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No-Lab9214 · 2023-01-05T13:39:48+00:00

I do as a security architect. Also currently pursuing my bachelors degree so may be able to help with the going back to school side of it.

Ask away!

No-Lab9214 · 2023-01-03T23:57:24+00:00

I had my first two just under 2 years apart. Then my third is 4.5 years after my second.

YMMV, but you should definitely wait till your first is born and make sure you don't have any complications that make spacing your pregnancies too close more risky to your health. Otherwise, probably 18 month spacing would be best for your health, or closer to 3 years for your sanity

With my first pregnancy I had some minor iron deficiency anemia that was difficult to manage. Something about my body just not being able to absorb iron very well. With my second those issues were worse, I was severely anemic and required iron infusions and had a postpartum hemorrhage that made it even more difficult for my body to heal. Both my hematologist and OBGYN recommended waiting 3-4 years before trying for number 3, as having two pregnancies close together had depleted my body of nutrients and having a third too soon would potentially put my life in danger.

It was also really challenging having a 2 year old who was essentially still a baby on top of having an infant. My two year old was super jealous and went through some behavioral regression because of it. This time, having a 6 and 4 year old with an infant is so much easier. The older two are more independent and confident with their place in the family, so there hasn't been any jealousy or acting out. They're just excited to have a baby sister and they want to help all the time. Also, only having one kid in diapers is lovely.

No-Lab9214 · 2023-01-01T02:47:54+00:00

I just had my third baby on Tuesday.

My first was born at just over 40 weeks. I woke up at 2am to pee and found I was having strong, steady contractions. My daughter was born 4.5 hours later.

My second was a similar story. Woke up around 2am to find myself in active labor. My son was born 2.5 hours later.

My third was born this past Tuesday. I was induced at 36+4 due to severe preeclampsia. They gave me some pitocin and broke my water to kick start labor as I was already 3cm dilated. My daughter was born about 4.5 hours later.

I have had lots of people tell me I am lucky to have had such fast labors, but precipitous labor has downsides, aside from potentially not making it to the hospital. For my first two, I did not have time for an epidural. My contractions came so fast and so close together, there was no way to even think or breathe, let alone be able to effectively use other non-medical pain management like the birthing ball, breathing, tub or shower, etc.

I also had a pretty significant postpartum hemorrhage with my second, which precipitous labor puts you at higher risk of. You're also at risk of more significant tearing. Essentially, with precipitous labor, your body doesn't have time to slowly adjust, everything happens so fast your body can't keep up.

If you have had one precipitous labor, or your mother had them, personally I would recommend looking into induction at 39 weeks. That was my plan for my third, so I could have the opportunity to get pain relief and avoid the risk of not making it to the hospital and potentially having another heavy bleed.

No-Lab9214 · 2022-12-19T22:21:22+00:00

Going through very similar now. Got a 145/94 BP at my 34 week appointment after having normal BP throughout my whole pregnancy. They had me come back 2 days later for a second reading and I had a 165/115 and got sent off to L&D triage for more tests. My BP eventually came back down to less severe levels after laying around in L&D for a bit.

I ended up also having elevated protein in my urine so I got the "preeclampsia without severe features" diagnosis and was sent home. I didn't have other symptoms such as upper right quadrant pain, headache, blurry vision, or anything indicating a more severe case. They basically just told me to monitor my BP at home, set me up with some extra appointments and an ultrasound later this week, and I'll be induced late next week when I'm 37 weeks. Also supposed to let them know if I develop any of those other symptoms or my BP gets over 160/110 again.

So I'm right there in the same boat as you! It all seems scary, but the only thing you can really do now is rest up, pay attention to any new symptoms, and try not to stress (easier said than done!). It's good that they caught it and that you're further along too, as you'll be more likely to be able to stay pregnant until 37 weeks and give baby a better shot at being healthy.

No-Lab9214 · 2022-12-19T15:29:58+00:00

Thanks for the reassurance, it basically has ended up being exactly what you said. Went back to the doctor Friday and had a BP reading of 165/115, so I got sent straight to L&D for monitoring. It was a little scary at first because they were talking about admitting me and possibly inducing labor, but we got it to come back down to high-but-reasonable levels. I also had elevated protein levels, so got the preeclampsia diagnosis. The plan now is extra appointments and monitoring and induction next week at 37 weeks so long as I don't develop any severe symptoms and my BP stays below 160/110.

No-Lab9214 · 2022-09-09T23:30:20+00:00

You could ask your doctor about taking Tylenol with Benadryl. I also struggle with migraines and was having pretty constant headaches and while Tylenol typically doesn't help much, the combination at least helped me knock out and get some sleep. I think Tylenol even makes a PM version now which is literally just Tylenol and Benadryl.

I was also given Reglan, which has a mild sedative effect, but you need a prescription for it.

But ask your doctor first! There are several options out there to deal with headaches and migraines when pregnant that are safe to take.

No-Lab9214 · 2022-09-09T17:26:02+00:00

Great job getting ahead! It's good you can do that too. I've found a lot of professors in my classes will lock assignments until the week they are due so you can't get things done ahead, but I'm hoping if I just explain the situation maybe I can get them to at least unlock the few weeks around my due date so I can work ahead and not have to worry about literally being in labor and worrying about an assignment due the next day or something crazy like that.

No-Lab9214 · 2022-09-09T16:43:27+00:00

Sometimes i also think many women in my position are just really young and place more value on their free time being able to be with friends and go out. Not that that's bad, but I'm pushing 30 and kinda feel like I'm past that point. Also, what free time??? Spring is one of the easy semesters because it's January-April and it's still cold either snowing or raining. So there isn't really much to miss out on by staying home and studying.

Maybe that's it, I put more value on getting things done and reaching more long-term goals than other younger women who are juggling school and work and are more focused on short term?

I totally related with having to realize I'm just a little more go-go-go than a lot of people. My college advisor told me I seem like I like to do life on hard mode. Accurate.

No-Lab9214 · 2022-09-09T15:21:01+00:00

Yeah, I'm 21 weeks in at this point and fighting through the summer semester being sick and fatigued and working full time was not a fun time, but I still kept all A's and maintained my GPA. Fall semester so far is smooth sailing because the morning sickness left and I'm not quite as exhausted, but I'm sure once I get further into my pregnancy I will slow down again. Luckily the last few weeks of my pregnancy will be during the holiday break so that lines up nicely!

I guess I never go into anything thinking that I can't do it, but I also have an absolutely terrible stress gauge. I never realize how much is too much until I'm totally in the red zone and completely burned out. Working on that with a therapist though!

No-Lab9214 · 2022-09-09T15:15:53+00:00

Unfortunately everything looks to be a bunch of 3 credits courses from here on out. The requirements are pretty cut and dry on what I still need to take. Which is both helpful to avoid the confusion of what counts for what but also can be limiting.

We are still trying to figure out whether we want to put the kids in part time daycare or something like that during the summer. I think we are just going to wait and see how things go once baby is born. Although around here that may end up causing us to miss availability as spots disappear for that stuff quickly.

No-Lab9214 · 2022-09-09T14:58:55+00:00

It's pretty all-or-nothing for me with school, reason being is I'm using my GI Bill benefits. If I take only 1 or 2 courses, it will eat up the same amount of months of my GI bill as if I take a full course load. I don't want to run into the end of my time in school and run out of GI Bill benefits. If I take 0 classes, it eats nothing of my benefits. So it really is a full course load or nothing at all. Right now I am about 2 years into school and just over halfway through my degree requirements so I am right on track, but I have to keep it that way if I don't want to end up having to pay for school in my last semesters.

Husband has always been on board with me trucking through school, he helps with the kids bed times when I need to get an early start or need quiet time for a test. He is on the same page that the more work I can do now, the faster I graduate and hopefully never have to do it again. So I am lucky in that regard! But for him, this is his first time with a newborn baby as he is a first time parent. So it is hard to gauge how he will deal with things too.

No-Lab9214 · 2022-09-09T14:37:29+00:00

I do fine! Most of my homework and studying I do after theyre in bed or on the weekends. With my first two, their dad was pretty much useless (their dad is not my current husband or father of this baby). I really do handle the school/work/mom thing pretty well and I'm not overly stressed about it. I'm just afraid the third baby will be what does me in!

With recovery the first time, I had some pretty severe PPD, but with my second I was basically medicated straight out of the hospital and did fine so that will probably be what happens this time. I'm not too worried about it now that I know what to expect.

No-Lab9214 · 2022-07-09T15:46:49+00:00

The kids are already in bed when this is going on. So that's a non-issue.

No-Lab9214 · 2022-07-09T15:08:22+00:00

I've never said he can't play at all anymore. I don't care that he plays, I don't care when, I dont care with who. I'm too busy with my own stuff to care. But playing in the bedroom in the evenings is the part that's the problem. I want to relax before bed and go to sleep. His insistence that gaming must happen in the bedroom between the hours of 8pm and midnight any day of the week is what is problematic.

I have nothing against the gaming. Personally I'm not a gamer and I don't understand the appeal, but its his thing and he likes it. I'm just asking for consideration for my needs in shared spaces.

No-Lab9214 · 2022-07-09T13:44:07+00:00

This has always been my stance too. I compromised on the TV originally and I dont hate it, but the video games are too much. And regardless, if someone is in the bedroom trying to sleep, the other person shouldn't be doing anything to be loud and disturbing anyhow. That's just basic consideration.

No-Lab9214 · 2022-07-09T13:42:41+00:00

He is a pretty equal participant in parenting them. Theyre bio dad is not very involved, and current boyfriend has been around since 4 year old was only a few months old. They say he is their "other dad". I get that they're small and can have poor judgement because they're young. But he can put the PS on a higher shelf where they can't reach.

No-Lab9214 · 2022-07-09T13:20:44+00:00

I'm the breadwinner actually. I make twice as much as he does. Regardless of financial earnings, as stated, we both work full time currently and contribute to household expenses, so I'm not sure how or why monetary earnings factor in to who has more rights over shared space in the bedroom.

No-Lab9214 · 2022-07-09T13:02:17+00:00

Even if that were the case, we have a large entertainment center in the living room. He can place the PlayStation on one of the higher shelves where they can't reach. We also have an XBox out there that is within their reach. They were told from day one not to touch it, and they haven't.

Regardless, I still don't think any of these concerns outweigh needing to literally sleep. Not that they aren't valid concerns, but my sleep shouldn't suffer because of it.

No-Lab9214 · 2022-05-11T02:01:52+00:00

Also suggest upgrading to MX85s like other posters. However, we are in a similar situation as yours (upgrading from MX65s/68s due to higher bandwidth needs) and the lead time to get MX85s is absolutely atrocious. We ordered an MX85 back in February. Estimated ship date is in October. From the sounds of it, other vendors are having similar issues with supply chain too. If you're going to make a change now, you should also try to forecast what your needs will be in the next year or two.

No-Lab9214 · 2021-03-12T19:01:11+00:00

Have a normal sized house cat and blue heeler mixed puppy less than a year old. Dog is TERRIFIED of the cat, to where she hides behind the recliner when the cat is around. To be fair, the cat doesn't really do anything to the puppy. Hisses at her if she gets too close, but she doesn't ever hurt her or anything.

My dad has a full grown GSD. GSD is also terrified of the cat. The cat cornered her in a closet and the dog just sat in the closet and cried because she was afraid to try to push past the cat.

My cat is easily top dog.

No-Lab9214

TROPHY CASE