The kid thread: Planning, pregnancy & parenting

[eternal sunshine]

gusita - congrats on baby Brett!!! So precious!!

How many ladies are left between insurance and I having our boys? Seems like births always come in twos on this board!!

Gusita - I am glad all turned out well for your birth...sounds like it was a crazy experience though. What happened to you is my biggest fear, that the doc will let me labor and labor and labor and then 'whoops...looks like bigbaby/bad position/etc now you need a C-sec anyway!' I think EITHER birth option is exhausting laboring to deliver vaginally or the recovery required from c-sec...I can imagine doing both is incredibly exhausting. You definately get a gold star from me!

[redwagon]

congrats gusita! Brett is adorable! Sorry you had such a hard time but sounds like you came through like a champ (and so did DH).

All these stories are making me want to start TTC now. another year for me... luckily I have a niece or nephew coming in May, and another niece just turning 1 in Feb. (same mom, yikes two babies at once!), so I can dote on them (and practice diaper changing) until we're ready!

[Sam_2.0]

eternal - I think Palmetto & zbear are next, and then Taz & I. I am probably missing a couple - we've had some new people lately! Its weird how people tend to pair up!!

Well ladies, I think 1/11/11 officially marks the day when I can no longer comfortably button my jeans. And I am officially out of my "ideal" weight range (when not preggo). Sounds dumb, but I decided to get healthy a couple of years ago, and I worked my bum off, literally, and lost almost 30 lbs (quite a bit when I am only 5'3'' on a good day). Just kind of depressing hearing my Dr tell me she wants me to get back up to that. I know it won't stay once the kid is here, but so many people in my family struggle with being overweight & having corresponding health issues that it scares me. I figure I will focus on eating healthy foods & not look at the scale anymore. My body will gain the weight it needs to, and if my Dr needs me to do anything different she will let me know.

Gusita & Regina - I love seeing the pics of your babies & hearing your stories! Its making me get more excited about this LO (even the scary parts of your stories - the labor parts!)

[ladyki]

Gusita- Congrats to you and your DH. Glad to know that everything came out all right. Happy Brthday to baby Brett!!!.

Jan 11, 2011 21:39:25 GMT -5 @kristi28 said:

I am officially off all birth control now. I know that it will be months before I am really TTC, but seeing all the photos and hearing your stories, I want to be pregnant right now!

Kristi- Blowing Baby dust your way.

We are also going start trying for baby #2 this month. Hopefully it wont take as long as it did with Kiani, hopefully we get to get her a little brother or sister soon. Due to my infertility issues I was told by my RE to go back and see him after five months of trying if I was not successful at getting pregnant by then. I have my annual exam this Friday and I am going to start talking to them about it just so that they know that I will want a referral to go back to the RE if I dont get pregnant after 5 months.

[boosmom]

gusita - congrats on Brett's safe arrival! Wow, he's a big boy! I'm glad you all are doing well.

kristi - thanks for the translation! Actually, we're in the same age bracket, seems I was into a different music genre. ;D

ladyki and kristi - sending you some baby dust.

#1 got hurt afterschool today. She fell and hit a couple of teeth. So, we'll probably need to get the teeth checked out at the dentist this week. Poor thing is already missing one front tooth from it prematurely falling out due to a previous fall (the tooth isn't ready to descend, the root just died). She may end up with two missing front teeth.

[megera]

Congratulations Gusita and welcome baby Brett! And his birthday is 1/11/11 - how fun!

[gusitarenker]

Jan 11, 2011 22:05:40 GMT -5 eternal sunshine said:

gusita - congrats on baby Brett!!! So precious!!

How many ladies are left between insurance and I having our boys? Seems like births always come in twos on this board!!

Gusita - I am glad all turned out well for your birth...sounds like it was a crazy experience though. What happened to you is my biggest fear, that the doc will let me labor and labor and labor and then 'whoops...looks like bigbaby/bad position/etc now you need a C-sec anyway!' I think EITHER birth option is exhausting laboring to deliver vaginally or the recovery required from c-sec...I can imagine doing both is incredibly exhausting. You definately get a gold star from me!

Yup, it was one of my big fears too! I always thought it seemed like such a cruel joke to have to get a c-section after 20+ hours of laboring. I think if the dang epidural had worked like it was supposed to right from the get go, some of the laboring time would have been less frustrating/stressful. I know pitocin makes your contractions more intense, so I had definitely planned on having an epidural to help with the pain. I was definitely not prepared for it to not work all the time! It might sound weird, but when the doctor said 'c-section', I almost felt a sense of relief that there was going to be a definite end and soon to labor.

Thanks everyone on all the congrats! It still all feels so surreal, and I really can't believe I'll be taking that big, beautiful baby home with me soon. I was worried about DH being 'scared' of the baby, but DH has just been wonderful with him. I feel kind of silly now for ever worrying about him.

[gusitarenker]

Jan 11, 2011 21:39:25 GMT -5 @kristi28 said:

Congratulations to all the proud moms (and dads) of the beautiful new babies!

boo's mom: TMBG = They Might Be Giants. Apparently, I am old enough.

gusita: I don't know if your doctor told you, but the medication to control your BP (usually magnesium) can cause dizziness, nausea, trouble focusing your eyes, etc. It also works against the pitocin, which may be what happened to you.

I had pre-e with baby girl, and my birth was rather similar to yours (except since it was more than three weeks early, baby girl was much smaller!) My story is buried somewhere on the old thread if you are curious. Make sure you get as much rest as you can in the hospital. High BP + long labor + c-section = tired mommy.

I am officially off all birth control now. I know that it will be months before I am really TTC, but seeing all the photos and hearing your stories, I want to be pregnant right now!

Kristi-Yup, he did mention that! It just felt like a crazy cycle to be in. Blood pressure shoots up, give blood pressure meds, get nausea and vomiting, then epidural stops working. Rinse and repeat! I am going to have to read your birth story in the old thread (which I am so glad they saved!!!)


Good luck and lots of baby dust to everyone TTC!

[jenna30]

Congrats, Gusita! He's really cute.

Can't believe the anesthesiologist took so long to get back with you. Sorry you had such a rough go of it.

My anesthesiologist was wonderful. It took awhile to get the dose correct, but she stayed until I was sufficiently numb. I got my epidural early... I was worried about the contractions becoming so painful I wouldn't be able to sit still.

[stina72]

Gusita-Congrats on Baby Brett!! He is a doll! I'm sorry to hear about all the difficulties you had during labor, I hope you have a very smooth recovery! I can totally see where the calming would come over you after 20+ hrs of labor and being offered a C-section, I'm sure you were just ready to meet your little guy!

kgb-I'm glad to hear you are loving your new job and definitely glad to hear how much more time you get with your family!

Boo-How horrible about your LO getting hurt, I hope everything is ok!

[yogiii]

kjsh - I really used to like They Might be Giants, I guess I still do. That's a really cute idea.
boos - Sorry about #1's tooth. Hopefully it isn't painful for her

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I'm here, I was offline because I was home on Monday with the daycare being closed and then yesterday was so damn cold and icy I stayed home again. Managed to get my damn tire stuck in the ONE snow drift while getting out of the driveway this morning. Fortunately I got it out just by rocking it. I spent 20 minutes yesteday shoveling the damn thing and still managed to get stuck! Grrr. ..

Did not transfer Gwen this weekend. We didn't have a nightlight and she is still getting up 3 times a night. So we decided to start weaning off nighttime feedings first instead. She went from 6-10:30 pm and got up to eat. She finishsed at 11:30 (I fell asleep and switched her when I woke up). She woke up at midnight but we let her stay fussy in the hopes she would go back to sleep.

Nope. She rolled around and tried to crawl around in her bassinet. She traversed the whole thing at least twice. We finally gave up at 1:30 am and I fed her because I figured we managed to stretch it out three hours past the last feeding instead of one so that was good progress.

Still did not go to sleep, so at that point I just set her back in the bassinet and fell asleep myself. She woke up to eat breakfast at 4:30 and then slept clear till I got her up at 7:00 am.

Urgh, I think we are going to set a bedtime tonight. She's been doing so well putting herself to sleep at around 7:30-8:00 but not last night. She has also been doing really crappy with naps. Neither of her naps lasted an hour yesterday.

She wasn't tired, she was wide awake and bushy tailed. I threatend to get Benadryl, but that didn't work either.

[mommax4]

Gusita-congrats on baby Brett! He's adorable. Your birth story sounds very similar to one of my aunts. She was in labor for over 20 hours before they finally did the c-section and she had a 10+ pound baby too. I couldn't believe they let her go that long though. They knew the baby was big and she's only 5'3"! Oh well, her son is now a very healthy 6 year old.

I'm not sure who my "pregnancy partner" on the boards is. I'm at 25 weeks now, so maybe I'm close to Palmetto & zbear?? Anyone else due at the end of April/beginning of May?

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

My OB told me the hospital "gives everyone a chance" to have a vaginal birth unless they know right away that you need a C-section.

At the time she said it, I thought that was a good thing. When labor actually rolled around I thought that was the dumbest idea ever! Don't make me push if the baby isn't going to come out, just roll me out and do the work for me!

[nasagreen]

mommax3 - i'm due 4/22...and i really think that it will be 4/29 or 5/2. I will be 26 weeks on Friday.

[mommax4]

nasagreen awesome! Is this your first? As you can probably guess by my name, this is #4 for me.

[nasagreen]

mommax3 - yes i'm a FTM...what is your due date? i'm doing the bradley method so planning to do natural childbirth in the hospital, i'm near Tampa, FL

[mommax4]

nasagreen-April 26. I can't say what "method" we're using. We use a free-standing birth center (with the last 2 and this one anyway), which means natural childbirth. It will be me, DH, the midwife and 1-2 nurses/support staff there; assuming it all goes smoothly like the last two. If something complicated happens the hospital is across the street. Good luck with the natural childbirth--it can definitely be done!

[nasagreen]

mommax3 - thanks Bradley method is basically just the type of childbirth classes we are doing -- i'm at a midwife practice but DH wouldn't go with a birth center or home birth. The classes are a little bit hard to find, and long - 12 classes each 1.5-2 hours long. I like to be prepared!

[moneymaven]

gusita - congratulations, and happy birthday Brett! What a big guy!

taz - you're lucky that busy season is during the 2nd trimester. I felt the best in my 2nd trimester.

kristi - good luck TTC! I am totally abnormal in that when went off of BC pills, I was pregnant within a month, to my shock and surprise.

kjsh - I was born and raised in Denver. Couldn't ever imagine living somewhere else!

eternal - you're right - things happen in pairs around here! yesterday, a friend of mine delivered her daughter who was not due until 2/11/11. It made it super real that DS could be here any day, really.

work is still a mess and there really are no good resolutions on the table. I will have a setup at home just like at my office. My brain keeps jumping back to how unfair this is, but I am sure there is a reason for all of it.

[mommax4]

I'm still trying to decide if I want to take a "refresher" course. It's been 3 years since the last baby, so I'm out of practice (there were 17 months & 18months between the others). I think our birth center usually does a 1-night class for repeat mothers who want an update. We never did a long class. I had to drag DH kicking & screaming to the 1-day class at the hospital when we had DD1 there. He was a little more interested in the 1-night class at the birth center when we had DD2, but we haven't been to one since. Not sure how he'll feel about doing a refresher. Guess I'd better ask him huh? #tongue#

[mommax4]

ok, so why didn't my smilee show up correctly when I used the code? Anyone have any ideas?

[nasagreen]

no idea, that is the right code for the proboard smilie with the tongue out... #tongue2#

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Look at it this way insurance you are going to have some SERIOUS leverage in the near future. You are going above and beyond what most people would do.

I understand there is no one else to do your job and you don't get FMLA protection, but technically you still do not HAVE to do all this for them.

You got them by the balls because you are the only one who can do your job. Recognize the power you got with that and use it when it suits you.

[eternal sunshine]

insurance - I agree with drama...it isn't fair and you don't HAVE to do it for them. Use your leverage if you choose to do this! I am thinking of you.

Work is still insane here. *sigh* trying to roll with it.

I can't believe that my due date is 9 weeks away. For some reason, I just have it in my mind that I'm going to see him early. I guess due to his measurements. I just keep thinking 3/1 - 3/10 somewhere in there. I really want him to stay put until March though. watch me think he'll be here early and me go late

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

EVERYONE kept telling me I would go late because it was my first pregnancy blah blah. She made her appearance a week early.

If there is a next time, I plan on doing what my DH advocated the first time, have everything ready the moment the OB announces I am "full term".

[yogiii]

nasa and mommax3 - I had a natural birth at the hospital and I didn't take any classes. Not sure if that was a good idea but it worked out this time. I was lucky that it was fast and he was out after 4 or 5 contractions of pushing. When I felt like I needed to push I just looked at my nurse and said "Just tell me what I have to do, I need to push now". After the first push I remember looking at her and saying "Did that do anything? Did I do it right?". I think for me, just going with things on the fly tends to work out better.

[yogiii]

eternal - I was a couple days late. The worst part about it was everyone asking me if I'd had the baby yet or if I "felt like" I was going to have the baby soon. Part of it must have been pregnancy hormones but I found all of those questions soooo annoying. Especially the people that asked if I felt like it would happen soon.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I didn't really get anything out of my childbirth class that I hadn't already read about anyhow. It was free at my hospital so I wasn't out any money. I would have been PO-ed to do it at Alegent. They want you to take THREE classes at $90 a pop. No way jose.

Overall the nurses coached me really well so if I had not read anything I would not have been doing it blind.

I found talking with my OB thru the pregnancy and the nurses at L&D much more helpful than my childbirth class.

Same for DH, I did the class more out of fear that he wouldn't know what to do or expect, but in the end it turns out I was paranoid for nothing.

The childbirthing video did help, but then again I could have had him watch Discovery, NG or TLC for that.

[bluedolphin]

Congrats, gusita! I know it wasn't the way you planned, but everyone is healthy in the end. Please give yourself plenty of time to rest and let others do things for you! C-section recovery can take a while.

nasagreen - I'm in the Tampa area too (Brandon, to be specific). Which midwife practice are you using? I started out at the one at TGH (I really liked them), but I was considered a high risk pregnancy so had to transfer to a high risk practice. I also saw a couple of the midwives at the USF practice next to the hospital and really liked them too. I would have liked to use a birth center, but couldn't. I delivered at TGH and found them to be very natural birth friendly. I actually did a natural birth with hypnobirthing which really worked. My doula taught it, and did some of the techniques with me in the hospital. It's all about relaxing and letting your body do what it is designed to do.

Everyone told me I'd be late too, this being my first, but I was also a week early like drama. Of course, I was actively trying to start labor - I did not want to be induced. My doula explained to me that it is not that the contractions are more intense with the pitocin, it's that you don't work up to them. When your body naturally works up to the contractions, it also releases ocytocin (i think) which is the feel good hormone, that helps counteract the contractions. When you have pitocin, your body isn't releasing any of that hormone which makes them feel stronger and more intense. I don't have a point of reference (not having been on pitocin), but it makes sense to me. It's also true that you remember mostly impressions, and you forget the specifics. At least, it is true for me.