Messages

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Preterm Labor: Anything and Everything / Re: Anxious about every symptom

« on: July 13, 2018 at 07:14 PM »

I'm so familiar with the anxiety around that time! You're so close to viability, and yet not there yet. It's such a stressful time, so, hugs. I will say it sounds like what you're dealing with is normal; I know vaginal progesterone definitely causes more discharge, so I wouldn't worry about that too much, especially because the length of your cervix sounds fantastic. That's longer than any measurements I ever had, am I'm still here at 35 weeks. As far as back pain, if it's really, really bothering you to the point where you're extremely uncomfortable, then I might call, but if not, I'd also attribute it to normal pregnancy pain. I've had some pain and cramping throughout, and often it was either due to baby's position, or needing to take a BM (sorry for the TMI!). Given your cervical length though, I would not worry too much about the symptoms you're describing. Try not to stress, that's not helpful to the baby either!

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for July 9, 2018

« on: July 11, 2018 at 04:59 PM »

Oh man, I'm teeerrrible with songs, never remembering the singer/song name/lyrics lol. Basically what sticks with me is a good beat and the chorus  I really like classical music (instrumental classical, like Bach and Mozart type stuff) because it's so calming and makes me feel like my brain is being fed musically.

I'm 34+5 today, officially longer than I was pregnant with my last baby! I had a ton of contractions Saturday night, and was close to calling the on call OB, but they ended up subsiding eventually. Since then I've been having some somewhat painful ones in the evening, but nothing regular. I'm not sure I'll make it to 40, but I'm very glad I'm almost to 35. I'm hoping my chances of baby having to be in the NICU are becoming less and less, as my 34 weeker was only in for 12 days. I have an appointment on Friday and will bring up the contractions and see what they think. I'm getting very swollen and uncomfortable these days, but still very happy to be pregnant. People are so kind to me these days. Probably because they feel sorry haha.

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for July 2, 2018

« on: July 02, 2018 at 02:38 PM »

I'm 33+3 today. It's hard to believe I had my last baby at 34 weeks. I'm also slightly paranoid as the days draw closer to 34 weeks that the same thing will happen again, BUT my son is 18 months and perfect, so I know if I make it to 34 we should be ok. According to the doctors, there still is no reason for me to have any restrictions, and other than occasional BH contractions so far, I have no signs of labor, so I'm just taking it day by day. My water has broken randomly with my previous pregnancies though, and that's what starts contractions, so I'm not even sure my body will give me signs leading up to it. My c/s is scheduled for August 16th though, so if I don't go before, that's the day!

I'm looking forward to Tuesday and Wednesday off for the 4th of July, and possibly Thursday as well, but I'm not 100% sure. It's my favorite holiday. We may go to the beach with my SIL Tuesday, and Wednesday we'll go to the parade in my hometown.

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for June 25, 2018

« on: June 26, 2018 at 06:05 PM »

32+4 today. I'm getting more comfortable by the day that things will turn out ok! Contractions haven't been too bad lately, thankfully. I had my c-section scheduled for August 10, but want to push it closer to or beyond my due date so I can hopefully go into labor on my own, so we'll see how that goes. The next possible date that works is August 15, but I'm checking to see if they will allow me to have it on the 20th (my due date is the 17th and I'm pretty sure I'm a week later than the doctor's standard calculation). I might not have to worry about any of this, but it's very surreal to schedule the birth of my child and have it all planned out. I kind of like it better when it's spontaneous.

I have an appointment Thursday, but I think it will be very standard and quick, as I don't have any concerns right now. Other than that, things are going pretty well; my oldest turned 4 today, and we had her party over the weekend, which was fun.

I'm looking forward to the weekend, it's going to be hot, so we will hopefully spend some time at the lake.

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What's Your Story? Tell us. / Re: Back for round 3

« on: June 20, 2018 at 04:59 PM »

Congratulations on making it this far EnglishRose! Prayers that your NICU stay goes well and your baby grows and thrives.

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for June 18, 2018

« on: June 19, 2018 at 05:54 PM »

31+4 today. I'm not on any restrictions, but have been laying pretty low as it's gotten hotter. I get pretty swollen in the heat, so try not to do much. I have all this motivation to hang out with friends, but after a full day with the kids, I just want them in bed early and want to relax on the couch watching TV or reading, so that's what I've been doing lately haha. I'm very much looking forward to being able to exercise again though. As much as it's nice to take it easy, I just want to be active again.

I should be able to make the chat, I actually remembered today.

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for June 11, 2018

« on: June 12, 2018 at 04:00 PM »

30+4 today. I can't believe I'm at 30 weeks already! My son came in less than 4 weeks from this point, so I'm starting to get a little anxious, but hopeful I'll make it beyond that this time around. Contractions have settled down the past several days, so that's good.

I don't have kids in school yet, so there's no difference for me yet. But I do plan on homeschooling, so probably sometime in the next month or so I'll order the books for my daughter to casually start preK work over the summer.

I'm usually at work at my desk for the live chat, so the timing works for me, I just tend to forget...

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for June 4, 2018

« on: June 04, 2018 at 03:29 PM »

29+3 today. I'm getting pretty uncomfortable these days, easily getting out of breath and just feeling like I have no energy. TMI, but I've had some mild diarrhea for almost a week (just about twice a day though, so I don't think it warrants a call to the doctor) and one nose bleed a day since Thursday, so I'm kind of paranoid if these are signs of labor, or just third tri issues that can happen. I also have a few fairly strong (but not painful) contractions per day, and I'm wondering if I should be concerned about that as well. Nothing regular, and very infrequent, but I can most definitely feel them. I'm just so paranoid that these mean I'll go into labor soon, but at the same time, nothing is happening frequently enough or with a consistent pattern, so I'm probably fine, right?

We've had very summer like weather the past week, it's almost been too much for me, as the heat causes me to swell pretty bad and just makes me generally uncomfortable. But this week looks really, really nice. I want to take my kids to the park but I'll see how I feel this week in general, I don't want to over do it.

Oh, in some really positive news, I passed my glucose test on Friday, and I'm measuring right on track and everything looks great, so that was good to hear.

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for May 28, 2018

« on: May 31, 2018 at 07:10 PM »

I'll be 29 weeks tomorrow. My growth scan at 28 weeks looked great, so for now I don't need to go back to MFM. I have my glucose test tomorrow, so hopefully I pass that. Overall I've been feeling really good, and according to MFM I can continue all activity as normal, as I have been so far. I'm breathing easier and easier, but still am praying so hard to make it to full term; even though my son was born at 34 weeks which is great, I so very much want to just bring my baby home right away. But I'm still very thankful to be this far along.

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for May 21, 2018

« on: May 23, 2018 at 03:51 PM »

27+5 today; 2 more days until 28 weeks and the third trimester! I can't wait. I have a growth scan on Friday, so I'm praying everything looks good, but I'm so grateful to have made it to the next goal. I'm looking forward to seeing how things look and what they have to say about any restrictions or not. I'm getting to the point where I'm super worried about my water breaking at any moment...

Since growing up and entering the work force, then having kids, I've slacked so much with reading. And I waste WAY too much time on my phone. So I'd like to come up with a reading goal, as my "to read" list is a mile long. Mostly it consists of faith based (philosophical, theological, apologetics) type books, but I also have a lot of classics I'd like to read or re-read. I LOVE classics.

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What's Your Story? Tell us. / Re: Updated**24 weeks and facing preterm labor.. again!**

« on: May 08, 2018 at 07:03 PM »

I've been following your posts OBMom. Congrats on making it this far, how amazing! Keep us posted!

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for May 7, 2018

« on: May 07, 2018 at 03:35 PM »

Hi there, 25+3 today! So very happy to be here, but still super nervous about making it to full term. I think having a preemie (although he was a 34 weeker, which is very, very good) is making me more nervous about it happening again, versus the last time when I didn't know what to expect at all. But I'm feeling fine, and everything has been going well so far, so I have no reason to be anxious at this point. I think I'll breathe much easier when we make it to 28 weeks.

My hips and pelvis and lower back have been soooo achey lately. Each pregnancy gets worse, I feel like I'm breaking apart when I walk! Hopefully I can get back to normal after pregnancy; I know after my last baby, running hurt SO bad when I started to get back into it.

I may be able to make the live chat tomorrow, I keep forgetting each week, but it should work out tomorrow if I remember!

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Making the Best of Bed Rest / Re: Monday Roll Call for April 30, 2018

« on: April 30, 2018 at 06:30 PM »

Hi there! 24+3 today. I'm so happy to have made it to this goal, but still very much looking forward to the next one of 28 weeks. I had sporadic contractions Friday, and a few over the weekend, and they make me slightly anxious because I keep having thoughts about my water breaking. It's broken on it's own with both my previous pregnancies, so I know what it feels like and I keep envisioning it happening right now. I think part of it was due to baby's position though, I think he/she was low over the weekend because I had to keep going to the bathroom, and just felt heavy and out of breath, but today I feel great. No urge to urinate constantly, I don't feel heavy, and no contractions. So my paranoia may have just been due to a baby pushing right up against my bladder ha.

I love being pregnant, although the riskiness and anxiety are major dampers now, but with this one more than my others I'm reaaallly looking forward to the newborn stage and having a baby to snuggle and watch grow and reach milestones. Since he/she will be our 3rd, it's kind of hard to think of things to lug 3 kids along to, but I'm really looking forward to being able to go on walks again. I'll have the older 2 in the double stroller and the baby in a carrier, so I think it'll work. I'm very much looking forward to getting in shape again.

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Pregnancy Complications / Re: Sludge/Contraction/Short Cervix/Preventative Cerclage - 16 weeks

« on: April 27, 2018 at 07:43 PM »

Oh Lauren, I'm so sorry for all you've gone through, but very happy you've made it this far. I'll be keeping you and baby in my prayers, I can't imagine all the stress you're dealing with, but it does sound like your doctors are on top of your care!

I had PROM at 34 weeks with my second. I had quite a bit of discharge the whole pregnancy, but earlier in the day that I went into labor, it was more watery and more frequent. Then at on point I shifted on the couch and it was definitely a bigger than normal gush and I just knew. It was the 2nd time my water broke (it broke on it's own with my first too) and for me, when I pee, I can't stop it, so that's also how I know it's different. It just keeps leaking despite tightening up to stop peeing. The 2nd time around it wasn't as much as the first time (with my first it leaked on the floor and was soaking a pad), but it was much more noticeable than discharge.

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Preterm Labor: Anything and Everything / Re: Ultrasounds after week 24?

« on: April 27, 2018 at 03:21 PM »

I'm sorry you were not happy with your care, it seems it's always hit or miss when there are many doctors in a practice.

Since this is my second go around of the cervical issues, I do know that sometimes they are extremely quick, just to check the length, and most of the time the baby isn't even looked at, as long as your anatomy scan and everything else checked out fine. And yes, vaginal u/s can be painful and cause cramping afterwards.

Is this your first? From everything I've experienced and read, it's not standard practice to start progesterone for a first pregnancy unless you have signs of PTL or a really short cervix, but since yours seems stable, I don't think it would warrant progesterone at this point. I know it's tough, but I think there just isn't a way to know if it's helpful at this point with a first pregnancy. All the signs DO point to you being able to carry to term even with you not on it right now.

Also, unless there are concerns about the baby's growth, at least in my experience, I don't receive growth scans at all. With my 1st, I just had an u/s at 6 weeks because I had some bleeding, then the anatomy scan at 20 weeks and that was it. With my second I had the cervical scans until 24 weeks and none after. With this baby I am scheduled for a growth scan around 28 weeks, I think because the baby is measuring somewhat small, but I know it's because I ovulated later than they are calculating, so I'm not too concerned.

I totally get the anxiety. I'm very much the type of person that needs constant reassurance, and every little thing makes me paranoid. However, based on the research and based on the assurances of one of the doctors I saw who I immediately knew knows his stuff, I'm convinced the care I'm getting (and from what it sounds like, you're getting as well) is right in line with everything proven to help at this point. Anything more is just there to "make us feel better" because as the doctor put it, often doing something feels better than doing nothing even if it truly doesn't help.

And I know how hard it is to just wait it out. I've been there once and am there again (I'm 24 weeks today!) I wish there was more I could do to ensure I won't deliver early, but at this point medically, everything IS being done that can be, and the chances are good, but even with all that there's still the chance of going into PTL. Just be sure to watch for any real signs of labor, listen to your body, and enjoy the milestone you have reached and focus on meeting the next one!