Pregnancy Thread ~~ August 2nd, 2005~~

[Snapdragon]

Jefinner...................Ezra Franklin .................Born 05/05/05
GoJackets................Hamilton Wood...............Born 05/05/05
mom2twoboys...........Melissa..................... ....Born 05/06/05
chels_hoff................Payton Wayne................Born 05/08/05
Mandyhoward..........Spencer Cole...................Born 05/23/05 @ 30 weeks
Denise85.................Paige Loralei...................Born 05/19/05
tekla.......................Zachary Alexander..........Born 05/26/05
azktycat..................Aeryn Rylee...................Born 05/30/05
kclynn.....................Reyli Donovan................Born 06/03/05
Miss Gigl...............Charlotte Muriel Elizabeth....Born 06/09/05
Luna.......................Abigail Rose...................Born 06/10/05
nbecker..................MacKenzie Grace.............Born 06/11/05
Vixendrop...............Kayden Ardria Kathryn.......Born 06/12/05
gilbabe75.................Luke Gregory.................Born 06/15/05
naerenaenae............Mackenzie Abigail............Born 06/17/05
allibaba.......Corrinn Helene & Griffin Edward......Born 06/24/05
jehcekah.................Benjamin Thomas............Born 06/27/05
Acutepenguin.............Daniel Zachary.............Born 07/03/05
thopki00......................Baby Boy...................Born 07/08/05
rooney.........................???????............ ........????
Tbugs..........................???????............ ........????

melos...........................W40............... 08/01/05
SmileyAmy....................W39............... 08/05/05....Girl
meme123......................W37............... 08/22/05....Girl
StarFire........................W36............... 09/05/05....Triplets, 2 Boys & 1 Girl
jojolw...........................W34.............. .09/14/05
Ketosisgirl.....................W33............... 09/22/05.....Boy
vjfreddi.........................W32.............. 10/01/05
jeepifer.........................W31.............. 10/04/05....Girl
Karingreen.....................W31...............1 0/08/05
Tammeli........................W29...............1 0/17/05....Girl

Karalynne7....................W?.................? ?/??/05
Jai...............................W23............. .11/27/05...Girl
Kaillean.........................W22.............. 12/06/05
cjthedog64 ...................W22...............12/10/05
Diabolique......................W19............... 12/24/05
jadefox26......................W?................. 12/??/05
Trailboss.......................W15............... 01/20/06
Louise...........................W14.............. 01/27/06
Portia...........................W14.............. .02/05/06
abvidrine.......................W13............... 02/12/06

littlegunshots.................W10................ .03/07/06
brandyxoxo25.................W?.................. ??/??/06
Texoma.........................W10................ ..??/??/06
Daisy73.........................W8................ ...03/17/06
boodsadel......................W8................. ..03/16/06
t3uf3l............................W8.............. .....03/14/06
lowcarbinmama................W5................... .04/4/06

lil miss.............................................. .....Trying!
StrawberryGirl.................................... .....Trying!
AnnieO............................................ .......Trying!
speckle........................................... .......Trying!
AZParalegal....................................... ......Trying!
DasiyNYC.......................................... ......Trying!
Nikole............................................ .........Trying!
LunaAshling....................................... ......Trying!
jennifer-in-wv...........................................Tryin g!
saltire........................................... ...........Trying!

[Snapdragon]

Morning Mommies!

I thought I'd get us started today.

I've got an appointment with my doctor today... I've been having periods of crampiness lately - especially over the weekend, and the last time I checked, I was dilated to about 6. I guess we'll have to see how it goes.

[jeepifer]

Good luck, Anastasia!

Not much new with me. Just hanging in here, near the A/C. Another 90+ degree day. Ugh! It's funny how much more the heat bothers me when pregnant.

Have a good day, ladies!

-- Jenn

[Louise]

Good Morning, Mommies to be!

Anastasia--I hope the babies stay in there a bit longer! Hope your appointment goes well.

Jenn-I am hot too, though I know I have no reason to complain since I am only 14 weeks. We are going to the NASCAR race Sunday in Indy and I know I am going to be miserable.

Amy--Sorry your Mom wants to stay so long . Heck, I don't even want anyone to come visit us when our baby is born. Having an extra person in our house always puts me a bit on edge, even when I am glad they are there.

Kaci-Sorry you are so miserable. It gets better. Hang in there .

For those who mentioned my car--it was fine, just needed an oil change before our road trip this weekend. DH hadn't forgotten me. His lunch meeting ran long and had changed locations. His deptartment was sitting in Starbucks for 2 hours! They really were working though so it is cool.

I am sure I felt the baby last night. It was something I had never felt before. Now I just have to patiently wait to feel it again. Funny thing is I told DH over ICQ. He was still at work and I was at home. Heck, the way our relationship works, it's a wonder I didn't tell him I was pregnant over ICQ or email.

BBL.
Louise

[Dar20]

Girls, I was dead set against having family in the house right when Alison was born. It even caused a rift between me and DH.

My Mom came a couple days after Alison's birth and stayed almost 2 weeks. I did NOT want her to leave! As much as we needed to get on with "our own life", it was SO wonderful to have her there. At first, it was a necessity.. she kept the house in order while I recovered and was a zombie. She helped me take shifts when Alison would scream all night long (gosh, it's hard to believe now). At the end of her trip, it was much more enjoyable and was more like a "visit".

Louise, that is so exciting! You'll feel baby again soon enough.. then some more and some more and then baby won't quit!

[jeepifer]

Louise, you get to go to Indy this weekend? How fun!!! DH and I are big NASCAR fans, but haven't managed to make it to a race between my pregnancies and having the baby. Have fun (and wave to #17 for us ).

I'm at the stage where I can feel the baby move all the time... not that I want her to stop, per se, but when I'm trying to nap or sleep and she's boxing in there, it's a bit distracting and uncomfortable.

Dar, it's nice you had the help when you needed it, though! My mom's never even seen Evelyn, let alone ever offered to come help.

-- Jenn

[Louise]

Jenn-Yeah, we are excited about the race. I am not sure what we will do next summer. Most of my family lives around Indy, so we might be able to find a sitter. My Mom goes to the race with us. We went last year too. DH is a #17 fan too. I am a huge Tony Stewart fan, and he is racing in the Busch race Saturday night so we are going to that too! I know I am going to be exhausted by Monday morning.


Dar--Thanks for your input on the visitor/grandma issue. I am sure I'll need help, but the only person I would want is my Mom and she works. I DO NOT want either MIL to come . They are both nice, but I have a feeling I'd be a nervous wreck with either of them near me. Oh, step-MIL will be out of the country when the baby is born, so I guess that saves me from her .


I also wanted to report that my weight is steady--down one pound since my dr visit 2 weeks ago. If I can just make it to 18-20 weeks at this weight, I'll be happy. I ate lower carb yesterday, and felt great. I worried I'd feel dizzy/weak. I also got my workout in!

[Dar20]

I felt the same way, Louise. I wanted my Mom there, but not MIL. DH did not understand and it caused a fight.

And my in-laws live in Indy (on the south side). DH grew up there. Have fun! We went to the Brickyard race once (Indy 500 a couple times).

[jeepifer]

Louise, I'll send along good green flag vibes and some (free) advice... Try to put up your feet when you can, make sure you wear sunscreen (more sensitive when PG) and drink water or non-carbonated beverages, if possible. I don't know if swelling is a problem for you yet, but all-day events like that can be a killer! I end up with elephant ankles and feet if I'm not careful. Very attractive.

[Dar20]

And remember to bring a cushion if you're in the stands.

[Louise]

Originally Posted by Dar20

And remember to bring a cushion if you're in the stands.

I don't think I sat down last year! Do your in law still live in Indy?


Jenn--I am very fair skinned to start with. Our seats are under the grandstand so we'll be out of the sun once we get out our seats. And they are near a rest room .



I am ready for lunch. My stomach is growling.

[Dar20]

Yep, just off the Southport exit (where Jimmy Buffett's is). DH grew up in Beech Grove.

[Snapdragon]

My mom lives in town, so she'll be on call whenever I need help the first few days - and I'm sure I will - I also have a great roommate to help out. She's taking 4 weeks of paid vacation so she can be here to help me. Her boyfriend, who is like the male version of me, is taking 2 weeks of vacation to help out as well. The trio's daddy is stationed in Hawaii right now, and is going to get emergency leave when they are born, and he'll be here for a bit. That'll be wonderful to have him here for a bit.

We were talking about it last night - Josh and I - and I'm afraid he's going to go into shock. With his job being what it is, he's rarely home for more than a week or two at any given time. I last saw him in June. I was quite obviously pregnant when he was here, and I've been sending him photos and ultrasounds and stuff, but I don't know that the reality has hit him the way it has me. He's never been around small children, so I'm fairly sure that he's going to freak when someone hands him three newborns. *giggle*

Checked in at the doctor's this morning. Dilated to 6, but still thick. So it looks like I'll be pregnant a while longer, which is fine, I guess. I've already reached the point where I want them out.... its getting really hard to get comfortable in any position at all. I'm also having to force myself to eat, because I'm never hungry. There just isn't room in there for anything else. Oh yeah, and I pee every 15 minutes. I can set a clock by me. My doctor rocommended that I start wearing depends at night - my bladdar gets so full so fast that the past two nights, I haven't even felt the urge to go... I just went. She tells me that this is normal, and prescribed a ton of kegels to try and get my PC muscles back into shape. Arg.

Louise- good news about the car, and have a great time at Indy for me!

[gilbabe75]

This was on MSN today. Pregnancy myths exposed. Thought it would be interesting.

http://articles.health.msn.com/id/100108281

Pregnancy myths; you've heard them all. Are they really just old wives' tales? Learn what's true and what's not as we expose seven common myths.

1. You can tell your baby's gender by the way you are carrying, or by the fetal heartbeat.

Myth. Other than ultrasound and amniocentesis (or chorionic villi sampling), there is no way to determine the gender of the baby you are carrying.

Babies are carried differently based on their presentation (breech, vertex, transverse), their position (anterior, posterior), their gestational age and weight, maternal weight and stature and the mother's parity (whether or not this is her first or eighth baby).

Fetal heartbeat is really no help either. Heart tones may be heard as early as eight to ten weeks using Doppler technology. Until about 20 weeks, it is not unusual to have a fetal heartbeat in the 150 to 160 range. As the baby's heart develops and the neurological system matures, the count may fall to between 130 to 140. The normal range is 120 to 160. Some say that a fast heart rate is a girl, based on the fact that women's heart rates are faster than men's. But if this were the case for an unborn baby, we would all start out as girls and turn into boys!

2. Sleeping on your back can hurt the baby.

Myth. Imagine awakening to find yourself on your back and believing that you have caused some harm to your unborn baby.

Many women believe that blood flow will be reduced through the placenta if they lie on their backs. The origin of this myth can be found in some valid research originally performed in the 1960s and 1970s, which demonstrated that blood flow can be compromised when a mother is forced to labor lying flat on her back. Compression of the vena cava, a major vessel underlying the uterus, may occur in this position when the mother is in labor. This is why women are encouraged to be on their sides, sitting up or walking when they are in labor. Contractions themselves reduce blood flow to the baby for a certain portion of the peak of the contraction. A healthy term baby can tolerate this stress without difficulty. Laboring on one's back may cause fetal compromise when the baby is already stressed, overdue or preterm, or exposed to infection or a very long labor.

As far as the possibility of compromising blood flow by sleeping on one's back, the mother-to-be in this situation would generally be experiencing inadequate oxygen tensions, and this would be considered a high-risk pregnancy. And, if blood flow was indeed compromised, the mother would feel dizzy and very uncomfortable and she would shift to her side naturally. This again would be highly unusual.

If the pregnancy is high risk and hypertension, maternal kidney malfunction, severe water retention or fetal compromise is suspected, resting on the left side is often recommended, but, during a normal pregnancy, a woman may assume any position which she finds comfortable.

3. You can tangle the umbilical cord by raising your arms above your head.

Myth. About 20 to 25 percent of all babies are born with the cord around the neck, and many are born with cords around legs. Some cords are even tied into knots. There is nothing that a mother can do to cause this. Entanglements are caused by fetal activity during early gestation. Long umbilical cords, defined as longer than about 100 cm (most cords are 32 to 80 cm long), seem to contribute to entanglements. Excessively long cords are actually caused by excessive fetal movement.

In the case of this myth, there may have been some benefit for a pregnant mother. If pregnant women were advised not to lift their arms above their bodies, they may have been given less strenuous jobs. This could have resulted in a more rested mom, and possibly a healthier baby.

4. Having sex during pregnancy can hurt the baby.

Myth. While there are some valid medical reasons to avoid sexual activity during pregnancy, in most cases sex is not harmful to the baby and can be very enjoyable for the woman, who may now be noticing enhanced ability to orgasm due to an increase in blood flow to the pelvic floor.

5. You lose a tooth for every baby.

Myth. Today, with the availability of supplements and fortified foods, no woman should lose a tooth for every baby!

Preconception nutrition is critical for preserving maternal health. It is during the critical pre-adolescent and adolescent years that women build stores of iron and calcium that prepare them for childbearing. If a woman's diet is deficient in these key minerals, the demands of the growing baby often take precedence. Calcium may be lost from the maternal bones and teeth. Women should take in 1500 mg of calcium each day, either from food sources or supplement. Teeth can be lost if stores are deficient or depleted due to malnutrition or close interconceptional periods.

6. Don't begin any exercise that you are not already doing prior to pregnancy.

Myth. Like most myths, this one has some basis in fact. It is meant to protect the newly pregnant woman from injury. Pregnancy does more to a woman's physiology than change her center of gravity. From the earliest days, hormones are adapting the ligaments and muscles to become more flexible and to expand. This makes them a bit more prone to injury.

It's important to start a pregnancy exercise program carefully and seek the advice of your care provider. Pregnancy and labor represent some of the most difficult and rewarding work a woman will ever do. It makes sense to prepare oneself physically. If you haven't been participating in a regular program of exercise, walking is a good place to start. Begin with a five-minute warmup with slow gradual stretching of all muscles. Find a nice path and some walking buddies or some good music and walk at a brisk pace for 30 to 40 minutes every day. Finish with five minutes of a slower pace or stretching, which should help you "cool down." Or, consider joining a prenatal exercise or yoga class and build it into a support group and even future playgroup. So ignore the myth about not starting a program and begin working out when you are planning a pregnancy or even if pregnancy is already advanced.

Very few women should not exercise in pregnancy, but always consult your care provider prior to starting any regimen.

7. Giving birth: It's better to cut than tear.

Myth. This myth refers to the use of episiotomy at the time of birth. The term "tearing" conjures up images that most women would rather not consider. Actually, tears often are small and do not extend into the muscle. When an episiotomy is cut, several layers of tissue and muscle are cut. Tears also tend to heal more comfortably than episiotomies. This may be because the skin has separated down anatomical lines and the tissue has not been crushed, as it is when scissors are used.

To prevent lacerations, it is important to listen to the midwife or doctor carefully and to give small controlled pushes. Occasionally, the mother may be asked to push between contractions so the force of the contraction does not cause her to push with such force.

If the baby shows signs of distress, or if the midwife or doctor believes that a tear into the deep muscle or into the rectum is inevitable, an episiotomy will generally be cut. But research has demonstrated that the highest incidence of rectal sphincter and rectal lacerations occurs when an episiotomy has been cut.

Many variables go into the decision whether or not to cut an episiotomy and how to support the perineum at the time of birth. The best advice is to choose a care provider or a type of care provider who will work with you, listen to you, and minimize the use of routine procedures in their practice.

[gilbabe75]

wow Anastasia...dilated to 6? Is that normal with multiples? Are you having contractions or is it just pressure?

[jojolw]

Good afternoon everyone! Back at work again, missed a wonderfully warm weekend with the family and I'm still pouting Oh well, the kids and the rest of the family had fun, and I did too the little bit of time I was there. It's just too bad that I won't see my brother and sister-in-law again till spring.

Anastasia - glad to hear your appointment went well. I am already wishing I was done being pregnant, I don't blame you for wishing they were out! This last 6-7 weeks or so is the hardest, I'd say. It seems so close but yet I'm still thinking "STILL 7 weeks to go? I don't think I'll make it!"

Jenn - I hear you about the heat. It's stifling here, and the humidity is just like a blanket. Thank goodness the wind picked up a bit, it's starting to cool a bit!

Louise - have fun on your trip, sounds like a blast. My husband would absolutely love to go someday. Acually, last year his company almost sent him as a promo deal, but it fell through at the last minute. Maybe they'll try again next year and I can go too! As far as the MIL thing goes, don't know what kind of MIL you have, but I know I would have easily admitted after Jordan was born that I needed help! I had my mom stay with us for about 6 weeks after and I don't know how people do it with no help. LIke I said, I don't know what your MIL is like, but if I had to go back and do it without my mom, I'd be begging my MIL to come! But that's just me, I love my MIL

Darlene - Like I mentioned in my post to Louise, my mom stayed with us as well after my DD was born. What a lifesaver! It's amazing how much your opinion of your mom changes in such a short time. At 16 my mother knew nothing, could never understand me and there was no way I would ask her for advice! By 23 she was the answer to all my prayers and is still the first person I call when I have a question about the kids! I loved having her around!

Becca - those myths are pretty interesting. I keep reading those on the 'net and I often wondered which were true and which were false. I knew the heartrate one was a myth, since both my girls were on the lower end for most of my pregnancies, and this one is kind of like you described. I wonder how these things get started in the first place, or how the disproven ones keep going around?

Anyway, have a good day, I'll BBL i'm sure!

Dal

[SmileyAmy]

Evening ladies...

My mother just finished working so I figured I would pop on really quickly. I am having Pregnancy Thread withdrawal. I miss coming in here during the day and checking in on everyone. I feel out of the loop.

My computer is still busted...My mother is going to bring it to the guy at her office who does IT tomorrow and see if he can fix it or tell us what is wrong. I hope he can tell because I seriously will be lost without my internet - an you guys everyday!

Anyway...

Anastasia ~ Can I just say, you AMAZE me. I just showed my mother you progress pictures and told her about you TKD and the competition and she was just like . LMAO I can't believe you are 6cm dialated and walking around. I guess just in my head, I am like OMG, that is more than half way to giving birth. I'd be afraid that my baby would just fall out. It must be hard having DH far away, but it's great that you have so many people around you to help when he isn't there. Sounds like you have a great roomate!

Louise ~ on feeling the baby move. You never know, it could be it. I have heard all different things. Some people feel it really early. Some like me, feel it really late. That is great though. I know what it is like when you aren't quite sure so you just wait and wait to feel it again. Hopefully it will happen soon for you!

Jenn ~ I hear ya on the A/C. I am roasting in the house now - even with the A/C's on because my mother is freezing. She has been walking around for days with her rob on over her cloths and her fingers go numb and she can't type while working so I have had to turn them down. I am sure it is cool in the house, but to me, it just feels warm. Blech!! Stay cool!!

Becca ~ Thanks for that list of myths. I keep waking up and finding myself on my back and I am freaking out!! I can't get comfy at night anymore - I am sure you all understand - so I think I am just turning onto my back while sleeping, obviously because it is more comfy. But then I wake up in a panic that I might have hurt Sara. Good to know it probably won't cause any problems.

Dal ~ Sorry you missed out on some family time. I know what it is like to not get to see a lot of some extended family and knowing also that you won't see them again for several months. That is always on my mind when my mother leaves to go back home to Canada and when my stepsister leaves to go back to NYC. It is especially hard if you don't know when you will see them again. It makes it a bit easier if you have some sort of idea when they will be visiting again.

Dar ~ *waves big*

I have noticed myself getting kinda moody with my mother. I guess when I am at home just lounging around, I am quiet and just want to do my thing. Well, my mother just wants to yak and yak. I just want to be like "Shhhh..." I feel bad that maybe I am not greatful that she is here. I am hoping it is just pregnancy moodiness because I am tired and sore. I am sure I will appreciate her being here, when she actually has some help to offer and she isn't just hanging around.

Know what is weird too...I don't like talking to her about being pregnant or having the baby. It is making me WAY uncomfortable. I don't know why...can't put my finger on it. When she asks me questions, I just give these quick replies to make her stop talking about it. I don't know if I am still sort of in denial or what and maybe that is why I don't want to talk about it...??? I catch her sometimes looking at my stomach and I want to be like "Don't look at me!!" It's weird. I meet with my therapist on Thursday and thought I might bring it up. Maybe she can help me figure out why I am acting like this.

Well, sorry for the novel, just having some withdrawals from you guys and needed to get it all out.

I will try to pop on tomorrow...might not be able to though, I am meeting a friend for lunch and I have my final prepared childbirth class tomorrow night.

Oh, whoever starts the thread tomorrow, you probably can take the following people off the list. I PM'd them over a week ago and haven't heard from them.

Karalynne7
jadefox26

[jojolw]

Amy, sorry you're having such a tough time. Does your mom usually drive you nuts? Sometimes we just need our own time, pregnant or not. I know that lately, when I'm staying at my in-laws, some nights they just want to sit up and talk and talk, and I just want to go down to my room and read. There are nights I stay up later than I should just to get that "alone" time. I think sometimes I crave it just as much as I crave chocolate, and that's a lot!

As far as being weirded out by her talking about your pregnancy, could it be a sex issue? If you're uncomfortable talking about sex with your mother, maybe subconciously you're associating your pregnancy with the ACT of getting pregnant. I'm no psychiatrist, but I know talking about my first pregnancy with my MIL was extremely uncomfortable. It was almost like talking about it and acknowledging it it meant admitting DH and I had sex lol!
I don't know if that's the way it is for you, just relating my experience!

Hope you're getting some rest despite the heat. I never thought I'd ever wish for snow in August lol!

Dal

[Snapdragon]

Hey Dal!!!! How are ya!

Amy- Talking about my preganacy - more my first one than this one - was tough. I never wanted to discuss it. I hope you find some even ground. The last thing you need is more stress.

And yeah, with multiples, it is quite common to dilate early. This is part of the reason why women with multiples deliver earlier. I'm not having contractions yet, just really steady pressure and some mild periods of crampiness.

Becca- Thanks for the info. Good stuff to know!

[Friendship]

Anastasia- Just wanted to pop in and say that you are doing great!!! I can't wait to see pictures of your little ones!!! (but, they can stay in there and get even healthier) ... now that you are 35 weeks are you going to do a home birth?

[Snapdragon]

Friendship-

I'm planning to have a homebirth, yes. That is, if everything continues to look good.

[Friendship]

Originally Posted by StarFire

Friendship-

I'm planning to have a homebirth, yes. That is, if everything continues to look good.

to you...I can't wait to hear your/their birthstory. Have you gotten any estimation on what each of them might weight? If I remember right, you are not seeing an OB/GYN so I'm not sure if midwifes, etc estimate birth weight.

I know my OB/GYN said that Hunter would be around 7lbs and come out at 8lbs 12oz....so they were off.

[melos]

Hi, all! Just a quick pop in to say I'm still here. Dr. says if I don't go by Mon he will start me on Cervadil that night. That would make me 8 days over. Not sure I'm thrilled about that, but after having laid here for three months, I guess I'll take it. I really hope I go before then.

Anyone have any natural things to try that might actually do something? DH knows he's going to have to "step up", , but I don't know what else to try. Castor oil sounds really yucky. I could handle eggplant parm once, but not more than that. I figure it's too late for some of the herbs or EPO, yeah?

[ketosisgirl]

Hey, Melanie. All I can think of is castor oil. It seemed to work pretty well for Becca (Gilbabe). Let us know how it goes!

-Grace