random questions

[Kari]

I've been away for a little while, just busy with summer and kids being
home, swimming, etc. I hope all is well with everyone and congrats to all
the new mommies!!

So Im about 30-31 weeks now so I've got some "3rd trimester" questions for
all you mom experts out there..

Red raspberry leaf tea. How much? When? and does it really work? Need
details please :)

I know one side is better to sleep on but I can't remember which. Is it
right or left? I know there is some reasoning to it like better blood flow
or something but I can't remember which. I want to make sure and sleep on my
"right" side, no pun intended, lol.

What is the general consensus about perineal massage? Yes, no, maybe? I had
an episiotomy with my daughter and a 2nd degree tear with my son (along my
epi scar) I really really want to avoid a tear. Any hints, etc to what can
be done ahead of time to avoid it from happening again?

Ok that's about all for now. Thanks everyone :)

Kari
mom to Kaylie (7) Noah (4) and #3 due Sept/Oct-ish

[Ericka Kammerer]

Kari wrote:


> Red raspberry leaf tea. How much? When? and does it really work? Need
> details please :)


People seem to have all sorts of different views on this,
and I've never sat down and tried to sort it all out. My previous
midwives recommended a few cups a day in the third trimester, doesn't
matter what time of day. They claimed they'd never had anyone
with bad bleeding who used RRL tea. I don't really have any
evidence whether it really works, but I doubt it hurts to try,
at least in the 3rd trimester.


> I know one side is better to sleep on but I can't remember which. Is it
> right or left? I know there is some reasoning to it like better blood flow
> or something but I can't remember which. I want to make sure and sleep on my
> "right" side, no pun intended, lol.


They say the left side is better, but I hear that some are
suggesting it doesn't matter. Frankly, I never could sleep the
entire night on just one side, so I figure whatever allows you to
sleep is good enough! ;-)


> What is the general consensus about perineal massage? Yes, no, maybe? I had
> an episiotomy with my daughter and a 2nd degree tear with my son (along my
> epi scar) I really really want to avoid a tear. Any hints, etc to what can
> be done ahead of time to avoid it from happening again?


I think the jury is a bit out on this one too. Personally,
whether or not it helps in other situations, it might help to work
on the scar tissue a bit in case it helps make it more elastic.
Still, I think position and support during the birth may be at
least as important in protecting you against tearing.

Good luck,
Ericka

[Larry McMahan]

Ericka Kammerer > writes:
: Kari wrote:


:> Red raspberry leaf tea. How much? When? and does it really work? Need
:> details please :)


: People seem to have all sorts of different views on this,
: and I've never sat down and tried to sort it all out. My previous
: midwives recommended a few cups a day in the third trimester, doesn't
: matter what time of day. They claimed they'd never had anyone
: with bad bleeding who used RRL tea. I don't really have any
: evidence whether it really works, but I doubt it hurts to try,
: at least in the 3rd trimester.

A little personal experience here. Monika used it during the third
trimester. Supposedly it tones the uterus so contractions are more
effective. After using it, I still don't know. However, it does have
one effect that I can swear to. :-) That is to reduce the effect of
PIH during pregnancy. Monika has high blood pressusre the last months
or so (not associated with pre-eclmapsia). A couple cups of RRL would
bring her pressure down 10 points. Going a couple days with out it
would have the opposite effect. Not a conttrolled study, but enough
to convince us to continue use.


:> I know one side is better to sleep on but I can't remember which. Is it
:> right or left? I know there is some reasoning to it like better blood flow
:> or something but I can't remember which. I want to make sure and sleep on my
:> "right" side, no pun intended, lol.


: They say the left side is better, but I hear that some are
: suggesting it doesn't matter. Frankly, I never could sleep the
: entire night on just one side, so I figure whatever allows you to
: sleep is good enough! ;-)


:> What is the general consensus about perineal massage? Yes, no, maybe? I had
:> an episiotomy with my daughter and a 2nd degree tear with my son (along my
:> epi scar) I really really want to avoid a tear. Any hints, etc to what can
:> be done ahead of time to avoid it from happening again?


: I think the jury is a bit out on this one too. Personally,
: whether or not it helps in other situations, it might help to work
: on the scar tissue a bit in case it helps make it more elastic.
: Still, I think position and support during the birth may be at
: least as important in protecting you against tearing.

Actually, perineal massage DURING LABOR has be found to have little or no
beneficial effect. There ARE other things that Ericka lists that are more
effective. We get to the however part again... Perineal massage from
about weeks 34 to 40 performed regularly can both tone and relax the
muscles down there and well as break up adhesions in any scar tissue.
Some studies show associations that there might be a beneficial effect.
Not enough to "prove scientifically" but enough to convince us to do it.

: Good luck,
: Ericka

Me too,
Larry

[Laurie]

Kari wrote in message ...
>I've been away for a little while, just busy with summer and kids being
>home, swimming, etc. I hope all is well with everyone and congrats to all
>the new mommies!!
>
>So Im about 30-31 weeks now so I've got some "3rd trimester" questions for
>all you mom experts out there..
>
>Red raspberry leaf tea. How much? When? and does it really work? Need
>details please :)

Well, I went 6 days overdue with Christopher but had a very efficient labor.
:) 3 hours real labor, 6 hours first contraction til baby out. I only had
about 2 cups per day, but you can drink loads more. I would say that it
worked for me to make the uterus well toned!

>
>I know one side is better to sleep on but I can't remember which. Is it
>right or left? I know there is some reasoning to it like better blood flow
>or something but I can't remember which. I want to make sure and sleep on
my
>"right" side, no pun intended, lol.

Left side!

>
>What is the general consensus about perineal massage? Yes, no, maybe? I had
>an episiotomy with my daughter and a 2nd degree tear with my son (along my
>epi scar) I really really want to avoid a tear. Any hints, etc to what can
>be done ahead of time to avoid it from happening again?
>
>Ok that's about all for now. Thanks everyone :)

Never did perineal massage with either, had 3 tiny tears with Jess but they
weren't perineal. Had NO tears with Christopher but I did do lots of
squatting with him, which stretches the area out.

laurie
mommy to Jessica, 27 months
and Christopher, 14 weeks

*This email address is now valid*

>
>Kari
>mom to Kaylie (7) Noah (4) and #3 due Sept/Oct-ish
>
>
>
>
>

[Mom2B]

> >I know one side is better to sleep on but I can't remember which. Is it
> >right or left? I know there is some reasoning to it like better blood
flow
> >or something but I can't remember which. I want to make sure and sleep on
> my
> >"right" side, no pun intended, lol.
>
> Left side!
>

What difference does it make?

[Sue]

> > >I know one side is better to sleep on but I can't remember which. Is it
> > >right or left?

Mom2B > wrote in message
> What difference does it make?

Lying on the left side, gives the inferior vena cava good blood flow.
Otherwise, if you lay on your back it cuts off the supply and decreases
oxygen and blood flow. Although, if you can't lay on your side all the time,
switching sides is fine too.
--
Sue
mom to three girls

[Kari]

"Sue" > wrote in message
...
> > > >I know one side is better to sleep on but I can't remember which. Is
it
> > > >right or left?
>
> Mom2B > wrote in message
> > What difference does it make?
>
> Lying on the left side, gives the inferior vena cava good blood flow.
> Otherwise, if you lay on your back it cuts off the supply and decreases
> oxygen and blood flow. Although, if you can't lay on your side all the
time,
> switching sides is fine too.
> --
> Sue
> mom to three girls

Thanks for posting this. I could not remember why one side was better and Im
glad someone explained why. I cannot lay on my back without running out of
air, I feel like I have my 4 yr old on my chest.

Kari

[Em]

"Kari" > wrote in message

> Red raspberry leaf tea. How much? When? and does it really work? Need
> details please :)

My mom subscribed me to the Compleat Mother recently and they are *very*
into raspberry leaf tea. I decided to get some just to see & drank one mug
of it that evening. It was probably my imagination, but it really seemed
like I had a lot more Braxton-Hicks contractions than usual after drinking
it and because I was still only 31 weeks along at that point, I decided to
hold off drinking anymore for about 3 more weeks. I have read lots of
anecdotal stories that it works very well for "uterine toning" in
preparation for birth & I figured it liekly wouldn't hurt anything to try it
out myself :-)

> I know one side is better to sleep on but I can't remember which. Is it
> right or left? I know there is some reasoning to it like better blood flow
> or something but I can't remember which. I want to make sure and sleep on
my
> "right" side, no pun intended, lol.

Left is supposed to be best in terms of the blood flow thing & also for
fetal position for birth. I've read enough (and discussed it with my doctor)
that indicates that if you don't feel light-headed or uncomfortable on your
back, it is fine to sleep that way (the blood flow concern is actually based
upon what to avoid during *labor* not during pregnancy, though most
literature applies it to pregnancy as well, just in case). I have to switch
positions several times at night anyway, so I don't worry too much about
being in the "right" position. Though, if I do wake up during the night, I
make an effort to lay on my left side then.

--
Em
edd 9/23/03
(32 weeks today!)

[Em]

"Valerie Rake" > wrote in message
> Em wrote:

> >Left is supposed to be best in terms of the blood flow thing & also for
> >fetal position for birth. I've read enough (and discussed it with my
doctor)
> >that indicates that if you don't feel light-headed or uncomfortable on
your
> >back, it is fine to sleep that way (the blood flow concern is actually
based
> >upon what to avoid during *labor* not during pregnancy, though most
> >literature applies it to pregnancy as well, just in case). I have to
switch
> >positions several times at night anyway, so I don't worry too much about
> >being in the "right" position. Though, if I do wake up during the night,
I
> >make an effort to lay on my left side then.
> >
> I asked my OB about the back sleeping/lying and whether I would "know"
> if/when I should avoid that position. My question was asked in terms of
> harm to the baby rather than anything specific to me. She basically
> said I would feel uncomfortable and feel the need to move well before
> there was any problem for the baby. She also said I'd end up fainting
> if I persisted in laying that way (which I suspect would _not_ be good
> for the little one!). I've noticed that I can lay on my back on one
> couch for much longer than I can lay that way on the bed, and the other
> couch is just out of the question for anything but sitting. My guess it
> that it's a question of soft cushioning vs. springs pushing back....

My doctor gave me similar info--that I would *know* if it was bad for me or
the baby and move accordingly (she did say that it was fine for me to be on
my back, as long as I felt comfortable, but that I would likely stop feeling
comfortable in another few weeks--mostly due to pressure from the weight of
my belly). I don't sleep on my back all night or anything, but I do lay on
my back to read before going to sleep (before turning to the left side &
arranging my pillow-between-the-knees to actually sleep). Often if I wake up
during the night I am on my back or right side though. Stubborn body :-)
Maybe I don't lay that way long enough, but I have yet to feel any sort of
breathing problem, lightheadedness, or other discomfort while on my back.
Some of the literature I've read says that being on your back while
exercising (or laboring) is the basis for the concern about blood flow to
the baby, not simply the act of lying on your back. Also, some peoples'
physiology is such that they become breathless or do experience reduced
blood flow on the back, but it isn't universal to all pregnant women like a
lot of traditional pregnancy books make it out to be.

--
Em
edd 9/23/03

[Em]

"Valerie Rake" > wrote in message
> Em wrote:
>
> >during the night I am on my back or right side though. Stubborn body :-)
> >Maybe I don't lay that way long enough, but I have yet to feel any sort
of
> >breathing problem, lightheadedness, or other discomfort while on my back.
> >Some of the literature I've read says that being on your back while
> >exercising (or laboring) is the basis for the concern about blood flow to
> >the baby, not simply the act of lying on your back. Also, some peoples'
> >physiology is such that they become breathless or do experience reduced
> >blood flow on the back, but it isn't universal to all pregnant women like
a
> >lot of traditional pregnancy books make it out to be.
> >
> What I feel on the uncomfortable couch (but so far not the other couch
> or the bed) is a feeling of discomfort/heaviness in the upper lungs that
> slowly creeps upward toward my neck. About the time the feeling gets to
> my neck (I stayed still one evening, just to see what would happen), I
> just had this unbearable desire to sit up and breath deeply. Pretty
> clear message, I thought.....

Ooh. That sounds kind of icky. Sounds like your body knows what it needs and
can get you the message! Someone made me laugh here a few months ago (I
think it was Phoebe of "Phoebe & Allyson"), by saying that she assumed her
body had some kind of "'wake up, you're dying here' mechanism" that would
warn her if she was sleeping wrong during the night.

--
Em
edd 9/23/03