Pregnant and Fabulous? Expectant Moms Check In Here!!

is it possible to add my EDD? I am due 10/15/2010 - 27 weeks and 1 day today. (17 days past my daughter Elle!)
on bed rest at home but having more contractions that usual. Had a non stress test yesterday, I was sent home with, "come back if they get worse". Last night was a rough night emotionally but got through it and feel better today. It is so hard not knowing whether or not the contractions are affecting my cervix.

Just venting!
Courtney

Hi Courtney - How are the contractions behaving? It's so hard to tell if they change things, but always better to be safe than sorry! Keep us updated.

linds

Just got back from the dr... my cervix went from a 2.7 to a 1.2 in 10 days. And I am 2cm dialated. They admitted me to labor and delivery... loaded me up with terbutaline, monitored me for a while, gave me my first shot of steroid to help mature the baby's lungs. They let me go but I have to go back tomorrow and they will give me the remainder of the steroid and do a fetal fibro nectin test (couldn't do it today because they had already done the transvaginal US). I am on strict bed rest now... Not sure how I am going to pull this off as none of my family lives here.

So many new expecting mommas on here - I can't keep track of everyone! I'm still pluggin along - 32 weeks! Looks like I'll definitely be delivering before my due date b/c of my gestation diabetes. It will either be naturally or by induction. With Kaden I delivered 3 weeks early all on my own so we'll see how this one goes. I've been feeling good, but feel like I'm so much bigger this time. We're going to the peri every week now for bio physical profiles. So far Charlie has passed with flying colors! Our next growth scan is on the 29th, I'll be very interested to see how big this little stinker is. Everyone keep bakin!

Mom2Bubu - I'm so sorry to hear about the strict bedrest - I've done 3 weeks so far, and am starting week #4... the good news is that it has gone by faster than I thought - bad is that throughout the day I am faced with periods of extreme boredom How far along are you now? I was 3cm dilated at 30 weeks last pregnancy and was able to hang on for another 5 weeks with strict bedrest - so there's definitely hope for you. I know it's hard to do with a little one at home (I have three) but could you find a sitter or mother's helper near-by to come over during the day and play/amuse/feed your toddler? We've had good luck going through the local colleges - students don't ask for as much money, but since I'm at home with them all the time I don't mind the age. And, we lucked out this time and ended up with a grad student studying elementery education who just needed to make some money while going to school. I also keep a bin of 'special' books and toys near my bed for my boys to play with in here, with me. We do lots of cuddling, reading, and coloring in my bed together - not as easly with the 15 month-old who is much more restless, but works well with my 4 year-olds! Keep us posted - and don't forget that Share is a great way to pass the time during bedrest!

Hey Shelley - How have you been? Haven't heard from you lately. Sorry to hear about the GD - but so glad that you are over 30 weeks - 32 is my goal this time, so I'm really jealous! Love the name Charlie So cute with Kaden!

I had a little trip to L&D last night - so much fun. Started spotting again - and of course, can't just call in to see how much it should be before I come in... they just send me directly in. Urg. Luckily we only spent 2 hours in, just long enough for them to do all the tests and make sure everything was okay. So thankful it was nothing and relieved to know that, but so hate having to go in and go through it all. One of my nurses was at D&T's delivery, and the chief resident was at C's - lol, we are WAY too well known down there. Also bumped into one of our NICU nurses (NICU is next door to L&D so we rarely go in with out seeing people we know) who was also at D&T's delivery... small world. Nice thing is, since the chief resident knew us from C's pregnancy and has seen us already this pregnancy, she had fun taking a really good look at the baby in u/s. Miss Muffet was practicing her breathing and is sitting cross-legged ("like a lady" we were told) on my cervix, head up and facing out... lol, apparently she already has her own throne.

Hope everyone else is doing well!

Linds

been so long! i can't believe i've neglected to check in, but on monday i passed 12 weeks of bed rest and today i'm 34 weeks along. the end is in sight! everything is going well. every time i go in, though, my cervix is just a teeny bit shorter (this time at an all time low of 1.1) and the OB says, "boy, you really needed that stitch...." she says that if we decide to go for a third (hubby's still on the fence about that, understandably) she'd just do the cerclage at 11-12 weeks and i'd probably not even need to be on bed rest. still not contractions thanks to the weekly p17 shot.

but. 4 more weeks. c-section is scheduled for the end of the 37th week, on aug 18. funny, tho. the last week has been the hardest. (well, except for that first shocked and scared week.) somehow getting a date made me realize how overwhelmingly restless i am. how bored. how anxious i am to get back to my life--be able to pick up my 20 month old!

glad to see all the new faces on here.

linds, sorry to hear about the trip to L&D last night--but glad everything turned out to be fine.

Thanks Linds! Sorry about your trip to L&D - they are no fun at all!! Glad it was short though and no cause for concern yet. I love your special box of stuff you keep with you to do with the kiddos - think I will definately have to try that out!

I will be 31 wks tomorrow so this bed rest should be a lot shorter than it was with my daughter... I was on bedrest from 23 to 36 weeks that time. But - like you said having a little one in the picture makes it sooo much more difficult!! She'll be 2.5 soon but she has some speech delays and so communication is difficult and she really just doesn't get it. I have a neighbor with a daughter her age that watches her for me about 12 hrs a week while I work from home and so she is going to start watching her more for me. If I end up in the hospital my mom will fly up and stay at our house with her. Now to find a maid and a cook!
Last night I didn't sleep too well... just all the what-if's going through my head. Got up to go to the bathroom and lost a large chunk of mucus plug and it was bloody so that wasn't good. Hoping it was just from all the exams/ultrasounds yesterday. Back to the dr in a couple of hrs for my shot and fFN...

good news to report -- still contracting but went in today and cervix is still 2.9cm (unchanged from the last 2 weeks).

was given terb (pill) in case i contract more than 4 times an hour. my blood pressure is too low for procardia (anyone ever hear of that before?) i hated the terb with my 1st -but that was a much different story...23 weeks in a hospital 3000 miles from home, mag, trandellenburg, etc...so hopefully terb doesnt quite affect me as badly now that i am home in my own bed!

anyone else on this board taking terb??

Hi Ladies,

You all seem to be handling this so well. I had an emergent cerclage at 21 weeks then on bedrest for 1 week. My cervix was measuring 1.7, after the cerclage and follow up it was 3cm and I was cleared for work and returned that day. My 3 week follow up I was 2.1. My doc wasn't alarmed since she was going off of her last results of 1.7 but I remembered the 3cm that was done by the specialist doc himself in his office so I queried my doc. Her office finally got back to me yesterday since I'd been a worry rat and said the specialist is taking me out so now I'm on disability as of yesterday. I also had to ask about a follow up since I assumed I'd need one in addition to the fact they we're taking me out of work. They called me back and set up my next follow up for 8/2 and they haven't mentioned anything about bedrest but I'm doing as little as possible. I don't have any lil ones to run after and my pre-teen is away at sleep away camp. I have 12 more weeks to go and praying each day we make it full term. My EDD is 10/13/10 however 10/10/10 would be nice

I was given a rx for procardia but am only to take it as needed. My blood pressure gets really low on it, also. If I do take it I have to make sure I go lay down, otherwise I get super dizzy. But, my doc hasn't said anything about the terb pill???

Hope everyone is having a good Thursday! Today marks 4 weeks since I had my cerclage. So, 4 weeks of bedrest down! I will be 23 weeks tomorrow and my cervix is measuring the same as it was at my surgery. 1 more week til my first goal VIABILITY!

And the new floors are going into the nursery this weekend! Yea!

Hey ladies! She may have been 4 weeks early, but my little miracle is here. She was 6lbs 8 oz. She is a little jaundiced and had to spend time under the bili lights, but we are home. Thanks guys for all of the support that you have given me. This site is a blessing.

Congrats on Anisa. She'll get to enjoy more of the summer with you and the rest of the family who I'm sure were eagerly awaiting her arrival. She was a good weight also, imagine if she did make it another 4 weeks. I'm still counting down my 12 praying all goes well.

Latisa

Hi Again,

Question for the cerclage moms?

When did your doc schedule to have yours removed? I could've sworn the specialist told me to have it scheduled for 35 weeks but I'm scheduled at 36.6 weeks and when I called the office back they said that's okay? Just curious because I'm afraid of a tear if she decides to come earlier. Also, how many have went in to labor soon after having the stitches removed and has anyone had a tear and everything still went well? How was your recovery?

Tisa

Hi Tisa,

I had my cerclage removed at 35.5 weeks because I was starting to dilate, but they had wanted me to remove it at 37 weeks. There are a lot of women who get theirs removed at 36 weeks or later, so I wouldn't be too worried.
And the pain associated with the removal, depends on how much activity you uterus has seen during the pregnancy. Mine did not hurt at all. It was uncomfortable because they had to open the speculum really wide to reach the stitch, but removing the stitch itself did not actually hurt.

As far as when you will go into labor, my OB said women with true IC should go into labor in 24-48 hrs after removal. I, however, went 3 weeks....

Good Luck!
Jackie

Viablility at 23 weeks.....man! I know- I was trying to convince my peri at my last cervical measurement that I really should get measured until at least 29 weeks, which is when I delivered my 1st, out of the blue.....but he said no- by 23 weeks they are considered viable and he's not really needed! I mean I know they are technically correct, but knowing they are supposed to be in there for 40, it seems like they'd want to know if something was going wrong so they could try to stop it. In any case, you are in my thoughts Evanly! I imagine it must be hard to relive the NICU experience- even thinking about it brings me to tears sometimes and that was 2 years ago. At least everything went back to being alright for you. I think motherhood has made me waaaay more emotional. Or maybe it's the P17 shots or other preggo hormones! Who knows?

Keep growing those miracle babies ladies!

I thought I ould check in since I have been away for awhile on vacation. Everything is going great so far cervical legnth was 4.3cm with no funneling. That buys me another 3 weeks till they check again. I am 21 weeks along and found out we will be having another girl. So this makes Girl #3 for us. I guess I can't complain about anything except the normal pregnancy stuff and the hot weather. My poor feet can't take the heat and I am swelling around the ankles for the first time.

Linds, Sorry to hear about your L&D trips. I am glad that you are home and able to at least be in the same house as your family. I remember those long weeks on bedrest, not fun, but a necessary evil.

Yea for Evan and Anisa. I am so glad that made it into the world safe and sound. I hope both mommies are getting some well deserved rest.

I guess I should also be added to the EDD 12-2-10 little Shyanne or maybe not so little at the rate she is growing. Already around 1lb 2 oz according to the last u/s.

I missed the post about Anisa!!! Congratulations!!!!

-Jackie

I had a long wordy post written to everyone, and then of course, my computer deleated it. UGH. Not so wordy this time.

I'm glad to hear that everyone seems to be holding stable - good for you ladies!

Welcome to the new girls - this is a great place to be!

Congrats on baby Anisa.

Tisa - You might want to check the cerclage folder for more information, a lot of women post only there, who've had or currently have a cerclage

MarianEmily - I can't believe your peri won't still check you - mine still does and I'll be 27 weeks next week. My last pregnancy he checked me up until 32 weeks (when I was dilated to 3cm) when it no longer mattered... but maybe he's more cautious than most? These days I think everything makes me emotional

Is anyone else crazy hot? It's only been in the mid 70's this weekend, and I feel like I'm having my own personal summer! Hormones - grrrrr.

Linds

Thank you!!! She is a little jaundiced but she is doing well. I just love her.

Some days I feel great & so confident that I know I'll make it to the end... today is NOT one of those days!! Doesn't it always seem worse the last few days before your doc appt.?! I get a cervical check every other week, anyone go more often than that? I'd go 1/week if they'd let me! I can't bear the waiting - ugh!! I've been feeling some mild & irregular contractions or irritability the past few days. I know I'm overly paranoid but its just so hard to not know what's going on w/ your own body.

It was 4 years ago today my angel baby was born at 23wks. Happy Birthday Regan.
Anyhow, Thursday is my appointment, so I guess time will tell what our future holds.
Best to you all-
Robin

Robin - I totally know how you feel - I have my check tomorrow, and I'm on pins and needles. I feel like I have more contractions in the days leading up to my appointments, and have to weigh in waiting and or going in. Mine are currently every other week, but can be more often depending on whether I have a level II scheduled or a trip to labor and delivery. I'm with you - I would go every week if I could just to give myself more piece of mind.

I'm sure it's harder on you now because of your Angelversary. Happy Birthday to Regan. I always find myself having a harder time closer to milestones that meant something during my other pregnancies. In two weeks I'll be 29 weeks, when my twins were born and the two weeks prior I spent in the hospital cervix shortening and on mag. Then with my singleton, it's the same timing that my cervix started shortening and I was dilated to 3cm by 30 weeks - I'm much more on edge right now because of the timing, than I was even coming up to 24 weeks.
Hang in there - I'll be thinking about you!

I get to take the glucose test tomorrow - so excited At the same time I am excited to have reached that point in my pregnancy - happy third trimester to me

Hope everyone is doing well.

Linds

hello all,
It has been a while since I last posted. I have been a bundle of nerves... but alas all has been smooth thus far. Been have some pelvic soreness but thank God, I will be 33 weeks come Sunday...wow! I am just in awe and cant even believe it. We are having a shower here at our house tomorrow since I am stil on pretty strict berest but the doc is allowing me an extra trip up and down the stairs
I have been trying to do some catching up with the posts and I know there have been some ups and downs.
I believe someone asked about the cervical checks and their doc not doing them a lot. I also have a cerclage and I got a measurement every two weeks ever since the stitch was placed (@ 13 wks). Next week will be my 1st appt w/ just the pelvic exam until 36 weeks. So I may be late in saying this but I hope the docs reconsider and take a more aggressive approach.
Linds-I hope your appt went well though I know you have been having more contractions. Please le us know how things go.
So hang in there everyone!! Prayers for us all
Geri

Hey Geri! I'm so glad to hear from you! 33 weeks - that's great! You've done so well! Can't wait to hear how your shower is! What fun for you to get a little break!

I got a little break myself last night. We were my peri's last appointment of the evening, and after giving my blood for the glucose he did my transvag. Even though I'm having more contractions, my cervix is still holding strong and long (3.9) . There hasn't been any change so far, so it seems like even with the bleeding and stuff, we are doing okay. My peri was so happy - he told us to leave the appointment and go to dinner! He said that he was totally comfortable with it (and would go if he were in my shoes) as long as I just sat for dinner and took it easy, and went right back home to bedrest - but that we deserved a little time out. We were obviously shocked, but it was nice for Jamie and I to be out by ourselves (he drove me to the apt. and the kids were home with the sitter) for an hour or so. Of course my peri also told me that he's keeping me on bedrest for the next 6 weeks for sure - and then depending on what's going on with my cervix we'll see if I can start moving around a little more, or if it's shortening then stay on it longer.

It's funny, because I want to be excited and proud that we've come this far... but I also know that I've never made it past 29/30 without dilating and starting PTL (not to mention having the boys at 29), so I don't want to count my chickens before they've hatched. We still have so far to go.

man, what a crazy experience....from all of those contractions to having dinner w/ hubby!!! Just awesome!!!! So glad that the contractions are not impacting the cervix:D

I totally get you wanting to be excited but not being quite there yet. I think it is from the burden of knowing to much....knowing how quickly things take a turn.. it's sooo hard to overcome that.

I think of my daughter often and feel somewhat antsy about the shower bc it's another thing I was not able to do with her. And now we're to the point of picking pediatricians for this little one. It's just hard to shift gears.

So hang in there!!! Hope your bedrest proves to make your cervix even more awesome! Take care

Hi Ladies,

Please add EDD-10/13/10.

Congrats on the 2 lil ones, welcome and enjoy. As for comments with cerclage check ups I'm scheduled every 3 weeks. I have my next appointment tomorrow so yes the nerves kick in since last time I was shorter than my previous checkup. I'm currently home but my doc hasn't really mentioned anything about strict bedrest or anything, just to take it easy. I normally stay in anyway and will only venture out now that my daughter is back home to drop and pick her up from cheerleading practice 4x a week. I was feeling very nervous yesterday because I barely felt the baby moving. I am now 29 weeks and she's normally all over the place doing whatever she does but yesterday she was barely there. I was driving with my 11 year old, whom had just returned from camp, tears in my eyes under my shades and constantly nudging my stomach to no avail. I wanted to go to the hospital but I wasn't in my town or state for that matter and the area I was in did not have the best of hospitals and I dreaded something wrong. Once I arrived at my friend's mother's I sat in the car and kept nudging and praying extremely scared. Finally I got a little something that was a relief but still very nervous since it's not typical of her to be so still. I had a shower to attend yesterday and even after eating and drinking she still was very subtle. I called the doc last night who said all was well but if I felt unsure to go to the hospital for monitoring. By the way it wasn't my doc who returned the call, she must be on vaca, it was a doc I'm assuming covering for her so I'm sure he doesn't know my history. I didn't want to go to the hospital with my daughter anyway so I decided I'd bring her home, lay down for an hour and if nothing I'd tell my husband to stay home with her and I'd go alone only because I couldn't bear something being wrong and having her there. I'd rather take on the news alone than to bear her that burden. This morning I've been writing down every movement I've felt and pray I can make it to tomorrow because I'm so scared of not making the right decision and regretting it for life. So now it's kinda hard to even think about my cervical length since I'm so worried about her moving. I feel as if she is trying to tell me something and I'm not listening. It's such a scary feeling . Anyone else ever experience a sudden slow down as such? I mean my tummy normally rumbles and you see it and there are kicks and pokes everywhere. She's normally breach but at my last pre-natal on Wed she was head down but I know they move around alot. Sorry for the long story, it's just so nerve wrecking and I'm just so afraid of making the wrong choice. I still think back to 6 years ago when I began bleeding during intercourse when my cervix started dilating, and the sono showed a healthy baby and his heart was beating regularly and I was told by the lab tech I was exactly in sync with my edd and that is normally unusual so of course I thought all was well plus I didn't have any pain and not heavy bleeding. Until the doctor(not my ob) came in with his prognosis--IC- I'd never heard of any such thing and was told they could try to stich it but it wouldn't hold and I just had to be induced @ 18 weeks, and at the ER and suffering from bad asthma that same week so it was my 2nd visit to the ER that week and told the baby is too young to survive. I would've opted to at least try the stitch or lay in the bed in that position but I had no knowledge and it was all too overwhelming and it was as if I had no other choice. When I read other miracle success stories it makes me wonder did I make the right choice or not have enough faith in God at the time?

Tisa

I know we've had a few little ones arrive.. I can't keep up with ya chatty ladies!

If you're the proud momma or know "the stats" could you let me know?

Baby's name... birthday... weight... length... gestation

Thanks so much! Keep cookin' Mommas!

I keep up with all of you wonderful ladies regularly. Congratulations on every milestone. Every week is such a blessing. I don't get much time for writing these days. Ryan is 3...enough said. And Evan has been a bit colicky, so my moments of "me" time are spent catching up on sleep...or laundry. Usually sleep. I'm so happy to see so many of you on here and reading about all of the weeks that are passing with those precious babies still inside.

Akeelah's Mommy--here are this proud momma's stats:

Evan Alexander...6/26/10...7lb 0oz...20in...38 weeks

Keep up the good work ladies!

Julie

Hey everyone,

Starting tomorrow August 3rd through Thursday August 5th, ShareYourStory will be undergoing some routine maintenance. The site will be up, but will be read-only. On August 6, we will be back up and running as normal and maybe even a little better. We are really sorry for the inconvenience.

Very best,

James

Thought I'd get one quick message in while I still can.

To Tisa - Over the weekend I didn't feel my baby move for what I felt was about 2 days, even laying in bed at night during his most active time I felt nothing. But sure enough he is awake again & is rolling all about. I hope you have a good appointment & keep getting those reasurring 'lil kicks. Also, I think any loving mommy that has lost a baby would look back and question every decision made. I know I do. I think you have to trust yourself. Ive been thinking lately how my little angel was really a little hero - had he not come along first, we would have been unprepared when preterm labor occurred with my daughter - he gave her a chance, as well as my newest baby-to-be.

Evanly - so awesome you got to have dinner out & everything sounds great for you!

Another week has passed which brings me to 26 wks. This is the farthest I've made it in any pregnancy without any major complications, so I'm very thankful. In the words of my doc: 'Holding very steady'!

Best,
Robin