Warning about infant carseats/Open Forum

This past Friday, my best friend, her sister, our mom (their real mom, my adopted), and 5 of the grandkids ranging in age from 10 days old to 6 were in a major rollover accident in  Montana while on vacation. All of them walked away, one of the 6 year olds had 3 stitches on his ring finger and our mom had 9 on her elbow.

Last night I called my mom to see how she was and to get her take on the situation. Something that both she and my best friend have emphasised over and over again was the effectiveness of the carseats. Please, please, please make sure your carseat is installed correctly, it should not move when in place. I have never bought the "an inch either way" garbage and thankfully Bree never did either. Also, make sure those straps holding your babies in are tight, not at all lax. And lastly, DO NOT buy an infant carrier that only has the straps that go over the head, make sure you get a carrier with 5 point restraints. The only reason that 10 day old baby didn't come out of his carrier is our mom was sitting next to him with her hand under his tushie comforting him. Had her hand not been under him, everyone, even the state patrol, were certain he would have come right out of his seat during the rollover.

Now they were extremely lucky, they were in a nice and heavy 94 Suburban when they rolled over 5 times off an embankment. Many vehicles would have crushed under that impact, but had those seats not been installed the way they were, I would most certainly be telling a much sadder version of this story.

Go ahead and use this as an open forum.

Andi

[jennyjwv]

posted this on the other open forum but did not get reply yet:
question: I am 9 wks 5 days and just had an u/s Monday and everything is good - heartbeat was 177 and measurements correct (missed miscarriage in Dec 05 - baby died @ 10wks 5days no heartbeat: diagnosed w/MTHFR clotting disorder)I am having this pain in my lower right side around bikini line - is this too early for ligament stretching?? the u/s tech said that is probably what it was but what I've read says that doesn't start until 2nd trimester.... I am rather petite so thinking maybe I am feeling it earlier?? It is definitely not cramping.....any thoughts??
baby dust to all...

[AndiJ78]

I had something similar with this one. Out of nowhere I would have a sharp pain to the side that would come and go. I had 3 u/s in the first trmesterdue to my hx of m/c so we knew it wasn't ectopic or anything. Just chalked it up to stretching. This is my 8th pg, I have only had it with my youngest sona nd this one, but no worries it is normal according to the doc.

Andi

[heather29]

The ligament stretching can most definitely be felt in the first trimester according to my doctor.

Andi, what a story! I'm so sorry this happened! Thanks for the info regarding the carseat though. That's something I didn't know!

Has anyone seen Chloe around? I know it's been a few years, but I wanted to tell her I'm finally pregnant and ask how she was doing.

Much Love,
~*H*~

[myproblem]

I think it is probably just ligament or uterus stretching. With my daughter I felt it from 6 wks. This time at less than 5 weeks, I am feeling it already. I am very petite 4'10" 115 lbs.

[jen023]

That's amazing that they were all able to walk away from that one. Usually things like that do not have a happy ending. I'm so glad this did! We had an accident around here a few years back where the two children were not buckled in and they did not make it.

I know this really doesn't have much to do with this forum, but I wanted to also throw in that seatbelts for adults should also be worn at all times. My mom and my sister were both in separate car accidents (rollovers) one week apart from each other. My mom's car rolled a few times, my sister's was worse - it rolled at least 4-5 times frontward. Neither one of them had a scratch (nor my sister's friend who was with her). They were all wearing seatbelts and I am positive that if they had not been, they would not be here today.

Thanx for sharing your story though, I don't have children yet, but when I do I will make sure and get the proper seat and will learn how to use it!

[Tamara551]

I was about 7 to 8 weeks when my ligament pain started.  I am now 11w3d and everything is fine.

[PammySue]

Wow, andi, I know how you feel.  My daughter, her husband and their 3 month old were T-boned by a big car that came off an interstate and did not stop (going interstate speed!!!).  Fortunately, they too were driving a big Dodge Ram pickup (all three in the front) and all walked away unscratched.  Baby's car seat on the passenger side, BUT very securely locked into place and belted securely in.  T-boning occurred on passenger side where baby was sitting.  Highway patrol made two observations:  1) had they been in a small car, all would have died, and 2) because of the type/placement of baby's car seat, it probably saved her life.

A lot has been published on Brittany Spears' "incident", but wonder how she would have felt if she had lost little Sean Preston, ya know.  This whole car seat thing CANNOT be stressed engough.  It only takes a second!

So glad to hear your family is all well.  Whew!!!!

[Jenny77]

I live in Texas right now, but I looked online at the hospital I will deliver in and they provide the 3D u/s. Its like $75 dollars and I'm not sure, but I don't think insurance covers it. You could go on the web and look up hospitals etc too.

I'm so glad to hear all of these stories with people wearing their seatbelts. I still know people that don't wear seatbelts and it scares me to death. Has anyone ever had to ride with someone else to an event and the other person's car doesn't have seatbelts (well, it has them, but they are all hidden way below the seats and is impossible to get to)? I hate that feeling.

[stephd]

Isnt that something about the Britney Spears thing, all she got was a slap on the wrist.  Had that been an ordinary person, they should have been fined to high heaven I'm sure.  Just cause she's famous she gets out of it.  The sad thing is that was the SECOND incident with her.....

Great story Andi, Im glad there was such a good outcome.  You are very true, it IS important to make sure they and you are buckled up.  You never know what can happen.  You can be the safest driver around but that doesnt mean the other guy is safe!!!

[jennyjwv]

Thanks for the replies....it helps to know other people go thru the same thing and are alright....
have a great day!!

[decogrl]

To those who have had 3D-4D scans, where did you have them done?  I am looking for a reputable company in the Virginia / Maryland area.

Thanks

[dmichaelsmom]

Google 3D scans in Virginia or Maryland and you should come up with some hits. They are so awesome. I live in Kansas and had one done. As soon as #3 is on it's way I will make the appt. I know here you have to wait until at least 26 weeks to do it so that you can get good pictures. Good luck in finding a place!

[AndiJ78]

Heather-Hey girl!! I am so thrilled to hear you are pregnant!! Chloe has gone MIA and has been for a long time. I have tried emailing her, but it bounces. How have you been feeling?

Everyone- My cousin and her BIL were in an accident in 1995 in a Chevy Z71 pickup, no amount of size makes up for seatbelts. Neither of them were buckled up and both of them died in the accident. Had they been buckled, they most certainly would have survived. My dad made sure that from a very young age we always buckled up. My biological mom was a drunk and liked ot take us kids out while she was blitzed, he made sure that during visits with him he hammered home how important seatbelts are, especially when going out in the car with our biological mom.

And one other note, the two 6 year olds and the 5 year old were all in high back booster seats, very, very important! Had they not been in a booster seat that positioned their seatbelts correctly, they, too, could have slipped out and been free floating in that awful wreck.

I told my mom and best friend that short of something happening to my own dh and children, that scenario was a my worst nightmare, losing my best friend and mom all at once. I have known them since 1989, mom was at my wedding and was there holding my leg for the birth of each of my boys and will be here for the birth of the next one. Despite not being the one who gave birth to me, I am far closer to her than I ever was to my biological mom and Bree and I have been best friends since the day we met. It was a real eye opener. Mom got the worst of it, she is still pretty rattled. Bree is guilt ridden, despite the fact even the State Patrol told her she handled everything really well and she went uncited, not even a ticket for littering,lol. Of course, I have been giving bree lip about leaving mom in the car after she got the kids out. Two complete strangers had to get mom out. That teasing will go on for years : )

Anyway, thanks for listening to my story. I can't wait to see them next month when we head over there.

Aandi

[anxioustobeamom]

you mentioned that you were diagnosed with MTHFR clotting disorder. Are you taking anything for that during this pregnancy? I too was diagnosed with MTHFR, homozygous, still ttc. lost my son in november at 21 weeks. I'm just wondering what to expect. i've heard different things about being put on blood thinners, to just taking extra folic acid, which i'm on now,(the extra folic acid). good luck to you for the rest of the months of your pregnancy. :)

[jennyjwv]

hey there....i am not sure which i was diagnosed but it is the least problematic of the MTHFR which I have been taking my prenatal viatim and another pill of folic acid(folbic tab i think) since the miscarriage.  the MTHFR was the only thing the doc could find wrong after m/c...as i am pretty healthy never been sick or in hospital for anything major my whole life...except when born i had pyloric stenosis-had surgery @ a month old i think to fix...she said she is not sure if that could be passed on to the baby but after 7 mos i will have to have regular u/s to monitor baby....so far everything is good and i am feeling way different than the last pregnancy!  been way nauseous daily and just feel pregnant - last time didn't feel much...so hopefully that is a good sign!!  good luck to you!!!

[anxioustobeamom]

thanks for responding. i'm glad you feel nauseous and pregnant! i hope to feel that way soon. i too have been healthy and never had to be in the hospital for anything, besides my first/last pregnancy.