Hellobee Boards

@tororojo: Boo to strep swab

@Emilie: Lol, yes - probably not the best idea but I am keeping positive thoughts that it will be done before babe makes its appearance! Not sure if you've tried this yet but I've had wonderful success with coconut oil, it also has some anti fungal properties. Maybe it will help your poor lil tummy?

@JerricaBenton: Have fun preparing some more freezer meals - I need to get on that this weekend as well. I'm sure I'll probably end up making cookies instead!

@Baby Boy Mom: Thanks! I am excited too, just a bit apprehensive since our reno's always manage to double or triple in estimated time. Congratulations on the big boy bed, very exciting! I think for preparations I'll be making some more freezer meals, prepping the rest of my diaps and washing some laundry. I feel like I am waiting around these days, if that makes sense? I am more than happy to keep LO in there baking though!

@JessiBee: Oh goodness, I am so sorry to hear about your day. I will cross my fingers for good news. Thinking about you and babe!

@ladyfingers: EXCITING!!! Great appt! You must be thrilled! You will be meeting your lil boy so soon.

@thatwife: Nice that you have found an indoor play room that you like, I'm sure it will be a nice 'break' to have with two on your hands. And for your LO to be able to burn off some energy. Glad you're becoming more active, I enjoy having our Feb ladies to chat with!

@thatwife: FYI, I consider you like a rock star. DH and I watched a video of you explaining how to use the Moby right after we bought ours and it was so helpful! Glad you are joining in more!

So, my afternoon was a little more eventful than I expected! I went in for a "quick" ultrasound, to see whether both my doctor and I were correct that the baby had flipped to breech. Within the first minute of the ultrasound, she confirmed that we were correct; baby is breech. The tech then continued on, I guess since they have me there, they check measurements and things on everything else. I'm still not entirely sure what position she's in, but I know at least one foot was up by her head. I don't honestly know where the other one is, and I didn't think in the moment to ask.

At the end, she let me go to the bathroom and said she was checking with the doctor to make sure they had all the pictures they needed. The tech was a really long time coming back, so I was already worried--it seemed like for a quick check to see baby's position, it shouldn't take very long to check in with the doctor!

She eventually came back and told me that (1) my amniotic fluid levels were a little low, and (2) I was going to head upstairs to be seen by the doctor now. (Radiology is in the basement. OB is on the 2nd floor.) I started panicking just about right away, since having me see the doctor today for low fluid sounded scary. Then I got upstairs and checked in, and they came out to tell me that because I was getting squeezed in, it would be a wait. Like maybe 45 minutes of wait. I had already been there an hour, between waiting for the ultrasound, the ultrasound itself, and then waiting for the tech to return. I waited almost an hour before getting called back, and then a little longer for the doctor (who I had never met). She told me my fluid level was only slightly low, but that they'd give me a non-stress test to make sure the baby was okay. She actually seemed more concerned about the breech-ness of the baby, starting to tell me about the possibility of having a version procedure.

Cue: overwhelmed.

The version (trying to flip baby externally) works a little more than half the time, although sometimes baby will flip back to breech afterwards. It happens in the hospital, while I'd be hooked up to an IV and fetal monitors (just in case). They like to do it around 37 weeks. I'll be 37 weeks tomorrow, but my next scheduled appointment (with MY doctor!) is at 37+4. It works best with high levels of amniotic fluid. See above: mine is a little low.

The non-stress test was, well, non-stressful. They hooked me up to the monitors (first time for me), and gave me juice to give her energy, and left me in the room for 20 minutes. She cooperated beautifully, and everything came out great. The doctor came back and said it looked perfect, but that I'd probably keep having these now just to make sure. She was going to check in with my doc about everything, but I'm planning to just go back for my regular appointment Tuesday.

Then I had to go back to work (after having been gone for 3 hours for a "quick" appointment), and try not to appear like anything was wrong...when I'm really nervous and stressed and couldn't even check in with my hubby, since he was on jury duty! A very long afternoon. Here's hoping I can relax tonight, we can talk about options, and figure things out as much as possible in the coming days.

Thank you all again for your words of encouragement...it meant a lot while I sat and fretted in the waiting room!

OK, can I just say that I am freaking STARVING all day today? Oh my lord. Ravenous. I can't eat enough snacks. Redick.

@lolabee: The shower sounds so wonderful! Not many people think of doing photography as a gift, so that is really awesome. It's SO much better than getting 100 onesies and weird teething rings!

@thatwife: Love, love the nursery. It's gorgeous. Very chill & serene. I'm super excited to hear all about your home birth. I'm not courageous enough to try it without the meds, but I've always been super intrigued by the idea of having baby at home. Plus, I think my husband would pass out. Do you still do weekly appointments in an office?

@shopaholic: Interested to see how your BFing class goes. I thought about signing up for one back in December, but never did. My practice has an awesome lactation consultant, so I'm planning on using her as much as possible.

@ladyfingers: 90% effaced is awesome! It's really the thinning that matters not the dilation. You're almost there, lady! If you do end up getting induced, it will be on my due date - maybe our babes will share a birthday. I'm really hoping we both go before that though! I'm getting a pedicure tomorrow, and then baby is allowed to come whenever she wants. I'm jealous of your Florida climate - I want to get out and walk, but it's been averaging about 35 degrees here.

@JessiBee: Yikes! I'm so sorry your appointment didn't go like you hoped. I know it's super stressful, but maybe it's a blessing in disguise... if she wouldn't have turned breech, you wouldn't know about your low fluid levels. Are you going to try the version or just go with the c-section? Keep us updated, mama!

@Baby Boy Mom: I'm totally in love with my glider too. I like to sit and rock her already. Sometimes I'll sing to her while we're rocking, and then I imagine her saying, "No, mama, PLEASE stop! You're hurting my ears!"

So, I decided that I was going to get on my hands and knees and scrub the bathtub today. Bad idea. So. Much. Pain.

@JessiBee: Wow, what a day! Hang in there mama, you're in the home stretch and it sounds like your doctors have the bases covered -- just keep cooking that sweet baby

@photojane: Yeah I didn't realize until she explained it to me that much of labor is getting to the effacement. So that was a positive. I will be one crabby bitch though if I end up having to be induced.

The sudden extreme hunger SUCKS because I'm so limited in what I can eat if I'm eating between my prescribed meal/snack times. I am so effing sick of Atkins shakes and string cheese.

Ok, something so annoying just happened and I just have to vent. I was in the gym and had just finished a pretty tough workout. I sat for a while after and drank my water and then got up to walk outside. I was definitely tired and was taking my time. This lady, who I don't know at all, stops me and says 'I can tell your baby is posterior by the way you're walking.' I was sort of stunned but recovered and said, 'Actually no she's not. I'm just tired from my workout.' Then she goes, 'Trust me, I've been a midwife for 15 years and I know these things. I'm going to bring you in some herbs to take - they work every time. You're catering to the baby by the way you're walking. You have to cut that out now or she'll be walking all over you for your whole life!' At this point I was just like seriously WTF. I just said, 'Thanks but I was just at the dr. and I know the baby is anterior - everything's ok.' and just left but I was so pissed when I got in the car! Not to mention you can't tell by the way someone is walking what position the baby is in - let alone whether I'm 'catering' to her! Ugggh.

@tororojo: Haha, I know - the horrors! I'm sure the lady was just nutty but it bothered me so much! And like I'm going to take some strange herbs from someone I don't know??

@JerricaBenton: Wow! That's... a lot.

@JerricaBenton: Ewww! That lady definitely gives midwives a bad name. That would have been so annoying (especially when you're tired!) Have you seen The Mindy Project? I have a midwife and am doing a home birth but I do love the midwife versus obgyn scenario they have playing out right now

@tororojo: I haven't washed my hair in like a week. Is that how you achieve rock star status? But thank you! It's weird to me that I had more time to write posts like that when I had a baby than now when I have a pre-schooler.

@JessiBee: Are you going to do the version? My friend just chose to do a c-section (she just posted pictures on Instagram of her little one!) a choice which I totally understand. I've heard it's crazy painful, doesn't always work, and can send you into labor right away! But at the same time, I would probably give it a try if it was something I was faced with. Good luck!

@Baby Boy Mom: I was labor/birth OBSESSED with my first pregnancy. This time I've hardly thought about it and my husband is very grateful. Toward the end of my first pregnancy he was begging me "Please, let's not talk about this tonight. I just can't do it" (I should note that I wasn't just talking about me, I was ranting about all the things I hate about the modern medical approach to birth in the USA )

@photojane: I think it's the same schedule as everyone else. Once a month, then every other week, and now weekly. I have my next appointment in 2 hours and I told my midwife it's the last time I want to see her in the office. Next time better be at my house because I am ready for this baby to be OUT.

@thatwife: Rock stars don't have to wash their hair! You're living the dream.

@photojane: sounds like you were too super nice about everything, poor thing!

@photojane: That SUCKS! Sorry your day didn't go as planned! Do something fun tomorrow!

@photojane: I love going to the mall by myself, particularly in the morning before many people show up. Have a latte or something and just enjoy the scenery. (or a donut? or multiple donuts?) Plus maybe gravity + walking around could speed some things up?

@PHOTOJANE: haha! love it! yeah I've been rocking in it pretty much daily since it arrived. actually LO1 has decided it's his new story-reading chair so he pretty much demands a daily session in it (not that I'm complaining…)
ugh, so annoying about the pedicure! One of my favorite me-time things is going to a coffee shop and getting a splurge drink and then either people-watching or just browsing mindless sites on my laptop.

@JERRICABENTON: I am shocked! The audacity…Seems like you handled it well though.

@THATWIFE: Isn't it crazy how things are different with each pregnancy? The first time I was very nonchalant about the birth, but this time I really want a VBAC so I feel like I need to know EVERYTHING so that I can be my own advocate.

Anyone else lose the last bits of their memory lately? It's been bad the whole pregnancy, but now I am losing my train of thought WHILE I am doing something…agh!

@photojane: Have you read this prenatal massage experience story? http://pamie.com/2012/11/how-i-might-have-just-become-the-newest-urban-legend/

Also you should complain to management and tell them you want a free re-do!

@JerricaBenton: Who know?! The clincher is that it doesn't stop once you have the baby...

@Baby Boy Mom: haha, can't wait!

@thatwife: Oh no - I am crying from laughing. That is hilarious! Her writing is so funny!

How's everyone feeling today? I gave Sadie permission to come tonight since it's a full moon, but she said no.