I just talked to my HR about my maternity leave.
So, I will be able to take up to 3 months maternity leave - completely unpaid of course (its all right, I am in California, which will pay me a fraction of my pay via SDI)
I will go on my maternity leave 5 days before my due date.
Here is an interesting detail.
I was told that the company is not going to pay for my health insurance while I am on maternity. Have anyone dealt with that before? How does that work? Will they suspend it for 3 months and I will have to go on Cobra, or am I just going to reimburse the company for the amount?
I'm pretty concerned about that, because one thing I certainly don't want to happen is be without insurance for any period of time...

So, I am 13w4d right now, and I was wondering if it was too early to be asking my OB/GYN about their labor and delivery procedures (ie: how common is induction, how common are c-sections, etc.). The only reason I would be asking this early is because my "personal" OB/GYN wants me to talk to the other doctors in the practice, in case he's not there when I go into labor. I visit the OB/GYN office every 4 weeks, and my next appointment is on Tuesday. I will see the 3rd doc that day (the only one I haven't met with), and then I'll start over again with "my" doc. Therefore, if I hold off on asking them, I won't know the opinion of MY doc until January 11, the second doc on February 8, and the 3rd doc on March 8. Does this seem too early to start asking, or should I hold off? I'm just one of those people who likes to prepare in advance, and I don't want to find out at the last minute that if I don't give birth exactly on my EDD, they'll be inducing me the next day or something dramatic like that. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

13w4d

Hi people!

Do you know if there public shooting range in New Jersey (or in PA but close to NJ ) where I can shoot rifle 100-200 yards?

Thanks!

doorwindowwall
A stunning collection of images sure to delight anyone with a penchant for architectural elements, this talented community, largely from New York, is hoping to attract new members from around the world. Featuring an eclectic variety of photos depicting doors, windows, and walls, there's an interesting balance of interior and exterior shots, many from urban streets, some from ramshackle rural farmhouses. Wonderful!

Yours truly finally played w/ her 12 gage, pump action, single barrel shotgun over Thanksgiving (goes well w/ Turkey and football ;-) and needs to clean it. I have an 'everything' cleaning kit but wonder if there are forums I should be looking in to particularly work on the trigger and other areas. It was a used purchase, I ran target through it and then a few REAL home self-defense shots - WHOA MOMMA what a power difference! So, anybody have any links/forums they care to share for gun care?

Second, the gun shop down the street is actually well stocked w/ smaller used firearms. one in particular that caught my eye (and would fit well in purse, padded bra depending on what i'm wearing) is the Galesi 25 ACP which was made in Italy from the 1930-50's. It is good looking (including faux ivory handle) but not too damn small that it wouldn't hurt a fly unless i'm right up against someone who is trying to harm me still being able to pull the trigger. Does anybody have any experience with this gun, thoughts etc.? It's also in my price range under $200. But then again like I 'need' another gun... I understand how a collection builds, tattoo afficionados don't have just 'one' tattoo and other trite comparisons.

Thoughts appreciated, particularly from ladies on the 2nd one for ease of carry from purse to on-person.

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local&id=7163491

"A .9 mm weapon was recovered at the scene, police said."

Sigh.

Well, I am 35 and a half weeks and until now there has been no sign that this could be a twin pregnancy, but this morning I felt two sets of hiccups in there... like *hic**hic*.......*hic**hic*..... sort of in two different places too, but close together. I guess one possibility is that he was hiccupping and then immediately kicking me, but his kicks are usually way more forceful than a hiccup.
So, what do you guys think? I haven't had an Ultrasound since I found out the sex, but surely, they can tell at that point if there are two in there. Do any of you know of suprise twins? does that happen these days?
I would actually be thrilled to have twins, especially if they were boy/girl twins. It would mean buying a bigger vehicle though. It would be nice to know about this at least a few weeks ahead of time. I am pretty sure my ob will just shrug it off and not offer another U/S though. That is how they roll at my doc's office.

I am really wanting some help here, of course it is all I can think of now. At my last checkup the nurse said I am measuring exactly right for my dates... would that be true if there were twins? Also, if it were twins, how much does that effect the due date? I still have 4-5 weeks left at this point, but wouldn't they be earlier?

Thanks for any help you can give!

I'm home alone with a two year old (babysitting) and just wanted to be able to express this to someone who gets it haha

The past two days have been pretty painful. My back is absolutely killing me. I'm pretty used to the mild lower back cramps, but yesterday and today have been especially uncomfortable. Sitting on the couch and standing are both a chore.

The hip pains have been bad too. Right now I'm standing in the kitchen swaying from side to side trying to ease the pains but it hurts. I'm also getting a lot of lower belly cramping and lightning shots to my pelvis. It comes in waves. I get some comfort then lots of cramps and it feels like I need to go to the bathroom, but if I try its just some gas or nothing! So frustrating!

Generally just a lot of discomfort.

I'm also noticing an increase in discharge this week. It varies from sort of yellow to clear. And my BMs haven't been very normal, mostly once a day, and I get the gas pains very strong and need to go urgently.

Baby's movements are also kind of painful. She must be wrestling around with some nerves and my ribs because there is no good way to sit or lay down!

Sorry for all the info haha Just wanted to share my basic discomfort as I make tater tots haha

37w5d

http://tinyurl.com/cldcfz leads to Fiocchi's Extrema .45 ACP. This round uses a very low flash powder & a Hornaday XTP bullet. It shoots great from both my Para Warthog & Taurus 1911 LWT. I've done a wound channel dissection after shooting our Xmas dinner, a live hog (350#). This is as least as good Speer Gold Dot performance & better IMO than Remington's Golden Saber. 50 rounds for 30$ USD not to bad and buy 500 or so it gets cheaper . Haven't reloaded the cases but the to my eye look like Starline in QC.

So I got my first ultrasound at 10 weeks and it was amazing! I still can't stop looking at the picture and people at work said I'm starting to show a little already which I'm excited about actually. I am a high risk pregnancy so I have to have a lot of ultrasounds they said. Ill be having another one at 12 weeks and I'm wondering since I'm going to be having a lot more ultrasounds than a normal pregnancy will it be more likely well be able to find out the sex sooner than 20 weeks? I've heard its possible to find out the sex as early as 14 weeks. If you had a lot of ultrasounds did you find out the sex earlier because you didn't have to wait till they did a 20 week ultrasound? I'm soo anxious! Ill be 12 weeks at my next ultrasound but I think thatll definitely be too soon. I guess well see, but leave a comment if you have any answers to my question! Thanks!

I am back! And slightly colon cleansed :).

I took lots of advice from everyone on here, I didn't go to the hospital that night but went into my new OBs office to leave a message for the doctor. The partner doctor of the one I wanted to see me ended up taking my case because it was so last minute. She asked me to come in that same morning but I couldn't because we were working on signing the papers for our house, so she got me in the very next morning (yesterday).

That same day, I bought Metamucil. Nothing happened. I did get a tiny bit of a bowel movement, though it really just seemed like slightly discolored slime (sorry if that's TMI).

When I saw the doctor the next morning, I told her everything I'd already tried. She told me to take Ducolax suppositories for the next 3 days. 3 minutes after inserting my first one, I SERIOUSLY had to go. I know it says you have to hold it, but that was not an option. It was so painful to pass, it was all soft (I'm assuming because of the Colace and Metamucil) but burnt a lot and almost felt like menstural cramping cause even my breasts were hurting! Finally I felt like I was done, and geez it hurt to walk lol.

So! I am going to take another tonight since I haven't had a bowel movement today, hopefully it's not as miserable. I wanted to ask, though...

The doctor I saw was nice and everything, but she had quite an Asian accent so she spoke really fast and she didn't seem to comprehend things I was telling her. She also seemed very prescription happy, though she never tried convincing me when I declined. She was extremely helpful, gave me referrals for everything I asked for including a lactose-intolerant referral for WIC.

Still, I had my heart set on being assigned to the main doctor there. There are only 2 so I'm assuming that they have to be pretty similar in methods to work so closely, but I had just heard so many great things about the one doctor being so pro-natural and never offering meds and supporting any birthing method, etc.

I asked the receptionist if I'd ever be seeing the other doctor and she said no, that I was the partner's patient. I feel like I may like her more if I sat down and told her that I don't want any meds or any tests done and that I want to be able to labor freely, on my own, that I may feel a bit more comfortable. Still, it's weird to picture this woman being the one telling me when to push and such. She has the kind of demeanor, as extremely pleasant and nice as she is, that makes me feel like I'd scream to her to shut her mouth instead of trusting her the whole way.

I don't know... I guess I want to have some sort of an emotional attachment with my doctor, it's actually REALLY important to me.

Now, I don't know if I will feel better if I get a consoltation appointment set with her but, if I don't, would it be wrong to ask to be assigned to the other doctor if I can be? This one was great to me, I wouldn't want her to see me in the office and feel bad or something. Even then, I don't know how long I should give our relationship to see if it becomes one I feel good about.

What do you all think? I want to wait a bit but I know it's cutting it really close as I'm 27w 4d and my next appointment is in 3 weeks.

I had a DR app. yesterday. and I was not expecting this outcome. the EDD my OB/GYN gave me is 12/12. yesterday at my appointment she informed me that if I do not deliver before then, I will be induced. so, THIS BABY BETTER COME!!!!!!!!!!!! otherwise I am scheduled at the hospital on 12/15 at 5am for an induction.

had our baby girl on sunday the sixth (her due date!)
she weighs 7.5 lbs
21 inches long
checked into the hospital at around 230pm and had her at 525pm
18 minute passage through the birth canal
best baby ever

found out monday that she has "blue baby syndrome".
does anyone on this community have / or have had any heart surgeries done on their newborns? they were going to do the surgery today, but she is stable and now we are waiting til friday. scariest week of my entire life

29w5d

This is a bit of a stupid question, but where do you feel Braxton Hicks contractions? I was under the impression that it'd be toward my lower abdomen, even with my uterus growing. I was really sick yesterday randomly (vomiting bile, then going through a hungry > sour stomach > crampy stomach type rotation), and there was a point where I was just floored with a sharp, tightish pain close to the top of my protruding belly. Was it a contraction? Was it just a really bad stomach cramp? Do I feel that contraction all over my belly? My OB says it feels like a menstrual cramp, is that accurate?

I don't think I've had a BH yet, unless I'm confusing some them for some of my daughter's movements, or if they're painless and I'm just not noticing them.

I sent her an email telling her our relationship was over. As it where I will be creating a new livejournal so I can avoid her and all her friends who added me. So I'll be under twisted_nymph1231 from now on. Thanks for the advice everyone. My family will better from it.

Went to the doc today, and when she checked me, she found that I'm 1cm dialated. I've been having lots of slightly painful BH contractions last 2 days along with some 'leakage'. I've been really stessed last few days due to my husband leaving me and wanting a divorce. He's since changed his mind and wants to come back. Could the stress have caused this?

I'm 36 weeks.

My cesarean is scheduled for 22 days from today.

I have applied for Medicaid back in SEPTEMBER after realizing my maternity benefits with Aetna had run out.
I was denied because my employing company used whats called 'TheWorkNumber' to verify employment/income instead rather then allowing paperwork to be filled in at my employers office and didn't submit to Medicaid in time. I reapplied and while waiting another 45 days for my new application to be processed, I had to reapply because of a change in income status (my car broke and I had to quit my job)...so now I'm here waiting another 45 days for my application to be processed and I called to see if I could have this all expedited and after days of being cut off the phone by Medicaid because of "high call volumes" I finally made it onto HOLD (I've never been so happy to be on hold!!) where I sat for about 30 minutes before finding out TheWorkNumber hadn't been updated and still has me as an "active employee" so now I'm desperately hoping my application DOES NOT get processed until I have them resubmit corrected information saying I'm unemployed otherwise I will be DENIED again and wait another 45 days for a new applications approval.

I'm stressing out like crazy because of this.

Update: ok so after confirming with 'theworknumber's information is now correct and says I'm unemployed I must get Medicaid to request the documents again which takes 5 days to get the reply information. So now I'm crossing my fingers to NOT have my application reviewed for the next 5 days.

Looks like I'll be having my son this weekend.
At 30weeks I had high protein in my urine at my doctors appointment, but my blood pressure wasn't high so he was concerned this was the early stages of pre-e. He gave me an orange jug to pee in for 24 hours and then when I turned it in they drew blood. A day later when they got the results my protein/urine count was at 1300, abnormal is anything over 300. But, my blood pressure was still low/normal so he just started to monitor me weekly and sent me to a perinatal doctor for ultrasounds to check on him. I did another 24 hour urine catch and my proteins had dropped to 700, still very high but a lot better than 1300. Got an ultrasound done, baby looked great.
At the next weeks appointment I did another 24 hour urine catch and my proteins had dropped yet again to 300 so we all thought we were out of the woods. Then at the next appointment I only had trace proteins in my urine. Had another ultrasound and baby was still growing and looking great.
I handed in another 24 hour urine sample yesterday, today was my appointment(35 weeks), my blood pressure was 140/95 and the protein in my urine was over 2000, on Monday I started getting really swollen, the skin on my legs was stretched so tight that I bruised all over my legs. He also did a cervical check and I'm 1cm dilated and soft. I have a ultrasound scheduled at 9:40am on Friday to do a quick check on baby and he said bring your bag because from there I'm sending you to the hospital to be induced, it's no longer safe for you to stay pregnant with your blood pressure and proteins so high so looks like my son will be here a month early.

I'm going to wash his clothes tonight and I have his crib, a breast pump and I'm going to get the car seat tonight or tomorrow, but I have no idea what I need to bring to the hospital and I'm freaking out about everything I need for him, I thought I'd have another month at least to get everything ready but now he's almost here and I need some advice, so please anything you can tell me about inductions, pre-e, and what I need to bring to the hospital(for me and him) and what I need ASAP after he gets here. Please and thank-you.

Also posted to jan_2010.