[Eriksgirl19]

Netty - Nice to hear from you & glad you are doing well! Thank you for the feedback on the camera.

For those of you who have Braxton-Hicks, I have a question. How do you know when you've had a contraction? I don't think I've had any but since I have no idea what it feels like, I'm unsure. Is it one of those things you definitley know is happening?

[Celeste]

Laura - My understanding about BH contractions is that some people realize it and some don't. I always can spot them. They don't hurt, although they are now starting to get a bit uncomfortable. It is just this tightening in your abdomen which lasts less than a minute then goes away. SOme people swear they aren't having any then get tested and are having them a lot. I wouldn't worry about it either way, once labor starts, you'll know!!!

Fossie and Dellema - I would assume if you have bad knees, adding extra weight, plus pregnancy throws your balance and center of gravity off so much that it can defintiely irritate already bad knees.
Fossie - Has your doc given you a date that will be the latest possible delivery date yet? My doc mentioned 9/29 and I told her she was crazy, that 38 1/2 weeks with twins might kill me. Even my DD was only 38 weeks 1 day!

Christie - I do feel near explosion, but I really should not complain as other than feeling very tired over the past week or so and having some back strain, I feel quite good. I don't have nay swelling. I sleep better than I thought I would and nothing else really hurts. It would be nice to breathe a little easier, but it's all worth it. ANd frankly, I'm getting more nervous about having to take care of them once they come out than having them stay in there!

And yes, wearing regular shoes in the dead heat of summer is tough to begin with but certainly no fun during pregnancy- my foot has grown!

[mum2abbylily]

Hi ladies.... have been lurking like Netty but haven't posted in a while! Glad to see everyone is well.
Tabitha - George looks like he is doing great! How wonderful!

Sorry some of you are getting the puffiness, aches and pains of this trimester..... I guess it's just part of it and will soon be a distant memory!

I too have both types of cramps...those that feel menstrual ( I think perhaps that is to do with the ligaments, plus I know Annabelle is head down already, so her being so low may have something to do with that) I especially notice those cramps when I sit on the floor. Then I also notice BH a few times a day..... I was never aware of BH with DD, but am having them this time around....they're painless, just a little odd...suddenly my belly gets very tight and hard, then it passes.

Wow - we're all getting closer... i really wonder who will be next!? I can't believe my ticker says 41 days to go! Yikes!
I haven't packed my bag yet (actually, haven't even visited the hospital!)...... BUT, Annabelle has diapers, and I went baby shopping yesterday with MIL so she now also has lots of clothes, already washed and folded! I think the only thing left on my list to buy now is new nursing bras and tops, because the one's from when I had DD are yucky! Ha!

[flamingpajamas]

I feel like I am the resident expert on Braxton Hicks contractions since I have been feeling them for sooooo long (since 14 wks) and I get so many. It is also my understanding that some women feel them and some don't. They do tend to get stronger and more frequent as pregnancy progresses and some women do feel like they are painful towards the end.

Mine have never really been painful. I feel a tightening in my abdomen and if you put your hand over my uterus it feels like there is a rock where my uterus used to be. Not always the whole thing though. Sometimes right or left, top only or bottom. sometimes the entire uterus - those are the ones that take my breath away. Not pain, just a feeling like I got the wind knocked out of me.

It is also my understanding that if you feel them or don't, if they occur frequently or not has no bearing on when and how you will deliver. I fantasized that having so many would queue me up for a quick and dirty labor, but for all my internet research I have not found this to be true. The only exception is that women with "irritable uterus" like me (though I hate that term) tend to have a higher rate of preterm labor (18% vs 11%).

So laura in a nutshell - no worries if you do not feel them. I was talking to a friend last week who is 38 wks and has never felt a single one...

Shellie and Celeste: I can't imagine how you must be feeling. Today I said to my coworker "I think I am ready to have this baby come out pretty soon." I am just tired and way over-emotional and crabby and I have aches and pains and I know it is just going to get worse. You guys must be sooooo ready. Hang in there - only a few more weeks to go!

[norcal]

Claudia - my BH's sound a lot like yours and I too have been having them since before 20 weeks. Some days I have more than others, but I pretty much get them every day.


Glad to hear everyone is hanging in there. Caroline - I agree, it's so much more real when I see how many days we have left instead of how many weeks we have completed.

[Dellemma]

I went to the doctor today and they found protein in my urine So now they are checking me for pre-eclampsia. I had to bring this jug home and I have to collect my urine for 24 hours and take it back up to the lab.

From now on, my appts are 2 times a week and a NST appt. I go back Monday for the NST and an ultrasound to check on lil girl and my amniotic fluid level. Her HB was great today thankfully! My uterus is measuring 34 weeks instead of 30 weeks but he said she could just be in a higher position.

[Eriksgirl19]

Thank you all for the description of your BH contractions. I am definitely having lower abdominal pain/aches, especially after I sit for too long. But I haven't felt any BHs as you've described them. It's amazing how different pregnancy is for everyone.

Dellemma - I'm SO sorry about protein in your urine. I hope the extended test period helps them to rule out pre-eclampsia. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

My first baby shower is this Saturday...yeah! Any other showers this weekend?

And how are your nurseries coming along? We need more pictures! I'm hoping to get some of the nursery accessories this weekend so that we can put the finishing touches on Luke's room. As soon as we do some more work on the room I'll post pics.

[blaze6333]

Laura- I have another shower tomorrow, but it is supposed to be pouring here from that storm. I hope it is gone by 6:00 tomorrow but so far it is moving very slowly.

I will post some this weekend. I am so proud of myself, I did the wall over Bailee's crib last night and it is great I think. I will post a pic tonight or tomorrow to show you. I am hoping Dh goes today and gets the crib from my MIL so that I can get it up tonight and get my bedding on it!! This weather may put a damper on that though.

Dellemma- Sorry about the protein. Do you have any swelling and what about your bp? How is it? I am sure you will be fine, at least they are keeping a close eye on you!!!

[Dellemma]

Thank you Laura and Christie!

I hope they are able to rule out preeclampsia too! Yep, Christie I have the swelling pretty bad in my feet. My BP has come down with the medication but not enough for my doctor so he upped my dosage. At this point I am hoping to get to 36 weeks!

[norcal]

Dellemma - hoping the best for you!

Laura and Christie - can't wait to see pics! We've got busy plans for the next 2 weeks, but then DH is supposed to put in the shelving unit that arrived and I can hang some pictures that I have been framing to put the final touches on the room.


Laura - have fun at your shower! I have a question for you. The new Kaiser hospital we went to see in Modesto is wonderful, we're so excited to have Jaden there if he makes it past Oct 1st for their opeing. My question is, they said they will have certified midwives available if you would like on staff.

I know you mentioned meeting your's already and since we only have NP's and Dr's in Stockton I was wondering what you could tell me how it's different, at least for kaiser. Thanks!

[flamingpajamas]

Our 1st shower is sunday...I am excited, though a little nervous - I always am when there are parties in my honor (or my baby's as the case may be).

Dellema I am sorry to hear about the protein. 24 hr urine collections are such a joy. keep us posted. I hope everything turns out well.

So little Natasha got rebellious last night and turned her little bootie around. She got the hiccups this morning and lo I did not feel them around my pubic bone as usual, but up at the top of my uterus a little off to the right. I felt around and I am sure her head is up there too (where a little moving foot used to be). So I am off to the pool today to encourage her to get back into position. We are going to have a nice talk underwater (maybe in headstand position and hopefully she will get back head down where she seemed awfully comfortable for the past few weeks) before my 34 week appt next week.

[Eriksgirl19]

Holly - The way it was explained to me is that all regular (not high risk) deliveries are done by a midwife at all Kaisers. They said a Dr. only delivers if it is a c-section, you need medical assistance (vaccum, etc.) or there is some other complication. The midwife we met was so great...I definitely feel comfortable wtih her (or another midwife) delivering me. A number of my friends have delivered at Kaiser hospitals & they have all had midwives instead of Drs.

I have 2 co-workers who are also excited to deliver in Modesto. A ton of my co-workers live in Tracy, Manteca, etc. I've heard the new facility out there is so nice. I'm sure it's much more modern than Walnut Creek!

Claudia - I totally understand that feeling of being the center of attention at showers. Just embrace it...I know you'll have a great time on Sunday! And I hope you can convince Natasha to flip around! :-)

Christie - post pics when you can...I'm excited to see what you've done over the crib!

[fossie]

I'm the same way with showers and parties! We had one last night and I made dh open the gifts because I can't stand being the center of attention or people gauging my reactions!!!

[norcal]

Cludia and Christie - have great showers this weekend!


Laura - thanks for the info! Yes, the new hospital was great. The labor and deliver suites are huge and if you don't have any complications, you stay in that same room until you get discharged. If you end up with a c-section, or they get too full, then you are in a post partum single room. Either way DH gets to stay with me the entore time. They also have 2 operating rooms on the floor, as well as the NICU. They are opening with 6 NICU beds, but have room to expand over time to 22. We timed it on our way to the open house yesterday and it'll take 5 - 10 mins longer than the hospital in Stockton so def worth it for us to go to Modesto.

[CatIz1]

Well it seems insomnia has kicked in again. I've been up for a while and it's now 4:30am. At least tomorrow is Saturday and I don't have to go to work.

Dellemma - sorry to hear about the protein. I hope everything turns out ok.

Christie, Laura and Claudia - can't wait to hear about your showers. Post pics when you can.

Christie - I can't wait to see what you've done over Bailee's crib.

As for Amara's room we are almost done. We have the bedding and the letters for her name just came in along with some more butterflies and dragonflies so DH and I are going to finish her room hopefully this weekend. I'll post pictures when we are done.

Have a great weekend everyone.