U.S. Mommies To Be

[heyyady]

I can tell you that pitocin (Sp?) is horrendous and makes your contractions hurt like hell- and all in all it really didn't speed things up too much-

 

[Sweet_Mama]

I feel like this baby is trying to crawl out of my vagina right now. That's all.

 

[lisaf]

lol, getting some strong cervix poking?

 

[DarlingMe]

I can tell you that pitocin (Sp?) is horrendous and makes your contractions hurt like hell- and all in all it really didn't speed things up too much-

It is for the docs who want to make it home in time for dinner or have a vacation planned over the weekend! I really dont hear of anyone actually using it the way it is supposed to be, for long unproductive labors!

 

[luckyme225]

Missfox- I'm with Heyyady on that one. Pitocin makes your contractions much worse than they have to be. I will do everything in my power to avoid going through pitocin contractions again. My contractions would piggyback so I didn't get any downtime to breathe and relax.

 

[heyyady]

ugh- I have that- it's sharp and SUPER painful-
It doesn't help that I dropped between saturday and sunday!
(Pink Saturday, Blue Sunday)

 

[Sweet_Mama]

lol, getting some strong cervix poking?

It feels more like her head is boring down into the opening and maybe she's head butting my cervix and poking my nerves in my hips all at the same time. Crazy baby day.

Heyyady (you know, I feel funny calling you that... are we allowed to know your name, lol?), you do look lower.

Oh, and just for you, here is me at 35w6d with twins... only a few hours before I delivered as a gestational surrogate. Those are my girls in the picture with me.

https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h110/sweetmamags/mypics019.jpg
Tomorrow the twins turn 4 years old. I'm so proud to have helped make that happen.

This is 11 days before... my favorite pic really because it's just SO ROUND!
https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h110/sweetmamags/mypics003.jpg

Last one, I promise. Me, the twins, and their parents.
https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h110/sweetmamags/brett__jet__christine_and_the_girls.jpg
I"m going to their bday party with my family this weekend and staying the night.

 

[MissFox]

My contractions are getting intense. Just thought I'd share. Keep ur fingers crossed they keep up!

 

[lisaf]

fx'd!!!!!

 

[heyyady]

Sweet- that's awesome! And my name is Heidi

Missfox go go go!!!

 

[DarlingMe]

Sweet that is a great story! Surrogate carrying has to be one of the hardest and rewarding things ever!

Missfox hope you are holding a healthy LO by now!

Girls I was just talking to a friend who lives in Germany. He was baffled that I only get 12 weeks off- unpaid. He was telling me how the women there get one year with 60% pay and a sort of monthly baby allowance. Things I already kind of knew but it just makes me so mad US is so far behind, especially IL! Lisa it sounds like California has moved ahead a bit but the rest of the country needs to catch up! I want to get paid and be able to raise a healthy child!!

 

[MissFox]

Well its 4am. No baby but got up to the worst contractions and pooed my brains out. Got up just now 4am and they're happening but not as intense. I really hope today is the day! But I also don't want to gwt my hopes up iykwim

 

[JNA]

MissFox my fingers are crossed for you

Great bump pics ladies

Sometimes the cervix poking makes me jump out of my seat because they feel so weird and come out of no where

Lisa thanks for the link

Since leaving the hospital I am always hungry. I ate a "box" of grapes, 4 bananas, 2 beagles, a chicken breast, scalloped potatoes, and a bowl of cereal for dinner (5:30-7:30) what is wrong with me lol

 

[LadyofRohan]

Sweet that is a great story! Surrogate carrying has to be one of the hardest and rewarding things ever!

Missfox hope you are holding a healthy LO by now!

Girls I was just talking to a friend who lives in Germany. He was baffled that I only get 12 weeks off- unpaid. He was telling me how the women there get one year with 60% pay and a sort of monthly baby allowance. Things I already kind of knew but it just makes me so mad US is so far behind, especially IL! Lisa it sounds like California has moved ahead a bit but the rest of the country needs to catch up! I want to get paid and be able to raise a healthy child!!

My DH is from England and he's definitely appalled not just about maternity leave (or lack there of) in the US but also how little vacation we get. DH works for an international company and is here on a special visa so he still gets all the perks of European vacation and health care, etc. It's always a struggle when we try to plan our holidays because I have to 'save up' my ten vacation days throughout the whole year just so we can take a week or two off for ourselves. DH gets at least six weeks paid vacation every year so he ends up spending most of it at home because I can't go anywhere with him

All that is changing soon though because I'm going to quit my job and be a SAHM for a few years. DH was talking about going to England for Christmas and he was like "for how long should we go?" and I was so happy to just say "we're not limited by my vacation days now, we can go anytime and stay as long as we like!"

If I was staying with my company and taking maternity leave the first thing they'd do was dock all of my vacation and sick days, then I'd get two weeks full paid, and then I can take up to 8 weeks after that of unpaid leave.

 

[southerngal2]

MissFox- Hope your LO comes soon. Pitocin really does make the contractions worse. Hopefully you won't need it!

JNA- Sorry about the bed rest. Just keep coming on here, we'll keep you company!

Nice bump pics ladies.
I don't have that many bump pics. Guess I need to take some.

 

[MissFox]

I know it makes them worse but I was told I could choose the amount of pitocin and step it up as I felt comfortable so it doesn't go from nothing to BAM too much.
We will see how today goes. I'm still getting cramps but not so much contractions. I hope they pick up again sooon because I'm ready!

 

[lisaf]

MissFox - Fx'd... a cleanout is good sign of labor coming! My mom did natural birth with all of us kids, with my sister she had to be induced with pitocin and said it was the same amount of pain, just compressed into a shorter time span. Not sure if thats of any comfort since all women are different!

OMG, my hips are ACHING right now!

Regarding the maternity leave- I am always appalled to hear how bad other states are on maternity leave etc. I think sometimes you end up with some paid leave if your company offers short-term disability insurance. I do know that it can be better sometimes to work for smaller companies because if they value you as an employee, they really want to keep you happy (as long as you're coming back, lol!!). Of coures smaller companies have less job protected leave too.

I know that the pay for leave etc in California is good but it also makes it very expensive and difficult to be an employer here and we do end up driving some businesses away. Sure, I'd love it if we had what Canada has or what most of Europe offers, but I also don't know how they can possibly afford it?
I know my employer would be really screwed if I was taking more time off than I am... we tried to hire a replacement but he just couldn't learn the job so now someone at a lower level is going to try to keep the company's head above water etc...

 

[luckyme225]

Missfox- hopefully the clear out means baby is on the way very soon!! Get bouncing!!!

 

[hopefulmama]

In Sweden, they get 1 Year of paid Maternity and 10 more months of unpaid, so almost 2 years. It's considered the country with the best maternity leave and care for mothers after baby

 

[lisaf]

I think they have great paternity leave there too...