~*~December Chat Thread~*~

Holly I am sorry the tummy bug has hit your house I hope everyone starts to feel better soon.

Mia that is exciting that things are moving long on there own for you. Hope if baby boy is born everything is good!

I never end up sitting around too much despite my best efforts. The in-laws are coming over tonight and dh is making a pasta arrabiata with spicy italian sausage and garlic bread. I got DS to clean up all of his toys in preparation for his birthday party in 5 days (evil grin). But he also helped me by helping to wrap a present and putting some more ornaments on the tree. I am actually looking forward to work as it makes the days go by fast and helps me not to think about each day I am pregnant. 3 weeks, 4 days to go - max. I was thinking of trying evening primrose oil, but then I read the data and I am not impressed.

Tiffany

Tiffany - Your dinner sounds delicious! It's so fun that DS is at an age that he can help out with little things for the holidays like that. While I have heard mostly good things about EPO, I always get a little unsure of myself when deciding whether or not to try it (if i was low risk).

AFM - My NST went well this morning. Still contracting which is nice but I'm not excited about it. Had progressive contractions that got to 5 min apart last night but I knew it wasn't time, eventually they spaced back to the 6-10. I did show a little progress today (3 cm 70%) so everyone is holding out hope I'll go on my own. My OB is checking with the MFMS at another hospital (affiliate) to see if we should do a repeat amnio or just induce on Thursday. I get the feeling he just wants to induce me but sort of has his hands tied unless I start having decreased movement, jaundice or another big marker that something is up without a mature amnio. He was even talking about possibly doing steroid shots, but that at this stage it usually isn't worth the time it takes. DD is being so sweet and cute today, I'm just eating her up and trying to stay positive for her sake.

Lesli--I'm so sorry to hear about your friend's child! Such a sad thing that happened.
Tiffany--I always have good intentions to have a "do nothing" day, but I can't sit still...there's always too much to do!
Mia--Glad things went well today. KUP on your progress and what is decided for Thursday.

AFM, we had a busy weekend. DH had the weekend off. We had a Christmas party on Friday and Saturday, plus a piano recital for DD on Saturday, church on Sunday...and STILL sick kids! I took #2 and 3 and 4 to the doctor this morning. Meds for everyone, so hopefully we can kick it and get on with things! I don't want them to be sick when the baby comes, but I am SO ready to have her! Tomorrow I can officially have her whenever. I have a few more things to do to be completely ready, so that's what I am doing today.

The studies I read suggested EPO does not work and its safety in pregnant ladies has not been established. It is not recommended by traditional medicine sources for that reason - and that is not true of all herbs. It might be ok for breast pain after pregnancy is over though.

My feet are beyond swollen - even my loose shoes barely fit. But my blood pressure is still ok. Keeping an eye on things though. Growth ultrasound is thursday and I am now to weekly visits. I wish there was something to do for my pelvic pain, but other than rest nothing really works. And my maternity shirts barely fit over my belly. These last few weeks will be an uphill climb. I joke to hubby that I am leaving for Vegas as soon as I get out of the hospital for a weekend with the girlfriends. I am sure someone would feel bad for him and help him out. :) It is just a joke though.

I've got to figure out how to wrap some pr.esents... stuff came for hubby today. If I am going to still be working at least I can still do some online shopping.

Tiffany

Lisa - That does sound like a busy weekend! How awesome about being 37 weeks tomorrow. :D

Tiffany - Good to know about the EPO. I'm sorry about the swelling, that sounds awful though it's good your BP is fine. I'm sure with the swelling they'd tell you if there was protein in your urine or any other PIH/early pre-e symptoms. I hope the u/s goes well! I know they can be kind of uncomfortable this far along.

AFM - Contractions tonight are a little more intense and (TMI warning) lots of bloody show. More so then I'm used to with a cervical exam, but not anything I'm getting excited over. I think if we make it to Thursday the amnio will either push us into labor or we'll get a positive result. My OB said we'd induce Friday or Monday with a positive amnio but I'm insisting on Friday. I don't care about the holiday conflict but it's too risky to push out any farther then necessary. I don't anticipate any problems with getting them on board for Friday.

I know what the symptoms of pre-E are and I check my blood pressure daily. I have trace protein in my urine, but I think that is still considered normal. My sister had similar symptoms for a few weeks before developing pre-E... the good news is that I work at the hospital and have all the testing available in my office. So, if I am feeling bad I don't even have to make an appointment just to check things out. I do need some support stockings. I tried wearing some ski socks to bed last night but I don't think they were tight enough to squeeze the fluid out. Now if I just didn't have severe pelvic pain when I walked I would be golden and really able to do anything. Oh well, I am waddling but not because the baby is engaged...

I have a good feeling for you for Friday, Mia.

What are everyone's plans for this week?

Mia- I hope friday is the day!!! Keeping everything crossed for you!
Tiffany- Sorry about the swelling. I can't imagine being pg with twins and still be working. You are a rockstar!

I really hope that when the time comes to have this baby that I have a really clear sign that it's time. With DD my water broke in one big swish. It doesn't get any clearer then that! The last 2 nights I have had painful contractions for a few hours at a time. Last night the pain woke me up at 2 and I laid there timing them for an hour. They were 4 min. apart and painful enough that I had to breath through them... but then they fizzled out and I went back to sleep.

Tiffany - How awesome that you have those resources available to check for the pre-e. I agree that trace amounts of protein seems pretty typical. I'm sorry about the pelvic pain. It's an awful thing to deal with at all, but I can't imagine it with TWINS. I hope the stockings help.

Amanda - I've been thinking the same thing about labor (assuming I go on my own). I'm so sick of the super watery discharge. Most of the time it's obvious what it is, but I always wonder when I wake up with wet underwear. I too had my water break with DD and while it wasn't totally obvious at first, the laying down and getting up after 20 minutes trick worked with her. Every time things start to gear up and then fall off, I always imagine how frustrating it must be to go weeks longer then I will be with those symptoms.

Aside from the amnio/induction stuff, we don't have much planned at all. The weather's gross so I feel bad we can't play in the fresh snowfall but at least with it just being rain now the roads aren't bad for DH's commute. We went to the store to pick up some stuff to make for dinner tonight as I forgot a couple of things at the store yesterday and mailed out an ornament for an exchange we are a part of. I want to be walking and out doing active things to get labor going, but to be on the safe side we're sticking around the house. DD's labor went fast so I don't want to go far. As I can't stop this sweet tooth, I bought brownie mix so we can make some later.

Mia--crossing my fingers for you that all goes well this week. I hope baby boy decides to come on his own before Friday, but if not, I hope your drs. will all be on board and everything works out for you.

Tiffany--I'm sorry about the swelling! I have had swollen legs for a while now, too, but I can't imagine what it is like with twins! And I have the same problem with my shirts being too short--I only have a few that are long enough...but I refuse to spend money on maternity clothes at this point, so I just deal with it.

Amanda--I hope labor is clear to you as well. I've worried about it with ALL of my kids, but when the time came, I always knew we needed to go...NOW! ;)

AFM, I have finished my holiday baking today!!! I'm so happy to be done! I am driving my kids around to our neighbors and friends this afternoon to deliver everything--I want it off my list of things to do!
Also, today is DH and my 13th anniversary!!! He is working (he doesn't get home until 8ish), so we aren't really doing anything...besides the fact that I don't move around well nor have the energy right now to do anything....Pretty lame, but he LOVES apple pie, so I am making him dinner of his choice and apple pie. We will prob watch a movie (?) and go to bed...We are planning on doing something in June to make up for it.
My sister is coming on Friday to spend Christmas with us. I am keeping a positive attitude that it is going to be fun, but we usually butt heads a bit. And she is as noisy (or noisier at times) than my kids, so it gets frustrating. But we are going to have fun and play things by ear.
The only other thing we have planned is to take our kids out for frozen yogurt on Friday afternoon. They all got really good grades and we usually take them to dinner, but they decided they want Orange Leaf instead (which is fine by me, cuz it's my fave!).