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Calling all the Pregnant PS''ers

swimmer are you that close? i admit i havent been keeping track of the preggos lately, just know that vesper is overdue (BOO!! come on labor!).

anyway my dr told me i'd know the diff. and you are like 'what does THAT mean?'. i had BH for days and days on end. and even towards the end the BH seemed like they could be preliminary 'real' ones, but they sooo weren't haha. when i got my first contrax that was not BH, i was walking to the trash in the kitchen after eating dinner and stopped because i got a squeeze that felt different. more intense and a little more low and just 'more'. i don't even recall exactly what it felt like, just different. and from then i got them all night in slightly increased intensity.

i think you'll know when it is for sure, but hard to explain HOW. if it is the real thing...huge labor vibes!

vesper, lol re the baby center note. i remember getting that a few days after we came home with J and i was like 'how did babycenter know! they are psychic!'... well duh they just use your due date and assume the baby is here lol!! i hope you go sooo very soon. i remember that waiting game toooo well.

all the photos look great

jcrow, love the detailed story and emily is so beautiful!
 
Vesper - maybe you could talk them into a gel instead? Or they might just rupture your membranes. Hope you don''t make it to your induction hon - I feel for you!
 
Fisher! didn''t mean to excite you! Nope, I''m just trying to figure out what BH are, so I''m a whole level removed from labor. Only at a bit over 38 weeks now and I still figure he is safer and easier to care for inside. The OB has told me all along to mentally prepare myself for 42 weeks, but BH are supposed to be the warm up for labor and I''m just wondering.

Thanks Mara, nope, not wondering the diff b/w BH and labor, just what exactly BH are. Thanks, yeah, I''m next on the list. That is really really freaky. Weirder to have read that over and over when others post it and yeah...now I''m almost up.

Vesper, hope you are in labor naturally! Have you read The Doula Guide to Birth? Chapter 8 is all about how to have an awesome induction.
 
Happy Monday mommies to be! I woke up at 2:30 am bright eyed and bushy tailed. Okay, maybe I was awoken by my dog barking at who knows what for the umpteenth time last night. But once I was up, I was up and for once I got to leave DH snug in bed.

As some of you know, last night I decided to bake a cake. It was vanilla cake with Italian butter cream frosting and a fresh raspberry and lemon curd filling. It was to die for and I had two slices, one of which was around 9:30. BIG MISTAKE! I don''t know if I''ve got a bug or my body is just really upset with me, but I''m nauseous and have had to make numerous trips to the bathroom this morning. I''m hoping some crackers and ginger ale will help me get through the morning and I''m interested to see how much I weigh considering I''m all cleaned out internally.

19 weeks today, heading over to the OB around 11:15 to have my check up and chat about the amnio the peri wants me to have. I''m really on the fence about it, but I''m still a little creeped out about the scan last week and the peri''s reaction to it. I want another doc''s opinion of the situation before we take the leap. If we go for the amnio we''ll most likely have it later this week or very early next week so we have time for the results to come in and decide on our next steps before the 24 week mark.

On a more fun note, I *think* I might be feeling the little one. Still not 100% sure, I could be imagining it because it''s not all the time and really only when I press on my ute, but something is going on. I''ve also started getting these little localized pin pricks of discomfort in my abdomen that come and go. Not sure what that''s all about...
 
Swimmer--i was confused over what BH felt like too. For me, they are just a feeling of extreme tightness, like i am going to tear open from being stretched.That feeling fades in an out at various times in the day. Totally uncomfortable, but not really painful.
Real contrax are very defined and once est. very, painful.
It''s refreshing to hear of an OB that says to prepare mentally for 42 weeks. So many are induction happy once 39 weeks hits. Not many ppl actually go *truly* overdue (42+) but we all say we''re overdue once our DD goes by...as if the baby/body expires on that exact date.

Jcrow--beautiful little girl you have there. Love the labor notes


Vesper--hang in there hon. You do look great, hope it happens reallllly soon!!!!

Charger--wow, gorgeous view from your new place!!

HH--you do have a vanishing belly-funny. Hope you feel better soon
......


Fast approaching 34 weeks here. I feel like crap, but whatever. Nothing much else to report
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Jcrow- Emily is such a cutie, sounds like you did a wonderful job in adjusting to the surprise delivery

HH- Good luck on you decision

Vesper- Dust to You!!

Charger- Love the house pics, lets see that Belly!
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Swimmer- BH vs. Labor. - I think it completely depends on how your body handles the BH... For our first child, I had very few BH and it was CLEAR when contractions started becuase it was obvious massive "tightening" around my entire belly (especially low).. In this pregnancy, my BH that I have been having for the past 1 1/2 months have the ability to tighten my entire stomach to the hardness that my contractions did in early stage 1 labor from my first birth....


RE: Inductions
I read alot about the fear/avoidance to needing/using pitocin during labor and I think that the fear may be a little over rated... Everyones Body is Different I realize, but I just dont want all of the "first time moms" fearing the effects/severity of the contractions due to the medication.. I went into labor naturally with our first and my contractions wouldn''t stay regular for the first 35 hrs of labor so I required needing pitocin to keep them regular. I gladly took the pitocin- wanting the whole labor thing overwith already...haha- and the contractions were not any more severe than pre-pitocin... I went another 8-10 hours without an epidural managing pain with the bathtub/walking/etc.. (the hot tub/bath is WONDERFUL for back labor) then finally took the epidural at 42 hours becuase I needed some sleep before trying to push the little stubborn monster out..
Don''t get me wrong, I Completely respect the "let them come when their ready" theory, but I just wanted to share my story and point of view to kinda counter the "pitocin fear" that I see on here... If you/your doctor are considering induction, (and it has been clear throughout pregnancy that the baby is measuring normal) please dont dismiss the idea from the fear of pitocin.
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We got our 1st trimester screening results back. For someone my age the normal odds are 1:900 for Down''s and Trisomy 13 and 18. My results for downs came 1:4854 and 1:10,000 for the Trisomy 13 and 18 :) so we are happy!
 
Allie- Great news!!


DH & I have our 20 week check up/gender scan apt today!
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It feels like I''ve been waiting for this day FOREVER to come! Keeping our fingers crossed everything goes okay and our little baby is growing well! (and if we''re team pink or team blue... although we really dont have a preference!) Will keep u guys posted!
 
Date: 4/26/2010 11:08:31 AM
Author: lucy.lucy.80
Allie- Great news!!



DH & I have our 20 week check up/gender scan apt today!
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It feels like I''ve been waiting for this day FOREVER to come! Keeping our fingers crossed everything goes okay and our little baby is growing well! (and if we''re team pink or team blue... although we really dont have a preference!) Will keep u guys posted!
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Oh Yay! Do you have a gut feeling about which gender you have in there?
 
lucy, how exciting! Can''t wait to hear! I am thinking GIRL for you!


I didn''t get an u/s last Friday but we should find out the sex soon! I have an u/s on Wednesday and will be getting one every two weeks to keep an eye on my cervical length since I had PTL with my first. I have to decide if I want to get weekly progesterone shots. It''s such a difficult decision!
 
Yay for the good news Allie!

Good luck lucy.lucy! I vote Team PINK for you!
 
YAY Allie!!!!

Lucy-how exciting, I can''t wait to hear about your bean''s bits!

I met with my doc earlier today and she''s confident that Aidan is 100% ok and this is just an anomaly. All of our other results are great. In fact, our risk level from the AFP and NT scan came back lower than the average risk for my age. This blip, while doubling our chances from 1100 to 550 only drops us 200 points below the average for our age (which is 750). She said right now the chances of having a problem with the amnio are higher than having a baby with problems.

But I''m still on the fence. I went to the appointment with the hopes of her helping me make the decision (obv she can''t do that, but giving me the tools to make the decision). So while logically I know the chances are slim, I still kind of feel like I should have the amnio just in case. I don''t know if it''s intuition or paranoia though...

So I''m still not sure what we''re going to do. On the other hand, I think I''ve decided to go the OB route vs the MW route. My practice gives us a choice. So far the doc''s I''ve met with have been confident and direct, but compassionate as well. The midwives I just wasn''t impressed with. I actually felt more rushed with the MWs than the doctors and personality wise I think I just mesh better with that "tell it like it is" attitude (LOL, big surprise there!).
 
Allie, great news!

Lucy, waiting, waiting for your news!

snlee, how exciting on the gender-finding soon! Is there any potential harm to getting the progesterone shots?

HH, ooohhh decisions! Toughie. I certainly see both sides. 1:500ish is still loooong odds but knowing is knowing and is reassuring. Don''t know where you live but maybe if you could find a high-volume amnio center that is super-experienced w/ better than average odds, and that would push you in one direction? Congrats on making the doc/MW decision and glad your doc thinks the marker is not an issue.
 
HH, such a difficult decision. I feel for you. Don''t you wish doctor''s would tell you one way or the other!? I am all for having the right to make decisions but sometimes it''s so difficult I wish they would just tell us what to do. Not sure if this point was brought up yet but have you decided what you''d do IF the amnio can back positive?

cara, there are no major side effects/known harm to mom or baby with the 17P shots but long term is unknown - research hasn''t been done since it''s relatively new. They''ve done research up until a child is 2, that''s it. That fact combined with not knowing if there''s really a benefit of me taking the drug is what''s holding me back from saying 100% yes.

On the other hand, this shot potentially has a 20% chance of helping prevent PTL. In the study 55% of the women getting placebo had PTL and only 36% who got 17P. The group benefiting the most though are women who delivered at or before 34 weeks. I delivered at 36 weeks but had contractions starting at 28 weeks. I have a 30-50% chance of having PTL again and a 30-50% chance of delivering early. If either one happens again, usually it happens a little earlier. The shots could prevent me from having PTL, bedrest, etc, so I''m strongly considering it.

I know with any drug there''s a risk. Usually the benefit outweighs the risks so you take it. This is a hard decision for me because I don''t know IF there''s even a benefit.
 
Date: 4/26/2010 2:59:26 PM
Author: snlee
HH, such a difficult decision. I feel for you. Don''t you wish doctor''s would tell you one way or the other!? I am all for having the right to make decisions but sometimes it''s so difficult I wish they would just tell us what to do. Not sure if this point was brought up yet but have you decided what you''d do IF the amnio can back positive?


cara, there are no major side effects/known harm to mom or baby with the 17P shots but long term is unknown - research hasn''t been done since it''s relatively new. They''ve done research up until a child is 2, that''s it. That fact combined with not knowing if there''s really a benefit of me taking the drug is what''s holding me back from saying 100% yes.


On the other hand, this shot potentially has a 20% chance of helping prevent PTL. In the study 55% of the women getting placebo had PTL and only 36% who got 17P. The group benefiting the most though are women who delivered at or before 34 weeks. I delivered at 36 weeks but had contractions starting at 28 weeks. I have a 30-50% chance of having PTL again and a 30-50% chance of delivering early. If either one happens again, usually it happens a little earlier. The shots could prevent me from having PTL, bedrest, etc, so I''m strongly considering it.


I know with any drug there''s a risk. Usually the benefit outweighs the risks so you take it. This is a hard decision for me because I don''t know IF there''s even a benefit.
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hi everyone! i have been MIA for a couple months but i read almost every day. i am so excited for all the beautiful babies that have been born!! i am delurking for a couple minutes to reply to SNLEE (i could just send you a message on facebook, but thought my info MIGHT be useful for someone else on the forum...)..

RE: progesterone shots...i faced the same decision as SNLEE as to whether or not to get them. i have opted to enter a study where i am getting a shot every week, but there is a 1/3 chance that it''s only placebo.

the original study that all the doctors quote was performed in 2003. they actually did a follow up on all the kiddos in 2008, so they have safety data up until they are 5 years old, and so far there have been no adverse side effects. i actually pulled up the full-text article to refer to (when i was considering whether or not to take the shots). the women who were entered into that study were EXTREMELY high risk (most had a history of preterm deliveries way prior to 34 weeks), and judging from discussions i have had with several OBs, it seems that there is a ton of anecdotal data that the success rate for the 17-P injections is even higher in women who are slightly lower risk (now whether or not that''s because they wouldn''t have delivered preterm even without the shots...who knows?!). also, the injections are WIDELY used now by tons of OBs, and all the anecdotal data seems really good regarding efficacy and safety. i had several different docs tell me i''d be crazy NOT to get the shots.

one downside that i didn''t realize, and it seems that a lot of the doctors don''t really talk about is that the only endpoint that was evaluated in the 2003 study was actual preterm deliveries. they didn''t look at whether or not the injections decreased chance of bedrest, etc., and in fact, when you look at the data in the article, it states that the number of hospitalizations/admissions to triage that DIDN''T end in delivery was identical between the two groups. they didn''t expand on this, but my take-away is that there''s a good chance of still being on bedrest/contracting, etc., but hopefully NOT DELIVERING. does that make sense??

another thing that was very reassuring to me is that the same exact form of 17-P was actually marketed in the 60s and 70s and was FDA approved in the first trimester for recurrent miscarriages. the trade name was "dilalutin." it doesn''t appear that any real long term follow up studies were performed on the kiddos that received the drug in utero, but there also isn''t any scary data that has come out (compare to something like DES which had horrible longterm side effects). the fact that there doesn''t appear to be any sequelae down the road, combined with the fact that the drug was actually given in the 1st trimester (=organogenesis, etc), was helpful for me to make my decision.

anyway, i''ve had three injections so far, and the only side effect that i can tell is a little injection-site pain. the medication itself is a little viscous (thick), so it hurts a bit and takes a little longer to actually inject...

unfortunately i''m 22 weeks now and have been having lots and lots of contrax for the past several weeks. it definitely seems to be getting worse. i''m fingertip dilated and "soft" already, but my OB is happy that the cervix is still pretty high. if things worsen, i may actually withdraw from the study and just switch so i KNOW that i''m getting the med instead of possibly placebo...

hope that helps, and isn''t more confusing!!
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everyone!! i miss you guys. i will try to start posting a bit more but life is just way too crazy these days. that being said...if i end up on bedrest again, i''ll certainly have more time
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JCrow, Emily is a doll and the name definitely suits her! Those are some notes from your DH. He must be a level-headed guy!

Vesper, oh I''m hoping no induction for you! You must have one great womb since your guys just don''t want to come out!

HH, I''m glad your OB had good news for you but shoot that makes the decision harder! From my perspective I think most of my pregnancy worries have been paranoia as I''m a pretty anxious person. It''s the one time in life I feel like I haven''t been able to trust my intuition. I think it may be helpful if you and DH have a conversation about what the results - one way or the other- will mean for you. You''ve probably already done this but I feel like it''ll help you decide whether or not you should get the amnio. My g/f had a similar situation - spot on the heart that increased her chances of a baby with D/S. She opted for the amnio and everything ended up being okay. With her second, she decided to bypass the NT scan altogether because the false alarm was so stressful. Good luck - I''ll be thinking of you! Oh, and sounds like what you''re feeling is totally your little man. I feel my guy the most when I lay flat on my back and stretch out - it''s almost a guaranteed kick! I''m feeling movements pretty regularly now but sometimes I like a reassuring kick. Like you said - pushing on the uterus a little but helps too. How exciting!

Snlee, good luck deciding whether or not to get the PTL shots. Are you OB visits more frequent to monitor your cervix?

LIA, I had no idea PTL was a possibility for you. Is this something you recently found out? I''m sorry if I missed it in a previous post. Here''s to 4 more months of healthy pregnancy!

Lucy, I''m going to sneak in a prediction before you update us with your scan results. I''m going GIRL! I hope your scan went well!

Allie, I''m glad to hear your results were positive. I''m sure you''re relieved.

Not much new here - we accomplished a lot in the nursery this weekend. I can''t wait to share pics! I also think I may have tweaked my ankle because it''s really sore at the end of the day. Ice helps and I wake up feeling fine but, by the end of the day, it''s kind of stiff and sore again. I think I may have to skip pre-natal yoga this week to rest it - bummer.
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Oh, and my girlfriend is planning my shower which is set for 06/19. It was so kind of her to take it out of the moms'' hands...phew! The only weird thing is that my mom gave her an invite list but it''s a handful of people that are her friends that I haven''t seen in years (like 10!)and weren''t invited to my wedding. At first I was worried that it would seem tacky to invite people that I haven''t seen in forever and were not included in my wedding but everyone seems fairly confident that they won''t be offended and realize it was my mom who included them. Besides, there''s NO way I''m asking my friend to push back on my mom! She''s a tough cookie.
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Thanks everyone for the labor dust - I''m 41w3d now, and had my second non-stress test today. The baby''s still doing great, but they told me that I''m still only 1.5 cm dilated, 75% effaced, and the baby is in the "floating" station (hasn''t dropped at all). So, it looks like I''m on track for a Wed. morning induction
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Drk, I talked to my OB about Cervidil, but they said that since my cervix is almost totally effaced, and I responded so well to Pitocin with my last baby (I dilated 1 cm an hour), they don''t think it''s necessary.

Swimmer, I will try to check out the book you mentioned - thanks for the recommendation. Regarding BH, I wish I could be more helpful - all I can say is that my BH have felt like tightenings, or mild menstrual cramps, but nothing like the painful, Pitocin-induced contrax I had last time. I think that they say you know real contrax because they are truly painful, and you shouldn''t be able to talk through them ...

Allie, I''m so glad that your scan went well!

Lucy, I can''t wait to hear what you''re having - I guess girl!

HH, I''m glad that your OB sounds optimistic. That''s got to be a huge relief. I don''t know anything about amnios, but I just wanted to let you know that I''m sure Aidan is going to be a healthy, happy little baby. Good luck with making your decision - I wish I could be more helpful.
 
LIA, thanks for delurking and sharing your thoughts. Interesting and helpful. A little more reassuring about long term effects and good to know doctors were for you getting the shots.

pupp, my regular OB appointments are not more frequent. For the next 3 months or so, I''ll have u/s appointments with a peri every 2 weeks in addition to my regular appointments. Looking forward to seeing your nursery pictures!
 
vesper, we were posting at the same time. Sorry to hear no progress. Hope baby makes an appearance tomorrow but if not, I hope your induction goes well Wednesday!
 
Snlee & LIA, I am sending you both long pregnancy dust! I didn''t know that you guys were at risk for PTL. One of my best friends was on bedrest for placenta previa, and had her baby at 32 weeks. She is a gorgeous, happy, healthy baby, but her parents were so worried for her, especially since mom was on bedrest from 24 - 32 weeks. It all turned out fine, but I remember what a stressful time that was for my friend.

I wish both of your relaxing, full-term pregnancies!
 
Date: 4/26/2010 5:24:48 PM
Author: snlee
vesper, we were posting at the same time. Sorry to hear no progress. Hope baby makes an appearance tomorrow but if not, I hope your induction goes well Wednesday!
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I was posting to you at the same time again!

Thanks for your well-wishes - right back at you!
 
Date: 4/26/2010 5:24:54 PM
Author: vespergirl
Snlee & LIA, I am sending you both long pregnancy dust! I didn''t know that you guys were at risk for PTL. One of my best friends was on bedrest for placenta previa, and had her baby at 32 weeks. She is a gorgeous, happy, healthy baby, but her parents were so worried for her, especially since mom was on bedrest from 24 - 32 weeks. It all turned out fine, but I remember what a stressful time that was for my friend.


I wish both of your relaxing, full-term pregnancies!
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Maybe just not QUITE as long as yours, you poor girl! Likewise, I am sending you TONS of contraction dust!! :) (I''ve got plenty to spare!!)...


RE: PTL...yup, with my 1st pregnancy, I started contracting around 26 weeks, was put on bedrest, and started dilating at 28 weeks. Coby didn''t come until 36 weeks, 6 days, so we''re hoping to be as lucky this time around!!! :)
 
HH- great to hear your doc things risk is low but its totally understandable you may want to go ahead with the amnio for peace of mind. Wish you the best

Puppmom- how exciting! Can''t wait to see pics of the nursery!

Snlee- thats great you may find out the gender soon- the anticipation can make days feel like weeks! Almost there!

***************

You guys are all correct!!! ITS A GIRL
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!!! Go team pink!!! We are so excited!

The doc said she is developing perfectly and so far everything looks great. She was trying to suck her toe which we just thought was the cutest thing ever! I have an anterior placenta so Dr. said I probably will not feel baby kicking for a couple more weeks. OMG we are so in love with her already!
 


vespergirl-Good luck!!!

jcrow and meresal-congratulations!

Hudson Hawk and swimmer-I am constantly amazed at how far along you are. You are always farther along than I thought.

I try to keep up with this thread, but it gets away from me. I plan to congratulate people, then I get sidetracked. I never know what I have done in my head and what I have done in reality. I really wish all of you and your babies well. I sneak over here to read when I can and I love your stories. I cheer for all of you.

Keep up the amazing job of being moms. It is so hard, but so rewarding! I will be thinking of you a lot, vespergirl!!!

Love and hugs,
Deb/AGBF
 
Congrats Lucy!! I knew it was a baby girly girl.
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Congrats Lucy, how exciting!!!

Thanks Deb!
 
Lucy, congrats on your baby GIRL! So happy for you!

vesper, thanks for your well wishes. I started having contractions at 28 weeks that shortened my cervix and was put on bedrest and meds. My son was born at 36.5 weeks. Bedrest definitely is no fun and it''s a very stressful time. Really makes you realize a healthy baby is all that matters!
 
Thought these were cute... so tiny - made of marzipan icing

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final product

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Date: 4/26/2010 6:11:54 PM
Author: AGBF



vespergirl-Good luck!!!


jcrow and meresal-congratulations!


Hudson Hawk and swimmer-I am constantly amazed at how far along you are. You are always farther along than I thought.


I try to keep up with this thread, but it gets away from me. I plan to congratulate people, then I get sidetracked. I never know what I have done in my head and what I have done in reality. I really wish all of you and your babies well. I sneak over here to read when I can and I love your stories. I cheer for all of you.


Keep up the amazing job of being moms. It is so hard, but so rewarding! I will be thinking of you a lot, vespergirl!!!


Love and hugs,

Deb/AGBF
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LOL I know Deb. For the first few months I wanted things to move faster. Now I think I want it to SLOW DOWN! Next week will mark the halfway point. Eek!
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