Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



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Subject Topic: Due in 2 weeks and struggling Post ReplyPost New Topic
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*Lindsey*
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Posted: July 16 2010 at 7:34am | IP Logged Quote *Lindsey*

I could really use some prayers and advice.

I'm 2 weeks away from my "due date" and am struggling. 5 kids to care for, plus the heat/humidity, plus aching hips (been to the chiropractor and that helped some) and not being able to sleep comfortably are really starting to get to me.

I've never gone past my due date before and really, really hope this baby doesn't change the pattern of things. DS and the twins were 10 days early, DD1 was on her due date, and Lizzie was 2 days early. I keep finding myself thinking too hard about when labor will start. I am also worrying about the pushing phase because I dread it. Thankfully, I've never had any trouble, but I really dislike that part of childbirth and have trouble getting down to business and just doing it.

I'm trying to keep things in prespective and remember how blessed I am and how many women don't get this opportunity.

Please pray for me and give me any tips you might have on getting through this trying time.

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SuzanneG
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Posted: July 16 2010 at 9:38am | IP Logged Quote SuzanneG

Oh Lindsay------ ....I"m praying for you. I just hate those last couple of weeks....they are so daunting in so many ways. The aching, painful hips brings tears to my eyes every time....just THINKING about it right now is making me tear up.

Everything will be FINE and you'll do GREAT! Trust in God's mercy and remember that you're leading your family to heaven in so many ways right now, even though it doesn't feel like it!

Don't forget to confide in your husband and have a good cry every once in awhile.

Praying for you!!!!!!! And, cheering you on from afar! We'll be so joyful when you're little bundle arrives!

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JodieLyn
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Posted: July 16 2010 at 9:48am | IP Logged Quote JodieLyn

I do my flat out best to not think about labor until it's started.. then it's much easier to think about the fact that to get it to stop you have to get through it.

So yeah, anytime I might catch myself thinking about labor I really try and stop thinking.

Are you using pillows at night? if you can get your legs set right with the pillows they'll stress your hips less while sleeping.

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SuzanneG
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Posted: July 16 2010 at 11:06am | IP Logged Quote SuzanneG

JodieLyn wrote:
I do my flat out best to not think about labor until it's started.


Me too. I pray for the grace to totally GUARD MY THOUGHTS on this. I stop and make a complete effort to redirect my brain and get busy doing something else.

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Donna Marie
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Posted: July 16 2010 at 1:27pm | IP Logged Quote Donna Marie

{{{{Lindsey}}}}

I have total compassion for you...I am 3.5 weeks away from my due date. Last night was a real killer for me before bed. I had to really distract myself from my thoughts and symptoms.

I find that I tend to over-focus on everything, especially towards the end. So, I use that in my head-speech to myself...Oh, this isn't really painful...it's just...ummm...(enter excuse here) and immediately think of something else, if possible. It may be weird, but it takes the edge off.

right now, I am wondering just how big this little lady is. I feel like I am being stretched on a rack from the inside...feet firmly planted on ribcage and SSSTTRRREEETTTCCCHHHH!...ouch! I think I know where my kidneys are now too....and the heartburn?? My midwife said there is no getting out of it because my stomach has been moved so many times it will get it just by thinking about it although I found the generic Walmart berry flavored tums are much more palatable than the name brand....

For the hips and legs I have been doing some simple stretches and trying to gently ease my stiff body into different squat positions...believe it or not one thing that has helped me with my stiff knees is praying in church at night. It helps stretch them and I get to talk to Jesus about it at the same time...I am fortunate to live within walking distance to church...but, even if I didn't, I would walk...no matter how slow...because I did walk a lot (even though I had NO time) during my last pregnancy and it really helped for labor!! Not to mention it helps considerably with circulation and mental-health.

I am trying hard not to think too closely about labor..I have a tendency to put all of my labors into one dream-sequence...not good. Last time I was in labor I was thinking...well, this gets me a heartburn-free meal, this contraction gets me a more comfortable time sleeping...LOL...and once the contraction is over...it is OVER! you don't have to have that contraction again!! LOL

I pray my little miss is on-time or slightly early. I have gone close to 42 weeks before...sigh..in this heat and humidity?? sigh! So dh told me that I SHOULD spend more time on the computer, parked in front of a fan, drinking my red rasberry iced tea (i brew it and make myself drink a qt mason jar of it a day with berries floating in it...mmm much better...) Besides that, I can get out of this hard chair faster than the couch and that comes in handy TRYING to catch up with my 21mo ds who it seems can run faster than me...and if I manage to catch up to him, drops down lower so I can't reach him?? He is smarter than I.

I am here if you need someone to complain to! Really!! and i PROMISE....you won't be pregnant with this pregnancy much longer. I have a tendency to think that it will just get harder and harder until I am at least 80...pregnancy hormones warp brain patterns...we must re-direct!! Try to laugh too...it helps. I have a dear friend that took a lap-top into labor with her...and read every stupid joke she could find on the internet with her dh. Her room sounded like a weird combination of moans and laughter. People were wondering...what is going on in there??? LOL She assures me that counter-acting hormones with humor...no matter how bad...confuses them and gives you the needed break to get through the moment.

{{{HUGS}}}}
I will keep you in my prayers! I have a lot I can offer up for you...!!

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*Lindsey*
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Posted: July 16 2010 at 2:37pm | IP Logged Quote *Lindsey*

Oh, Suzanne. Your post had me . Thank you so much for your kind words.

I'm at Jodie and going to try to take your advice and pray what Suzanne suggests. Are you suggesting a pillow between my knees? I need to scrounge one up and try that again, it helped when I was pregnant with the twins.

Donna Marie, you have 8 kiddos to care for and are almost as pregnant as I am. Now I feel like a wimp for complaining!! I have been having labor dreams too, about all my past births all jumbled up. And none of them have been horrible or else I'm not sure I'd keep on doing this.



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SuzanneG
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Posted: July 16 2010 at 2:56pm | IP Logged Quote SuzanneG

Lindsay~
You can use several pillows to help shift the weight from the different parts of your hips.

1 - Between your knees----and by the end of pregnancy the higher the pillow the, the more it's helpful. I fold a twin pillow in half, so my knee is high.

2 - a tummy pillow---will help to shift your weight and helps your tum feel better too.

3 - a pillow against your back, so that you can lean back to shift the weight too. Of course, there is always your husband too---but occasionally they DO need a break!

Some people use a body pillow too. I think I had one of those that someone let me borrow and it functions as the knee and the tummy pillows.

There is a thread here that talks about pregnancy pillows: Pregnancy Pillows - yea or nay. There is another one too, but I can't find it right now.

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Pilgrim
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Posted: July 17 2010 at 3:19pm | IP Logged Quote Pilgrim

I struggled so bad with those feelings during the last preg. with the twins. The encouragement of these dear friends here and prayer are what helped me through, and positive talk, too!

I always sleep with a pillow between my knees, even when not pregnant, and it really helps my legs and hips! During pregnancy I use pillows all over, figuring out as it progresses where to place them, it really helps me to sleep better.

For those with heart burn, I have found that Mylanta seems to be one of my biggest helps. The Mylanta name brand has aluminum now, but I found that the Family Dollar brand had one without it, if you have a Family Dollar near you. There are two flavors, the supreme cherry one is the one without aluminum, the other (mint I think) has it.

Lindsey , don't feel like a wimp, we all struggle with difficult times whether we have one child or ten. I'm just grateful that a fmaily is built in God's timing, one or two at a time, not all at once! Try not to compare yourself to others, because we each have crosses that the other does not, and your own trials are real, you have to allow yourself the emotions that come, don't be too hard on yourself. Try to take a moment when feeling overwhelmed and do something you find comforting or relaxing, like Donna Maries husband was telling her. I tend to be hard on myself, and my dear mother is usually is the one to tell me to take it easy on myself and take a moment for myself, or to enjoy the children. If you have help available don't be afraid to allow yourself to accept that help, it is the best for you, dh, and children.

Praying you through these last weeks, you will make it!

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*Lindsey*
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Posted: July 20 2010 at 7:01am | IP Logged Quote *Lindsey*

Thank you all!

I am feeling better about things today. I've been praying and working through my worry. I finally feel ready.

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Donna Marie
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Posted: July 20 2010 at 12:19pm | IP Logged Quote Donna Marie

I am glad you are feeling better! I am on pins and needles myself...you'd think I never did this before..LOL

God has a wonderful way of making things work out well. Keep praying and think of this time as a little retreat in your heart. I know I get very introspective before labor. I think it is a natural occurrence, from what I heard from other mamas. I get so much so, that I am listening to the kids and my mind drifts back to the baby and I start "uh-huh"ing a lot ...sorry kids! Mom is in another world...lol

Last time I was in labor, there were so many things going on, I thought it would make a good comedy..but who would believe it??   

I am going to bring my journal to the hospital with me this time so that I can write down the birth story while it is still fresh in my mind. My focus is always looking for God's miracles in things, because I know they are always there!!

Praying for you!!




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