Mom's Pregnancy Diary!

September.

12:12am Sep 1, 1999 EDT
I got an appointment today to see the psychologist I saw two years ago while pg with Nathan. Got lucky, because she is really busy, but she had a cancellation for a 12:00 spot this thursday-- my OB appointment is in the same building at 9:45.
I guess I'm out on the bellybutton thing. I have all that scar tissue that makes the area above my belly button almost all the way across very hard. It does squish in and out, though. LOL
I'm sure I'll love the new place. In no time, it will be Christmas. Jonathan already has ideas about decorating it! LOL We figure we'll have Christmas at our place, since it IS our first real house! (Even if its not technically "ours". LOL) I can't wait to have it all set up with our stuff. We get rid of a ton of stuff every time we move, so we don't have much. We do need a couch at least, though. And we need a car. LOL Oh well. Like I said, our family situation will be completely different from even six months before, not too long from now!

01:58pm Sep 1, 1999 EDT
Stephanie, you want the baby before you get married? Why? With your wedding date so close, if you have the baby before, you may not be in ANY shape to get up and go get married. It was hard enough for me just to get a SHOWER those first two weeks.
Mary, I guess you will be first. You're 8 days "ahead" of me. Next week, I'll only be 35 weeks. I'm still holding out for 9/17. You gonna keep us updated after? Or will we have to link to September Babies for that?
Seems this weekend we are moving. Wipeing down stuff and vacuuming and shampooing the carpets on Saturday, and then moving furniture Sunday and/or Monday.

02:03pm Sep 1, 1999 EDT
Talking about birthcontrol, I found this discussion board on how people like the IUD or not. Thought it might be interesting to read what others think.

07:03pm Sep 1, 1999 EDT
A race? I'm planning on keeping this baby in until at least the 17th. I'll take any date after that, actually. (Considering its highly unlikely I'll be overdue. LOL)
Tomorrow is my OB appointment. I expect it to be routine and that I'm not off bedrest yet. Just two more weeks 'till the 17th.

09:55pm Sep 1, 1999 EDT
It looks like, although we'll probably be moved in this weekend, we won't be living there for a month or more. First, I'm still on bedrest. Second, my mom has it in her head we'll be at her place until the baby is two weeks old. Third, we still have no car to get anywhere. We've been using my mom's while we're here. So, new house-- big deal. Everything is weeks and months away.

06:33pm Sep 2, 1999 EDT
Stephanie, I had mixed feelings about the IUD posts, too. I don't think I want to use it because of the infection risk and the pregnancy/miscarriage risk. Probably next week, I'll talk a bit with my OB about birth control. I've used the pill, but not Depo or an IUD. The pill's only side effects that I can remember were weight gain and not having periods for months after going off. (As in at least 6, and over a year before I had my own natural period-- i.e. without being on an infertility treatment cycle.)
Sheri, we're still moving. I guess I just don't know what we'll do about a car, that's all.
Karen, about chatting, the only way I can think of is ICQ. (My number is in my signature above.) People who don't have AOL can't chat there. You can have a group chat on ICQ, though.
Nesting? LOL I think I'll just order people around where to nest what when we move. LOL
Beth, oh I'm not personally moving anything. LOL Other people will be doing that. I'll just be rearraging a lot after the baby is born. *grin*
Elizabeth, hooray on the job!!! I'm sure its put your mind at ease.
Well, you all asked how my appointment went today, so don't hold your breath while you read about it. LOL (See next several posts.)

06:37pm Sep 2, 1999 EDT
My appointment today-- one day shy of 35 weeks. I actually had two-- OB at 9:45 and my psychologist at noon, whom I hadn't seen in two years. I mistakenly thought my appointment was at 9:15, so that's when we were there. I went and did my urine check, as always, and when I got out, they called me to go into room 7, Usually, I go back into the waiting room to be called, but they were ready for me. I wasn't laying on the bed/table for more than 3 minutes when the doctor came in. Well, actually, that was after the woman -- whatever her title is-- came and took my weight and blood pressure and fetal heart tones. I guess I'm up to having gained 21 or 22 pounds, now. So, back to what I was saying... I hadn't been waiting for the doctor for more than about 3 minutes when she came in. Everything checked out, except I told her last week the baby was still breech and that I know it still is this week because I can feel it kick me in the butt. So, she did a short ultrasound to check, and sure enough, the head was up and the feet down. From there on, the conversation turned to what to do if the baby is still breech in a week. We discussed C-section vs. breech birth. She said they don't know which one is "better", but that -- I think-- they sort of put you in their little study if you do end up having a breech baby in labor. Her comments were that vaginal breech births are hard only because the head is delivered last and that's the biggest part. I mentioned about the baby wanting to breathe because its chest was out but its head wasn't, and she sort of dismissed that, so I guess that's not a huge concern, but I didn't press the issue. I also mentioned how I'm high-risk for a c-section because of my scar tissue-- don't know what's stuck to what. Her basic comment was that they'd have to cross that bridge if they came to it. I assume she'd do my c-section, if it came down to that. The last bit of info was that if the baby is not turned by 36 weeks-- my next appointment-- they are going to do a "version" which is manually turning the baby from the outside with ultrasound guidence. I already have that appointment, actually, for the 13th in the morning. That's when she'll be at the hospital. They have to do them in triage of labor and delivery, because there is a chance you could go into labor and possibly need an emergency c-section. On the same note, I'm therefore not allowed to eat or drink dinner or anything after that time the night before. The old might-throw up-your-food-and-inhale-it deal with anesthesia. (See Next Post...)

06:40pm Sep 2, 1999 EDT
That appointment was over at 9:45. Jonathan and Nathan had gone outside for Nathan to play, but had found that, after this strange heavy fog had lifted that only surrounded the building and surrounding yard and parking lots, there was tons of weeds, etc. that Jonathan's allergic to. I waited for them, not knowing where they were. I finally went downstiars into the main waiting area where I figured I could see them if they came or went out the front doors. I happened to look up several minutes later to see Jonathan's head in the waiting room of my OB's office. (Glass walls up there; two-levels and a basement in this place.) So, I went up there and watched Nathan play for a bit. I was tired, so I just sat there and told Jonathan about my appointment. We hadn't been sitting there TOO long, when one of the receptionists called my name and said, "Dr. Shadigian didn't know you'd left; she still wants to see you." Hmm... she'd hugged me goodbye and given me my discharge sheet.... So someone takes me back on the other side than I usually go. I didn't wait too long, before they'd forgotten where I was and I heard them looking for me. I said "I'm in here" and in walks my dr. She said my mom had called her and told her I'm not well mentally and she wanted to know what was going on. She said my mom told her I want to hurt the baby. I just told her it was stressful being on bedrest and that I really don't want to do all that stuff, and that I had an appointment "downstairs" in a little bit, anyway. She said, good, tell her how you're really feeling. So, I promised to do that and she looked relieved. She really did look worried there for a while, and I can't blame her. I just like to put on my happy face when I see her-- maybe because all my appointments were like that when I was pregnant with Nathan, and she's such a happy person, herself. (See Next Post...)

06:41pm Sep 2, 1999 EDT
Between then and my next appointment, Jonathan was complaining of his eyes and allergies. They were all really red and swollen. I asked him if there was a way he could get his prescriptions refilled and/or see a doctor. He said he HAD seen someone in this same building before. So I made him go upstairs and at least ask, seeing as he had no appointment. Well, the receptionist took one look at him and they got him in right then. Turns out he saw Nathan's pediatrician. LOL (Its the Adult Medicine and Pediatrics section.) She gave him three prescriptions, but when he went to fill them downstairs, he found that again, they had the wrong insurance or something and said he wasn't covered. So he had to call his work about it himself. It seems there's some "paperwork that isn't finished". (Read more about that below.) (See Next Post....)

06:42pm Sep 2, 1999 EDT
Onto my next appointment (psychiatrist, at noon), the person I was seeing was caught in traffic, so she was late, but I didn't mind; I was laying down on a small couch in the waiting area, reading a magazine. She and I had a good conversation and got lots covered in the short amount of time we spent together. I got a prescription for Zoloft, an anti-depressant. The two "problems" with this are one, that it takes the drug two weeks to start having any effects, and two, our insurance is still messed up so presriptions can't be covered right now. Another problem, since Jonathan got his much-needed scripts for his extreme allergies today, but couldn't afford the over $200 to pay out-of-pocket. Anyway, we solved my problem with that by having me go to their other office some time soon and get a month of "trial" pills. Hopefully the insurance paperwork will be fixed by then. (Its not that we don't have coverage, its just red tape.) It had better be, because, as I told the psychiatrist, I don't want to even SEE what bills I've racked up this pregnancy! She said I'll feel much better on this drug, which also eases anxiety and that once the baby is here and we're in our new place, I will feel even better, as people who come from alcoholic families, like I do, tend to like to be in control of things-- which I certainly haven't been while on bedrest. Having my own place and being able to take care of Nathan again will help a ton. (And its safe for nursing, in case you're wondering. We're assuming the baby will be born at 37 weeks, if not 36 weeks, but that remains to be seen, of course.) I also got an appointment with a social worker in the same office for next week. I guess she's supposed to help with things like finding an lactation consultant... little details like that, that might be hard for a new mom. Probably next week, we'll talk about what we've got ready or not for this baby. (We move this weekend, so I'll know better next week. I know we need lots of babyproofing stuff for Nathan right away, that's for sure!) (See Next Post...)

06:43pm Sep 2, 1999 EDT
Oh yes, and back to what my OB said, I'm off strict bedrest, but she wants to ease me back into normal activity. Next week and the week after, I get, gradually, more that I'm allowed to do. I don't mind, because just going out to my appointments today wore me out!! I can sit in the livingroom now, and make my own cereal, etc. Just not run around, nor be left in total charge of Nathan. Next week, we'll see what other stuff can be added. I hope I didn't forget anything! Sorry it took me so long to update you, but I'm tired and we're waiting for the phone call from the person about my "trial" meds. (END)

08:43am Sep 3, 1999 EDT
Heather, no pitocin? Why ever not? LOL I don't think I'll be needing that. My big obtacle is to get this baby turned somehow. Otherwise, we all know what my choices are...
Cars... that's something we don't have.
Today, dh needs to organize the last few people for when they are helping to move/clean. He also is picking up my "trial" meds, and getting some post-baby stuff like maxipads and tucks, plus we REALLY need that babyproofing stuff, since the hearth would slice any part of you open, nevermind the stove, and stairs-- that's one thing you first-timers don't have to worry about for a bit. I feel like I climbed a mountain yesterday. I think I'm just going to lay around. Not that I am allowed to do much more, anyway, still.

06:17pm Sep 3, 1999 EDT
Heather, he didn't get the maxi pads, etc., it turns out. He did get, though, a stair gate, two stove guards, stove nob covers, an oven lock, a hearth guard, wall plugs, a toilet lock, door nob covers, and various other little babyproofing items. The hospital gives you maxipads while you're there and unless I have this baby before a week from now, we'll have his next paycheck for those things. As I recall, I needed a LOT of them. He's bought me maxi pads before, and a pregnancy test. In fact, he bought this book I'd had on order for ages, last year, called "The Joy of Being a Boy!" It turned out to be oriented toward the young boy who's not circumcised-- talks about how his body works. Anyway, he went to pick this up and the front is about 8 1/2 by 11 COLOR of a naked boy standing on a big rock!!! Who thought of that one? LOL He said he felt like people thought he was buying kiddie porn. I've heard others say the same thing. The author should've thought more before putting that pic on the front, harmless as it may be.

06:23pm Sep 3, 1999 EDT
Wow! Five pounds at not even 33 weeks?? I think the average isn't even 4 pounds, yet, at that stage. I think at 35 weeks, my baby's supposed to weigh 5 1/2 pounds. Nathan was 7 1/2 at birth, so if he's any indication, this one is "average" weight, too. Never know, though. No one's made a guess on the weight, yet.

10:16am Sep 4, 1999 EDT
Sheri, thanks for the info on Zoloft. About bh's more painful, mine have been less painful. *grin* But they do get more intense the closer you are to term, yes. And the bugaboo about that is, when you're close to your due date, you can have contrax every 5 mins and still its "false labor" not the real thing. Like you said about the zoloft, when it finally kicks in, you know! LOL
I'm going to ride along to the storage place in a minute. No one can watch Nathan, and Jonathan can't just leave him in the car. I'll just be sitting there, of course. Besides, maybe we'll swing by a drive-thru... I'm hungry! Ta ta for now...

02:18pm Sep 4, 1999 EDT
Nici, the pelvic pressure is probably baby's getting heavier, but also your pelvic bone does separate. I can feel mine doing that. I remember with Nathan, it actually cracked! Not broke of course, but I guess like fingers do. I'm back from the storage place. Let's just say cars are WAY bumpier than beds! LOL As long as we were gone was about my limit. Besides, there were no bathrooms readily available. I don't think I needed one until we were just home, but still. We finally got two packages of overnight maxi pads and two big jars of Tucks-- just to get me started. And, yes, dh went in and bought them himself. :-)

08:22pm Sep 4, 1999 EDT
I do get some sun in this room; there are two windows. I'd heard that about Alaska and the sun lamps. I keep thinking that its only two more weeks-- that some people who are on bedrest are only 20-some weeks and have an eternity, comparitively, to go. Dh was wrong, by the way-- the car ride wasn't so great. I guess it was too long. I do like getting into the sunshine, though when we go to the doctor. Tomorrow, they are moving our stuff into the place. I hope it goes well. Probably, when we're in our new place and the baby is here, things will be better. Of course, the first two weeks are hard, but once we get a "plan", things will go more smoothly.

11:40am Sep 5, 1999 EDT
Sheri, I had a yeast infection a month ago after my hospitalization. Same deal-- really bothered me, but I was only allowed to put the cream on the outside and not use the applicators.
Woo-hoo on the shopping spree with inlaws! Don't you just love when you go out with a grandma, for example, and you mention you can't afford a certain item-- they end up chipping in the rest, or getting it for you for "your birthday". LOL We got all that safety stuff the other day, like I mentioned. I liked going out getting tons of diapers, etc. when pregnant with Nathan. This time, we got booties and a hat and some bottles, and ended up buying our stroller and carseat ourselves. And going out to dinner, too! Just don't get TOO set on cheesecake, unless you know of somewhere that definately has it. I know I'd probably get my tooth set too much on cheesecake and then end up having to get a brownie sundae or something.
They are at the house now, starting to go to the storage place to get stuff. They have 3 or 4 vans and trucks going at once, to try to get it all at once because the place is an hour away. My mom and aunt and grandma are there now, wiping everything down. Men's work and women's work I guess-- at least that's the way my mom put it. LOL My mom's boyfriend went out and picked up a carpet cleaner, too. By the time I see it, it aught to look pretty good!
Elizabeth, I'm so jealous!! I have no car, and when we get one, it won't be anything new and fancy like that. Just don't have the credit. Dh said he'll get something, and he knows not to get the first cheapest thing, either. LOL
I feel really crampy today. I hope its just pressure and having to pee or something.
Ta ta for now.

02:38pm Sep 5, 1999 EDT
Robin, I'm not over there moving, I'm at home. I just have heard what's going on on the phone.
Nici, lol-- maybe I won't. But it sounds like they are doing a lot. Even my uncle who's a carpenter is going to put back on the basement door I didn't know we had. Then we don't have to worry about the stairs. I'll have to see what they did and what I want to do myself. Of course, for at least two weeks, its pointless becuse I can't just up and start washing and sorting and decorating like I'd like to. Besides, even if I were allowed now, I'd tire out in 15 minutes, I'm sure.
That achiness seems more and more like the muscles and tendons (?) in my pubic area stretching. I vaguely remember that from when I was pregnant with Nathan. Probably I'm not used to weight centered there, either, since I'm mostly on my side.

09:54am Sep 6, 1999 EDT
Mary, if I walked around like a "normal" person, instead of being on bedrest, I'm sure the same thing would happen to me, if not sooner, then later. Lucky you you're so close to being "allowed" to go into labor. I still have 11 days. Lately, I've been really aching in the pubic bone area-- probably stretching to make room for the baby, plus its not used to vertical gravity.
Heather, well, we'll have to see. I can just picture dh leaving stuff all over the house just like "the kids"! Eventhough we have a playroom for all the toys, dh is infamous for putting stuff down wherever-- or all his old papers and coins from the day on the top of the nightstand or dresser.
Dh is going to take Nathan to the new place in a bit to help rearrange some stuff we moved in yesterday. (Or they moved in.) He said he's going to return the stair gate we got because my uncle put the basement door back on the top of the basement stairs and the gate cost $60.
Karen, I'm not sure I should be going to the new house. (Not going now, to that effect.) I guess the car just jiggles me for too long. LOL Its a nice drive though! Its all countryside and fields of various crops... cows and two tractor delerships along the way! LOL And after all that, our house is in the first real neighborhood you come to. The pastor told us its the kind of neighborhood you "don't need to lock your doors" in. Considering the one we came from in RI, I'll still lock my doors. LOL But it will be nice to take "the kids" for a stroll in our neighborhood! Something I couldn't do in RI-- or was too afraid to, I should say.
Robin, what evidence do you have for when you conceived? For some reason, my due date goes along with my getting pregnant three days before we had sex. And, yes, we only had sex that once that month! Three days isn't that much, really, but it is when you're counting the days down. A week is a bigger difference than 3 days, as you know. They say, though, the earlier the ultrasound, the better, for dating a pregnancy. They dated mine at 6 weeks along, so they are just sticking with that.
Elizabeth, do you feel restless? Is that why you can't sit, stand, or lay down? Or is it mostly the pain? Restlessness like that is what told me to go to the hospital when I was in labor with Nathan. If you're really uncomfortable, I'd say call labor and delivery. They will probably want to check you out. Couldn't hurt-- better than being in early labor and not knowing it. They can measure the baby on ultrasound for size, yes, but also your OB should be able to just feel the baby through you and guess. My OB did that a few days before Nathan was born and she was right.

04:17pm Sep 6, 1999 EDT
Beth, I'm not vegetarian, but I AM really hungry right now. We're low on food in the house, too, darn it! Not like I can go out and get anything, either. My husband is supposed to be on his way home now with Nathan. Maybe we'll have to order pizza for an early dinner or something.

06:44pm Sep 6, 1999 EDT
Beth, he's out now getting the pizza. Cheesecake, yum!! I don't know that my stomcah is big enough anymore to hold steak, too, though. Why not just spend a couple days together and have a food party? Sleepover with popcorn and a video? LOL Mary, a week, huh? I still have 11 days until I'm "term". Tick, tock, tick, tock. I don't feel too great today, either, darn it. I don't want to go in again, but I may have to.

09:32am Sep 7, 1999 EDT
Sheri, I called and what the nurse suggested worked-- a warm bath, and dh give me a back massage. I guess being in bed can make you ache. I also had dinner which only can help. :-)
We've moved about 6 times between 6/97 and now-- really kinda 7 if you count moving stuff in and out of a storage place this last time.
Oh yes, about your yeast infection, did you continue the meds for a week? Its one of those things that you can't just stop when you feel better. Even if you're just putting it on the outside, you should continue for as close to a week as you can get.
About the vacation, how soon would this be? Either way, who's breastfeeding? Practice walking latched on. LOL
You'll eventually "know" you're in labor-- at least I did with Nathan. About the time when I had to stop and lean on my dh in the hospital hallway. I also did notice the contractions were getting more intense. This time, who knows. Time will tell, as they say.
I had a robe after I had Nathan, but never wore it. I haven't gotten my bag packed, either. There's not much I can see I need. I brought so much stuff last time that I didn't need. I do have a t-shirt for the baby and probably my mom will give a going-home outfit... The hospital gives maxi pads, tucks, squirt bottles, nursing pads (if I need them that soon; last time I didn't), toothbrush... Shampoo and my own toothpaste would be good. Probably my own toothbrush, too and hairbrush. But if I came with nothing, it wouldn't be too bad. Just remember when you picke out your going-home outfit for yourself, that its something on the order of sweatpants and a large t-shirt. I had a dress to go home in last time and my breasts had grown so much, it didn't fit on top!
LOL About the make-up. On that note, if you wear contacts, you'll want to at least pack something to put them in, because they more than likely will tell you to take them out. (In case of csection, I guess.) You should also bring your glasses, if you have them, so you can see. I don't remember not having my glasses on when I had Nathan making too much of a difference, really. And my vision isn't great, but its not horrible, either.
ROFL! about your MIL talking to your middle. I, too, would've gacked right there. My MIL, actually, annoys us when she's around. We spent a couple weeks with them last summer when we all went on vacation and it was not pleasant. And not just because we do things differently. For one thing, we all went to the grocery store together, and she insisted that she shop by herself. That left us wandering. She also made a fuss about "her stuff' and "our stuff". Lucky for us, they live out in Seattle and so we rarely see them. They stayed at our place 4 years ago when we got married. We had to leave them in our place for a day or two after our wedding-- we were leaving on our honeymoon-- and as weird as that was, when dh grabbed a Pepsi as he walked out the door to head to the airport to go to our honeymoon, his mom said something about how that was "HER" Pepsi and had a fit so he had to come back inside and put back the Pepsi he got out of HIS fridge.
I didn't have any pizza. Dh bought fajita makings and then I didn't eat them. I had pasta instead.

02:44pm Sep 7, 1999 EDT
I've never had a problem breastfeeding in public. Not that I just whip them out anywhere, but once I breastfed Nathan on a bench outside at Disney World and no one said anything. Really, I got more looks when I breastfed him when he was over 6 months, than I ever did just for breastfeeding. Lots of museums and amusement parks seem to have breastfeeding rooms. I know the Magic Kingdom does-- all dimly lit, too-- including a changing area and feeding area if you're past breastfeeding. I figure why deprive yourself of doing something simply because of what someone else might think? Then you'd never get to go anywhere. Now I remember that I did breastfeed Nathan at a mall in the foodcourt area once with a friend of mine. If they don't give you a place to nurse, make your own. Just a bench somewhere. Nursing shirts are nice, but even if you don't have one, just lift up your shirt. Its only a little annoying when the kid is old enough to be annoyed by the shirt so he or she keeps lifting out of the way. LOL

07:27pm Sep 7, 1999 EDT
Wearing during labor? What part? All of it? Somewhere in there it gets very bloody and stays that way so just keep that in mind. After the birth, you'll want a shower, but still, you'll have the lochia. I guess if you want to wear you own stuff, make sure you don't mind it getting a LOT stained.
No doubt, Heather, on the advice about picking the baby up, etc. I got that from my grandma when Nathan was a newborn. And it doesn't stop when they're newborns, either. I think I've heard a million times at least my mom say, "You had/did that and you're fine...." UGH!!!!
How long did you nurse? How big is "alien sized", anyway? I'm probably an E now and will be much bigger than that when engorgement sets in. Oh yeah-- I probably have mentioned this, but I nursed Nathan until he was 20 months.

09:03am Sep 8, 1999 EDT
Robin, did they do an early ultrasound to date the pregnancy-- at about 6 weeks? If so, they say that's pretty accurate. I'd still go with your instincts, especially if your "day" was a week dfferent. I suppose 3 days can still make little difference for me-- what I don't get is how the egg could live that long, since they are saying I concieved 3 days before we had sex. Besides which, my fertile mucous dried up the day after we had sex along with my temp going up. (Not that I'd taken it before then, but I know what's "up" and what's not for me.) At any rate, three days earlier is fine with me. Moves up my weeks that much sooner!
LOL About "you'll bearly wear that" on the hospital gown. I do remember not liking it somewhere in there and walking out of the bathroom during transition stark naked-- except for the IV, that is. Four family members, nurses, a male anesthesiologist an his male assitant... I didn't care one iota.
Sheri, so what are you saying? You're going to be 2nd to have your baby-- assuming that's where Mary's been? Well fine! Be that way!! *grin* (Still holding out for at least 8 more days.)

11:35am Sep 8, 1999 EDT
No, you didn't mention that already. LOL So what are you now as far as cm and effacement? When I went into the hospital two weeks ago, I was having really bad contractions, yet I didn't dilate any more at all. I'm still not sure if that effaced me or not, since they said I was 50% and I hadn't been anything at all before. Then again, before was at least a week before, if not two weeks before.
That old thing about the more kids you have the more chance of cancer or whatever? I say phooey on that theory. And why are they against any more grandkids? Are they thinking of how much they'll have to spend at birthdays or Christmas? LOL No one's said anything about my having two kids-- I guess that's just normal for our family. (Not that anyone else in my generation's had kids-- except Jonathan's sister who's got one and another due next years some time. But I mean on my side of the family.)

01:29pm Sep 8, 1999 EDT
I know that people can breastfeed with those slings-- newborns at least. That's very discrete, too. I don't know the details on the Walmart story, but I bet she didn't just whip them out and sit in the front of the store. I breastfed Nathan at an outdoor movie once. He was 9 months old, I think. I got a few looks, but I didn't care. I wanted to ask the people giving me looks, "If I quit feeding my baby, would you like to hold him through the movie while he screams?"

06:12pm Sep 8, 1999 EDT
Mary, no the baby hasn't turned yet-- that I know of, anyway. Sure, send the chiropractor info. It was newborn covers I wanted. The newborn diapers I have look just like the ones you sent, only they have a green stitching on the ends and are smaller, of course. I haven't washed any yet. My mom is washing newborn clothes. Diapers on on the list to wash. Should I wash them at least twice to fluff them up and get the approx. eventual size?
Beth, good grief is right! Some people are just plain silly. They put their adult sexual thoughts onto a newborn and then raise a stink. Its their problem and no one else's. Why the need to drag others into their sexual hangups, I don't know.

08:05pm Sep 8, 1999 EDT
I used to think I knew the difference. After this premature labor stuff, I'm not so sure. LOL
Basically, real labor contractions get stronger and longer and don't ease up if you change positions, drink water, or rest. You can have as many braxton hicks as you want that are an average of 5 mins apart (like they tell you) that last over a minute, but this could still be false labor. Not that they're not doing anything necessarily, just its not true labor. Your intuition will pretty much tell you something is "different". It can't hurt to call labor and delivery. They probably will have you come in and be checked out in triage. That takes at least a couple hours, because they put you on the fetal heart rate monitor/contraction monitor, along with checking your temperature, blood pressure, and possibly your cervix for dilatation and effacement. What they did when I was in labor with Nathan was tell me the contractions were 4 mins apart, I was 70% effaced and a "0" station, 4 cm and to go walk a couple hours; if I'd gotten at least another cm in that time, I could stay. I did and I did.
Hope this helps!

11:38am Sep 9, 1999 EDT
Last night, my back was really hurting and I was having a lot of contractions, so I called the hospital. They told me to take a bath or shower, take Tylenol and drink a bunch of water (I drank 2 litres and couldn't fit any more in!) and call back in an hour. I did all that but it didn't help. They had me come in. I was there about 3 hours. No contractions seemed to pick up on the monitor, but I know I felt something. My cervix hadn't changed. The doctor said the baby isn't engaged yet (which is good because its still upside down, as far as I know). The doctor's guess was it was "early early" labor and it would probably be another 3 weeks. That's almost 39 weeks. (I'm 36 weeks tomorrow.) Fine with me. I'm just sick of being pregnant. I'm sure you all understand. Not that I wanted to have the baby last night, but better safe than sorry. I feel better after sleeping, but still achey and a bit crampy. I swear when I DO go in to have it, I hope its in the morning after a good night's sleep. I'm sick of these trips in when I can bearly keep my eyes open from the start!

05:51pm Sep 9, 1999 EDT
Nici, are you going to fetal diagnostics to get a stress test done? Is that what you mean about and ultrasound to measure the baby? I had that done right after my last OB appointment with Nathan because my blood pressure was too high. It was the same monitoring they do with the heartbeat and contractions but they also did an ultrasound and measured the baby's size. She measured him at 7 1/2 lbs and he weighed 7 lbs 11 oz at birth!
Mary, I just get nervous if I ache at all with contractions-- especially when I feel them in my back or down low-- because of the preterm labor problem, still. Its just that I felt nothing really when I WAS in preterm labor, so I want to be on the safe side. I don't want it to be real labor yet. I want to make it to October 1st, preferably. I think that's when I'm 39 weeks. How many weeks are you now? Aren't they inducing you on tuesday, anyway?
About the lady at Wendy's, that's not necessary. I mean, yeah, at home I did whatever-- even went without a shirt most of the time to feed because its easier-- but at Wendy's? And both? She was just asking for trouble, whether she felt "justified" in it or not. That's not just feeding your baby, as far as I'm concerned. Like I said, I nursed Nathan on various benches outside-- they just don't provide anywhere decent to breastfeed, most of the time. And forget sitting in the bathroom. Haven't some of these women heard of nursing shirts? I'm just haning out today. The usual, I guess. Jonathan didn't go into work. He took Nathan to the new place-- I guess to do more work on it-- and he also wanted to practice the organ for Sunday. He's playing the hymns. Wouldn't do to play a bunch of wrong notes! LOL I am feeling better, though. There's something about the end of the day, I guess. Someone should figure out scientifically why most women seem to go into labor at night. That reminds me-- when's the full moon? Watch out! People having their babies today will have a neat birthdate: 9/9/99!

06:18pm Sep 10, 1999 EDT
Elizabeth, good for you about your co-worker! Some people just like to be mean to others, I guess. You just remember that every birth experience is different-- from woman to woman and from baby to baby-- and she can't tell you how your birth will go any better than anyone else. And yes, it will be all worth it! Your definition of "hurt" is different than what anyone else's might be. I won't say its "fun", but its not hell either. What Mary said about it is true too-- I'd rather have a baby than certain stomach aches I've had; I'd rather have a baby than go through that magnesium sulfate like I did last month!
Robin, your visit sounds almost exactly like mine the other day to labor and delivery. I actually heard and felt my pelvic bone crack this morning! I know its separating now. LOL I had some brown spotting today, too, from the exam the other day. I also am losing more of my plug. Guess it didn't all come out a few weeks ago.
Heather, the baby gaines 1/2 a pound a week; you gain a pound a week. Make you feel better? LOL
Last night we spent the night at our new place. My bed is SO comfy! I swear 1/2 my aches are due to this couch bed here at my mom's. LOL No contractions-- just braxton hicks. It was so funny last night! Dh made dinner-- hamburger helper, corn on the cob, dinner rolls, milk.... We don't have a table to eat on yet, so he put our dinners on top of tall box. (About 3 feet tall.) It was one of those slow-motion moments: Just as he put the last thing on-- a glass of milk-- he left the room. I saw the whole of all our dinner fall into the box and onto itself and our stuff! Jonathan heard it and ran in the room and started saying "Oh no!" while I was laughing hysterically and Nathan started crying from all the excitement. Needless to say, dh cleaned up the mess and luckily we had more food, so we just dished up more.
My dr's appointment went pretty well. The baby is still breech-- butt down, legs up; not engaged. So I'm still on to turn the baby this tuesday. If it doesn't turn, I have to choose breech birth, csection, or some trial study thing where they do a sort of lottery and the decision gets made for you then they see how it turns out. Since I have had abdominal surgery before, I have to really think about it, otherwise, my dr. said she'd recommend csection. She said the baby is "average-- about 6 pounds"-- after she felt it through my middle. She told me I can basically do whatever I want now as far as the bedrest goes. She wasn't too specific, but the gist was I can do whatever I want within reason. (She did mention, actually, that we can have sex again. LOL Like that was even on my mind!) Want to get my strength back to normal, I guess. I can even go to my dentist appointment Monday! I still am cautious, though. I don't want to exhuast myself. Still afraid of going into labor before at least a week from now.

08:46pm Sep 12, 1999 EDT
Robin, I hope it is just your cervix being irritated. Mine gets irritated easily while pregnant, too. We haven't been having sex, of course, but now that I'm off bedrest, we could. I just don't like to give up the rare bodily "homeostasis"-- where I don't feel bad anywhere basically-- to go messing that up. LOL These days my pelvis aches from the weight of the baby and from stuff stretching, etc. I cleaned the kitchen today. I think just my muscles need to get back in order over time. Just braxton hicks and the usual pregnancy aches. If I do a little every day, I hope to be back in working order in 2 or 3 weeks when I hope this baby will be born.
Elizabeth, I'm sure you can get diaper liners at a lot of places, but the only place I know is at this site. You can either get the washable ones and/or the disposable ones on a roll. There are also diaper doublers for night. I want to get both! (And I'd better hurry up. LOL) We washed the diapers last night. The newborn ones came out all fluffy and soft! We folded one up and said, "Aww..."!
Beth, to turn the baby, they use ultrasound and basically turn it from the outside by hand. I've been warned my middle will be sore after! Not as much as after I had Nathan, though, I'm assuming. LOL Sorry, but that is a funny picture-- you at almost 9 mos pregnant crawling through one of those!
Heather, the version you saw was "pretty wild", huh? I'll let you know how mine goes. Maybe I should bring a video tape? (For the ultrasound machine, that is.)LOL I know exactly what you're talking about about little money until the next paycheck and looking for things to sell! Try CD's? Some places will give you $5 for nice ones that are still popular. LOL Not so great when you paid maybe $20 for them, but it helps. You can also sell books. We also have scrounged for change just to buy SOMEthing to eat, last summer.
Sheri, "often starts labor"? They didn't tell me that. They said there could be a complication maybe with the cord getting compressed and they'd have to do a Csection... Anything's possible, I guess. That's why they waited until I was 36 1/2 weeks. You can lose your plug and not know it. It probably just gets flushed and/or you don't see it when you wipe. Speaking of allergies, I finally complained enough to get my mom to close the windows and turn on the air conditioning here tonight! Our air at the new place works almost TOO well and I got spoiled last night! Now we're back here, and it was 80 outside and all the windows were open, added to I have asthma and allergies and I'm 9 mos pregnant-- I begged her to allow me to breathe! Glad she did. I hope you get the house! Just cross your fingers and toes-- it happened for us (eventhough we're basically renting not owning).
I don't need help getting to sleep, but if I did, I wouldn't use warm milk, unless it was chocolate. I don't like warm milk. And I definately wouldn't have it here at my mom's! (See above. LOL)
Nici, I got nursing bras from JCPenny. They don't come bigger than DD, though, so I think I'll go to a maternity shop-- they usually carry the larger sizes, and they don't have frills! I had a bra a few years ago-- regular one-- with the frills on it and it itched me all day! I gave it up, obviously. The "d" stands for anything you want-- dear, dingbat, dopey...

06:59am Sep 13, 1999 EDT
Robin, I get tired easily, too these days. But lots of that has to do with just coming off bedrest. Then again, I remember being pregnant with Nathan later on and just all of the sudden falling asleep on the bed like I'd been up for days and couldn't help it.
Sheri, lol about the stomach muscles being too tight. Mine used to be before I got pregnant with Nathan-- I used to work out. Well, you never know. I could have the baby tomorrow... That's probably why they wait until now: not too early any more.
It seems to me lots of babies are born on the weekend or at night. At least, that's when I seem to always go in to Labor and Delivery! Nathan was born on a Monday, but I went to the hospital late Sunday night. You have a better than a 50% chance to have the baby mon-thurs, so hopefully you will.
My plug this time and last time has never had blood in it. I never had blood until the true "bloody show" during transition with Nathan.
Can you return the changing table and exchange it for the cheaper one? I thought you could do stuff like that.
Karen, I am getting excited! Not much let to do at our new place, if we'd ever get down to doing it. I can't do much and dh needs to practice a lot for his church job. It will get done, though. We can't live 1/2 unpacked forever! I put away the nursing stuff and dh washed the diapers the other day. Its getting done, slowly.
I go to the dentist this morning. Funny that its 7 a.m. here and still pitch black. Just wait until the time change! Ick. That's one of the things I didn't like I about when we were in New England: we came here for summer, so it seemed like N.E. was never anything but winter. Anyway, I'm sure getting my teeth cleaned will feel good. I haven't had it done in almost 2 years.

04:23pm Sep 14, 1999 EDT
Mary, that you would! There's plenty to do here to help-- just twitch your nose and pop over; we've got clothes to put away, records and videos to be shelved....
Speaking of bras, we got mine yesterday. They are different than the ones I had with Nathan. And guess the size? 36E!
Nici, at least you only have a few days of bedrest. I think you WILL win the "I'm first!" contest!
Geeze, Mary! I hope you're doing better now. That sounds like too many bad things at once!
And now for my appointment today... They gave me an IV and talked about csections and gave me the csection consent-- in case I needed an emergency one this morning-- and also about breech births. My dr. came in and the second they put the ultrasound on me, someone said, "Oh!" and sure enough the head was down. End of appointment. LOL
Gotta go get some rest! Nathan is asleep in his bed in his own room! 99.9% of our stuff is moved in and now it just needs organizing-- eventually.

09:03pm Sep 14, 1999 EDT
Heather, I got all the "might-happens" in the consent form. LOL I was like, "oh... that's nice..." I'm so glad, too! I hope it stays now that its decided on its own to flip!

11:19pm Sep 14, 1999 EDT
Good at following directions... Nathan's now whining at the safety gate in the hall. I put him to bed and he gets out-- over and over again. Phooey! And I KNOW he's tired.

09:24am Sep 15, 1999 EDT
Elizabeth, they look tiny when they're not yours, but when you hold your own after it comes out, you think, "THAT big thing came out of me??" LOL
My mom and I had a fight on the phone this morning because we have no $ for disposable diapers right now. We have 2 left, I think. We'd had Nathan in cloth for a month, I think, when I had to go on bedrest, so my mom insisted cloth diapers were "stupid and too hard" and so bought him disposables and REFUSED to use or wash any cloth at all. Now this morning, I put a cloth on Nathan for obvious reasons here at our new place and for a long time he just pulled at it and cried. I call my mom and all she says is maybe Jonathan put it on wrong. Any and all excuses except that she UNDID his being used to them! Same with the shower: we had him used to the shower and she would only give him baths and now he hates the shower! Jonathan said something that she could hear over the phone about how she doesn't respect that I'm Nathan's mother. You can only imagine how hard it was ARGUING with her not to give Nathan bottles at bedtime AND to brush his teeth once a day, when I was on complete bedrest!
After Nathan watched the trucks and school busses going by this morning-- we're right by a school and on a truck route!-- he was happy and Jonathan took him in the NEW stroller to the park down the street. I'm waiting for the cable guy to arrive sometime before noon.

10:00am Sep 15, 1999 EDT
I'll give you my 2 cents on that. (I have had it done more often than most on here!) When I've been hooked to the monitors, I'm not flat on my back but sitting up a bit. At the "version" yesterday, they even said, "it will only be a minute" when they had me flat for something. Then they sat me up again. Besides that, when I'd have to be monitored for an hour, they'd ask me which side I prefered and arranged the monitors so I could lay on my side (and sleep!)

03:00pm Sep 15, 1999 EDT
Nici, actually, the soreness lasted maybe the first week, then I got used to it. Nathan seems to be adjusting, actually. Right now, he's sharing his first caramel apple with his dad!

05:24pm Sep 15, 1999 EDT
Anyone else having more pelvic pressure and pain? Just today I'm noticing a lot of that when I walk. At the moment, actually, I'm having a contraction which I can FEEL in my pelvis.

07:45pm Sep 15, 1999 EDT
That's what I thought too-- a move and a new baby would be really hard on him. As it is, he won't have much time inbetween.
And on that subject-- sort of-- my mom has already started "straightening" the room we were in. Great. Now I have no idea where anything is; it seems like whenever she "straightens" I never see my stuff again! She just picks up stuff and throws out what she doesn't consider important-- IF she looks at it! She's always been that way. Its not that we left a lot of stuff, anyway. Just the new car seat and my pills and Nathan's ventilator. Knowing her, she's found a way to stuff stuff away and then SHE doesn't even know what she did with it. I think she's a little obsessed, if you want to know the truth.

11:11pm Sep 15, 1999 EDT
I know kinda how you feel. I ache a lot these days and get tired very easily. Its like when I was first pregnant and all I could think about is "when do I get to sleep?" LOL I HOPE Nathan is in bed asleep. He fights it and there I am practically sleeping sitting up on the floor next to his bed WISHING to be in my bed asleep! We got the crib sheets on and the changing table up today with all the diapers on it, too! When I got to the hospital to have Nathan I was 4 cm, but I'd been that for the last two weeks. An hour and a half later, I was 5 cm and they admitted me. I guess its all we can do now to not "nest" too much, get as much rest as possible and hope we DON'T get that "Its time to go in" feeling when we know we really need to sleep! ANd speaking of that, I'm off to tiptoe into my room and get some sleep myself.

08:41am Sep 16, 1999 EDT
I second the info on stopping work at least a week before delivery. (Not that you know when it will be!) When I had Nathan, we'd been up all day, had a friend over in the evening and by 11 p.m. I was pacing the floor and KNEW something was going on with labor. Needless to say, I didn't get any sleep until 24 hours later AFTER having had the baby and pushed for over 2 hours by itself! They were trying to get Nathan to breastfeed late that night and both Nathan and I were of the mindset of "Leave us alone. We need to sleep!"

12:55pm Sep 16, 1999 EDT
We went for a walk this morning. Its so nice out here. Sunny, blue skies, nice cool fall breezes... We walked to the park with our new stroller (and Nathan, of course!) and let him play on the playground for a while. Then we walked downtown. Its such a nice little downtown, too. I smelled donuts, so of course we had to look at every shop until we saw the one with the donuts. LOL I talked to the lady at the counter in there and she said she's lived here for 20 years and never a problem. By the time we were walking home, though, I was getting pretty tired. (Uphill part of it, too!) I still ache down low, but contractions are rare. I feel like I need to do so much here yet I can stand about one thing a day then I need a nap, then I have to watch Nathan all evening. Today's thing was our walk, it seems, but I am washing Nathan's diapers. Have to do that!

08:43am Sep 17, 1999 EDT
Elizabeth, I'm having the same hip pains. Its seems like especially down in the "groin" area, I ache so much! Its even hard to get up from sitting because of it. Maybe my baby has dropped? I have my appointment today, so I'll ask. Oh yeah-- we're in S.E. Michigan. Lived here all my life-- except my first two years which were in TX and then the last little bit when we were out east for dh's school. Are you due the 9th? All this time I've been thinking my weeks changed on friday's but now I find out its Saturdays? Oh well. I'll still count myself as basically 37 weeks today. *grin* Its just engrained on my brain, this date, for obvious reasons!

03:33pm Sep 17, 1999 EDT
Well I'm back from my appointment. All is fine. They did a quick ultrasound to make sure the head is still down-- it is. She said its rare for them to turn again because the head is the heaviest part and it would be a lot of work! I got the instructions for when I think I'm in labor-- including to drink a lot of water so I don't get those dehydrated "fake" ones. Nathan was kind of upset though, because of the ultrasound and measuring. He kept saying "baby" and pointing-- I think he was trying to say, "What are you doing to my baby??"
I've been doing laundry today. I got the ingredients for home made baby wipe solution, too, along with laundry stuff so we don't run out too soon. Dh did put some stuff from the livingroom away... He's really hoping they don't have to work tomorrow too. A whole weekend off? That would be amazing! LOL

08:05pm Sep 17, 1999 EDT
LOL Yeah. Nathan points to everyone's middle and says "baby". He even points to his own middle sometimes and says it. He doesn't do too well with the Cabbage Patch doll we have, though. Its one of the "preemie" ones so its the closest to newborn that we have. (The original ones from 1983 or so.) He carries it around by the arm, although sometimes he'll carry it close to his chest. It gets thown on the floor a lot, too. He did say "Uh oh!!" when I accidentally sat on the doll.

08:45am Sep 18, 1999 EDT
Karen, I hate to tell you, but after the birth you'll feel even more like an old lady. I finally understood what those shower chairs and handles in the bathrooms were for, after I had Nathan. :-) Elizabeth,I don't know how you're 37 weeks today too, but due 6 days after me, but whatever. We can just bend space and time and make it work!

08:49am Sep 18, 1999 EDT
Today dh doesn't have to work-- !! --so we are going to try to finish up the house. Every day we wait is a long time that it won't get done once the baby gets here. There will be no time for anything other than sleep, baby, work, eat... UGH. Dh says it will be easier this time because we already know what we're doing, but we don't know what we're doing with a toddler, too! I've been having contractions on and off every day. I think the stress thing is right: My mom is SO stressful-- like you couldn't figure that out!-- and even my sister yesterday told me on the phone that since I've been off bedrest (and able to get out of my mom's place and then move in here), I've been a ton happier. I think I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and tell Mom to bugger off next time she starts in with her stress and negative attitude.

04:57am Sep 19, 1999 EDT
I already had a "chat" with my mom when I was living at her place. Maybe she needs another one. She is extremely stubborn, though. She just thinks her way is best and when I tell her that no matter WHAT she got Nathan used to when she could do whatever she wanted with him while I was on complete bedrest, we are in our new place now and we are doing things MY way. Its just that she makes it out to be that my way is somehow detrimental to Nathan. She still can't support me for using cloth diapers-- not even that they will save us a ton of money-- because SHE thinks they are "too hard" to use. I can understand knowing only your way that you brought up your own kids, but not pushing it on your kids. The thing is, my dad says -- they are divorced by the way since I was about 21-- that if my GRANDMA did that to my mom back in the early 70's, my mom would've "had a bird". Unfortunately, now both of them gang up on me about stuff! One example is cow's milk; I'm not inherantly against it, but Nathan's always gotten terrible rashes from it. My mom and grandma INSISTED he "needed" it for the calcium and that "he likes it", despite my pointing out that there ARE other foods with calcium in them. Finally, one day while I was still on bedrest, my mom changed Nathan's diaper with the worst rash he's probably ever had. He was SCREAMING. Finally, she broke down and got him rice milk. UGH!
About the wipes, here is the recipe I'm going to try. You can ask on the diapering board, but be prepared for a TON of info and your head to spin. LOL (This is where I got the wipe recipe, though.)
Add a tablespoon or two of liquid soap (whatever you want to use for baby) to 2 cups of water in an old wipe container. Then add 7 or 8 drops of whatever oil you wish. Swish them around in bottom of old disposable tub (or whatever you have). Mix it up. Add cloth wipes until solution is absorbed. (I'm going to try a cut-up old bedsheet, but I hear old recieving blankets work well, too.) I'm told that using baggies to store them when you go out works well. We've gotten Johnson's Baby Bath for the liquid soap and plain baby oil for the oil. There are lots of options, I'm sure, though.
Heather, you SHOULD get that Baby Story reinactment on video. That would be really funny in the future!
Beth, I'm getting those same achey and PMS cramps feelings.
Robin, I'm sure my time will come for the "I can't believe how old Nathan is!" Two still makes sense, but 10? My twin cousins, on the other hand, will be 7 next month. My GOSH! I remember when my aunt was pregnant with them.
We didn't finish putting away stuff over here yesterday, but we came close. About 5:00, I went to take a nap because I was exhuasted, and didn't even wake up for dinner! I finally got up at 8:00 and reheated mine. One of those-last-month-I'm-so-tired-I'll-just-fall-asleep-anywhere-and-NOW times. The reason I'm up NOW is that Nathan got up and took a while to go back to sleep and then I had to go to the bathroom PLUS I was hungry. Par for the course, as they say, I guess.

05:19pm Sep 19, 1999 EDT
We all went to church this morning. I had TWO people ask me if I was having twins. LOL My sister says I'm all middle this time and very round in front. I guess that's one of those basket ball bellies! The baby was moving a lot in church, too.
My mom and I had a talk on the phone and finally worked things out. Sheesh. Glad I don't have that stress anymore.
My feet are so swollen today. I wonder why. I should go put them up.

05:12am Sep 20, 1999 EDT
I think I've gained 25 pounds, now. I'm at the same weight I was when I had Nathan, but I look MUCH thinner. With him, I gained closer to 40 pounds. I'm just up now eating my dinner. I felt yuckie earlier and didn't eat it so dh put it in the fridge for me.

10:13am Sep 20, 1999 EDT
I waddle around, too, Elizabeth. Maybe my baby has dropped? Who knows. My middle felt heavy like that back when I was only 6 mos along. It was SO low. Now I guess I don't notice, or its evened out.

06:53pm Sep 20, 1999 EDT
Besides which, your due date is at the very and of the month. I'd be really overdue if I delivered after 10/28! :-)
Over here, just your basic pregnancy going on. Sometimes I'll get a braxton hicks-- sometimes a "real" one. Nothing to count, though. I have had headaches lately. I try to eat and drink water when that happens. Maybe its from sleeping? I seem to get them when I wake up. One of those sleep headaches, I guess. We are REALLY low on food, too. I'm not so sure we'll make it to Friday. Wonderful when one of us is TWO of us!

03:26am Sep 21, 1999 EDT
Beth, that sounds like probably your plug. Mine have never had any pink or red in them, though. Its more like a big glob of snot. LOL Or, not so big, like this time for me, it came out in smaller bits.
So, saturday should have the maternity floors hoppin', huh?
Well, with all my preterm labor woes, I am NOT the first to deliver here. All the moms off deliverying right now are in my thoughts-- watch them come back and say "Ha ha-- you still have to go through that." LOL They won't. My only hope is I go into labor when I'm well-rested. An hour after I wake up wouldn't be too bad... LOL Its just so much harder when you go in when you SHOULD be in bed. I know-- that's how it was with Nathan. Its kinda hard to sleep through labor. LOL

03:27am Sep 21, 1999 EDT
Vicki, I still manage to sleep in bed, but I've got the million pillow thing going, too! One for my head, one between my knees, one under my belly-- and if I can manage it, one behind me, too. (But that's when DH doesn't insist HE needs a pillow. I mean, how selfish! *grin*)

09:30am Sep 21, 1999 EDT
This weekend, huh, Elizabeth? I'll keep that in mind and make sure my bag is finished being packed by then! It seems this board is getting sparcer and sparcer. Pretty soon, one of us may be the only one posting!

12:49pm Sep 21, 1999 EDT
TA-DA!!! Seems you were the first to announce your birth! Congrats. I'm sure you ARE exhuasted. Get some rest when you can. Now we'll all want our little softies here!

12:51pm Sep 21, 1999 EDT
I'm still just having contractions now and then. I don't even bother to notice because they don't hurt too much. My body sure aches these days, though-- legs, feet, hips! I walk like I've got a bowling ball down my pants. LOL We went to the grocery this morning. Dh was holding out on me! Now we have plenty of food to last until friday. Men-- sheesh!

05:59pm Sep 21, 1999 EDT
You mean he was head-down, but now is transverse-- as in his head is on your left and butt on your right, for example? I hope he fixes himself! My nurse told me at my last appointment that once they're down, they pretty much stay down because the head is so heavy.

01:01am Sep 22, 1999 EDT
Beth, how big do they think the baby will be if you go to 39 weeks? What will they do if its really big before then and you go into labor?

01:03am Sep 22, 1999 EDT
Pregnancy does that to me, too, Beth. Not lately, though. However-- trying to argue with a two-year-old who's learned "No!!" in response to your asking him to do normal things kind of puts a big pregnant mom on edge late at night! (Why do you think I'm here posting? LOL)

09:27am Sep 22, 1999 EDT
I called my hospital and straightened out the insurance info! I finally got the cards in the mail yesterday, so I called with all the numbers, etc. It turns out that everything is covered except a $60 bill that was before the insurance kicked in. That's good, because the bill I called them about this morning is almost $700!

09:29am Sep 22, 1999 EDT
Nathan's always hitting me, speaking of terrible two's. And pinching.... He's waiting for his breakfast to cook-- frozen waffles.
My middle is so ROUND these days. I know I said that before, but with Nathan it was more wide. Its just like I put a ball in there! Does anyone else's middle hurt when you press on it? Especially down low on my belly. Its like I have a bruise, except I don't.

05:01pm Sep 22, 1999 EDT
I can check my blood pressure tonight at my mom's for the party. They have a blood pressure cuff. I haven't had headaches lately, though. Jonathan didn't go into work tonight because as he was closing the back door of the van, he konked himself in the forehead and knocked himself to the ground! His head was bleeding, but not bad, and he still doesn't look too great. We spent forever calling on the phone to the dr's office who basically said to take it easy tonight and look for various signs of this that and the other. His boss at work wasn't there and so he had to leave a message-- his boss is such a stickler for attendance that last time Jonathan called in he said it was his "last warning". So the only thing Dh can do now is go in for an appointment tomorrow at the dr's so he can get a note from them. Its the kind of thing where you almost wish he'd needed stitches or something so we'd've been sent to the ER and MAYBE the boss wouldn't fire him. I don't know. Bosses are stupid. Its not like he looks 100% either. He said he feels a little dizzy and is getting a headache now, which they said he might.

09:56am Sep 23, 1999 EDT
Beth, add me in for the medicine ball middle. I ache all over, too, and my middle hurts for some reason when you touch it. You should see me run to the phone! (Its in the kitchen and I'm usually in some other part of the house.) It must be a sight and a half-- my hurrying and hobbling! People also say how big I am. At church this past sunday, I either had two people --or a forgetfull one person-- ask me was I having twins. Then they added, "Are you SURE?" *rolling eyes* *grin* At a birthday party last night with family, they all commented on how big I was and said that there was no more room for me to get bigger and oh-- the full moon is Saturday so I won't make it out of this week. (I'm sure I'll show them up!)
Beth, sorry to hear about the death in your family. These things always are hard. Did your doctor say you could go that far this late in pregnancy? They usually tell you no further than an hour away in your last month. Not that you can do much about it, but just make sure you have a full gas tank when you get there, just in case!
Karen, about the old lady thing-- the walking, but also I had to use the little handles in the bathroom, not to mention seat in the shower! I wasn't on brethine at home, just got shots of it every week for a few weeks. I had a few shots of terbutaline, too, but nothing at home. Since I've been off bedrest for almost two weeks, though, I really feel normally pregnant. No more contractions than would be usual. I guess if I still weren't "allowed" to go into labor, I'd worry more about them. They always go away, though. What drug was that that you got? I might have to ask for it. Then again, I don't want any drugs besides an epidural, because I react very strongly to drugs. I always tell them that, and they don't believe it until they give me the regular dose and I over react to it!
We're going to the dr. soon for dh. He has to have an appointment to get a "note". Technicalities!

04:00pm Sep 23, 1999 EDT
Jo, I'm not too sure about your theory on why you don't go into labor. I've been on albuterol for years and it didn't stop me from going into labor with Nathan nor preterm with this one. I just don't think its enough nor in the right "place" to do that.
Stephanie, that must just be a "thing" for people-- to comment on how big you are. It doesn't matter that you tell them when your due date is AND that you're measuring right for weeks at your appointments, either. They still insist and going on about it-- either tell you the horrors of their (friend's) 12-pound baby at 38 weeks, or the 3-pounder in 1971 that didn't make it. You just have to know that they're not you.
This baby has been down low this whole pregnancy, too. When they measure the top of my uterus, I KNOW the baby isn't way up there. Never has used that space, which is strange, because there is little of it left. Then again, when they've done ultrasounds, something is up there; just most is down low!

04:04pm Sep 23, 1999 EDT
Oh yeah. DH went to the dr. today. I had to chase Nathan around for a change! How exhuasting. (Well, almost.) She said it didn't need stitches and she checked for a fracture. She gave him a note for work for yesterday and really sounded like she wanted him to take today off, too, but he said he really should go in. She asked what he does there and then said that it was fine if he didn't do too much heavy lifting. She also said his head would hurt more if he bent over, which he confirmed while making lunch today!

06:32pm Sep 23, 1999 EDT
Elizabeth, I don't think a contraction lasting a week is a contraction. :-Þ Its that my middle hurts when you even lightly press on it! My legs feel that way, too. It could be a certain two-year-old who is always hitting, pinching, slapping me! I'm not a night-owl. I do wake up sometimes though to go to the bathroom or mostly when Nathan wakes me up. Sometimes I'm hungry and get on to post while I'm eating cereal.
Mary, your story sounds wonderful. If ONLY I'd push for 40 minutes! I think I pushed for 2 1/4 hours last time. ICK. Of course, I couldn't tell time; I'd look at the clock and know what it said, but I had no idea of A.M. or P.M., nor what day it was, nevermind how long I had been doing one thing or the other.
I'm over here doing laundry and TRYING to clean up. This place is a perpetual untidiness. Jonathan doesn't do any of it and during the day we often times have appointments, etc., then he goes to work. Nevermind that he has to practice for church some time. I'm also making dinner as I type and Nathan is standing on this chair behind me poking on my shoulders! I told you I'm all bruised up.

08:27pm Sep 23, 1999 EDT
Jo, I know how you feel to stress out about stuff when its all happening at once and so unpredictable, but you will make it through. Just do one little thing at a time. That's all you can do, really. (That, and cross your finger!)

05:30am Sep 24, 1999 EDT
What kind of bridge? I'm picturing like the Macinac bridge. LOL Children are allowed to be driven across there.
I'm up at almost 5:30 because I was hungry, plus there was thunder. But mostly because since about 9:30 I've had this lower backache that is killing me. It hurts in front too, so I'm betting its really contractions. Well, not KILLING me, but I've slept most of the night and for the last few hours couldn't get back to sleep. I took a shower earlier and that didn't do much. We'll see, but around 9, I thought I'd just cleaned too much, because I'd sorted laundry and cleaned up the kitchen, amongst other things this evening. My little sheet from the hospital for labor signs says if you can't sleep to "please call". I know when you call they always ask you how far apart your contractions are-- which I don't know-- and usually ask you to come in regardless. Jonathan hasn't had much sleep and Nathan is asleep, so I think I'll let them sleep until the sun is up, at least! I'm still pretty "with it", so if this IS true labor, its not too "active" yet.

10:29am Sep 24, 1999 EDT
I managed to get some sleep after all. I have my weekly appointment at 1 today. You never know if this is "false" labor, or if I really can sleep through stuff-- I know I didn't feel anything when I was admitted at 30 weeks!-- or if it will pick up again now that I'm up and about. Most likely it could go on like this for the last bit and I just have to get used to it. Who knows.

03:23pm Sep 24, 1999 EDT
Well, at my appointment today I told my OB about last night and she offered to check me and see if I'd changed any. Turns out I'm at 3 cm and 80% effaced. That's about 1/2 cm more and 30-50% more effaced. (I'm not sure if last time I was 30% or 50%.) I still ache a lot. Nathan's almost done with his lunch and needs a diaper, so I'm off to fix him up and see if we both can't take a rest for a while. Ta ta till later.

06:38pm Sep 24, 1999 EDT
Karen, I could never just read and remember stuff. I always open a blank email and write my thoughts in there and then copy and paste to MOL. I didn't know terbutaline was the same as brethine. That makes sense that they're brand names, then. I hear you about the nesting, too, because I've been doing little by little ever since I got off bedrest two weeks ago. I'd wear myself out if I did what I could do were I not pregnant. Yeah, they look at you and just assume how far along you are. I wish we could get some of us that are a few days within each other to pose for a picture to PROVE we don't all look the same size!
Jo, good for you for sticking up for your feelings and not just giving in to what "the doctor" wants!

11:59am Sep 25, 1999 EDT
Tonight is the full moon, Mary! So how many of us are "going" tonight? LOL (Famous last words!)

12:50pm Sep 25, 1999 EDT
A bra? I was stark naked for transition at least! Probably after that, too, in fact. I don't remember when I tore off that hospital gown, but they are useless! They don't cover anything, and people are seeing everything anyway. It just got in my way. I remember walking stark naked out of the bathroom in my room in transition-- blood in the bathroom and all. I had nurses, my mom, my sister, my husband, my mom's boyfriend there-- not to mention the only two males from the hospital: the anesthesiologist and a helper of his.

12:50pm Sep 25, 1999 EDT
Oh yeah-- of course I'm speaking of Nathan's birth. He he...

01:00pm Sep 26, 1999 EDT
I just post messages here.
As for me, I ache like crazy today. The baby has dropped so low down. My legs hurt, my back, my middle... I counted contractions for 1/2 an hour during church and they were 10 mins or less. I'm still having them I think, but haven't been counting. I just don't feel "it" like I can't talk or they're making me go "ugh" with each one, yet. I could go in and get monitered, but that's tedious-- well, if its not "it", that is.

08:28pm Sep 26, 1999 EDT
Well, all day long I've had contractions about 10 minutes apart. I called labor and delivery and the nurse said it sounds like early labor, but I should wait to come in until I just can't stand it anymore. I guess that means I go to sleep and see if I get any and if the contractions hurt more. I just still really ache!

04:59pm Sep 27, 1999 EDT
The contractions were gone this morning. The nerve in my leg is still being pinched. It hurts! We went to the mall today; that was fine, except lunch. We went to Olga's and the first thing was they sat us at a booth I couldn't fit in! Then they moved us to a table and all was well until I was mostly done with my lunch. I thought that the onion tasted yucky and a few seconds later I was throwing up my lunch in my plate. Shocked dh. Good thing it wasn't anything "extensive". Just add that to the stories from this crazy pregnancy!

09:07am Sep 28, 1999 EDT
Vicki! Yet another to prove that I was NOT going to be even close to first around here. Hooray! How's your new one doing? And aren't epidurals just heaven? :-) Beth, I had an olga sandwich. It was the raw onion in it that got to me, though. I'd been eating it all along, but near the end of the sandwich I thought to myself "this onion doesn't taste too good" and you know the rest! Speaking of ready not to be pregnant, that's ME!! My legs are still killing me and I waddle something terrible... this baby is SOOOOO low! With all that preterm labor, you would think that by now it would just come out, but I guess it has other ideas.

09:31pm Sep 28, 1999 EDT
Where is everyone? WARNING: VENT! I'm just sitting here with my legs cramping up still. My mom was yelling on the phone a few minute ago about how she can't "organize" anything about this baby's birth. Of course, she and my sister and mom's boyfriend and now my sister's friend all want to be at the birth. Yet they are just saying "well we can't make it if its when we're working or in the middle of the night..." and then Mom's going on about how no one can take care of Nathan for the two days I'll probably be in the hospital, etc. I told her then just forget it and Jonathan and I will do it all ourselves. I guess that will mean getting Nathan a babysitter who will be willing to come "all the way out" to our place. (Everyone else refuses, eventhough I said it would be less stressful on Nathan to not be moved around etc, right before we change things here.) I don't know what they want to be at the birth for, if they're not willing to sacrifice and do what I want. I told Mom that Jonathan and I will need sleep after this baby is born and I want someone to watch it --NOT the nurses. She said well she'd need sleep too and she had to work, etc. She argued that why can't the nurses watch the baby and when I told her to remember Nathan's nursing problems she then said well I would have to feed it every 2 hours anyway so I might as well do it myself. However, she decided that I would need sleep but Jonathan wouldn't, so maybe HE should stay up and watch the baby. How stupid. She just wants to "play it by ear" which would work, but it seems it will either be "too late" or they'll be at work, no matter what. Anyway, I don't know what to do because Nathan can't be at the actual birth-- too long, to late maybe, and to scary for him.

07:05am Sep 29, 1999 EDT
Dh said he could find someone from church to watch Nathan and that after the birth, he would watch him at home himself and they'd come visit me until I went home. I still want my sister and her friend, but not my mom. I don't want anyone there that is going to be stressful. I told you before about how she does things like this-- and she has this "thing" that stuff has to be done her way on her terms even if she's just a GUEST-- like at my birth. PLUS, they all should be HAPPY they can make it to see the baby without spending hundreds of dollars like they would have had to had we not moved back here. But I guess that little detail escapes them... My legs are STILL killing me. I guess it won't let up until this baby is out. My back hurts too... Ho hum.

11:23am Sep 29, 1999 EDT
Dh said he will find someone from church to be "on call" to watch Nathan here-- or a few people, anyway. Then he can bring Nathan to the hospital to visit and we'll all go home together. That sounds like a better "plan".

02:10pm Sep 29, 1999 EDT
Oh yes, very soon! Friday would be nice because its 10/1 and I want another October baby. LOL However, my sister said her friend is coming into town then, so I should wait until Sunday. haha... That's not too long from now. I just really ACHE! (Where have we read that before?) Nici, congrats! It sounds like your birth went well. I hope your recovery is quick and not too bad. How's it going with the baby? Eating okay, etc?

02:13pm Sep 29, 1999 EDT
Mary, if only you COULD come help out! But I wouldn't ask you anyway-- you have 3 young ones and a newborn of your own!

05:56pm Sep 29, 1999 EDT
My middle is shiney! What with my scar tissue and the skin being stretched tight anyway, it looks like I buffed it... like a waxed floor-- I kid you not!

06:55pm Sep 29, 1999 EDT
Beth, I'm kind of the same. My back and legs just feel like one huge cramp! I might as well have climbed a mountain twice for the way I feel!

02:07pm Sep 30, 1999 EDT
Hi. Bet you've been wondering where I've been. I'll try to make this short! Last night at 7:00 I started having painful regular contractions at 5 minutes apart-- just like that! So I timed them for an hour, took a shower, had some toast, rested, etc., and then called Labor and Delivery. They said to wait one more hour and call back. I did. Then they said to come in.
My sister drove me in, and her husband stayed at my place with Nathan and put him to bed. All the time in the triage room, I was feeling like these were real contractions-- breathing funny and doing a lot of stretches, etc. They put me on the monitor and I think the contractions were 2 minutes apart. Finally, around 1:30 they said they could either let me go home to rest, let me walk a couple hours, or give me a room. They'd ask the doctor on call. They said they wanted me to rest, too, since it was so late. The verdict was, finally, that I was to get a room. Jonathan was late getting there but he finally did. Oh yeah-- they'd checked my cervix which was 4 cm.
We got to our room and I got monitored, an IV, and told I should sleep. I tried, but I kept having to go to the bathroom. Contractions were still going. I got up and walked around after a while-- about 6 a.m.-- because I was bored, couldn't sleep, etc. There were the cutest newborns I peeked in at in the tiny nursery! Anyway, when I got back to my room around 7, they said a doctor was coming to talk to me. By this time, I hadn't eaten since 3 p.m. yesterday and I was STARVING. I kept begging them to let me eat, but they said they had to ask the doctor who was busy.
They did up all the paperwork for me, laid out the paperwork and arm and leg bands for the baby, etc.! Asked me about anesthesia, different birth preferences, etc. and wrote it all down.
Around 9, though, they came in and said the contractions were gone and they were sending me home. My legs were still killing me, too! I had my regular OB appointment at 11:45 this morning, so we went there. Turns out my legs and lower belly are all red and swollen-- maybe from the belts and monitors at the hospital, she said, but it could be an infection, too. So I go in tomorrow for her nurse to check me again. If its not gone, I get MORE antibiotics! *gag*
They keep telling me I'll have the baby for sure next time something like this happens. They don't want to induce because its hard on your body if its not truely ready for labor and also because it has a higher risk of complications, especially c-section as we all know my OB does NOT want me to have. She even told me today she told the doctors at the hospital the same thing last night.
THat's about it. She wants me to rest as much as possible, although I can still do what I want. My mom had Nathan this morning and is keeping him tonight so I can rest.