Got Baby? Avez vous un bebe?

[JensJrny2Ray 367]

I had dvt and am on blood thinners, also I'm 39 and carrying extra weight. I'm not sure I can go the midwife route being high risk and I'm already 19 weeks.

[Ontarkie 14,133]

Don't worry how far along you are when it comes to switching, but I do agree with you that you should be better monitored then a doctor who can't even remember why he is seeing you. Look into midwives not sure how things are done in your state but many midwives take high risk patients, they just have the OB for the really big stuff.

There has to be a better option just wish I can help you better.

[JensJrny2Ray 367]

I think I'll be ok. I appreciate any help/advice I can get as I'm so new to the crazy US healthcare system and this is my first child at 39! Once hubbys insurance kicks in, in a few weeks, that will help immensely. I have a claim in with the md government that will hopefully cover my emergency care I received in July as those bills are over 8k or so. I checked online with uscis and medical help is ok to receive.

[Ontarkie 14,133]

Oh that's good to that your coverage will kick in soon. I hope you get relief with the hospital bill. US insurance is so messed up I hate how you never can figure anything out because as soon as you do it changes.

You're just bit ahead of me I'm 14w 2days, and close in age. I'm 40 but not a first time mom.

[VeeNDee 44]

Well, it's been a super crazy weekend. On Friday I was coughing so hard (with bronchitis) I felt something snap and immediate pain in my side. I could barely move at all. My DH came home early from work and we went to urgent care - they said it was either a cracked rib, cracked cartilage or torn muscle - they didn't take an xray since I was pregnant but told me the treatment, recovery and pain for all is the same - 3 weeks at least before it totally heals, to have lots of rest, absolutely no lifting and painkillers. Because I'm pregnant the painkiller options were few and far between - in the end he gave Vicodin and even though it's an opiate and crosses the placenta he told me it's better to take it and be able to sleep for the baby than be in chronic pain. Vicodin didn't really make a dent in the pain unfortunately.

Saturday the next day was moving day. Yes I know, great timing...I sat on a chair and watched everyone else work, feeling utterly useless, coughing and in a lot of pain.

Sunday at 3am I woke up in the new place in serious pain. My entire side was in agony and I actually had to cry. I also started wheezing heavily and having a hard time breathing. We called a nurseline who advised us to go to ER...so off we went. At ER they monitored me and took an xray to rule out pneumonia/fluid around the lungs etc etc. They double shielded to protect the baby. In the end the prognosis was it isn't a cracked rib but I tore muscle fibers and cartilage between the ribs. The breathing was partially due to the fact I couldn't breathe deeply to get enough air and mostly due to the fact my asthma chose that moment to act up (it hasn't for a long time). So I got a new inhaler to help with the asthma and sent home to rest.

It is now Thursday and I am feeling much better. A lot less coughing.. I feel mostly ok sitting down but when I cough I just start to ache really badly for a long time afterwards till it settles down. I also can't do much yet - I went grocery shopping with my parents and to Lowe's for some house stuff then was in pain all evening. So annoying.

On a bright note, my family was in town to help with the move and a TON of stuff is unpacked. They worked tirelessly and it feels so much more like home. I still get so frustrated seeing all the boxes since I can't lift or move them but I'm doing my best with what i can do (which at the moment is mostly phoning everyone to get things set up and fixed etc).

As for the baby, the room isn't ready at all. We only have 2 big items (carseat and stroller) and they're still in bunches. When being monitored they saw I am having some Braxton Hicks more often now. The OB said after 4 more days they wouldn't stop labour for me... I am hoping this baby stays in a few more weeks since we are so not ready. Need a crib/cosleeper or bassinet still etc! Not to mention I don't have a diaper bag even. Ugh so much to do and I have to make everyone else do it for me. Makes me feel like a jerk

Oh P.S. update on my insurance - after getting calls from the hospital, my specialists and even the people that provided the breast pump about coverage being denied, my insurance company FINALLY fixed the problem so it's getting figured out. It's so dumb that it happened in the first place though. I feel ya Kimbear... US healthcare is just a big mess a lot of the time.

[Ontarkie 14,133]

Oh my you have been dealing with a lot. I'm glad you're starting to feel better. I had BH for a few months before I actually went into labour so hopefully your little one will give you a few more weeks.

[Marilyn. 340]

HAHAHA that is the same thing I complain about read my dang chart. I think this computer chart is making doctors lazy. I liked it better when my doctors carried the chart in with them and said lets see what has been happening with you the last time then asks if any changes. Boy I miss those doctors.

The thing is they were both looking at my paper chart when they asked me..lol

So i saw my regular OB today and told him what the other doctor said about the low fluid. I told him they said it was 11 and my doc said yeah that is around what it has been measuring the last few weeks.. He wasn't worried..

[Marilyn. 340]

yay, just ordered my free breast pump. It should get here within the week.

[Ontarkie 14,133]

Good of you!

I'm so sick right now it's crazy. And I'm royally ticked off at my husband.

[Kimbear 53]

VeeNDee: holy #######! take it easy whatever you do. I can't believe the bad luck you're having. I sure hope it gets better for you soon!

Marilyn, good thing you have that stitch in. Dang 4 cm?? I think i would have freaked out lol. But you're almost there. Soon little Emily will be here!! Thankfully i try and see the same ob each time even though there are like 5 in that office. One guy i dislike with a passion, one girl never EVER sees me on time and i always wait an HOUR for her and then she offers to apologies or excuses. The others i have yet to see. In fact the guy i saw with my husband, well even David disliked him, and when i went to sign the last couple of consent forms at the hospital even the receptionist knew who he was!! God i hope i don't get him..i'm scream and throw something at his head..i just know it.

So i'm totally and utterly royally mega pissed off at my husbands work. We have health insurance through AETNA and its a ppo, and THEY give free breast pumps, the good ones from mendela etc double electric you name it. BUT OH NOOOOOO, my husbands work..gets to avoid THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT when it comes to that and are REFUSING to let me have one saying its NOT in the contract. so i'm like wtfz..you can't do that...and they are like yes we can, our plans are grandfathered in...we get to ignore it...GRRRRRRRRRRRRR. there is no way in hell, i can afford one, we still need a car seat, baby bath and supplies, diapers, clothes and a few other things since only a handful of ppl showed up to the shower. Not to mention the increased costs of my medicines, and our life insurance policies etc etc. I mean..i have no idea how we are going to even put this kid through school when chicago schools want like 500 for registration in elementary!!!

I think..in a couple years..we are going to rent out this house, and move back up to canada...cuz...this is getting ridiculous....

[Marilyn. 340]

Kimbear, I am sorry the insurance is doing that. Could you possibly rent one?

i think the pump I am getting is the Ameda Purely Yours one. I was reading some reviews on Amazon and they weren't that good. Oh well, it is free.

i hope you feel better, Ontarkie.

Do you think it would be weird to get my doctor's office a gift basket or something after i give birth? I just feel like they have had a big hand in helping me get this far. A lot of the people who work there either know me by sight or by name. My main doctor even knows my husband's name. they make me feel like I am a person and not just a number in a file like I felt with my last Ob-Gyn.

[Kimbear 53]

I think that is a great idea Marilyn. With everything you've been through they sounded like they were really there for you.

and its a no on the rental with or without a prescription etc. i have no idea why they would do that but its going to make it harder for me to go back to work at some point if we need the money. I guess that's why so many ppl bottle feed at his work. it may cost more but it gives them more time to get sleep , go out etc. this means i won't even get a break. I was hoping some nights to just pump and let david get up middle of the night so i could get an hour or two of extra sleep. I really dont want to mix bottle formula with BM, i've heard too many people say the kid gets confused and i really do want to BF as long as possible.

[Marilyn. 340]

i was thinking of some homemade cookies or something

[Marilyn. 340]

this was taken a few days ago.

[VeeNDee 44]

Marilyn glad you got a free breast pump. I love that new program.

Sucks for you Kimbear....I hope you can find a decent cheap one. I am not sure if you want to get those things used or not... it seems a bit sketchy but if needs must? I dunno. I keep seeing people sell them on buy/sell groups. Maybe if it's a never opened one or something.

Also Marilyn you could totally give your doctor's office a gift basket. I won't since I have only seen the family doc twice and at the hospital I see a different nurse practitioner every time it seems like, and the OB only every so often. But that doesn't mean they wouldn't like it...i just isn't calling to me like it seems to be to you. It's a touching gesture!

JensJrny2Ray - Just a few more weeks to go for you for insurance kick-in. That'll be a relief I bet. Hopefully no more unpleasant surprises for you in the meantime!

Lilac so sorry to hear about your heartburn. I know when mine was worst I would just throw up the Tums and not keep it down too. If it's any consolation, oddly for me the heartburn has gotten much better the past few weeks (I'm currently 35 weeks 5 days). Someone said maybe it was coz the baby dropped. I dunno but there is hope even if it seems far away for you. I can't imagine dealing with heartburn with twins - so much less space for your stomach!

Ontarkie sorry to hear about morning sickness. I hope you feel better soon. Is it all day sickness? Coz that is the pits. Maybe if it doesn't go away you could try the Zofran method. I ended up having to do that due to losing so much weight. My morning sickness went away around 22 weeks or so. What a relief. I hear most people's nausea improves around 12 to 16 weeks though.

As for me, I am feeling a lot better. Still the occasional cough but not nearly as much - just finished the antibiotics. My side is still sore but it's much easier to move around now. I try not to though since it tends to irritate and make it ache in the evenings and then I can't lie on my side at night either. Sleeping sitting up really isn't that comfy! I woke up yesterday with swollen feet and ankles. Didn't have that until now, and yesterday couldn't fit my sandals and shoes on my feet! It is much better today but I've been trying not to walk on them a lot. I find as the day goes on they get poofier. I plan on putting them up with ice in the evenings. And drinking a lot of water!

Today my husband assembled the car seat and stroller we got. Those things are more confusing than you realize haha. I am not sure the base is clipped into the car correctly - we both think it moves a bit too much but aren't sure why, so we plan to stop by and get it inspected in town - supposedly the local police department here does car seat safety checks. My brother got us a housewarming gift of a crib. I'm so thankful..that's a huge item on our list and one of the most important too!

What are you ladies doing for the early sleeping times? Bassinet, co-sleeper, pack and play in the room? Haven't figured that part out yet.