[meadowlark]

Hello
I'm post so infrequently that maybe I should return to the Newbies thread and reintroduce myself.

But anyway, I have been lurking since I've been thinking about a baby for a while now. Now I'm de-lurking because my husband and I just started TTC. I'm excited (and scared) but happy to be able to join you all in this thread.

[nickclick]

thanks for the postpartum poo advice. i'm already up to my ears in fiber over here.

i can't believe baby is due in 5 weeks! i'm excited! and scared! and a little cranky. my husband's friend tours with the National and gave us free tix to see them tonite, but it's probably not a good idea to expose baby to a loud concert, stand for 4 hours, inhale maryjane, or be elbowed to the belly and boobs. and who knows, Matt Berninger baritone may cause early labor. so i'm making this face all day

[zelda]

I got hemmorhoids (sp?) but I am one of those rare, few women that had a painless postpartum first BM. I had it in the hospital. I told the nurse, and she was like, "What?! You pooped already and it didn't hurt?!?"

I have no idea what my secret was...but like I said, I got `roids later on. My bum never hurt all that bad BUT yes, I had to flush water while I peed. Make sure you take your squeeze bottle home from the hospital to clean yourself and squeeze water on yourself while you pee and clean yourself in the shower. Even better if you have a detachable shower head.

If you have an epidural like me be warned that you may need a catheter after labor. I had a FULL bladder and was too numb to go. Oh, what a nightmare...that sucked. The catheter didn't hurt at all and it was SWEET RELIEF.

Yeah, read up as much as you can about postpartum care...was not prepared for how gross and icky it was. But it ends, thank goodness...your body will feel like yours again, I promise you.

OH! And one more thing...I was exclusively breastfeeding and got a period 6 weeks after labor. My OB says sometimes it just happens...haven't gotten another one since then though.

[pepper]

Oh yes, add that to the list of pregnancy secrets for sure! That and the stinging pee. My midwife friend gave me a squeeze bottle to use while peeing (flush warm water over bits at the same time as pee so as to avoid hot burning sting). I didn't tear but had some pulled skin that was quite sensitive.
And no one told me I could be bleeding for 60 days like a stuck pig either. Buy the BIGGEST pads they make, you'll practically need a diaper for yourself for a while if you're anything like I was. Maude, how much blood can one girl lose? Take some iron.
Oh, and you can take those maternal vitamins while you're nursing too, you need extra that whole time and that's a goodly amount of all the stuff in those mama-to-be supplements.

[delibelly]

Aphelendra, if you haven't already, get rid of all sugar from your diet - including from fruit - my thrush cleared up quite quickly when I did that. Butt beware (hee hee) it has negative effects on ...pooping, so make sure you have lots of fiber in your diet as well.

Speaking of which, I've been meaning to come in here to mention something that NO PREGNANCY BOOK tells you but I think every new mom should know. After all the pushing of labour, your bum is going to be quite sore, if not a bit...hemorrhoidy...and the first poop after labour can be a bit frightening and often painful "Like shitting a bag of glass" I recall describing it. If you have been prone to constipation during pregnancy, and even if not (after labour you may not poop for several days as your body tries to save your bum from the trauma, resulting unfortunately in a big, compact, stool which just makes things worse, frankly) then please pack in your hospital stay bag some metamucil or other stool softener and USE IT.

I don't know why no-one, midwife, doctor, nurse, or book ever mentions this incredibly common and painful after-effect. So there, I've mentioned it. Something else to think on.

Two weeks to go for me!

[nickclick]

thanks zelda and aphelendra, and good to hear from you. i'm gonna give breastfeeding that ol' college try. i'm telling myself if it works, it works, and that will be great. it's amazing how Baby 411 and other sources tell you how it's so natural and then list all the terrible things that could go wrong if you don't do it perfectly.......

i haven't watched yet, but i plan to before the end of the month. it's this video by the proprietor of a local store where i bought some nursing bras. let me know what you think, especially those with bf experience.

[zelda]

Aphelendra, I commend you for sticking with BFing through all of this. I wouldn't have been able to do it. I really hope your thrush improves!!!

I second what you said about correcting the latch. Many times I knew he wasn't on all the way, and I gave in anyway, and yes, you will regret it later.

It really, really helps when their mouths get bigger. I could basically breastfeed Elliott hanging upside down now. I BF in my sleep (literally)...but man, in the beginning NO way. It just sucks in the beginning.

And you know what? Four months in and I still don't have that mythical bond of BFing. I mean, I am totally in love and bonded with E, but I don't think BFing had a thing to do with it. I chose to BF because I figured I should try. It saves a ton of money. And I do believe it's good for them (although I doubt formula is the devil's milk it's made out to be by lactivists).

Now that I've gone back to work, E gets breast milk when I can give it and when I can pump, and formula when I can't. When I think about stopping BFing (when I will, I don't know...trying to get to 6 months), all I can think is wow, I will be able to wear one piece outfits again and I won't have to worry about leakage. I don't think I will miss it one bit.

So don't feel bad if you feel ambivalent about BFing...I don't doubt that some women experience maternal nirvana through BFing, but I sure as Hell was never one of them.

[aphelendra]

Those hiccups are cute until you're gigantic, almost at the end, exhausted, and it's two o'clock in the morning!

I'm glad everyone seems to be doing well . . . . Michelina, I am so very sure everything will turn out fine. 'Borderline low' doesn't sound so scary. Enjoy this pregnancy, you worked very hard for it.

Just to chime in, I felt movement as early as 18 weeks, but only if I was very still. It's funny how we all doubt ourselves at first, but really what else could that brand new sensation be? Just wait till you see the little critter, it's so surreal to look at my little girl and realize that that's the person who was swimming around in me for nine months.

We're doing better around these parts, gettin' the hang of feeding, but I still have thrush and it is excruciating. I understand it may take up to a few months to really quash it. Bleeecccccchhh. I also had a plugged duct, but it seems to be getting better after I hopped in a steaming shower and literally milked myself for half an hour. Serious, streaming arcs of milk shooting from right boob. Good grief.

So, whilst I am still dealing with some issues, I thought that I might share some advice/encouragement for the new mamss to be and future breastfeeders. . . .

- avoid thrush at all costs!!!!! (ha ha). No, seriously. Take probiotics, and get plenty of rest. I didn't sleep for three days after Sarah was born, aside from the occasional hour long nap (it;s amazing what the adrenaline of birth will do to ya), and I ate like absolute crap, and it no doubt contributed to this awful infection. Take care of yourselves!!!

- If you're having trouble, get as much help as you can, wherever you can get it from. Be tireless and unstoppable! In addition to seeing the hospital LC, I also hired a private LC to come out to the house (whom I called literally every day for weeks). When that didn't work, I called the CPM who taught my birth class and saw her for help. I'm still attending a weekly support group for nursing moms, run by a CNM and an LC. I read everything I could find.

- Google Dr. Newman, a Canadian physician who runs a breastfeeding clinic. The clinic's website has some amazing videos and great step by step instructions on how to latch baby in several different positions. He also makes a mean prescription only ointment for injured boobies . . . .

- Don't get lazy about baby's latch. There were times I knew she wasnt on right, but I let her eat anyways. you'll regret it later, and you'll have to fix it eventually.

Interrupted by crying baby . . . . will be back for more.

good vibes to all!

[zelda]

Michelina, all will be well, I promise.

I first felt movement at 19 weeks, and I still miss it even though feeling the real, actual Elliott wriggle in my arms is even better than feeling movement in utero!!!

Pepper, I allow myself to check on Elliott's breathing once a night right before I go to bed...glad to know I'm not the only one!!!

[funnybird]

The hiccups are funny aren't they? Babybird gets them all the time - usually after a bout of frantic wriggling.

One thing I will NOT miss about being pregnant is the hormones. I bawled at an episode of 'House' last night, for pity's sake! (Okay, it was the season 4 finale, and very sad, but still!).

Hope everyone is doing well.

[pepper]

When little was in there I couldn't figure out why or how he was rhythmically punching me through his back (?) until I clued into it being hiccups, ha ha. A good laugh at self moment, that.


I think I stopped checking to see if little was breathing in the night when he was about 5 and I don't do it (often) with the girl at 3. But I watch him get on and off the school bus and have panicky moments during the day when I FREAK out about where he is or how he's doing. Seriously, the worry is forever. And it just gets bigger as they get bigger too. Best to learn some mental coping mechanism as soon as possible is my advice. I know that's hard but imagine your baby as a teen and you'll be looking into heart attack country for reals.

[funnybird]

Michelina, I first felt Babybird at about 20 weeks. I thought it was a weird muscle spasm in my abdomen, and it wasn't until I reported this to my midwife at my 21 week check-up and she looked at me as if I was a total idiot that I realised it was the baby!

12 weeks later the novelty still hasn't worn off. I love every wriggle, hiccup and kick, even when they're at 3am and keeping me awake.

I'm sorry about the slightly scary blood results. BUT - if your OB doesn't think it's a big problem then it most likely isn't. And it's good if it means you get extra scans and monitering too.

~~~positive vibes from one chronic worrier to another~~~

[Michelina]

Thanks, Nickclick. Yes, positive thinking is very important. I have done so well right up to now and need to continue to trust that all will be okay. A mantra I found and really like is "Trust your body, trust your baby." I repeat this to myself often and it definitely helps. So far they both know what they're doing so I just have to believe that all will continue to be well.

I thought I may have felt some flutters today. I am just over 15 weeks so it may be too early, but I suppose it's possible. When did other Busties first feel movement?

[nickclick]

Michelina, i am hoping for the best for your bean too. and for all bustie beans. i know we've had this conversation before here, and we will all worry from the moment we find out we're pregnant 'til..... forever. but worry sort of helps us mentally prepare i guess. and appreciate the happy outcomes. but BUT..... positive thinking does work. it's a balance i guess. sounds like that's exactly what your OB is suggesting.

[Michelina]

Oh how I wish I could hear my baby's heartbeat with a simple cardboard tube!!! I don't think my baby is big enough for that yet... but good to know!

Glad to hear you enjoyed your shower, Nickclick.

I am almost 15 weeks now and am loving being in the second trimester. I am showing now and can tell the difference between looking pregnant and just looking bloated now. My tummy has a little "peak" to it so it's definitely a pregnant belly now. I don't think people can tell I'm pregnant yet if they are unaware, but those who know can see my little bump. I am so proud of it! :-) I feel great and am really enjoying pregnancy save for the constant worry about my bean.

Speaking of worry, I got some stressful news last week. I got my first tri screen results back. The good news is that my risk of Down syndrome and Trisomy 18 is very low. The bad news is that one protein is borderline low. There is an increased risk for scary stuff: premature labour, hypertension, growth retardation, and stillbirth. I talked to the OB and she said that in her experience, women with my "borderline" level have not had those problems, but that the risk is still slightly increased. She will scan me again in the early 3rd tri to see how things are progressing. Obviously, my biggest fear is stillbirth, and there is nothing in the world I can do about that but hope for the best.

This is the problem with the screen tests. I wanted to know about the risks of those conditions, but you sometimes find out things you cannot do anything about. Only time will tell... I was well aware that this could happen because I work in health care with prenatal patients, but not everyone realizes that these tests can give more info than some people may want to know.

[nickclick]

.....running off to find a cardboard tube and my hubby.....

my mom and my best cousin threw me the wonderfulest shower this weekend! i was kind of bummed it was girls only but then again i love an all-girls party. and what a haul!

so i want to wash the new clothes, sheets, etc. i have my dreft. but what can i use instead of fabric softener sheets? i don't want to deal with static this winter.

[funnybird]

Catsoup, what happened?

Fookie, I'm glad to hear scary-sounding issues have been resolved. You, Mr F and wee Finn really deserve a smooth ride after all you've been through to be together.

Michelina, how's the second trimester treating you?

Today we discovered that if Architect Boy holds a cardboard tube against my belly he can hear Babybird's heartbeat. Fun! Nine weeks to go...

[Michelina]

Fookie, yes, it blows me away how different things are for several of us on this board when compared to this time last year. It sounds like you had a frightening experience lately. So sorry to hear that, but I am glad to hear that it's resolved. I hope it continues to stay resolved. I think of you often too.

Catsoup, I can relate to the frustration of cycles going wonky when trying to conceive. I didn't the same experience, but my period strarted coming early a few months in. It was very stressful, but I did get in to a specialist quite quickly. I hope you get some answers quickly.

Laurenzorro, nice hearing from you too! Glad to hear it's not PCOS. Hope it won't be long now for you.

[zelda]

Catsoup, a urine home preg test is usually reliable this late, but you never know. There have been cases where a woman has just not been making enough HCG to get a positive. Are you using concentrated pee? This is a good resource:

http://www.peeonastick.com/

Remember stress can't make your period late, only your ovulation...

More later and good luck to you and to laurenzorro!

[Laurenzorro]

Hey, I was having the same problem a while back.... after a few very irregular periods (over a week late with negative preg tests, cramps, what seemed like severe PMS) I went to the doctor and it turns out I have polycystic ovaries.

Luckily for me it's not PCOS or in any sort of problematic form so I am free to ride it out and keep on ttc, and hopefully (according to the gyno) having a bub will sort it out.

So could be worth popping in to the doctor! I hope everything turns out well, it could just be that you didn't ovulate due to stress