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Archive through December 09, 2003

The TVClubHouse: Archives: 2004 January - Arpil: Things they don't tell you about Pregnancy & Parenthood: Archive through December 09, 2003 users admin

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Admin

Sunday, December 07, 2003 - 9:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I've always avoided these baby threads, I have no idea why I'm suddenly in here posting! Help me! :)

Luvmyjrt

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 6:43 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Nobody ever told me that even 15 years later, as much as I love him, he's really messed with my sneezing, laughing, and coughing! Pleasant reminders of childbirth and poor sewing skills!

Urgrace

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 9:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
ITA with all these thoughts. Parenthood is such a huge emotion. That's why you couldn't resist posting, Admin.

The SRO delivery room with mirrored walls and ceiling had escaped my memory temporarily. LOL

YES, nighttime pampers and the Nap Schedule is crucial, but the battery operated swing is one thing I learned about with the grandbabies. When they were little I would have gone out to buy another one if anything happened to it. Platinum Not1!

Eliz87

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 12:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
ITA also about the emotions that go along with parenthood. Words truly cannot express, but I love the Celine Dion song, "Have You Ever Been In Love." It might be kind of cheesy because it was used in an automobile commercial with Celine and her son, with the song playing in the background, but when I hear it, it never fails to bring tears to my eyes because of the love I have for my son and the baby on the way. Here's an excerpt.

Have you ever been in love
You could touch the moonlight
When your heart is shooting stars
You're holding heaven in your arms
Have you ever been so in love

Have you ever walked on air
Ever felt like you were dreamin'
When you never thought it could
But it will, it feels that good
Have you ever been so in love

The time I spent waiting
For something that was heaven sent
When you find it, don't let go
I know

Have you ever said a prayer
And found that it was answered
All my hopes have been restored
And I ain't looking anymore
Have you ever been so in love, have you

So please put you in living
Somewhere you're gonna stay
When you finally found the meaning
Have you ever felt this way


*sigh* It's a powerful song.

Dahli

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 12:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
OMG Dandzdol... that happened to me I was a week early - the very day I had that 'checkup' I went into labour over night - I always thought he did something because his vacation was the following week, but violated is exactly how I felt - oooh I'm angry again and it was 27 years ago
ps what was the magical phrase they were whispering every hour?? I missed that...

And the 'voiding' directive, I remember that too, that was a scary thing. (my daughter is an only btw)

Ohiomobprincess

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 12:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
What a great thread!
No one will ever tell you:
-that the moment you get pregnant with your second baby, you'll begin to show IMMEDIATELY!
-that you'll be starving one minute and completely bloated the moment you put one bite of food in your mouth
-that a lot of people will be staring at a part of your body that only a few people should ever see
-and as soon as that beautiful baby is put on your chest, you'll forget about all the "joys" of pregnancy and labor

Eliz87

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 12:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
LOL yes that hurts! I'm at 28 weeks and my OB-GYN already started that business at my last appointment! Kills me they don't even warn you that it's going to be uncomfortable. Ick.

Kimmo

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 3:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I can only think of a few of things that I really didn't know about...

I didn't know the water breaking, once broken, would keep going on *all day* and that I would need to wear that horrible "underwear" and surgical pad because of it. And then even a week or so afterward, the same stuff, for the bleeding. Ugh!

I had always heard of the pain disappearing with the joy of seeing your baby for the first time, but instead I learned the pain was just gone because he was out. It made me think, "Yes, the pain was a really good motivator to get this done!"

I thought I would be so happy to take a long shower the next morning, but I almost passed out instead. My midwife then told me I should never have gotten into the shower, because circulation is so poor after you give birth, and I should have had someone give me a bath instead. As if there weren't enough hands all over the place already!

Oh-- Then that there are so many people all over the place while you are giving birth, that breastfeeding in front of total strangers the next day is no big deal. I thought I would be a lot more self-conscious about everything, but the pain obviously took care of that. :)

Not1worry

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 3:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Now I'm reminded of the Nazi-like lactation consultant who yanked my boob into some very uncomfortable positions "teaching" me how to nurse my first. When I had my 2nd at the same hospital 2 years later, I refused to let her get near me.

Poor sewing skills, ROFL. I had 3 episiotomies with my 1st big headed baby.

Nobody told me the worst pain I've ever felt is being told "Don't push yet, we're not ready."

Mamie316

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 3:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I know, they tell you not to push as they are spreading your legs this way and that!

Kimmo

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 3:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Not1, that reminds me how I had always thought my breasts were a little low on my chest, then it was confirmed by my midwife finally saying, "Your breasts are oddly placed, aren't they?", after two days of my awkward attempts at placing the baby at my breast. Well, at least she said it out loud, I'd been dreading it all weekend!

Danzdol

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 5:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Dahli the magic phrase was "ok, we need to check you" over and over and over....grrrrrr

I was being sarcastic when I wrote it.

Tabbyking

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 6:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
i was surprised to read that a doctor would do an internal exam when you are only 28 weeks (unless there is a specific reason). we used to start at 36 weeks or so. i can't believe things have changed that much in the dozen years since i worked OB, but maybe it's just your doctor who checks that early.

Tabbyking

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 6:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
p.s. they swore to me my second labor would be 'nowhere near' the 41 hours i had with my ds before a c-section. they were right!


i went 93 hours with dd before a repeat c-section:)

Maris

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 6:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
ROFLMAO Tabby, That one cracked me up.

Not1worry

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 7:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Oh my, Tabby!!! That's terrible.

Both my labors were short but intense. 5 hrs with #1 and 3 1/2 with #2. They actually wouldn't "give me a check" with #2 because of the risk of introducing infection. I tried to tell them it might not take me very long as I'd been walking around at 4 cm dialated for a few weeks. When they finally lifted the sheet to have a look-see, they were quite surprised to see #2's curly head on the way out. Dr. didn't even get his paper jacket on. That's when they said "don't push", I was in a labor room, not a delivery room. They had to break away the bottom of the table and get a portable baby warmer in there. Gosh, it seems like such happy excitement now, 6 years later, but I know at the time I was in agony and letting everyone know it.

This is such a fun thread, it's like sitting around with a Diet Coke with my best friends swapping baby stories.

Tabbyking

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 8:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
not1, that's what i was thinking with the early internal exams; infection...but i guess doctors who do them early on have their reasons.

my mom had 7 of us and even with the last one, she was in labor for more than 24 hours. we look like we should drop 'em and go on working in the fields, but we just don't seem to dilate...you know how some people can walk around 2 cm's dilated for a week? i could probably walk around almost 4 cm's for a month or so! they absolutely would not give me something for pain because i wasn't 4 cm's dilated. i asked what 4 cm's was to them...they said, '2 fingertips'. my husband said i said, 'then find me some lady ob/gyn with little tiny fingertips and have her give me a god damn 4!!' that was on day 3, i think!
i had 93 hours of labor with the pains 3 to 5 minutes apart. ONE time i went 7 minutes between 2 contractions and then was back under 5. so i had basically had at least 1,200 contractions which never dilated me past 3.5 cm's. did i mention i had to cut my hair because it looked like i'd been on the back of a harley for those 93 hours from writhing my head on my pillow?!
when i went for my postpartum, my doctor asked if i was thinking of having a third child. i asked why, and he said, "i'll schedule your c-section the very first day i see you for pre-natal care! we'll never let you go into labor again!"
alas, i was done......just when it would have gotten easier!

Eliz87

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 8:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Tabby, I couldn't understand why he did it so early either. With my first, the doctor waited until I was further along. But with this one, it was a different doctor from the same group and he just decided to dive right in for some odd reason.

It could be that my pap test at four weeks came back as LSIL (low-grade squamous intrasomething lesions -- they've come back that way for years) and since he redid the pap test at 28 weeks, maybe he just decided to go ahead and check to see if I was dilated any (which I wasn't).

Frankly, my first pregnancy, I wasn't dilated at all even at 39 weeks. They did a C-section the following week. My little boy was just getting WAY too comfortable in there. :-)

Mamie316

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 8:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Elizabeth, do you know what you are having this time or are you going to be surprised?

Eliz87

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 8:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well, he tried looking last month but the little peanut's leg was cocked over the crucial area so we couldn't see! During my check-up last week I asked if we could take another peek, and he was running late, so he couldn't. BUT I'm going back on the 15th and I scheduled that appointment as an ultrasound, so we shall see!

I feel so silly that it's so important for me to know, but the other doctor I have agrees that it helps with preparation, bonding, etc. (Now don't tell anyone but I would love another boy!)

Marysafan

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 9:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
The one thing that surprised me the most that no one ever told me, was that two children born to the same parents, coming from the same gene pool, raised in the same house, could be so different!!!

The first was a very easy going baby...the second one was ornery from the get go. It's a good thing I had the first one first!

My girls are totally opposite personalities. One is an introvert, the other an extrovert, one was an excellent student, the other a very poor one, they have very different interests, and opposite viewpoints on almost everything.

Yet through all that, they are the best of friends! Go figure!

Mamie316

Monday, December 08, 2003 - 9:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Mary, you sound like me! My son was born first and just the happiest baby, just the sweetest disposition and then SHE came! My daughter was always into everything, she was wild and I always told her if I had had her first, she would have been an only child! They are more alike now that they are older but there are still differences. Of course, even though I called my daughter the "bad seed", she is definitely a wonderful and fun young woman!

Nightowl

Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 3:22 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Mary and Mamie, I can relate. When my now 2 1/2 year old son was 4 months old he had to go to the doctor for a cold and even the doctor complimented us on what an easy going baby he was. Then he said that we were in for it if we had another one. He was such an excellent baby. He slept through the night on his own....went from bassinet to crib to big boy bed with barely a whimper....I never knew when he was teething, it seemed like a new tooth would just "appear" in his mouth with no fuss whatsoever.

But I am sure that I will get what is coming to me....we are trying to get pregnant again and I do not doubt that payback is on its way!!!!

Nightowl

Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 3:30 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I just wanted to share the name of the best book series I have ever read:

The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine

I love this book!! Vicki has four children and she definitely tells it like it is. She has sisterly type advice on everything from breast feeding to how to decline mother-in-law advice.

I relied on "What to Expect...." for the technical advice but "The Girlfriend's Guide" really was more practical and provides some much needed humor from someone who can sympathize.

Not1worry

Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 6:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I will heartily agree with Nightowl, that is my favorite pregnancy book too!

Eliz, I think that's great that your Dr. is willing to let you know the sex of the baby. Here on military bases they won't tell you, or at least they wouldn't at this particular base in the late 90's. They didn't want to risk being sued or something if they got it wrong. But I loved knowing what my 1st was, naming him, and personalizing his room.