September 2008 babies

[LostGirl]

Hi all,
I'm back from vacation and still glowing from so much downtime. My husband and I had a blast. We went out late a couple nights, saw many friends and relatives, and enjoyed ourselves. I also napped plenty, and made time to go walking/hiking twice, and swimming 3 times. All in all, a good vacation.

I have my glucose test today and I have to say I'm nervous about getting on the scale since my ob-gyn has been really a stickler about my weight gain. That said, most of the time I feel great, so I'm desperately trying to not worry about it :0.

That said, 3rd tri has begun. How can I tell? Well on the 4 hour plane ride my ankles swelled like crazy and stayed that way for 36 hours after landing! An old lady was in the aisle and I felt badly asking her to get up. That said, I should have more often! On the plane ride home I brought more water on to the plane with me, hydrated like mad, and got up nearly 10 times to pee (no exaggeration). My ankles did not swell on the 5 1/2 hour flight back. Yipppee.

These days, I find standing is getting harder and harder. I have to sit, I have to prop my legs up when I get home from work, I have to have salt and potassium daily or the leg cramps start. I am trying to take good care of myself.

That said, I continue to exercise for sanity and to keep in shape for labor. It also helps me sleep better, even though my belly is huge, and it's getting to be a chore just to flip from one side to another in bed! I am a whale or feel like one. But I constantly feel the baby kicking. I honestly wonder when he/she sleeps.

lostgirl

[CT_Michele]

Hey girls,

Lostgirl- sounds like you had a great vacation. We all need to just relax and enjoy this time as much as possible. I have noticed since work let out for the summer, I have been much more relaxed, my blood pressure has gone down. Even my dad noticed I looked well rested the other day.

I never heard anything from my dr's office, which is supposed to be good news for the glucose test. I am so glad I will not have to go for the 3 hr. I will find out for sure on tues, at my next appt. Now that I have to go every 2 weeks, appts come up so fast.

I seem to have the opposite problem as lostgirl. I can't sit for too long without being uncomfortable. My back starts to hurt and I need to adjust or stand up. Recently I have had an annoying pain at the very tippy top of my belly, like where my belly meets my bra line. It feels bruised or burned, but no marks I can see. I did a lot of bending the other day and I wonder if I bruised something.

Neffi- thanks for stopping by, I look forward to following your journey and I am so happy for you.

Our nursery is looking great. We installed a light fixture from ikea that looks like a cloud and we put the wall border up. It is really starting to look great. Are you girls having baby showers? Mine will be at the end of july.

I hope everyone has a great weekend, and post when you can!

[LostGirl]

Michele,
That's odd that you have trouble sitting, and I have trouble standing. Maybe we'll switch places a couple weeks down the line? Who knows? Pregnancy is a string of neverending surprises.

I got my glucose test back. It's normal, but the nurse who returned my call said that I'm slightly anemic so the doctor might call me Monday to suggest what I can take to boost my iron intake. It amazes me that I am not getting enough iron, because I eat meat at least once if not twice a day. Maybe my potions are too dainty?

Anyway, swimming continues to be my lifesaver. Walking is getting tricky. I tried prenatal yoga last night in an effort to quell my nasty mood and grandma-swollen ankles, and I was so inflexible I almost laughed out loud at some points. Needless to say, I have some work to do to "open up my hips." The breathing was good though. I hadn't realized how shallow my breath had become in the third tri.

A good weekend to all! I'm doing a mini roadtrip for my kid sister's 30 birthday. Lots of relaxing near a river, and a nice meal out at some vegetarian place that she's into. Lostgirl

[CT_Michele]

hey everyone,

I went for another appt today. My glucose test came back at 90, which the dr said was perfect, and even lower than hers. She said I am not anemic, my blood pressure was good and to date I have only gained 8 pounds. She kept using the word perfect, which scares me a little. I guess I need to stop watching all of those shows, I am so prepared for something to go wrong that it is odd to hear everything is going right, but definitely a relief. I go to see the dr's every 2 weeks now.

I am starting to get excited about my upcoming baby shower. I know it is still 3 1/2 weeks away, but it will be fun. I know the date, but my mom and best friend are trying to keep everything else a suprise, which is killing me. I can't wait for anything, I always have to know, and it is not very often that I am not in control, but maybe it will be a nice change for once. Anyone else having a baby shower?

DH and I will be going to our prepared childbirth class a week from saturday. Is anyone else going for these or already gone? What were your classes like? My dr said not to get scared by anything. She said they will be anti-epidural and pro-breastfeeding and if I choose to go opposite from their beliefs not to feel guilty. She made me feel better about that stuff.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far, and write soon if you can, I am looking forward to everyones updates as we approach the end here!

[LostGirl]

Hope everyone had a great 4th. I spent mine in Annapolis relaxing with friends and their kids. It was great. Made me truly excited to be a mother. I am feeling good. My ankle swelling appears to have been just temporary. And sure, I get tired at night, but at this stage, surely it's normal. Oddly I gained a bunch of weight in the 2nd tri, but now my weight gain has slowed. I even lost some weight.

I am still loving swimming. Got the chance to swim in open water this weekend.

I see my ob every two weeks now so I guess I'll ask her about that tomorrow and also apparently I'm a bit anemic so I'm trying to up my protein intake to see if that makes a difference.

How is everyone doing? lostgirl

[CT_Michele]

Doing pretty good over here!

I really can't complain. Besides for some occasional unbearable heartburn and the need to pee whenever I stand up, It has been smooth sailing. My ob keeps using the word perfect everytime I see her to describe how my pregnancy is going. That scares me a little, but I would rather hear that than bad news.

I am starting to get pretty anxious and nervous about the inevitable and upcoming delivery. Hopefully the childbirth class on saturday at the hospital will relieve some of those worries.

I have been a bit more emotional too. I have a lot of time on my hands now that I am not working which gives me too much time to think. Intimacy has been tough during pregnancy, b/c I think dh is worried about how I feel or that he will harm the baby. Of course it makes me an emotional wreck b/c I think dh doesn't find me attractive...this is all stuff I have read about and should have expected to happen, but I guess one really can't prepare for the emotional roller coaster.

How is everyone? Where have you all been? Busy getting ready for babies I am sure. Please drop us a line when you can. I can't believe I have less than 8 weeks to go! It is amazing to think about how far we have all come! Talkk to you all soon...

[LostGirl]

Hi Michele,
I went to our first childbirth class on Monday night. It wasn't as good as I'd hope but it wasn't a total loss like I'd feared it would be. It was just a good overview. There are 4 other classes so I hope that it will get more detailed. It was interesting to see the range from the mother to be who has read nothing and "just enjoyed her pregnancy" but now feels at almost 7 months it's time to know more to people like me who have read a ton, and harass their partner for not knowing more with 10 weeks to go. It takes all types I guess.

I wouldn't worry about intimacy. I worried in the beginning about why we weren't doing it as much, but now, we do it when we are both psyched to and that seems often enough for both of us. No pressure. I know my dh still thinks I'm a hottie because he tells me, and he touches me all the time, we just having been intimate anywhere near as often as pre-IVF. C'est la vie!

I am lining up a cloth diaper service, interviewing pediatricians, and figuring out when my mother and mother in law will be there post-birth. Next up, lactation consultants to introduce myself to so that I feel comfortable calling if I need to postpartum.

I hear you about emotions. I'm up and down a lot. But I find exercise helps keep my mood bright. Swimming hard and fast for short periods really makes me happy, as does weightlifting for 30 minutes. Walking for an hour though makes me overheated and miserable.

Go figure!
lostgirl

[LostGirl]

How was your weekend September girls? I have to admit... I am tired a lot. It's hot here in NYC, and that doesn't help, but I think it's just the baby growing because I just can't seem to get enough sleep. Exercising is becoming tough to do. I swim twice a week 2000m but other than that, walking is becoming limited. I worry about that.

I am also eating a plenty and trying to eat more red meat since my doc told me I'm slightly anemic. Anyway, got our second birthing class tonight. I hope it's good. The first one was just so-so. Lots of time wasted on introductions. I want to get to the good stuff. How to get through labor.

Michele, how was your first birthing class this weekend?

Lostgirl

[CT_Michele]

I too am starting to be wiped out. I have had some serious back pain starting to come on in the past couple of days. I am amazed at how fast I went from barely feeling and looking pregnant, to now being in pain. I hope it doesn't get too much worse as I have my brothers wedding (which I am the maid of honor for) in just under 3 weeks. I have to go tonight for the brides dress fitting so they can show me how to help her get into it, and then I have to go for my fitting on wednesday. I just can't imagine being in pain on the day of the wedding, I just want to enjoy the day.

Lostgirl- DH and I went to our full day childbirth class yesterday at our hospital. It was a one day session, we don't need to go for anymore. At first I wanted it broken up into many weeks, but now I am kinda glad it was all in one day. It was quite interesting, but with a lot of info I already knew from books. I teased DH about not being a very good partner, he was very giggly through most of it. We could not practice breathing without laughing at each other. I told im neither on of us will be laughing when it happens for real! I am still glad we did it b/c we took a tour of the hospital. It is a very small, hospital, in fact, there were no babies in the nursery and no expectant mothers in the ward. Our class almost added one though. There was one couple further along than me, she was about 35 wks, and when we toured the ward she had to sit and started having pains. She ended up leaving the class and going home to rest.

I like that my hospital is small, but we have to give up other things in exchange for the one on one personal care. The ward is very small, and so is the family waiting area, so most of my family will not be able to come and wait for the delivery to happen, they will have to come visit after. This hospital also does not allow children to visit unless they are my own, in order to help prevent risk of germs to the newborns. My goddaughters are going to be very sad about that. What is very nice though is that your room is your room for the entire stay. Labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum, you stay in your own private room. Also, if your baby needs to stay a couple days longer, you can stay in your room until the baby goes home. On our last day there, we get a steak or lobster celebration dinner too! I thought that was nice.

Where is everyone? Lostgirl, it has just been you and me for a while. I hope everyone else is ok. Drop us a line as soon as possible. We would love to hear from you girls.

[washingtonda]

Hey ladies, I just want to let you'll know that I am doing fine. I have been busy trying to stay on top of work incase something happens early and when I get home I am way to exhausted for the internet as I use to.

I don't mean to complain but this pregnancy has been for the birds. I think I have had every bad syptom that you can have while pregnant. Some days I feel pretty good but the majority of the time I feel just like CRAP!!!

I will deliver on 19 Sept which is the date of my currently scheduled c-section at 38 weeks and 4 days. That's almost two more months and I am miserable.

I get terrible indigestion with almost everything I eat so that's a bummer when you want to eat all day. I've had constipaption and hemroids for the past 3 months off and one. When I don't have that it's diahrea which is accompanied with stomach cramps. I'm totally wiped out most of the time and all I want to do is lye around. Back aches like you wouldn't beleive, feet and hands swelling and leg and foot cramps.

It can't get any worse than this. I don't know if age has something to do with all this as I will be 39 next month but I don't ever remember feeling this torrible with my other kids who are 20, 18 and 16.

Sorry to not have posted in a long time and to vent about how bad this all is. I know I should be blessed because I want this baby so bad but I'm ready to be done with all these ill feelings. It's hard to be happily pregnant when you feel bad all the time.

Is it only me or are you girls experiencing much of the same

[LostGirl]

Washingtonda,
Your post may be want to yell Amen! I swear if I have to listen to another person go on and on about how wonderful their pregnancies were, or how much they are enjoying their pregnancy, I'll scream. Pregnancy is often hard I've found too. And I hear you. I've had a lot of what you're describing, and I too feel bad for complaining. But I think it's bs to stifle our complaints.
WE aren't saying we are not happily expecting the birth of our children. We are saying housing babies comes with a lot of physical ailments that stink.

The only thing I found that helps is swimming. Nothing too hard, but soaking helps the 'roids, getting circulation going helps the ankle swelling, exercise helps me poo, and swimming strengthens your core so that should help with your back aches. Is there a pool near you? Sign up now!!!

My due date is Sept. 19th. So if I'm on time we will both give birth the same day. Pretty cool.

Anyway, glad you vented !

[elca]

Hi Ladies,
Sorry for not being able to post more frequently; between working full time, continuing to go to school at the same time, and being pg there is not too much time to spend on-line.
I am doing fine. I have several of 3rd trimester complaints as back aches, poor sleep due to frequent visits to the rest room and uncomfortable positions in the bed, and tiredness. A few days ago I woke up 5 times through the night with horrible muscle cramps in my calves The next day I had soreness in those muscles. I hope I wouldn't experience them any more. However, in general I am hanging on there.
LostGirl, you are right - swimming is the only activity at these days, which gives me energy and pleasure. I gave up on daily walking (considering how hot it is now in AZ), but swimming cools my body and keeps me some way or another in active condition.
We completed birth preparation classes the last week. It was two days (6 hours total) class. I did it mostly for my DH, as I familiar with the subject. DH liked the class
LostGirl, I became a slightly anemic too. I guess I don't eat enough of red meet. My results were 11.0, when the normal level is 11.3. I added Feosol capsules to my multivitamins.
CT_Michele, looks like you will be the first delivering in our September thread. How are your preparations? Did you start gathering the baby's staff? We got a car-seat this weekend.
I wish everybody to have nice 2 last months of the pregnancy with a minimal discomfort!

[CT_Michele]

Washingtonda- So sorry to hear about your all of your discomforts. I can't imagine dealing with all of that. I hope you don't feel like crap everyday that remains. I have to say, that I have been pretty lucky. I have had some mild discomfort, but up until a couple of days ago, I have felt pretty good the whole way.

Elca- Preparations are coming along. Nursery is as done as it can be until my baby shower in 13 days. Once the shower is over, I can finish shopping and getting the necessities. There is a car seat on my registry and if I don't get it at the shower, that will be the first thing I go buy. I know at this point, delivery can be anytime, and the hospital said we need to have the car seat installed and inspected before we come. I am also planning on making a list of people to call once we go into labor and we will pack our hospital bag right after the baby shower. I don't expect to be very early, but you never know.

I am so glad you girls dropped us a line. Lostgirl and I were getting lonely. As we all near our dates, we should try and post more often, to keep up with everything that will be happening.

Talk to you later!

[CT_Michele]

Hey ladies,

I had my 33 wk appt today. I was a bit shocked when I gained 4 lbs in 2 weeks. I expected 1 or 2, since I haven't gained much at all yet. That brings my total to 12 lbs, but if I keep going at my current weight, I will be close to 30 by the end of this. I am not looking forward to that. I know it is he baby gaining, b/c I am not eating any differently than I ever have. my uterus measurement was up 3 cm since 2 weeks ago, so I know the baby is growing fast. I will go for one more 2 wk appt at 35 wks and then every week after that. I can't believe we are so close to the end!

When is everyone's due dates again?

[LostGirl]

Michele,
Don't worry about gaining 4 pounds in two weeks. Who cares? I gained a bunch of weight in the 2nd tri. My doc gave me heat about it. And now I haven't gained any in 3 weeks. If she gives me heat about that, I won't be surprised. But the point is if I'm healthy and the baby is healthy then who cares? I walked plenty with my mother today, swam in the ocean, and gardened. If I can do all that, I must be in fine condition.

My due date is Sept. 19th supposedly... lostgirl