Thread: ~~**Ecoberry1's Lodge**~~

I had the same bile issues with my first. It would always shoot up my nose and I could hardly breath from it. Worst feeling ever.

I had to sleep propped up after that, anytime I was flat it would hit me.

Cindy

Rheannon – I just got caught up on all your stories. I think it’s great that you can get it all out, and being as verbose as you, I appreciate the detail and thoroughness!

It looks like you’ve been through a whole bunch of stuff, and dealt with a lot of issue that have helped you figure out what is most important to you. I’ve never been big on babies (still not, but my own are different – it’s true!). I know that meeting my DH and seeing him with his son made me realize what a great dad he was too! It’s funny how important that was to me, though I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it.

Good luck on your landscaping business! Can Erik help you out at all, especially in the spring?

And so great about the chickens! I’d love to have some chickens, but we can’t due to city bylaws… Some day. I’d love to have a cow too, but I don’t have the space yet. Some day!

So, I had my 38 week appointments this week - one at the clinic and one with the MWs. Nothing too exciting. The clinic MW asked me if I had thought about birth control after the baby was born and, honestly, I hadn't. I don't want to get back on the pill because of the risk of reduced milk production. Plus, I just don't want to be on any hormones. She mentioned the IUC Mirena? I suppose I would consider it, but I had an IUD back in the day and it made me bleed like mad. Plus, the string hanging out of my cervix was just weird. So, I'm reading the Baby Book by Dr. Sears and they talk extensively about exclusively BFing and its effects on fertility. They say that if I BF exclusively and frequently (no bottles and regular pumping if there is an interruption in BFing for some reason), I could get at minimum 6 months of protection and up to a year and a half (if I remember correctly). So, should I just wing it and use BFing as BC, or do I want some outside means? DF thinks we should use a combination of BFing and the withdrawal method (although I am aware of how notoriously ineffective withdrawal can be). We both hate, hate, hate condoms, so that's not an option. I suppose if I do get pregnant again, it won't be the end of the world and then one of us could just get snipped (him preferably).

My HBMW appt. was yesterday and that went well, except that I was getting a higher than normal BP reading. They took it 3x, once with the larger cuff and all 3 were 130/90. I'm usually 120/70, but lately it's been 120/80. I got 160/80 at the clinic the week before last. It's just odd because all of my life I've had "perfect" blood pressure. These readings aren't anything particularly outrageous, but slightly worrisome based on my history. Also, I've gotten some swelling on my feet, ankles and lower belly. And, I've gained over 25 pounds and I'm still gaining. I started out at 196, so I really didn't want to gain any more than 25 lbs total. Does pregnancy cause high blood pressure? Can it be dangerous? Maybe I just want baby out now so I don't continue to swell, gain weight and get HBP.

After the appointment we drove to one of our local rivers and it was absolutely amazing. It was a long drive, but we went to a new spot that was just perfect. Wonderful, deep pools, clear blue water and no one was there when we arrived. A few people showed up after a while, but there was plenty of room for all of us. I finally got to swim and enjoy the feeling of weightlessness and stretch my legs and pelvic muscles. It was nice and hot out and the water was so cool and refreshing. I brought my camera, but didn't take pix 'cause I was shy in front of other people. I wish I had a river in my back yard! There is a community pool that I can use, but it's indoors and I hate chlorine. Oh, well. Maybe we can make one last trip before the baby is born. Oh, but the downside was that our dog must have drank too much river water and that combined with getting some salami as a treat must have upset his tummy. I woke up to a house full of doggie diarrhea this morning! I had to clean it up myself because DF is totally worthless when it comes to such things. He makes retching sounds the whole time, plus he doesn't clean it to my specifications, so it's just easier to do it myself. Grrr. All I can say is that he owes me a bunch of diaper changes for that one!

Never a dull moment. Do you really expect DH to be better about diaper changes than dog cleanup?
(How I'd love some dull moments!)

Wonderful about the river swim… Sorry about cleaning up the dog mess…

Hey, if you do EC, it may be that you have fewer poopy diapers to clean up! I’m so glad that DH doesn’t mind cleaning poopy diapers. Too many and they are rather tedious, but really, it’s not that bad, and we don’t use any wipes or anything, just sink water.

I sort of understand where you come from in terms of cleaning up the doggy messes. IT seems I can never clean anything up well enough for DH – whether swept or vacuumed or washed. I’ve given up and will straighten and organize everything and he does the final vacuum and cleanup. Oh well… It works for us.

As for high blood pressure, I’d be mildly concerned if it were me as well. I remember my blood pressure was up a bit at the end of my pregnancy with DS and I was quite swollen and had gained about 15lbs more than I have now. You know what? The weight came off. You know what else? My MW wasn’t very concerned about my BP. It sounds like your MW isn’t particularly concerned, and I would take comfort in that. It’s not very high. To have “high” blood pressure, systolic BP needs to be higher than 140, and diastolic more than 80, not just one number.

And many people have a high reading every once in a while, especially when at a clinic, so I wouldn’t worry about that either unless it was consistently high, and your MW was concerned. If you want more details (as I would), I’d ask your MW why she isn’t concerned because you are… That’s what I did…

In the meantime, keep treating yourself healthy, lots of rest, eat well, get exercise... I know it's harder than it sounds!

The water sounds heavenly! That sounds like a wonderful break, even if you had to deal with doggie diarrhea afterwards - yuck!

I don't know much about blood pressure, but in terms of weight gain, try not to worry about it too much (easier said than done, I know). I think your body is going to gain what it needs, and since you're going to EBF, you'll get a nice metabolism boost that will help you, it is just a question of when (I was lucky last time and started dropping the baby weight immediately, some others take a little longer). You'll be fine.

What's with everyone's dogs? Mine has had a stomach bug or something... he is old and has a super sensitive stomach - not fun.

The swim sounds wonderful - I wish I had a pool or a river. Weird about your BP - I might consider going to a drugstore where they have those BP checks and see what it is today. It sounds like a fluke to me.

I know it's hard not to worry about weight gain, but try not to (I have gain 34.5 lbs already, so I understand the worry). Your baby/body apparently need the extra weight to grow. I keep telling myself the same thing - I obviously need the weight to grow a healthy baby.

My dogs would do that all the time when we lived near the Rio Grande. There's no water here, which makes my lab mix sad . I feel ya on the chlorinated pools. That and they closed half of the public pools here (for budgetary reasons) so you can imagine how packed they must be.

Don't fret about the weight gain. 25 lbs will melt away like nothing, especially with BFing and landscaping. You'll drop at least 15 on your baby's birthday!

A bunch of the women on my October board are having BP issues. Some of them are on meds and some of them are just continually harassed by their care providers. They were just discussing those automatic BP machines found in pharmacies and almost all of them say they are extremely inaccurate. How and when the measurement is taken can REALLY affect the measurement. For the most accurate measurement, you should be seated and calm for about 10 minutes. And, I think they're supposed to take it a second time if they get a high reading. If your MW isn't concerned it's probably nothing but I'd definitely ask. Worrying about your BP can make your BP go up!

For me the pharmacy machines are hopeless. There's one in our grocery store too...just as bad.

It’s been a couple days since we had an update…

What’s new? What’s the latest instalment? Any more appointments? Is the dog doing any better? How are you feeling?