Arabella

At 4 weeks I got a positive test. Now I'm 6 weeks and starting to have sharp pains in my left hip bone. This is actually on the side of my body, not anywhere in my pelvis or abdomen. When I press way up high on my hip bone it hurts terribly. What could be causing this?

I am 28 weeks along with Baby #7 and having pretty much constant Braxton-Hicks contractions tonight. My uterus stays hard and tight for 30 minutes or more at a time. It relaxes a minute and then tightens up again and stays that way for LONG periods of time. This has been going on for 3 hours. These don't seem like the usual Braxton-Hicks I've had with prior pregnancies. Is this just an irritable uterus or something to be concerned about??

I just entered my 2nd trimester a few weeks and was feeling great. Morning sickness was gone and my energy was back. Then I got fever, body aches, fatigue and loss of appetite. Also a mild sore throat, off and on. This has continued for almost 3 WEEKS now and I can't figure out what's going on. They checked me for strep and influenza and it's neither of those. Any ideas what I could be fighting?? What virus lasts this long?

2 of our cats will NOT stop climbing the screen windows. We have consistently tried the water bottle/spray bottle technique for close to 3 weeks now and it's not doing anything.

Any other ideas?

A dog we adopted began to show signs of pregnancy recently. Her stomach has swelled out VERY large on both sides and it looks like she could have puppies any day now. Her appetite is huge and she's been cuddling with our of our little kittens.

Oddly, when I feel her abdomen, it's rounded and smooth. Her teats are not sticking out at all. I also don't feel any puppies.

Could this be a false pregnancy? I'm confused because I've heard they don't get this big when it's a false pregnancy.

This one appears to be pregnant, pretty far along and liable to have her puppies any day now. If we take her in to be spayed, will the vet probably advise against it or can they end the pregnancy this late?

Do you think it's odd that a 10-month-old goes to bed at a normal hour at night (7 or 8 o'clock) and wakes at 6 in the morning and then takes a FIVE or SIX hour nap in the day?

He seems fine in every other respect. This has been going on for a week.

I'd like to get feedback on the issue of choosing to have a c-section for convenience. That is, an expectant mother schedules it in advance and the surgery is NOT medically necessary or indicated by her doctor.

Do you feel it's fair to the rest of those who pay insurance premiums that we should all be absorbing the cost of "convenience" surgeries like this?

Would it be better for mothers who opt for a c-section purely out of convenience to pay the full cost, just as all of us have to pay out-of-pocket for elective surgeries that aren't covered like cosmetic jobs?

I rescued 5 kittens at 3 weeks of age and have had them for two weeks now so they are 5 weeks presently. They've been doing great all this time, and only taking kitten milk replacer, but all of a sudden yesterday afternoon they all started acting lethargic, hanging their heads and then vomiting a little milk. After vomiting, they perked up and became more active.

This morning I noticed that only 1 or 2 of the 5 vomited again, just a little. They are still acting fairly normal, sleeping and playing and wanting to be petted. What could be going on?

I've read that worms can cause vomiting, however they are only 5 weeks old and the vet said not to bring them in for worming until 6 weeks.

I just rescued 5 little kittens and I'm wondering if their eyes are normal. In a few of them, the pupil seems a bit "off." Or is that typical at 4 weeks? Here's a pic of three of them:

http://www.hearthandfarm.com/P5250011.JPG

Just rescued 5 orphan kittens yesterday - they look to be about 4 weeks old (ears and tails erect, walking around, but shaky).

How long do they need to be on milk replacer?

Purchasing a home for sale by owner. The owner wants us to pay an additional $700 for the propane tank that is on the property. She said she bought it from the propane company for that price and will remove it from the property if we do not "buy" it from her.

We thought a tank that has been purchased is a permanent fixture on the property and included in the sale. Does she have a right to take it away with her??

Note - My question is NOT about the fuel in the tank (that would be pro-rated on contract).

Does anyone have experience with a Boston Terrier being an outside dog (with shelter provided during times of extreme heat and cold)?

Last winter my 8 year old got a stomach virus, and this year as well. Ever since then he's been really scared of throwing up. Anytime he gets the slightest bit of heartburn or indigestion or even gas he starts worrying excessively that he's going to throw up. Almost every night he comes back downstairs after being put to bed saying he needs some Tums or something for his stomach because he "feels like he's going to throw up."

Anyone know how we can help him? It's becoming a chronic/daily problem and all our attempts to soothe and relax him and explain have failed.

I know that you can mark a package REFUSED and have it returned to the sender with no charge. However, what if the package you are refusing has Delivery Confirmation? Won't the postal employee scan it and it will show up as "accepted?"

Also, if you refuse it, will the Delivery Confirmation number reflect this new status when it gets back to the sender?

My 1 year old can't tolerate dairy products or soy milk, so he is on rice milk now. What are some good foods to offer him that will replace the fat and fatty acids found in dairy foods?

(Note - He does not like avocado!)

The pediatrician recommended I feed my baby 25-30 ounces a day and I just can't get him to take more than 20 ounces a day.

He takes soy formula (Similac Isomil) because of tolerance issues with milk.

I'm worried (and so was doctor) because his iron was low and his weight/height are dropping off.

My son is 3 years old and stays dry pretty much all of the time. His main problem is #2, which he never does on the potty. I know this is a common problem, and I've heard that at this point I should just "let it go" and he will decide for himself when to go since he knows where the potty is, and how it feels when the urge comes.

Can any mothers attest to this approach working? If I just totally forget about potty training and stop giving reminders and suggestions will my son take the initiative and go on his own?

I am losing my patience because I am diapering a 1-year-old AND I'm 6 months pregnant. Cleaning up messy 3 year old poops every day is getting old!!

Ever since he turned 1 and started walking my son has stayed in the 3rd percentile for height and weight.

But his head circumference measures in the 75th. This seems like a big disparity to me. Should I be concerned?