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It worked for me!

― luna (luna), Wednesday, 14 February 2007 18:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Happy birthday Ava! May your third year make you even more adorable :)

Good luck Meg! If all the sex doesn't tire you out, try walking up and down stairs a lot.

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 14 February 2007 18:58 (seventeen years ago) link

So... Ben had another set of spells, starting on Monday morning. He was diagnosed with having actual seizures after an EEG picked up a very mild seizure. It is unclear what is causing the seizures. They are of the staring variety. He does not shake, or clench, or do anything other than sort-of stare blankly for a few seconds. These seizures do not hurt him or damage his brain. Usually, seizures are caused by some sort of trauma or scarring of the brain, which probably occurred in-utero. He had a sonogram yesterday (with babies, they can look through the soft spot!), and they didn't find anything macroscopic. He is going to go back in for an MRI at some point to get a much closer look at his brain. For now, and probably for at least a year, he is going to be on anti-seizure meds (because if he were to have a longer seizure, it COULD damage his brain, since he could lose some oxygen). He has been put on Keppra, which is a newish drug (at least in terms of its use for kids) that tends to have less drowsiness than some of the others, although it can make babies a bit more irritable. We'll see, I guess. If it doesn't work, there are some other options. Ben hopefully comes home tonight or tomorrow, barring any other unforeseen circumstances.

― schwantz (schwantz), Wednesday, 14 February 2007 21:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Poor little Ben. And poor you, how stressful. Is he home yet?

Hope he does well on the meds, and good luck with it all.

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 15 February 2007 13:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh David! What you must be going through. :-(((( How is your wife holding up? I saw the pictures and he looks so beautiful but oh so fragile. I really hope the medication helps and they can find out what causes it. You're in my thoughts. :-(

Doesn't look like I will get my Valentine's baby after all, as he/she shows no sign of turning up today. So from tomorrow I am officially overdue and up for following any advice on how to get things moving, unless they involve castor oil.

FIrstborns are usually late. :-) Good luck with the delivery!!!

― nathalie (stevienixed), Thursday, 15 February 2007 13:34 (seventeen years ago) link

My friend's baby was due last Friday, no doubt she's climbing the walls by now. (Don't feel like advising her to make with the sex tho, as her partner is my boss. Ew.)

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 15 February 2007 13:36 (seventeen years ago) link

I think Ophelia was about five days late. I was crawling around on all fours the last couple of weeks. I could not walk properly, but like a penguin, which amused my husband to no end and infuriated me. hah !

― nathalie (stevienixed), Thursday, 15 February 2007 13:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Funnily enough I can walk a bit easier now the head's fully engaged - seems to have taken some of the weight off my back.

Sadly, as we live in a ground floor flat there's no easy access to stairs for walking up and down. As for teh sex, we'll see tonight ;)

― Meg Busset (Meg Busset), Thursday, 15 February 2007 14:07 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh, David—hugs to you and you family!

― Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Thursday, 15 February 2007 18:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Ben's back home, as of last night! He seems do be doing well, although the thought of putting a three-month-old baby on brain drugs bums us out a bit. Anyone know of any alternative therapies for Partial Focal Seizures?

Here are a couple of pics from the hospital, when Ben got hooked up to an EEG.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/390810874_a59d9374ee.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/139/390811113_ab483b81e0.jpg

― schwantz (schwantz), Thursday, 15 February 2007 22:07 (seventeen years ago) link

Wow - poor little Ben. All those wires! Hopefully he won't need the meds for long.

Meg, I never had any luck inducing with sex or anything else I tried. (Possibly because sex is so hilarious at that point, though). I do remember thinking, BRING ON THE PAIN I CAN TAKE IT. It is so uncomfortable at the end.

― Sara Robinson-Coolidge (Sara R-C), Thursday, 15 February 2007 22:12 (seventeen years ago) link

Um, that second picture might not be one your wife wants out on teh open internets.

But yes, poor wee Ben.

― luna (luna), Thursday, 15 February 2007 22:31 (seventeen years ago) link

good point.

― schwantz (schwantz), Thursday, 15 February 2007 22:59 (seventeen years ago) link

Did they miss each other while Ben was in the hospital? (Twins fascinate me.)

― luna (luna), Thursday, 15 February 2007 23:03 (seventeen years ago) link

It's hard to tell. The first time, when we brought Ben home, they had a little "conversation," where they would each take turns talking and listening to each other. They are still a little young to really understand the presence of each other, but they do cute things like hold hands when they breastfeed together.

― schwantz (schwantz), Thursday, 15 February 2007 23:06 (seventeen years ago) link

Awwwwww.

― luna (luna), Friday, 16 February 2007 00:09 (seventeen years ago) link

What Luna said.

― Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Friday, 16 February 2007 00:44 (seventeen years ago) link

omg awww.

― teeny (teeny), Friday, 16 February 2007 01:26 (seventeen years ago) link

I think I am feeling mine move! Lots of squirming movements and the odd kick - mostly when I have eaten too much and there is no space left for the baby!

Archel, you had SPD didn't you? I have pain in one side of my groin when I walk so I am wondering if that is the same thing. Is there anything you can do about it?

― Liz (liz), Friday, 16 February 2007 11:30 (seventeen years ago) link

omg david that's so cute!

― nathalie (stevienixed), Friday, 16 February 2007 11:34 (seventeen years ago) link

David, big hugs for everything that you and your family are going through, I hope things settle down soon and normality returns.

Liz, when are you due again? I forget and it's on old ILE. I keep hoping to feel something (16 weeks and 2 days) but it's still early days yet I guess, and the placenta's at the front which could mask it until later :0(

― vicky (Vicky), Friday, 16 February 2007 11:43 (seventeen years ago) link

I felt first movements around 16 weeks, it's such a great feeling :)

Liz, there's not a huge amount you can do about the SPD I don't think - I was told to keep my legs together as much as possible (!) ie bring both feet together on each step when you go up stairs, get out of bed by swinging both legs to the side etc. Also, sleep on your side with a pillow in between your knees. I had a lovely V shaped pillow which was a livesaver (and is still handy now for support when feeding).

― Archel (Archel), Friday, 16 February 2007 11:59 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm 18 weeks and thought I wouldn't feel anything for a couple more weeks but it must be an energetic baby.

Thanks, Archel. It isn't a definite diagnosis but I'll talk to the midwife next week & try the pillow thing anyway.

― Liz (liz), Friday, 16 February 2007 12:43 (seventeen years ago) link

xpost to Vicki: I've got an anterior placenta too and although I had a few very faint flutterings from around 15 weeks, I didn't feel an actual definite kick til 20 weeks. And even since then, I don't seem to have felt as much movement as other preggos I know. Hopefully it's a sign of a laidback baby - could explain why he/she is in no hurry to come out!

― Meg Busset (Meg Busset), Friday, 16 February 2007 13:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Sigh... five days overdue and still no baby. Have tried curry, sex, walks... but not so much as a twinge yet! I'm booked in for a membrane sweep by the midwife tomorrow, anyone had the joy of one of these?

― Meg Busset (Meg Busset), Monday, 19 February 2007 10:29 (seventeen years ago) link

On the main forum I use there's a useful FAQ on membrane sweeps here http://forums.ovusoft.com/tm.asp?m=6541601&p=1&tmode=6 and a list of other useful threads to read here http://forums.ovusoft.com/tt.asp?appid=36&tmode=6 which should keep you busy if things don't start happening soon. Hope you're not feeling too uncomfortable and things kick off soon...

― vicky (Vicky), Monday, 19 February 2007 12:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Vicki, Rufus was 2 weeks "late" -- it's very normal.

― Maria :D (Maria :D), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 12:22 (seventeen years ago) link

Well, midwife wasn't even able to do a membrane sweep this morning 'cause my cervix is still well and truly closed. So now I'm booked in for induction next Monday (which will be 12 days over my due date). I'm kind of glad to have a final deadline for giving birth but sincerely hope I will go into labour naturally before then.

― Meg Busset (Meg Busset), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 12:24 (seventeen years ago) link

I mean Meg (not Vickiy). Just having my first cup of coffee.

― Maria :D (Maria :D), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 12:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, our Sarah was two weeks late too, according to the doctor, but right on time according to when we figured she must have been conceived.

― Bellicose Veins (Rock Hardy), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 13:30 (seventeen years ago) link

I was THREE weeks late! They finally did the caesarian. I think this was mainly due to the fact my mom was sick (toxoplasmosis) and her health was a risk? I don't know, I was there but unaware. ;-)

― nathalie (stevienixed), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 13:54 (seventeen years ago) link

Three weeks is way too long. Usually +2 weeks is the upper limit because the placenta will stop functioning properly so the baby doesn't get enough nutrition or oxygen.

― Captain Purple Items (nu_onimo), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 13:59 (seventeen years ago) link

Sorry, that should have read that there is an increased risk of that - I made it sound like a certainty.

― Captain Purple Items (nu_onimo), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 14:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, look at me. Not enough oxygen and you get me. hah. Food I had plenty of: I was 4,50 kilos. heh.

The OBGYN was a professor, I don't think he put my mum at risk though.

― nathalie (stevienixed), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 14:01 (seventeen years ago) link

How do you work out the due date from conception? We're pretty sure what date we conceived, would be interesting to see if it corresponds to the date from my last period.

― Meg Busset (Meg Busset), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 14:14 (seventeen years ago) link

There's due calculators online, Meg!

― nathalie (stevienixed), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 14:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Ah yes - managed to find one that calculated it from conception, not LMP. And it says I was due on 11 Feb, so if that date's right then I'm even later than I thought!

― Meg Busset (Meg Busset), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 14:35 (seventeen years ago) link

Well, they calculate from the first day of your last period which is not that trustworthy (if you want to be exact) as your ovulation is not *exact*. Sorry, headache, not talking properly. Now with me I can't even remember my last period! I'm crap at dates. :-(

― nathalie (stevienixed), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 14:40 (seventeen years ago) link

I lied to the doctor and the midwife, otherwise they'd have put my due date two weeks early (I was charting so know within a day or two when conception was) although early ultrasounds are meant to be pretty darn accurate for dating purposes.

― vicky (Vicky), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 14:45 (seventeen years ago) link

How Not to Talk to Your Kids
The Inverse Power of Praise.

http://nymag.com/news/features/27840/index.html

― caek (caek), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 14:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Wow. I just emailed that link to my wife. I wish I could get it to my bro-in-law without seeming too critical of him.

― Bellicose Veins (Rock Hardy), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 16:01 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, it's a bit Freakonomics, but it is at least intriguing. Happily for me, I don't have any kids to praise, but I saw it and thought of this thread (although it's _not_ directed at any of you!)

On a lighter note, here is my baby brother (25 years my junior). He's just about to crawl, by the looks of things.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/175/396562899_4042640fe5.jpg

― caek (caek), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 16:14 (seventeen years ago) link

WE PRAISE YOUR EFFORT, young Caekling!

― Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 16:18 (seventeen years ago) link

Personally, I praise caek senior's effort! 59 this May, and a wife of 32. RAWR.

― caek (caek), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 16:22 (seventeen years ago) link

that is one cute kid!

― nathalie (stevienixed), Tuesday, 20 February 2007 21:17 (seventeen years ago) link

So tell me everything about having two kids. I need positive experiences here!

― nathalie (stevienixed), Wednesday, 21 February 2007 09:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Ooh so is the bun officially in the oven or are you still just thinking about it?

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 21 February 2007 10:11 (seventeen years ago) link

Well, the rule is to wait three months, right? Maybe on some planet there's a three week rule? If so, then I can officially say I'm PREGGERS. We decided in January and now, yes, I'm already pregnant. Fingers Xrossed that it's going be as easy as with Ophelia. It was quite a surprise but we're both - Ophelia doesn't realize it yet (hah!) - very happy. :-D

― nathalie (stevienixed), Wednesday, 21 February 2007 12:52 (seventeen years ago) link

Congratulations!!!!! Aw a little brother or sister for Ophelia, she will love it I'm sure!

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 21 February 2007 13:01 (seventeen years ago) link

She better! We're doing this for her. ;-) But yeah hopefully all goes well. :-)

How are YOU doing? Is she sleeping through the night yet? I think that is one of the most important things that make it much easier for the parents: a good night sleep. :-) Shit, at the end of the year I'll have to give this up. Oh dear! :-)

What I am thinking about is taking the baby to a daycare (?) a couple of days a week. Most of my friends keep saying I should keep the baby (like I did with Ophelia) but I know how hard that wat (running a shop while taking of the baby). I don't think I'll cope with two kids... I feel guilty saying it but I do have to stick with the plan. I feel a bit like a bad mommy though.

― nathalie (stevienixed), Wednesday, 21 February 2007 13:04 (seventeen years ago) link

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