Hellobee Boards

I have the worst cold, I'm miserable. I wish NyQuil was pregnancy friendly. Other than that things are good... still going back and forth between VBAC and RCS and time running out!

I am feeling a ton of pelvis/groin pressure lately! I hope it's because the head is wedged in there. I'll find out at my next ultrasound.

@ocean81: hope you are feeling better today!

@JessyMess: oh I'm so glad you passed the 3hr! So I am having the exact same experience- I gained 7lbs in 2 weeks and I was like HOW, i eat such small portions trying to manage my heartburn. Well I think it was a combination of water retention, and (tmi) being somewhat backed up after starting iron supplements. I'm really trying to work on the water retention (the swelling in my feet/legs got pretty bad at the end with my first) so I've been drinking a gallon of water a day, and trying to sleep on my left side. Dandelion tea is also supposed to help.

@Anya: Thanks! I will try dandelion tea and drinking more water. I'm keeping off my feet and sleeping on my left side. I know I can't eat much at a time because there's no room, so I'm picking small portions of healthy things. If I wasn't pregnant I'd be eating MORE!

@JessyMess: Yikes! Are they going to send you for another ultrasound? I had my 34 week growth scan yesterday and she was 5 lbs 10 oz, so about the size of DS2 and smaller than DS1 at this point. She's measuring about a week ahead by ultrasound, but my fundal height is a few weeks behind (which surprised me because I feel huge!).

@lilteacherbee: Yep I will definitely have another ultrasound at 36 weeks. The 7 1/2 lb estimate is from feeling him, not the fundal height, and the 6 lb estimate is from an ultrasound at 32 weeks by MFM. I thought MFM was being mostly alarmist and overestimating his weight, so I'm just surprised my midwife actually agrees.

By gentle inducing she means going for walks, having sex, that kind of stuff. As of right now, I will have regular BH every 5-10 min if I'm not laying down, so I feel confident I could kick this into overdrive by just being active. If, however, the blood pressure is an issue and going for walks doesn't cut it, I would try membrane sweeping.

@Clementine12: most people get the Medela pump, it seems to be the most common as far as getting extra accessories and replacement parts, etc. With my last pregnancy I got a hygeia pump and it was ok, though I have nothing to compare it to. This time I ordered a Spectra. It wasn't available to me last time but I've read many positive reviews (including some on here), so I'm hoping it works well for me!

@Anya: Thanks! Looks like both the Medela and the Spectra S2 are on the list - I'm leaning towards the Spectra based on reviews, but might upgrade to the S1 since it comes with a battery. I see a lot of comments that it is bulky, but I'll mostly be pumping at home/work, I think.

@lilteacherbee: I've heard it's a good idea to have extra parts on hand, especially if you have curious pets (our dog most definitely fits that criteria), so I might order a set from Amazon for just-in-case. I'm surprised your insurance doesn't cover the pump! I thought they all had to fall in line to ACA standards within a certain time frame. Fingers crossed that your PISA keeps kicking!

@Clementine12: I used to leave the body of the pump at work and just bring home the flanges with my pumped milk at the end of the day. That helped cut down on the stuff I was schlepping home. I just brought the pump home on weekends if I needed it. I also got an inexpensive hand pump that I could use at home in a pinch.

@BrandNewMom: mine is still baking! I'm 37 weeks this week... but have been having tons of Braxton hicks contractions. Hoping that means she's gearing up to come out soon how are you doing?

@lilteacherbee: eek! So exciting!

Happy almost May! I will be 39+5 tomorrow and LO1 was born at 39+4 so I'm super cranky that I'm still pregnant. Apparently this baby did not read the book on not coming later than the first born! I'm even going into work tomorrow even though my leave was supposed to start because I didn't want to sit around and be grumpy at home all day.

Anyone have a favorite labor inducing trick to share?

@schubr03: what acupressure have you been doing? I've been walking a lot and squats (though my knees make me sound like I'm 90 so not tons of those!). I've been on the verge of getting my breast pump out too but feel like that maybe makes me too crazy. DH keeps reminding me that my due date is still a few days away...

@MenagerieMama: oh no! That baby better decide to come out NOW! Haha! I'm doing evening primrose oil, red raspberry leaf tea, bouncing and sitting on a yoga ball. Sex if you can handle it (so not glamorous at this point, but DH keeps wanting to as much as he can because he knows he'll be without it for awhile. Haha!). I'm going to do acupuncture on Thursday. And last pregnancy, my midwife stripped my membranes and that put me over the edge (but I had lost my mucus plug that morning, so I think it was coming!). Good luck mama!

@MenagerieMama: @Emsmems: @schubr03: Hope you guys see some progress soon

3 days until my c-section!!

38 +3 here and still pregnant!! I've been 3 cm and 70% effaced for the past week. Tons of regular toning contractions, but no real contractions with peaks that stay rhythmic.
We were concerned earlier that he would be too big to go to 40 weeks, but he stopped getting bigger at 36 weeks.

I have tried:
Evening primrose oil inserted
Breast pump used
RRL tea every night
Sitting on my birth ball
Spicy foods, steak dinner, A1 sauce with mac and cheese, pineapple, dates
Foot massage

Now my strategy is to just be at peace with it and practice my relaxation techniques for labor.

@lilteacherbee: I'm excited to hear your birth story soon!! Congratulations!!!
@MenagerieMama: I feel you on the crankiness. I won't know what to do with myself if this one goes past when LO1 came!

@schubr03: Haha well I used to be a teacher (I should probably change my HB name, but I've been on here so long!). I stopped teaching after my second baby was born because I was so burnt out and I wanted to focus on my photography business. I took my last session on the 22nd and finished editing everything last week, so I'm done! With my first, I taught until 38.5 weeks (a few days before my c-section) and with LO2, we were out for the summer when I was 32 weeks (August baby).

@lilteacherbee: Okay! Well I'm glad you are able to have some time to relax and enjoy the time with your first two kids before you add a third!

I'm a teacher and currently still teaching! Plan on doing it until this baby pops out or my due date, whichever comes first!

@lilteacherbee: I teach middle school. So I currently have 120 6-8 graders. I am exhausted at the end of the day, but really need to work until I absolutely cannot for financial reasons. Plus, I want to save any and all maternity leave for time with the baby. It is kind of funny to be this pregnant with middle schoolers, because everything that happens, every time I have to leave the room, etc. they think I am going into labor. They are all terrified of my water breaking in front of them! (Me too, BTW). So it's fun.