*EXPECTING MOMMIES* November 2008

[Gracie514]

Getting ready to go home in about 10 minutes - YAY!! I am totally craving something to eat with red sauce. Maybe manicotti or stuffed shells. I have been dragging for the last 2 hours and want to scream. DH went steelhead trout fishing so I'm not sure if he'll be home yet. Everyone have a great night!

[Nik]

Tracey:
If your calculations are two weeks off from your doctor's, you need to get that taken care of NOW. I don't want to give unsolicited advice or be too pushy, but there's no reason that your dates would not be the same. Basically, as you near the end of your pregnancy, some doctors will push for an induction after you hit 40 weeks. If the doctor thinks you're 40 weeks but you think you're 38, then he'll go by his records to start you on your way to labor. If that doesn't work at 42 weeks (which in your case would only be 40), the doctor may insist on a cesarean. Of course, this is worst case scenario, but it's DEFINITELY not something you want to deal with. Also, estimating gestational age after 12 weeks becomes very unreliable. If you want to get a good gestational age by ultrasound, it's better to do it now. Later, and the doctor may claim "genetics" or "nutrition" as the reason the baby is large or small, not the fact that the due date is inaccurate. So, unsolicited advice: To insure your best chances at a natural, non- "managed" delivery, get the due date moved back NOW.

BTW: I WISH I had 100% coverage. I'll have to pay my deductible and 20%, up to my yearly MOOP. Sorry I was unclear.

Andrea: I felt some pain early on during BMs, and I did have more bleeding at that time, too. I think it was a combination of my cervix resting on the anterior of my body, near the colon, causing it to be irritated during a BM; as well as the straining which would push out any cervical fluid. I'm sure things will work out for you!

Krysta: How are those beautiful babies? WOW! You're doing great with your weight gain! I've already passed you by twice as much. I am happy today, though. I'm wearing a non-maternity pair of pants in size 16 (one size larger than I was before I got pregnant). I just have them resting under my baby bump, over my belly fat. I tied them closed with a scarf, and I feel like I'll definitely be able to wear them once the baby's born. Moving up only one size is totally doable, in my opinion.

[Gracie514]

Hi ladies! Hopefully everyone is doing well today. I woke up this morning and I look like a teenage girl on her period! I have acne! I have one huge zit that actually hurts by my right eyebrow, one directly in the center of my forehead, and one on my chin. I hope they don't keep coming out. Have any of you experienced this and what did you use? I've read not to use exfoliators or scrubs but to try oatmeal bars. I guess your skin is ultra-sensitive while pg so you want to find something gentle. My sleeping is a little off as well. I seem to wake up very early and can't go back to sleep. Oooh, I also found a new craving! I bough Pumpkin Pie Spice coffee creamer so I have it after dinner with some decaf - yum. Everyone have a wonderful day.

[Potaty]

Gracie~I'm a licensed esthetician and exfoliants are fine during pregnancy. You can use a chemical exfoliant (like glycolic acid) or you can use a physical one (like a scrub). If you use a scrub, look for something that says "microbeads" on it. Do not use the St. Ives apricot scrub, it has jagged shells in it and is damaging to the skin. Use gentle pressue and massage the skin, you don't want to scrub it.

You can also get a little spot treatment with some benzoyl peroxide in it, that will help oxygenate the pore which will kill the bacteria.

I was opposite of you, my skin was awesome during pregnancy and it terrible now!

[Tinkerloo]

Good Morning Ladies -
Sorry about the skin Gracie - I was just thinking this morning that I hope mine stays as clear as it is. It seemed to clear up instantly after I conceived and I've stopped all of my acne products of course and it's just great. We'll see what is ahead for me!

Still feeling in and out of queasy but not terrible like Monday.

I see the new OB today - I've had some trouble with the girls in the office before who have moved over to the new docs so I hope today goes smoothly. I was very clear that this was an appointment for me to meet at least one of the new doctors at the practice and get myself established because I am still under the care of my RE for another week - it's not for an exam or u/s. We'll see what got communicated.

I'm thinking that the lunch I brought in today (chili and spaghetti) is about to become breakfast shortly - this appetite and what sounds appealing cracks me up. Yesterday I made dinner, enjoyed it and then gagged at the leftovers when I went in the kitchen to clean up. That makes no sense to me!

Have a good day all!

[Gracie514]

Amy, you're too funny! I totally understand about the food. I made myself lunch one day that consisted of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, yogurt, and crackers. It was totally gone before 9 am and I had already had breakfast!

Katy, thanks for the info. on exfoliators. I don't remember having this problem with my first two pregnancies!

[amm]

Hey Ladies,

I'm headed to the doctor's office this afternoon for what the nurse is calling a "quick ultrasound" to check on things. I had more spotting last night after exercising and although I'm sure it's nothing, it's bothering me to the point where I can't think of anything else. So, I asked the nurse to please try and fit me in to check on things so that I can put my mind at ease, hopefully. She said that I will only see a doctor if the ultrasound tech sees something wrong. Otherwise I'll just see the doctor when I go for my regularly scheduled appointment on the 25th.

I'm praying to see the heartbeat... I'm worried that something might be wrong.

[Gracie514]

Originally Posted by amm

Hey Ladies,

I'm headed to the doctor's office this afternoon for what the nurse is calling a "quick ultrasound" to check on things. I had more spotting last night after exercising and although I'm sure it's nothing, it's bothering me to the point where I can't think of anything else. So, I asked the nurse to please try and fit me in to check on things so that I can put my mind at ease, hopefully. She said that I will only see a doctor if the ultrasound tech sees something wrong. Otherwise I'll just see the doctor when I go for my regularly scheduled appointment on the 25th.

I'm praying to see the heartbeat... I'm worried that something might be wrong.

Prayers for you and baby Andrea. I don't know if you remember but when I had my spotting it was during exercise. I felt something gush out and ran to the bathroom to find bright red blood. I haven't exercised since but now that I'm into my 2nd trimester I may start walking again. My doctor told me to not worry about exercising for a while and to rest. They did an u/s then but all they could see was the sac because it was too early. I think I was about 5-6 weeks. Take it easy and I'm praying that all will be well at your appointment.

[Tinkerloo]

I'll be thinking about you Andrea - please keep us posted. Do your best to relax and remember that even if they don't see the heartbeat yet, it's not conclusive. I have been reading tons of posts on another site of women who are told to come back two weeks later after situations just like yours and then everything is fine - even when told initially it didn't look good. Prayers for you and the little one. Good for you for getting yourself seen.
- Amy

[Tinkerloo]

Yep Gracie, lunch is officially gone. I'm hoping it will help with the queasiness though because of the beans - I felt great last night after I ate it, better than I'd felt all day! Just in time to go to bed...

[amlundie]

Andrea- for you and baby! I was having spotting in the first few weeks after "relations" with hubby. Doc did an US at 7 weeks 6 days, we saw the heartbeat and the baby bean. She said everything was fine and not to worry about it but I still held off for a few more weeks because it scared me to see the blood. It stopped after about 10 weeks and haven't had any spotting at all ever since. Try not to stress about it too much, stressing won't help the baby. looks like we almost all been there with our babies. I had no idea it was so common.

Amy- I know what you mean about the food if I'm hungry doesn't matter what time of day it is I'm gonna eat what sounds good to me! I think I got used to that with LC though, I rarely ate "breakfast" food in the morning, I would reheat chicken or whatever was easiest. I hope everything goes well at the new doc today!

Gracie- My skin has just started acting up this week, guess I'm going shopping for some exfoliating face wash too.

AFM- 25 weeks today going in to week 26 and looking forward to the 3rd trimester starting next week! It's almost baby time! My right heel hurts SO bad today when I walk I have to walk flat footed and not put any pressure on my heel.... is this common in pregnancy? Is it heel spurs? I am assuming it's because of the extra weight..... but I'm still lighter than I was before losing all the weight and I never had this problem before. I use to be 296 and now I'm only 256 (26 lbs gained in the pregnancy so far)

[aunatural]

Hi everyone,

I'm actually having a good day food wise. No cravings for junk and able to eat things even though I don't particularly have a taste for them. Yesterday was about the same so I'm hoping that things will continue to calm down in my tummy.

Nik~ My husband and I had a discussion about it this weekend. My OB counted how many weeks along I am from the first day of my last period which it seems is a standard practice among doctors. BUT, being the stickler that I am, I track my cycle and know when I was ovulating so her adding that extra time bugs me because I was not pregnant during those first two weeks. Counting from the dates I was ovulating, the due date she gave me is only 2 days off from what I calculated. So, I think she is also using my ovulation date to set the due date. I just don't understand why they add the two weeks between your cycle and your ovulation date to the pregnancy weeks. So subtracting the two weeks that she padded on is my way of keeping track of the actual age of our baby. I know I'm being quite anal about it and my husband told me as much.

Andrea~I hope everything goes well at your appointment. I think you and the baby will be fine.

Tinker~ I'm glad the beans are helping.

[Gracie514]

Hi Tracey! Doctors tell you that pregnancy is 40 weeks including the 2 weeks prior to your actual ovulation. So, the doctor is telling you the weeks of your "pregnancy" and the gestational age of the baby is always 2 weeks less. So, you're absolutely right when you say the baby is 8 weeks old (gestation) but you are in your 10th week of pregnancy. I never really understood "why" they do it this way. But, if you're counting by the baby's age, your baby's due date would be at 38 weeks, not the full 40 weeks. Does this make sense? Sorry if I'm confusing anyone!

[amlundie]

yep Gracie hit the nail on the head.... in my " Great expectations" book the weekly updates have gestational age (for me 26 weeks) and fetal age (24 weeks) ... so I am 26 weeks pregnant but Jacob is 24 weeks old... I think the doctors do that just so there is one standard way across the board for calculating due dates.

[amm]

I found out today that my pregnancy is ectopic. I'm having surgery on Friday to remove it.

[Nik]

Andrea: More love.

Tracey: Thanks for clarifying. I'll retract my momma bear claws now.

[Tinkerloo]

Andrea - love and hugs to you.

[amlundie]

Andrea- all my love sweetheart, I'm so sorry.

[Gracie514]

Oh Andrea I am so sorry. There are no words but I will be praying for you and your DH. Please take care of yourself.

[amm]

Thanks everyone. I guess I should feel fortunate that we caught it before a rupture. I'm having outpatient surgery in the morning to remove the pregnancy. I'm heartbroken, but grateful that it won't turn into a life-threatening situation.

[AsmallerME]

Andrea - I just want to send you more love here too.

[obraxton]

All my love to you, Andrea

[aunatural]

Andrea,

I'm so sorry!

[Gracie514]

Andrea: My thoughts and prayers are with you today. I couldn't get you off my mind all day yesterday. I too am thankful they found it before your tube ruptured. I am so very sorry for your great loss. Please come back when you feel up to it.

[Tinkerloo]

Hi Ladies -
I've been thinking of you Andrea and sending support for today.

Just wanted to pop by - haven't been feeling 100% so have been dragging and not posting much - but I'm around.

[Tylar_Connar]

SO sorry, andrea.

[amm]

Surgery went as planned this morning... the doctor was able to save my fallopian tube by making a small slit in it and removing the fetus that way. I am grateful that my tube was saved. The nurse told me there was minimal bleeding, which attributed to being able to save the tube. The doctor gave my husband pictures of the ectopic before removal, and the bulge in my tube looks huge. I bet it was really close to bursting.

I got home around noon and have spent most of the day sleeping. The anesthesia and pain pills have made me very groggy. I'm not in too much pain... I feel like I've been punched in the stomach and like I've done a million situps. The most uncomfortable part today is the leftover gas in my gut that the doctor used to inflate my belly area to allow him to see everything.

I have my post-op follow up appointment on Dec. 3. During the surgery the doctor shot dye into my tubes, but I don't know what he saw with that since I didn't speak to him after the surgery since I was recovering, so I guess we'll talk about that. We'll also discuss his recommendations for how long I need to wait before TTC again. He originally said probably 3 months, but he'll know for sure after I'm examined to see how I heal. My husband wants to try again as soon as we can... I do, too. But in the back of my mind I'm afraid of this happening again since having one ectopic raises your chances for another.

[HAB]

Hi ladies, I'm not pregnant but I often lurk in here to read about the soon to be mommies and pregnancies.

Just posting to say
Andrea-I'm so sorry for your loss.

[Nik]

Andrea: Thanks so much for the update. Of course, we've all been thinking of you today.

I am SO grateful that your tube is intact! I am so happy that your health is good in general and that the surgery went well.

I'm surprised that you may only have to wait three months to TTC again! Compared to all this time you've been getting healthy for baby through dieting and TTC'ing before your loss, three months will FLY BY!

(I'm not trying to convince you to look on the bright side. I'm just thinking about how, when we get to the other end of a long road, the journey seems so much shorter and quicker than we first expected. I'm looking forward to seeing you on the other side.)

PS: It's two in the morning here, and I can't sleep, so if my post is a little weird, I claim temporary insanity!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

[Toridoll2004]

Just popping in.

Andrea, I just wanted to say I'm so sorry Mine wasn't ectopic, but a miscarriage. and it's still hard some days. if you ever want to talk, feel free to PM me.