Weekly Check In 6/3

lickastick

This is a weekly check in for anyone pregnant over 35. If you are new to the board please feel free to jump right in!

How far along are you? 

How are you feeling?

Any baby news (tests results/scans/upcoming appointments?)

Rants/Raves/Questions:

GTKY: if you could travel back in time, when would you visit and why??

Sporty1216

Good morning, ladies!

How far along are you? 25 w 4d

How are you feeling? TIRED. Toddler wouldn't go to sleep until almost 10. I went to bed not long after but was up by 12:15. And then be decided to wake up for the day at 6am. I think I maybe slept for 2 hours in the recliner. Needless to say, we are watching some PBS kids this morning as I try to muster some energy. 

Any baby news (tests results/scans/upcoming appointments?) we have another scan with the MFM on Tuesday. Excited to see baby girl again. Hoping she is continuing to move up in the growth charts and that her heart looks good!

Rants/Raves/Questions: I'm FINALLY feeling lots of consistent movement, even with the anterior placenta. It's funny because I had kind of gotten used to not feeling her much, so now it surprises me every time. I can absolutely tell she is getting bigger and much stronger!

GTKY: if you could travel back in time, when would you visit and why?? Oh man. This is so hard! I want to visit all kinds of times. But today I am going to choose visiting the early pioneers, moving west in the 1800s. I like to think I could have done that...but I'm guessing a first-hand look at how hard that life was would change my mind. Haha. 

BernieRae

How far along are you? 23 weeks 3 days 

How are you feeling? I'm feeling pretty good. We had a hot and humid day earlier this week and I was definitely feeling that in my un air conditioned classroom.  I don't do well in hot humid weather to begin with. Usually it's not so humid here so I'm hoping for the best this summer! 

Any baby news (tests results/scans/upcoming appointments?) my next appt is next Friday. 

Rants/Raves/Questions: Not a priority, but I've been curious about nursing clothes. I know they're  not necessary, but wondering if it might be worth it to have a few pieces when baby arrives. Did you wear any nursing tops/dresses or do you plan to? 

GTKY: if you could travel back in time, when would you visit and why?? I'd love to go back to the late 40's/50's and get a peek at when my grandparents were newly married and how my parents grew up. I'd like be a fly on the wall in their homes. 

Sporty1216

@BernieRae -- I never did buy any specific nursing clothing--though it could certainly be handy! In the first weeks, I lived in a nursing tank and a zip-up hoody. Easy access, but presentable for company. after a while, I just got good at doing the one-up-one-down trick with a cami under a shirt. I could pull the bottom of the shirt up and pull the top of the cami down and still achieve basically fully coverage. 

carrieandr

How far along are you? 32 weeks tomorrow

How are you feeling? A little better. I woke up with normal feet/ankles, I haven't gained any weight in the last week (which means the 5 lbs I gained in the last two weeks was probably a lot of fluid), and I'm starting to need naps every day, which is really helping the insomnia. My body is starting to accept sleep again!!!

Any baby news? Short appt scheduled for 6/10. Nothing exciting.

Rants/Raves: I'm not sure if this is a rant or a rave, but baby girl is kicking super hard now. My belly pokes out a lot when she does it.  It hurts, but I'm glad she's strong and healthy.

Oh, and DH finally talked about names without being silly and I discovered he doesn't want to give her an Irish name. So I'm back to square one.  He's insisting that we pick a name from a song, though (and I can't tell if he's serious). He suggested Allison or Sara, based on songs. They are nice, but I always thought my children's names would be names I felt strongly about, that had always been favorites or appealed to me immediately. These just seem fine. Allison is pretty, but people would probably call her Ally, which I'm not as fond of. Why is this so hard?

GTKY: if you could travel back in time, when would you visit and why?? I'd like to go to the 1920's.  It seems like an interesting time, and I'd like to see what the world was like when my grandparents were young. (And I love the clothes and hats!)

BernieRae

@CarrieandRoy you could go with Eileen and you both win This has me searching my brain for name songs. Will come back and list some.

thanks, @Sporty1216. I've been thinking about it since getting some basic loose fitting GAP maternity dresses that I thought would work great post baby as well, but then realized I'd have to pull the whole dress up to bf. I'd be wearing leggings with them in the fall, but not sure how that would work. I guess it's one of those things that will take a little practice...

Sporty1216

@BernieRae -- dresses are totally the exception! For those, I do have a couple of maternity ones that are also designed for nursing. Otherwise, you really do have to disrobe. Haha. But if it has a good deep V and you wear with with a nursing tank or just a nursing bra, you can totally make that work! I love one I found at old navy--it looks like it has a built-in tank, but it actually has little holes in the bottom so you can pull aside the v-neck and lift up the necessary portion of the "tank". Anyway. I've never managed to do the pop the boob out the top of the shirt trick because my chest just isn't big enough, even when nursing, but if you can manage that, I think it opens up a lot of wardrobe choices too!

Whitewatermomma

How far along are you? 
28 weeks 1 day

How are you feeling?
slow.  I am a PE teacher and it's at the end of the year and I have no energy at all to do anything. ugh!

Any baby news (tests results/scans/upcoming appointments?)
One cankle still here.
Next week, ultrasound to see if my placenta has moved.  Crossing my fingers in has moved.  Pretty emotional about the fact I may have to have a c-section.

Rants/Raves/Questions:
Our house (we bought in March) is still being remodeled.  I just want to move in TODAY.  My husband and FIL have been working so hard but I don't want to wait anymore.

GTKY: if you could travel back in time, when would you visit and why??
I think I would like to travel back to when the colonists were settling or in the early 1900's...both times so interesting. 

lillebowski23

How far along are you? 35weeks 2 days home stretch baby!

How are you feeling? Tired and achy. Logistically ready for baby to be born. Also I could stand to drop some of this extra weight.... getting a little tough on the ole bod here.

Any baby news (tests results/scans/upcoming appointments?) First weekly appt is next Wednesday. They'll do an ultrasound to see if baby is head down and then.... ??

Rants/Raves/Questions: @CarrieandRoy I have the same thing! She leans into my belly and disdends the whole thing so it looks like a little lopsided cone!
@BernieRae I've invested in a couple of nursing tops and bras, also Lularoe maxi skirts which can double as a tube dress. A friend told me Old Navy is having a Tshirt sale and their v neck tulip hem (?) Seems like it would be perfect for nursing so I might get a couple of those. I am a WICKED CLOTHES HORSE these days!

GTKY: if you could travel back in time, when would you visit and why??
Hmmmm I think I'd like to see what the US looked like before European Settlement and prior to The Great Plague. I'd really like to see just how many people lived here then and also how their societies worked. What kind of infrastructure was there? Spiritually, what was it like? What was the food like? 

emsmama15

@BernieRae - With my first, I pretty much lived in Target's nursing tanks and yoga pants/sweats those first few weeks.  I'd throw a shirt on over the tank for company.  It was super convenient and I plan to do that same again.  

@whitewatermomma - Fingers crossed your placenta has moved.

@CarrieandRoy, @lillebowski23 - I was just sitting here looking at my lopsided belly and wondering how little girl is positioned because it appears her BUTT must be sticking out by my belly button.  So weird.  It cracks me up when they kick and my whole abdomen bounces.  

How far along are you?  27w4d

How are you feeling?  Okay, tired.  I've cut down a lot of my work shifts from 10 hours to 8 hours.  The problem is that we're SO busy so I have to get a lot of work done in 8 hours.  Yesterday was particularly stressful, having to call several consultants and get a couple complicated babies ready for discharge.  I started contracting (uncomfortable but not painful, so BH, I'm sure) at about 3pm and it continued until about 9pm (1-2 per hour) when I drank a bunch of water and laid down for bed.  I was up 4 times to use the bathroom and contracting each time.  It was just awful.  The contractions make me feel vaguely nauseous and my anxiety was at an all-time high too.  I almost went into L&D but they finally stopped.  I just hate this.  I'm so scared of preterm labor.  I don't think this is any indication of preterm delivery or anything, but it just doesn't feel good.  UGH!

Any baby news (tests results/scans/upcoming appointments?)  I see my OB next Thursday and have growth scans for the babies.  Excited to see how big they are now.  

Rants/Raves/Questions:  I guess, in regards BH contractions, for those who've had them, did you feel cervical and rectal pressure with them?  Did they make you feel nauseous?  I should probably just call my OB nurse and ask her...

GTKY: if you could travel back in time, when would you visit and why??  I would love to take ALL three of my babies and go back about 10 years when my mom was feeling really good so she could meet them.    I know she's watching over us, but I'd love for her to meet my babies.  

lickastick

@emsmama15 how nerve wracking! I've been having a lot of BH but all I feel is the uterus tightening. Do you think if this keeps up is your ob going to put you on bed rest? Yikes:( is there anymore wiggle room for working a little less? It sounds like your work has been so supportive so far. I'm sure the anxiety alone of wanting to keep them in there is stressful, add to that work stress and you must have a full plate. Rest and relax when you can mama!! 

Wyattnash00

@emsmama15, definitely keep an eye on those contractions, I don't think you should feel nauseous, plus you're on your feet all day with twins, it sounds like too much, worth a call.


@bernierae, I had two nursing tanks. Honestly I was naked from the waist up the first month most of the time and if we had company I went into my bedroom, wasn't confident or comfortable enough. Maybe buy 1-2 and see how it goes?


38+4, this girl is really hangin on, T minus 4 days at most

Wyattnash00

Take 2:

imfeeling done, but you guys knew that!


final Nst Monday with pre-op, scheduled CS for Tuesday at noon!!


id love to go back to the 50's, the attire, the 'innocence' of everything, plus I love back to the future, Peggy sue got married, pleasantville, so I'm likely just looking at the fantasy of it all!

Sporty1216

@emsmama15 -- that all does sound like an awful lot to have going on! I hope there is a way to work things out with your work to keep you off your feet more, at the very least! I have no idea what it is like to be a nicu nurse, so forgive the ignorance of this question, but is there any way you can be the paperwork person for at least part of your shift? 

@Wyattnash00 -- so excited for you! Is it strange this time knowing you have a firm date/time for when baby will be here (assuming you don't go in to labor before then)? I can't quite wrap my head around the repeat scheduled c-section yet, even though that is the plan. 

Wyattnash00

It's totally surreal @sporty1216 I think that's why my patience is all but gone as I know the end is near. Also nice as im
a planner so mother in law coming in, wake up Tuesday, say goodbye to W (I cry everytime I think about it and his life never being the same) and get this baby out! I guess you're pregnant for 10 months so when you're near the end you're just more then ready to get the baby out!

Wyattnash00

Plus it takes the anxiety of the unknown away. But I feel like I got 'jipped' without having gone into labor and experiencing that, as long as the baby is happy and healthy tho

Sporty1216

That helps me, @Wyattnash00 -- thank you! I am desperately hoping baby won't come before the planned date because we also have to bring family in from far away for help! I also get so sad sometimes when I think of saying goodbye to LO on that day. Or when I am just snuggling him and realizing it will never be as easy to do it as it is now. But then I think about him meeting his sister for the first time, and how sweet I hope that will be, and that helps. I get the feeling sad about not going into labor too. I labored for a long, long time with LO, but it was an induction. Part of me wants to experience spontaneous labor, but more of me wants my parents to be in town to watch LO! Haha. 

Super excited for you! FOUR DAYS!!!!!

emsmama15

@Sporty1216 - I've been actually sitting a LOT at work.  My day usually involves a couple hours of rounds (where I sit at each patient's bedside while we discuss the plan for the day), then I sit in our workroom and place orders on each baby.  I carry a load of about 8-12 patients each day, so there's a lot of computer order entry involved.  I walk around in the afternoon and check in on my patients, but I've even been trying to do that more by phone.  So I'm not on my feet a ton.  I'm not sure if it's the stress of the sick patients or what...

I called my clinic.  Based on what the nurse said, I probably should have called L&D last night and gone in.  But the contractions are way decreased from last night now.  The nurse said at this point I should rest and monitor.  We'll see how work goes tomorrow, I guess.  The good thing is that I'm just down the hall from L&D at work.    

Piperella

It sure seems like we are going to have some new LOs with us in the next week or so! So excited for you all! I can't imagine what that feels like, but I'm definitely excited for you all and can't wait to see pics!

How far along are you? 22 weeks, 5 days

How are you feeling? I feel sick to my stomach due to the kicks.  It's such a weird feeling that it really makes me nauseous feeling.  I've had a sensitive stomach my whole life, and it's just compounded right now.  I'm actually hoping it gets better as baby gets bigger and can't do as many acrobatics in my stomach.  I'm also a very cold natured person and I'm just now starting to feel comfortable in air conditioning, which I know means I'm starting to warm up a bit..

Any baby news (tests results/scans/upcoming appointments?) Nope.  Nothing until 6/16.  Oh, I do have leukocytosis, as diagnosed by my PCP, but the said it was pregnancy related, not infection, etc. related.

Rants/Raves/Questions: It's the weekend!  My husband finally got a full-time job!  I've been the sole income for our family since he came from Scotland (2009) and I'm so excited.  I'm just so excited that it's full time and he's happy. 

GTKY: if you could travel back in time, when would you visit and why??  Maybe my childhood innocence would be ruined, but i'd like to go to my family get-togethers from the 80s... I'd love to see the dynamics of my family when I felt that everyone was healthier and happier.  I'd love to get to know my grandparents on an adult level when it was a big giant fun family gathering full of laughs.

Sporty1216

Oh, gosh, @emsmama15 ! I'm glad you are off your feet a lot already, but sorry that leaves you with fewer options for lightening your load. 

And, @Piperella -- huge congrats to your DH (and you!). Woot woot! Great timing for that to happen!

carrieandr

@BernieRae, Eileen would be perfect but it's my mom's name!!  We always play "Come on Eileen" for her at family weddings.

@lillebowski23 she's been sticking her butt out and making me lopsided for quite a while now, but the hard kicks are new. I get a small protrusion almost like a nose on my side. She pushes really hard!

@emsmama15 I've been getting a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions. Most are when I use my stomach muscles to roll over or stand up. Sometimes I just get them when I'm lying still, though. No nausea, but the past couple of days I feel like my vagina is stretching open. It aches like I've been riding a horse or something. I read about pre-term labor and it said that if the contractions don't include your back, you're probably okay. But definitely trust the dr/nurse. I'm totally new at this.

lickastick

@piparella congrats on your hubby's job, that is fantastic news! Hope Mr Bojangles doesn't move around on you too much. 

How far along are you? 26 weeks

How are you feeling? Good except for the pregsomnia, some aches and pains and the hips, oy vey the hips! My little dude punched/kicked me right in the bladder as I was peeing- that is too much dude! I have been having BH at least 4 times a day or so. 

Any baby news (tests results/scans/upcoming appointments?) Nothing on this front for 2 more weeks

Rants/Raves/Questions: Rave, I am all done with all of my yoga classes! I am foot loose and fancy free for my last 3 months of freedom, I imagine the last month will be more couch bound and beached whale

GTKY: if you could travel back in time, when would you visit and why??
I would love to go back to the 70's and be in my early 20's to party and protest and feel the love! It would also be pretty cool to go back to the height of the roman empire or the renaissance or be in germany when the wall came down. 

BernieRae

@Wyattnash00
So exciting that you'll be holding your baby in a few days! You're giving your son such a gift with having a 2nd child. I already feel a bit guilty thinking mine will likely not have a sibling!

@emsmama15 How are you feeling today? Sorry if I missed this info, but is your plan to work as long as possible or do you have an end date in mind prior to expected delivery? I hope you're feeling well today and can take little breaks to check in with your body throughout your work day. I'd imagine with your job, even with opportunities for sitting, it would be easy to be so focused on the care of your patients that you get out of touch with how you're feeling. As you said, glad L&D is right down the hall just in case. 

@CarrieandRoy your mom is Eileen! Well, back to the drawing board....Although maybe SHE would love to have a granddaughter named after her

RE: nursing clothes. Thanks for the tips/ideas! I'm not really thinking about them for the first weeks. Tanks will totally work for that and I don't really care about being "presentable" in my own home. I was thinking about when I 1st return to work and what I can wear to easily pump if I need to.  I also want to avoid trying to zip pants 3 months pp if my body is just not there yet. Although with pumping do you have to pull your whole top off anyway? Or maybe lifting up the whole dress would actually work for that. Yep, I really have no idea how any of this works!   @Sporty1216 unfortunately the maternity dresses have no give at the neck  

redheadbride15

*graduate lurking*

@Sporty1216 good luck with your scan Tues! Keep us posted!
@BernieRae I've been living in Bravado nursing tanks since giving birth. I have three of them and they're in constant rotation. I just throw a cardigan on over them if I need to look more presentable. Or I've worn a loose shirt over them and that combo provides almost complete coverage for nursing in public. I honestly don't see myself needing anything else for months. I have a couple jersey knit (stretchy) V-neck dresses that I think will work too, though I haven't tried them yet.
@CarrieandRoy here's a list of song-inspired names: https://www.babycenter.com/0_baby-names-inspired-by-popular-songs_10305357.bc#articlesection2
I like Clementine, Cecilia, Lucy, Veronica. Rhiannon is both a song name and a Celtic name (Welsh, not Irish though).
@emsmama15 sorry for your contraction scare! Glad things have settled down. Keep cooking, babies!
@Wyattnash00 it's almost baby time!!! I'm so excited for you! Wishing you the best of luck for a smooth c-section and speedy recovery.
@Piperella congrats to your DH! That's fantastic news!

Sporty1216

Clementine! Love that one, @redheadbride15 !

ETA: I think "Clem" would be the sweetest girl nickname. If it didn't alliterate with our last name, I'd put it on my list!

Vastra

How far along are you? 5w 1d

How are you feeling? Tired, and very sore in the boobies. I have had some crazy bloating on and off, and some dizziness, but nothing major.

Any baby news (tests results/scans/upcoming appointments?) Went to the doc yesterday for a beta draw, and she ended up doing a US to rule out ectopic. There's definitely something in there, and in the right place! 

Rants/Raves/Questions: I am not crazy about my doc, and I wasn't super excited to see her. I need to switch anyway because we moved and because she has stopped delivering, but I did want to go to someone who has my history and has dealt with 35+ moms (and I still work where we used to live, so it wasn't inconvenient). But she either disregarded my questions, or answered with "I've been doing this for 20 years." So I've been researching docs in my new area and will try to get some recs on my local board. 

GTKY: if you could travel back in time, when would you visit and why?? 1930, the year my grandmother and her identical twin turned 13. That's the year they moved to L.A., and were apparently quite the mischief makers. Would love to be witness to their shenanigans! 

Mamafesto

Late to the party as usual!

@Wyattnash - so happy you get to meet your girl in a few short days! I'll be sending positive thoughts for a smooth delivery and quick recovery!

@emsmama15 - glad things have settled down! Hope you can really slow things down at work and home to keep those babies cooking.

How far along are you? 28w - officially 3rd tri! How the hell did that happen?!?!

How are you feeling? Mostly well. Things have finally slowed down with travel and work craziness, so I'm catching up sleep and getting more time to relax. Woke up to a wicked leg cramp early this morning, but I remember this just being a part of the deal with the 3rd tri in my last pregnancy. Hopefully it won't be too frequent.

Any baby news (tests results/scans/upcoming appointments?) 28 week appointment on Tues morning with the dreaded GD test...

Rants/Raves/Questions: Nothing much to report this week.

GTKY: if you could travel back in time, when would you visit and why?? so many different eras I would mostly like to just observe and not necessarily live through (as a woman, going back much further than the 70s is slightly terrifying). 

emsmama15

Hey everyone!  Thanks for all your words of encouragement.  Unfortunately, I worked on Saturday and ended up in L&D with contractions again.  After another fetal fibronectin swab (negative), being tested for GBS (in case of delivery), a trans-vaginal ultrasound to check cervical length, and a scary discussion about what would happen if I was dilating ... I wasn't dilated and my contractions slowed down after I drank about 80 extra ounces of water.  I think I might be done working.  I took today and tomorrow off and am doing administrative stuff.  I have an appointment with my OB on Thursday and plan to discuss with her.  I just think it's too much for me at this point.  So disappointed and overwhelmed right now.

Wyattnash00

Deep breaths @emsmama15, do whatever is best for the babies, give it a couple of days to sink In and hopefully you'll feel a bit better. Always better safe then sorry, hugs:)

lickastick

I'm sorry @emsmama15 that must be really heartbreaking. Perhaps it is divine intervention and you will get a much needed rest before you bring TWINS into the world! That is a huge undertaking and I hope that everything settles down and those babies stay in and cook! Wishing you all the luck with what comes next and hugs!!

Sporty1216

Oh, man, @emsmama15   I am so sorry! That sounds scary! I'm glad babies are staying put, and I hope you can work something out regarding work... I can only imagine your disappointment and how overwhelmed you must feel.  But know you are doing an awesome job growing those little babies! I feel confident they can already tell what a good mama they have. Take good care! Wish we could all come around and help!

carrieandr

@redheadbride15 Clementine and Cecilia were already on my list before the song thing came up! I haven't mentioned Clementine to DH because I doubt he'd go for it, but I think I will now. (I still doubt he'll go for it.)

@emsmama15 can the dr tell you if the contractions are real vs Braxton Hicks? I'm so sorry you're going through this. Hopefully the babies will stay put for a while.

emsmama15

@CarrieandRoy - they're real in that they show up on the monitor.  Not sure if BH contractions do?  The last time I was in L&D, my "contractions" were really just spikes because they were so short (10 seconds or so).  These last up to 30+ seconds.  They're uncomfortable but not painful.  The OB seemed quite concerned.  Luckily though, they did not dilate my cervix.  I'm going to ask my OB on Thursday.  

BernieRae

@emsmama15 oh man, I'm sorry things are going this way and that you're feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. I hope an early exit from work, if best,  does not create too much of a hardship for your family. 

lillebowski23

@emsmama15 sounds pretty scary and glad to hear that you and babies are okay! It must be a drag to think about giving up work when emotionally you aren't ready, but you are strong and work is for chumps anyway . No but seriously, you are strong mama, your body is giving you the okay to really slow down.

I experienced a lighter version of this at work on Friday and yesterday as I am training my replacement and running around a lot... not enough to go to the hospital although I did consider calling my doctor because the BHs were super strong and consistent. I am almost 36 weeks so I suppose it's time for me to slow down too.

Too bad this slowing down thing doesn't include a tropical beach, sexy pool boys, massages and mai tais! Or pina coloadas. Great, now I want one!

Hang in there mama!

carrieandr

@emsmama15 I don't know how that works, regarding the monitor. I've been getting a lot of BH contractions. I haven't paid attention to the duration, but I know they aren't coming in a rhythmic pattern. I get them when I use my stomach muscles and also when I lay in bed at night. The opposite situations (exertion and relaxation) don't make sense to me. Some don't hurt at all, some are uncomfortable (usually when the baby is really bulging one spot) and a few times it was painful when it happened as I was standing up.

Sporty1216

Had another follow-up with the MFM this morning. Good news! The tech didn't even see a heart defect. The doctor came in and is pretty sure he sees one, but said it is 3mm at the most and may not even be clinically relevant. Baby girl is now in the 28th percentile, so that was good too! He said they are looking at all kinds of stuff--brain, kidneys, etc--and everything looks great. So, God is good. We will go see pediatric cardiologists in the next couple of weeks, just because the MFM wants their opinion about whether this is something we even need to track after birth. So, this is all good news! Thanks for your support, prayers, and good thoughts. I feel like we are getting closer to being back in "boring, normal pregnancy" territory. 

And now, off to swim lessons with LO!

lickastick

Yipee @Sporty1216! Fantastic news and so happy your girl is growing!

carrieandr

I'm so glad to hear it, @Sporty1216 !

Vastra

@Sporty1216 yay for boring and normal!

lillebowski23

Hooray!