Pregnancy- July 2011

I called my OB yesterday because I had a question about medicine I could take for my wrist. She said she could prescribe me sometime stronger than Tylenol if I wanted but it sounds like a pregnancy related carpel tunnel not a sprain. She also said it could be delayed pain from the way I slammed my hand into the Harry Patter sign at the movie theater. After wearing my brace all day yesterday I have no pain now, but I’m going to keep wearing the brace at work for a few more days just because I’m at a computer all day.

Glucose test was fine. I got really worried because I talked to a few people who got really sick and dizzy during the test, but I had no problem at all. The people who got sick are also ones who had gestational diabetes, so my wishful thinking is that since I didn’t feel sick than I don’t have it. Pregnancy logic at its best! :laugh:

I'm sorry guys I had taken the rest of the day after my post to try to get some rest and walking in but nothing. Still having contractions but they've spread out again Although last night I didn't get much rest cause I kept feeling some crazy painful contractions. I really hope it's soon but i'm guess that i may be 2cm and stuck there right now. Going to work up til 1pm today then i may just leave after this.

Julie: I hope your visit goes well today and hopefully have your LO very soon.

Anne: That's so cool about your brother. I hope he keeps doing well also!

Re. the topic of swearing I think kids will be exposed regardless esp if they're in a public school and it's just up to the parents if they decide that it's a big deal or not. I didn't swear much growing up or as an adult just don't think it really fits my personality i was more of one that would make up funny little fake bad words just to make ppl laugh. I think i'll talk to my LO if I ever hear it but sometimes i think as a child if you're forbidden it makes it more fun to rebel.

Elizabeth: I hope everything goes well at your wedding and most of all you enjoy every minute.

Racheal: That's great! You have my support for the induction I hope you have your LO in your arms very soon.

Edit:
Ron: I experienced a really bad pain w my thumb after opening too many water bottles just after 24 wks and it hasn't gone away. The doctor thinks its pregnancy related (hormone relaxin) so she just gave me a stint which made my wrist sore and just made it worst so i'm just having to deal w it until baby comes. Hopefully yours goes away I know it's not only painful but also annoying when you can't do things like you normally would.

welcome to new people btw!

And julie ... I am so worried I am gonna flip out and get very hysterical at being told I need a c-section. I havent even tried to mentally prepare myself for that.

Elizabeth - good luck with your wedding!

Maria - sorry about your contractions. I noticed I have really bad/painful ones at night but they never last super long.

For those of you considering different pain management - i'd recommend you ask your dr / hospital if they offer nitrous. Especially those in early preg because there's the chance they might implement it by then. I'd recommend you bring it up to your Dr no matter if you intend to use it or not, because the more people that ask about it the better chance it will be offered wide spread in the states again. I would 100% do it that way again if we ever have more kids. It doesn't do much for the active labor part - you have to make it through that, but that pain (for me at least) was very manageable. It hurts a lot, but it's not excruciating. (I did get a shot of something, but it was for the migraine and helped a little with overall pain for a little while, i wouldn't have though if it weren't for the migraine). nitrous isn't good for active labor because it takes a little while to kick in and is right back out of your system in seconds, so there's not enough time for it to kick in and help too much as contractions come and go. It's great for the end though because you can pick to do a little or a lot - anything from "take the edge off" to "can't really feel anything" - it doesn't take all the pain away, but let's just say, during the pushing phase (i started nitrous right before pushing) I couldn't even tell when I was having a contraction! I could feel mild to moderate pain from pushing and crowning, but you also get the joy of not really being able to remember all of it (if you choose to go heavy on the nitrous - which I very much chose to do! :laugh: ) The only possible downside to it is if you want heavy pain coverage you have to give up a little of the awareness - you are not knocked out - you are very aware of everything that is going on, but you're a little slow to communicate things and it is a little hazzy. It wears off right away though. You can also lower your intake to be less drugged, but I didn't really want to because I didn't want to feel the pain and I was afraid of how much it would hurt! I am sure i could have easily lowered it a little. :laugh: I'd just recommend requesting in advance that your provider walk you through everything that is happening. You're probably a bit confused as to exactly what is going on in any first delivery (this was technically my first) so it helps to have them really explain what is going on - and with nitrous - because it's new to the drs an nurses - to know that you are very aware but have a delay in responding. They were unsure if i could hear their instructions etc since they never had anyone use it before. I at one point, after some hard pushing and pain had to ask if the baby was born yet or if I had to keep pushing :laugh: (unfortunately, the latter!)

Anyway, that's my avocation for nitrous! I remember afterward telling my husband "that's some good ****!" And like I said, even if you dont think you'll do it, you should ask about it because it needs interest to pick back up in popularity here. Maybe by time you have kids next time it will be more readily available and you can try it! I am sure our UK mamas here can vouch for it as well!

For those of you considering different pain management - i'd recommend you ask your dr / hospital if they offer nitrous. Especially those in early preg because there's the chance they might implement it by then. I'd recommend you bring it up to your Dr no matter if you intend to use it or not, because the more people that ask about it the better chance it will be offered wide spread in the states again. I would 100% do it that way again if we ever have more kids. It doesn't do much for the active labor part - you have to make it through that, but that pain (for me at least) was very manageable. It hurts a lot, but it's not excruciating. (I did get a shot of something, but it was for the migraine and helped a little with overall pain for a little while, i wouldn't have though if it weren't for the migraine). nitrous isn't good for active labor because it takes a little while to kick in and is right back out of your system in seconds, so there's not enough time for it to kick in and help too much as contractions come and go. It's great for the end though because you can pick to do a little or a lot - anything from "take the edge off" to "can't really feel anything" - it doesn't take all the pain away, but let's just say, during the pushing phase (i started nitrous right before pushing) I couldn't even tell when I was having a contraction! I could feel mild to moderate pain from pushing and crowning, but you also get the joy of not really being able to remember all of it (if you choose to go heavy on the nitrous - which I very much chose to do! :laugh: ) The only possible downside to it is if you want heavy pain coverage you have to give up a little of the awareness - you are not knocked out - you are very aware of everything that is going on, but you're a little slow to communicate things and it is a little hazzy. It wears off right away though. You can also lower your intake to be less drugged, but I didn't really want to because I didn't want to feel the pain and I was afraid of how much it would hurt! I am sure i could have easily lowered it a little. :laugh: I'd just recommend requesting in advance that your provider walk you through everything that is happening. You're probably a bit confused as to exactly what is going on in any first delivery (this was technically my first) so it helps to have them really explain what is going on - and with nitrous - because it's new to the drs an nurses - to know that you are very aware but have a delay in responding. They were unsure if i could hear their instructions etc since they never had anyone use it before. I at one point, after some hard pushing and pain had to ask if the baby was born yet or if I had to keep pushing :laugh: (unfortunately, the latter!)

Anyway, that's my avocation for nitrous! I remember afterward telling my husband "that's some good ****!" And like I said, even if you dont think you'll do it, you should ask about it because it needs interest to pick back up in popularity here. Maybe by time you have kids next time it will be more readily available and you can try it! I am sure our UK mamas here can vouch for it as well!

Hmmm interesting. I personally don't do well on that stuff. I had it for a tooth once and FREAKED OUT. :noway: So I'll stick with my epidural again. That was awesome. I had a great dr. put it in so I was only numb from my stomach to the top of my legs. I could still feel pressure but not pain. I also could move my legs. It gave me a chance to relax and I got it at midnight and I was pushing by 2am. Good stuff. Anyway, glad that you found something that worked for you. I didn't like the "out of it" feeling I had with nitrous but glad that it worked for you!

The "only" reason they say don't eat when i labor is because of the chance of needing general anesthesia and aspirating if you vomit. You may or may not puke during labor (I puked like 6 times this go round - but it was from the magnesium and pit combo) but that's not really why they say don't eat. Some hospitals are even advancing to the point where they don't make laboring women NPO. You're going to be hungry and you need energy - before you go to the hospital, stop and have dinner! My midwife actually suggested to me to be sure to eat before I came in because they would not let me eat there. Funny story - my mom when she was in labor with her 3rd didn't tell my dad for like 6 hours because she wanted to eat and knew as soon as she told him he would not let her - since it was very common instruction back then not to eat at all when in labor.

When a friend of mine's water broke she was in the middle of devouring the packet of chocolates that her hubby had hidden from her (as per her instructions), so before she ran to tell him she neatly put the chocolates back in their hiding place and disposed of the evidence :laugh:

I had more blood work this morning.
They did my GD test early (at 24 weeks) given my history so this time I had the rest of the normal 28-ish weeks stuff done (CBC, blood type, urine sample).
The lab opens at 7 am according to the sign on the door. I get there at 6:50 and the waiting room was FULL. What time did THEY ALL get there??!! Crazy!

Baby shower is planned for August 27th and I'm excited about it. Can't wait to see what neat baby girl things are on the market. It's fun knowing what's growing in there. We weren't allowed to find out when I was pregnant with my daughter in 2005/2006 as it was against policy so everything was gender neutral until after she was born.

She's all set for clothes for a while (especially sleepers) and the crib is ordered, we have a new convertible car seat but I want to get an infant one as well.
Not sure if we're going to bother with a change table or not. Maybe we'll refinish an old dresser and use a contoured change pad just to save money.
Still need a diaper bag too but it's hard to find something practical.
I'm waiting until after the baby shower to go shopping for the odds and ends. Exciting!!

I have a prenatal appointment tomorrow afternoon. Nothing interesting ever happens. I'm tempted to throw the scale out the office window though. I should have gained much over the last 3-weeks thanks to really watching what I eat because of GD. Here's hoping!

Monday 8 am. So the latest will be Monday that I will see my sweet little girl.

Monday 8 am. So the latest will be Monday that I will see my sweet little girl.

Very exciting!!!
All the best