Pregnancy / New Parent Thread Redux

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
21

Mucous plug: “If you notice blood-tinged mucous (“bloody show”) from the vagina, you may be losing the mucous plug that has sealed off the cervix up to this point. This is another sign that your body is preparing for labor.”

It’s just what it sounds like.

Anyway - here’s a copy and paste of my last family update for Baby Z:

Well, here it is! I’m sure you’ve been waiting breathlessly for your next update on Baby Z, and I surely don’t want to disappoint the fans. From now on, you will get updates every TWO weeks, since that’s how frequent my OB appointments will be.

I had my 28-week appointment today, and got the results of the bloodwork I had drawn last week. Things are going very well. My blood glucose levels came back just fine (78), but my iron is a little low, so now I have to take an iron supplement. They did warn me that the iron supplement would make my poop really really dark, and possible cause constipation. Yay rah (NOT!). The baby’s heartrate was just fine (between 130 and 145), and everything is just peachy! I put on 3 pounds in the last 4 weeks, for a total weight gain of 18 pounds.

In the last month, Baby Z has really started movin’ and groovin’ in there. Some days it’s like s/he just doesn’t stop! Daddy now has no problems feeling the movements, and we’ve even SEEN them from the outside. Every now and then, I get a good one that makes me say “UGH!”

I can no longer see my feet when I stand up, and I’m starting to have trouble tying my shoes and such things. Thankfully, I wear slip-on styles during the week to work, but I’m going to have to teach Hubby how I like to have my shoes tied (he always ties them way too tight). I have to get out of bed or up off the couch a certain way now - I can’t just sit straight up if I’m laying down. I know that my mobility and grace is going to take a serious nosedive in the next few week, but it just feels strange when I can’t bend over to pick something up anymore. I have to bend my knees and go off to the side. It’s just weird!

Hubby got the bedroom painted over the weekend. It’s yellow over green with a 10-inch orange stripe between those two colors. We’re going to add some narrow wood trim to define the stripe (and cover up the imperfect paint lines), and maybe find a cute stamp or sponge to put something on the stripe. We got the crib from Hubby’s brother over the weekend, so now we can start putting this room together!

22

Holy crap, lots of pregnant people in here! Congrats to all the new folks!

Pushkin, much congrats on your little girl!

I’m at almost 12 weeks now - just waiting to get out of the first tri already (I’ll feel much better as soon as I do). We had our second appointment on Tuesday, and got to hear our little munchkin’s heartbeat - I cried. That’s an amazing sound. And it also kind of scared the crap out of me because now I know there’s really a baby in there.

I’ve lost three pounds, actually, but things are getting tight around the middle. I have some Old Navy 1st and 2nd trimester pants (without that band thing, just cut a little bigger in the tummy) that fit quite well, so I’ve been mostly relying on those. Aside from that, had a couple of weeks of bad food aversions - NOTHING looked good, and I ate because I had to (which may account for the weight loss). I’m starting to get hungry again. I only had a tiny bit of morning sickness, and it seems to be gone, but my poor face is breaking out like I’m 13 again.

I’m getting to the point where I feel like I can buy a few things now and not worry that we’ll have to take them back. So I may go on a tiny shopping spree this weekend and pick up a few things.

E.

23

I’m 33 weeks along now, and I feel so bad that I’ve hated every minute of it. I went from being totally exhausted (as in sleeping 16 hours a day) to being in constant pain. It would get so bad that I would see stars and start to black out when I was trying to get dressed. Everyone kept telling me “oh yeah, I remember that pain” so I thought it was normal. Turned out I have a wicked case of SPD. Now I’m at least in physical therapy and am able to walk again. I can’t walk much, but at least I can get across the house.

I’ve felt so cheated this entire time. I waited until I got through college, got married and got a good job. I was responsible dammit! I’m supposed to be glowing. I’m supposed to be happy! We’ve been putting off getting anything for the baby because I just don’t want to deal with it. I have no maternal instinct, and it’s making me bitter. I’m afraid I’m going to take it out on the kid. “Ambivalence” is not the best emotion to have in regards to your new baby.

Oooh, sorry for the ranting hijack. Please, carry on with the glowing happiness. Maybe I can soak up some of the hormonal mommy vibe here and join in. I’ll just be in the back.

24

Awwwwwwwww I miss being pregnant! (I know that sounds crazy, as DD is only 3.5 months old). But I miss the anticipation, the changes in my body, etc …

Hmmmmm maybe I should have another one!

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL …!!!

25

I second this - that is a GREAT book - no-nonsense, easy to find thing in, and fun to read.

26

I’m sorry you’ve been in so much pain. I’ve been starting to have trouble getting around because of ligament pain (although I don’t think it would qualify as PSD) and it really sucks. It can really drain your enthusiasm.

As far as ambivalence, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I’m not the most maternal person (the only kid I really like is my own) and I think I’ve done just fine with my son. I have a friend who is even more non-maternal than me and when she was pregnant, we had many discussions about how there are many, many types of moms. You’ll love your baby, and if you feel like you don’t or are depressed after you’ve given birth, there’s lots of help out there. I’m pretty ambivalent about this pregnancy. It’s my second (well, my second that’s gotten this far), I’m very far from home, I’m a little babied out from taking care of my toddler all day, and I’ve been less than impressed with my doctor situation. I finally got all the baby clothes out (hand-me-downs), but I haven’t managed to wash them or buy anything for the baby. I’m just not that into it yet…and I don’t have much time left!!

Anyway, it’s normal to have both positive and negative feelings about pregnancy and if you’re in pain, I can see how the negative may be the overriding emotions. Don’t beat yourself up.

27

I hear you, sister. SPD got to the point with me where you could easily put an entire finger between the front bones of the pelvis, more in the back. I literally could not walk. I insisted quite strongly for early induction, as I was bedridden and in agony. I hated every second of my first pregnancy, and I do worry it’ll reoccur, though I seem to already be carrying higher.

My suggestion is to request to be induced. By request I mean go to the doctor and lay out EXACTLY what it is like- pain, not sleeping, unable to carry out life activities, unable to hold your urine at all (if you have that particular symptom). Do not be afraid to cry. This is not the time to be noble. Maybe they will shave a few weeks off your sentence.

I was supposed to be induced shortly after 38w, but ended up being induced earlier when I could not longer hold any urine and constantly dribbled like an old dog. Plus I began to fall because my pelvic area was so spread apart that my joints weren’t working right, and my nerves were shot. I couldn’t feel below my hips from 35wks on. All bad.

The good news though is that postpartum things get a lot better in a very short amount of time. Morning after my birth there was a sickening cracking sound of my bones snapping back into place(-esque) when I stood up. Sounded bad, felt GREAT. Hopefully you will have a similar experience.

28

inkleberry, it was acutally some of your earlier posts that made me realize that my amount of pain wasn’t normal. I really want to thank you for that. There is strange comfort in knowing that you’re not just a wussy.

Some days are better than others. And I keep trying to remind myself that I’m lucky to be so selfish at this point. We were trying to get pregnant for a year and the doctor was just starting to write the prescription for Clomid when she looked down and saw that the manditory pregnancy test wasn’t negative. Slight change in treatment plan there. :eek: :stuck_out_tongue:

I read the threads about the couples who are going through fertility treatments and IFV and I know how eaisly that could be me. Every checkup we go to shows that the baby is totally fine. There are so many problems that we could have that would effect my or the baby’s health. I really am lucky that all I have to complain about is being grumpy and in pain.

I still appreciate the warm thoughts (and web pages) from fellow Dopers. Thank you!

29

Mrs. Fifty-Six is due Feb 6th 2006

That is just a couple short days away.

It is our second kid. It will be a boy

Our first will be 7 on the 23rd of march. Girl

30

Strangelove, please don’t feel like you’re the only one who’s not so sure about all of this. I’m 29 weeks today, and I’ve been very ambivalent about parenting this child after it’s born since before it was conceived. I didn’t have the world’s greatest childhood, although I know it certainly wasn’t the worst. I’ve never had super maternal instincts, either. Hubby and I actually had a long talk about this over the weekend.

I never had any fears or concerns about pregnancy, labor, and delivery. I figured that 95% of what happens during this phase is not up to me - it’s all up to my body. My worries all come down to this: what do you do with the baby when you get home? Am I going to go back to work? Can we afford for me to stay home? How bad will PPD be for me (I’m fully expecting to get walloped, since I’m already on anti-depressants)? And then, how am I going to deal with parenting a child? I sure didn’t have a great role model for it!

My mom was chronically depressed for, oh, her whole life, and my dad didn’t know how to deal with her in a positive way. (They divorced after 20 years of marriage back in 1993.) Money was always tight (and we always heard about it). Dad worked days, mom worked nights, so we didn’t have a lot of time together as a whole family. Discipline was non-existant, unless you count guilt trips. Our house was always dirty (not just cluttered, but roaches and mice dirty), so I was always afraid to have friends over. And I’m terrified that I’m going to repeat that crap for my kids.

BUT, I’m in a much better place than my parents ever were - personally, emotionally, financially, and relationship-wise. So, since I didn’t turn out THAT bad, I figure that my kids will be better off than I was.

31

Well it’s due date time baby, are you going to come out now or do I have to come in there and get you myself?

We’re still waiting for the baby to come out. I thought that with the snow she would come this weekend, but she hasn’t yet. Now it’ll either be a Valentine’s day baby or Iris’ mother’s b-day baby.

32

My wife was due on 2/11 (first one)…still waiting! I thought the snow would do it also, but no luck. We have a doc appt tomorrow, so I guess we see what they say.

33

Weee, it got bumped! I looked for this thread the other day, couldn’t find it. After two miscarriages last year, I knocked up the wifey again, and we’ve made it past the first trimester. We’re looking at a mid-August due date.

34

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I can understand the hesitancy to announce this pregnancy until after the 12-week mark. We just had a family member lose a pregancy very early (4-6 weeks, we’re not sure), so we think they might be a little less likely to trumpet from the rooftops next time. We were really unsure as to whether or not we should say anything very early, but we did. We figured that those who celebrated with us would be the same to grieve with us, should anything untoward happen.

35

Well we are leaving for the Hospital right now, we’re going to have a c-section because of Iris’ hip pain. gonna be a daddy or something in a few hours. Photos in a couple of days.

36

Congrats! I’m due the 19th, so I’m thinking mid-August is a great due date:).

Edward the Head, best wishes!

14 weeks tomorrow and I think the fatigue has started to go away - thank GOD. I honestly was starting to wonder if I’d be able to make it much longer. I’m still tired, but the overwhelming urge to sleep doesn’t hit until 8:30 or 9. Hopefully, that’ll help with my mood swings, too, because I do feel like Satan has taken refuge in my body at times.

I’m starting to get a bit of a pooch, but nothing major yet. Unfortunately, none of my regular pants fit any longer (even if I haven’t gained weight yet), but maternity pants are still too big. Still - I’m wearing 'em and rolling up the band. I seem to be losing weight in my ass, and it’s going to my belly, but it’s still not letting these damn pants fit properly.

Aside from that, I’m feeling pretty decent. Ready to start baby shopping :smiley: .

37

Elza B

Target right now just got in fresh stock of ProSpirit Yoga pants. I’m a fat chick who could pass for six months pregnant (though I am not six months pregnant) and found they have two kinds of very nice yoga pants in right now - black and medium heather. They look like ‘work’ pants, and the rolled waist rolls all the way up covering my mac-n-cheese belly very comfortably (I have recent surgical scars that itch).

http://www.target.com/gp/product/B000BS4VB0

Good luck, Edward, and congo-rats to all.

38

I had another OB appointment on Tuesday. Everything looks and sounds good according to my doc, so we’re just cruisin’ along for now.

39

Weeeeeeiiird…I’m wearing those right now…buy a size larger since your thighs will be larger as well…otherwise, these are my daily pants. I have blue and grey.

Anyway, I am almost 1/2 way done. YEA! I am having an awful time with breakouts. I have very fair skin and my cheeks, chest and back are practically purple with acne. My face feels like it is on FIRE! I look terrible and it is quite a blow to my self-esteem. Sigh. So much for the pregnancy glow, aye?

Hope you all are keeping well–and getting enough fiber to keep your parts moving!

40

God’s honest truth - I have not been constipated at all! And they recently put me on iron supplements 'cause I was anemic. I may not go for 2-3 days, but when I do, there’s no waiting around.