***(61) 2015 November Sparklers***

[aley28]

I just have a cheap Avent pump. It had all the fancy silicone things attached to it, but I took them off and just use the hard plastic piece. I could pump 6-7oz per boob per session after I had Parker, so I think it works just fine. I even use it on the manual setting, because I didn't like the electric setting it has!! All pumps claim they are better than the others for one reason or another... in the end, its really just what works for you. I bought this pump when pregnant with Ethan, so well over 6 years ago, probably approaching 7 now! Still works like a charm!

Re: sex! Catmummy, the last time we tried actual sex, I had the same problem. I actually yelped in pain when he penetrated and squirmed away from him. But its not like I was going to cancel the session because that's no fair to him and I certainly wasn't down for "other methods" at that moment in time, so I clenched my teeth and let him finish... but we haven't DTD since then and that was at least a month ago. I keep thinking that maybe we should try again, but omg... that FLIPPING HURT and I am SO not eager to try again only to find that it still hurts! He's mostly been left to his own devices, though there's been some "oral loving" a couple of times when I'm feeling especially guilty. I'm generally a sex-hungry fiend so this is weird for both of us.

Because of hormones and everything changing for delivery, apparently sex just starts hurting for some women in the third trimester. This didn't happen to me in either of the last pregnancies. There are more positions you can try etc, but after one bad experience... its hard to find the desire to!

AFM;
32 week appointment here in a few minutes... on here just killing time actually Nothing exciting this time that I'm aware of... just fundal height check, heartbeat check, and I'm on my way. Then I'll have an appointment at 34 weeks, and 36 weeks and then its every week until delivery. The end is coming up SO FAST!

Also I've been having more headaches lately, but I think its just exhaustion and maybe some dehydration. I TRY to drink enough fluid, but I know I don't. I sleep really well at night, but I always feel like I could use another hour or two... pregnant + 2 kiddos is really, REALLY exhausting apparently!

And, does anybody have the magic spell to make your husband sit the heck down and discuss names?!? I think we've got the first name chosen but he will not even respond to me if I ask about middle names. So I just made a big list of middle names that I liked, thinking he could at least cross off the ones he didn't like... instead he just ignored that too. I'm starting to get stressed out! I really do feel like we're running out of time, and people keep asking about names. I don't generally share our name choices anyway, but the more they ask about it, the more I think that we just don't have enough time left to only be at this stage. Sigh!

Oh, and can we talk #2s??? I started this pregnancy out with liquid #2s, and that sucked. Then that stopped and I was really nicely regular, which I was incredibly grateful for. Is it normal to suddenly be getting constipated at this stage? Even my coffee trick is only working like 1/3 of the time now. I often feel the pressure like I really need to go, so I hurry in and I can't get anything out. Its really frustrating. I figure it must be how she is sitting in there or something?

 

[Twag]

I have a Mandula breast pump and I also used to pump about 8oz from each boob when I was expressing with Elliot

Regarding #2's - I was also liquid to begin with and then constipated ever since with the odd day of it not being a battle to go otherwise I seem to be like a rabbit (poor rabbits)

 

[Amcolecchi]

I contacted Edgepark medical supplies, I am in Ohio and they handled everything! Contacted my insurance and everything for me!! They told me it would be covered and shipped it and I got it the next day, so I am not sure if they have a place like that in Chicago or maybe research edgepark medical, I think it's a nationwide company!!

My husband and I have sex still too, not as often BUT I did hear it does help induce labor lol so we will be doing it alot the next few weeks! hehehe Plus it's our 5 year anniversary on the 18th!!

Amcolechii I'm in Chicago. I've herd you can get one from your insurance just not sure how to go about doing that? I have Blue Cross PPO would I still be able to get a free one?

Catmummy me and DH still BD regularlywe just use LOTS of pillows to help get into a position that is comfortable. I just read an article on FitPregnancy.com yesterday that said its healthy to continue to stay sexually active throughout your entire pregnancy. Of course unless your doctor has told you otherwise. But I'm sorry it was painful for you and not a good experience Maybe next time try using LOTS of different pillows and different positions

 

[Mrs_Bump]

I had a medal swing but it got loads of use as he wouldn't latch so was used every 2-3 hours for 3&1/2 months. I never got close to the amounts you ladies did but I think that was probably due to our start. It certainly never hurt me though. I have no nipple sensation at all for some reason. Yet another thing that made feeding harder.

 

[Amcolecchi]

OH I have Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield ppo also!

 

[catmummyof4]

Aley thats exactly what im talking about!! It hurt soo bad was just grin and bare it luckily it had been a while so was sorted quite quick thank god haha! Does anyone get contractions after orgasm already cos i did and its made me a bit nervous to try again even on my own

and as for #2 i started with runny alllll the time now i feel like im pushing baby out hahaha x

 

[littlesteph]

Hey ladies DHBH wat an amazing room i love it!!

Steph so glad your scan went well! I hav a new consultant now because my old one was a ba****d and his new clinics are weds instead what i was having the friday so my growth scan will be 2 weeks an 5 days after my last will they take that extra 5 days into account??

Mrs bump wow i cant believe she is a he! How many scans had you had??

Afm i was in hospital AGAIN yesterday with what turned out to be a stress induced migraine its been such a hard few months i cant wait until shes here!! X

thank you, I never see the same consultant, its really annoying, I've seen 3 different ones this pregnancy so far and only one I could actually understand, they all have very strong accents.
they should take the 5 days into account. they go on how far along you are at the time of the scan.

 

[littlesteph]

thank you ladies, i'm hoping all will ok but consultants don't seem too confident.


I tried nipple simulation with my second while bouncing on a gym ball, that did bring on contractions and got baby almost fully engaged. contractions soon stopped though.

on the subject of 2s I think at one point I didn't go for nearly 3 weeks, omg I had the worse ibs pains when I finally did go, been every day since, they are a little soft sometimes even with taken iron tablets, sometimes hard because of the tablets.

 

[Mimzy3]

Lomelindi my husband also read The Birth Partner the first time around. I didn't hire a doula so he really was my birth partner.

Are you or any of you other ladies hiring a doula? I'm not... I found I managed best on my own anyways. DH just helped me stay comfortable brought me water, played music, hot towels, ect. but when he tried to massage me or anything I just wanted to be left alone. I'm typically like that when in pain but other people really love the support of a doula.

Thanks for the info on the other pump I will look into it. I have a Medela as well and I could get up to 10 OZ from each breast when I would pump first thing is the morning! But I was a pumping machine I did get very sore breasts from the plastic flanges. I NEEDED to have either Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple butter or Olive Oil on my breast and all over the plastic flanges at every session. I tried multiple sizes and still always needed to have the flanges well lubricated.

I do get Braxton Hicks contractions after an orgasm occasionally but they are harmless and painless, just a bit uncomfortable. But nothing to discourage me I get them every day anyways even without an orgasm

 

[Mimzy3]

OH I have Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield ppo also!

Thanks Amcolecchi! I could always use a free one for work too

 

[Twag]

DH was my birth partner and he will be this time really more just there for support I kind of just went into my own zone when in labour

 

[Mrs_Bump]

Instinctually I think I would of rather laboured on my own
I went totally into myself and didn't want to be touched or even talked to but everyone is different. I wanted dh there to see him born for him more than me. I like my own space when stressed.

 

[Twag]

Instinctually I think I would of rather laboured on my own
I went totally into myself and didn't want to be touched or even talked to but everyone is different. I wanted dh there to see him born for him more than me. I like my own space when stressed.

exactly the same here I don't think I talked to DH the whole time I was in labour

 

[Smile181c]

I had my mum and DH there last time but this time it will just be me and my DH. My mum can be quite overbearing and she just stresses me out so I think we'll both cope a lot better with it just being the pair of us

Is anyone else feeling all touched out lately? I can't stand being touched! When anything brushes against me I just cringe I think it's cause the baby is so active that I just feel like I'm pulled and poked all the time that I can't take any extra contact from anyone else!

 

[lomelindi17]

Yeah hubby is going to be my main support too, I thought of hiring a doula but my midwife team said it's probably not necessary since it will be 2 of them plus an assistant and they are very attentive. My mom is going to try to be there too so I might have her take pics and stuff. I'm hoping the Hypnobabies does most of the job of keeping me relaxed and low pain. The less stress the less pain!

Sex! This has been an emotional issue for me most of the pregnancy. It has been a little uncomfortable for me the whole time, I think my cervix became extra tender with all the bloodflow and it would really hurt if he hit it, so we've had to be careful with positions. But my sex drive decreased and I felt guilty for not doing it as often, but then he also stopped initiating it because he wanted to leave it up to me since he never knew if I was in the mood or feeling uncomfortable. Which was considerate of him but then left me feeling insecure like he wasn't attracted to me lol. That's the one thing I'd say has affected me emotionally, I haven't had any crazy mood swings or anything this pregnancy, but I did have a hard time coping with that change in our dynamic. He also told me his sex drive seemed to slow down a bit too and that he did look at me in a different light now, more as a mother and less as a sex kitten hahaha. I think I'm finally at peace with it and I just initiate whenever I feel the urge like once or twice a week and it seems to be enough for him. The last couple times though there was zero pain so that was a nice change! When it does hurt though, usually a position change would solve it, or sometimes I would need to be 'warmed up' a lot more and gradually as I relaxed more the pain would subside. Also my midwife said it is completely normal to have tightening/contractions/Braxton Hicks after an orgasm, and that it's actually really good for the baby and your uterus because it gets the baby used to the sensation of contractions. She said she's had a few clients say they would get big multiple orgasms often in pregnancy and then would get lots of contractions for like 15 mins afterwards, so she said if that's the case maybe try to tone it down a tad. But otherwise it's nothing to worry about! Also one more tidbit, semen is a fantastic natural source of prostaglandins which soften the cervix and help prepare it for birth, so lots of sex close to your due date will help efface and soften it up. Also the happy hormones from sex can help bring on labor when your body is ready.

#2's - I was nice and regular the whole time but the last week it has started to slow down a bit. I think it's normal in this stage, I feel like I need tons of water just to keep things flowing lol!

 

[lomelindi17]

And yay 30 weeks today! 10 week countdown is on!!

 

[Mimzy3]

lomelindi17 the more turned on a women is the higher up her cervix moves. Its just a weird thing of the female anatomy. So that is why after a little "warm up" and once you relax and enjoy it, it doesn't hurt as bad. And I totally understand how the dynamic of the relationship changes and it can be emotional

 

[Twag]

Happy 30 weeks and the double digit countdown

 

[Sunny27]

Littlesteph, I pray all goes well with your next scan.

Catmummy, So glad to hear you're felling better.

AFM, I ordered the Medela Pump in style from byramhealthcare.com. They did all the paperwork with my Dr. and Insurance. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama.

 

[Twag]

I am getting really impatient the next 7 weeks is really going to drag okay possibly just the next 4 weeks as I stop working then and I am always happier when not at work