*Baby Corner*

[Eveline 9]

If his head was really measuring 42 weeks, the docs would have suggested induction or c/s already. Also, if it really was 7 weeks ahead (only the head) there might be other reasons for that. Hydracephalus or whatever, again your OB/Midwife would have said something about that, especially since the rest of the body seems to measure normal (you didn't say if the body was measuring ahead too, so I'm just assuming).

[Jenn! 918]

If his head was really measuring 42 weeks, the docs would have suggested induction or c/s already. Also, if it really was 7 weeks ahead (only the head) there might be other reasons for that. Hydracephalus or whatever, again your OB/Midwife would have said something about that, especially since the rest of the body seems to measure normal (you didn't say if the body was measuring ahead too, so I'm just assuming).

Sorry if what I said was misleading - I was trying to be funny, but it didn't work very well. The u/s report shows that the estimated gestational age when using head diameter is 42 weeks; using femur length, 38 weeks. The estimated weight was 7 lbs 2 oz,, which is just about average for 39 weeks. Nothing that the OB was concerned about, so I'm not either. He doesn't induce based on size estimates from the ultrasound.

[caybee 21]

I do realize that things might change, but don't we all go into it having some idea of how we would like things to be?

Absolutely. You've studied the options, so you can plan it the way you want it, and if you HAVE to change course midstream, you'll already have some idea of what to expect. Do you have some ideas for pain management? My L/D room had leaves painted on the ceiling, and I could see the monitor from my bed, so when the epidural wore off, I could look at the monitor and predict when a contraction was coming and how long it would last, and I would look up and count leaves or sing made-up silly songs about what was going on around me, what my husband was doing and so on. That helped up to a point.

[tnh9479 1]

I hate that so much of pregnancy, birth, and parenting can be so contentious. I was made to feel so horrible by some for not being able to breast feed. I am a science teacher. I know the advantages of breastfeeding. But, when you physically can't do it, you can't do it. So...Jenn...all I want to hear is how healthy that soon to be bouncing baby is. I love hearing birth stories and all the crazy things that happen. I only wish the best for you and your baby boy.

BTW...we had open house at school last night. One of the main nurses who took care of me while I was on hospital bedrest in Labor and Delivery for three weeks popped in to say hello. It was great to see her and show her my "picture" door of the babies. She was AMAZING and did so much for me.

Twila

[tnh9479 1]

Just had to add that Hana said her second words tonight! She was fussy and starting scooting towards their room. She was saying, "ni ni". I asked Hicham if he heard it, and he said yes. I always have told the babies, "Night Night" before putting them down for a nap or to bed for the evening. When I put her in her crib, she went right to sleep for a short nap.

[Autumnchik 6]

Jenn, you are absolutely right about wanting to have a plan ... and also about being okay if it changes. That's such a healthy attitude.

Well, Declan screamed all night long and finally fell asleep around 5 am. I was pretty worried, but he didn't have a fever or anything. I figured it might be the teething (his bottom molars are coming in), although he didn't react like that with the upper molars. With his history of ear infections though, I decided to be safe and took him to the doctor. His ears and lungs are fine and the doc suspects it was the teething. He also has a diaper rash (doesn't normally get these). His doc suggested leaving him diaperless and exposed to the air as much as I could tolerate. So I did for the rest of the day and he did really well actually, no peeing or pooping anywhere (he peed during his nap but it was on a towel I had placed under him). Then, this evening, his daddy was letting him run around naked and apparently Declan now has diarrhea .... twice in 2 minutes on our floors!!! So the diaper goes back on.

Yay for Hana's words!!!

Eveline, was it you who worried Adam was not saying enough words? I worry about that with Declan. He understands what I say and follows directions, but he tends to babble much more than say specific words. I've been reading that having several ear infections can delay speech, so I'm trying not to worry (which is near impossible for me when it comes to my baby!)

[Eveline 9]

@Autumn: Yes it was me who worried. He is talking a whole lot better now but when he's excited it's just a huge ball of just letters and noises...not even I can make out what he's saying. Then again, the next moment he talks and it's crystal clear. This afternoon he peeked through the fence and said "Hellooooo....can you see me?" . Or whenever we go to school he just tells me what's out there "I see cars...I see birds...I see school" etc. He's getting there, it just takes him a little longer. Adam never had a hearing test done before or after his tubes. Allie will have a follow up hearing test some time in October I think.

[sara535 15]

I think *in general* boys just talk a little later than girls.

makes sense, really, if you think about it - all us chicks are usually talk talk talking alll the time

Staashi - LOL @ the placemat sized maxi pad.

Jenn - once your baby is a month or 2 old you wont even think much about how he got here except to share the story with other moms. You know I wish you the very best experience regardless of what it ends up being

[Staashi 371]

Staashi - LOL @ the placemat sized maxi pad.

Jenn - once your baby is a month or 2 old you wont even think much about how he got here except to share the story with other moms. You know I wish you the very best experience regardless of what it ends up being

Sara, I'm glad you liked that one...tis too true. Also, your comment about sharing the story reminds me of the saying about azzholes - we all have one.

Jenn - I too am supporting you 110% - you make your plan - I hope it works out for you. Just remember, your little guy might have his own plan as well. I remember my plan was for vaginal delivery with an epidural - didn't happen; wanted to breastfeed - didn't happen; take Enzo home soon - didn't happen (5 days in the NICU). I finally decided that I just put it into the Drs and nurses hands that they would do what was best for me and Enzo. We turned out great.

Edited September 17, 2009 by Staashi

[Anna C. 4]

@ Jenn: Don't worry about it. Do you have a birth plan? I planned for a natural birth, put it in there, but also had a in-case-c-section portion. I put things like I wanted them, like in that case, one hand has to be free to touch baby, nurse baby immediately, no harsh drugs, where DH would be, etc. That way, I was prepared for the worst case scenario.

I didn't want drugs either not to be a martyr, but because the side effects of an epidural and IV drugs were of great concern to me. With an epi, the chance of stalled labor is just higher, as well as maternal infection and fetal infection and the risk of getting an episiotomy, and I thought to fight it out as much as possible. I had moments when I wished I had an epidural, but I didn't get it. The support of the midwife and my husband alleviated a lot of pain. And I had 10 hours of back labor, very little rest between contractions and one hour of continuous contractions without any breaks (took me from 5 to 10cm though, so I was relieved to just blast through it in the end). It turned out shortly before pushing that my platelets dropped dramatically which contraindicates epi/spinals anyway (which had me concerned in the case of csection!), so the option was off the table at that point anyway (placenta partially detached, hence the bleeding and all the platelets trying to fix it). The pushing stage isn't really painful for me with my first birth - it was a walk in the park compared to labor.

Every woman experiences it differently and has different worries and pain thresholds. Medication side effects are very big concerns for me. The happier and more comfortable you feel, the better you can cope with the labor pain. I did not have continuous monitoring, I was free to move around, eat and drink and declined many things the hospital wanted. That way, I was so much more comfortable. You can all put it in your birth plan. And you can always ask for medication when you need it.

For the sizing... Oh well. My sister's OB talked csection from 32 weeks on, because the baby was sooooo big. He pushed and pushed for it, she though switched to a midwife. End of story: baby born spontaneously at 39 weeks, weighing a little under 7 pounds with a normal head size and not the ultrasound-predicted monster head. So much for US-measurements....

We just moved and I have met a couple of other moms and birth came up. I don't volunteer information really about birth but Jona's weight and that he was early, but we ended up talking about birth experiences. Another mom in the group had a homebirth and then there was me, the only two without epidural and immediately people said wow you don't get a medal for that, you are crazy, you must be like all crunchy and weird. I know things always go both ways, but just for not having an epi being stigmatized is pretty bad. Either way you decide, there are people who will judge you.

Anyways, all in all I thought it was a pretty amazing birth, and next time, I want a homebirth so I will be more comfortable (no bullying by the hospital personnel, I really thing they are annoying with not respecting my choices, if I say no I mean no, don't push it every 10 minutes on me). I will hire a doula. Studies show that women who have a doula have 30% less epis/meds in labor. And well, husbands can get caught up there. I remember during pushing DH thought I was dying... It was just friggin exhausting and I sort of hm... It's the moments when you yell at them! He felt a little incompetent then I think....

Oh well and then me... After my kidney infection, they saw a shadow on an ultrasound of the kidney and sent me to have a CT. Turns out, there is a tiny kidney stone. Which the doc things is weird as I have no risk factors for it at all (diet is fine, etc). But it seems to be running in the family, my mom had some actually at the same age after her first birth. Never had them again. Pretty weird. We are trying lemon juice now every day to break it down, then more herbal remedies before anything else cause they contraindicate nursing. But with such a small stone the urologist has good experience in certain diets to break them up.

On top of it, I have a really badly plugged milk duct. We went to the Rocky Mountain National Park yesterday and sort of dropped one nursing and that's the result, ouch. At least Jona had so much fun in the park. He loved going off the trails to step on the dirt and pick up pine cones and laughed at the chipmunks. He's very adventurous that way - no trails mama, just the woods

[JVKn'CVO 11]

Thanks everyone for the good wishes!! pics here

About unmedicated birth...everyone told me that after your water breaks, contractions hurt the worse. I was doing pretty well up until 15 hours after my water broke, with alternative pain management such as breathing, warm shower, sitting on a birthing ball, and all that. Then I hit 8 cms...Holy *&^%$#@

It does hurt like a mother*&^%$#@

But then the thing is, that part is supposed to last only for a short while, and then you get to pushing and the adrenaline that goes with it and then it's over. The terrible thing I think is if you get stuck between 8 cms (or whatever your pain threshold is) and the baby being out. Don't mean to scare you - I hope you get to have the birth that you want, I wish I could have done it

Saludos,

Caro

[Staashi 371]

Thanks everyone for the good wishes!! pics here

About unmedicated birth...everyone told me that after your water breaks, contractions hurt the worse. I was doing pretty well up until 15 hours after my water broke, with alternative pain management such as breathing, warm shower, sitting on a birthing ball, and all that. Then I hit 8 cms...Holy *&^%$#@

It does hurt like a mother*&^%$#@

But then the thing is, that part is supposed to last only for a short while, and then you get to pushing and the adrenaline that goes with it and then it's over. The terrible thing I think is if you get stuck between 8 cms (or whatever your pain threshold is) and the baby being out.

Caro, that is what happened to me - exactly!!! Swear to God.

[Anna C. 4]

I wouldn't know, my water broke first, then contractions! And it wasn't nice! My mom said it's worse when the water is broken, and the science makes sense: less cushion, the bag of water is like a cushion.... I hope that next time my water won't break til pushing. That would be awesome!

[JVKn'CVO 11]

Thanks everyone for the good wishes!! pics here

About unmedicated birth...everyone told me that after your water breaks, contractions hurt the worse. I was doing pretty well up until 15 hours after my water broke, with alternative pain management such as breathing, warm shower, sitting on a birthing ball, and all that. Then I hit 8 cms...Holy *&^%$#@

It does hurt like a mother*&^%$#@

But then the thing is, that part is supposed to last only for a short while, and then you get to pushing and the adrenaline that goes with it and then it's over. The terrible thing I think is if you get stuck between 8 cms (or whatever your pain threshold is) and the baby being out.

Caro, that is what happened to me - exactly!!! Swear to God.

Me too

Saludos,

Caro

[Staashi 371]

Thanks everyone for the good wishes!! pics here

About unmedicated birth...everyone told me that after your water breaks, contractions hurt the worse. I was doing pretty well up until 15 hours after my water broke, with alternative pain management such as breathing, warm shower, sitting on a birthing ball, and all that. Then I hit 8 cms...Holy *&^%$#@

It does hurt like a mother*&^%$#@

But then the thing is, that part is supposed to last only for a short while, and then you get to pushing and the adrenaline that goes with it and then it's over. The terrible thing I think is if you get stuck between 8 cms (or whatever your pain threshold is) and the baby being out.

Caro, that is what happened to me - exactly!!! Swear to God.

Me too

Saludos,

Caro

Awwwwww, hermanita. (((((((((((((((((((((((Caro)))))))))))))))))))))))))) I feelz ya!!!