Pregnant Lizzie

So long and thanks for all the fish

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:40:49 GMT

Well people...since I am no longer pregnant the time has come for me to say good bye to this blog (for now). Thank you all so much for reading, and posting your comments. Seriously you all helped make this an easier transition for me. But now I'm gonna go and be a momma. :D So happy!

Thanks again!!

Mason

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:20:31 GMT

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Welcome to the world Mason

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 03:00:24 GMT

Say hello to my little boy. He was born on Jan. 14th at 11:35 am and weighed in at 9lbs 6 oz. He's a sweet little angel and I am the luckiest woman on the face of the earth.

Little Boy

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:47:47 GMT

Little Mason playing peek a boo with momma. In case you're wondering his arm is covering the lower half of his face and all you can see his the left side of his face.

Week 40

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:46:31 GMT

Got a couple of hours of sleep. Thank God for that. I don't know if I would've been able to have done anything today if I hadn't.

Okay so we went to my doctor's appointment this morning and I had a biophysical checkup done. Everything is fine. Baby has enough amniotic fluid to stay in the womb for a few more days. He's moving and he's still a boy ;-) (my little man is packin') And they told me that his approximate weight is 9 pounds. Yep. You heard me. 9 LBS. Sigh. God. The technician said 'Give or take a pound' and I hope he ends up weighing 8 pounds seriously. My poor vagina quivered in fear when it heard the weight. But anyway I got some really beautiful ultrasound pictures this time around. I got one of the baby with his arm covering the lower half of his face and he's staring right at me. Gorgeous. *happy sigh* and another one of his hands, he looks like he's waving 'Hello.' Adorable. Anyway waiting for Friday's appointment to see what the doctor says. I hope that the baby will be born by then, but at this point it seems more like wishful thinking.

I wish people would stop telling me to do jumping jacks and to eat spicy food to induce myself into labor, I honestly don't think that any of that stuff is going to work at this point. I'm just going to take it easy and whatever is going to happen will happen. End of story.

Here are a few things I found on www.thenestbaby.com

Q: I've heard so many different tips for inducing labor on my own. Does anything actually work?

A: Sorry, but... no. Not really. At least, nothing that's been proven both safe and effective. Some of the methods you may have heard about:

Sex
Orgasms may bring on contractions, and there's also prostaglandin (which induces contractions) in semen. Studies on the subject differ -- some have found that sex at term can lessen the need for induction, while others have shown that sex has no effect at all. That being said... if you're still up for it, go right ahead, trouper! You've got our admiration.

Castor oil
The reasoning behind this one: Castor oil is a strong laxative, and bowel stimulation may cause contractions. Still interested? Well, there's no proof it induces labor... but strong experiential evidence shows that it doesn't feel to great on the stomach!

Nipple stimulation
Labor-inducing oxytocin is released when your nipples are stimulated, but this is pretty risky to try at home. It's actually possible to overstimulate your uterus, which means your contractions and baby's well-being need to be monitored.

Herbal remedies
The general rule for whatever herbal remedy you're offered: There's no evidence that it works. And, like nipple stimulation, some herbs carry this risk of overstimulating your uterus. Some herbs may also hold additional dangers for baby's health.

Can't Sleep

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:05:17 GMT

Because my husband is a giant and has spent most of the night trying to squish his pregnant wife. At around 2 AM I woke up to use the bathroom and after that it was chaos. He even scratched my leg with his giant talon-like nails. Pissed me the fuck off. Seriously. I spent about an hour wondering how I could shove him off the bed without hurting him too badly. But I didn't do anything, just laid in bed letting my anger boil over like the good woman that I am. Anyway just when I was FINALLY drifting off to sleep, I was even dreaming...he wacks me on the back with his GIANT arm and wakes me up from my slumber. Stupid giant husband, I really should kick him off the bed and make him sleep on the couch. And not only that I actually have to wake up early today to go to a doctors appointment so it's not like I can go back to sleep and snooze the morning away. I actually have things to do.

It also doesn't help that I have the mother of all heartburn, and I have to burp...like every five fucking minutes. Sigh. Losing my friggin' mind here people. Seriously. Don't mess with my sleep or I will kill you. I felt this way even before I was pregnant, trust me, pregancy has only heightened my intolerance for noise and being woken up in the middle of the night for no good reason.

Anyway I'm going to go back to bed and see if I can get at least a few hours of uninterrupted snoozing. I will keep you all updated on the situation.

week 40

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:15:11 GMT

It's time! Oh...wait...maybe...huh. If the pain starts at the top of your uterus and spreads through your lower back and pelvis, getting longer, stronger, and more frequent, it's time to call the doc. If the pain starts in your front and eases if you shift positions, it might be false labor.

Belly by ~sekundek on deviant ART

Quiz

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 10:46:41 GMT

Your Aura is Green

You're very driven, competitive, and even a bit jealous.

However, you seek out balance in your life - and you usually achieve it!

The purpose of your life: inspiring others to be better

Famous greens include: Tony Robbins, Donald Trump, Martha Stewart

Careers for you to try: Guru, CEO, Talk Show Host

What Color Is Your Aura?

Quizzes

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 02:00:12 GMT

Your Word is "Love"

You see life as possibility to form deep connections with a few people.

Relationships are the center of your world, and you always take time to bond with those you love.

You are caring and giving. You enjoy helping those you love.

And when it comes to romantic love, you feel passionately ... even in a very long term relationship.

What's Your Word?

You Are Copper

You are provocative and challenging. You help people realize who they really are.

You live a very balanced life. You always take time for love and art.

You are both a powerful and generous person. You always have time to give back.

People find you to be incredibly ethical and loyal.

What Metal Are You?

You Are Buttermilk Pancakes

Your prefer traditional, old fashioned foods.

You shy away from anything fake, and you like meals with simple ingredients.

It's not likely someone would find margarine or diet soda in your kitchen.

Instead, someone might find a loaf of homemade bread baking or a soup simmering.

What Kind of Pancakes Are You?

Still waiting....seriously

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:32:08 GMT

Anyway I finished reading all of the Sophie Kinsella books that Kurt bought me, I still need one more of hers and I would have read every single one of her books.

But I just got this game in the mail had to reorder it because I lost it somehow during our move in the fall. Anyway this is a really cute game. I'm glad I can pass the time doing something besides worry about the baby 24/7. Hopefully next time I post on this blog I'll have a picture of the baby to go along with it. In the meantime...carry on!

My aunt

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:59:18 GMT

My aunt (my father's only sister) had a tiny stroke last night. My mom raced to her house and took her to the hospital. She was with her until 2 AM waiting for someone to take care of my aunt. Her lip is a little twisted and she almost had a panic attack while they did an MRI scan. I hope she's okay.

Hurray!

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:56:04 GMT

Good news people! Kurt and I talked to the doctor and told him we wanted to put off being induced. He was very nice about it. So on the day I was supposed to be induced I will instead be going through a biophysical profile (which would be on Tuesday the 13th) and then another check up on Friday of that same week. :D

*dance, dance, dance*

Decision

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:22:55 GMT

Okay *drum roll* Kurt and I decided that we are going to wait a week no matter what the doctor says, we believe that our son deserves a week to come out on his own. After that I won't complain or say a word, I'll be a good patient and go be induced into labor. Please pray for us, so I don't have to go to be induced. Thanks.

Sigh

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:18:26 GMT

Is there no end in sight? I mean on the one hand I want this baby out of me....I wanted him out yesterday, but there's all this thinking going on about the risks of being induced and complications that could arise, etc, etc, etc. And then on the other hand I've turned into a sobbing/weeping/hormonal/hot flashing being that's just getting bigger every fucking day. So...what to do? Some people want me to wait to be induced, other people want me to be induced and I'm kind of standing at a crossroads trying to do what's best. Because ultimately it's my decision...seeing as the baby is inside MY body. Which leads to more thinking, which means I start crying because I have no fucking clue what's right and what's wrong anymore. Or technically I do, it's just the same two thoughts keep going round and round my head like a damned carousel. When do I get off this fucking ride? Seriously...no joke. I talked about it with Kurt (my awesome partner in crime) and he's willing to back me up 100% no matter what I choose, but since it's his baby too (duh), I wanted him to go with me to the doctor's office on Friday and talk about the whole induction thing some more and then we'll decide what to do afterwards.

Sigh. I'm exhausted. I sleep so much it's probably making me even more tired and then chasing after the fucking dog doesn't help me either. It hurts to move. Showers that should take 20 minutes end up taking almost an hour. I feel like this....

Only Disney can make hippos look that graceful.

More about inductions

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:23:34 GMT

About Induction, Augmentation and Being Overdue

Check out the HUGGIES pregnancy calendar

Research appears to show that it's your baby's own body that gives your body the go-ahead when it's time for birth to get started. Hormones produced by the baby set off a complex array of reactions into place that soften the cervix (mouth of the uterus) and make wavelike contractions happen to the uterus as it prepares to push the baby out into the world.

Most pregnancies last between 38 and 42 weeks. Between 40 and 42 weeks your pregnancy will be considered "past date." After 42 weeks, or if your placenta is showing signs of trouble, your healthcare provider may recommend that artificial chemicals that mimic the action of hormones be used, such as Pitocin® to make your uterus go into labor (induction), or, if you're having contractions, to make them stronger (augmentation).

If your cervix, the mouth of your uterus is still tightly closed instead of thinning and opening, it will be considered "unripe," and you may be given medication as a suppository, as something taken by mouth, or as a gel or tablet inserted inside your vagina to help it soften and become "ripe" so induction will work better.

Inducing a labor when the body still hasn't begun contractions is considered one of the most drastic ways to intervene in the natural process of birth. To try to make birth happen when a woman's cervix isn't ready for it can lead to induction failure; a long and very exhausting labor; a higher-than-average risk of having to have an emergency cesarean section and other risks that can affect your baby's well-being and oxygen supply.

Softening the mother's cervix first with substances such as prostaglandins increases the success of induction, but also the possibility of her uterus contracting too much. There are mechanical devices, such as small balloons or reeds that are sometimes used to expand the cervix without causing the uterus to contract too fast or to freeze.

Once your cervix appears softened and ready for birth, you will then be given a uterine stimulant, such as Pitocin®. Typically that's done with an IV line into a vein on your hand or arm. You will feel your contractions begin to change. They may become more painful and closer together.

Baby Size Isn't Usually An Issue

Some health care providers may suggest that a pregnant woman should have an induction because her baby is growing "too large," but the American Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has issued a practice guideline stating that baby size should not be the only reason for asking a mother to undergo induction of labor, unless the mother or baby have other indicators for the need for it, such as the mother's diabetes mellitus, or her history of having huge babies in the past.

When it comes to normal pregnancies, estimates of baby's actual due dates and of baby size are notoriously inaccurate in the weeks preceding birth. Sonograms, although they may be able to accurately guess the ages of babies during the second trimester, become increasingly inaccurate in estimating baby size as the baby's due date gets nearer.

Why Waiting is Important

If you are tired of waiting on your baby, elective (self-chosen) induction may sound appealing to you because it would appear to give you some level of control over the time and circumstances of your baby's birth; however, it' s important to be aware that artificially inducing labor can sometimes have serious consequences for both mother and baby.

Whether you should have your labor augmented after your labor has already started is purely a decision left up to your health care provider. You may be less likely to have augmentation suggested if you stay at home until your labor is well established and very active and then go to the hospital if yours is a normal pregnancy.

As a patient, you always have the right to "informed consent," that is, to refuse a treatment, especially if you feel your labor is moving along normally, and there are no clear medical indications that justify forcing your uterus to work overtime.

Your health care provider has the responsibility of fully informing you, not only of the benefits of having your labor augmented, but also all the risks involved, even if they're remote. "It will make your baby arrive sooner," is not a benefit, especially if your baby isn't into position yet.

If you do have augmentation, and you find yourself in serious pain, or feel your uterus contracting rapidly over and over with no breaks in between, let the labor and delivery nurse overseeing your care know immediately, and make the request that your medication be backed down or counteracted.

Tests to See If Postponing is OK

If you go beyond your due date, your health care provider may suggest that you do a "kick count" to see how active your baby is being over a given amount of time, and he, or she, may also recommend that you take a painless, non-stress test. It's simply a way to measure your baby's movements and changes in the speed of his heart rate for 20-30 minutes in relation to the baby movements you're feeling. Other tests may be requested for you, such as a biophysical profile (BPP) that use a sonogram to measure your amniotic fluid volume, fetal activity, fetal muscle tone, and the movement of your baby's lungs.

Again, if the tests show that your baby is reacting normally and your internal systems are performing adequately, you may prefer to wait a few days to see if you naturally go into labor, rather than artificially trying to force labor to start.

Getting a Second Opinion

It's wise to think twice about having an elective (non-medically required) induction simply for convenience's sake; because your health care provider plans be out of town the week you're due; or your caregiver tells you that your baby is growing too large.

If you feel there is not a sufficient medical emergency that requires an induction, and you don't wish to subject yourself to the added risk of a cesarean section or your baby to the risks of being born too early, then we suggest asking for tests to show that there genuinely is a need for the baby to be born now, and not, say, 10 days from now.

If you're in doubt about how to proceed, you can always seek a second opinion from another obstetrician or from a specialist in maternal-fetal medicine -- an obstetrician with extra training in managing risks for mothers and babies.

Reasons to induce

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:02:18 GMT

Doctors usually recommend induction when the continuation of pregnancy will put the mother or baby’s health at risk. Below are some conditions for which this might be the case. [ ] Postterm pregnancy (depending on the doctor, this might mean past 41 weeks, past 41 weeks and three days, or past 42 weeks)
[ ] Pregnancy-induced high blood pressure

[ ] An especially large baby

[ ] An infection in the uterus (chorio-amnionitis)
[ ] Placental abruption (the placenta is beginning to separate from the uterus’ inner wall)
[ ] Premature membrane rupture (water breaks early)
[ ] The placenta has ceased to function properly
[ ] Too little amniotic fluid in the womb
[ ] Fetus is failing to thrive or grow

[ ] Previous full-term stillbirths

[ ] Any other health problems that could harm the mother or baby

Your doctor also might bring up induction if you’re at risk for rapid delivery, or if you live far away from the hospital.

Anyway I'm going to share some amazing paintings I found on www.deviantart.com Seriously some of the artists on that site are amazing.

"night...." by *Leonidafremov on deviant ART

"under one umbrella" by *Leonidafremov on deviant ART

"PARIS -TOWER" by *Leonidafremov on deviant ART

Just looking at this painting makes me want to cry. It also reminds me of a scene in the novel I wrote titled Nina

Sigh

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:09:37 GMT

So... got back from my appointment and it looks like if my little boy doesn't come out by his due date, he's going to be induced. Please excuse me while I read every chapter on inductions from every baby book I own.

Still waiting....

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:14:35 GMT

I have a doctor's appointment today. I'm going to ask him what my options are if the 10th comes and goes and still no baby. Sigh...I don't want to be still be pregnant when February comes, know what I mean? I'm going crazy here. I spend most of the day pretending to be in a coma and at first it was amusing, but now I want to be able to stay awake long enough to at least watch a full episode of something on TV for God's sake.

Pisces in January

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:24:25 GMT

I read my horoscope once a month from this website www.astrologyzone.com , sometimes she's scary acurate other times it has nothing to do with me. But this months reading had this to say:

A discussion about a new baby or a surprise pregnancy may come up, or you may make preparations for a child you have now as well. If you are awaiting a child, and you or your partner is pregnant, the baby is likely to come at the full moon period, January 10. As said, Uranus will be in perfect angle to that moon, so surprises that come by should be ones that warm your heart.

http://astrologyzone.com/forecasts/monthly/pisces_full.php

Week 39

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:33:06 GMT

Hang in there -- you're almost done! Predicting a due date isn't an exact science (and can make for some pretty lucrative wagering), but there are definite signs that the time is near. Look for the bloody show, the passing of the mucous plug, diarrhea, nausea, energy spurts, contractions, and breaking of the water.

Going crazy waiting....so what else is new? Carry on. Nothing going on over here. :( Sigh

Random stuff

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 23:28:21 GMT

The stage is set. All we need now is the main character to take the stage and wow us with his prescence. Sigh. Waiting blows. Anyway I've been sleeping like crazy. Like 13-15 hours and stuff like that. People can see me awake between 12 pm and 7 pm after that it gets kinda fuzzy. Like today I laid down just to rest my eyes at around 3:30 or so and didn't wake up til 5 something. Crazy!

Cats by *kris-wilson on deviant ART

Planeteers by *kris-wilson on deviant ART

Week 39

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:04:20 GMT

Your Baby Check out what happened last week with your baby's development.

Hormone helpers. Your baby continues to prepare for her grand entrance. Her endocrine system, which is responsible for hormone production, is gearing up for birth. Your little one will secrete more stress hormones during birth than at any other time in her life. Once she's out of the womb, those hormones will help manage her bodily systems without the help of your placenta. These tremendous changes demand lots of effort and energy, but she'll be ready.

Breath taking. Your baby's lungs continue to develop, too, right up until she's born. At the moment, the lungs are still working hard to manufacture surfactant, a substance that helps keep the many air sacs from sticking together when she takes her first breath.

Cry baby. "Here goes my first cry!" Right after that initial deep breath comes a wail worthy of an opera diva. The sound of your baby crying is a bittersweet experience; while no one likes to hear a child expressing fear or discomfort, a loud cry means she's breathing well. Don't expect to see tears yet; her tear glands won't produce tears when crying until she's a few weeks old. And if your baby doesn't let out that hallmark howl, don't fret: Some infants don't cry at birth. The important thing is that breathing gets started.

Good to Go This baby gives a thumbs up: All systems "go" for the big trip outside! He's ready, and so is Mom.

Your Pregnancy

True or false? You may have already experienced Braxton Hicks contractions, which are your body's way of practicing for the real deal. Now that you're considered full-term, it may be difficult to tell the difference between these contractions, also known as false labor, and true labor. If the contractions are irregular and go away when you change position or walk around, you are probably experiencing false labor. Don't be fooled by the name, though—false labor can turn into real labor in a matter of minutes. Time your contractions carefully; once they're at regular intervals and occurring five minutes apart for at least an hour, call your doctor, midwife, or nurse. If your water breaks, indicated by a leak or gush of fluid from the vagina, call right away.

The pain domain. If you haven't already made some decisions, now is a good time to think about what kind of pain relief, if any, you want during labor. You have many options when it comes to medications—some drugs are meant simply to take the edge off labor pain, while others aim to block as much discomfort as possible. Of course, you don't have to make any final decisions right now, but you should be aware of the choices and talk them over with your health care provider before the big day. Read our article on comfort measures for an overview of options.

From the experts. "There are two main signs that you'll begin labor within a day or two," says Elaine Zwelling, R.N., Ph.D. "One indication is the rupture of your bag of waters (amniotic sac). Another red flag, so to speak, is a blood-streaked mucous discharge—the mucus that has been plugging your cervix." To find out more from Dr. Zwelling about what to look for, read Signs of Labor.

Still waiting

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:30:24 GMT

Quizzes

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 19:10:14 GMT

Lost by *kris-wilson on deviant ART

You Remember 80% of 2008

You were paying attention during 2008.

And you remember what happened really well.

You'll be able to talk about 2008 for years to come...

Even when most people have forgotten what went down.

How Much Do You Remember 2008?

You Feel Misunderstood By Your Family

You get along with everyone in your family, and you tend to play the peacemaker. You can see issues from all sides.

You feel like some members of your family are too unhappy. These family members tend to create unhappiness for everyone else.

It's sometimes hard for your family to understand who you are now. You've changed a lot, and they have trouble accepting the new you.

You get teased a lot by your family. You usually don't mind being the butt of jokes, but sometimes you feel picked on.

How Do You Really Feel About Your Family?

You Are Green Lights

Your holidays are a time of rest and solace.

You take time to reflect on the year that's passed.

You also enjoy connecting with friends and family you've lost touch with.

The holidays are your opportunity to remember what's important in your life.

What Color Christmas Lights Are You?

Happy New Year!!!!

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:04:34 GMT

Happy New Year Comment Graphics

Comments & Glitter Graphics for Myspace, Hi5, Orkut, Friendster

May this new year bring you all much joy and happiness. Much love and many blessings to you all.