Pregnacy hormones are the pits sometimes...there was a point about a month ago that I cried hard, every day, sometimes many times a day for almost 3 whole weeks. And you'll cry over the strangest things...like forgetting to add garlic to the breakfast eggs. @.@ and normaly upsetting things emotionally distroy you.

As for the dentist, things went great. They did allow DF back there with me. Which was nice because he kept me from freaking out the 10 minutes I was sitting in the chair waiting for the dentist to finish with the person next door to me.
The cavity was small. (Which I figured because it wasn't there at my last check-up 6 months ago) so they didn't have to give me a shot, they used a laser, tottaly painless (just smelled like burned fingernails) Took maybe 6 minutes from start to getting out of the chair.
I never knew how much of a wreck I'd been for the past two weeks because of this visit. Now that it's behind me and it went well, I no longer feel anxious and down, which I figured was because of the addoption. though I still feel iffy, I'm not at the point of breakdown like before.

Heartburn!!! every day, almost constantly for the past 4 days...I never get heartburn and I didn't have any until 4 days ago. It just won't go away.

What the heck? First few days into my 8th month and all the pregnancy stuff happens. Back pain, swelling feet, heartburn...I suddenly can't move while in bed without something twisting, pulling or otherwise causing pain. Oh well.

I too can't wait to start seeing baby pictures from all those a month ahead of me. I'm surprised i'm almost there myself. i can't believe over a half year has already past...feels like only a dozen weeks.

Sakai, I was the same way....heartburn and all that hit all at one time, without warning! And turning over in bed is an Olympic event. It's ridiculous!

I was at a party with my boyfriend this weekend. It was his grandma's 75th birthday party and it was a big deal. Well, klutz that I am, I spilled his mom's lasagna ALL over my new blouse. I left to go to the bathroom to deal with it and I just started bawling. I texted him to come to the bathroom and he reluctantly went into the girl's bathroom for me. He even cleaned up my shirt while I was hysterical. Eventually, I calmed down but that was quite the hormonal moment for me.

Awwww! But how sweet of him to come help. The crying got better for me, but I'm told it gets worse again after the baby comes. Poor DH...he'd better watch out.

Speaking of crying, just really feel like doing that myself today. Just realized that this is my last "free" weekend before the baby comes, really. Even if she comes on or after her due date (May 21). I've literally got to work ALL weekend next week (including a 12 hour overnight event, then all day Saturday and Sunday to finish a project), then all day Saturday, May 5, and Saturday, May 12. No time to just lie around and enjoy being pregnant and without a baby to take care of.

Things are not looking goodbfor the near future.

Doctor appointment today showed no cervix dilation or thinning at all, high blood pressure(which I've never ever had before) and baby boys head is no longer dropped in the birth canal either. He said unless some miracle happens that being induced will be the only way to go and if that don't work, a c section will become necessary. The only good news is that I don't have strep B. Blah!

Keller- That sucks! Are you waiting for the baby to come when he wants? or are you getting induced? (or only after overdue?) maybe he'll drop by then. I keep reading that many babies don't drop until labor starts, or never drop at all (the labor is just longer than most) but do fine anyways.
Even though I have 8 weeks left, I keep talking to the baby telling her to keep her head down. I DO NOT want a c-section. For one, I don't want the extra time needed to heal, I really need to get back to work ASAPI can't really afford to miss 3 paychecks by staying out of work for at least 6 weeks.
Also I know it's normal for C-section moms to have to stay in the hospital for 96 hours give or take. Meaning I'll have to sign over my baby without having the opppertunity to take her home for 24 hours. (AZ law states papers are not signed until 3 days after birth.)

Also, I DO NOT want to be awake for a c-section... you can just pick to be knocked out right?? I would need serious mental therapy if I had to stay awake while they dig around in my body. Even if it's a baby comming out, I don't want to know people are cutting me open and sticking their hands in my guts. I would really, really rather just sleep and wake up later. That is the only thing that is frightning about labor, least to me.

Keller, I've read the same thing Sakai did...that some women don't dilate or have the baby drop before labor starts at all. There are supposedly some things that will help though, like sitting and rolling back and forth on an exercise ball. Don't know if it's true, but one lady I know SWEARS it made her baby drop a lot. She's still pregnant, 37 weeks, 3 cm dilated and the baby is already at a +2, which is nearly in the birth canal.

Sakai, I'd ask the doctor at your next appointment. I have heard that some will put you completely under, and others refuse to. Best to know before you go into labor!! I feel the same way, but if I have to have a c-section I'll just be awake for it. My hospital doesn't do the anesthesia to knock you out fully unless there's some other medical issue.

I know that some babies don't drop at all so i'm not ruling it completely out.

The thing is- At my 33 week appointment, he had already dropped. By my 35 week appointment, he had dropped a ton more. At 36 weeks- he could feel his head halfway in the canal when he did the strep B. Now this time, at 37 weeks- he's worked his way back up completely and turned himself sideways. My doctor thinks it's now a possibility that he could turn into a breach position. =/

He said that it would basically be a miracle if he comes on his own or if my cervix opens at all without help, from how my body is working backwards and how I already have steady contractions(Not BH Like at all he said after monitoring him), the outcome he sees in this situation is 98% of the time induction/scheduled c-section.

The original plan had been induction at 37 weeks anyways, until he screwed up the weeks. He said he won't let me go past the due date without attempting induction now. I'm all for induction but I DON'T want a c-section.

I can only take one week off school without failing my classes and a c-section has a 4 day hospital stay here at least. Not much time to get home and situated. But if it comes down to it, obviously I don't have that choice. They refuse to knock you out completely, only give you pain medication.

I go back next Tuesday and he'll probably check again but he said not to plan on anything.

Mindi- As for the ball, no luck. I've been doing that for weeks to relieve some of the pressure on my pelvis and the pain. It's obviously gotten me nowhere. Nor has sex, which he said is the "easiest" way to kickstart labor on it's own.

Sakai- Hopefully you don't have to have one so you get to spend that extra day with baby girl. As Mindi said though, i'd definitely check with your doctor. They would know hospital standards- as here it isn't doctors choice, but hospitals choice.

Racrane- Your bf sounds like an awesome guy! Hormonal breakdowns suck, especially when it's in such a "public" place.

Manda- LOVE the pictures. They turned out great! =]

Keller: My boyfriend really is a great guy. He's been so good to me throughout the pregnancy. I hope you don't have a c-section or at the least you have a good recovery time. I completely understand about having to be in school.

I'm now counting my calories again because my doctor said I need to gain weight. I realize I was only eating about 1600-1800 calories a day, so I upped it to around 2100. I feel icky for eating so much but as long as baby is healthy that's what matters. I just didn't realize how little I was actually eating.

I'm almost certain my hospital won't knock me out because the meds for that do reach the baby and it makes it difficult for them to start breathing. So unless it's really an emergency, or the spinal wont work...I'm sure I'll have to be awake. But I'm gonna ask anyways. I don't know why but I have a feeling she's in there sideways or head down but tilted slightly. (Just from how the movments are on both sides of my body and/or I'll feel a bump up under my ribs on the right and down at my hip at the left at the same time.
But obviously I'm no doctor and I don't really have a clue as to her position. ^.^

On a slightly emberassing note, I've been leaking from both breasts since I was 5 months along. I know when it's happening because I'll get a weird itching/tingling in the nipples. it wasn't a problem at first but now it's becoming more than a few drops a day and I'm gonna start wearing nursing pads just to save my bra ^.^ I know this is normal, i'm just surprised it started so early. 3 months ago it was just clear, but it now has a yellowish/white color to it.
I know it really dosn't mean much, but I hope that means my milk will come in fast and I can nurse her for the few days I do have her. we're still planing on having me pump for the 3 weeks my cousin and his wife are in town.

Today my insurance company sent me a package.
It had a baby blanket, sipppy cup and the book "What to expect, the first year."

I cried.

I was certain of what was going to be in there, I never should of opened it. I saw the cup and lost it. I was doing so well too.

I know I should seek out some help. but I've visited other forums for birth mothers and they are all just so depressing. Df and i do have to talk to a therapist before the birth (part of AZ adoption laws I guess) so that's something. Don't know when because my cousin is setting the appointment up so the bill goes right to them. I do expect to be a huge mess after the adoption.

Though part of me feels like I deserve it for not trying hard enough to keep her. Not trying hard enough to fix our $ issues....not trying hard enough to get over my fear of added responsibility.

Today is just a bad day...

Sakai- Think positive. What you're feeling is natural when giving a child up for adoption. Don't think you "deserve" anything because it's not the right time or situation for you. You, as a mother and your partner as a father are making the decision not only thats best for you but BEST FOR HER! It's the most selfless decision you could make. I hope you find somebody to talk to soon and get the counseling/help that can make you feel better about this decision.

Today is a blah day. I have a migraine and i just finished my trigonometry test. Everybody keeps bugging me about "When is he coming?" and it's so frustrating.

I've already told them all that i'm not telling anybody when I go into labor or until he's a couple hours old(that way I can feed him right away, get moved to recovery room, and spend time as a family etc.) Our families are soooooooo nosy and think they need to be first to know. So we've personally decided to put the news on Facebook at the same time so there is no "Well I knew first" or "Why wasn't I first to know?" fights. Everybody will know at the same time or when word of mouth gets passed along. We've decided it's the simplest way to go since we both want a completely natural birth with the two of us and calming music- no interruptions or drama. They can't seem to understand that i'm doing what I need to do.

Hope everybody has a great friday and weekend. I'll be doing some major cleaning since df works all weekend!

I'm sorry, Sakai! :hug: Hormones and the situation means what you're feeling is completely normal. I hope you're okay.

Keller: Sorry you have a migraine. I hope it goes away.

I'm very upset because my (old) laptop decided to completely fail on me. I lost everything - my pictures, music, my schoolwork assignments. I'm very depressed. Luckily I lost nothing too important for this next month in terms of school (though I did lose the baby shower guest list and addresses) but I'm more upset about the pictures. I have some on facebook, but not all. I SHOULD have backed it up but I kept putting it off. I don't have money for a new laptop, even a cheapie.

Anyway, I probably won't be on here as much anymore because I'll now be using the school computers and then in the summer I'll use the library ones.

Baby's doing fine and he's kicking me A) when I go to sleep at night and B) on the rare occasion I take a nap. It's like he knows, lol.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Racrane- That really sucks and I feel for you. Mine crashed and deleted windows so I had my moms laptop forever because I had to have it for school. All the classes at our college are half online so I have no choice but to have internet. Hope you figure it out soon or can figure out how to get a new one. Sometimes it's just a simple fix- like completely restoring it and reinstalling programs if you know anything about computers.

Still have a migraine. Ugh! Slept off and on all day yesterday and last night though. The light isn't bugging me so much anymore but it's still pounding.

Can't believe there's only two weeks until my due date. TWO WEEKS!!!! Seems like I was just crying when I found out in August and just finding out it was a boy in January. Where has time gone?

Thanks guys,
It was a bad emotional day for me. Things are a little better now. not good, but better.

Keller- I think it's a good idea to post everything at the same time. That way you don't have to worry about forgetting to call someone and hurting feelings.
The only people were gonna tell when I go into labor is my cousin and his wife because they had a change of plans. Instead of comming in june 1st, they are comming june 7th unless I go into labor, then they'll catch the first plane over. So we'll still have a whole day of just the three of us before we get visitors. (if baby comes early. I am due june 10th, but I don't think I'll make it.) Which would only be my dad and a close coworker friend of mine. DF's family is out of town and not sure if they are going to come down to see the baby in person before the adoption or just wait for pictures.

baby is dropping a little. no downward pressure on the pelvis yet, but she is moving in places lower than I've felt her move before. Plus I can breathe, finally! and the bump tilted down a little...my armrest is gone hehe.

*hugs Sakai* I think about you all the time. Adoption is probably the hardest thing any person will ever do. Seeing someone for therapy is definitely an excellent idea, and keeping in touch with your cousin and his family is good too. I have a friend who gave her first daughter up for adoption because she was young and so afraid she wouldn't be able to give her daughter a good life. She has the most awesome, wonderful, gorgeous daughter and they get to spend time together often.

Sakai - Just wanted to send you hugs. I agree with Keller, the decision you and your partner are making about your cousin adopting your daughter is one made from love for her. I also agree that counselling is a good idea. Be prepared after you have her to have triggers that will set you off. Also places may send you congratulations on your baby coupons and mailers etc, those can be big triggers, seeing babies in public can be triggers, hearing a baby cry in public, walking down an isle at the grocery store that has baby products can be a trigger etc. (These were all major triggers for me after I lost my first born) also specific dates were triggers too. I know adoption and losing a baby is different but there is still grief involved in both. :hug:

Racrane - That is very upsetting about your laptop. I had mine die a while ago and I actually cried.

Keller- hope the migraine is gone, they really suck :(

As for me we had a consult with the high risk OB on Wednesday and a level 2 ultrasound to look at the baby and well I decided to find out the gender. We are having a big, strong, active, healthy girl :D I am so happy. The not so great news is that she is measuring pretty big and they think she will be about 9-10 lbs at birth (DS was 9lbs 12oz @38 wks) So they don't think I am a good candidate for a VBA2C since she is big and I have had 2 c-sections already. They want me to book an elective repeat c-section between 38-39 wks. I need to talk things over with my midwife but I am actually not too upset about it, however I do not want to have a c-section till sometime between 39-40 wks as I want to make sure she has good lung development and that one week can make a big difference. DS' weak spot is his lungs, he has had bronciolitis 3 times since 17 mons that we have had to take him to the hospital for breathing treatments and he gets illness induced asthma from Nov-Mar and it is scary :( I believe this stems from him being a c-section baby at 38 weeks.

Wishing everyone a good rest of your weekend.

Thank you Biancasimone and butterflymama.
I'm not looking forward to the triggers. They already happen somewhat. It's really hard because lots of people come in the shop in the middle of the night because they have small babies (I think this is because 1. it's more comfortable than shopping in the crowd with a new baby and/or 2. new parents just happen to be awake at that time. I used to love Ooh and awwing at the new little babies, now I keep my eyes to the floor when I see a cart with a car seat in it.

Butterflymama. Sucks that you have to get another c-section, but I guess it's for the best if your baby is that big. But I can understand being nervious. it is surgery and with the issues your son has. Good luck with all that. I always think about you, We're so close in out dates.

Dr. appointment in a few days. Last one before I go to appointments every 2 weeks. I'm excited to find out if I dropped or not. Or if they can tell me if her head is down. I also figure now would be the time to talk about a birth plan? I don't really have one other than I want to go natural as long as the labor moves along at a good pace. Also want to make sure our hospital will let baby room in with us instead of going to the nursery.

Hi all,

Butterfly - those size estimates can be so far off. That said, whatever way she comes out, it'll be worth it when she's here. Congrats on the girl!

Sakai - I also think about you often. It will be hard, but ultimately, I think it will be worth it to know that you're giving your daughter the best opportunities for her life that you can.

Keller - our families aren't getting the call until we're at the birth center (we're going to, hopefully, do much of our laboring at home), and they know not to show up until after they get a call that he's born. Luckily, I have a very respectful family who we've talked about this with, and they agree that me, Sarah, and our doula are the only ones who need to be there until a few hours after birth.

Had kind of a rough weekend. It was our anniversary, and we had plans, so I found myself having to get dressed up in dresses and having to try to make myself look presentable not once, but twice. Turns out, there's no dress in my closet that makes me NOT gigantic at 9 months pregnant...who knew??

Also, on Friday, we had our doc appt get switched from our regular midwife to a nurse practitioner, who read me the riot act about my weight gain (my regular midwife is fine with it, she has seen my food journals and knows my exercise pattern and says my body is just doing what it needs to do...also she estimated my body fat percentage and says I have actually put on a lot of muscle in addition to the baby fat, probably from doing body weight exercises with all of this additional body weight), told me I never should have gone off the Metformin that my regular midwife pulled me off of at 20 weeks, told me that I'd be likely to GAIN weight after he's born, etc.

THEN, at some random Rotary event, a woman in the lobby came up to me and quizzed me on how much weight I'd gained, then proceeded to tell me about how HER daughter is 28 weeks and has only gained 10 lbs, and that she thinks she can make it in under 20 lbs total, because it's just SO hard to lose afterward, and don't I wish I had just gained 20 lbs, on and on.

So basically, I looked huge, and then got called huge twice. Fantastic! Add that onto this being the most uncomfortable weekend of my pregnancy by far (it was in the 90's here - I was hot, I was retaining water, and I was generally pretty miserable), and it was NOT GOOD.

I decided that today I am focusing on this beautiful little boy inside of me and letting my insecurities go. It's not right to bathe him in such negativity!

WOW Amanda!!!! That would definitely be one of those times where I smile and say "My doctor and I have talked about my weight gain and I'm actually exactly on track! I plan on losing the baby weight healthily by breastfeeding (well, if you plan to do that) and exercising and eating well!" then secretly punch the person in my mind, then let it go! People are weird sometimes. Especially to pregnant women. (everyone knows/is/was that person that random people walk up to and start creepily rubbing their pregnant belly without permission...) Also, don't a lot of pregnant women gain the most weight in the last 10 weeks? Her daughter is about to triple in size (maybe :D )

Butterfly, I was wondering about vba2c because a friend of mine (who is a doctor, starting her ob/gyn rotation this summer or fall) was saying some doctors/hospitals won't allow many women to do it because after 2 cesarians there is a chance of medical complications (I guess as opposed to vbac or 2 cesarians). I thought about my mom bc I was cesarian but I don't know if either of my brothers were. Mom may be a 2vbac as opposed to vba2c ;-)

Today was a unique day.... I 'worked' at a 'real job' at an 'office' from 8 AM to 4 PM. I don't know how some of you all do it. I came home and CRASHED on the couch for like an hour until I had to pick up DF from work. Thank goodness I only have to 'work' this 'real job' at an 'office' for like 2 weeks (grading portfolios for K-12 students).

Getting a little worried/frustrated. Still haven't felt the baby move, and I also think that I have gestational diabetes. I took the glucose test and got 128 for my non-fasting level. The 'danger level' is 129 and the 'take the 3 hour test' level is 130. However, I HAD been fasting (didn't realize I was taking the glucose test and skipped breakfast :( ) and the level is supposed to be about 110. Needless to say I'm a little worried about the baby more than before. I did get an adorable tiny doctor (and crossed my fingers that she will be my doctor when I give birth! The doctors rotate apparently) instead of my normal smart-alec nurse at the last doctor visit.

Secret punch? I might have LITERALLY punched! Everyone forgives the pregnant lady...just remember that!! :o

Don't let 'em get you down, Amanda. You're doing what you need to for your little boy. And that woman is just calling on karma to dump 80 pounds on her daughter before her due date. Just wait.

Though I do get jealous of the women who actually get through pregnancy gaining only 10 pounds or something like that, and then have perfectly healthy babies. I'm still right at 40 pounds at 36 weeks, so I'm calling that good. May make my goal of staying below 50!

Was Pretty upset yesterday. I finally broke down and told DF everything I was feeling...No i don't want to give up my baby...what am I supposed to do when I come home? I can't act like the last 9 months never happened.

I'm tired of people asking me if I'm excited for the birth...Heck no i'm not. I'm excited to see her, yes. But I wish I could just be pregnant forever and keep her in there with me always. (Which is weird sounding but the truth to what I'm feeling.) It's almost like knowing that baby is safe and healthy while inside you, but once born and on their own will have a host of serious health issues and has a good chance of dying.
Which is very dramatic sounding for someone like me. But it was the only way i can explain these feelings. because she'll be here...and then she'll go away.

Df cried, and then i felt bad for dumping up all my bottled feelings on him. he wants to keep the baby too, and feels less a man because we can't.

It was a terrible day.

i got up around 7P.M yesterday after the breakdown and splilled on facebook how I was pretty down and had little to be happy about these days. How DF tries hard to keep my spirits up and I feel bad for stressing him out.

My cousin's wife (adoptive mom) happened to be online at that time. and messaged me. Both she and my cousin were feeling horrible for us, and wished they lived closer so they could do more to help us cope.

So she says... "don't worry about dinner, just kick back tonight and rest."
And I was like "0.o ....oookay"
she and my cousin ordered us pizza online. Which really made me LOL. Because I know how much of a crazy pizza person she is and I should of known what she was up to.
Just kinda neat she sent me pizza from like 4 states away. (big states too lol)

it was just a strange, funny end to a really bad day.

I felt better today, enough so that I was able to Tye-dye all the baby clothes I brought. I had planed this last month (because I LOVE tye-dye) but suddenly couldn't bring myself to handle all the tiny clothes. but today I washed all the clothes. and DF and I sat down and tye-dyed. I'm about to open them up (the dye's been setting while we slept) and see how they turned out.

On a funny note. baby was kicking and moving so hard she was hurtting me pretty badly. at one point she mashed my bladder so hard i sounded like i was in the middle of painful labor. Df calls baby by her name in a scolding tone, sits next to me and sets a hand on the ball sized lump jutting up from my belly and scolds her again and tells her she needs to behave in there.
so she stops moving altogether. and then he goes..."Good girl." With a pat to the belly. show-off
.... -.- she never listens to me, but she listens to him all the dang time. poo.

Mandalinn: That is awful what that woman said to you. It drives me crazy that people somehow think it's okay to say anything about weight to a pregnant woman. It's like we don't have feelings or something... anyway, just keep taking care of your body and you know it'll be okay.

And Sakai: I don't know what to say except I am really thinking of you right now.

Also, I have a question. Is/did anyone get charley horse cramps in their calves? I am getting horrible ones about ten times a night and sometimes can't walk the next day. I am now wearing compression knee highs, drinking tons of water. My doctor recommended I started drinking a gatorade a day. I stretch at night and they still come no matter what. Anyway, advice would be great.

Take care, everyone.

Racrane- Oh the cramps...Curse them to heck. I used to get them in my 6th- 7th month. I get muscle cramps all the time and used to eat a banana a day to help fight it. (I guess low potassium(sp) makes it worse) but in my 6th month of pregnacy i would wake up every night to a pulled muscle. i pretty much trained myself not to strech my legs when I sleep. it always feels like my calves were right at the point where they were about to cramp up.
I think the gatorade will help. you might want to try bananas. and see if there is anything you happen to do before the cramp. Do you strech? Streching too much? are you on your feet lots? try a heating pad to keep the muscles relaxed, and massage is alwasys nice ^.^.

On the leg cramps - put a bar of regular, plain old soap in your bed, at the bottom of your sheets where your feet go. You can say it's an old wive's tale, and maybe it is, but I swear it works. I had put a bar of plain unwrapped Ivory in after I started getting leg cramps at the end of the second trimester - the bar fell out one day, and I didn't realize it, and got leg cramps again that night and for two more nights until I realized it had fallen out - put it back under the covers, and not another leg cramp since.

Manda- I feel you on the heat. It's been 90+ degrees here for about two weeks now and sticky hot. We have our AC on 70 though so whenever I can, I stay home and inside. As for the comment, people can be so insensitive but just know that YOU are Spensers Mom and YOU are making the proper decisions as to eating and exercising and his health.

Racrane- I've gotten Charlie Horses my whole life so it was no surprise that they got worse in pregnancy. The only thing that has ever helped me is a heating pad and not stretching my leg when I sleep. The soap trick sounds like a good deal to try though!

Bianca- Scary about the GD. Are you going to do the 3 hour test as well? If it's well managed, there's no need to worry. I know doctors take extra cautions when when have diabetes and pre-eclampsia, or at least our office does.

Sakai- I've been thinking about you and hope your days have been better. Glad that your cousins can help you out and are truly involved even states away. They sound like a great support system!!!

As for me, another appointment today showed that Baby Boy moved even farther away and is still turned. No change to cervix or effacement. He said there's no pressure and it's STILL highly unlikely that he comes on his own or breaks my water. So an induction date will be set at my next appointment. Heartrate was 149 and he's been rolling like crazy today. I'm just really freaking out that it's going to come down to a c-section. I mean, really, if he comes out healthy- I don't care but I've never had a major surgery(or even a minor one at that) before and the thought makes me wanna have a anxiety attack =/

Thanks everyone for the advice. I will try heating pad and the soap trick. I am praying for anything to work! Thanks :)

I've also heard the soap trick, Racrane. Somewhere else I also read that ketchup helps...like if you can stand to do it, slurp down a ketchup packet or two. I'd try the soap first!!

Sakai, that's hilarious about the pizza!! :) How funny!

OMG! so I go to my Dr. appointment yesterday.
So my due date is june 10th...and I just found out that from june 6th-9th all 3 OB dr's will be out of town. (a meeting or class or something I can't remember)
So they will bringing in an OB from another town to deal with anyone who happpens to go into labor at that time. Now I might have to deliver with a stranger OB.
Of course at the time I'm sure I won't care much once labor really gets going.
Not to happy about it. I've already been seen by all 3 OBs and i'm really comfortable with them.
Other than that the appointment went fine. baby's head is down, but I've not dropped yet. I guess my different looking belly is due to the weight gain. (40 pounds now, oh my gawd!!)

Sakai - That is really funny about the pizza :) I am glad you were able to get out how you are feeling to your DF and you guys had a good cry. I think it is really important for you both to keep talking to each other about how you are feeling. I am also glad you guys got to tie-dye the baby clothes :) That really sucks about the OB's being away seems kinda irresponsible on their part. Well a lot of first pregnancies go past the due date anyway so hopefully you will get an OB you know.

Amanda - I am sorry that that women and the nurse practitioner were so insensitive. That women's daughter should watch out because I had only put on like 5 lbs at 30 weeks and now I am gaining over 2lbs a week. I haven't really changed anything just what my body is doing.

Racrane- I had horrible calf cramps in the middle of the night too at about 28 weeks or so. They really suck.

bianca- VBA2C do carry some more risk with them in terms of uterine rupture but not much more then VBAC but there are lots of factors that can affect it including length between sections, type of scar, etc unfortunately the more sections you have the increase in other risks too like placenta previa, the placenta growing into the scar etc. If I was going to have more babies after this one they would actually be more encouraging of trying to have a vaginal birth. Anyway it does suck about having to have another section but at least I have a few weeks to prepare myself and to write up a birth plan that inc-operates the section and yes it will all be worth it when I am holding my baby girl in my arms. Don't stress too much about GD, if you do have it it can be control most of the time with diet and exercise.

Well I told my supervisor today that today was my last day of work, I work part time at DS' preschool and was hoping to work till mid May but it was getting too hard and I was not able to do the job to my standards so I am done. I am sad and happy about it for many reasons. Well now I have some time to work on getting stuff ready around here (there is so much to do!)

Take car everyone.

I've had a horrible backache, another migraine, the pelvic pain at it's worst so far and i'm extremely sore and exhausted for the past few days now. I swear I could sleep all day If I could get comfortable at all. I've also had increased discharge and nausea has come back. My doctor told me this would happen in the last week or so... so i'm hoping this is the beginning of the end!

The weather here today was BEAUTIFUL though! And I got all the clothing gifts from the baby shower washed and put away! The music is on the ipod for the labor and delivery room and the hospital bag is now packed. I don't want to put the carseat in yet though just in case of an accident before then so DF plans on bringing that the day after baby boy is born. I'm sooo ready!

I'm glad everyone seems to be doing alright. :)

I tried the soap trick and stretching before bed and they work. :D Not sure which but I refuse to find out which and get cramps if I can't help it. Thanks very much. :)

Baby boy is still very active and it's so much fun to see him bounce around in there. I often wonder if he's having fun or if he's bored, lol. I guess I won't know.

Anyway, take care everyone. :)

Keller- Eeee! getting so excited for you. Only a few more days left. Sucks that all the nasty stuff has to pop up at the last second. but it's almost over, hang in there!

Racrane- My leg cramps came back as soon as we started talking about them >.< two, two nights in a row. I'm grabbing some soap!

Baby girl is rumbling around lots as of late. I thought they were supposed to settle down as they get bigger? Maybe she's just getting stronger and I can feel her more than I did before. But her favorite kicking spots are getting pretty sore and I'm not as excited to feel her move as I was before @.@ more so now that she's started using both feet at once. She really beats on me after I eat. While I'm eating, she's just tapping around like a nice little baby. but about a half hour after she really gets into it with the double leg kicks and head butts to my bladder.
It's still all good though, she hardly keeps me awake when I'm asleep, what keeps me awake is the pain in both hands and arms. ugh!

How's everyone else doing? the thread is getting kinda quiet as we're all getting closer and closer to go time.

I'm doing ok, Sakai...it's just been BUSY at work the past couple of weeks unfortunately! They're trying to get all they can out of me before the baby gets here.

Full term today!! Now just waiting. Impatiently. :)

I'm excited for y'all that are full term! Checking the tickers, looks like it's Keller, Mindi, and Mandalinn that are 'ready to go'!!!! Sakai and Butterfly are close too :)

Baby has finally started dancing around in there... especially during or after I watch music videos LOL!

My friend Megan had her baby girl last Monday. Her name is Ireland and she is ADORABLE! Her hubby loves the baby so much <3 I also spent time with lots of babies this week (including a 7 month old baby of a new friend who happened to be visiting, plus lots of little ones at an impromptu kids birthday party... I say impromptu because I showed up at my friend's house as she was going out the door for the party! We crashed it but it was still fun :) )

Called in to work today because I woke up feeling just... bleh. One of the roommates was so kind as to share his cold with the WHOLE DAMN HOUSE this past week or two. Ugh. My next dr appointment is coming up soon, I will probably request to be re-tested for gestational diabetes. *sigh* I have had a lot of signs that I have it or am borderline... (okay, I won't go into details bc it's TMI... lol) I feel like a bad mommy because I have been so unhealthy through this pregnancy, I feel like I have a new infection or health issue every other week. :(

7 hours of nasty belly pain and cramping this morning. @.@
With it came some of the worst diarrhea I've ever had (tmi sorry)

I almost went to the clinic but after 7 hours the pain let up enough for me to sleep. I passed out cold for 10 hours. Pain is all gone now and I feel great. it's the most amount of sleep I've had in weeks, maybe even months.
Not sure if it was false labor, or just a bad tummy bug.

Sakai - glad you're feeling better!

Rough day. My grandpa's long-term girlfriend, for whom we are the nearest contacts (her kids are in another part of the state and basically ignore her, long story), had a stroke today. I spent the entire day at the hospital, with no food except a vending machine pack of peanuts. She was extremely upset and extremely agitated, and now I'm extremely tired and emotionally worn out.

Awww, Hugs Amanda! It's rough being pregnant, much less with all the emotional stuff you've been going through. On an empty stomach at that!

This baby has definitely dropped. Compared my 31 week photos to one I took yesterday, and she is WAY lower. Has been for almost 2 weeks. DH's granny has lived on a farm for years, and they always "knew" the calves were coming when a full moon was near. She says I'll have the baby on or within a few days of the full moon....which is this weekend. And it's a "super moon" at that. :) We'll see if granny's theory is right...

Final doctor appointment was today. They found that my cervix is still closed, as far up as possible and baby is still transverse. They are going to try to induce beginning of next week but he said i'm looking at a 75% chance of getting a c-section. I'm really freaking out.

Mindi- Hope she comes soon and you don't have to wait it out til 40 weeks. The impatiently waiting has gotten the best of me. Agh!

Sakai- Glad you feel better. I hope it wasn't preterm labor!!!

Manda- So much on your plate! I hope his gf is doing okay after the stroke. Hope you catch a break before baby boy arrives!

Aww Keller that stinks!!! Are you ok with the c-section (not that there's much choice I guess)? I'm terrified of them! But...they say that some babies flip as labor starts and everything turns out ok. My doctor said you can go from zero dilation and thinning to in labor with everything functioning properly in the same day, so there is still hope!

My head is set on this weekend, or by the 8th, for some reason. Has been for months. Not sure if it's "intuition" or wishful thinking, since the lady who's coming to work to cover for me is going to be here on Monday. It's just awkward having someone in my office looking over my shoulder. And she's annoying to boot. I don't want to have to sit here and babysit her for weeks 'til I give birth!!

Started having a sharp pain in the left side of my belly yesterday, and it's still there this morning. Hope it isn't a muscle separating...

Oh, and I may not ever have this baby really. I've had ZERO signs that labor could start. NO contractions other than some low period-like cramps over the weekend for a few hours. No mucus plug lost. NOTHING.