September 2008 babies

[esperanza]

Hi Friends,

I just dropped by to check in all of you. I'm so excited you are all so closed to having your precious ones in your arms It makes me smile to read your postings

I'm sending you lots of great energy and patience with the last few weeks...hang in there.

Much love!

[CT_Michele]

Esperanza- Thank you for stopping by! I think about you frequently and always look for your name, wondering how your journey is going. It is so great to hear from you...how have you been?

[meg12]

I happened to see this link and it blew my mind as I had my baby last September...I can't believe it's almost time for another group of September babies to arrive! Wishing you all the best of luck---I might be a little biased, but I happen to think that September babies are pretty special!

[washingtonda]

Esperanza - WOW!!! Your are great!!!! I too am very happy that you have stopped in to wish us all well.

True friends are definately formed on this board and it's people like you an your unselfish ways that bring smiles to my face.

Im not sure where you are in this journey but me and my family wish you much success in whatever decision you have made.

Much luvs to you!!!!

[esperanza]

Hello again!

Thank you for such a warm "welcome back" I think about you all as dear friends!

I needed a break from the whole baby making "thing" for a while, I needed to focus on my studies because I had neglected them terribly.

I'm about to have another transfer (FET); DH and I are still hopeful. This time I'm more relaxed and just going with the flow; I think about it, but I'm not obsessing over it like I did before. My mom is here, so that may be contributing to my relaxation. I will let you know about the outcome.

The other big piece of news is that DH successfully defended his dissertation, and already has a job waiting for him in New Mexico, so we are moving there in August! I'm transferring my studies to the same school where he is going to be teaching, so I'm all about packing now.

Anyway, this is a long note, but I wanted to say that I was very moved by your words CT Michelle and WashingtonDA. Sending lots of love to LostGirl and all the mommies to be in this wonderful list.

[washingtonda]

Hey girls just wanted to post that I had a big scare yesterday. I was sick all day on Sunday so I just lye around all day. Stomach pains, cramps and diahrrea all day long. It felt like something strange was going on but I decided to wait it out to see if I would feel better. Well that night things got worse so we ended up at our emergency room yesterday morning at 6:00am and sure enough I was contracting. I mean they were coming one right after the other. The maternity ward got in contact with my OB and he was relaying over the phone what he wanted done. They gave me tons of fluid through IV and gave me these tablets every 15 minutes that I had to bite and hold under my tongue until they desolved to stop my contractions. These things tasted horrible and I had 4 of them every 15 minutes back to back. After about two hours the contractions were still coming so the doc ordered them to give me the shot in my butt to help the baby's lungs mature because he thought she may come anyway. It started to get scary than because they started talking to us about Heloing me out to a facility in Washington, DC that would be prepared to take better care of the baby if she were born than. They did a vaginal check and there was no dilation but my cervix was thin.

Long story short is that the contractions actually stopped so they sent me home with a prescription of medication that I must continue to take to stop the contractions and I am due back at the hospital this morning at 10:00 for my second butt shot of whatever they gave me to mature her lungs incase she does come early (I was told you need two doses of this shot within 24 hours of each other). After my hospital visit, I am due at my OBs office for a follow up. The baby is my first concern but I pray that he doesn't put me out of work on bedrest this early. I have tons of work left that I have been trying to clear up the past two weeks just for this reason.

I am going to request a US today (even if I have to pay out of pocket) to make sure baby is at proper weight and is doing okay. This will give me a little better feeling that if this happens again and she does arrive, I will know approximately what her weight is.

I'll keep you guys posted.

[CT_Michele]

Washingtonda- oh my goodness! I would have been so scared, but I am glad they got everything under control. Everyone keeps telling me that anything can happen at this point, and I just shrug it off, but then I hear a story like yours and it proves how real and how close we all are to becoming parents. I still haven't even had any braxton hicks yet, so I don't even know what to expect contractions to feel like. Did you know they were contractions? Good luck at the ob today and i hope for your sake you don't need bed rest, but keep in mind, baby cmoes first, your work will still be there for you when you get back around to it. Please keep us posted.

Esperanza- Thank you so much for the kind words. I could have neevr made it through this whole process without friends like you from my dec/jan thread. Congrats to dh on his dissertation and I hope your schooling is going well. Where do you live now? It is exciting to make a move like that. When is your FET? Are you on a thread under in vitro so we can follow your story? I am praying this is your time and please keep us posted.

Lostgirl- Thanks for making me feel better about the weight gain. I know I shouldn't worry, but I started this process overweight, as did my dh, so we are both planning to lose a lot after the baby, so we can be as healthy as possible. We lost a lot of weight a long time ago but then with quiting smoking, we gained a lot back, so I hope we can do it again.

I am getting super excited about the baby shower on sunday. I know it is on sunday but I don't know anything else about it, so the place will be a suprise. I got a little jipped out of my wedding shower, because I had complications from an emergency sinus surgery, so I was highly medicated and felt miserable. Also, Now that I have been out of work for over a month, I get bored easy, so any event is exciting. A week after the shower is my brother's wedding, which I am maid of honor for, so I have a lot in the next couple of weeks. After the wedding though, it will just be a long hot muggy august waiting for the baby to come.

Well, I am off to the mall to look for a dress for the baby shower. We are also going to see the batman movie, we heard it was really good, and no better place to be on a hot day then the air conditioned mall.

Talk to you all soon!

[washingtonda]

Ladies just wanted to let you know that I have been put out of work on bedrest. My cervix is thin and still no dilation but my OB know that we paid over $25K for this process, he knows that my age is a big factor and at with all that I have gone through to get this baby here, he doesn't want to risk anything happening at this point.

I was sorta set back because I have so much undone work but I do plan to go in a few days this week to sign out and close some lose ends on things and that will be it.

He said if I wanted to go back for a few weeks after 35 weeks than he will allow me to do that because he feels confident that if the baby is born after 35 weeks she will be fine.

I may do that because it will save me at least three weeks of leave to use at the end of the pregnancy.

I had planned to take three months off after the baby was born and now I may have to go back a bit earlier than planned. We have been saving alot of extra cash just incase something like this happened so I am really okay financially if I want to take some leave without pay for a few weeks.

As far as sympthoms. I was feeling alot of stomach pain and alot of lower back pressure all day on Sunday. I contemplated going to the emergency room but I held out because they pains weren't that bad at first and since this is not my first child, I knew what real labor felt like. That night things got a little worse so I didn't want to take a chance of that baby coming vaginally if she was truly ready to come when I am supposed to have a C-section since my other kids were delivered via c-section.

My OB have schedule a US for this Friday to check the babies weight, length, gestational age and position just to make sure she is around the 3 pounds that she should be at for 30 weeks. That will give him a better idea of how to handle things if she does decide to come.

Today I got another shot to help mature her lungs and they have me taking medication to stop the contractions. I think I will have to stay on that until I'm about 35-36 weeks and he'll let her come if she decides to after that.

Sorry for the long email but wanted to all to know what could happen.

Here is advice that was given to me that I want to pass along. They advised that at this point in pregnancy that you must get as much rest as you possibly can. No long walks and strenuous exercise and drink plenty of fluids. They advised that I was a little dehydrated and all I do is drink so that was suprising. His last words to me before I left was drink, drink, drink. Plenty of water and juice (preferable cranberry).

Will keep you posted and sorry for such a long post.

Good luck to all of you. This just lets us know that we are getting real close and anything can happen at this point.

I packed my hospital bag tonight and this weekend we plan to put the babies crib up. We bought all this stuff months ago but was gonna wait until the middle of August to put it all together. I guess the baby has other plans so DH has his work cut out for him this weekend.

We aren't taking any more chances at this point.

[LostGirl]

Wow! So much has been going on. WashingtonDa, I am glad that the baby is staying put for the moment. Gosh what a scare! A girl I walked and ran with earlier in pregnancy was supposed to give birth mid-August and her baby came June 24th while on vacation miles from home, her midwife, her hospital. The thing is everything turned out fine even though she gave birth at week 33. Her water broke. Went to the hospital confirmed it was amniotic fluid. She got the lung-maturing shots and meds to stop labor, but the baby just kept coming. She was 8cm dilated before the neonatal doctors finally said to her, there's no stopping this baby, it's coming today. In a way, being so distracted helped her get through active labor. She pushed, and her baby was born at 5 1/2 pounds and breathing on his own. A miracle!

My brother was born at 6 months old at 2 1/2 pounds 35 years ago. He too is fine today.

I wish you a lot of luck on bed rest. Keep lots of magazines and distractions nearby.

Esperanza, how I miss you!! I am so happy to hear that your man passed his dissertation and that you've got a big move coming as well as another transfer. The only bummer is that I never got a chance to meet up with you in Northampton for coffee. It would have been incredible to meet you face to face. I feel such a connection with you. Anyway, I can sense that you're in a new place, a calmer more joyous one than you were with the last attempts. I hope it brings you the son/daughter that you've been waiting to meet.

As for me, I'm fine. The heat is getting to me. But oddly, I slept so well last night, just found the best position with my body pillow, and snoozed. I haven't slept like that for months! Thank God for a good night's sleep every once in a while...

Lostgirl

[CT_Michele]

Hey Girls,

Well, I finally had my baby shower today. It was fantastic. My mom did it for me and it was at a local restaurant that has an awesome sunday brunch buffet. There was so much good food there, everything and anything you could imagine, a pregnant womans dream.

We played a couple of fun games, and I got to see all of my family and friends. We also got a lot of nice stuff. We got almost all of the big purchase items we will need for a baby and tons of pretty outfits. I can't believe how generous everyone was, it will help us so much financially.

Last night was fun too. My brother is marrying my best friend on saturday and I am the maid of honor. Last night was the bachelor party, so the girls went out for a night of fun too. Of course, no alcohol for me, but it was great to hang out with everyone.

This upcoming week will be busy with organizing all of the stuff from the shower, and preparing for the wedding on saturday. One exciting week, and then I will be waiting around all august for the baby to come!

I hope everyone had a nice weekend and let's get some updates going, I haven't heard from you all in a while. I have a dr's appt on tuesday, so I will post a brief update then. Talk to you all soon!

[LostGirl]

I had my shower this weekend too. A friend threw a party in her backyard for me, and my mother and sister helped plan it too. They all kept it under wraps so all I knew was the date. Two friends flew in to come, one from LA, the other from down South. I was touched.

The food was amazing. Lots of fresh salads - thai beef salad, shrimp and olive salad, jicama and pineapple. Super healthy and yummy, then came dessert. Vegan cupcakes (i used to be wheat free and dairy free) so this was a treat for me. Flan, and lots of macaroons. I really indulged, including having my first full glass of wine. A sharp crisp Riesling that I savored. I have held back out of caution, but my good friend an ob-gyn who drank a glass of wine 4 days a week in the 3rd tri convinced me one glass isn't going to hurt. My mother also admitted she drank a beer three days a week in the third tri!

I have been feeling quite tired, and for the most part, taking the time to rest. (How do mothers-to-be with toddlers handle third tri???) For ex, last night I felt bad in the afternoon, sleepy and had an upset stomach so I laid down at 7 to take a nap. I slept till 10:30 pm. Woke up for an hour to watch tv and have a snack, and then slept till 7am. I feel like new this morning. good thing, because I've got a full day of work and then our most important childbirth class tonight when we go over pain-options as well as other medical interventions. The class is 6-9pm so by day's end I'll be pooped again no doubt, but at least, I'll enjoy the day with all that rest under my belt.

Been stretching my calves a lot since they ache and seize up. Also drinking a ton of water. I also find that sitting Indian style while watching TV really helps stretch my inner thighs which feels good. Things are shifting down there, and achy, so every bit of stretching helps.

Anyway, I'll let you ladies know if I get any great tips from tonight's class. Lostgirl

[LostGirl]

where is everyone? our due dates are fast approaching. How are you dealing? Lostgirl

[elca]

Hi LostGirl,
I am here and doing OK. I will have weekly visits with my OB starting tomorrow. They will be checking me for dilation starting week 35. I can not believe it is getting so close! I continue working (the last day at work will be August 31st) and going to school. I think this helps me to be more active at these days.
And how is everyone doing?

[LostGirl]

Elca,

Good to hear from you!

I thought I'd work till the end but now I'm thinking of taking off work starting a week before my due date. Friday Sept. 12th is what I'm thinking. I plan to rest up for labor and swim a lot to bring on labor (not sure it will work, but swimming sure does make me feel good.) Boss is on vacation till Aug. 11 and he still hasn't found my replacement! Still, I have to tell him of my revised plan when he returns.

And now I just got called up for jury duty Aug. 22. I'm going to call them about it, but the paper I got in the mail says I can postpone it for two months from the start date or six months - both are during my 6-month maternity leave. Oy! I'll see what I can do.

The other thing is I think I have a cavity! Every time I drink something cold this tooth aches on my left side. A molar. I think I've got to deal with it. Got a call into my obgyn to see what she'll allow a dentist to do at this stage.

Lostgirl

[CT_Michele]

Elca- good to hear you are still hanging in there. My ob told me she won't start checking internally until around 38 wks, unless I tell her I feel something different. She said at this point it is important to pay attention to movements and such. But I will be having the strep B test next time, which is thursday. Has anyone had that yet?

Lostgirl- You should stop work early, and you never know, the baby might make you. I have been following the august bump buddies thread too, since I am due very beginning of september and I could very well deliver in august, and most of them have already delivered, except the ones due at the very end of the month, so early seems to be the trend right now. Sorry to hear about the cavity, I have never had one, but I still dread the dentist, so I hope it all works out.

Washingtonda- Where are you? I hope no more scares,,,update us when you can.

As for me, a busy weekend ahead. Manis and pedis today, which I can not wait for, rehearsal tonight and wedding tomorrow. I finally found shoes, which don't look great, but atleast they fit my fat feet. After tomorrow, all the excitement is over until a baby comes. My out of town relatives will be gone and I will just be sitting around waiting for a baby.

Talk to you all soon!