good night'' towards the end and think GEE i have 3 months left! Could I get one more month of good sleep please? hehe.

one of my good friends is due with a baby girl in 4 weeks, so exciting! My Mom made her a beautiful blanket, I have to get off my butt and ship it before the baby comes!

 

[luvinlife]

Hi everyone,
I am a new poster to this forum, but I feel like I know many of you as I have been following your stories for while
I recently asked for bucket fulls of dust as we are pregnant with very high risk mono/mono twin. We are presently 9+3 weeks and have a incredible schedule ahead of us that includes bi weekl ultrasounds to check on our little ones.
We are psyched,but worried at the same time. I guess this worry is just the beginning of parenthood, right?
I don''t know where I am going to fit these twin even though won''t carried until 40 weeks.
At the present time I weigh about 96 lbs. When the doctor said he wanted to me go gain 35-40 lbs. and consume about 2700 calories per day, I almost fell out of the chair.
Any twin mommies or future mommies start out slow with weight gain and then ramp up?

I am glad this group is here to share to my happiness and worries with.
Thanks for reading

Amy (luvinlife)

Also, thanks for the dust ladies--keep those prayers coming...

 

[steph72276]

Aww, thanks ladies for the encouragement. Like Mara said, I *know* it is hormones doing it''s evil work inside my head, but when you hear things like "are you sure you''re baby is okay" numerous times, it kind of makes you wonder. I feel much better. Trust me, before I got pregnant I never heard you are too small...it''s only with the pregnancy that this is coming since I guess people expect the belly to be huge by 7 months. Thanks again!

Luvinlife, welcome to the thread. Lots of dust for your sweet babies!

 

[Mara]

luvin, welcome and lots of dust and good wishes for your babies!!! i don''t have any helpful twin tips, but it sounds like your doctors are being proactive which is wonderful. my neighbor has 1 year old twins and had to go on bed rest at 6 months...she hated how boring it was (and they were having a 2nd floor added onto their house so talk about being confined to just one room!), but they all made it just fine. hang in there!

lol steph i also rarely hear i am ''small'' in general given that i am tall and medium-framed so it''s funny when people think my belly is small. i am like YOU SURE?

but two of my coworkers who were small gals were huge at 7 months to where people doubted they''d make it the whole way, so it really is just so darn personal and even down to the baby itself! one of my coworkers was 100 lbs before and she was all just belly but it didn''t seem all that gigantic, however her baby was almost 8 lbs. and he''s giant now, almost 20 lbs and 8 months hehe. her first child was and still is very small, he''s 39 lbs and 4 years old! it totally varies.

 

[steph72276]

Oh Mara, meant to say I got the 20% of email last night for RH...that''s what made me check out their curtains. I just wish they had the stuff in their stores so I could check it out before ordering, but that valance isn''t too expensive. It was like $35 before the 20% off. I''m also going to check BBB now that you mentioned that, they have good deals on curtains sometimes.

 

[Bliss]

Steph, you have an awesome gorgeous figure and beautiful belly! I''m jealous, in fact! I wish I could look like you when I get to your stage of pregnancy! Maybe you can say, "I was huge my first pregnancy, but the second time around my body got more efficient and compact for the baby." I''m sure on the other end, hearing that one is mondo huge doesn''t feel good either. LOL.

I''m pretty sure I''m going to be extra sensitive to the comments no matter what they are! You should be proud of your gorgeous belly! I read in What to Expect When You''re Expecting that the second time, the belly gets bigger because all the abdominal muscles have been stretched out. Well, this means that you strengthened and tightened them back up, so I''d be proud of that! The body knows what the baby needs, so whatever size you are is perfect for the baby!

 

[Bliss]

All right, ladies!!!! You know what time it is!!!

*****KEGEL TIME!!!*****

Do 3 sets of 7, ladies!
Tighten for 3 seconds, then release for 3 seconds!

Don't forget to take deep relaxing breaths! Ahhhhhh...

Let's go, pretty mamas!

 

[Bia]

Date: 11/11/2009 11:53:53 AM
Author: Bliss
All right, ladies!!!! You know what time it is!!!

*****KEGEL TIME!!!*****

Do 3 sets of 7, ladies!
Tighten for 3 seconds, then release for 3 seconds!

Don''t forget to take deep relaxing breaths! Ahhhhhh...

Let''s go, pretty mamas!

lol Delurking to say you''re really cute Bliss!

Can I still do kegels? lmao

 

[steph72276]

Thanks so much Bliss! I lost 70 lbs after I had my first baby (55 from the pregnancy plus 15 more I needed to lose) and I gained quite a bit of muscle from the working out, so maybe that is why I''m not blowing up so much this time? Anyway, you have made me feel much better. Oh and you crack me up with the Kegels!

 

[steph72276]

Date: 11/11/2009 11:56:54 AM
Author: Bia

Date: 11/11/2009 11:53:53 AM

Author: Bliss

All right, ladies!!!! You know what time it is!!!

*****KEGEL TIME!!!*****





Do 3 sets of 7, ladies!

Tighten for 3 seconds, then release for 3 seconds!


Don't forget to take deep relaxing breaths! Ahhhhhh...


Let's go, pretty mamas!

lol Delurking to say you're really cute Bliss!


Can I still do kegels? lmao

Bia, I don't think it's ever too early to start!! Haha!

 

[Bliss]

Bia! LOL. Yes! Everyone should do kegels! The benefits are so awesome for just a few seconds of work. I sound like Denise Austin! LOLOLOL.

Steph, yeah... you are rockin' that cute belly. Bet the woman's eyes bugged out bc she felt huge next to you. I know I would! I'd be like, "Uh oh... I shouldn't have pressed my belly up against the glass of the doughnut shop and cried like Mara told me to if it ever closed early." You have the prettiest figure ever! I can definitely tell you are strong and fit just from the photo! Kudos!!!

 

[anchor31]

QT - I''m so sorry about the kidney stones! How horrible and painful it must be...

I''m sending lots of healing vibes to you.

steph - I''m sorry you''re feeling down. Down days are hard, and some thoughts you just can''t get out of your head! Like everyone said, don''t worry about people''s comments. You''ve seen my photos, I''m a petite gal and all of my weight gain has been in my belly, so I frequently get the "are you sure you''re not having twins/due earlier/going to carry them to term" questions. Way to boost a woman''s confidence, right?

luvinlife - Lots of healthy pregnancy dust to you. Wishing you and your little ones the best!

bliss - You''re hilarious! Thanks for the reminder, though, I always forget them.

I just had my 33-weeks appointment. Up to 26lbs, BP is normal, baby''s HB is great as usual. I''ve been having some pinching pain at the cervix since the internal two weeks ago and the doctor thought maybe it was a sign of progress, but I''m not dilated, so it''s all good. Still on pelvic rest though. It sucks. I''m horny (sorry TMI, but I had to say it!).

 

[snlee]

QT, oh no! So sorry to hear. How horrible. I hope you feel better very soon!!! Take good care of yourself. Hugs.

 

[drk]

Steph - as long as your baby''s been tracking well on those ultrasounds, I don''t think you''ve anything to worry about. Your weight gain so far is appropriate, and it probably is just being in better shape this time around. Strong stomach muscles can really make people look tiny.

LL - Sorry you''ll have the worries about a high-risk pg, but congrats! I doubt they''ll let you go past 32 weeks, 34 at the latest, so you probably won''t get as huge as you think you might. At 96lb pre-pg, you''ll end up targeting the upper end of weight gain to try to pack on as much as possible before the babies arrive. I''m sure Mandy and NF will be able to give you way better tips.

AFM - Cervix is still behaving at about 5.7cm long! Yay! Back again next week for another check, and then I think I''ll be getting biweekly checks. Probably will be allowed to restart work at around 28 weeks. Thank you God! This week, she''s a frank breech, with hands and feet pummeling me on the upper left above her head. She''s quite the acrobat.