awick14, that's awesome that she didn't need treatment to get pregnant. I understand the anxiety - but there's really not a lot that goes into prenatal 'care' in the first 4 months, right? I mean, most normal people with normal pregnancies have 1, maybe 2 scans and that's it. She's taking the vitamins, and it's unlikely any food would have harmed the baby (even listeria mainly causes miscarriages, so if bebe's looking good then she needn't worry about that). Is she worried because she'd been drinking? I know the official BC healthcare policy is 'no alcohol', but in the UK they said it was fine to have 1-2 drinks per week, and studies on effects of alcohol have mainly used samples of women who were heavy, heavy drinkers (often with drugs involved too), so the research is definitely not conclusive on moderate use. I'd maybe just try to reassure her that if her doctor is not concerned, that's the best news there is. Maybe encourage her to tell her doctor about the anxiety, so they know she's an anxious patient?
loira- she was drinking at the beginning of the pregnancy. (Or when they think she got pregnant, doing a scan next week I believe) But she gave up drinking because the doctor asked her to start tracking her food/drinks to help them figure out why she hasn't been feeling well.
I think a lot of her anxiety comes from feeling guilty she didn't know, and because of what DH and I went through. She also has a friend that TFMR at 21 weeks, and had really bad complications with the Induction/delivery of their baby.
(She is very much like me where she feels guilty for everything, even if it has nothing to do with her)
Post by thoseareradishes on Mar 22, 2017 8:18:10 GMT -5
awick14, yep, exclusively pumping. The NICU has their own lactation consultant, so I checked in with her yesterday. Evidently I was supposed to still be taking the fenugreek - her written instructions were unclear on that. So I'm back on that and added a supplement called go-lacta. It tastes like ass! Little girl is up to 18ml per meal; I'm keeping ahead of her for now but who knows how long that will last.
I have my second u/s tomorrow and am nervous. My RE is letting me wean off of estradiol, but my progesterone is only 26 and it needs to be 35 to wean. They won't tell me if this means anything bad, so if course I am googling. Ugh.
Post by thoseareradishes on Mar 22, 2017 8:40:33 GMT -5
konapoppy, my progesterone was unimpressive early in my pregnancy, but eventually my body started making its own. I checked my notes and it was still only 34 at 8w4d. No googling!!
konapoppy, my progesterone was unimpressive early in my pregnancy, but eventually my body started making its own. I checked my notes and it was still only 34 at 8w4d. No googling!!
Thanks I have another blood draw at 8+4 and I hope my body is doing its job by then. My RE told me that often with twins it goes up earlier, hence the worry. But I know nothing but the ultrasound tomorrow will reassure me!
Post by cherryvalance on Mar 22, 2017 9:03:36 GMT -5
konapoppy, of course there's always the anxiety, but I think at around the same point my progesterone was only 16 or something. Plus I had spotting and was freaked. Just had a great anatomy scan yesterday, so you just don't know. Lots of hugs and good vibes!
thoseareradishes- exclusively pumping is hard. I hope the supplements help with your supply.
konapoppy- the RE I saw said that most of her patients take progesterone until 10-12 weeks. (As the body starts making more At the end of first tri and should take over then.)
mpc, being back at work has gone well. She had some bottle issues her first day (sent different types of bottles and nipples and she only took one, so it just took some trying on their part), but we have it figured out and she did good yesterday. I feel like I am broken bc I didn't cry and am doing well being back at work. Maybe bc SAHM has never been an option for me?
mpc , being back at work has gone well. She had some bottle issues her first day (sent different types of bottles and nipples and she only took one, so it just took some trying on their part), but we have it figured out and she did good yesterday. I feel like I am broken bc I didn't cry and am doing well being back at work. Maybe bc SAHM has never been an option for me?
Don't feel bad. I didn't cry either. I was stressed about bottles (it took a few days for DS to figure it out), but otherwise the transition went ok for us too. I'm glad your little girl is doing better with bottles now.
Actually, when DS moved up to the 2 year old classroom is the day I went out to my car and just cried and cried. I was like, WTF is wrong with me, I didn't have this much trouble with his very first day, why now. I don't know, emotions are weird.
mpc , being back at work has gone well. She had some bottle issues her first day (sent different types of bottles and nipples and she only took one, so it just took some trying on their part), but we have it figured out and she did good yesterday. I feel like I am broken bc I didn't cry and am doing well being back at work. Maybe bc SAHM has never been an option for me?
Don't feel bad. I didn't cry either. I was stressed about bottles (it took a few days for DS to figure it out), but otherwise the transition went ok for us too. I'm glad your little girl is doing better with bottles now.
Actually, when DS moved up to the 2 year old classroom is the day I went out to my car and just cried and cried. I was like, WTF is wrong with me, I didn't have this much trouble with his very first day, why now. I don't know, emotions are weird.
mpc , being back at work has gone well. She had some bottle issues her first day (sent different types of bottles and nipples and she only took one, so it just took some trying on their part), but we have it figured out and she did good yesterday. I feel like I am broken bc I didn't cry and am doing well being back at work. Maybe bc SAHM has never been an option for me?
We did a few trial days at daycare before I went back to work, and H was having a really tough time. We'd bring her and sit in the observation room, and she'd scream the whole time she was there. I cried then - because I was worried that she wouldn't adjust and I wouldn't be able to go back to work. Going back to work gave me a feeling of normalcy I needed at that point, I think.
awick14 , yep, exclusively pumping. The NICU has their own lactation consultant, so I checked in with her yesterday. Evidently I was supposed to still be taking the fenugreek - her written instructions were unclear on that. So I'm back on that and added a supplement called go-lacta. It tastes like ass! Little girl is up to 18ml per meal; I'm keeping ahead of her for now but who knows how long that will last.
It sounds like you (and your little girl) are doing great! How much does she weigh now?
G22 , A has these horrible little wisps that don't stay tucked behind her ears. I really need to trim them... but baby hair! Also, she's still pretty bald, so I feel indignant that I even have to take scissors to it this early when it's so thin on top.
I am totally not attached to H's baby hair. She had a little rat tail that was longer than the rest of her hair back when she was tiny, and I snipped that right off. She constantly has hair in her eyes, so I guess she needs a haircut? But her hair still seems short in general, so I don't know. I haven't gotten a haircut myself in 8 months, so this is not something I'm likely to stay on top off well. Maybe I just need to figure out how to get her hair into tiny pigtails, but I can't imagine her staying still long enough for me to figure it out!
starryfish- I'm not back to work but I also feel broken. I dropped DD off at child minding at the gym yesterday for an hr so I could go for a run. It didn't feel any different then leaving her with DH to go to the gym. The people there asked me how I felt after it was all said and done. I told them it was hard because I felt like if I didn't I would be a horrible mom. 😞 I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way.
awick14 , yep, exclusively pumping. The NICU has their own lactation consultant, so I checked in with her yesterday. Evidently I was supposed to still be taking the fenugreek - her written instructions were unclear on that. So I'm back on that and added a supplement called go-lacta. It tastes like ass! Little girl is up to 18ml per meal; I'm keeping ahead of her for now but who knows how long that will last.
That's great you're pumping enough to keep up with her right now. I just wanted to say, even if you can't keep up at some point, that's okay too. What you're doing is nothing short of heroic. I stressed so, so much about first not being able to nurse successfully, then not pumping enough. Lots of people (and public health nurses and doctors) told me formula was wonderful, but I feel like you can never say it enough with all the pressure society puts on women to BF/pump.
awick14 , yep, exclusively pumping. The NICU has their own lactation consultant, so I checked in with her yesterday. Evidently I was supposed to still be taking the fenugreek - her written instructions were unclear on that. So I'm back on that and added a supplement called go-lacta. It tastes like ass! Little girl is up to 18ml per meal; I'm keeping ahead of her for now but who knows how long that will last.
It sounds like you (and your little girl) are doing great! How much does she weigh now?
awick14 , yep, exclusively pumping. The NICU has their own lactation consultant, so I checked in with her yesterday. Evidently I was supposed to still be taking the fenugreek - her written instructions were unclear on that. So I'm back on that and added a supplement called go-lacta. It tastes like ass! Little girl is up to 18ml per meal; I'm keeping ahead of her for now but who knows how long that will last.
That's great you're pumping enough to keep up with her right now. I just wanted to say, even if you can't keep up at some point, that's okay too. What you're doing is nothing short of heroic. I stressed so, so much about first not being able to nurse successfully, then not pumping enough. Lots of people (and public health nurses and doctors) told me formula was wonderful, but I feel like you can never say it enough with all the pressure society puts on women to BF/pump.
Thank you. It's hard because it's like the only thing I can do for her right now. I'm trying to celebrate the small victories (I'm finally pumping more than 200ml a day!) and not stress too much.
Adora Belle Dearheart did you ask them about how you could have gotten a BFP if baby is only 5+6? Would be curious to hear what they say. Either way, as I said on GP, I am so happy that you got good news today and I hope your ultrasound next week shows even more growth.
I mentioned it, shauni27 , but they didn't have an answer. I'm so confused. We're literally measuring further behind than the first ultrasound. I think there's a degree of wiggle room with the ultrasounds, and maybe we're a few days off. But that still leaves like a week I can't explain.
I'm pretty concerned that things aren't normal given this big gap. But I guess I'll take the positive movement of growth and a heartbeat.
I think it is impossible not to play the "what if" game, but this is what you should focus on. Until you are told otherwise, you have a little baby in there!
E's hole in her heart is closed up, so now we are working on strengthening her lungs. She's eating like a champ (through a feeding tube) and gaining weight. I'm worried I may not be able to keep up with her eventually - I'm only producing about 200ml of milk a day right now. I need to talk to the lactation consultant today.
How old is she? Don't stress too much about supply yet. I remember mine went up even after we came home from the NICU. I think one of the nurses said I needed to be pumping 17 oz per baby by the time we were discharged and I was somewhere around 35/40 oz a day when they came home. I EP'd for a year and my twins at one point were eating 54 oz a day and I was producing just enough. Make sure to eat! I know it's hard in the NICU with the stress but eating and staying hydrated helps supply. I also tried to do kangaroo care as much as possible in the beginning, but my twins had jaundice so I was limited at first on how long I could hold them. You're doing great and any BM at this point will help her! If already are producing more you can get a little freezer stash going
Post by Chrysanthemum on Mar 22, 2017 22:48:32 GMT -5
Great news Adora Belle Dearheart ! I think seeing a heartbeat trumps measuring small. I think it would have to be attributed to measuring inaccuracies because baby is so small. When do you go back for another scan?
So happy for more great news thoseareradishes ! And ditto Loira, EPing is HARD. I ended up doing it for just over 11 weeks and actually had my last session this morning. I just can't do it and the judgement is frustrating, but I know fed is best. Let me know if you want to talk about it, I discovered some tips that made it easier for the short time I did do it.
Glad to hear your little girl has adjusted to daycare starryfish ! I'm also glad to hear a few of you say you didn't cry or feel bad about bringing your LOs to daycare. Next week is my last week of ML and I'm ok with it. I like to work. I like my job. I love my baby (of course!) but I am not cut out to be a SAHM. It's hard! I feel like I'm supposed to cry, and maybe I will, but maybe I won't. Anyways, thanks for putting it out there.
C is 11 weeks old. His GERD is improving with meds. We FINALLY see a doctor about his hearing stuff next week and I'm hoping we get some answers. He's so much fun and laughing and smiling like crazy. We're trying to make the most of our last few days together and are balancing fun activities and at-home snuggles this week and next.
So happy for more great news thoseareradishes ! And ditto Loira, EPing is HARD. I ended up doing it for just over 11 weeks and actually had my last session this morning. I just can't do it and the judgement is frustrating, but I know fed is best. Let me know if you want to talk about it, I discovered some tips that made it easier for the short time I did do it.
Yes, tips please! I've got a sort of routine down, but anything to make it easier is welcomed.
Glad to hear your little girl has adjusted to daycare starryfish ! I'm also glad to hear a few of you say you didn't cry or feel bad about bringing your LOs to daycare. Next week is my last week of ML and I'm ok with it. I like to work. I like my job. I love my baby (of course!) but I am not cut out to be a SAHM. It's hard! I feel like I'm supposed to cry, and maybe I will, but maybe I won't. Anyways, thanks for putting it out there.
Yep! I know now FOR sure that I am not cut out to be a SAHM (I am too lazy lol) plus we need my income, so I always knew I would work.
Chrysanthemum, starryfish- I'm also not cut out to be a SAHM. I miss the feeling my work gives me on a regular basis, I'm so happy that DH supports my job and is willing to move to further my career.
Ugh, I wish I was at work right now. I took A to the park this morning, and we left a little late. So she ended up sleeping in the car for 15 minutes on the way home and now she thinks that was her nap. I've listened to her angry cry for the last hour but refuse to go get her. She normally naps 1.5-2 hours so she needs this sleep. And H now has the cold I had last week and will probably be unavailable to baby wrangle when he gets home. I would have let her sleep in the car, but Texas is stupidly hot and I don't like to let my car idle and kill the environment more than it already does. No good deed goes unpunished, I guess.
loira- if you come back here you won't have to worry about the hot weather. Lol
My brother and SIL had their a/s yesterday. My SIL is further along then they thought, she is 25 weeks. The a/s showed a heathy baby. (my brother works with DH so he told him yesterday at work) Of course DH didn't ask any other questions then that. I asked him if they are finding out or team green and such DH just looked at me and said I didn't ask that. Lol men!
awick14, we'll be back on the island in May - just in time for the election haha. I'm a bit jealous of your SIL. I know their situation wasn't ideal, but I would have loved to have just found out I was 25 weeks pregnant with a healthy baby, and all the first tri worry/sickness etc over with.