September Snugglers 2016

[xanzaba]

Hopie- the ultrasound I had was not so bad, relatively quick and the lady was joking the whole time. I guess later in pregnancy there are fewer worries, so at least there's that. Hope that they're less stressful for you as well.

Amantila- I'm with you on wanting to ignore the whole labor thing! I couldn't bring myself to read the birth stories, and I'm hoping to "miss" the whole birthing class thing. My doctor is pretty laid back, so I'm hoping she just never mentions them. I'm only half joking about that...

A friend of mine was just induced Thursday and delivered her baby girl yesterday morning. It's very exciting- she was induced at 37 weeks because they thought the baby was going to be very large, but in the end she was only 7lbs. 2oz. Mom and baby are doing well, and they are already home.

 

[Uni tsi]

xan, It's interesting to hear about how successful your hubby has been. They want me in the mid 80s for fasting O.O That's lower than it is when I'm not pregnant. My parents both are Type II and I told them my uncontrolled numbers and they were jealous how low they were. I think pregnancy really slides the scale in terms of what the doctors want to see. For average people, fasting of 95 is fine, at worst prediabetic, but that's the threshold for GD. That's why I was diagnosed so early, because I checked my fasting at home and it was 97 in the first trimester. Then I ate a bagel and checked it an hour later and I was through the roof, 197! I called my OB in tears worried about birth defects, so she got me started on meds since diet and exercise aren't making any difference to me. When they started me on the once-a-day insulin this month, my diabetes doc actually told me I have the lowest A1C of anyone she's ever had to put on insulin

I like hearing about your friend. I'll probably be induced around 37 weeks so it's nice to hear good stories. In my case, they aren't worried about baby's size but between my age, diabetes, and previous loss they just don't want to let me go to term and at this point I am ok with that. But, it still helps to hear positive induction stories, so thank you

For what it's worth I found the birth classes to be empowering. I was way less worried after the class than I was before. Then again, maybe it helped that the instructor of my class didn't go into too much graphic detail lol

Hopie, on that glucose drink, or for anyone who is given it to take home with them, I highly suggest drinking it COLD. Not that it makes it good, but it's a lot easier to get down. Like Amantila said, just chug it as quick as you can!

AFM, I found a great app for kick counts called Kickme. I was using one built into another pregnancy program, but the stand alone app gives stats and averages. It is already helping me figure out which time of day she is most active and it actually wasn't when I thought she is so that was interesting.

I'm glad everyone agrees dark blue IS gender neutral lol Among other notable items, I've also been given a onesie that says "I boobies!" Oh, and I was given an infant swing which I'm super excited about.

 

[Alea]

Anyone having crazy dreams still?

Last night I dreamt that I went in to labour and delivered twins - I woke up this morning very panicked! Lol.

 

[amantila]

Oh...forgot to mention I've reached the 3rd tri milestone as of today! Woohoo! :]

 

[campn]

Aman- Happy third and final hun!! I know the labor talk is scary but the early labor talk is exciting! I remember feeling so jealous whenever someone would say they're in labor as I was 1 day late (which isn't much!) but oh I got so much pressure on Facebook. "Where is the baby!!???"

Are you planning on getting an epidural or going completely natural? Knowing I wanted an epidural from the start made me calmer about everything.

My glucose test is next Wednesday and I'm not excited. It's not the taste (I've done the 1 hour and 3 hours before) but I'm too scared I'd fail again!

 

[MummaMoo]

Aw, I can understand understand first time momma's labour worries and anxiety, just keep your eyes on the prize!! I'm just excited for everybody. I know everybody handles the pain - let's not call it pain, let's call it...... discomfort..... differently.
Does anyone have any questions that we can answer to maybe help?
My main concern isn't so much the labour itself, it's more when is it going to happen? Will I be on my own? Will I have Sophie with me? How quick will it all kick in, will I have time to arrange something for Sophie? I'm building up an army of people I can call if i'm stuck. My friend Verity has said she'll happily take Sophie if needed, and my neighbours have said that if it happens middle of the night, one of them will sit at home until the in-laws arrive to take over, so I'm starting to relax a bit more now.

Uni, I like navy, Sophie has had several outfits in navy, and still pretty girly.

As for being stabbed 13 times for the GD tests, kind of makes me want to be tested now! Ha! I'm such a freak, but I do really like having blood taken!

 

[ajarvis]

Thanks for mentioning that app uni! Looks neat! Going to start trying it out as she is active enough every day

 

[campn]

Exactly mumma. This time I've new fears mostly about who will be there to watch Benjamin? The hospital said he can be in the delivery room and I thought maybe until the inlaws arrive to pick him up, but I think him being there will stress me out even more.

My labor and delivery fears are like last time really. Like will I have complications? Will I get the birth I want? Will I tear bad? Will the baby be healthy? Will breastfeeding go well?

Oh and my biggest question is, how much will this baby weight!??

 

[MeganS0326]

Anyone having crazy dreams still?

Last night I dreamt that I went in to labour and delivered twins - I woke up this morning very panicked! Lol.

I had a bizarre dream last night that hubby's work called to tell me he was in the hospital because he had accidentally cut off all of his fingers.

 

[xanzaba]

Megan, that's oddly funny. Sorry.

I'm not having weird dreams or maybe I'm not remembering my dreams as well. But last night I had a heartbreaker, and was so happy to wake up. Nothing bizarre like early in pregnancy- I had dreams that DH was living with a lesbian couple and refused to speak to me because I was irrational. Then there were a few really spicy stranger dreams where I was seducing men all over the place.

 

[ajarvis]

Definitely still having weird dreams here too! Last night I dreamed I had the baby, but I couldn't find her. SO and I were looking for her at a hockey game for some reason and found lots of other unattended babies, but not ours. Not even sure why there were newborns at a hockey game unattended.

 

[amantila]

campn & mumma: I can understand that attitude campn...I'm getting excited to have the baby but kind of sticking my head in the sand as far as the labor process goes. I'm definitely planning on the epidural, but I'm still nervous about the whole process, mainly because so much is out of my control and I don't know what to expect and I can't plan it 100%. I'm normally very type B and go with the flow, but when I'm anxious about something, I like to know how everything will go and be in control. It scares me that I may ask for an epidural too late, or too early and it will have worn off by the end. Or that it may not work properly (I read too many stories online). Or that I may not make it in time. Or that my husband may be out of town for work. Or that there will be scary complications. Or that I may end up needing a c-section (I'm squeamish and the thought of being cut open while awake terrifies me even though I know you don't feel pain). I just get nervous because there are SO many variables and it is so unpredictable. I'm also scared of the recovery process. What if I tear badly? How will I deal with that? What if breastfeeding doesn't go well? What if I don't know what to do to take care of my baby? Mumma, I'm glad that you have so many people who are willing to help you when the time comes. That must at least bring some relief when thinking about the labor!

xan: I know what you mean about the birthing classes. My doctor told me about them at my 20 week appointment and I actually said to her, "Yeah, I'm a little squeamish and nervous about the whole thing and I was kind of planning to just go with the flow and deal with it when it happens." She did not like that answer and told me to sign up for the classes because it will make me less anxious. We'll see about that. I scheduled them for the end of July.

As for dreams, nothing to report here. I've been sleeping alright at night recently and haven't been remembering any dreams lately! :]

 

[LuvallmyH]

I'm just going to put my opinion out there... I think the more educated you are about labor and birth, the less afraid you are and the better equipped you are to make the best decisions for you and your baby.

 

[amantila]

Luv...I'm sure you're right. My doctor and pretty much everyone else have talked some sense into me and I'm going. I'm normally the "just do it and don't explain what's going on" kind of patient but they convinced me I should educate myself for this. When I had surgery in high school I remember they were being SO kind and trying to explain everything and make me not afraid...I ended up passing out and needing oxygen when the kind doctor was trying to show me how unscary the flexible iv needle was. I'm just pathetic and I don't know what's wrong with me.

 

[campn]

Aman- I read a ton of birth stories and even better, watched labor and delivery videos on YouTube. They don't film the pushing part so that's good, it's left to the imagination, although some doctors ask you if you want a mirror (I'll ask for that) cause it can be so encouraging when you see the progress you're doing, does that make sense?? At my hospital tour all the women were like no we don't wanna see that and I was like "I must be the odd one!"

One thing I regret doing though, is putting a mirror up and looking down there at like 2 weeks postpartum cause I was horrified of the scene. I was like what is that!?? I can't recognize it! But of course it all looks just like it did before after it healed.

 

[Uni tsi]

Campn that was brave of you to use a mirror two weeks post partum lol I can't say I would ever have that much courage.

 

[campn]

Campn that was brave of you to use a mirror two weeks post partum lol I can't say I would ever have that much courage.

Uni the word is stupid not brave! haha
I texted DH freaking out (again, so stupid) and he kept texting back like every minute so worried and freaking out asking all those questions. He was really concerned about the future of his junk. How considerate of him!

 

[MummaMoo]

I'm just going to put my opinion out there... I think the more educated you are about labor and birth, the less afraid you are and the better equipped you are to make the best decisions for you and your baby.

I do agree with you on this - but I didn't educate myself by attending classes. We never went. Instead I religiously watched One Born Every Minute (UK & US) and soaked everything up like a sponge. And I listened to everyone's birth stories and other mums advice. My friend Wendy said simply "just do what the midwife tells you and go with what your body is doing" and that's the truest thing.

As for tearing, I had a minor 3rd degree tear that required surgery, but it wasn't so bad to deal with really. Just learning to pee at an angle to avoid stinging and lots of soaks in the bath.... it heals pretty quickly and you're not exactly walking around like John Wayne. and honestly, you've got other things to focus on
I constantly questioned myself as to whether i knew if I was doing the right thing with Sophie when she was a newborn. it's a guessing game but in the end, it's usually feeding, changing or sleep that they want - and sleep goes much better when they've had a good belly full. Sophie was terrible at just snacking so she wouldn't sleep for long, so i'm hoping this baby is a much better feeder.

 

[Alea]

Has anyone packed their bag yet? I know I'm the 2nd one due in the group so I have almost a month on some of you here but having had Maisie at 34+4, I'm a bit nervous now that I'm getting towards the final straight. There's no indication that this baby will come early but there wasn't with Maisie and she was born within a matter of hours, so I'm really unsure! I'm thinking around 30 weeks, maybe.


As far as preparing yourself for labour, I think you can and you can't, if that makes sense. Moo was our first baby so we were pretty anxious when it came to becoming parents and I knew that ultimately I had to listen to my body and it would tell me what to do, which is why we never made a birth plan. I never once thought I'd be able to have an unmedicated labour and never pushed myself for that either. In the end, Maisie was delivered by emergency c-section and that was something than we weren't prepared for.

Mumma, I still question myself now on whether I'm doing the right thing with Moo. I think that's simply part of being a parent, as difficult as it is.

 

[x-ginge-x]

My bag is packed with the exception of a few things but I bought a prepacked one from a business on Facebook haha!