AUGUST 2008 ~ BUMP BUDDIES

[seltzer]

Hey everyone,

Just had a chance to catch up w/everyone's posts.

Tina - hang in there, girl, you are SO almost there! I am so excited for you. When I looked at your ticker and realized just how close you are it reminded me of right before I went into labor. It was agony but so exciting at the same time! I too need all the suggestions and help I can get with this lack of sleep thing. It is BRUTAL. Keira has also got her days & nights reversed. During the day I have to wake her up every 2 or so hours to nurse, and she sleeps constantly. We'll give her a sponge bath to wake her up...nothing else works. By the evening time she starts cluster feeding, just nursing INCESSANTLY. Last two nights she has done this until 2-3 a.m. and then she still doesn't get into a deep sleep until the morning, around 7 a.m. My nipples hurt a little, but not too bad. After that damn pregnancy & delivery how bad can anything be? LOL. Anyway, Tina, so glad you are done working...get as much rest as you can before L&D comes.

Michele - Baby Ella is coming! Like I said to Tina, get a lot of sleep before your C-sec. Best to be rested and in your best state of mind for the whole experience.

Shari - Let us know how you are doing & hang in there. Hopefully by now you are feeling better. How is it so far taking care of your little one? How is the sleep going?

Marybeth - I felt your pain when I read about your boys' sleep habits. Thanks for the recommendations. Sometimes it's impossible to wake Keira up, and she won't latch on b/c she is so sound asleep. What do you do to wake your boys up? What kinds of activities do you do w/them once they are awake? Breastfeeding puts Keira in such a stupor she is unable to do anything after eating. Once you wake them up & feed them, do they say asleep for a while? I would love to have Keira sleep at night...what a dream come true that would be. By the way, very cute pics on photobucket! They are so teeny and cute! Do they both have those nasal tubes in? When can they stop those?

Karen - Sorry to hear about your problems w/your DH. It's probably just the stress of bringing home a new baby. Can you talk to him about your feelings? When DP had our son we didn't get along for a while...it was very stressful, esp. for DP since she was recovering from childbirth and nursing an infant. It's so important to stick together during this time.

It is hot as hell here...so humid and the rain just comes and comes. YUK. I am starting to feel fat again, can you believe it?! I felt so thin after I had the baby...after the zit was popped. And now, 14 days later, I am feeling like a whale again. My boobs are the size of the Hindenberg, which makes me feel like somebody's (fat) grandmother. I have never considered myself a matronly person, LOL, but I am certainly lookin' it now! I walked on the treadmill once in the past 2 wks, and then talked to my OB's office yesterday b/c I've been having pain "down there." I am now on an antibiotic for a UTI. And they told me I should not be exercising yet. CRAP! I was all geared up to be on a regimen and lose this weight. All I can do now is cut back what I'm eating, but I don't want to go crazy w/that b/c I don't want to risk my milk supply. I am doing some abdominal exercises (if you want to call them that, they are really just tightening of the muscles and breathing and stuff). Other than that I'm still doing lots of laundry, LOL. That's my life. I'm going to post more pics of Keira on photobucket, though it might take me a while.

[tinaO]

Hello all! Well, still no closer to labor and delivery here. I guess I always knew it was going to take this long, but geez....I am just wiped out. I do great early in the day and then just fall apart at night. I really miss exercising and just feeling good. I am really trying to take it easy, but with having some time off from work now, I am also trying to take advantage of it and get some stuff done. It will be so nice to wake up tomorrow and not have to work. I love it!

We go back to the doc tomorrow. Guess I will let him do the dreaded pelvic exam and see how far along I am. Uggghhh. Oh well, thank God for the Olympics. I can just sit on the couch and watch them all night long....and that is what I have been doing at night.

Selzer - you freakin' crack me up. I loved the comment about looking like someone's fat grandmother. That was hilarious. I look a bit like a hippo right now. It is a very disturbing sight. I just feel for my husband because this is certainly a low point in my appearance department...esp the other night when he walked in the study and said with a grimace, "Oh baby, you have like chocolate smeared all across your cheek from your ice cream". Oh God - we laughed so hard. I felt ashamed. I have got to lay off the ice cream. I saw his grocery list the other day and it said "Ice cream - a sh-t load". Oh - I have gone off the deep end. Sorry about your UTI - that sucks!!!

Ok, gotta run...more later.

Love to Marybeth, Karen and Shari!!! Hope you are hanging in there, mommies!!!

Talk with you all later! I will let you know what happens at the doc's office.

[tryw8]

A big hello to everyone:

I'm still hanging in there and my DH and I are trying to deal with Parenthood. We're continuing to get gifts for our little one. Just when I think I can put away the "thank you" cards, I need to write out more.

I went to the OB/GYN appointment yesterday for my two week post labor and delivery check. I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight and I fit into my jeans. Well, actually, they are a lot looser.

I asked my OB/GYN if it is at all possible to get pregnant on our own. Because of my age, he doesn't recommend another round of IVF. We've exhausted all of our embryos. Fresh and frozen. I had four fresh transferred the first round and it was a BFN and three for the FET and only one took. It broke my heart when he told me that we would need to consider doing an IUI because of my DH low sperm count.

Now, my DH doesn't want to have anymore kids and I'm torn. It took us this long to get our son and so many $$$ later.

Hey Tina ... submitting to the pelvic exam by your doctor isn't that bad. When I was in labor and delivery, I had so many hands doing the pelvic exams. I lost all modesty especially when the nurse had to place a catheter once I was given the epidural. How embarassing!

Karen

[tinaO]

Karen - Congrats on the pre-preggo clothes. I have no idea what I am going to look like when this baby makes his arrival. My only saving grace is that I literally still look like I am just one big stomach and have not gained a whole lot anywhere else. Wait - who am I kidding? My hips are not allowing certain jeans over them anymore, so they have clearly gained as well. Forget it - I am screwed! However, I am very determined to start exercising ASAP and our pool should be done in another week or so. That should allow me a month of swimming...unless I have a c-sec....I guess you have to stay out of water for a while, huh? What did your docs tell you about baths and stuff with the c-secs? I am glad you and your hubby are wading your way through this. It is I am sure the craziest, hardest, most incredible time of your life. Everyone says if you can make it past the first 4-6 weeks, that it starts to get much easier. Just hang on!!! As far as having more kids, it is tough I know. We have one little frozen embryo left and I would like to try with it at some point. I am not getting any younger - will be 38 in November, so our time is limited as well. Only putting one in worries me, but our clinic has such high success rates and feel like only putting one in gives us a good rate of success on a frozen cycle. So, we shall see. How old are you, Karen? I am somewhat surprised they would put an age limit on it. And you know, people change their minds all the time about whether they want to have another one or not....esp men. They freak out so much in the beginning about it all and then they start palying with their kids and think to themselves, "Wow - this is wonderful. Let's have more!". I mean, why not?? They don't have to carry them!! I think men sometimes just don't know how to handle newborns and they feel like, "Hmmm....this is it"??? But once little boys start to grow up, the man is all about them, you know?? Anyway, my husband doesn't seem to want to touch the subject yet and I am sure he is right. He just says, "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Let's see how this first one goes". I know he is right. But I don't think I can leave that one frozen. It is Noah's little bro or sis. I just don't think I could leave it. I would always wonder. I don't know. IVF is so strange. My nephews are 7 and 5 and technically, they are twins! The oldest one came from one IVF cycle and then the younger one came from the same cycle, but from a frozen one. Wild, huh? Then my brother and his wife were told there was no way they could have kids on their own because of my brother's low sperm count. The doc said it would be like them winning the lottery..the chances were that slim. BAM - along came my 3rd nephew out of nowhere! So, docs don't know everything.....

Ok, take care. Congrats on getting back into your jeans. I just can't imagine...

Michelle - how ya hanging in there?

Tina

[CT_Michele]

tina- I am still hanging in there. Last night i had alittle bit of pain in my stomach everytime I moved around, but other than that, still going. No signs of any labor yet, so I really think as long as she stays breech, which I think she still is, then our c-section will be a week from tomorrow. I am just hanging around my house being extrememly lazy, even though there is still stuff to do.

I am curious to hear stories of anyone who had c-sections on this thread. How is recovery going? How was the actual surgery? Of course I am getting nervous at this point, even though I don't think I have any reason to be. Any advice and thoughts would be much appreciated

[tryw8]

Hi Tina,

To answer your question, I just turned 40 back in March.

Well, my OB/GYN told me that we can get started as early as November (just a few months away) with the IUI. He told me that I would have to stop breastfeeding and get on Metformin. Well, unfortunately, it's all up to my DH.

Karen

[tinaO]

Well, girls....this is it for me! Went to the doc today and was all happy go-lucky joking around and then they took my blood pressure...yep, it is creeping up higher. They put me on the monitor and Noah moved around ok (although it took a while which scared the hell out of me), but of course the whole thing freaked me out a bit and I started crying because I guess I am in the early phases of pre-eclampsia. Because of my past history of high blood pressure (although it had thankfully been normal throughout the pregnancy until the end), my doctor wants to go ahead and get him out. So....I am resting until Wed a.m. and then being induced at 5:30 a.m. on WED!!! Wow. So, one day before my due date it appears Noah will be arriving. I just wanted to let you all know. My husband and I were pretty freaked out about it all, but now we are happy and just getting ready for the day!!!

Wish us luck!!!

My best to all of you and hopefully I will have a wonderful birth story very soon!!!

Tina

[seltzer]

OMG Tina!! It's tomorrow! I am glad they are getting him out now that your BP is up. I don't have time to post right now, but I simply had to respond to your post. Don't be nervous...everything will be fine. It's going to be little Noah's birthday!! Make sure you rest enough before the induction, and then once you're induced just go with the flow. You'll be fine. Please let us know ASAP about your birth story, OK? I will be sending good vibes and good thoughts your way.

[CT_Michele]

Tina- Congrats on making it to delivery ad good luck. We all know you will be fine and will have a wonderful story and pics to share with us soon. Get your rest and be sure to update us when you can. Tell Noah we all said Happy Birthday!

[itsgottawork]

Tina- Just saw your post and wanted to wish you all the luck tomorrow!
What a journey this has been! You will be in my thoughts as you and your DH welcome Noah into the world!
Good Luck for a safe and speedy delivery!

[tinaO]

Thank you all!!! I am completely exhausted from all the freaking out I have been doing - I am excited, scared, total hormonal mess!!! I am crying over everything today - it is so funny. They are happy tears. I just can't believe this journey of pregnancy is ending and tomorrow we will be welcoming our little boy into the world! Our friends have been so incredibly sweet today and everyone is calling us and so excited for us. It is just such a wonderful, surreal moment.

Thank you all for your thoughts. I am of course scared, but I know everything will be ok. I will let you all know how it goes!!!

itsgottawork - thank you for stopping in also!!! I can't believe you are so far along now!!! Soak up every moment because I am crying as I type this to you because this truly is a miracle with what we all go through to get pregnant and be able to have these little miracles. Just enjoy every moment - it is over before you know it!!

Love to all of you!!!

Tina

[tryw8]

Hi Tina,

Hope your delivery will go well and better than my own.

I was admitted into Labor/Delivery on a Tuesday evening. They induced labor on Wed @ 6am. Cody didn't come into this world until Thursday @ 508 am. My DH thinks it's because I requested for the epidural.

Karen

[sharishu]

Hi all,
Sorry I've been MIA, but my energy has been low, as I was officially diagnosed with pneumonia in one lung. My fever has ranged from 100 to 103.8 this past week. It's been hard to sit in one spot, as it makes breathing harder.

Tina- Just want to say LOTS of luck and congrats in advance. It'll be great

Be well, all new mommies.
Shari

[MBG]

Tina: A little behind on the posts (once again!!) I am taking it you already had little noah!! Congratulations! I am sure you are basking in the glow(or haze) of motherhood!

Hope all went well!!


Seltzer: How are things with keira? Is she sleeping any better at night? We still have our good nights and our not so good nights. I generally do not have to wake the boys to eat...one will wake up in 2-3 hours after eating ready to eat again. After they eat...activities include, diaper change, tummy time, or slimply holding them and talking to them...there is not a whole lot they can do at this stage of the game. After activity time (10-15 min) I try to make the enviorment conducive to nap time again...it seems to working...some what.....Hope this helps!

Michelle: I had a very easy c-section. I had a spinal block and epidural during the actual procedure. I did not feel any pain, but could definately feel the poking and pulling as the doc was getting the babies out and removing my placenta's. I have watche a baby story a thousand times and they never show the part when the doc is removing the placenta. I thought as soon as the babies came out they would close me up and I would be on my way....it takes a little while after they are born to remove the placenta...I did have two..so maybe that is why it took so long...and it probably did not acutally take that long, but it seemed like an eternity as I was lying there on the operating table!! My epidural fell out the same day as the c-section so I was unable to reap the benefits of the "pain management" medication. I honestly think this worked out in my best interest. I was up and walking (with the help of a wheel chair) the next morning (after they removed my catheter). I was in some pain for about 3 days, but kept it under control with the available pain medication given by the nurses. Word of advice..do not let your pain get ahead of you..you may be feeling good due to the medication, and try to do too much, you may forget to take a pill and then the pain will hit you with a vengence! Just make sure you are on top of when you can recieve your next pain pill and make sure the nurse gives it to you at that time! I did not have to use any of the pain med my doc prescribed after I left the hospital...ibuprofin was fine.

anyway..hope this helps! Let me know if you have any more questions!

love to all!

Marybeth

[CT_Michele]

Marybeth- Thanks for the info about your c-section. I too have watched it a million times on a baby story or discover health, but I know it will not be as pretty as it is on TV. And as much as I know about it, I still can't helped to be nervous. I must be weird having them take the placenta out. All I know is that I want my body closed back up as soon as possible, so hopefully it won't take too long.

Well, I had another wake up call trying to tell me to just take it easy these next few days.

I had my final ob appt yesterday and I tried really hard to stay call before it so my blood pressure wouldn't read too high, but of course it still read high. I had two different people take it multiple times on blood arms before I allowed them to send me over to the hospital. Of course it kept reading high, so we needed to go for another evaluation at the hospital. My blood pressure was down almost immediately and all of my blood work came back fine. They sent me home and said, relax until Tuesday.

The dr was able to tell me by feeling that Ella is still breech, so as of now, we are still scheduled for Tues. c-section. We will go to the hospital Monday afternoon for our pre-op visit and then just before surgery Tues. morning, they will check position one more time. If she is still breech, we will have a birthday party.

Even though I was afraid of the c-section, I kinda just hope it stays as planned, and we can get this over with. I haven't had many pregnancy complaints, but in the past couple of days I have had some pretty sever pubic bone pain. The dr. said it was pressure from the baby and was worse b/c she is breech. I thanked dh last night for really stepping up and helping me, since I know the next few days are going to be hard since this is the first time I truly feel incapacitated. If we went tuesday and got sent home, I don't know if I could make it another week or two like this, so we shall see what happens, but deep down, I truly think it is going to be Tuesday.

How are all the new mommies here? I bet tina is happy with little noah by now and hopefully we will hear from her soon. I will be able to update everyone next week from the hospital. They have wireless internet so we will be bringing our laptop so we can get some pics online and order birth announcements and get them sent out right away. I hope everyone has a nice weekend.