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Sann - I am not going back to work until first of December. I can take up to 12 wks with family medical leave act - won't be paid for that time, but company can't fire me for taking off either! :-) I was on a waiting list for the daycare center and they just called this week. I had found another place, but really wanted her there as it is supposed to be good as well as close to me! As for recovery, mine was fantastic! Although, they say no 2 pgs or deliveries are the same, I would do both again! I was put in a "regular" hospital room about 10:00 p.m. at night and was up and going to bathroom by myself during the night and showered on my own the next morning. My biggest problem was fighting the stupid IV pole - they kept it hooked up in case I needed meds for infection. I had a fever during delivery, had to be st_tched due to tear and she pa__sed meconium just as she pa__sed through the ca___l. So...they kept IV hooked up just in case...got rid of that early the next morning...since fever stayed down. I delivered on a Sunday evening and my husband and I took a walk on Wednesday - outside. My legs felt very wobbly - like no muscle tone, but I really felt the need to get moving. I think it was still medication in my system. I am down to only 8.5 lbs to go to be back to pre-p weight...can zip my "old" jeans, but bought a couple of larger pair to wear until I can get back into those and not look "tacky"! Except for lack of sleep, I feel good as new!

HOPEFUL: I didn't realize it was infrequent. Sounds like you're doing the right thing. Also, just because I haven't seen ewcm does not mean that it's not normal as it seems that other women have seen it during their pregnancies. About trivialities though, and I felt the same way you do about calling the Dr. for every little thing. Just don't make the same mistake I did: hopefully this will never happen to you---make sure that you take trickles of fluid and lack of baby movements (after week 28) very seriously. I held off from one day to the next after feeling a trickle of fluid and slow down in baby movements before I called my Dr. My goodness, I was scolded by the nurse at my Dr's office for waiting to call and told to get to her office immediately. My logic was that I only trickled once and I was feeling some baby movement (just not as much) and if I felt any more leaking/trickling that I would call my Dr. I only called my Dr. because my dh told me I should. Nothing was wrong but after they gave me a scare they told me never to wait on something like that if it happened again. I realize it's totally different thing than what you asked about but I'm just sharing in case this may help you or Sann in the future.

SANN: sorry to hear about those headaches still bothering you. At least you know the cause so you can avoid being outdoors as much as possible. Hopefully the fires will be stopped soon. Nothing wrong with too many doctors, sounds like a good thing other than all the different appointments that you have to make. Do the other doctors have an opinion different than the fetal specialist about the amnio? It's such a personal decision so please don't allow your Dr. or anyone else to tell you what you should do (NT screening vs. amnio) because it should be totally your and your dh's choice. Good luck in your decision and on the results.***TRYING: so glad to hear you're doing so well. I'm impressed that you're only 8.5 pounds away from pre-pregnancy weight--that was fast! I hope I'm as fortunate as you were in my labor and delivery. ****Happy thoughts to everyone!!!

Perl - thank you for your advice. I will take it to heart I promise. I think that once I'm past the first trimester I will definitely be bothering the doctor with every tiny symptom (LOL!!!) and they'll be sick of me. I suppose I just have a feeling now that "what will be will be" at this early stage and it's really better not to worry too much. In any case, this was a small issue that doesn't seem to have repeated itself since so I'm sure all is OK. Anyway, I will certainly not ignore the symptoms you said when it comes to later on in the pregnancy. All is well with me and I'm having a good day and enjoying the last of the autumn sunshine. TTYL!

How are you guys? My little one is having gas issues - had a few really rough days, but yesterday/last night was better - hoping for the same tonight!

Hi Trying: sorry to hear about the baby's gas issues. I forget did you say you were going to try bottlefeeding your b___st milk? Is that where the gas comes from (air in the bottle) or is it caused by something you ate? ****I'm doing alright except for itchy skin and the need for some really deep naps. I have Dr appointment on Thursday and my last cla__s on anesthesia options is tonight. ****How's everyone else???

Glad all is well with everyone. I wonder where Sann is? I hope she's just taking a break and that all is well. Nothing to report with me really except that I'm getting impatient for my next appointment. I've been feeling a lot more energetic over the last week or so and although that's great, as usual, it makes me worry that I'm not experiencing enough symptoms. However, I'm trying to stay positive (and busy!! LOL!!!) and have at least pa__sed the point of my last pregnancy so both me and my dh feel great about that. Something to be proud of. Here's a question. I keep reading on sites that round about now I should start to "feel pregnant". What exactly does that mean? In fact I feel less symptoms so less aware that anything's happening - the only thing I can feel is a hard lump above my pubic area (which I think is the uterus? correct me if I'm wrong) and my back gets tired if I stay on my feet for too long (not too mention the occasional constipation! Ouch!! tmi? Sorry! LOL!) Perl - sounds like you're nearly prepared. I'd love to hear about the options you were given for painkillers. I really have no idea and would love some independent information if you have time. Thanks!! Anyway, TTY all L! Big hugs (to Katie too! - it might relieve her gas!) and belly rubs to all!

Hello ladies : ) Sorry : ( for not writing sooner, I had been busy with work for the pa__s few days .... trying to hand over some stuffs to my secretary cos I can't go into the office as often as before and won't be working as much too : ) TRYING : So glad little Katie is doing better .... I read bottlefeeding gives babies gas even if we burp them after feeding ... correct me if I'm wrong!!!! PERL : Sorry to hear about the itchy skin : ( I so excited for you the big day will be here soon : ) I'm with Hopeful ... please educate us on pain relieve : ) And TRYING ... what did the doc give for the pain? HOPEFUL : I'm now 13.3 weeks now ..... and most of my m/s is gone : ) Still constipated though (sorry tmi) RE : Feeling pregnant .... Yes! My tummy is starting to show already and my b___bs started t hurt again (not sure if they should). And I do feel some "b___terflies" in my lower tummy .... not sure if it's our little bean cos my dh felt it too (one night) : ) My next appointment and u/s is this Friday ... can't wait !!!!!!!!!! Hope everyone is doing well : ) TTYL

It's really nice hearing from all of you. HOPEFUL: Congratulations on making it past the point of your last pregnancy. I know what a relief that feels like. Don't feel bad if from time to time the fear comes back but you probably already know you will feel much better from now on. Don't know what they mean by feeling pregnant in 2nd trimester. Other than a week or two of round ligament pains, I felt awesome and more energetic between weeks 14 - 29 but I did feel bigger around the belly and sometimes hormonal (sometimes I'd get a fit of the giggles and sometimes I'd weep at movies or at the news which I never do). Also, the cravings set in from time to time. Maybe that's what that means to feel pregnant.****SANN: good for you on handing off your work to the secretary and cutting back your hours at work. I'm glad your m/s is winding down. That's a really good feeling. Let us know how it goes with the u/s on Friday that should be lots of fun for you.

About pain relief. . . there's a whole lot of information and I'm no expert on this but what I learned last night in a nutshell was very informative. I'm sure that TRYING can add her experience and knowledge to this too, and also let me know if I missed something. We watched a brief video about 20 minutes then had a question and answer time for about 2 hours with one of the hospital's doctors(an Anesthiologist). The options for pain relief were: intravenous narcotics, epidural, spinal block, the "combo" and a pudendal block. There's also general anesthetic and some thing called a TENS unit and others but we didn't really focus on those. Narcotics: IV or injected narcotics help you relax and take effect very quickly (about 5 minutes) lasts about 2-4 hours but can make you and/or the baby feel dopey or drowsy. Epidural: will numb your entire lower body (all my friends swear that all they felt was pressure not pain once they got their epidural) they first numb a small part on your lower back and then insert a needle and a very thin tube/catheter near your spinal column. It can take up to 20-40 minutes before you start to feel its effect but it can last a longer time than narcotic because once the catheter is in your back, the anesthesiologist (or the machine he uses) can regulate how much pain relief you will get. Dr said he likes to wait until you're dilated at least 4 cm before they even consider using the epidural. Spinal block: numbs your lower body, a little quicker than epidural but doesn't last as long and it's injected into spinal fluid. The "Combo": you get one needle inserted into your back and with that one needle a narcotic is injected as well as the catheter that can be used later for your epidural. (This is the one I think I'll use so I'll get some relief earlier on and get the epidural later when it's necessary and only one needle in the back instead of two). Pudendal Block: local anesthetic is injected around a nerve in the v____a to numb v____a, rectum and perineum (OUCH!!!) just before you deliver but you will still feel the pain of contractions. Each one of these has pros and cons, side effects and risks but that's what I learned in a nutshell. If I don't opt for the combo I'll be getting at least the epidural. Also, if there has to be an emergency c-section the anesthesiologist will usually just increase whatever option you already have in place and if its an epidural it will take 10-15 minutes to increase in potency (instead of the 20-40 min it does when they first insert it). If the baby can't wait at all they just use general anesthesia which is quickest. That's anesthesia options in a very simple nutshell. I'm soooo glad we have options too! The anesthesiologist said his wife used a combo for their first child and a spinal block for their second baby which was a planned c-section for a breech baby.

Don't worry about the "loss of symptoms" during early 2nd trimester (although I did - ha ha)...I felt GREAT during that time...went to the gym, etc... I think Katie's gas is either my diet or her developing digestive system - probably both. At the time we really had the most problems, she had only had 2 bottles (my milk) over a 2 day period. Yes, I think bottles give more gas. We cut out the bottles and all foods that could pa__s to b___stmilk and she seems to be in less pain. I am really missing my milk and chocolate though! She is on day 3 without a dirty diaper - but all sources say that can be normal for a bf baby. Our last b__w-out (literally) was after 3 days and she was in a white outfit at church! I may just put her in the same outfit tonight and hope for another dirty diaper! ha ha We have had 2 nights in a row without screaming/crying upset baby - so that is terrrific!

Thanks again Perl and tryingx3 for your support and rea__surance - you're great people!! Also thanks for taking the time to write your info on the painkillers. It all sounds a bit scary to be honest! Maybe I'll feel better when I have some time to talk to a midwife. Also a friend of mine has just had her baby using just a birthing pool and TENS and that sounds like the way I'd like to go (as natural as possible) so I'd like to talk to her but I think you need to be particularly hardy for that so maybe I don't have the strength!?!?! Also I'm not sure I like the idea of mixing water and electricity LOLOLOLOLO!!!!!!!!!! Perl - I can definitely relate to the hormonal feelings (bursting into tears at the silliest thing!), feeling more energetic and feeling bigger around the belly (like it's big and taut all the time - making its presence felt and putting weight on the base of my spine!) so perhaps I do, in fact, feel pregnant after all!! LOL!! Sann - great to hear you're feeling so well and that you feel pregnant. You're so close to your second Trimester now - FANTASTIC NEWS!! Anyway- must go as I've been sitting at this computer too long now. Going to try and do an hour of prenatal yoga to stretch out as I can't get to the swimming pool til tomorrow! Big Hugs to all!! TTYL!

Trying: I'm glad you mentioned the urine catheter and doing things in the right order because I was wondering about that. I'm just as apprehensive of the catheter as I am about the epidural (ha!) so it's good to know I can do it afterwards and not feel it. Congratulations on 2 nights sleep without baby crying---that's a great milestone!! Mind if I ask which part of your spine has the scoliosis? I have a bad curve (curves inward so I look like I'm hunched over a little) in my mid-spine just below my shoulder blades. I think my curve is high enough that it would not even be that close to the area where the epidural catheter is inserted which is in the lower back right? Glad to hear your section went well enough that you didn't even need pain killers afterwards. Or do you have a high tolerance for pain. I may need to have a c-section too and I like to hear rea__suring success stories. ****HOPEFUL: the TENS unit did sound like an intereting concept--getting consistent electrical shocks to block out the big pain. Yikes to doing it in water though! You are more brave than I am. I want the heavy duty pain relief but I'm going to try to hold off on using it until the last possible moment. I'm going to be flexible though until I know what it feels like to be in labor and see if my relaxation & breathing techniques work at all or not.***My appointment I was going to today was re-scheduled to tomorrow. : (

Perl - sorry if my reply was unclear - they were finally successful WITH THE EPIDURAL and I delivered v____ally. NO C-section! My scoliosis is lower spine - moderate curvature - didn't wear my brace as a teenager and refused surgery. I thought I had a high endurance for pain - but I was WANTING the epidural. Maybe it was because I was having contractions and the scar tissue was not allowing dilation,don't know! Rea__surance for those going natural however, I was unable to "feel" how to push effectively and they "turned off" my epidural medicine in order for me to push. I didn't find that especially painful. I did find it painful when they pushed on my stomach after delivery to get other "stuff" to deliver.

Tip: BUY pads for yourself while in 3rd trimester (I think I bought mine around 30 wks!)...I have gone through 4 packages! I was cracking up looking at my shopping cart when I bought them all but figured it was better to pick out my own instead of sending my husband or a family member! :-)

Hi again! Yes Perl - TENS does sound interesting doesn't it? I'm just a__suming that the electrics don't mix with the water (ouch!! LOL!) but I've no idea what you do then for pain relief (except for the water support of course) I'll try and read more into it. I'm very nervous about Monday and the NT scan so I'm trying to keep myself busy at the moment to stop myself worrying but that is easier said than done. It's been over 2 weeks since my last scan and I've just been feeling too good and that concerns me. Oh well - we'll see. Is there anything I should do to prepare for this scan - empty / fill my bladder, avoid eating beforehand etc. etc.? If you've had one - can you let me know what you were asked to do on the day? Thanks so much. Speak to you soon and I'll update you as soon as I can.