November 2009 babies?

[Wondercat]

Had the meeting with the nutritionist yesterday which went very well. It was a "group" session with one other woman, where we just learned about what to eat for a lower carb count without lowering our calorie intake. My biggest surprise was learning how many carbs there are in milk! One cup is 12g, which they say is 1 "carb count." For my pre-pregnancy weight and height I should be having 13 carb counts a day. But between the cereal made with milk and a big glass of apple juice, my cream of wheat breakfast had 8 carb counts - not counting the brown sugar on top! That comes out to something over 120g of carbs, which she said is more than the drink for the glucose tolerance test. The fact that my blood sugar was only 130 two hours after that (they like to see 120) is probably in actuality some kind of miracle. The post-cream-of-wheat numbers were the only ones that looked even remotely bad, so her recommendation was to cut way back on that and keep monitoring for another week before going to my regular doctor's appointment next Friday. The only thing I'm afraid of now is losing weight if I cut way back on my milk intake like I evidently should be.

[aspotofTea]

Hi again!

I'm pretty sure most of you have seen the news coverage on the massive wildfire burning in CA. So I live in a small city that sits directly between La Canada Flintridge and La Crescenta- south of the mountains that are burning. It's been terribly hot and dry, and today we cannot see the sun or sky with all the smoke. Being on bedrest, I am inside with the windows sealed and the air filters going. I'm hoping that those poor firefighters get a break and gain some ground on this fire soon.

Charr, you asked about the contractions. I feel almost all of them. The big ones feel like really bad tightening and they leave me short of breath. The smaller ones just feel like mild tightening of the abdomen. Today the nurse increased my rate of terbutaline, as I've seen an increase in the amount per hour at night. I'm hoping this will get it back to a more comfortable number. We are 28 weeks now but still have a long way to go!

The nurse that monitors me told me everyone is different though regarding feeling the contractions. She said she has a patient that can have anywhere from 6 to almost 20 an hour and she never feels any! The magic number is 6- over that the Drs start to get concerned.

Wondercat, how is it going with the change in food? I did not take the glucose test but man, I love me some oatmeal with brown sugar! And milk is so good to me right now. I hope you are doing well.

Excited, how is the resting going?

nancy, no we have not signed up with any cord bank yet. I'm not sure if we will or not.

It's September! Moving right along ladies!

[nancy1]

Aspotoftea: It waa great to hear from you and see that you are doing well!
The fires: I know what you mean, I live in the area as well and I have been avoiding going out as much as possible. When I'm in the clinic, the air is a bit better! And people always complain that dental offices have a funny smell!!! Right now that smell beats any fire smell. They are saying this will go on probably through September 15! Anyhow, stay safe.
NAncy

[ianmichael3]

Hi guys, I'm not sure why, but I haven't gotten any of the little emails saying there's been a post

Anywhooo: Mike took me to a little town called New Buffalo, MI and we stayed in a B&B called the Pine Garth Inn. Everyone HAD to be over 60

It was wonderful, nice and quiet. Just too short!

I'm so happy to hear all of you are getting good care and progressing right along, despite all the drama thrown your way with your bodies and babies

Unfortunately, I have had a case of Bacterial Vaginosis for 2 months and am on my 3rd round of antibiotics I don't have any irritation or anything yucky, but it is just a concern that the baby will be affected/infected. From what I gather, it could contract it at birth, but I plan on grilling my OB next Thursday. I have had to battle his office, the pharmacy AND (of course) insurance. I'm wiped out, to say the least. Just add work related issues and relational issues and my little guy (almost 7) in FIRST freakin' grade and I could just SCREAM!!!

Getting a pedi and maybe even a mani today to try to de-stress a little

Gotta love these hormones!!

[charr]

Hi, ladies. I hope everyone is doing well and hanging in there. I'm still having contractions and they've gotten more intense. I'm still taking the medication and am supposed to really slow down now and take it easy. My OB says our goal is to get me to 35 weeks. I'll be 32 weeks this Sunday. It's been stressful for me but I'm trying to not let myself stress as I know that will only make it worse.

[ianmichael3]

Charr: hang in there, I'm lifting you up in my prayers. Every day you get through is a gift! I hope that will give you some encouragement as you wake up everyday. Take care.

[Wondercat]

charr - My thoughts are with you! I have been having a lot more BH contractions the past few days, but not enough yet to warrant calling my doctor, I don't think. They do hurt a lot more than my pregnancy book would have me believe. I have had to do some work from home so I can relax and get them to abate, which fortunately my job is being pretty flexible about. I'm lucky to have a job where I feel *really* needed, so I think my boss just wants to keep me here as long as she can before I go on maternity leave!

Have you tried taking warm baths? Now that we finally finished remodeling our bathroom I find that a long soak in the jetted tub does wonders for the contractions. The only downside is that something about either the floating or jets makes the little guy go NUTS in there. Yesterday he was straight across sideways so that my bellybutton went in again - it's been an outie for a while now - and my stomach looked square. Hilarious yet incredibly uncomfortable (and sometimes painful) all at the same time! Yesterday he got hiccups for the first time. I kept feeling like maybe if I held my breath it would stop!

aspotofTea - On the eating/"possible gestational diabetes" front - I was told to cut back on home testing to fasting tests every 2-3 days and "occasional" 2-hours after eating testing. I spoke to a friend who had GD and she said my fasting numbers are what she was trying to get with insulin. I did only gain about 4 oz. in the past 4 weeks, so my weight gain has really slowed down although I am still measuring 3 weeks large. The only thing I have really changed is cutting back on the straight brown sugar. A tablespoon is so much less than you think it is!! They did schedule me for another u/s at 37 weeks because of the "possible GD" to make sure the baby is not too big. He was in the 51st percentile at the last u/s - tough to be any more average than that!

I hope everybody else is doing well. We're entering the home stretch!

[nancy1]

Hi ladies,

CHARR: Hang in there! While a full term would be ideal for you and the baby, knowing that the baby's survival at this point is almost guaranteed should ease your mind. I know of at least 3 people who gave birth at 6.5 months and their kids are now thriving college students! Another one of my friends had her's at exactly where you're at right now, and again, after a 3 week NICU stay, she has now celebrated her 1st B-day. So please hang in there!!!! We are all keeping you in our minds!

IANMICHAEL: Hope your vaginosis clears up really fast!!! I'm glad you had a relaxing time on your trip!

WONDERCAT: Hope you BHs ease up soon. It must not be fun, you poor thing. OB said staying as hydrated as possible really helps!

ASPOTOFTEA: Now that the fires are over, isn't it much easier to breathe?
How are you doing otherwise?

I went to my OB last weel again. They did an US. Peanut is now almost 4lbs! He is right on track as per OB although from what I read he should be around 3.5 right now, but hey, no complaints on my part. I was also relievd that my 3 hour glucose challenge test came out good.
Right now I'm researching whicn cordbanking company to go with? Any comments on that from you guys?

Yesterday went to a childbirthing class. It was pretty informative. Just hope I remember all that when the time comes.

Have a great week everyone and hope to hear from you all soon.
Nancy

[ianmichael3]

Hi Nancy! And thank you, I hope it goes away, but I guess it's no biggie if it doesn't... thank goodness. Good to hear your good news, too!! I thought about cord blood banking, but then I guess it's only recommended if you have a congenital birth defect in your family or health problem, like MS (multiple sclerosis), etc. So we have decided at this point not to do it.

AFM: I'm assuming my glucose results were good, no word from doc's office yet and my labs were done last Thursday.

[aspotofTea]

hello again ladies-

Charr, what are you taking for the contractions? i have noticed my pattern goes like this- mornings and early afternoon, it seems to be decent- 2 an hour or so. The late afternoon and evening, as the babies are more active, I have more contractions. As long as I have less than 6 an hour, the nurses are happy. It sounds like alot I know.

wondercat, how are your contractions going

Nancy, so glad to hear your Peanut is growing well!

Today makes 30 weeks for me. It's hard to believe I've been on strict bed rest since week 22. Last week they scanned the twins again- the boy was 3 lbs 7 oz, gaining 1 pound in 2 wks, and the girl was 2 lbs 11 oz, gaining 1/2 a pound in 2 wks.

Tomorrow I will get the first of two betamethasone (aka steriod) injections. The other will be the next day. I think we will feel better after this, as this will really help with lung development.

the drs seem to think we can hang in there for at least a few more weeks. My next goal is 32 weeks. But I'd love 34 weeks!!

Hope you are all well, and I'll keep you posted as to how we're progressing along.

[charr]

aspotoftea - You're doing so great being on bedrest for so long! I know it's probably not easy. I am taking Niphedipine (Procardia) for my contractions.

Wondercat - I did try warm baths but they didn't seem to help me much.

Nancy - We've been thinking about cord banking so I guess we better get busy and make a decision.

I saw my OB today and he checked my cervix. While it's still in tact, it is thinning and I'm at -1 station already. He said the positive of that is it should make labor a bit easier since the baby's head is already down so far. Basically once I start dilating, he said the head will be right there. I'm at 32 weeks now and would still really like to make it to 35 weeks but we'll see. I'm really curious as to how much the baby weighs right now but I probably won't find out until birth as I don't have any u/s scheduled. I know these are the weeks that they put on the most weight.

It's sure hard to believe this journey has gone so quickly! I hope everyone is well.

[Wondercat]

Nancy - The contractions are much better, thanks. I'm realizing I just can't do more than 8 hours at work because it's much worse when I get over-tired... and it takes a lot less now to get me over-tired than it used to! We aren't doing our birthing class until October 10. But I did just have a very amusing conversation with the two contractors who are going to install our flooring about birthing classes this weekend. Charlie and Paul were very, VERY serious about telling me how important it was for me to learn how to breathe and focus.

ianmichael - I feel for you on the vaginosis thing. No fun. We did decide to do cord blood banking and signed up with CBR in August to take advantage of some deal that ended 8/31. My husband took care of it, so I'm not sure on the details. We already got our collection kit in the mail, I have to remember to ask about what to do with it at the birthing class.

aspotofTea - Good luck holding out to the 34 weeks! My friend just had her boys at 34 weeks and they were totally plump and healthy, you wouldn't have even known they were twins or born early at all. I'm kind of jealous that there is a time when yours are "more active" because I swear this kid I am carrying does not sleep. Ever. Good because I always know he's doing well, less good when I'm trying to generate FY10 financial projections and it feels like there's a gymnastics meet going on in my belly with my bladder as a springboard.

charr - Sorry your contractions are so persistent. I also can't believe how fast this is going by. It feels like yesterday I was just finding out at 4 weeks and 40 seemed like forever away. Now I'm starting to freak out at everything that I need to finish in my house and wrap up at work in the next 8 weeks! I have heard that the u/s estimates of weight can be as much as a pound off in either direction, so I'm just going on the assumption that he's somewhere around average. I got all excited when he was over 3 pounds because my (6'2") brother-in-law was only 2.5 pounds when he was born at only 29 weeks. Considering how tight everything feels now I can't believe he's going to double in size before he's born!!

I meet with a pediatrician this week, which is making it seem a lot more real. Oh, and my in-laws are speaking to me again. My FIL even apologized. Now I just need to find new tenants for our rental property, since the current ones just gave us basically 15 days notice that they're vacating. And that they will be using their deposit as September's rent, regardless of the state of the house.

[ianmichael3]

Wondercat, you are hilarious. I'd love to meet Charlie and Paul... I'm in stitches You are crazy busy too, but it sounds like you're handling it all very well, that is awesome! I can't keep my emotions in check AT ALL. I cry at about anything!

[Wondercat]

You also have to realize Charlie and Paul are from Southie, so I was being told that the "buhthing class is wicked impohtant." This was right before they told us about the bid they just put in to build a chicken coop for some vet with diabetes and one leg. It wasn't clear to me if he lost his leg in Desert Storm, from the diabetes, or from being attacked by a pig. But there was definitely a pig attack involved.

[ianmichael3]