Random Thoughts Thread

Wyattnash00

So happy to hear babies are safe for now @emsmama15, and it sounds like you're listening to your body. Keep drinking water and just slow down, growing one babe is hard, you're growing two miracles:)

lickastick

@emsmama15 so sorry to hear about your rough day! Take care of you and those twins and all my T&P for them to stay and cook for all the time they can. Rest when you can and hopefully you have some good people around for support with your LO and for you. 

jilligan14

@emsmama15 Yikes! That sounds like quite the day!! Glad things are okay now. Rest up!

Sporty1216

DH has next week off and really wants to take a trip. The destination he has in mind is about 8 hours away by car. I just cannot muster any enthusiasm about this. We've already done two long weekends and time in the car and hotels with LO is, in my opinion, just not that fun. I keep suggesting we just do a "stay cation" but he's not biting. Do I just come right out and say I don't want to go anywhere because travel is stressful, or do I dig deep and find my adventuring self? Blergh. 

lillebowski23

@Sporty1216 ....
I feel ya! I think it's good to let him know how you are feeling about the long trip. It doesn't sound very fun being x weeks pregnant while sitting in a car for 8 hours with a small child. Would he be open to hearing you if you laid out some pros and cons: im super preggo, and I'm taking on the responsibility of LO while we are away? Or a trip is not relaxing to me during pregnancy?

If he's insistent would he be interested in breaking up the drive? Like maybe drive 4 hours 1 day, stay in a hotel for 1 night and then continue the next? (Adds cost, some people just like to get there...) Would he be willing to bargain to a place a little closer? Or maybe instead of a whole week, 2-3 days? Could you get some child care for LO for a short time so the 2 of you could enjoy each other? 

Regardless of your approach I hope you guys can come to some sort of compromise that works for your family!

I thought our last weekend away would be our last before LOs arrival in early July. My DH is pushing for another weekend in June. We live about 20-30min north of Plymouth MA and he found a good deal on a hotel. He really wants to be near the ocean. I really want to be near the hospital. 

I think that 20-30 min isn't  so bad tho considering I commute 40-60min every day so technically this is closer than work... still I am not keen on the idea of sleeping in a bed that isn't mine since my back seems to be extra sensitive these days.

Sporty1216

Those are good ideas, @lillebowski23 ! I was waaay too tired to discuss it last night and told him that. I'll think on it today and hopefully come up with a good strategy. The funny thing is that I am usually the more adventurous of us. But being well into the second tri seems to have changed that!

i had to chuckle at your line "he wants to be near the ocean. I want to be near the hospital." I already feel that way--And I would absolutely feel that way if I was in my 30+ weeks! 20-30 minutes isn't bad. But I do think being away from home is just harder right now. 

Maybe part of my hesitation is also that I've been having awful insomnia. At least when I am home I can come downstairs and watch a show to help pass the time. In a hotel room, I am just trapped in bed. 

Anyway. Thanks for the ideas and good luck with negotiating your own weekend plans!

Wyattnash00

I'm on the staycation train and being close to a hospital! Traveling with a toddler sucks, especially if it's sort of last minute. I'm a spontaneous traveler too but it just changes things with a kid, who needs routines, a nap, I'd be anxious the whole time, not worth it. Agree with the going away for a night or two and doing day trips?! As a fellow insomniac being confined to a room with my hubs and kid while they slept is just torture!

lickastick

@Sporty1216 that's a tough one! My general rule if thumb is if I feel supper stressed just thinking about trying to make it happen, I probably don't want to do it. I've had some moments of serious resentment when I said yes to something DH wanted to do but I didn't. In the end it was never worth it because I'd be so unhappy. I had to learn to say no, which wasn't the easiest thing to do. Good luck!!!

@lillebowski23 you crack me up!!!

Sporty1216

Thanks all! I'm glad I'm not crazy for feeling like it is stressful. I am trying to get in a good frame of mind for talking about it tonight. On the one hand, I want to go. It's something we both want to do and it could be really fun. On the other, the logistics are stressing me out. Maybe I can start there and then get him on board with some game plans for helping me with the parts I feel may be stressful. Anyway. Hopefully we can find a happy compromise in there somewhere. I'm sure it is possible.

Sporty1216

Trip update: we're going and I'm okay. I talked him into not leaving until Tuesday afternoon, breaking it up into chunks, and just keeping things super low-key. I think we'll have a good time. My reasoning for Tuesday afternoon was that my maternity swim suit should arrive in the mail that day and I want to use the pools at the hotels. Haha.

Also, just sat down to take my BP since I haven't done that this week.  It started out high, but I finally got a normal reading after a) going to the bathroom and b) relaxing by listening to Kenny Loggins. Ha!

lickastick

Kenny loggins ha! You can try laying on the left side for 5 min and see if that changes your BP. Glad you figured out how to make the trip work!! Yay for trips!

Sporty1216

Thanks for the tip about laying on my side! This is the first time I have had a high reading at home that didn't go away immediately on the second attempt. I'll totally try the lying down thing next time. Along with Kenny. Oh, and it has to be return to pooh corner. Hahahah. I stumbled across it on a lullaby track when I was taking my BP one time and now it's part of the ritual.

eta the part of the post the bump ate:

i'm glad we figured out the trip thing too. It will be good--and needed--family time. I've been tired and grumpy. I need some time for us all to have fun and remember that we don't just love each other, we like each other too! 

lillebowski23

@Sporty1216 glad you guys reached a compromise! As for Kenny Loggins, it looks his music took you out of the blood pressure "danger zone!" 

emsmama15

Does anyone take a magnesium supplement?  I'm waking up several times a night with leg cramps and my chiropractor recommended I take magnesium.  It's gotten way worse over the last few days, so I'm going to have to do something.  Just curious!!  

lillebowski23

@emsmama15 I take a calcium supplement that has both zinc and magnesium by NatureMade. I take 1 in the morning (with my Prenatal and Glucosamine) and then another at with dinner. Each tablet has 33% USRDA of Cal, mag & zinc + 50% Vit D3. I split up the dosage for better absorption plus I get plenty of other nutrients from my diet.

I am religious about taking my vitamins in the morning and haven't missed a day since I got pregnant. At dinner, I'd say I take my vitamins probably 4/7 days a week. Sometimes I forget.

I occasionally leg cramps, but I don't think it has anything to do with the supplement, tho. I seem to get them when I am not properly hydrated. These days, I find that the term "properly hydrated" means I am drinking at least 1.5 gallons of water a day, and that is challenging for me without little one to care for plus whatever other responsibilities you might have! However, if you are not getting plenty of fluid that might be part of the issue. I have a 32 oz and a 48 oz Nalgene that I alternate and I try to drink at least 2-3 of those a day.

That having been said, I am not a doctor! If your doc recommends trying magnesium, it can't hurt to try particularly if it means better sleep! If you don't want to spend the $$ on a separate supplement, you could try drinking more and/or switching to a calcium + magnesium supplement so that you are getting more bang for your buck.

Good luck!

emsmama15

Thanks @lillebowski23!  Interestingly, the cramps got worse in the last week since I've been drinking WAY more water (though not 1.5 gallons - holy cow, I'd be in the bathroom constantly. Even 100 oz is painful on my bladder!) after my dehydration issue last week.  A Calcium/Mag supplement would probably be a good idea since I don't take Calcium now - I know I should, but sometimes I feel like I take so much, it's hard to add another one to the list.  

Anything that would help me sleep would be welcome!!    

lickastick

@emsmama15 I take a magnesium only supplement called "calm" it helps with constipation, sleeping and cramps like you are talking about. I've taken it every night I've been pregnant and i've only been constipated about 3 days this whole pregnancy. The more you take the more it "loosens" the bowels.

If you take a supplement with magnesium and other minerals be aware that calcium binds the bowels and can cause constipation while magnesium does the opposite. So make sure the ratio is the same of calcium-magnesium if you take one with both (or not a higher calcium ratio.)

 I like to take the magnesium and increase it on nights i need more help sleeping or need more help with constipation, and decrease the dose at other times. It says on the bottle of "calm" how to do that. Just don't buy the calm with added calcium if you want to have it help with constipation. 

Good luck mama!!!

Sporty1216

We are off on our adventure. Wish us luck! Haha. 

And good luck with the leg cramps and such too, @emsmama15   I've been getting them lately as well. I woke up with one Charlie horse that was so bad, my calf was sore all day.

Wyattnash00

Have fun @sporty1216!!! 

lillebowski23

Have fun @Sporty1216 !! Get yer adventure on!

lickastick

Safe and easy travels @Sporty1216!

emsmama15

Thanks you guys!!  My charley horses aren't even in the normal places.  I get them in the front by my shin bone and on the top of my foot, etc.  It's so weird.  I'll look at the "calm" @createillumination!  Thanks!

Have fun and be safe @Sporty1216.  

BernieRae

Enjoy your getaway, @sporty1216! 

Sporty1216

Thanks guys. Gorgeous drive. Made it to our first destination. Only 1.5 hours of screaming from LO. Haha. Kept thinking he would fall asleep, but the solution was finally to just get out and let him walk around by some railroad tracks (he loves trains). We found 5 railroad spikes. He was thrilled.

carrieandr

@emsmama15 I've been getting calf cramps at night and shin bone (tibialis anterior muscle) cramps at the gym.

BernieRae

DH and I were in a toy store today looking for a gift for my nephew. I look over and see him looking at baby clothes. He picked this out. This is the first clothes either of us have purchased for her. I couldn't believe it because it's mostly black and he gives me a hard time for wearing so much black. I've joked with him that I want to dress the baby all in black I love it and it's kind of perfect because we've been thinking of naming her Raina and we live in Portland.
Oh and then we left the store and he held my hand on the way to the car. It was so sweet.  

redheadbride15

@BernieRae I love the Skip Hop clothes! That's totally adorable. Also, awwww to your hubby

Sporty1216

The BEST @BernieRae   What a sweet story. And an awesome outfit. 

Sporty1216

Having pregsomnia while stuck in a hotel room--nay, a hotel bed!--with your husband and son is just as terrible as you would think it is. 

Going. Crazy. 

carrieandr

I'm in my own bed, but I can't remember the last time I got a full night's sleep. It is really taking a toll on me. 

emsmama15

I took Magnesium two nights ago and slept SO AMAZINGLY WELL! I thought this was it. I'd finally found the magic bullet to sleep. Last night sucked again. Oh well. That one night was glorious. 

BernieRae

Did ANYONE sleep well last night? I sure didnt either. 

Wyattnash00

Sleep? What is that? Haven't slept in weeks, first 2 hrs is awesome! Then it's a crapshoot if sleep will come again, an hour here or there. Ugh @sporty1216 no sleep in the hotel!! Extra coffee today!

jilligan14

I pretty much passed out yesterday after taking that horrible glucose sugar drink early in the morning (I don't handle sugar well). I slept until around 3pm and then watched Netflix for the rest of the day. It was the first time in ages I've had a real slug day. It was wonderful, especially after all the show madness and hard work the weekend before. I'm finally recovering. I just hope I pass the sugar test as I don't want to have to go through all of that again!

carrieandr

I had a painful contraction today.  I've been getting Braxton Hicks during the night, but this is the first time I've had a painful one.  According to the internet, if the pain is entirely in your stomach and doesn't include your back, it is probably just Braxton Hicks.  I'm not worried that I'm going into labor, but I hope I don't get many more painful contractions in the next 10 weeks. I'm sure labor will be plenty.

Also, such awful heartburn. Throat burn, really.

lillebowski23

@emsmama15 glad the magnesium helped for at least a night! 

@CarrieandRoy i had my first noticeable BHs yesterday. Couple that with some active baby movement and I was really uncomfortable!

I took a warm bath and ended up going to bed around 7:30pm. Up at 3am. Well, at least I got some reading done and some of the household stuff. I'm off on a short walk before I come home to nap for a little while.

Sporty1216

I was up at 3 too, @lillebowski23 ! Way to go actually getting stuff done. Well, I guess I got stuff done. I bought my niece and nephew their birthday presents on Amazon. Haha. 

lillebowski23

@Sporty1216 yup and I am about to crash soon! I figure it's training for when the baby gets here!

carrieandr

My feet and ankles suddenly swelled up today. I called the dr but the answering service is just leaving him a message for Monday morning. I texted my sister (a dr) to see if that was okay and she said it's fine. So hopefully this is just a sign that I need to take it easy a little more.

The good news is, my first baby shower gift came in the mail today. It's wrapped, but there was a packing slip that said it's my diaper bag. I want to open it, but I'm going to wait for the shower next month. Argh!

lickastick

@CarrieandRoy my midwife and I just had a conversation about swelling. Her advice was up your intake of water, protein and salt to get it to reduce. Seems counterintuitive (salt part) but I believe her, we had a long conversation about how BP in pregnancy is not reduced by salt reduction like it is normally. Sorry your swelling