I posted previously about donating breastmilk and my quest to find a mom who needed milk. The reasons I choose NOT to donate to a milkbank are: 1. They pasteurize it; 2. It costs $3.50 PER OUNCE, and that's with a prescription!
Through the website Milkshare.com I found several moms who were in need of breastmilk. Unfortunately, I don't produce enough milk to feed the masses. :-( Milkshare.com is a message board which is free for donors to post but asks a $20 donation from parents looking for milk. The website has more people seeking milk than donors so if you have milk to donate PLEASE post to this site and connect with someone!
Eats On Feets on Facebook has more donors than takers, so I directed several moms to that page and I heard from two of them that they were able to get milk through the referral. :-)
I had 200 ounces stored in the freezer and split it between two moms. One has another donor so she is taken care of. The other mom was introduced to me via our chiropractor and she was desperate for milk! Her little boy, John, was born two days after the twins and he only began to gain weight after she tearfully began feeding him formula. I'm so happy to have been able to help these two babies. And I will keep pumping for Little John for as long as it works for our family.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Donate Breastmilk!
The twins have flown home. What do I do with all this milk?
I posted an ad on Craigslist offering breastmilk for a baby in need, but I didn't get a response. There are two milkbanks in the area. Both pasteurize the donations which removes all the good stuff from the milk. And one of the banks is FOR-profit and sells theirs for $10 per ounce! And NO, none of that money is given to the donating mothers.
I wish there was a way to connect with a mother/baby that have a need for milk....
There IS a way! A page has been started on Facebook called "Eats On Feets" (the breastmilk version of Meals On Wheels). If you have milk to share, please find the Eats On Feets page for your area and post a note letting moms know that you have a supply of milk. Also search the Milk Needed section for milk requests and contact the parent in your area via Private Message.
I would love to see the surrogate community supporting mother-to-mother milk donation. We could help so many babies who NEED breastmilk.
Surrogates: Please re-post the Eats On Feets info on your blog so we can spread the word to lactating surrogates all over the country.
I posted an ad on Craigslist offering breastmilk for a baby in need, but I didn't get a response. There are two milkbanks in the area. Both pasteurize the donations which removes all the good stuff from the milk. And one of the banks is FOR-profit and sells theirs for $10 per ounce! And NO, none of that money is given to the donating mothers.
I wish there was a way to connect with a mother/baby that have a need for milk....
There IS a way! A page has been started on Facebook called "Eats On Feets" (the breastmilk version of Meals On Wheels). If you have milk to share, please find the Eats On Feets page for your area and post a note letting moms know that you have a supply of milk. Also search the Milk Needed section for milk requests and contact the parent in your area via Private Message.
I would love to see the surrogate community supporting mother-to-mother milk donation. We could help so many babies who NEED breastmilk.
Surrogates: Please re-post the Eats On Feets info on your blog so we can spread the word to lactating surrogates all over the country.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
10 Days Post-Cesarean
I didn't know what to expect in recovering from a c-section. It turns out... they're not that bad! I still think natural birth is a better, safer method, but if your baby's presentation or other factors necessitates a c-section, it is not the end of the world. ;-)
After the surgery I was moved to a temporary recovery station to wait for the spinal to wear off enough to be able to raise my knees while lying on the bed. This probably takes 1-2 hours.
When my private post-partum recovery room was ready (Sharp Mary Birch in San Diego - nice!) they wheeled me away (babies in arms) to the sixth floor and we settled in for our 3-day stay.
I was given IV Motrin every 6 hours for pain management and this was sufficient. The most difficult (painful) movement is getting in and out of bed. And twins around-the-clock calls for a LOT of in and out of bed! Any other movement is relatively pain-free as long as you keep your movements slow.
After the first 24 hours I'd had two bags of saline with pitocin (pitocin to keep the uterus firm - probably not necessary with breastfeeding, but good luck with that argument!) and they removed my IV and catheter. Yay! Freedom! Walking was a piece of cake and I did several laps around the 6th floor that evening. Why? Change of scenery, and..... gas.
I got this truly intense pain in my shoulders which one nurse said was gas pain. Yeah right! (That was my inward reaction.) Later I was told the same thing by another nurse, and that I should try walking. Well, if two nurses say it's gas then maybe they're right? So I tried walking, but it didn't help. Another nurse said to lay in bed, all the way flat, and raise the feet. This did help!
Now I'd been assuming that they were talking about gas in the digestive system causing shoulder pain. But now in hindsight I think it might be air bubbles that enter the body during surgery. Those bubbles actually COULD travel to the shoulders and lying down with feet elevated could make them rise out of the shoulders and relieve that pain until the body is able to absorb the air. Hmm.
Day 2, the goal is to pass gas (the regular kind). Only in the hospital do you get a Gold Star for farting! :-) My doctor recommends using an abdominal binder during recovery. It helps support the muscles and it also helps put the intestines back where they belong. The hospital has the abdominal binders but I had to ask for one - I think it's not a standard practice to give them out. (These are a consumable item, so it's new when you get it and it goes home with you.)
Around Day 7 I was able to get in/out of bed without pain (still taking Motrin every 6 hours) and last night I discovered I can sleep on my belly! I am a total belly sleeper, so this is awesome! I put a little pillow below my boobs but above my incision, to take away the pressure.
Bleeding still happens with a c-section. But it's much lighter than after a vaginal birth because the doc has removed most of the material.
My waist has shrunk from 44 inches to 35 inches. My boobs have grown from 36 inches to 39 inches. :-) I'm hoping another week will reduce the belly to 30 inches. I didn't put on very much flab this time around so I should have a nice figure soon, I hope. I'm off the Motrin and resuming my normal activities (laundry, dishes, etc.). No baths, no sex, and no lifting heavy objects, until the 6 week check-up.
After the surgery I was moved to a temporary recovery station to wait for the spinal to wear off enough to be able to raise my knees while lying on the bed. This probably takes 1-2 hours.
When my private post-partum recovery room was ready (Sharp Mary Birch in San Diego - nice!) they wheeled me away (babies in arms) to the sixth floor and we settled in for our 3-day stay.
I was given IV Motrin every 6 hours for pain management and this was sufficient. The most difficult (painful) movement is getting in and out of bed. And twins around-the-clock calls for a LOT of in and out of bed! Any other movement is relatively pain-free as long as you keep your movements slow.
After the first 24 hours I'd had two bags of saline with pitocin (pitocin to keep the uterus firm - probably not necessary with breastfeeding, but good luck with that argument!) and they removed my IV and catheter. Yay! Freedom! Walking was a piece of cake and I did several laps around the 6th floor that evening. Why? Change of scenery, and..... gas.
I got this truly intense pain in my shoulders which one nurse said was gas pain. Yeah right! (That was my inward reaction.) Later I was told the same thing by another nurse, and that I should try walking. Well, if two nurses say it's gas then maybe they're right? So I tried walking, but it didn't help. Another nurse said to lay in bed, all the way flat, and raise the feet. This did help!
Now I'd been assuming that they were talking about gas in the digestive system causing shoulder pain. But now in hindsight I think it might be air bubbles that enter the body during surgery. Those bubbles actually COULD travel to the shoulders and lying down with feet elevated could make them rise out of the shoulders and relieve that pain until the body is able to absorb the air. Hmm.
Day 2, the goal is to pass gas (the regular kind). Only in the hospital do you get a Gold Star for farting! :-) My doctor recommends using an abdominal binder during recovery. It helps support the muscles and it also helps put the intestines back where they belong. The hospital has the abdominal binders but I had to ask for one - I think it's not a standard practice to give them out. (These are a consumable item, so it's new when you get it and it goes home with you.)
Around Day 7 I was able to get in/out of bed without pain (still taking Motrin every 6 hours) and last night I discovered I can sleep on my belly! I am a total belly sleeper, so this is awesome! I put a little pillow below my boobs but above my incision, to take away the pressure.
Bleeding still happens with a c-section. But it's much lighter than after a vaginal birth because the doc has removed most of the material.
My waist has shrunk from 44 inches to 35 inches. My boobs have grown from 36 inches to 39 inches. :-) I'm hoping another week will reduce the belly to 30 inches. I didn't put on very much flab this time around so I should have a nice figure soon, I hope. I'm off the Motrin and resuming my normal activities (laundry, dishes, etc.). No baths, no sex, and no lifting heavy objects, until the 6 week check-up.
Friday, December 17, 2010
The Birth Story
From my absence the last couple of days I'm sure you've all guessed that the stork made it's visit. :-)
I saw Dr. Biter Tuesday morning to confirm my water had ruptured. (Do they really think I could pee myself every hour without knowing I was peeing on myself? LOL. Seriously.) So, they confirmed the rupture and agreed that this was a small tear in the sac as opposed to a huge gaping hole with no water left for the baby. The problem came when ultrasound showed Baby A was presenting footling breech. :-( My doctor is very pro-natural birth but has to draw the line somewhere... twins with Baby A in footling position and broken water is over his line.
The dangerous possibility is cord prolapse, when the umbilical cord is born before the baby and then blood/oxygen supply is cut off from the baby by the pressure of passage through the birth canal. After a good long consultation and a couple of ultrasounds I had to resign myself to the reality of a c-section. This wasn't the birth I had envisioned but it was our new reality.
I talked to the Parents and they booked the first available flight from Germany to L.A. which had them arriving Thursday night. They would miss the birth of their babies so this was not the birth that they had envisioned either.
I arrived at Sharp Mary Birch around noon and was admitted. The pre-birth legal paperwork had already been filed by our agency, but the hospital couldn't find it. My doctor's office had sent over my medical information, but I still had to answer question after question to first one nurse, then another from a different department, then insurance questions, and it seemed to take forever to get set up in the system. I'm so thankful that I was not having contractions during all that time (at Dr. Biter's office they found me to be 5cm dilated!).
Suddenly we were given 15 minutes to be ready for the O.R. The dreaded c-section was imminent! I decided to embrace this turn of events and asked if I could hold a mirror up to watch the operation. They thought I was nuts, but someone found a mirror for me and I watched the whole thing! Quite an experience to watch your belly be cut open (with no pain) and watch them pulling and tugging to open up the hole (with no pain) and then see a baby pulled out!
Both babies came out crying and breathing on their own. Clara was 5 pounds and born at 2:35pm, David was 5.5 pounds and born just one minute later. 35 weeks is right on the cusp of too early (needing help breathing) and term. I was relieved that neither one would need to spend time in the NICU.
After the births I continued to watch my surgery with the hand-held mirror and asked Dr. Cobb (Dr. Biter's new and handsome associate) what it was that he was stitching up. My uterus! Right there sitting on top of my belly was my uterus! And he put in a nice sturdy double layer of stitches to ensure the safety of any future pregnancies. :-) My uterus was pushed back into it's place and then my incision was stitched. Dr. Cobb stitched the subcutaneous layer of the skin so that the opening is closed from the inside which makes for a cleaner wound which heals more quickly and with less discomfort than staples.
The babies and I were moved to a small but private room and I babysat little Clara and David for their first few days. This was an unusual blessing for a surrogate and I enjoyed that time with them. I was quite ready, however, to hand them over to Mom and Dad and come home today.
A common question for every surrogate: Are you sure you're going to be able to "give them up"? Even after breastfeeding, diapering, and 3 nights of very little sleep, I never felt like I was more than a babysitter (the very best babysitter!) to those precious and absolutely beautiful babies. They are so cute!
I'll try to get pictures posted soon.
Thank you for all the well wishes!
P.S. The new family will be staying just a few miles away (at a very posh resort) until January 10th, and I'll be providing as much milk as I can supply before they return home to Germany.
I saw Dr. Biter Tuesday morning to confirm my water had ruptured. (Do they really think I could pee myself every hour without knowing I was peeing on myself? LOL. Seriously.) So, they confirmed the rupture and agreed that this was a small tear in the sac as opposed to a huge gaping hole with no water left for the baby. The problem came when ultrasound showed Baby A was presenting footling breech. :-( My doctor is very pro-natural birth but has to draw the line somewhere... twins with Baby A in footling position and broken water is over his line.
The dangerous possibility is cord prolapse, when the umbilical cord is born before the baby and then blood/oxygen supply is cut off from the baby by the pressure of passage through the birth canal. After a good long consultation and a couple of ultrasounds I had to resign myself to the reality of a c-section. This wasn't the birth I had envisioned but it was our new reality.
I talked to the Parents and they booked the first available flight from Germany to L.A. which had them arriving Thursday night. They would miss the birth of their babies so this was not the birth that they had envisioned either.
I arrived at Sharp Mary Birch around noon and was admitted. The pre-birth legal paperwork had already been filed by our agency, but the hospital couldn't find it. My doctor's office had sent over my medical information, but I still had to answer question after question to first one nurse, then another from a different department, then insurance questions, and it seemed to take forever to get set up in the system. I'm so thankful that I was not having contractions during all that time (at Dr. Biter's office they found me to be 5cm dilated!).
Suddenly we were given 15 minutes to be ready for the O.R. The dreaded c-section was imminent! I decided to embrace this turn of events and asked if I could hold a mirror up to watch the operation. They thought I was nuts, but someone found a mirror for me and I watched the whole thing! Quite an experience to watch your belly be cut open (with no pain) and watch them pulling and tugging to open up the hole (with no pain) and then see a baby pulled out!
Both babies came out crying and breathing on their own. Clara was 5 pounds and born at 2:35pm, David was 5.5 pounds and born just one minute later. 35 weeks is right on the cusp of too early (needing help breathing) and term. I was relieved that neither one would need to spend time in the NICU.
After the births I continued to watch my surgery with the hand-held mirror and asked Dr. Cobb (Dr. Biter's new and handsome associate) what it was that he was stitching up. My uterus! Right there sitting on top of my belly was my uterus! And he put in a nice sturdy double layer of stitches to ensure the safety of any future pregnancies. :-) My uterus was pushed back into it's place and then my incision was stitched. Dr. Cobb stitched the subcutaneous layer of the skin so that the opening is closed from the inside which makes for a cleaner wound which heals more quickly and with less discomfort than staples.
The babies and I were moved to a small but private room and I babysat little Clara and David for their first few days. This was an unusual blessing for a surrogate and I enjoyed that time with them. I was quite ready, however, to hand them over to Mom and Dad and come home today.
A common question for every surrogate: Are you sure you're going to be able to "give them up"? Even after breastfeeding, diapering, and 3 nights of very little sleep, I never felt like I was more than a babysitter (the very best babysitter!) to those precious and absolutely beautiful babies. They are so cute!
I'll try to get pictures posted soon.
Thank you for all the well wishes!
P.S. The new family will be staying just a few miles away (at a very posh resort) until January 10th, and I'll be providing as much milk as I can supply before they return home to Germany.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Oh NO!
11:10pm and almost asleep when I feel a warm wetness.... "huh? what was that?".... and then another trickle, and then another trickle. Uh oh. I ask Ryan to get me a hand towel, and hurry, please. Yep, more fluid.
I've never had this happen before! I got up to get more hand towels/washcloths and tried to figure out what I should do. My previous 3 pregnancies all went past 40 weeks and my water never did break on it's own during the course of labor/delivery.
So I called Dr. Biter's answering service and waited by the phone. When I called back later there was a new shift and I must have been forgotten. I don't know. It happens, right? I tried sitting still and upright to stop the flow (all clear and odorless, by the way) and that seemed to work. Then I thought, "while I'm up I might as well clear off the table" and I lifted a stack of 3-4 plates to carry to the sink. Gush. OK, lifting anything at all is apparently not a good idea.
I called the answering service again and this time she put me on hold, got the doc on the line, and patched us together.
Dr. Biter said that there is no cause for immediate alarm. Clear and odorless are good signs (no infection or fetal distress). And I'm not contracting. So unless anything changes during the night then I will be seeing him first thing in the morning for an ultrasound to measure the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the babies and check their heartrates and etc.
So I tried to go to sleep. It wasn't even 10 minutes before the trickles began again and threatened to soak through my towel. And the sensation of warm water trickling is just not conducive to sleep!
So here I am. Sitting on a towel on the couch and watching some TV show that I don't even know the name of. I don't think I can sleep sitting up. Maybe I'll finish my crochet project.
Let's all hope that the rupture seals itself and the pregnancy continues at least long enough for the parents to fly in! They were not scheduled to arrive until the 23rd and we are 10 days early!
I've never had this happen before! I got up to get more hand towels/washcloths and tried to figure out what I should do. My previous 3 pregnancies all went past 40 weeks and my water never did break on it's own during the course of labor/delivery.
So I called Dr. Biter's answering service and waited by the phone. When I called back later there was a new shift and I must have been forgotten. I don't know. It happens, right? I tried sitting still and upright to stop the flow (all clear and odorless, by the way) and that seemed to work. Then I thought, "while I'm up I might as well clear off the table" and I lifted a stack of 3-4 plates to carry to the sink. Gush. OK, lifting anything at all is apparently not a good idea.
I called the answering service again and this time she put me on hold, got the doc on the line, and patched us together.
Dr. Biter said that there is no cause for immediate alarm. Clear and odorless are good signs (no infection or fetal distress). And I'm not contracting. So unless anything changes during the night then I will be seeing him first thing in the morning for an ultrasound to measure the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the babies and check their heartrates and etc.
So I tried to go to sleep. It wasn't even 10 minutes before the trickles began again and threatened to soak through my towel. And the sensation of warm water trickling is just not conducive to sleep!
So here I am. Sitting on a towel on the couch and watching some TV show that I don't even know the name of. I don't think I can sleep sitting up. Maybe I'll finish my crochet project.
Let's all hope that the rupture seals itself and the pregnancy continues at least long enough for the parents to fly in! They were not scheduled to arrive until the 23rd and we are 10 days early!
Monday, December 13, 2010
This 'n' That
I've discovered Ginger Tea and really like it. Chop up a few slices of crystalized ginger and add hot water. ! It has to steep for at least 5 minutes. The tea is very mild and just barely sweetened (crystalized ginger is dried and sweetened with sugar) and I'll bet it would be wonderful for morning sickness or any other nausea. Ginger is great for settling the stomach.
Baby Girl (head down in first-position) had hiccups the other night and her head was right on my cervix, just rythmically driving me crazy while I was trying to go to sleep. LOL. :-)
The babies should weigh about 5 lbs each now and I'm still feeling fine. We have a doctor appointment on Wednesday and hopefully we will verify the babies' positions. I believe the boy has gone more vertical and head-down, though the girl is still lower.
Made gingerbread cookies yesterday, and today we are making Stockings to hang over the fireplace! With the girls being 7, 5, and 3, this will be our first really big traditional Christmas with lots of memories.
!
Baby Girl (head down in first-position) had hiccups the other night and her head was right on my cervix, just rythmically driving me crazy while I was trying to go to sleep. LOL. :-)
The babies should weigh about 5 lbs each now and I'm still feeling fine. We have a doctor appointment on Wednesday and hopefully we will verify the babies' positions. I believe the boy has gone more vertical and head-down, though the girl is still lower.
Made gingerbread cookies yesterday, and today we are making Stockings to hang over the fireplace! With the girls being 7, 5, and 3, this will be our first really big traditional Christmas with lots of memories.
!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
34 Weeks!
According to Baby Center, the babies weigh 4.75 lbs each for a total of 9.5 lbs of baby! Wow! My girls all weighed about 8.5 lbs so this is a full pound more than my previous pregnancies, with more pounds to go!
I find that I go through a period of a week or two when my back can't keep up with the strain, and then it seems that my muscles adjust to the belly size/weight and then I feel fine again. I still have the issue of my pelvic bones being loose and I do get exhausted after a normal morning of cooking, dressing children, driving, and general cleaning. Still no heartburn, and I credit that to the elimination of wheat products and sugars.
Today is my birthday! I am 32 years old. Husband let me stay in bed this morning until about 8am. I couldn't sleep past 5:45 but I stayed in bed and lounged, then did some Sudoku puzzles, took a long bath..... the girls all sang Happy Birthday to me and my Intended Parents sent me a Hallmark greeting e-card. :-)
Today I will try to minimize my housework and maximize my crochet time. :-)
I find that I go through a period of a week or two when my back can't keep up with the strain, and then it seems that my muscles adjust to the belly size/weight and then I feel fine again. I still have the issue of my pelvic bones being loose and I do get exhausted after a normal morning of cooking, dressing children, driving, and general cleaning. Still no heartburn, and I credit that to the elimination of wheat products and sugars.
Today is my birthday! I am 32 years old. Husband let me stay in bed this morning until about 8am. I couldn't sleep past 5:45 but I stayed in bed and lounged, then did some Sudoku puzzles, took a long bath..... the girls all sang Happy Birthday to me and my Intended Parents sent me a Hallmark greeting e-card. :-)
Today I will try to minimize my housework and maximize my crochet time. :-)
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Post-Surrogacy Blues
Kelly posted about post-surrogacy blues http://justthestork.blogspot.com/2010/12/surrogacy-blues-aka-my-longestpostever.html and it made me think about what we could do to avoid feeling "lost" or empty after the birth of our surro-babies. It's true that a lot of thought and energy is devoted to a surrogate pregnancy and it begins months or more before conception.... application process, screenings, matching, contracts, medications and injections....
After the birth.... then what? The ride is over.
I think we should plan to have a new project to delve into. A project, and maybe a bucket list. Think of all the things you could not do because of the pregnancy and write them down. A To-Do List of FUN!
My list would look something like this:
1. Take my daughter on some roller-coasters
2. Treat myself to a long trail ride (horseback)
3. Go wine-tasting in Temecula
4. Host a Margerita Madness party with every girl I know (not many...LOL)
5. Weekend with hubby in Las Vegas
6. Turn the soil and replant my garden
What will you do when the pregnancy ends?
*Intended Parents reading this can help by sharing pictures of your new family with your surrogate. She doesn't miss the babies, but she wants to see how happy you are together, and she doesn't want to be immediately forgotten. I hope to get weekly emails for the first couple of months, and then I imagine the communication will slow down, and then maybe I'll be included in the annual Christmas card list with a family photo enclosed.
After the birth.... then what? The ride is over.
I think we should plan to have a new project to delve into. A project, and maybe a bucket list. Think of all the things you could not do because of the pregnancy and write them down. A To-Do List of FUN!
My list would look something like this:
1. Take my daughter on some roller-coasters
2. Treat myself to a long trail ride (horseback)
3. Go wine-tasting in Temecula
4. Host a Margerita Madness party with every girl I know (not many...LOL)
5. Weekend with hubby in Las Vegas
6. Turn the soil and replant my garden
What will you do when the pregnancy ends?
*Intended Parents reading this can help by sharing pictures of your new family with your surrogate. She doesn't miss the babies, but she wants to see how happy you are together, and she doesn't want to be immediately forgotten. I hope to get weekly emails for the first couple of months, and then I imagine the communication will slow down, and then maybe I'll be included in the annual Christmas card list with a family photo enclosed.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Ready to Pop?
Everywhere I go people comment, "Looks like you're about ready to pop!" Well, yes and no. I had my doctor's appointment this morning and I am measuring 40 weeks, so if this were a singleton pregnancy then we would expect birth to be imminent. However, I'm just 33 weeks pregnant.
33 weeks pregnant. This week I've decided I've reached the uncomfortable stage. It's not really my belly (I can still eat just fine, and my breathing is not restricted, my ribcage feels fine), it's my hips and back. My pelvic bones have separated and the weight of the belly has exceeded my back strength. Standing or walking for more than 10 minutes is uncomfortable. I'm back to wearing my belly/back support brace but only for short periods of time while I'm cooking or doing laundry. It does help.
Sleep. I'm still sleeping well, though I noticed last night that my hips are more pressure sensitive and I will probably need to adjust my pillows. Because heartburn is no longer an issue I'm able to sleep more flat (without the wedge) and I've been using only 3 pillows. One under my head, one between the knees, and one under my waist and belly. Supporting the curve of my waist takes a lot of pressure off of my hip and has been very comfortable. I'll be hunting for a fluffier pillow to take still more pressure off of that hip now that it's getting uncomfortable.
My chiropractor reminded me to keep a swing in my hips when walking because that does help the lower back to stay loose and relaxed.
I weighed 166 today. Blood pressure was 108/62.
33 weeks pregnant. This week I've decided I've reached the uncomfortable stage. It's not really my belly (I can still eat just fine, and my breathing is not restricted, my ribcage feels fine), it's my hips and back. My pelvic bones have separated and the weight of the belly has exceeded my back strength. Standing or walking for more than 10 minutes is uncomfortable. I'm back to wearing my belly/back support brace but only for short periods of time while I'm cooking or doing laundry. It does help.
Sleep. I'm still sleeping well, though I noticed last night that my hips are more pressure sensitive and I will probably need to adjust my pillows. Because heartburn is no longer an issue I'm able to sleep more flat (without the wedge) and I've been using only 3 pillows. One under my head, one between the knees, and one under my waist and belly. Supporting the curve of my waist takes a lot of pressure off of my hip and has been very comfortable. I'll be hunting for a fluffier pillow to take still more pressure off of that hip now that it's getting uncomfortable.
My chiropractor reminded me to keep a swing in my hips when walking because that does help the lower back to stay loose and relaxed.
I weighed 166 today. Blood pressure was 108/62.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Got Heartburn? .....I don't! :-)
I thought I would be terribly uncomfortable by now.... not so! Of course, there's still time. ;-)
With each of my pregnancies I've had terrible terrible heartburn all through the third trimester. With the twins this began mid-second trimester. BUT.... I've had only occasional heartburn in the last several weeks.
The difference? I think it's my diet. I've cut out most of my wheat-based foods (bread, biscuits, muffins) and replaced them with vegetables. I also cut down my refined sugar intake and replaced those cravings with handfuls of plain raw nuts (cashews, walnuts, almonds). In addition to eliminating heartburn my improved diet has corrected my long-term problem with constipation.
Yes, I'm happy to announce I now poop once or even twice a day. :-) And we thought that constipation was a guaranteed product of pregnancy.... I think it's a product of the American diet which is way too high in refined carbohydrates and refined sugars.
Got heartburn? Constipation? Read up on the hunter-gatherer diet and try it for a week.
With each of my pregnancies I've had terrible terrible heartburn all through the third trimester. With the twins this began mid-second trimester. BUT.... I've had only occasional heartburn in the last several weeks.
The difference? I think it's my diet. I've cut out most of my wheat-based foods (bread, biscuits, muffins) and replaced them with vegetables. I also cut down my refined sugar intake and replaced those cravings with handfuls of plain raw nuts (cashews, walnuts, almonds). In addition to eliminating heartburn my improved diet has corrected my long-term problem with constipation.
Yes, I'm happy to announce I now poop once or even twice a day. :-) And we thought that constipation was a guaranteed product of pregnancy.... I think it's a product of the American diet which is way too high in refined carbohydrates and refined sugars.
Got heartburn? Constipation? Read up on the hunter-gatherer diet and try it for a week.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Appointment Today - Update
I am 31 weeks today and measuring 37 weeks! My weight was 160lbs which is wonderful, blood pressure is fine, heartbeats are steady, etc.
By palpation, Dr. Biter determined that Baby Girl IS now head-down. I have certainly felt a lot of activity on my cervix which I've felt with all my pregnancies when the baby is head-down and wiggling. I've been actively working to encourage the turn and was relieved to get confirmation of the new position.
Some possible tips to try for a transverse baby. This is what I did, maybe it helped, and maybe it was just luck or fate.
By palpation, Dr. Biter determined that Baby Girl IS now head-down. I have certainly felt a lot of activity on my cervix which I've felt with all my pregnancies when the baby is head-down and wiggling. I've been actively working to encourage the turn and was relieved to get confirmation of the new position.
Some possible tips to try for a transverse baby. This is what I did, maybe it helped, and maybe it was just luck or fate.
- I immediately (after the 28-week ultrasound) stopped wearing my maternity support belt. I think the pressure across my lower uterus may have prompted her to move above the belt. Oddly, I've had very few complaints about lower backpain.
- Gentle external version. This is locating the head and butt and encouraging the baby to turn via gentle pressure. Use with caution because obviously we don't want to damage the baby.
- Sifting. Relax into a comfy chair and jiggle the belly side-to-side for a moment. The idea is when a container is shaken, the contents will settle into the most space-efficient position -- for babies this should be head-down. In Mexico (?) this is a common practice using a second person and the traditional scarf called a Rebozo.
- Hands and Knees. Spending time doing the recommended cat exercises which strengthen the back will also shape the uterus into a hammock and the natural inclination of the babies will be to turn vertical and on their backs (facing your spine).
- Spend lots of time upright so that gravity can do it's job. The baby inside it's amniotic sac is still subject to gravity just like being in a swimming pool. It's not an entirely weightless environment so the heaviest part of the baby (the head) should tend to "sink" to the bottom.
To learn more about turning babies start with the Spinning Babies website. Lots of info. www.spinningbabies.com
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Good News!
I threw up! Yup. I think I'm sick. My younger two girls had a stomach bug on Wednesday, and my oldest had it on Friday. It's apparently my turn. I'll save you the details. ;-)
I do feel a good bit better now. And I'm thankful for extra chicken broth from last week, frozen in small portions.
The sickness (with the girls) was less than 24 hours, with another 24 hours of fatigue. Nothing serious. :-)
I do feel a good bit better now. And I'm thankful for extra chicken broth from last week, frozen in small portions.
The sickness (with the girls) was less than 24 hours, with another 24 hours of fatigue. Nothing serious. :-)
Uncomfortable.
Today is the first day that I've truly felt uncomfortable. I've had days when I strained my back a bit, and days when I was exhausted... but today I feel huge and heavy, stretched, squished, exhausted and breathless. I have to sit perfectly upright, otherwise my pelvis or tailbone gets crushed. If I recline it must be flat on my side. Sitting here now I feel like I can't take a complete breath because my lungs are compressed. Reminds me of my Renaissance Fair days when we dressed in corsets, but at the end of the day the corset came off and I could take a deep breath and stretch my back. Not so now. I can't bend forward and I can't twist sideways.
Half the problem is no nap today. Sundays we go to church and when we get back at 1pm it's time for lunch. Naptime just doesn't happen. So, starting next week I'll be staying home from church to nap. I don't like the idea, but I think it will help.
Today I measure 42.5 inches. It feels like my belly needs to hurry up and grow because I'm pretty sure these babies are squished up against my spine and that is adding considerable to my discomfort. I'd rather be larger in front rather than feeling SO squished.
Half the problem is no nap today. Sundays we go to church and when we get back at 1pm it's time for lunch. Naptime just doesn't happen. So, starting next week I'll be staying home from church to nap. I don't like the idea, but I think it will help.
Today I measure 42.5 inches. It feels like my belly needs to hurry up and grow because I'm pretty sure these babies are squished up against my spine and that is adding considerable to my discomfort. I'd rather be larger in front rather than feeling SO squished.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Ibuprofen During Pregnancy
It's a No-No. A new study has been published showing that taking aspirin, ibuprofen, etc, can cause undescended testicles and future sterility issues for baby boys in utero.
Wow! So often a medicine or treatment is touted as harmless until decades later when it is proved to be the opposite.
Stay safe! If it's man-made, it's probably NOT good for you.
Here is a link to the actual study report published in the Oxford Journals. http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2010/11/08/humrep.deq323.full
And here's a link to the "plain english" version at Channel 4 News. http://www.channel4.com/news/painkillers-in-pregnancy-risk
Wow! So often a medicine or treatment is touted as harmless until decades later when it is proved to be the opposite.
Stay safe! If it's man-made, it's probably NOT good for you.
Here is a link to the actual study report published in the Oxford Journals. http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2010/11/08/humrep.deq323.full
And here's a link to the "plain english" version at Channel 4 News. http://www.channel4.com/news/painkillers-in-pregnancy-risk
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Juicing for Health
I am not an expert!
Andrea asked me about my juicing and to share my recipe. Andrea, this post is for you! :-) LOL.
My goal is to drink freshly made vegetable juice every morning to provide the vitamins that I might otherwise be lacking in my diet. Let's be honest, I don't eat a kale salad everyday and without juicing I wouldn't usually get 5 servings of a variety of veggies per day.
And I don't believe a multi-vitamin is a good source/substitute for healthy fresh vegetables. Most of the vitamin passes through the digestive system without the nutrients being absorbed, and most of the components of the average multi-vitamin are synthetically produced (inferior).
So. First thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, I make and drink my vegetable juice. The standard concoction is:
one bunch of chard,
half a bunch of kale,
half a bunch of parsley,
a carrot,
some radishes (with the greens),
a small chunk of gingerroot,
and a whole lime.
An apple makes it more sweet, but I don't have any on hand this week. Sometimes I add a beet because they have great vitamin content, but lately I've been pickling all my beets so I don't have any of those in the fridge either. A wedge of cabbage is good too, and very mild-tasting.
If you've never tried vegetable juicing, the thing to remember is that it is not a beverage to be sipped and enjoyed like a fresh cold lemonade on a warm day. The goal is nutrition. We don't savor our multi-vitamins.... so juice it, and drink it down! It really doesn't taste bad, but if you're expecting kale to magically taste like fresh-squeezed O.J. then you're going to be disappointed. :-(
Leslie at Not Mine This Time makes a nice beverage. It's 2 apples, a chunk of ginger, and a lemon. It's best to dilute this 50% with water. I tried it with Club Soda and that is good too. If you're a soda junkie and looking for a way to get off the sugar fizz, this would be a good alternative. Make your own soda! :-) It tastes like a Lemon-Lime/Ginger Ale with the apples providing the sweetness.
An important note! If you are going to juice anything, go for the freshest you can buy and go organic! You don't want to dump pesticides straight into your system. Farmer's Markets are everywhere now if you live in California, and these veggies are usually picked THAT morning and often raised without pesticides/herbicides. I have a favorite farmer that supplies all of my veggies for the week for about $25, so fresh and organic does NOT have to be expensive.
Grass-fed beef on the other hand..... very expensive.
Andrea asked me about my juicing and to share my recipe. Andrea, this post is for you! :-) LOL.
My goal is to drink freshly made vegetable juice every morning to provide the vitamins that I might otherwise be lacking in my diet. Let's be honest, I don't eat a kale salad everyday and without juicing I wouldn't usually get 5 servings of a variety of veggies per day.
And I don't believe a multi-vitamin is a good source/substitute for healthy fresh vegetables. Most of the vitamin passes through the digestive system without the nutrients being absorbed, and most of the components of the average multi-vitamin are synthetically produced (inferior).
So. First thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, I make and drink my vegetable juice. The standard concoction is:
one bunch of chard,
half a bunch of kale,
half a bunch of parsley,
a carrot,
some radishes (with the greens),
a small chunk of gingerroot,
and a whole lime.
An apple makes it more sweet, but I don't have any on hand this week. Sometimes I add a beet because they have great vitamin content, but lately I've been pickling all my beets so I don't have any of those in the fridge either. A wedge of cabbage is good too, and very mild-tasting.
If you've never tried vegetable juicing, the thing to remember is that it is not a beverage to be sipped and enjoyed like a fresh cold lemonade on a warm day. The goal is nutrition. We don't savor our multi-vitamins.... so juice it, and drink it down! It really doesn't taste bad, but if you're expecting kale to magically taste like fresh-squeezed O.J. then you're going to be disappointed. :-(
Leslie at Not Mine This Time makes a nice beverage. It's 2 apples, a chunk of ginger, and a lemon. It's best to dilute this 50% with water. I tried it with Club Soda and that is good too. If you're a soda junkie and looking for a way to get off the sugar fizz, this would be a good alternative. Make your own soda! :-) It tastes like a Lemon-Lime/Ginger Ale with the apples providing the sweetness.
An important note! If you are going to juice anything, go for the freshest you can buy and go organic! You don't want to dump pesticides straight into your system. Farmer's Markets are everywhere now if you live in California, and these veggies are usually picked THAT morning and often raised without pesticides/herbicides. I have a favorite farmer that supplies all of my veggies for the week for about $25, so fresh and organic does NOT have to be expensive.
Grass-fed beef on the other hand..... very expensive.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
6 weeks to go?
I'll be 30 weeks on Wednesday and it suddenly hits me that we could very well deliver in just 6 weeks! It's hard to believe that we are so close to the climax of this journey. Wow!
I measure 42 inches around now. My last weight (from last weekend) was 161. Dr. Biter's office called me with my lab test results: Glucose - negative for Gestational Diabetes; Hemoglobin - a little low in iron.
.....Which leads me to NUTRITION. I believe that most of us surrogates eat as well as we can, but sometimes we get into a rut and slack off on the veggies. I did this recently. I stopped juicing in the mornings because I was lazy about getting to the farmer's market and lazy about cleaning the juicer contraption. Instead of veggies I started eating sweets.... little bit of candy, some cookies, more candy and more cookies.... :-(
Anyway. I attended a short presentation at my chiropractor's office on Eating Well. I can't say that I learned anything new, but being there and hearing the facts gave me a renewed conviction of the importance of eating well. I replaced the sugar snacking with raw cashews by the handful. And after a couple of days I stopped craving the sugar and found the cashews to be really satisfying and guilt-free! I made some pickled beets and pickled carrots with bell pepper to keep handy in the fridge. They make a great snack or mini-meal too! I've never enjoyed raw carrot sticks so these are a great alternative for me.
And I'm back to juicing in the mornings: Swiss Chard, a carrot, some radishes, and an apple. At today's market I also bought some kale and parsley to add to the juicing. Did you know parsley has three times as much Vitamin C as an orange? Of course, it's hard to eat a handful of raw parsley but it's easy to add it to the juicer. :-)
I can't be sure, but I think Baby Girl has changed her position. Time will tell. Next appointment with Dr. Biter is November 17th.
I measure 42 inches around now. My last weight (from last weekend) was 161. Dr. Biter's office called me with my lab test results: Glucose - negative for Gestational Diabetes; Hemoglobin - a little low in iron.
.....Which leads me to NUTRITION. I believe that most of us surrogates eat as well as we can, but sometimes we get into a rut and slack off on the veggies. I did this recently. I stopped juicing in the mornings because I was lazy about getting to the farmer's market and lazy about cleaning the juicer contraption. Instead of veggies I started eating sweets.... little bit of candy, some cookies, more candy and more cookies.... :-(
Anyway. I attended a short presentation at my chiropractor's office on Eating Well. I can't say that I learned anything new, but being there and hearing the facts gave me a renewed conviction of the importance of eating well. I replaced the sugar snacking with raw cashews by the handful. And after a couple of days I stopped craving the sugar and found the cashews to be really satisfying and guilt-free! I made some pickled beets and pickled carrots with bell pepper to keep handy in the fridge. They make a great snack or mini-meal too! I've never enjoyed raw carrot sticks so these are a great alternative for me.
And I'm back to juicing in the mornings: Swiss Chard, a carrot, some radishes, and an apple. At today's market I also bought some kale and parsley to add to the juicing. Did you know parsley has three times as much Vitamin C as an orange? Of course, it's hard to eat a handful of raw parsley but it's easy to add it to the juicer. :-)
I can't be sure, but I think Baby Girl has changed her position. Time will tell. Next appointment with Dr. Biter is November 17th.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
28w Ultrasound
Hi. Well, the babies are fine. The babies are perfect! They are growing wonderfully and every organ is just as it should be. They are measuring 28w4d and 28w6d, and we are currently 28w4d, so they are just perfect.
But.....
Several days ago I felt a shift in their position. I thought it was baby boy moving out of transverse into a more vertical position and I've been waiting anxiously for today's appointment to see just where they are.
Baby Boy is pretty much just as he was -- transverse across the top with his head on my right. Baby Girl has moved OUT of vertex and has put her head right next to his, with her body laying at a diagonal (breech).
An interesting observation has been made by my ultrasound tech over the years.... she has noticed that mid-gestation ultrasounds after the full moon are often breech. It appears that the gravitational pull of the moon causes many babies to turn breech.
With a singleton, there is still plenty of time to turn vertex but with twins.... we'll have to wait and see.
We tried to get good pictures of the babes, but they are both facing my spine and declined to pose for the camera. :-(
She did see HAIR on the back of Baby Boy's head. I hope these little ones are born with a beautiful bushy head of hair! :-) Mine had little hair which didn't fill in decently until about a year old.
Oh, and both genders were confirmed without a glimmer of doubt. One Boy, One Girl.
But.....
Several days ago I felt a shift in their position. I thought it was baby boy moving out of transverse into a more vertical position and I've been waiting anxiously for today's appointment to see just where they are.
Baby Boy is pretty much just as he was -- transverse across the top with his head on my right. Baby Girl has moved OUT of vertex and has put her head right next to his, with her body laying at a diagonal (breech).
An interesting observation has been made by my ultrasound tech over the years.... she has noticed that mid-gestation ultrasounds after the full moon are often breech. It appears that the gravitational pull of the moon causes many babies to turn breech.
With a singleton, there is still plenty of time to turn vertex but with twins.... we'll have to wait and see.
We tried to get good pictures of the babes, but they are both facing my spine and declined to pose for the camera. :-(
She did see HAIR on the back of Baby Boy's head. I hope these little ones are born with a beautiful bushy head of hair! :-) Mine had little hair which didn't fill in decently until about a year old.
Oh, and both genders were confirmed without a glimmer of doubt. One Boy, One Girl.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
27 Weeks
Nothing much to report.
I saw Dr. Biter today for a quick check-up. I weigh 159 lbs (eek!) but I gained about 40 lbs with each of my babies, so I'm guessing a 50lb weight gain would be normal for me with twins. That means I can plan to gain another 20 lbs before the big day.
I am 27 weeks pregnant but measuring 32 weeks. I checked my circumference a couple days ago and it was still 38.5in so I've grown more up than out. :-)
My back brace is still a wonderful help and I generally put it on first thing in the morning before making breakfast and doing all my regular mommy life stuff. I have discovered, though, that it's best to take it off before sitting for any length of time. Otherwise, it adds extra pressure to the stomach which is uncomfortable and causes heartburn.
Screening for gestational diabetes sometime in the next week, then ultrasound on the 30th, and next appointment on November 3rd. We're now scheduling appointments at 2 week intervals.
:-)
I saw Dr. Biter today for a quick check-up. I weigh 159 lbs (eek!) but I gained about 40 lbs with each of my babies, so I'm guessing a 50lb weight gain would be normal for me with twins. That means I can plan to gain another 20 lbs before the big day.
I am 27 weeks pregnant but measuring 32 weeks. I checked my circumference a couple days ago and it was still 38.5in so I've grown more up than out. :-)
My back brace is still a wonderful help and I generally put it on first thing in the morning before making breakfast and doing all my regular mommy life stuff. I have discovered, though, that it's best to take it off before sitting for any length of time. Otherwise, it adds extra pressure to the stomach which is uncomfortable and causes heartburn.
Screening for gestational diabetes sometime in the next week, then ultrasound on the 30th, and next appointment on November 3rd. We're now scheduling appointments at 2 week intervals.
:-)
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
First Full Day
Today was my first full day of wearing my belly support combo. 6am to 8:30pm (removed for naptime). HONESTLY, my back doesn't even know I'm pregnant today. Wow! What a difference! And Wednesday is my laundry day so I've been loading the washer, transferring to dryer, folding, hanging, and the regular stuff (ie. driving the car, cleaning the kitchen, vacuuming).
Mother-To-Be Maternity Brace
and Amon Maternity Belly Band.
26 weeks today.
Mother-To-Be Maternity Brace
and Amon Maternity Belly Band.
26 weeks today.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Maternity Support Brace
I finally received my Amazon order for a maternity brace. It is the Mother-to-be Maternity Support in size Small. I know I will have a large belly by the end of this pregnancy, but the way this fits I think it is better to go with your pre-pregnancy dress size as the manufacturer recommends. Size Small is for dress sizes 3-7.
$32.99 - $44 Size Small is unfortunately hard to find.
I also ordered the Amon Maternity Belly Support Band in a size Small. This one too is hard to find in a size Small.
My plan was to use the two products together with the spandex-type support against my skin and the brace over the top. This way any chafing issues are eliminated. This works MUCH better than the Prenatal Cradle and I'm happy with the results.
The Mother-To-Be brace is highly adjustable and gives strong support to the lower back. There are inserts available (sold separately) for additional support, but I don't think they're necessary if you have a healthy back. It comes in three pieces, and instructions are included (you wouldn't think it would be necessary, but.... lol, it was, for me). The first piece is the front support band which has it's own elastic band that wraps around the back to velcro to the front. Then the back support is held in place and pulled tight to velcro to each side of the front support. The top band (across the top of the belly) is optional and attaches at the sides.
So I'm wearing the Amon Belly Band (alone, this is very light support and feels somewhat like a Braxton Hicks) with the Mother-To-Be brace over it. Since both work via compression, they do intensify the full-bladder sensation, but, I think that is unavoidable with any maternity support device.
It's definately not a sexy-looking contraption, but if you're looking for a STRONG maternity support to alleviate lower-back strain and arching, this combo gets my recommendation.
:-)
$32.99 - $44 Size Small is unfortunately hard to find.
I also ordered the Amon Maternity Belly Support Band in a size Small. This one too is hard to find in a size Small.
My plan was to use the two products together with the spandex-type support against my skin and the brace over the top. This way any chafing issues are eliminated. This works MUCH better than the Prenatal Cradle and I'm happy with the results.
The Mother-To-Be brace is highly adjustable and gives strong support to the lower back. There are inserts available (sold separately) for additional support, but I don't think they're necessary if you have a healthy back. It comes in three pieces, and instructions are included (you wouldn't think it would be necessary, but.... lol, it was, for me). The first piece is the front support band which has it's own elastic band that wraps around the back to velcro to the front. Then the back support is held in place and pulled tight to velcro to each side of the front support. The top band (across the top of the belly) is optional and attaches at the sides.
So I'm wearing the Amon Belly Band (alone, this is very light support and feels somewhat like a Braxton Hicks) with the Mother-To-Be brace over it. Since both work via compression, they do intensify the full-bladder sensation, but, I think that is unavoidable with any maternity support device.
It's definately not a sexy-looking contraption, but if you're looking for a STRONG maternity support to alleviate lower-back strain and arching, this combo gets my recommendation.
:-)
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