Michi8

Liz, I've been losing hair (equally all over my head) for a couple of years now. Because I have a very thick head of hair, it isn't noticable yet...and thus doctors haven't taken it as seriously as I'd like.

All my tests have come back "normal" too, so the best the dermatologist could do for me was to tell me it's "normal hair loss" and give me Rogaine. I have yet to use it though...I don't need one more chemical to put on my skin, as I'm sensitive to way too much stuff anyway.

Michelle

Just to clarify: I'm not "ignoring" the cut off date. I'm considering asking the school (whose cut off is actually earlier than our state's guideline, note not a mandate) for their opinion on this issue. Nor am I talking about pushing a child into something she's not ready for.

I know you didn't direct your response only to me, but just wanted to clarify the reason I asked about the cut off date. Because my province has such a late cut off, it makes the decision about starting school a bit more difficult for a lot of parents. March is obviously a much later cut off than September or December, and to be 20 days past a March cut off means the child woudn't be turning 5 until 7 months into the school year! It makes a huge difference in the maturity and capability of students. One girl in my eldest son's K class was 5 days past the cut off...she didn't make it through the first month of school before being pulled out. A lot of parents are unhappy about the cut off date, and would love to see it changed to September or December.

Michelle

Just one more thought...

Do remember that the most important part of school is that your daughter is learning well. The diet is also important, but I don't think it's essential to have the girls together just because of the diet. You'd advocate strongly for her regardless of who is in her class, and the school will have to support you in that. So, your girls are in different grades, but both will eventually be in the same school, so that school will have to still accomodate both girls.

Our school now has 5 children with (known) celiac, and they have had as good support as any of the food allergic kids (of which there are many!) None of these kids are in the same classes either.

Michelle

I'm considering asking the school to start my daughter in kindergarten a year early so that she'll be in the same year as another little girl who has celiac. I would love her to not be the only kid who has to have special treats. Plus it seems like it would be a lot easier to get the classroom to be gluten-free if there were two gluten-free kids.

My daughter is tall for her age (my older child is as tall as kids that are 3 years older than her), she is bright, and her birthday is only 20 days after the school's cut off. I'm trying to decide if this is just silly or if it is a good thing to look into.

What do you think?

It depends on when the cut off is. Our cut off date is March 1st, so kids can still very much be 4 when they start kindergarten. I find it's way too early. I started my boys a year later (Jan & Feb birthdays) and don't regret the decision at all, they are exceptional students. Quite frankly, I've heard of no one who was unhappy with waiting a year, but have heard of a few who wished they'd waited.

I've got friends who have chosen to wait a year with kids who have November birthdays too...they based it on their child's readiness and maturity. Another friend had her daughter (another November birthday) repeat kindergarten as she just wasn't ready to make the leap to grade 1.

If you choose to put your daughter in early, do watch carefully how she does. Be ready and willing to change the decision if it isn't working out as well as you'd hoped...don't push her into doing anything she's not ready for.

Michelle

Love the new avatar, Angie...your girls are adorable!

Are you drinking milk at all? If so, that may be playing a role in tummy upset too. I found elminating milk as well as gassy foods from my diet helped a bit. As well, I would drink fennel seed tea. Fennel is known for helping with tummy upset (it's typically one of the ingredients in gripe water), and will be present in breastmilk to help baby. I used to steep it with cammomile and keep a container of it cold in the fridge. I would drink this "iced tea" in place of water.

Michelle

I've been using Mylicon drops, but its not really giving her any relief. I had brocolli 3 days ago. I thought that's what started this whole thing, but I didn't think things stayed in breast milk for that long. I'm hoping today is a better day for her because she's had a really rough past two days. At least she's sleeping well though.

Bacon is an independently owned restaurant that offers a lot of gluten free food.

Swiss Chalet is good. They have a pamphlet that outlines safe choices. Their roasted chicken and sauce is safe.

OPM has a gluten free menu and is very good. It's in South Edmonton Common.

You can also ask for gluten free choices at any Montana's.

Michelle

Goofed up post...see my reply in the post below.

I live in Edmonton and I eat at Wendy's almost everyday for lunch since it's just down the street from where I work. I eat chili, fries, baked potatoes, and salads (sesame dressing has soy sauce therefore wheat so stay away). Supposedly the burgers (without bun) are ok too but I'm too shy to ask for it without the bun so haven't tried yet.

Outback Steakhouse is another place I've gone and they are really good there. They have a separate menu that tells what is gluten-free and what isn't.

Sorentino's is supposed to have a wide variety of gluten-free pasta's. I think the owner/manager has celiac or something. I've been meaning to check it out but so far I haven't.

If anyone else can let me know of restaurants in Edmonton with gluten-free options I would really like to know. As I said earlier I'm really shy and don't like to tell the servers about my special dietary needs, especially here because the service industry leaves much to be desired and they probably wouldn't do as I instructed anyway. But if I know the place has knowledge of celiac I would definitely ask.

Julie, I hope that you are able to find a new home quickly. In the meantime, you will make it through this one way or another.

Have you considered using a moving company that packs in containers? Some offer a "U-Pack" solution Open Original Shared Link (this isn't the only company that offers this option) where they drop off a container, you fill it (or you can pay to have them fill it for an extra cost ), and then they move and/or store it until you are ready to move into your new home.

We did this with our last move. We had to sell our old house quickly and find a new home in a new city within little time (the stress of that house hunt was awful.) The move-in date did not line up for us, and we had to spend 5 weeks living with family until we had possession of our new home. The moving company kept our stuff in the container...it was simply lifted off the truck and kept in their storage yard. Then they delivered the container when we were in our new home.

Michelle

Hi everyone,

I'm just venting...please feel free to ignore this thread.

In ten days, we are supposed to close on the sale of our house.

Assuming this does occur, we need a house to move into...herein lies the problem. My hubby and I can't find a house, and we only have about a week left before we must move out of this one!

I've been on the phone, internet, phone, phone, phone.... AGGGGHHHHH! I'm turning into a total nutcase. I placed an offer today, and hopefully, will hear back tomorrow. My phone rang off the hook all day.

My son must be feeling the tension I have right now because he is pitching temper tantrums like crazy! Meanwhile, I know nothing about escrow, insurance, utilities, home inspections, "points" (a bank term of some sort), etc... etc... etc.

And with my screaming one year old hanging onto me, I can't think a complete thought. So, here I am, venting to you guys.

When we do find a home, it better be our "dream home" because I never want to go through this again!

Well, that's about it. I've got to find out the price of storage units, U-Hauls, and apartments in case we don't find a house this week.

Blessings to all of you. Sanity to me. -Julie

thanks all! i am gonna try to give it a shot back at nursing, i miss him!!

he has maintained his weight (went again today and he has finally passed the 15lb mark) so we are all proud of him and he's clapping for himself, all proud!!!

to all those questions about how i know he can't take liquids, well, if you would see his t-shirt after he has tries to drink, you'd know exactly what i mean!!! he just lets it wet his tongue, and then spits it back out... and thinks its one big joke!!! (At least he has a sense of humour!!)

how long would it take for me to rebuild my milk supply, and would it be a problem if i am on the Pill?

Check out La Leche League for good information and support. They have a FAQ on relactation after an interruption in breastfeeding here: Open Original Shared Link Consider contacting a local LLL leader for one-on-one guidance and support as well.

Michelle

shan---does your baby have reflux, by chance?

you can start nursing again. it would be a little bit of work, but it can be done. there are a couple of prescription meds that will increase your milk supply. one of them is called reglan. it is a motility drug, but it increases the chemical in your body that controls your milk supply---can't think of the chemical off the top of my head. you would need to get your baby to breastfeed as much as possible and using an electric breast pump would help to stimulate milk production, also.

There are also natural herbs that can help with lactation (there are also herbs to avoid, like sage, that tend to have the opposite effect.) Open Original Shared Link makes an excellent breastfeeding tea that really works well for helping your supply. Even just steeping fennel seed as a tea (I liked to mix it with chamomile and keep it iced in the fridge) is helpful...also helps with easing tummy troubles in both mom & babe.

Michelle

Just a side question - if i stopped nursing about two months ago and have already started my cycle, can i start again to nurse? or is that impossible?

You most certainly can relactate. Since it's only been two months it shouldn't take too much work on your part. If you want to, then I think it's worth a shot!

Starting your cycle does not matter. My cycles after each baby started again at 4 months, 2 months and 6 six weeks. It had no impact on breastfeeding...and I breastfed on demand exclusively for the first 6 months with each and continued breastfeeding with them until almost 2yo, 2.5yo and 2yo.

The difficult part will be getting your 10 month old to start breastfeeding again. They tend to forget how pretty quickly. I remember my first wanting to try breastfeeding again after my second was born (it had been a couple of months since we weaned) but he wasn't really that into it and wasn't really sure what to do. He never tried a second time.

Michelle

we are finally home from hospital, after 2 and 1/2 weeks, plus 2 weeks in another hospital! phew!! BUT they still have no idea what is the matter. they are basically saying that if your child doesn't want to eat its my fault and problem!!

the problem is that i have no idea what to give a 10 month old to eat - he is on a gluten, dairy, soya and egg free diet - and he is very fussy on textures... anything too liquid he can't swallow... he won't take a bottle, which is where he would be getting approx half his daily calorie and nutrient intake, so i am really stuck!! any ideas?! please?? my family think i am nuts keeping him off all these things - why are you giving him these foods, you are spoiling him etc... so i you guys are my only help

thanks

Since your son is 10 months old, is he breastfeeding at all? If not, did the hospital suggest donated mother's milk at all? Since he won't take a bottle, have you tried a sippy cup, cup & straw, or just a regular cup?

My son (now 7yo), though not on a gluten free diet and not apparently allergic to anything, is very food sensitive. Textures, taste, smell, colour all affect what he is willing to eat. He has a strong sense of bitter (even carrots are bitter to him) and he must chew everything thoroughly before he can swallow. Oddly enough he likes spicy stuff! He hates mushy or liquidy foods and would gag on & throw up baby food when he was started on solids.

He breastfed until 2.5 yo, and probably would have gone longer if I hadn't been ready to quit at that point. If he hadn't breastfed for that long, I fear he would have definitely lacked proper nutrition and be even thinner than he is now...he definitely got the majority of his calories from breastmilk during his babyhood. BTW, he did not and still does not like drinking cow's milk (unless it's chocolate), though does eat yogurt, ice cream and some cheese without issue.

Michelle

Thanks for posting the info, Amanda. Was it 1:14am or pm?

Congrats, Angie on the arrival of your baby girl! Welcome to the world Annika!

Enjoy your babymoon...hope you will be able to share your birth story soon.

Michelle

Best of Luck, Angie.

Michelle

Just a quick update...

Aside from getting stung by a wasp and getting heat rash, I feel great today. It was such a beautiful day out around here. I'm so glad I was able to enjoy it with the family. Actually, the whole weekend was gorgeous.

The swelling in my feet and legs is getting worse and worse. I'm starting to get a little puffy in my face too, but that could just be sinus issues. Its hard to say. I'm feeling pretty good other than being insanely hormonal. I've been a little worried lately about the baby, she's moving less and less (yes, I know that's normal), but I'm still going to try to go the distance so long as the non-stress test shows that she's up to it. My husband is slightly less supportive of the whole vbac thing as time goes on. He's been worrying a lot lately about me and how I'm doing and about the baby too. I'm hoping when it comes down to it that he'll support me if they give me a choice because without him behind me its going to be very hard to press on. I'm just kind of down in the dumps about things and not feeling very confident that this is going to work.

Anyway, sorry for the pessimistic post. I guess I just needed to get stuff off my chest. I've been feeling really closed in because I'm afraid if I open up to DH he's really going to really start pushing for another c-section. I know its my decision, but without his support I know I'll cave. Thanks for listening guys.

The worry on both you and your husband's part is normal. You are having a new experience and don't know how things will turn out.

Going into and through labour is going to be fine. Remember that there are options as labour progresses. Do you have a doula for labour support? A doula can be a real emotional and physical support to you both, lessening the fears that you have as you move through labour and birth. Or is there at least a friend who has had a natural labour and delivery that can provide support (for both you and your husband) during your labour?

I've been through this with my own VBAC experiences, and know where you're coming from (including being swollen at the end of a summer pregnancy! LOL!) Feel free to send a PM if you'd like to chat.

Hugs,

Michelle

Lukas is beautiful! Congrats again Stef.

Michelle

I have read, and believe, that raw milk is much better tolerated, easier for the human body to digest. Pasteurization is important when it comes to mass distribution and sale of milk, it considerably reduces the risks of illness from consuming tainted milk. Unfortunately, pasteurization kills naturally occuring healthy bacteria in the milk as well. This bacteria is what makes milk go sour, but it is still edible (like sour cream.) Once milk has been pasteurized, it no longer will go sour, but goes bad instead.

If you can find a reputable farmer to get fresh, clean raw milk from, then I think it would be worth giving it a try.

Michelle

Length 21.5 inches

Weight 8lbs 7oz

hair (lots or none) little

date September 4

time of birth (be sure to put what time zone you are guessing) 12:03 am in Angie's timezone

hours of labor 13 hours

c/s or vbac triumphant vbac!

Labour will be just like a first birth. Even though you didn't labour with your first doesn't mean you wouldn't have gone into labour hours later or the next day.

Michelle

Thanks, Michelle. I'm actually glad they're doing the non-stress test. It will put my mind at ease knowing the baby is still okay in there. I will feel better after the non-stress test. Also, if there is a problem, at least we will know and be able to make an intelligent decision on what to do.

Now, I'm actually hoping that the baby (and me) can hold out a little bit longer. Ugh, I know. Our dryer won't be fixed until NEXT friday!!! I'm afraid to use a laundromat for fear of getting glutened by someone else's fabric softener and I have no where to hang a clothesline. Inconvenient to say the least. Anyway, it would be nice if I had a chance to wash her sheets again before she comes. If not, I guess it won't hurt her to sleep on them the way they are for a few nights. I just don't like that they've been on there for 2 weeks now. I'll have my husband blow them out with the air hose to eliminate the worst of the dust, but it sure would be nice to wash them.

I am DEFINITELY into the hard part. Today was my due date and it always gets harder when you're that close to your due date, especially if you're going past it. I just hope she's doing okay in there.

And hey, at least I'll probably be getting my wish for a sapphire birthstone! That's a positive, right?

There was an article written awile ago about how we and doctors need to think about due weeks rather than due dates...it would certainly go a long way to taking pressure off that baby to make an on time arrival! So you're not really passing your due date, because you're still within your due week!

It's funny that your drier is on the fritz. I was due with my second son when my washer broke. The repair place (Sears) said that impending labour was not considered an emergency, so, no, I couldn't get a repair done sooner. I had so many baby clothes to wash still...I was just a tad stressed. Ended up getting the repair done before I went into labour. I'd not worry about the sheets on the crib. Or you could just flip them over?

If you feel better with the non-stress test then that is a good thing. I had a hang up about mine, because it was during a non-stress test that my first son was found to be breech...that set in motion the first c/s birth for me...I panicked when the midwives wanted me to repeat that test with my daughter.

I'm betting that your baby is fine and healthy. Heart rates do change a bit based on positioning, so it's likely not an issue at all.

Michelle

Just got back from the doctor. The baby's heart rate has dropped, just a little, but enough that they mentioned it. Its still within normal range. I have a non-stress test set up for next wednesday and from there they'll determine how much longer they want to let me go. My doctors have been really supportive with the whole vbac thing and I'm confident that they'll hold out as long as they feel safe doing so. I, however, am not feeling very confident that things will go well. I'm having another horrible day and I'm starting to wonder if it wouldn't just be better to have a c section again. This week has been the week from hell.

Oh Angie, you're into the toughest part of the wait now. When it comes to going for VBAC, remember that it's worth it to you and baby to give it a good try. C/s is an option if needed, just as it is in any birth...but you've come so far with your plan, don't give up now. Remember that VBACs do typically go overdue, and there really is nothing doctors can do to make baby come before it is ready to be born, and induction is not a safe choice for a VBAC mother.

Maybe try talking to Annika about how much everyone wants to meet her, and that it's time to make an arrival. Try to relax, do things that take your mind off of labour too.

In terms of the non-stress test, try to push it out of your mind (you can also say no to it if you feel it's best.) When I was told I had to have a non-stress test with my last birth (I was a week overdue then), it made me upset, because I felt like I was being pushed to "perform" on-time. I chose to decline the test, and that really put my mind at ease, because it eliminated that medically-determined false deadline. I ended up going into labour (10 days overdue) a day before the date they had wanted to perform that test.

Michelle

who is sending labour vibes your way!

Congratulations Stef & family, and welcome to the world Lukas! Enjoy your babymoon!

Michelle

That might be, what's going on with me at the moment. I'm so frustrated, it ain't even funny any more. The World Championships start tomorrow. Well,... without me though. I managed to qualify in these years World Championships in two classes, but now... I can't believe, it is now in August and not in November like usual. I would have loved to be there and then the marching in of the nations with me in the US Team and my little guy on my arm. . I guess, it wasn't meant to be this year. But I bet, that's what's going on in my brain right now and that's why it isn't working. My first division runs Tuesday around 8:45 and my second on Wednesday around noon. I bet you guys, one of these times will be exactly, when I'm going (or in between), cause that's when the mental stress is released. Yeah, yeah, I know, you say 'you have a new joy in live' yaddidi and yaddida. But you guys don't understand. This is something in my life, that isn't replaceable. It wasn't replaceable, when I married (and everybody told me it would be, it never was) and it won't be now, that I'm having a baby. And I don't want it to be replaceable. It just will have to live side by side of each other... Everybody needs a dream and a goal in life, when you loose that, you will die. And this is my dream. I want to make it on top of the podestal one day, with or without my family, even if that sounds egoistic. I just want to...

I am afraid of the same thing. Yes, people say, you know, it's for real. I know at least 6 women (from Dr. Sears books or personally or through family and friends) that gave painless births. And they didn't know either. What if.... one of us is one of those women??? I mean, yes, the chances are little, but that doesn't mean, it won't happen. It happened before!! And just the fact, that they teach that everywhere in the Bradley courses probably means, that it happens more often than you think. Why else would they teach it, if it is so insignificant, that it almost never happens? Makes no sense. In Bradley course they told us, if it should happen (like in the car on the way to the hospital), put the naked baby on moms naked chest and put some steril newspapers and then a blanket on top of it all. Always keep some towels in the car around your due date, too. The moms body temperature will keep baby warm and the newspaper will keep it steril.... a completely new newspaper, that has never been opened before will be steril and without germs.

Steph, if you have a labour that is painless, and you don't realize it, then the baby is just born. It really doesn't have to be a big panic. With a healthy pregnancy and birth, there is nothing medical that is really necessary. I wouldn't worry about "sterile" newspapers either. Baby will not get sick from familiar germs (that's one of the reasons home birth can be a safer choice...the germs are the same as baby has already been exposed to) keeping it warm against bare skin is important.

More realistically, though, you will have some pain, but it could be short lived. My SIL went into labour a month early for her first and didn't realize it (she thought it was just back pain), but it did get uncomfortable enough for her to go into hospital. Her baby was born within a couple of hours, perfectly healthy.

Michelle

My only stress has been the fear of not going into labor. I'm not sure how to let go of that one. Any ideas? Nothing I have done seems to be able to relieve that one. Though, I'm not preoccupied by it, it is still a fear. I even opted out of my exam this week because I didn't want the added stress of knowing that still nothing was going on down there. I decided it was better to not know.

I'm also afraid that I won't know when its for real. I mean, I'm having contractions daily now, sometimes regular and just minutes apart, painful... They've never amounted to anything though. I'm afraid I won't know when its time. I know, everyone says you'll know, you'll know, but what if I don't? And yes, I know that's a normal fear. It just feels like this is the first time I'm doing all of this. I don't remember being so nervous when I was pregnant with Tori.

Angie, you will go into labour, trust me. You'll also know when its real. The labour pain you're having now is likely prodromal, and may be more productive than you realize. Prodromal labour is not uncommon for a VBAC, especially since in a VBAC situation a woman often carries additional stress/baggage in trying to have a different birth from the last.

For me, I had prodromal labour for about two weeks, and part of it was my body trying to get baby into the correct position, and the other part was my mind wasn't letting labour progress to the real thing. My labour didn't really kick in until my family (mom, MIL, FIL and kids) were asked to leave the house for awhile. Labour started, then my youngest brother made a surprise visit with his girlfriend and labour stopped again. Sigh. We told him to go away and labour really did kick in that night.

Michelle

I think we might be waiting a little while here... Last time I never did go into labor and they said that because of that, this pregnancy is more like a first pregnancy than a second. I may very well go late with this one, though I'm obviously hoping I don't. We're getting central air though next week, so it would probably be more convenient if we didn't have her until that was all taken care of. We'll see. Hopefully though, I'll be texting you tomorrow.

I hope you don't go late either. I want to hear happy baby news from both you and Steph!

You will likely find that labour will be like a first birth. I didn't labour with my first, and had a long labour with my second. Because both of my first births were c/s, my third labour and birth was like that of a first time mother...typical 13 hours of active labour and 2.5 hours of pushing (though the pushing time flew by for me, because I was just so happy to finally be at that stage!)

Sending happy, healthy birthing thoughts to you and Steph...let's hope for easy labours to start soon!

Michelle

PS, Angie, do let go of the stress of getting air conditioning installed...let someone else take on that planning & worry. Otherwise, that stress will keep your labour from starting! BTDT...I had prodromal labour for two weeks until I released my stressors...only then did my labour finally kick into gear.

By walk around I meant not being in the hospital... Not literally walking around... Oops...

Glad you clarified. I thought that policy sounded a bit oppressive.

BTW, a woman can go quite a long time with broken water before labour. The body continually produces fluid. As long as no bacteria is introduced to the amniotic sac (ie no vaginal checks!) it can be safely done. In practice it doesn't happen though..."they" won't "let" you go more than 24 hours...and can't seem to keep their hands out of there (unless you tell them "no"...I had no vaginal checks during my pregnancy with my daughter until full-on labour.) I have heard of a couple of women go a week or two with ruptured membranes and go on to a healthy, natural labour and birth. In some instances, the amniotic sac can seal up again too (when it's a slow leak.)

Michelle