So... STILL no dilation. Not ripe for induction.
Plenty frustrated.
BP was 126/84, Val's HR was 146 ... all good and normal.
Had some bleeding - not just spotting - after that exam... but not until that evening. Scared the fuck out of me... not enough to go to L&D, but enough to call the on-call OB.
My hips hurt.. badly. If I sit in my chair at work for 30 minutes and then have to get up for anything - it HURTS until my pelvis warms up again. My entire pelvic girdle hurts... I know it's normal - but that doesn't make it all better!
So... this will be short, because I need to walk out some soreness...
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Feeling super weird today...emo is just the beginning
Maybe it's because I slept all damn day. I really did. Went to bed this morning between 3:30am and 4am ...sometime in there. Got up about 12 hours later...
Okay, so I got up a few times... to go to the bathroom mostly, but Gabe woke me up with a great breakfast. He went grocery shopping after work, and came home and made me a fresh fruit bowl - bananas, oranges & kiwis. *drool* I'm not one who can eat right after crawling out of bed... but Gabe was right there with me, laying next to me - feeding me. I HAD to munch on the fruit... and it tasted so freakin' good. He said it was to thank me for working on his legs last night before he went to work... that they felt so much better. I just like making him feel good - he takes such good care of me, that it's only fair that I take good care of him, too.
((TMI WARNING)) Today, I've had loose stools all day... and from what I hear, that's a precursor to labor. Maybe... but damn, does it happen a week ahead of time?? I've kinda had my heart set on my baby girl being a Gemini ... I'm starting to accept that she'll be a Cancer. I'm gonna love and spoil her all to pieces anyway... I just understand Geminis more. Me, my best friend, my b-day twin (Sabrina), among several others. I don't have much experience with Cancers - my cousin, Eva, is the Cancer I grew up with...always kinda quiet and sweet. It doesn't matter to me WHEN she's born - as long as it's soon... Mommy's uncomfortable and achy. I just want her healthy and happy.
So, I guess I'm just trying to figure out in my head when labor's going to start... sleeping all day, loose stool, general discomfort... I sleep fine - which is good. I just get comfy for a couple hours then have to get up and pee, so I have to reconfigure and reposition my body when I go back to bed... hip pain is a biatch!!
Not just the hips that are falling apart though... I'm whining about my knees, my hips, my lower back ... not just my hips but my ENTIRE PELVIC GIRDLE - it feels like it's about to come apart. I've also got a knot in my back right between my left shoulder blade and my spine - ouchie!
Aside from feeling weird today...
Gabe and I are going to try and go fishing in the morning for a couple hours... we haven't been to Galveston since before Ike landed, and I really just want to get in the water before Val is born. Tomorrow will be like a mini-babymoon ... so today, I'm in partial-nesting mode. ALL of the dishes are clean, save for 1 pan and a couple plastic containers that wouldn't fit in the dishwasher. I'm continuing to wash clothes - started last night - but I want them all clean and hung up tonight. The only problem is the POS washer/dryer in my apartment. The washer doesn't spin properly, so I have to spin heavy stuff twice... the dryer isn't drying completely. I usually have to dry heavy stuff on 2 cycles... seems like 3 is what's being called for now. I don't have a small vacuum to clean out the lint thingy... the trap that comes out? Yeah, that gets cleaned between every cycle and every load. The part that holds it? Well, it seems to need more extensive cleaning... I'll be calling maintenance first thing Monday morning... no sense in calling them now - since they don't work weekends unless it's an emergency.
blahhhhh
/end ramble
Okay, so I got up a few times... to go to the bathroom mostly, but Gabe woke me up with a great breakfast. He went grocery shopping after work, and came home and made me a fresh fruit bowl - bananas, oranges & kiwis. *drool* I'm not one who can eat right after crawling out of bed... but Gabe was right there with me, laying next to me - feeding me. I HAD to munch on the fruit... and it tasted so freakin' good. He said it was to thank me for working on his legs last night before he went to work... that they felt so much better. I just like making him feel good - he takes such good care of me, that it's only fair that I take good care of him, too.
((TMI WARNING)) Today, I've had loose stools all day... and from what I hear, that's a precursor to labor. Maybe... but damn, does it happen a week ahead of time?? I've kinda had my heart set on my baby girl being a Gemini ... I'm starting to accept that she'll be a Cancer. I'm gonna love and spoil her all to pieces anyway... I just understand Geminis more. Me, my best friend, my b-day twin (Sabrina), among several others. I don't have much experience with Cancers - my cousin, Eva, is the Cancer I grew up with...always kinda quiet and sweet. It doesn't matter to me WHEN she's born - as long as it's soon... Mommy's uncomfortable and achy. I just want her healthy and happy.
So, I guess I'm just trying to figure out in my head when labor's going to start... sleeping all day, loose stool, general discomfort... I sleep fine - which is good. I just get comfy for a couple hours then have to get up and pee, so I have to reconfigure and reposition my body when I go back to bed... hip pain is a biatch!!
Not just the hips that are falling apart though... I'm whining about my knees, my hips, my lower back ... not just my hips but my ENTIRE PELVIC GIRDLE - it feels like it's about to come apart. I've also got a knot in my back right between my left shoulder blade and my spine - ouchie!
Aside from feeling weird today...
Gabe and I are going to try and go fishing in the morning for a couple hours... we haven't been to Galveston since before Ike landed, and I really just want to get in the water before Val is born. Tomorrow will be like a mini-babymoon ... so today, I'm in partial-nesting mode. ALL of the dishes are clean, save for 1 pan and a couple plastic containers that wouldn't fit in the dishwasher. I'm continuing to wash clothes - started last night - but I want them all clean and hung up tonight. The only problem is the POS washer/dryer in my apartment. The washer doesn't spin properly, so I have to spin heavy stuff twice... the dryer isn't drying completely. I usually have to dry heavy stuff on 2 cycles... seems like 3 is what's being called for now. I don't have a small vacuum to clean out the lint thingy... the trap that comes out? Yeah, that gets cleaned between every cycle and every load. The part that holds it? Well, it seems to need more extensive cleaning... I'll be calling maintenance first thing Monday morning... no sense in calling them now - since they don't work weekends unless it's an emergency.
blahhhhh
/end ramble
Friday, June 19, 2009
38 week update from Weds
So... Wednesday was my 38 week appointment, and I'm sad to say - I have NOTHING new to report! 
BP was 126/82 (which is good) and baby's heart rate was 136 (also good). Doc is VERY pleased with my BP... I'm definitely staying on my current meds AFTER bringing Val into the world... it works better than the previous prescription... and IT"S GENERIC!!!! I pay $10 for 120 pills (4/day)...even though I only take 3/day, per doc orders. He Rx'd 4/day just in case, back in December. Up until 2 months ago, I was on 2/day, so 1 refill would last me 2 months (no complaints here - saves me $$). I don't actually take 3/day every day - about 1/2 the week I do take /3day, but if I can REMEMBER to bring the extra pill to work with me, I'll be able to take that extra pill. (note to self: bring pills to work!)
Doc said my cervix is "a little more" thinned out, but still not dilated "I can't get my finger in there" ...ok, so STOP TRYING! That's why it's not so comfortable! lol (Will... if you leave a comment, just leave that part out, ok? lol-cervy is a lot more sensitve right now)
...all is well, pretty much. I've finally gotten some sleep. Still need a massage and a back crack. Would settle for a good deep massage... extra attention on some special points on my ankles, forearms, and wrists. :D
I feel allergies coming on again this morning. Really? I can't be able to breathe w/o blowing my schnozz while I'm trying to push this meatloaf into the world? *sigh* ...you know, WHENEVER I do go into labor that is...
Please send me labor vibes friends... I need them. The sun is only in Gemini until late tomorrow... ;)
BP was 126/82 (which is good) and baby's heart rate was 136 (also good). Doc is VERY pleased with my BP... I'm definitely staying on my current meds AFTER bringing Val into the world... it works better than the previous prescription... and IT"S GENERIC!!!! I pay $10 for 120 pills (4/day)...even though I only take 3/day, per doc orders. He Rx'd 4/day just in case, back in December. Up until 2 months ago, I was on 2/day, so 1 refill would last me 2 months (no complaints here - saves me $$). I don't actually take 3/day every day - about 1/2 the week I do take /3day, but if I can REMEMBER to bring the extra pill to work with me, I'll be able to take that extra pill. (note to self: bring pills to work!)
Doc said my cervix is "a little more" thinned out, but still not dilated "I can't get my finger in there" ...ok, so STOP TRYING! That's why it's not so comfortable! lol (Will... if you leave a comment, just leave that part out, ok? lol-cervy is a lot more sensitve right now)
...all is well, pretty much. I've finally gotten some sleep. Still need a massage and a back crack. Would settle for a good deep massage... extra attention on some special points on my ankles, forearms, and wrists. :D
I feel allergies coming on again this morning. Really? I can't be able to breathe w/o blowing my schnozz while I'm trying to push this meatloaf into the world? *sigh* ...you know, WHENEVER I do go into labor that is...
Please send me labor vibes friends... I need them. The sun is only in Gemini until late tomorrow... ;)
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
On my skincare soapbox - Mineral Oil
Most everyone here knows I'm a massage therapist (yes, licensed), and that I feel very strongly against the use of mineral oil on skin...
Read this: http://www.click2houston.com/health/19725357/detail.html
""Mineral oil is found in so many skin care and cosmetic products. This particular oil is not the best choice to be used in skin care products yet it is placed in many popular skin care product," says Elkins. "Read your labels."
Mineral oil clogs pores, she says."
This is something they teach on the FIRST day of massage therapy school. It has stuck with me ever since. Huge beauty corporations like Avon and Mary Kay continue to use mineral oil in MUCH of their skin care lines.
When I was massaging for MK, my consultant asked me to try some foot cream... before it touched my skin, I read the ingredients, and I told her that mineral oil is not something to be put on skin - it clogs pores. The word for "does not clog pores" is "non-comedogenic" in the skin care industry. This particular MK product had "non-comedogenic" on the tube... it's a LIE.
My mom knows how I feel about mineral oil, and she's a 20+ year AVON rep. I've told her about it and even shown her how mineral oil will sit on your skin, while almond oil penetrates and softens.
Companies use mineral oil because the shelf life is measured in years, whereas good oils have shelf life measured in months. Mineral oil is also CHEAP. Notice how much Johnson's baby oil costs? That's the primary ingredient.
Yes, sweet almond, safflower, sunflower, and grapeseed oils cost more... but you don't have to use much to get softer skin - just pat a little dab on your fingertips and pat onto skin, then massage it in...
Anybody care to join in the discussion? Questions or comments?
Read this: http://www.click2houston.com/health/19725357/detail.html
""Mineral oil is found in so many skin care and cosmetic products. This particular oil is not the best choice to be used in skin care products yet it is placed in many popular skin care product," says Elkins. "Read your labels."
Mineral oil clogs pores, she says."
This is something they teach on the FIRST day of massage therapy school. It has stuck with me ever since. Huge beauty corporations like Avon and Mary Kay continue to use mineral oil in MUCH of their skin care lines.
When I was massaging for MK, my consultant asked me to try some foot cream... before it touched my skin, I read the ingredients, and I told her that mineral oil is not something to be put on skin - it clogs pores. The word for "does not clog pores" is "non-comedogenic" in the skin care industry. This particular MK product had "non-comedogenic" on the tube... it's a LIE.
My mom knows how I feel about mineral oil, and she's a 20+ year AVON rep. I've told her about it and even shown her how mineral oil will sit on your skin, while almond oil penetrates and softens.
Companies use mineral oil because the shelf life is measured in years, whereas good oils have shelf life measured in months. Mineral oil is also CHEAP. Notice how much Johnson's baby oil costs? That's the primary ingredient.
Yes, sweet almond, safflower, sunflower, and grapeseed oils cost more... but you don't have to use much to get softer skin - just pat a little dab on your fingertips and pat onto skin, then massage it in...
Anybody care to join in the discussion? Questions or comments?
Thursday, June 11, 2009
37 week update...
Can you believe that? 37 weeks! It's so weird that I'm going to the doc EVERY week, and every visit I get a hand up my woo-hoo! ...SO not comfortable.
BP 126/80 - normal, very good (esp considering I nearly missed my 2nd pill yesterday - I took it 30 mins before getting BP taken, so yeah, it seems my BP is good)
Val's heartrate - 140, normal.
Cervix - 75% effaced, not dilated yet. Softer & thinner, but not opening - that's ok, we have the weekend to work on that *wink*
Since the doc was down there yesterday, I can say w/absolute certainty that I KNOW where my cervix is, and that some of the pains I'm having are IN my cervix. Ouch!
New pains - hips, oh, my hips! Seriously, it feels like my entire pelvic girdle is going to fall apart any minute. The good news - walking helps. In more ways than one... If I sit for too long - work, driving, chillin at home - then it's serious ouchies when I get up to hobble to the bathroom or kitchen (or around the office, whatever). I realize it's all normal pains... but it's making me realize that I've got more pain right around the corner and I really need to step up my nesting game!
Mom & Dad are heading out to Louisiana tomorrow for Britt's graduation & 18th birthday party... poor child, having Kim as her mother... lol.
In other news, Carrie Prejean got kicked out of the Miss America crap... GOOD! She needs to grow up and realize that the world is changing. At 22 and growing up trading on her looks - she hasn't ever lived in the REAL world. Now that she has to find real work, maybe she'll meet new people - although, the narrow-minded people seem to ONLY find other narrow-minded morons to hang with.
Hopefully, she'll get the chance to realize that marriage should be allowed for EVERY person... I used to joke that everybody should be able to experience the misery of marriage... not just heteros. Marriage isn't all bad - it changes things, sure, but life is a constant change. You either adapt or things fall apart. Several states are adapting to ALLOW gay people to marry - HOORAY for those states! It will be a LONG time before Texas can join them...but TX is a long-time red state.
.. lol
BP 126/80 - normal, very good (esp considering I nearly missed my 2nd pill yesterday - I took it 30 mins before getting BP taken, so yeah, it seems my BP is good)
Val's heartrate - 140, normal.
Cervix - 75% effaced, not dilated yet. Softer & thinner, but not opening - that's ok, we have the weekend to work on that *wink*
Since the doc was down there yesterday, I can say w/absolute certainty that I KNOW where my cervix is, and that some of the pains I'm having are IN my cervix. Ouch!
New pains - hips, oh, my hips! Seriously, it feels like my entire pelvic girdle is going to fall apart any minute. The good news - walking helps. In more ways than one... If I sit for too long - work, driving, chillin at home - then it's serious ouchies when I get up to hobble to the bathroom or kitchen (or around the office, whatever). I realize it's all normal pains... but it's making me realize that I've got more pain right around the corner and I really need to step up my nesting game!
Mom & Dad are heading out to Louisiana tomorrow for Britt's graduation & 18th birthday party... poor child, having Kim as her mother... lol.
In other news, Carrie Prejean got kicked out of the Miss America crap... GOOD! She needs to grow up and realize that the world is changing. At 22 and growing up trading on her looks - she hasn't ever lived in the REAL world. Now that she has to find real work, maybe she'll meet new people - although, the narrow-minded people seem to ONLY find other narrow-minded morons to hang with.
Hopefully, she'll get the chance to realize that marriage should be allowed for EVERY person... I used to joke that everybody should be able to experience the misery of marriage... not just heteros. Marriage isn't all bad - it changes things, sure, but life is a constant change. You either adapt or things fall apart. Several states are adapting to ALLOW gay people to marry - HOORAY for those states! It will be a LONG time before Texas can join them...but TX is a long-time red state.
.. lol
Sunday, June 7, 2009
36 week update and baby shower!
First, the usual update - BP was 122/82 (this is good) and baby's HR was 136 (also good). Midwife was in and she didn't check me, so I don't officially know if there's been progress or not... I'll find out when I go back on Wednesday. I'm sure by now that SOME progress has been made... considering how achy my low back and my pelvic region has been this weekend. Gabe and I did a lot of walking yesterday...and it feels like my hips are about to split. Not painful, really... just uncomfortable.
On to yesterday's fun... my baby shower. It was a pretty good thing at first... good food, good conversation.... yummy cake - and PRESENTS! lol...lots of basics and necessities, and a cute goth-y dress from Mel.
The part that bothered me the most? Realizing how little everybody knows me and how MY knowledge of MY body doesn't matter to any of them.
My choice to ask for pain relief for labor & delivery is just that - MY CHOICE. It's not for ANYBODY ELSE to say "you're gonna want it", "you're gonna need it", "it's not that bad", "it's not as bad as labor pains","just get the damn epi", or "you're not going to be able to handle it" ... really? REALLY??? Is this YOUR body? NO. This is MY body... and the choice to go all natural is MY CHOICE. I HAVE NEVER ASKED FOR OPINIONS ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THE ONLY OPINION THAT MATTERS ABOUT MY BODY IS MINE! If you have not lived in my body, then you have no fucking clue what goes on in my body... you don't know how I interpret pain signals. Every body and every pregnancy is different right? So stop trying to make MY pregnancy into YOURS! It's not yours - it's mine ... and I don't want your asshole in my face so why in hell would I want your opinion there?
OH - and the stupidest part of the shower?? When we got to Olive Garden, Mom asked them to hold the cake until we asked for it. Cool. When we were ready for the cake... you know what those dumb-fuck waiters did??? THEY PUT A FUCKING CANDLE IN THE CAKE AND LIT IT...!!!! WTF?? The cake said "WELCOME VAL" ... How in the holy fuck do you get "happy birthday" out of "WELCOME"??? Stupid...stupid people. When they set the cake down, and I saw the candle... I told the silly girl "You can take that candle out - it's NOT my birthday...and the cake doesn't say happy birthday" ... duh! She took the candle and the gathered wait staff left... fucking idiots.
...when mom and I were bringing my stuff to my apartment afterwards, my neighbor, Molly, said "oohh, baby shower.. ARE YOU READY???" ..that is ALL she fucking knows how to say. Fine. I don't talk to the bitch anymore... Gabe asked if I said anything back to her... I said "no, I'm waiting till she comes up with something more original" ... until she can talk to me without being high as a fucking kite, I've got nothing to say to her.
So...that was my shower...nothing too exciting.
On to yesterday's fun... my baby shower. It was a pretty good thing at first... good food, good conversation.... yummy cake - and PRESENTS! lol...lots of basics and necessities, and a cute goth-y dress from Mel.
The part that bothered me the most? Realizing how little everybody knows me and how MY knowledge of MY body doesn't matter to any of them.
My choice to ask for pain relief for labor & delivery is just that - MY CHOICE. It's not for ANYBODY ELSE to say "you're gonna want it", "you're gonna need it", "it's not that bad", "it's not as bad as labor pains","just get the damn epi", or "you're not going to be able to handle it" ... really? REALLY??? Is this YOUR body? NO. This is MY body... and the choice to go all natural is MY CHOICE. I HAVE NEVER ASKED FOR OPINIONS ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THE ONLY OPINION THAT MATTERS ABOUT MY BODY IS MINE! If you have not lived in my body, then you have no fucking clue what goes on in my body... you don't know how I interpret pain signals. Every body and every pregnancy is different right? So stop trying to make MY pregnancy into YOURS! It's not yours - it's mine ... and I don't want your asshole in my face so why in hell would I want your opinion there?
OH - and the stupidest part of the shower?? When we got to Olive Garden, Mom asked them to hold the cake until we asked for it. Cool. When we were ready for the cake... you know what those dumb-fuck waiters did??? THEY PUT A FUCKING CANDLE IN THE CAKE AND LIT IT...!!!! WTF?? The cake said "WELCOME VAL" ... How in the holy fuck do you get "happy birthday" out of "WELCOME"??? Stupid...stupid people. When they set the cake down, and I saw the candle... I told the silly girl "You can take that candle out - it's NOT my birthday...and the cake doesn't say happy birthday" ... duh! She took the candle and the gathered wait staff left... fucking idiots.
...when mom and I were bringing my stuff to my apartment afterwards, my neighbor, Molly, said "oohh, baby shower.. ARE YOU READY???" ..that is ALL she fucking knows how to say. Fine. I don't talk to the bitch anymore... Gabe asked if I said anything back to her... I said "no, I'm waiting till she comes up with something more original" ... until she can talk to me without being high as a fucking kite, I've got nothing to say to her.
So...that was my shower...nothing too exciting.
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