February 2008 Pregnancy Thread

[Couperine]

I'll take a try at our list for the month! We're still waiting to hear from Jen (nowimcooking)and JenniferD - those babies are probably keeping them busy! Congratulations to KimCL on Austin, Robin (rmg_CA) on Olivia, Jessica on David, Pam (wallingjan) on Julia, and ACooper on Madeline! Hopefully Greta, Bridget (bbpizzapro), and Aprilbride will have wonderful news to share in the next few days! Keep ChristineB in your thoughts while she is on bedrest - hugs to you!

bbpizzapro - 1/29 - girl!
Greta - 1/29 - surprise!
aprilbride - 2/3 - girl!
Delanl - 2/8 - girl!
Apricot - 2/12 - boy!
Missindi - 2/14 - girl!
Chefbecky - 2/14 - girl!
Sandee - 2/20 - girl!
MomofMooch - 3/21 - boy!
Lys - 3/25
BlueMoose - 3/26 - girl!
Alikat11 - 3/28 - boy!
ChristineB - 4/3 - surprise!
danikwal - 4/5
couperine - 5/5 - boy!
sweetpea - 5/8 - surprise!
SusanPC - 5/11 - girl!
mst - 5/20 - surprise!
2Hungry! - 5/28 - surprise!
erinlovesmarc - 5/30 - boy!
Kerri - 6/9 - surprise!
Willybean - 9/?

waiting to hear from:
nowimcooking - 10/28 - boy!
JenniferD - 12/12 - boy!

I apologize if I forgot something - I've been distracted while looking through the old threads this morning! :)

[mst]

I don't know whether you can still edit, but we are expecting a surprise!

Good luck Bridget! Your long journey is about to end!:)

[BlueMoose]

There are so many babies coming soon...good luck to everyone!:)

[Delanl]

Thanks for the new thread Couperine.

I have a change to if you can edit, my due date has changed to 2/8!

[willybean]

Good morning! I want to join this thread...although it is still early but I am about 7.5 weeks and due in mid-September. I had some spotting but got an ultrasound and could see the heartbeat so that was very cool. I am looking forward to joining you ladies and getting advice since this is all very hnew to me. Congrats to everyone who just welcomed their new arrivals and to those who are getting oh-so-close!

[Couperine]

Edits made - thanks for pointing them out!

I had fun last night searching the old pregnancy threads from when I was pregnant with DS1. I had completely forgotten some of the last things that happened before I delivered - nothing mind-blowing, but I did start a super mild pink discharge the day before I started actual labor. It was interesting to look back and realize that I had completely forgotten the more uncomfortable parts of the pregnancy - I guess that's why we have more kids! :)

Welcome Willybean!! I'll add you to the bottom of the list!

[MISSINDI]

So exciting to be only 6th from the top, especially considering bbpizzapro is having her baby today, and hopefully Greta is right behind her. :)

Welcome willybean!

[2HUNGRY!]

Welcome Willybean and good luck to everyone inlabor/ about to be induced! I can't wait to hear your news.

[BlueMoose]

Welcome Willybean!

I've been sitting here watching my belly move...it's so funny! Oh, and I've been craving a donut for days.:rolleyes:

[MISSINDI]

I've been sitting here watching my belly move...it's so funny!

Isn't that the craziest thing? Nicholas never did that and I barely felt him move the entire pregnancy, but this one is a different story. Usually right after dinner is when I see her move the most. Totally Alien with Susan Sarandon, and if you think about it too much, it can seriously freak you out as in "there's something in MY STOMACH!" :D

[BlueMoose]

Isn't that the craziest thing? Nicholas never did that and I barely felt him move the entire pregnancy, but this one is a different story. Usually right after dinner is when I see her move the most. Totally Alien with Susan Sarandon, and if you think about it too much, it can seriously freak you out as in "there's something in MY STOMACH!" :D

Yes, it is kind of freaky! I think it looks like I swallowed something whole and its still alive. Little "Sam I Am" (aka Samantha) is pretty busy in there!

[Jen]

Well, I thought I would out myself at the beginning of the month so I can (hopefully) get on the list! I haven't been around these BBs much for the last year or so, but I've been lurking a lot on the pregnancy threads for the past couple of months! ;)

I am just over 13 weeks along with our second baby - our DD is about 3 1/2 and will be a couple of months past 4 when baby is born. This time around hasn't been nearly as much fun as my first pregnancy...although I've been very lucky both times with not much nausea and no morning sickness, I've been much more stressed out this time. I've had spotting on and off starting at around 6 weeks, along with really mild symptoms that seem to disappear at random intervals. Not good for my stress level! At around 6 weeks I was convinced I was about to miscarry, but I had the serial blood hcg's which came back looking good, and then an ultrasound which was also good. At 12 weeks I went in to the doctor's office to hear the heartbeat for the first time, and they couldn't find it. Even though I know rationally they don't always find it then, it freaked me out. Then, I had even more spotting the next day and finally ended up in the ER because I was completely unable to function for worrying. But they gave me a quick peek at the babe and all looked good! Such a relief! I'm feeling a bit more confident now and I'm starting to actually think about the baby arriving! DD is so excited...she talks about the baby all the time and asks lots of great questions about how he/she will be, etc. It's nice that she's a bit older and can actually participate a bit more in preparing.

Anyway, enough of a novel for today...just wanted to jump in and say hi! It will be exciting to see all the new babies arriving in the next few weeks! I sure hope some more newcomers join us or it's going to get very lonely around here in the early summer...

(If you're able to add me to the list, my due date is August 6, and it will be a surprise.)

[2HUNGRY!]

Congrats and welsome Jen! That's scary about the spotting. Did they test your progesterone levels? I'm glad everything seems to be okay. It seems like 4 years is a good age difference. Now you won't have two in college at the same time!

TMI alert:

I'm 23 weeks. Is that too early to start, um, leaking? I've woken up two days in a row with suspicious spots on the front of my shirt.

[BlueMoose]

I'm 23 weeks. Is that too early to start, um, leaking? I've woken up two days in a row with suspicious spots on the front of my shirt.

No, it's not too early...you're already producing some colostrom.

[MISSINDI]

Congrats and welcome, Jen!

To those not on/checking the January thread, bbpizzapro had her baby and already posted about it ... Emma Lynn. :)

One week, five days to go. :D

[Megan James]

Hello Pregnant moms.
I'd like to join this thread! I'm pregnant with #2. My due date is August 25th. My DD is 2 and will be a couple months shy of 3 when this one is due.

So far I'm having a similar 1st trimester to my first. Super tired and pretty nasty nausea and a finicky sensitive stomach. Oh yea and constipation too. I think this PG feels worse b/c I can't just go lie down when I feel tired, 2 year olds just don't understand wanting to take a nap!

I actually had an ultrasound last week. I was measuring big and for a moment we thought maybe it was twins! But there was just one little bean in there. It was so fun to see. My first PG I just had the one ultrasound so this one was a treat.

I'm looking forward to a couple weeks from now when I'll hopefully feel a little more like myself.

Megan

[2HUNGRY!]

Thanks BlueMoose!

Welcome Megan James!

[Couperine]

Welcome to the thread Jen and Megan!! I'm not able to edit anymore, but I'm sure we'll have your names in lights next month!

2Hungry - leaking is pretty normal; DH and I still laugh ourselves silly thinking of the first time I actually saw milk literally squirt across the room - I couldn't believe it came from me. :)

Congratulations to Bridget again on the birth of baby Emma - check out the Jan thread for more info or perhaps she will update us when she gets more time!

Hopefully Greta and Aprilbride will have baby news for us soon!

[MISSINDI]

Welcome Megan James!

Chefbecky, you still out there? I can't believe we're due next week! Can't wait! :D

I started volunteering at Nicholas' school lunch, and over the weekend he asked if I'm going to bring "our baby" to school when I go at lunchtime. I love the "our baby" part, and explained to him that, like him, I can't really leave her at home alone. ;)

Ten days to go!

[chefbecky]

Welcome to the world, Emma! And welcome to the thread, newbies. Jen, I remember that we were on the thread together the first time -- I think your Amanda is a few months older than my DS. (He's 3.5 now.) It's fun to see the same people again. In real life, a lot of my close friends don't have kids, or are just having their first, so it's nice to be able to talk to people who are going through it a second time. For me, it's been incredibly different this time.

I'm still here, like Missindi said, 10 days to go! Unlike some of you, I am actually praying to get to my induction on the 16th. I guess for me, the intense desire to get this part over with is being (slightly) outweighed by the convenience of knowing when it's going to happen, especially with DS in the picture. So far, no signs that she'll arrive before that. Last Friday's checkup was uneventful. (Did I mention that the week before I found out I am strep-B positive?) Except that I did gain 6 pounds in a week. Which is not shocking because I am swollen everywhere. BP was fine, though, so I'm just trying not to think about it.

Missindi, glad you got checked out and got some peace of mind. So much for the last few weeks being worry-free!!

Thinking of all of you ...

[greta]

Congratulations BB!!!

I am now a mother of THREE boys! :) Yes, this was my destiny.

Sami was born on Friday, February 1st, at 10:15pm.

On Friday morning, I realized that the bladder pain I had been feeling was actually contractions. (I'd been having this bladder pain for a few days, but was expecting contractions to involve back pain, not bladder). At around 10am, the contractions were a bit more regular (around 5-6 min apart), and they were growing increasingly uncomfortable. (I also had a bit of "bloody show").

I wanted to stay at home as long as safely possible, so my Dr told me to go the hospital when my contractions were around 4 minutes apart, and I couldn't talk thru them for a couple of hours. I stayed at home until 5pm (I only wish I had an excercise ball at home to work thru the contractions with).

When I got to the hospital at 5, I was only 2 centimeters dilated, but 90 percent effaced. I spent about an hour in the shower on a birthing ball. And then I spent more time in my room on the ball--it just seemed to be the most comfortable place for me.

By 9pm, I wasn't having enough relief between the contractions and asked for the Dr to check me. I was 5 centimeters dilated at 930pm and my Dr broke my water. The rest was FAST and FURIOUS! I went straight into transition (all the while not really knowing I was in transition). I was alone with my husband (while screaming for an epidural! and all sorts of other things;)), when I realized I couldn't stop myself from pushing. After about 3 of those contractions, we called for help, and sure enough, the baby was ready to come out. Once the Dr got in, he said that I was getting ready to have the baby any minute. I pushed 4 times and Sami came out!

I was hoping for no epidural, and I got what I had hoped for...but I'm not sure I would have had the resolve if it was a long long labor.

It was interesting to have this experience when only knowing scheduled c-sections!

[lisas3575]

Sami Ibrahim Chowdhrey was born at 10:15pm on Friday, February 1, 2008.
8 lbs 13 oz
20 1/4 inches long

Welcome, Sami, and congratulations to Greta, her husband, Laith and Saif! :D

[2HUNGRY!]

Congrats Greta and welcome Sami. What do his brothers think of him?

[mst]

Congratulations to our new moms: Bridget and Greta! Greta- go you for the VBAC! I have fantasized about how much easier it would be on me (in terms of recovery), but I just have the gut feeling that I would labor and end up with a c-section anyway. Three boys- that's a lot of boy- but so nice for the brothers. I used to know a woman who was a ballet teacher, and after all that pink and tutus, she went on to have three boys.

Bridget- How are you doing? I am so happy for you! One of Ilyssa's closest friends is a lovely little girl named Emma, so we have great associations with that name!

Congrats to the newly pregnant moms- Megan and Jen!

[MISSINDI]

Congrats, Greta! Glad to hear everything went smoothly. :)

[BlueMoose]

Congratulations Greta! Those 3 little guys will keep you busy!:D

I had an appointment today...everything is still fine. I'm at 33 weeks and can't believe I'm already at 2 weeks between appointments now. It's getting closer!

[Couperine]

Congratulations Greta and welcome Sami! :) How wonderful that your labor went quickly once you got going!

[aprilbride]

Congrats Greta!!

Mia Katharina was born yesterday at 2.30 pm, 7 lbs, 1 oz, 18 inches long:-)
My labor was fast and easy (went in at 8 am, had her at 2.30 after only 30 minutes of pushing) and so different from DS's experience (which was great as well, but a bit more dramatic:-))

More to come later..

[Delanl]

Congrats to Greta and Aprilbride!! I can't believe that I am next on the list!!

Welcome Megan and Jen!

[mst]

Congrats Claudia!

[MinEaston]

Wow they're popping babies out everywhere!

congratulations Claudia and Greta. Welcome babies Sami and Mia!

[MISSINDI]

Had my second NST this am. Nice, strong, solid heartbeat, but definitely not moving as much, so they poked her until they were satisfied. Have to go back next Wednesday for one more NST and they're doing an U/S too "to see how big she is." She was 6.12 lbs December 19th, so hoping if she's still in there, they'll say "omg, she's freakishly large, she needs to come out stat." :D Would be really nice to have her before then, but we'll see.

In the meantime, nine days left!! :D I can hardly stand it!

[2HUNGRY!]

Congrats April Bride and baby!

Missindi -- good luck getting a freakishly large baby :D

[MISSINDI]

Missindi -- good luck getting a freakishly large baby :D

LOL, a friend told me yesterday that Baby M is going to be thrilled to hear that her mom wished for a "freakishly large baby." ;) I'd just be thrilled for her to come a few days early.

Eight days to go!

[SusanPC]

Sorry--Haven't had a chance to check in this week....its been busy.

Congrats to Greta and AprilBride!!!!

Quite a few babes ready to come into the world it seems as well. Thinking of you all.

I am hanging in there at 26w. I am starting to feel much more consistent movement. In fact, she was up half the night moving around and I am exhausted as a result. DH felt what he called a karate chop last night.....first time he's been able to feel. I also feel a lot of swooshing from side to side like she is rolling around in there....vs. a kick. Assuming this is normal?

I have an ob appt tomorrow...want to try to sweet talk a peek on the u/s machine. I also have a prenatal yoga class tonight....I'm enjoying them. Only problem at the moment is heartburn and the odd headache but neither is anywhere near the agony of the 18 weeks of m/s!

We signed an offer on a new home yesterday and close the day after easter....so I will have a little over 4 weeks to nest in the new place before my babe is due to arrive :p

Hope all are well. Happy Hump Day.

[Couperine]

Congratulations Claudia and welcome baby Mia!

I can tell you are both excited about being so close to done, Delanl and Missindi! :)

Congratulations on the house Susie! It's definitely normal to feel different kinds of movements - I have to admit I prefer the kicks and pokes to the undulations that feel like something is twisting around in there. I have to plug my beloved Zantac for heartburn - I tried Tums without much success for almost 6 weeks nearing the end of DS1's pregnancy, but Zantac made life happy again.

I had another visit to the OB yesterday - all is well, and I passed my 1-hour glucose. I took DS1 with me, and he was a little charmer. It was thankfully a quick visit, and he thought it was extremely cool that I got to pee in a cup. I go back in 3 weeks to put me at 30 weeks so we can start up the every 2 weeks business. I'm glad DS did well; since so many of the last visits are basic checks, I'll probably bring him with me to most of them and skip the 1.5 hr round trip detour to his grandparents.

I've had a bit of congestion lately, and last night I finally took a Benadryl - it helped the congestion, and I had some of the best truly deep sleep I've had in ages. It was wonderful to wake up this morning even with all of DS's nighttime PT issues and feel rested.

I hope everyone is having a great week! We're going on a fire station tour this morning, and I'm excited too; I've never been inside one! :)

[2HUNGRY!]

Nancy -- I've had terrible conjestion and I have to say doing a pre-natal yoga DVD this morning helped. I'm breathing a lot better than I have in weeks. I'm not sure if its connected, but thought I'd let you know.

Susie -- Congrats on the new house! Is this one in Great Falls as well? Have you had your inspection yet?

[SusanPC]

Nancy--thanks for the Zantac recommendation...so far the tums are helping ok. But I will keep it in mind. Last night I flipped out, DH had a prescription bottle of Percocet and it was next to my Folcaps. I took my prenatal and Folcap w/o looking and started FLIPPING out that I may have taken a Percocet. DH assured me that there was no way it could have happened b/c the pills are completely different in size and color....I never felt woozy or anything so I think I was probably just freaking....needless to say the bottle has moved!!! Glad that the glucose test went well! I am sure I will hear tomorrow when I have to take mine. Wow, can't believe in a little over 3 weeks I, too, will be on the every 2 weeks visits.

Question, when do they start checking cervix? I know ladies with twins get checked very early.....

2Hungry--This one is in Oakton. We have watched a particular neighborhood for 3 years and NOTHING has come on the market. About 2 weeks ago one did and we jumped on it. I am soooo soooo happy about this place and believe we lost the other one for a reason. We haven't had the inspection yet, but the house was built in 2001---so I am hoping it has way less in terms of the issues the other one had (built in 1979!) Fingers crossed. Glad the prenatal yoga made you feel better this AM!!!!

[chefbecky]

Congrats to Greta and Claudia! We're really popping them out these past few weeks!

Missindi, glad to hear your NST was good again. I keep thinking about you, and wondering which of us will be first. DH and I were just talking this morning about the baby and how big she would be. DS was 9-2 at eight days past my due date, so pretty big, though maybe not "freakishly" so. :) I can't imagine that this one is too much smaller. I don't think DH and I are destined to have tiny kids. My next-door neighbor was due the same day as me, and ended up having her DS2 on 1/22. He was 5 pounds, 7 ounces. Their DS1 is tiny. It's just funny how everyone is so different. The beauty of the human race, I guess.

Nancy, I just got over a cold that lasted more than 2 weeks. I seriously felt like I was going to die. I just kept thinking about how would I go through labor and delivery without being able to breathe? I just wanted to get a few good nights of sleep before she arrived. Thankfully, it started to ease at the end of last week. Meds like Sudafed and Benedryl tend to disagree with me, but my OB said they were fine, so if I were you, I'd take em!!!

[ChristineB]

So excited to welcome the new babies! It is so nice to hear that everything is going smoothly.

I am checking in at 30 1/2 weeks from bed rest. Haven't had any bleeding since my last episode (2+ weeks ago) and I feel really good. This Friday will be 5 weeks that I have been on bed rest:( Next appt is Monday, praying that the placenta has moved 1 cm, so that maybe they will let me leave the house atleast once a week. (I have left my house 2 times since Jan 3rd--both times were to go to hospital!)

Nursery is painted, crown molding is done, chandelier is hung. Carpet cleaned on Friday and Furniture should arrive next week. Upholstered chair/ottoman should arrive in 3 weeks. So we are slowly getting there, of course not at all in the way I would have hoped but we are learning to adjust to our situation.

One of my friends brought over all of the things that she used for her daughter that she thinks we will need for the first 2 weeks or so, assuming I will not have a shower now until after the baby is born. So I think that will work. Just have to get a few more things.

Since I have been on bed rest I have been making lots of list--for packing hospital bag, etc. Hoping my husband can put it together this weekend.

My husband has been "nesting" and it is so hilarious. He cleaned out all the pantry and cabinets this weekend. Last weekend it was the linen closet and garage. Too funny.

Okay I am way to chatty, can you say bored on bed rest:)
Take care ladies,
ChristineB

[MISSINDI]

Missindi, glad to hear your NST was good again. I keep thinking about you, and wondering which of us will be first.

Hard to believe there's only 2 ahead of us. On one hand, it feels like it's going fast now, but on the other hand, it's been a long road. ;)

SusanPC - definitely swooshing here too. Almost like she's riding waves. After my first NST last week, I've been trying to pay more attention to the movement, since she's slowed down a bit. They said we should feel 4 movements within an hour of eating a meal. If we don't get that, we should get up, walk around, eat something and then try again. If the 4 don't happen then, then to call the dr, and not to wait. Although she's moving way less, I'm getting the 4 movements after each meal, so not worrying. P.S. Glad to hear that this house is working out. :)

ChristineB - nice to hear you're hanging in there with your bedrest. The week is half over and hopefully you'll get good news on Friday. :)

[bbpizzapro]

Congrats Greta and Aprilbride..
I am doing great, Emma is so cute but boy or boy are nights hard. I always knew they would be but reality is here...
Funny thing though I don't mind at all.

Here are a couple photos
bb385

386

[2HUNGRY!]

Congrats BB! She's a cutie. You look great too!

Christine -- I hope your appointment goes well on Monday. You deserve a great prize for staying in bed for 5 weeks. I'm glad you've been able to get some stuff done.

Susie -- Congrats on the house! I'm so glad everything worked out for you.

So now we have race between Missindi, Delanl and ChefBecky? Exciting!

Nothing is going on here except the baby is having a disco party in my uterus today. I hit 24 weeks yesterday. I can't believe it!

[AliKat11]

Wow there's been a lot of activity! A big C-O-N-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N-S to all the new moms and welcome to the newbies. And Christine, you've especially been in my thoughts and I'm glad you're making it through the bedrest with your sanity in check.

I'm now at 33 weeks and officially over being pregnant if you KWIM. I'm tired, cranky and as of yesterday, I am suddenly no longer able to wear my wedding rings. Any swelling yesterday was offset by no less than 5 bathroom trips last night (seriously, 5 times). Jewely (different rings) are getting tighter already this afternoon, so apparently this will be a new trend for these last weeks. My other new trick is that my appetite has totally kicked into high gear again. Out of the blue, I'm just starving to the point of being flushed, sweaty & lightheaded. LOL--doesn't my body know that I have meetings & other various commitments?! I'm going to have to keep snacks on me at all times from now on. :o

Other than being a complete crank, I am having fun shopping for the baby and researching gear & the like for my registry. The nursery was painted last week so hopefully the furniture will be in place this weekend.

[Delanl]

Good to hear from you BB! And Emma is adorable!

ChristineB--good luck with your appt. on Monday.

As for me, my due date is tomorrow and this morning I finally had some early labor symptoms! Only to go to the doctor and find out that I'm not dilated AT ALL still. The baby is in position but my cervix is still very high. She reassured me that things can change in the matter of hours....or days. :rolleyes: So needless to say, I was disappointed. I thought we were on our way!:o Oh well, at least I know my body is getting ready.

I have another appointment scheduled for next week for the non-stress test and ultrasound and then we will make a decision on inducing. I really really hope my body starts cooperating and Baby K makes her appearance before then though!

[ChristineB]

Delanl--thinking of you and hoping that baby is getting ready to make an appearance soon!!

BB you and Emma both look beautiful! You don't look like you just gave birth!! Try to rest when you can:rolleyes:

che3fbecky--glad you are feeling better, that is the last thing you need to be sick on top of being pregnant!

It is fun to see that there are a few of us from the Washington DC area (I am in Fairax, VA area). Maybe we will have a CL baby klatch once our little ones arrive!!

ChristineB

[Couperine]

BB, you and Emma look absolutely gorgeous. I looked like pure cr*p when the hospital bed pics were taken - DH, lord bless him, had put my hair in a lop-sided ponytail during labor, so I had sweaty hair falling out, and I turned into a happy, crying mess when I saw DS for the first time, so there I am, red-eyed, sweaty-haired, and absolutely beaming holding DS. I cherish the pics for the memory, but those aren't the ones I shared for viewing. :)

Thanks for the support about the Benadryl and the like - I'm thinking I have some kind of viral thing going on, stomach is queasy and I'm congested, but I'm thankful it's not flu. DH cheerfully told me he's seen more vomiting this week mixed in with all the flu patients - I think I have to have limbs falling off to get a pity party from him.

Christine, I'm glad you are making it through these long days, and I hope Monday goes well for you!

Delanl, hopefully your cervix says NOW and you'll see that baby soon!

Back to making dinner...

[MISSINDI]

bbpizzapro - you both look gorgeous! :)

Delanl - thinking good thoughts for the process speeding up a bit for you. ;)

AliKat - I totally hear you on the going to the bathroom all night thing. I am SO over it. :D

Chefbecky - we can say it's less than a week now!!!

Dr appt tomorrow am - fingers crossed for a teensy bit of progress, but like another mentioned, whether or not there's progress, we can go from 0-60 very fast.

[chefbecky]

As Missindi said, less than a week! Yesterday was my last day of work, which was a good feeling. I felt like sort of a slacker though, since I worked right to my due date last time. :) But much like Delanl said, I actually thought something was happening yesterday, only to go to the doc this morning and find out that nothing has changed. So I'm still on track for induction on the 16th.

However, just to make it fun, DS has bronchitis. Awesome. So we were up every two hours last night as his fever went up and down. Just training for what's coming, I guess!

[Jen]

Congratulations to Greta and Claudia! And bb, Emma (and you) are both beautiful! So exciting to see so many babies...

Nothing new on my front...I am 14w2d and have my 1st OB appointment this afternoon (they were overbooked, plus my GP's office gave the wrong due date when they booked my appointment, so it's much later than I would have liked). After the fiasco at my GP's office 2 weeks ago when we didn't hear the heartbeat and I got completely, embarassingly hysterical :o I'm really hoping to hear it today! Unfortunately DH isn't able to come to the appointment - he had gall bladder surgery on Wednesday and still isn't ready to drive. I figure now he might have more sympathy for me when I have my 2nd C-section!! He hasn't been at either of the 2 ultrasounds I've had either (through no fault of his own), so I think he's having a harder time feeling like this pregnancy is real. Am hoping everything goes smoothly today so I can put this nightmare of a 1st trimester to rest!

Good luck to the three of you waiting for your babies to come this week, and Christine, I hope you get good news at the doctor! Bed rest must be terrible!

[Kerri]

Hello!

Congrats to all our new moms out there. It sounds like everyone is doing great.

And welcome to all the newcomers. I am very happy not to be last on the list anymore!

Checking in at 22 and a half weeks. We had our "big" ultrasound appointment yesterday and it all went fine. We did not find out the sex, but baby#2 wasn't really cooperating anyways. It turns out baby#2 is BIG, not so big that they are really concerned about it, just something they will watch. DS was 8 pounds and 12 ounces...they think we will beat that. Sigh.

There was some discussion last month about being congested and trying to sleep. (sorry, I lurk a lot, but don't always trust myself to write complete sentances when I have time to read) I started having some of that also and found using a humidifier and propping myself up with an extra pillow has seemed to help. I have a feeling as time marches on, I will be popping a benadryl every now and then as well.

Right now my only complaint is that I still don't really fit into the maternity clothes I got from my sister. But really, I am at the point when I am realizing that we just have different taste and should just go buy a few things. :p

Well, DS#1 is up so I guess that is all the time I have for now. Good luck to those of you who are close.

[MISSINDI]

Alright, chefbecky (and delanl), I think I might beat you guys. :D

Had dr appt this am, but had argument with bank to correct bank error before I went there, so blood pressure was unusually high, which bought me a trip to the hospital. By then, my bp was down, but had to monitor baby, see doctor, get u/s, etc. Luckily all is fine, and agreed to induce me monday so i have weekend to relax :). Ended up being 2 hours late for a surprise shower today, just made it home.

A little too exciting a day for me, and totally not how I planned to spend. :)

[Couperine]

Ah ha, Missindi - you are trying to give Delanl a race to the finish line!! I'm glad everything worked out ok today with the unexpected tests.

Delanl, hopefully your pre-labor symptoms with no dialation were still pre-labor and you're in process of meeting your baby!

Kerri, I'm glad your US went well. There's still a long time between now and your due date for things to even out with D? - go buy yourself something you like to wear!! You have much too long left to be unhappy with the few clothes you have that fit. :)

Jen, I hope your visit goes well today and that you have smooth sailing through the rest of the pregnancy!

Chefbecky, it's great that you have a little time before the baby to rest aka taking care of sick DS. I was thinking that if you felt like a slacker, I'm a super slacker today since I'm a SAHM and I was exhausted after spending 1.5 hours doing a thorough cleaning of my master bath and closet. I think I'd die of exhaustion if I were working out of the home. :)

[aprilbride]

Ok, I'm going to try to upload a couple of pics from Mia's birthday:-) We're settling in nicely at home and DS is all about his baby sister at the moment...allthough you can't leave him out of your sight, we're working with him on being gentle...DH has been home all week which has been great, and my parents are coming on Sunday for three weeks so there'll be lots of extra hands around to help out.

Good luck to all of you next on the list:-) I hope you'll be as happy with your delivery experience as I am. It turned out that my L&D nurse was a mom of one of DS's school mates, which ended up being a great situation. And allthough I had reservations about being induced, it really all worked out because I ended not needing much of anything to help me along and since we were able to control everything a little better the actual time of going through contractions without the epidural was minimal. Anyway, good luck to all of you!

[Megan James]

Hello!

Right now my only complaint is that I still don't really fit into the maternity clothes I got from my sister.

Kerri
This is so funny b/c I am completely the opposite. I am 12weeks and basically ready for maternity wear. Or at least out of almost all of my pants except the really low waisted slightly larger ones. We are all so different.

I'm due for an ultrasound for a nuchlal (sp?) fold test on Monday. I'm not 100% sure I'm up for this testing but since I'm a bit older they were really recommending it. Really the thing that pushed me over the edge is that I get an extra ultrasound and get to see the little bean again!

Congratulations to you new moms! I'm looking forward to being in your position, though there is the whole lack of sleep issue....

[chefbecky]

Missinsi -- hooray! That's great news for you. I am happy to let you beat me, because I'm trying to hang on until the 16th. I'll be thinking of you this weekend and Monday. I keep thinking about how this is the "last" everything -- tomorrow is the last Saturday alone with DS, last weekend as a trio, etc. I'm kind of sad about it, I guess.

AGH! Stop posting post-birth pics -- everyone looks so great! I looked like an absolute mess after DS. As Couperine said, I look back at them and have great memories, but I wouldn't hang them in my living room!

Couperine, the days I stay home with DS (I work three days a week) are the most exhausting, so there's no way YOU should feel like a slacker. Even when I'm not pregnant, I go to work to relax. :) That's what happens when you have an active 3.5-year-old, I guess!

[MISSINDI]

Missinsi -- hooray! That's great news for you. I am happy to let you beat me, because I'm trying to hang on until the 16th. I'll be thinking of you this weekend and Monday. I keep thinking about how this is the "last" everything -- tomorrow is the last Saturday alone with DS, last weekend as a trio, etc. I'm kind of sad about it, I guess.

Haven't really thought of it like that - more so concentrating on being able to get back to normal a bit, albeit with a new routine and member of the family. With the m/c, I've been pregnant for over a year, and miss being able to pick up Nicholas, have a lap, and not being so tired at the end of the day, and know he's looking forward to getting Mom back. ;) On the way home from the shower today, he expressed concern that he's not going to be as special once she's here, which makes me sad, but we've been talking about it for awhile now, and have explained that while she's going to be new, there's still tons of stuff that he can do, that she can't, etc., so hoping once she gets here, he won't worry as much.

Chefbecky, I'm with you on the pics! I looked a mess after Nicholas was born and doubt I'll be posting any mom and baby pics next week. Just the baby. ;)

[Delanl]

Still here playing the waiting game. :(

Congrats Missindi--hope everything goes well on Monday. I'm just a little jealous....;)

Can I just say how VERY tired I am of the random comments strangers seem to make EVERYWHERE I go? DH and I decided to do some walking around the mall this afternoon (I'm trying everything, can you tell?:D ) And we went in Old Navy (who BTW are having a fab kid/baby sale) the store manager was walking past us, stopped looked at me and said "oh my god, you aren't going to have the baby right here are you?" to which I replied, "yes, I hope I do" Ugh, are you kidding me??? I would NEVER in a million years say that to someone. And FWIW I'm not THAT big. Good lord. Then while we were waiting on line, she said "I can take you guys over here, I want to get you out of here ASAP". I thought my DH was going to lose his mind. People just amaze me

Think I am going to stick to walking outside. :rolleyes:

[2HUNGRY!]

Delanl -- Are you sure you're not having twins? Just joking. :D

Claudia -- You look so great! I'm glad everything is going well at home and that you have plenty of support.

Missindi -- Have a great weekend and good luck on Monday (if not before).

[Couperine]

Claudia, you and Mia look wonderful!! I'm glad her birth experience went well for you both.

Megan, good luck with the test on Monday - hopefully everything is just as it should be!

Chefbecky and Missindi, I hope you are both enjoying your weekend. Big changes coming soon!

Delanl - people are strange about pregnant women; the sight of a big belly makes so many of them lose all pretense of manners. Last night was a positive perk for us - I wore a shirt that makes me look like I'm ready to pop when we went to eat (7pm on a Friday - excellent time to eat out). We get inside and say we need a table for 5, and I've never seen a crew of people work so fast to get a party seated. We have a lot of Hispanic men here, and they will bend over backwards to take care of you when you are pregnant. I swear I had a never-ending offer of chips and salsa from our waiter, the chip/dip server, and random servers passing by. The various construction crews working on our new house are hilarious and sweet too - they drop everything to make sure that I don't lose my footing walking into and through the house. So not all strange pregnant experiences are bad. :)

Hopefully you get to have that baby soon, though it would have served that store manager right to have your water break in the store. :p

[Megan James]

AGH! Stop posting post-birth pics -- everyone looks so great! I looked like an absolute mess after DS. As Couperine said, I look back at them and have great memories, but I wouldn't hang them in my living room!


Immediately after DD was born I had DH take a picture of the us to show what a huge cone head she had. Of course I was naked so my breasts are right out there in the picture. So I came home and cropped the x-rated parts out of the picture, put it on snapfish and emailed it to about 5 or 6 relatives. Turns out that when you crop like that you need to do a "save as" and save a new picture. If you upload the original pic, even though it looks cropped to you, the whole picture is sent. So my dad called my mom who was with me and asked if I knew that I sent out a boob-shot. I was mortified and immediately pulled the picture from snapfish. No one else said anything so I'm hoping he was the only one who saw it!
I sure learned my lesson about cropping, and believe me that one is NOT hanging in the living room.

Megan

[MinEaston]

Immediately after DD was born I had DH take a picture of the us to show what a huge cone head she had. Of course I was naked so my breasts are right out there in the picture. So I came home and cropped the x-rated parts out of the picture, put it on snapfish and emailed it to about 5 or 6 relatives. Turns out that when you crop like that you need to do a "save as" and save a new picture. If you upload the original pic, even though it looks cropped to you, the whole picture is sent. So my dad called my mom who was with me and asked if I knew that I sent out a boob-shot. I was mortified and immediately pulled the picture from snapfish. No one else said anything so I'm hoping he was the only one who saw it!
I sure learned my lesson about cropping, and believe me that one is NOT hanging in the living room.

Megan

delurking to LOL. Everything happened so fast when Anna was born that the one of the L&D nurses (who was 21 or younger, I think) grabbed my camera and took a very nice shot of me holding Anna before DH cut her cord. Unfortunately, the shot was at an angle where it's completely impossible to crop out the extremely x-rated part, of, ahem, Anna's exit door.

[MomofMooch]

Megan, your story about the boob shot is hilarious. Maybe not to you (yet), but that is an important lesson learned about digital photo storage and sharing!

Congrats on all the new babies, and good luck to those of you coming up next. You are so close!

I'll chime in with my report for the month--my c-section is officially scheduled (for March 13th), yea! So, there is a definitive end in sight to this misery. I am 34 weeks but measuring two weeks ahead, which explains why I feel HUGE--I am! I am also getting puffy (which I never did with first pregnancy), and having some fairly uncomfortable Braxton Hicks contractions these days. I don't think they are the real thing (because they go away when I lie down, but they actually are starting to hurt), but it sure seems like this little boy wants out soon! I am having a lot of trouble sleeping, especially because my arms keep falling asleep and then hurt like crazy even after I sit up and get sensation back. We are working on getting the nursery ready, and I think I am going to pull out DS#1's baby clothes today and start washing all the little newborn things. Hubby and DS are away for the weekend, so I am nesting and relaxing (just got back from a pedicure)!

As for the comments people make, I can also share a few. Delanl, I had the same one about not having that baby right here, said to me at work a few weeks ago. Um, OK, I'll do my best not to, thanks for the warning. And of course, lots of "Haven't you had that baby yet?" Um, let me check ... nope, it appears I have not, but appreciate the reminder. Also lots of "Wow, you're really getting big!" Well, no kidding (actually, what I really want to say is "No sh!t, Sherlock!"), I am growing a human being in here after all. And, this is a classic: as I was walking down a fairly narrow hall at work one day, my boss was passing and said, "Wide berth!" Now that's really appropriate. I couldn't even muster up a reply, I just shook my head at him and walked away. Unbelievable.

4 weeks, 5 days to go! :)

[SusanPC]

Hi ladies. Just checking in....

Wow, beautiful pics, I was thinking the same thing.....what's up with the make-up? I know I am going to look horrible after the birth. :(

Re: people saying stuff....at 6 months I am the opposite. If ONE MORE person at work tells me I don't look pregnant I am going to cry. This AM I got a prenatal massage (OMG sheer bliss) and facial. A woman in the spa asked when I was due (brave move since I was cloaked in a robe). I almost hugged her for noticing!!!!

Nothing new here....our stroller came in and the color was atrocious. So, it is going back and we are not buying until we can SEE the color first (still love the brand!). We did a home inspection today with no problems, so we will be moving right after Easter....now need to think about listing our place.....fun times ahead....

Thinking of all of you ladies on the brink.....

[MISSINDI]

I, for one, am t-i-r-e-d. Have a semi-short list of things to do tomorrow and then I can relax. Well, kind of.

A few questions:

1. What did you all bring to the hospital for the baby? Aside from the going-home outfit, do I need anything? Can't remember what I brought for Nicholas. My own bag is 90% packed - mostly just need to add last-minute things.

2. How long do contractions last? I know it sounds crazy, but I pretty much don't remember the contractions with Nicholas. Guess our memory just protects us from things like that otherwise all our kids would be only children. Are we talking about a minute or two or three ... or more like ten?

3. For those that were induced, how quickly did your contractions start, or active labor? Wasn't induced with Nicholas, and not anxious, just trying to figure out what to expect on Monday.

One day and a few hours to go! :D

[Bawstinn]

delurking ...

Other than a going home outfit I didn't bring anything for Madeleine. Hospital had everything - blankets, diapers, nose sucker thingie and whatever else was needed.

I remember contractions lasting 45 seconds at first and then progressing to a minute - 1.5 minutes as time went on. That was how we knew it was time to go - lasting at least a minute, 5 minutes apart for 2 hours.

[Couperine]

I'll take a try at your q's, Missindi - hopefully you can rest a little this weekend before the big day!

1. We took a going home outfit and a swaddling blanket that we liked better than the usual blue and pink striped one for babies. It was a rectangular Winnie-the-Pooh one, and he looked adorable in his little burrito blanket. They have everything else you will need for baby.

2. Contractions - I really don't know how long they lasted after a while - the epidural takes care of that really well (my MIL watched them on the monitor, but I really didn't feel them, even when I saw the change). I only remember that the ten-count on pushing was exhausting by number 8, and I wished that they would count faster.

3. Once they gave me the pitocin, my labor restarted quickly - I don't remember a delay at all. I hate to mention this, but the pitocin doesn't always work for everyone.

You are right - our memory blocks out so much of the bad stuff!! I know it can't have all been roses, but I remember everything past the epidural as being really mild and easy. I remember thinking that pushing wasn't so bad - a lack of pain is awesome. :)

[Megan James]

Missindi
This is brutally obvious but you do need to bring the carseat to the hospital:D I've heard many stories about people forgetting it. I think the only useful things I brought for DD were the going home outfit and a blanket. Maybe a hat if you don't like the ones the hospital gives you.

Yesterday I pulled out my maternity clothes, OK not ready for those yet. Mostly emotionally but also size wise. Today I put away all the pants in my closet that don't fit comfortably anymore. So I'm down to like 4 or 5 pairs and none of them are very flattering. I think I'm going to buy a pair or two of maternity pants that just ride low. I'm so annoyed that nothing fits right now and that it is so early! I feel like with DD I wasn't in maternity pants until 16 weeks or more.

Megan

[Delanl]

Thanks everyone for the funny stories and commiseration! I will definitely be keeping them in mind when we are taking pics in the delivery room! :D

More drama in pregnancy land for me. I woke up this morning at 5:30 am with pretty consistent pain in my lower abdomen, what felt like really bad cramps. So I started timing them and sure enough they were coming every 10 minutes and would last about 30-45 seconds. Yay! At about 9:30 I decided to call my doctor. He said to call him back when they were 5 minutes apart for at least an hour. And that's all she wrote, because at about 10:30 they stopped. :(

I get one every once in awhile, but I guess it was false labor. I've been doing a lot of reading about it and one of the characteristics of false labor contractions is that they go away when you walk around or change position etc. But mine didn't, I had them in the shower, sitting up, laying down etc., that's why I really thought they were the real thing! My next doctor's appt. isn't until Thursday, but I'm going to try and wrangle my way in there tomorrow. Hopefully SOMETHING is going on in there!

Sorry to be such a complainer lately! I am just so anxious to meet this little one! Thanks for listening!

[MISSINDI]

Nancy - I had the pitocin with Nicholas because he was taking forever to progress, and it didn't help any. Definitely should not google inducing - for every good story, there's a bad one. It's a different thing entirely to have it scheduled now, you know? On one hand, it's hugely helpful, particularly in planning coverage for Nicholas, but on the other hand, you know when it's all going to start and it can make you a little more anxious. ;) Hoping at this time tomorrow, it's all over. Just using the frame of mind that it was a little bit of a challenge to get here and whatever I have to do to meet her tomorrow will be worth it. Just hoping it goes fast and the person who does the epidural will be worlds better than the one that did mine for Nicholas. :D

Megan - definitely car seat. It's actually been in the back seat of my car for a few weeks now, just need to strap it in. :)

Delanl - sorry you're having a rough day of it, but hope that just means you're getting r-e-a-l-l-y close.

A couple sites I visited yesterday mentioned that people packed their own nightgowns, and my neighbor mentioned she wore her own there too. So in the interest in having more, ahem, coverage, bought a few cheap nightgowns today and a short bathrobe. Packing tonight and then hopefully the next time you hear from me, it will be an announcement. :D

[Jen]

Good luck tomorrow Missindi! How exciting to be so close! And like the others, I remember my contractions starting at around 30-45 seconds, then progressing to about 1 minute long. Once I was in active labour I have no idea how long they lasted as I was beyond counting much of anything!! As for taking stuff to the hospital, our hospitals here provide very little (only about 6 diapers and a small pack of wipes) so I had to bring a lot of stuff for baby. I also brought nightgowns for myself and was glad I did, since it made me a lot more comfortable for the 3 days I was in hospital. I only wore them after the birth.

Delanl, sounds like you are almost there! Hopefully not too long now!

Megan, I have already switched to my maternity clothes - well, definitely pants - those I switched right after I announced I was pregnant, at about 12.5 weeks. I only have a few pairs of work pants and none of them fit comfortably...since I already had maternity clothes I figured it was better to be comfortable! I've worn a few maternity tops, but I can mostly still wear my old stuff. I'm hoping that stretches my wardrobe out a bit so I don't get too bored by the end. :) I can't believe how HUGE I am this time - at 14.5 weeks I am probably the size I was by around 22 weeks last time. Yikes! Still below my starting weight though, so I'm hoping I will be like last time, where I didn't gain much and ended up weighing less after birth than when I started!

Everyone's photo stories are hilarious! I remember we felt like we took a million pictures at the hospital, but afterwards it turned out there weren't that many and most of them aren't that great. We have a DSLR now and take millions of pictures, so I'm hoping we will get some better ones this time around! Friends of ours who recently had a baby were showing us the pictures, and there was one of her in labour, followed by one of her still kneeling on the floor next to the hospital bed, but putting on her makeup. She remembers figuring that if the camera was coming out, she was putting on makeup! It was pretty funny, but she did look good in the pictures!

As for me, we had a good appointment on Friday. DH was able to make it after all, and it was good because we did finally get to hear the heartbeat! It took awhile to find but it was definitely there. Sounded a lot slower than with DD, but I didn't ask for a number - will do that next time. I know they say there's no scientific correlation between heart rate and gender, but most of my friends have noticed the low=boy and high=girl thing, and it was true for us last time. Fun to guess, anyway! Other than that, my internal showed a whole bunch of tiny cysts on my cervix (definite TMI alert)...she was concerned enough to try to take a biopsy of one of them in case it wasn't a cyst, but then it "popped" and bled everywhere, causing her to pack me full of gauze for quite awhile. Not very comfortable. Gross, but at least now I know what is causing my spotting and that it's nothing to worry about.

Sorry for the novel...good luck to those delivering in the next few days!

Jen

[2HUNGRY!]

Good luck today Missindi and Christine! I am thinking of you both.

Susie -- I may slap the next person who tels me I don't look pregnant at all. I don't know if they mean it as a compliment or what, but it drives me crazy, and it makes me so upset (esp. when my in-laws say it in a way that I know means they think I am working too mcuh and not eating enough). Congrats on the good inspection and I hope you get the stroller issue resolved.

The post birth pic stories are cracking me up, but also making me add "have serious talk with husband about camera use" to my list of things to do.

Jen -- I'm not sure exactly how they would go about popping a cyst, but it sounds painful. Glad you heard the heartbeat though!

We finished painting the nursery yesterday. We picked yellow, since we already have a lot of green in our house. It was such a great feeling, and we were both late for work because we couldn't stop staring at it! I may have to call in sick when the furniture gets delivered!

[chefbecky]

Thinking of Missindi ... can't wait to hear!

The talk of post-birth photos keeps bringing back memories of DS's birth. I remember that right after he was born, DH was trying to hold my hand and kiss me, and I snapped at him to follow DS with the camera (when they took him to weigh him, etc.). I think I was kind of mean about it, but I really wanted to get a pic of him immediately after birth. (Though I did appreciate his attempts to be there for me.) Must mention that again before we do it this time!

Delanl, I really feel for you. Once my due date passed with DS, I was totally miserable. Not so much physically, but mentally. I was just a mess. My doc did finally schedule an induction, but she didn't do it until four or five days after my due date, and then the induction was eight days after my due date. There's nothing anyone can say to make you feel better, but trust me that in a few days, you won't remember this feeling at all. It's funny, but this time I am anxious to get to my induction on Saturday, which is two days past my due date. I guess it's mostly because now I have DS to think about, and because I am slightly terrified!

[2HUNGRY!]

If anyone is interested, I created a 52 page word document of recipes I might try freezing for after the baby. None of them are tried and true, and I didn't note the exact sources for all of them, but most came from this BB. I'm happy to email it to anyone if they PM me their address.

Yes, I am slow at work today!

ETA: I am due in late May so I mostly focused on breakfast things I can eat with one hand, marinated meats that I can grill and lighter summer foods rather than casseroles.

[MISSINDI]

Just a quick update.

Madeline Olivia
Born 2-11-08 7:04 pm
7.11 lbs
20-1/2 inches long
And absolutely perfect

Went in for inducing 7 am. By 9, I was already having contractions on my own, so looks like Miss Madeline planned to come out yesterday anyway. Doc tried to break water, but couldn't, but it ended up rupturing by itself at 10:30. Got pitocin and epidural (much better experience than last time). Around 5 pm, contractions were about 1 minute apart, and epidural no longer working, so he came and upped it, and again in 15 minutes when contractions were 20 seconds apart. Gave me so much that I was numb from my ribs down., Went from 5 cm to full-on labor in under an hour. Numbness was great for pain, but couldn't feel squat to push properly. Pushed for 30 mins and she came out. Was a bit dicey around 5 pm, because she was where she should be, and I was ready, but her head was either turned sideways or too big too fit, so gave her an hour to correct, otherwise was looking like c-section. Luckily all worked out. Her umbilical cord was kinked somehow near her belly and they said that was preventing her from being born earlier too.

Last night was a bit rough because I couldn't move at all. Hate not having control of my body, but luckily by the time I woke up this am, complete feeling back and starting to feel normal. She was in my room last night, real late, for an hour, completely wide awake, but just looking around. They brought her in 9:45 this am, and she's hasn't woken up yet, but at least she's here with me. :D

She has my mother's chin (a little line that Nicholas has also), a full head of hair, and a birthmark identical to Nicholas. He has a small circle high on his left butt cheek, and she has some one, in exact same spot. Very cute.

Going home tomorrow am. Will post pics once I can get then loaded somewhere.

Hoping to hear good news from the other mommies on the brink. :D

So much for a quick update!

ETA: Picturehttp://images.kodakgallery.com/photos4460/6/2/13/19/67/5/567191302605_0_ALB.jpg

[2HUNGRY!]

Yay! Congrats MISSINDI, and family! I'm glad everything went well with the induction. Enjoy having your lap back!

[erinlovesmarc]

i'm back from my trip! I'm happy to report that everything went well (despite my concerns)...I didn't get any "traveler's sickness" even though half way through the week I caved and started eating the pre-peeled raw fruits and vegetables (I'm sorry but you can't go to the Caribbean and NOT eat the fresh fruits...too much temptation!)...I know I took a chance but thank goodness I didn't get sick! I also overdosed on virgin pina coladas and mojito's (yes, you can make virgin Mojito's...the bartender looked at me funny the first time but then he saw I was pregnant...lol)...thank goodness I didn't have any blood tests this week - my sugar would have been through the roof!

Oh and on the 3rd day, the baby started kicking! FINALLY! :D Even DH felt it!

[MinEaston]

Congratulations Missindi, she's a cutie!

[JellyBean22]

Congrats Missindi! I checked your blog this morning looking for news. I'm so happy all is well and little Madeline is here :) It sounds like it was a little rough for you, I hope you're feeling better soon! I'll bet Nicholas is excited to be a big brother!
Take care ;)

Can someone here help me out? For some reason I can't view the picture. All I see is a little box with a X.

[Bawstinn]

Can someone here help me out? For some reason I can't view the picture. All I see is a little box with a X.

If you right-click on the 'x' and select properties, you can see the url for the photo. Copy and paste it into a new window and you should be able to see the picture.

[AliKat11]

Congratulations, Missindi! Madeline is beautiful. :)

[Jen]

Congrats Missindi - she's beautiful! Sounds like everything went really well.

No news from Delanl since Sunday! Hmm...

[JellyBean22]

Thanks for the help, Maria. It worked!

What a cutie! :)

[SusanPC]

Congrats Missindi!!!!! Madeline is beautiful!

[chefbecky]

Congrats to my due date buddy!! Welcome, Madeline!! I was all excited last night telling DH, "Missindi is having her baby today," and he was like, "Who's Missindi?!" Sounds similar to my experience with DS -- he decided to come on his own the day I was scheduled to be induced. I guess they're just ready when they're ready!

Nothing from me -- if anything, I'm feeling like I'm getting farther away instead of closer. Last week I was feeling crampy and just miserable, and now I'm just sort of ... nothing.

One fun thing: It's awesome the kind of reactions you can provoke by telling people you're due in two days. The election judge when I went to vote this morning did the best double-take. I mean, I guess it's a little shocking to hear, but do people think I'm just going to sit at home and wait? Must do my civic duty! However, I was so glad not to have to get up and go to work this morning -- hooray for maternity leave! Had a nice leisurely lunch with a friend, and otherwise, just laundry and little household stuff.

[Kerri]

One fun thing: It's awesome the kind of reactions you can provoke by telling people you're due in two days. The election judge when I went to vote this morning did the best double-take. I mean, I guess it's a little shocking to hear, but do people think I'm just going to sit at home and wait? Must do my civic duty! However, I was so glad not to have to get up and go to work this morning -- hooray for maternity leave! Had a nice leisurely lunch with a friend, and otherwise, just laundry and little household stuff.

Ha! On my due date with DS, my husband and I went to church. The nice gentleman sitting next to us asked me when I was due. "Um, today." I think I really scared him!

[mst]

Congratulations Missindi! Madeline is a beautiful name!

[Megan James]

yea Missindi! Congratulations.

Well I had an u/s yesterday and I think the nuchal fold measurement was good. From what I've heard anything under 3mm is fine and my little one was 1.47. They still have to compare it with 2 blood draws but I'm feeling optimistic.

I find that I am really procrastinating telling people at work I am pregnant. I told my boss about 2 wks ago,mostly b/c I didn't want him finding out through the grapevine. Then I was going to tell people last week but never did and then said after yesterday's u/s I would tell. But I still don't feel like saying anything. I've told many of my friends outside work. I think part of it is I work with all men except one women who quite frankly can be a bit annoying. She has two kids who are maybe 7 and 9 and she'll want to rehash all her pregnancy stories to me again for like 45 minutes. And then I feel like all the men just have no clue on morning sickness so it's not even worth talking about to them. Man I sound super ungrateful but I just don't feel like dealing.

On a good note I am feeling a little bit better. Not great but I don't feel like I need to sleep all day and the morning sickness only comes every couple of hours now. Hopefully a couple more weeks and I'll be good.

[Couperine]

Congratulations Missindi and welcome Madeline - she looks lovely and I'm amazed at her hair!!

Hopefully Delanl has welcomed her little one as well, and I'll keep thinking of you, Chefbecky - the waiting at the very end seems the worst! :)

Erinlovesmarc - I'm glad you had a wonderful trip - I have to admit I would have just mowed my way through the fresh fruit without a thought. I'm glad you felt the baby too!

Megan James - I'm glad that your visit was reassuring - hopefully your boss took your news well, and you will soon feel a bit better!

[BlueMoose]

Congratulations Missindi! Madeline is beautiful and I love the name!:D

[rmg_CA]

Congrats Missindi, she's a cutie pie! You and I like the same names, my DS1 is Nicholas and DD2 is Olivia but our second choice for a name was Madeline. :D I love them together too!

-Robin

[bbpizzapro]

congrats to all the new mommies and babies...
hope to see you on the next thread.......


good luck to all the upcomings..

I will be checking in.

[Delanl]

Hi everyone! She's here! Kylie JoAnn was born on Monday, Feb. 11th at 9:21a.m. She weighs 8 lbs. and is 19.25 inches long. My DH and I are just so in love with her, the feeling is indescribable!:)

My "false" labor pains started up again on Sunday night and by midnight they were 4-5 minutes a part. So with the blessing of my doctor, off to the hospital we went. When I got there I was 75% effaced and 2 1/2 cm dilated. We walked the halls and labored through until I reached about 5 cm and then I FINALLY got my epidural. Which was HEAVEN. Until, it wore off just in time for me to push. :rolleyes: Pushing took about two hours and was really tough. I wanted to give up a few times there. :o I was just so exhausted since I had been up for 24 hours straight by that time. But at last she arrived!

Breastfeeding is going pretty well, she didn't lose a lot of weight and is pooping right on track. :) DH and I spend most of our time staring at her in amazement. :)

Speaking of, she is ready to nurse. I'll try and post pics later!

Congrats Missindi!! And good luck Chefbecky!

[2HUNGRY!]

Yay! Congrats Delanl and family!

[Couperine]

Congratulations Delanl and welcome Kylie! What a beautiful name!

I bet you were exhausted and starving when you got done - I still remember how amazing the huge cup of apple juice and my first meal post-partum were. I am so glad the BF'ing is going well - your n*pples may not hurt yet, but they will likely do so in another week, so use the lanolin you've got to keep them moisturized. It really does help you through the worst of the soreness. You did a great job getting your daughter into the world!

I am so hormonal it's just silly - almost done with 28 weeks here. This morning I cried reading a romance novel I'd already read because the hero hurt the heroine's feelings. I cried last night during the last 15 minutes of a TV show because the heroine's true love was going to come to a sad end...but this was a sci-fi show, Torchwood. I cried when the heating element in my stove turned into a 4th of July sparkler - that's somewhat understandable, but combined with all the little things that have made me tear up lately, I think my hormones are just being evil. I hate knowing it's hormones yet still tearing up anyway. Hopefully the hormone surge will abate a little so DH can have a mildly decent Valentine's with us. :)

Hopefully we hear some good news from Apricot and Chefbecky soon!

[chefbecky]

Welcome Kylie! Sounds like things went relatively well, Delanl. I tried to ignore the part about your epidural wearing off ...

As for me, here I am on my due date. No baby in sight, marking my second pregnancy where my due date passed uneventfully. Oh well. I've decided that today is all about me, so I dropped off DS at school and went back to bed until 10:30, then took a very long shower. So far, so good. My only plan today is to go to Whole Foods to find something good for a Valentine's dinner that I don't have to cook! DH said he would go get my my favorite ice cream tonight, so honestly, I'll be a little irritated if the baby decides to ruin that plan!

I have an OB appointment in the morning -- if I haven't made any progress then, he wants me to go to the hospital tomorrow night to get things started with Cervadil. I am really hoping I'll have progressed a little, because I really don't want to stay in the hospital the night before. I don't know if DH will be able to stay, and I'm terrified of going into labor in the middle of the night without him there. Plus, I'm worried I won't be able to sleep, and I'll be too tired during delivery. We'll see what the doc says.

Thinking of everyone else who's getting close!! I'll try to check in tomorrow and let you know what the story is.

[honeygirl1971]

Congrats to the new moms, and good luck to everyone who is close!

I am coming out of the closet--our DS #2 is due June 20! :)

It's going to take me a while to catch up with everyone on this thread, but I'm loving reading all the funny stories! :D

[2HUNGRY!]

Congrats Honeygirl! Weren't you on bedrest last time? Will you have to be again? Just being nosey, feel free not to answer.

I had my 25 week appointment today. It was very uneventful as they usually are (not that I'm complaining). My mom and her three sisters are coming to visit this weekend so I'm looking forward to that. I was told that there will be boxes arriving that I'm not to open until they get here. They're up to something :D

[honeygirl1971]

Congrats Honeygirl! Weren't you on bedrest last time? Will you have to be again? Just being nosey, feel free not to answer.



Not nosey, I don't mind answering at all. Yes, you remember correctly, I was on bedrest for a looong time and it royally sucked. :p The ONLY good thing was I got to stay home and didn't have to be hospitalized, although that was a threat every time I went to an appt. So far, they can't tell me if it will happen again, so we are just monitoring things. I am 22 weeks now, and last time I went on modified bedrest at 24 weeks, full bedrest at 28 weeks until 37 weeks (and two days later our baby was born!!). I have NO idea how we would manage if that happened again since now I have a toddler to take care of and can't lay down all day, so hopefully it won't happen. This pregnancy has had fewer problems so far, so I really hope that continues!

Missindi, love the name! We are having a boy, but before we found out our top 2 girl names were Olivia and Madeleine! :) We are leaning towards Leo for our little boy, but aren't 100% sure yet...

[chefbecky]

Seems like I'm on here a lot -- nothing else to do right now, except wait!

Just wanted to say welcome to honeygirl. We're having a girl (we think), but Leo was our top name for a boy. If (BIG if) we decide to have a third, that's still our No. 1 choice for a boy. I don't think I've mentioned our girl's name here -- we're keeping it a surprise in the offline world, so I'll keep it a surprise here too. (We've said it a few times in front of DS, and let me tell you, it's risky to try to keep a "secret" around a 3.5-year-old!)

[SusanPC]

Hi ladies, just checking in here.

Chefbecky--thinking of you!

Re: the name Madeline, love it!!! Of course, I am biased since we've chosen Madeline "Maddie" Grace for our little one.

I haven't felt movement in a good 24 hours...so my midwife is squeezing me in at lunchtime. I am sure she will start a dance party as I am walking into the clinic :rolleyes:

Have a great weekend to all!

[2HUNGRY!]

Honeygirl -- I'm glad things are working out this time. I didn't realise you were 22 weeks already. I guess I didn't read closely enough.

Chefbecky -- I hope there's a blizzard or full moon or something that will make you go into labor real soon! How are you feeling?

Susan -- I hope everything's okay. I'm sure it will be.

Christine -- Still thinking about you. I hope everything turned out okay at this week's appointment.

[SusanPC]

Quick one---was gone for two hours. Ended up on a fetal monitor for about 45 minutes (all ok....a few dips) and then an u/s to check fluid...all looked ok. They have me scheduled for an u/s in the next week and a half just to be sure but really, I think all is ok.

They assured me I did the right thing to come in so I feel a bit less like a neurotic first timer :rolleyes:

[chefbecky]

Susan -- Glad everything went OK. And it's nice when you get some reassurance that you're not crazy. I remember with DS, I called the on-call doctor in my practice (not my normal doctor) with a question. It was about two days before my due date, and she was incredibly rude. It was really frustrating.

Anyway, looks like things are on for tomorrow! I went to the doctor this morning, and had made no progress at all, so I am going in tonight to get things started. That was not my first choice, but I wasn't really given a choice. Turns out we'll be in the delivery room, so DH can stay tonight. And the doctor said he would give me a sleeping pill.

Trying to get over my slightly sad/slightly guilty feelings about how DS's life will change, but it's too late now, right?

I'll see you "on the other side"!!!

[SusanPC]

Chefbecky---Thinking of you tonight/tomorrow!!!!!

[Couperine]

Good luck Chefbecky - I'll be thinking of you!

I just have to tell someone - I think we have wood termites around one of our windows. The tech will be here in an hour or so to confirm - I'm horrified about the possible expense as well as the bugs themselves; I watched a hideous video on YouTube with far more bugs than I saw - I wanted to throw up. I really didn't need yet another thing to fix on this stupid house. Vent over - have to make the house spotless for the tech; DH is pretty freaked out too and has a thing about any mess when workers are over.

[ellery]

Quick one---was gone for two hours. Ended up on a fetal monitor for about 45 minutes (all ok....a few dips) and then an u/s to check fluid...all looked ok. They have me scheduled for an u/s in the next week and a half just to be sure but really, I think all is ok.

They assured me I did the right thing to come in so I feel a bit less like a neurotic first timer :rolleyes:

delurking...

I ended up in Labor and Delivery three times before my son was born for the same reason - decreased fetal movement. If I hadn't been so in tune with what was going on with my body and my son then we wouldn't have realized that I had pre-eclampsia (it came on quickly and severely). I was induced at 35 weeks and he was perfect and everything worked out the way it was supposed to be. Not telling this story to make you nervous, but to point out that it's better I think to be cautious when it comes to the precious life within you.

Glad it worked out that nothing was wrong. I know how nervewracking it can be. ((()))

Okay, back to lurkdom...

:)
Leah

[bbpizzapro]

I too had gone to labor and delivery 3 times...to check things out...

[Apricot]

I haven't posted a picture in ages so I hope the following images show up...

Big brothers Junuh(6) and Ethan(3) welcome their little brother!
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/Ivannasyp/IMG_3496-2.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/Ivannasyp/DSC_0115.jpg

Anyway, Noah (8.1 lbs, 20 in) was born on Feb. 2 at 1:30 p.m. after my midwife broke my water around 10:30 that morning. As expected, my labor progressed quickly and I went from 2 cm to 7 relatively easily-I was still having conversations in between contractions. From 7 to 10 was a little rougher-I chose to lay down and there was no more conversing or laughing but it took only about 30 minutes. When I felt the urge to push, I got really scared and fought it which only made it last longer but I still consider myself fortunate that it was all done and over with in about 15 minutes. And thank goodness because if it had lasted much longer, I don't think I would've been able to stick to my plan to go natural. The recovery portion was more difficult this time around-perhaps because Noah was more than 1 lb bigger than my other two boys or maybe it was because I had two at home already that made the recovery last longer. I'm not sure, but I'm glad to finally be feeling better. Congratulations to all the other mommies who had their beautiful babies during the latter part of January and early February. It is so exciting and wonderful to add another life to a family!

[Couperine]

Congratulations Apricot and welcome Noah! What a wonderful family you've created!

[bbpizzapro]

Congrats Apricot,
This thread has been busy...

[2HUNGRY!]

Congrats Apricot!

Nancy -- Yuck, I hope it turned out okay with the exterminator.

My Mom and her sisters are visiting this weekend and they totally surprised me with a baby shower yesterday. It was a little different since only the 4 of them could come but it was awesome. They wouldn't let me lift a a finger all day. They made me breakfast lunch and dinner. Then they took me to Babies R Us and bought us a pack and play and a bunch of little things from our registry. Then after dinner they brought me downstairs and had more presents and a cake. It was so amazing that they were able to do all that without me knowing.

Also, while we were in Babies R Us my husband totally misunderstood what a nipple brush is used for.

[SusanPC]

Apricot---Congrats, and what lovely pictures!

Nancy--Yikes, are these termites at your new place? How did the exterminator visit go? Good thing is you probably caught it early. Hang in there.

2Hungry--That is so awesome about your surprise shower. Sounds fabulous!!!

Me--We had a busy weekend. On Sat we spent another few hours at Buy Buy Baby and finally decided on our strollers....after completely reversing course. We went with a Graco SnigRide and the frame. We also bought a Baby Jogger City stroller with a bassinet attachment (our splurge). The Graco also fits into the City...so that is an option too. We will get an umbrella stroller down the road, we liked the McLarens but we'll see. In the end, it came down to safety and easy of lifting up into the car.

We spent yesterday de-cluttering our place getting it ready to go on the market. A couple who are friends of a friend looked at it and fell in love with it. They are meeting with their mortgage broker today to see if they can swing it. I am not holding my breath that this could all be so easy but we told them we will wait to sign our listing agreement with the realtor until this weekend....we will see what happens.

We have movers coming Friday to take bikes/golf clubs, etc. into storage so the place looks less cluttered for sale....and then we move on the 24th of March.....so excited.

I've got the day off today and am heading shortly for my 1 hour glucose test. Then my mom and I are hitting fabric stores to work on Maddie's room some more. I found a rug I love at PB Kids, what do you think about a rug on an already carpeted floor. Her room here had wood floors and I already had in my mind I wanted this rug before I knew we were moving.

Also, does anyone have a chandaleer (sp?) in their nursery? Any good sources for finding ones that aren't too big?

Sorry for the long post. Have a great day to all.

[Couperine]

The termites (man I hate even typing that in reference to my house) are thankfully in the old house. We have a fairly useless deck that sits above the foundation line just outside the window where our uninvited pests came in - the wood to brick contact above the foundation is a no-no. Thankfully our new house is fine - the treatment for a whole house guarantee was about $1300 for the treatment with $199 a year for 4 years after, so we're finishing treating this house today and we will do our new house before the pool decking is completed so we can treat the expansion joint without drilling holes. Termites in this part of Texas are normal - it's humid and wooded; I just didn't want to find them in MY house. It's better to have found them before a potential buyer did though; we can treat, and retreat with a 2nd inspection that says they found no active termites, and then make a seamless repair. My old house's oven broke last week too - just not a good week for the old house. My MIL giggled and said well at least it wasn't the roof - hopefully Murphy wasn't listening. That's the only big thing left possible.

Susan - I'm glad you found some strollers you are happy with! I've been tempted by the MacLaren, but by that point, DS1 could keep up fairly well just walking and running around. Good luck with listing your house!! DH has been glued to HGTV watching the home selling shows - since my plan is to leave the house completely empty, ready to move in, the shows don't do as much for me. They have him second guessing paint choices in the new house, but it's our house, not some house that we're going to sell 6 months after we move in.

Good luck on your glucose test - that stuff is quite the hideous concoction. I like a PB rug as well for David's room, my MIL especially wants me to get it, but I too have the same question about a rug on carpet. MIL tried a rug in her living room for a bit, but it was undersized so it looked wrong.

When I've looked in lighting stores, there is a huge selection of small chandeliers; I've seen them in decorating mags in master baths and nurseries. I can't even imagine how many lighting stores you must have access to. :)

2Hungry - What a delightful surprise shower from your family!! It must have been wonderful to be pampered all day long. Too funny about DH and the nipple brush - a laugh about the man side of things and an ouch about the reality of using one of those on your own nipples. :)

[MISSINDI]

chefbecky - thinking about you and can't wait to hear the details!

Anyone heard from delanl?

2hungry - what a fantastic day your family planned for you!

susanpc - I found great chandeliers at Lowe's - a gorgeous one for under $100.

All is good here, just tired. Madeline is queen of the 4 hr naps, but still a night owl. Nicholas has been amazing with her and it's been adorable to watch.

More later when I have both hands free. ;)

[chefbecky]

Sorry it took me so long to post -- it's been an eventful few days!!

Lucy Catherine arrived at 4:09 p.m. on Saturday the 16th -- 8 pounds, 1 ounce and 20 inches. I went in to the hospital Friday night for Cervadil, and they started Pitocin around 8 on Saturday morning. Saturday was a long day -- I wasn't making progress very quickly. I got the epidural around 10:30, but I had some trouble with it -- my legs were totally dead, but I was still feeling some of the contractions. Then my blood pressure dropped, which was the scariest moment of the whole thing. Anyway, I just wasn't dilating much, and I was starting to get discouraged around 2 p.m. I was sleeping on and off, and when I woke up around 3:40, my OB came in and examined me and asked if I was ready to push. Started pushing around 3:55, and she was here around 10 minutes later. I was losing the epidural by then, and just wanted her OUT! I only pushed about 40 minutes with DS, but even so, my recovery has already been much easier this time. I met a woman last night who had pushed for 4 hours, and I felt VERY lucky.

We came home today, and though I am anxious about our first night, it's good to be home. (There's nothing like that first post-delivery shower in your own home!) DS has been surprisingly good, though it certainly is different to bring home a second child to all the noise and craziness of a 3.5-year-old. Not like the way we tiptoed around him when he was a newborn!

I'll try to post a pic sometime soon -- for now, I need a little nap.

Thinking of everyone who is coming up -- I can't say enough how great the support of this board has been. I've loved sharing this adventure with you!

[bbpizzapro]

congrats chefbecky......
I love the name Lucy...

[Couperine]

Congratulations Chefbecky and welcome Lucy!! I'm glad that things are going well at home for now - get some sleep if you can! :) I think that must be the biggest change for a new baby after the first - you can't just sleep when they do.

[SusanPC]

Congratulations Chefbecky!!!! Welcome Lucy (love the name!)

[2HUNGRY!]

Congrats Chefbecky! I love the name!

Susan --- Check out the gardenweb.com home forums if you haven't already. You might be able to find a lead there. How was the glucose test? I have to take that next weekend which I am dreading because I have to go to Labcorp to get it done instead of my doctor.

Nancy -- Sorry about the termites. I'm glad they're at your old house though.

Missindi -- Glad things are going well.

I had thought about calling in sick today and talked myself out of it. I'm kicking myself because I'm not feeling that great and all sorts of work is piling in. Yuck. I just hope the day goes by quickly.

[SusanPC]

2Hungry--I had to do mine at Quest which is like a Labcorp. It wasn't too bad...the drink was refridgerated and I had 5 minutes to drink it. Then I sat for an hour reading and they drew blood. The key was I chugged the drink before I had a chance to think about the taste....it is like sweet Orange Crush type drink....You'll be fine!

Hope you feel better...I am right there with you. I wanted to call in too but since yesterday was a holiday and I am taking off Friday for some errands/Appts. I thought it may be poor form...

[willybean]

Congrats to everyone on their new arrivals!

I am checking in at 10 weeks. I went for an appointment today and they tried to hear the heartbeat (although the Dr. did not try very hard) and I am wondering if it is too early to hear it? He did not seem concerned and thought if he spent a good 20 minutes looking he might find it, but did not. My next appt is in 4 weeks so do you think I should call the office to see if I can stop by in a week or so to see if someone can find it? I want to be able to share our news when we hit the 12 week mark but not without hearing the heartbeat.

Thanks!

[Couperine]

Susan you got the good version of the drink!!! Thank goodness - the two I've had with this pregnancy were like the worst Kool-aid in the universe - the Orange crush stuff was pretty decent when I had it during DS1's pg. I wish you and 2Hungry feel a bit better soon!

Willybean, did your doc do a vaginal ultrasound? That's how we first found the heartbeat - when I went back at 14 weeks, they still had a horrible time finding the heartbeat with the doppler. It's pretty standard at my OB's practice to do the early US at the first visit to see the bean and the glowy heartbeat. Don't be afraid to call your dr again - they deal with pregnant women all the time, and peace of mind is valuable in a happy pregnancy. :)

[2HUNGRY!]

Susan -- Thanks for letting me know about your test. I hate going to the lab, mostly since my Dr. has people who take the test at their office eat 1 1/2 Milky Way bars instead of drinking the drink.

Willybean -- We also confirmed heartbeat by ultrasound (at 6w4d). My doctor wouldn't even try with the doppler until 12 weeks and even then they warned me they might not find it. Are you doing an NT scan between 11 and 13 weeks? You would see it then on the ultrasound. If not, I would call my doctor and ask to try again. It seems like 14 weeks is way too long to wait and not good for a PG person's nerves! That said, I think its very common not to be able to hear anything at 10 weeks.

[SusanPC]

Willybean-- wanted to share with you that we didn't hear a h/b on the dopplar at the DR's office until 14 weeks. I have an anterior placenta (sits on top I guess) and they said that could have been part of the reason. In any case, each time I was at the Doc and the dopplar didn't work, they gave me a very quick peak on the u/s machine for piece of mind. I would absolutely call back and request a quick u/s if it is going to make you feel better. I am sure all is completely fine and your doc's office should be more than used to dealing with pg women and their fears! Hang in there.

Nancy--Yucky....praying I don't get sent back for the 3 hour one....glad you are done with them!

[willybean]

Thanks for your feedback everyone. I did get to see the heartbeat at my 7-week ultrasound (was done because I had spotting) and all looked very good.

I think the bottom line is that I was somewhat umimpressed witht eh doctor and am going to shop around for a new one. He was not even familiar with my chart which wqas very frustrating and clearly had not looked at it before meeting with me. I will keep you posted as I continue my search for a new one!

[SusanPC]

Just got a call from my DR's office. I failed the glucose tolerance test.....so, back for the 3 hour test I go....not fun....

[Couperine]

Willybean, good luck finding a new doctor - you certainly shouldn't have to stick with someone you aren't happy with. I'm glad you saw the heartbeat at 7 wks though!

((Susan)), I'm so sorry about the glucose test. It's apparently very common to have to do the 3 hr one - I have no good advice for it other than try to stay sane while waiting. (I've done 2 1-hr this pg - one with the enormous pregnancy panel and the other a couple weeks ago). I remember a lot of moms from this thread during my first pg going for the 3-hr with no problems.

[chefbecky]

willybean, just checking in to let you know that it took a long time to find the baby's heartbeat the day before she was born! I take my cue from the medical professionals -- if they're not concerned, then I TRY not to be. Same went for a few tiny glitches in my delivery.

I must say, it's weird to sit here watching Lucy sleep and think that four days ago, she was inside me. Even having done it once, that is still a miracle to me. And I have to say, my DS looks so HUGE to me!

[2HUNGRY!]

Susan -- I just ran accross chandeleirs and pottery barn kids. You've probably seen them, but just in case, here is the link:

http://www.potterybarnkids.com/shop/b/lig/index.cfm?cm%5Ftype=gnav

[MomofMooch]

Slightly off-topic comment to 2Hungry:
Wait, what?! A doctor that lets you eat candy bars for the glucose tolerance test instead of drinking "the drink" ?!? I've never heard of that. That is just awesome. Sign me up! :)

--She who has a secret stash of Cadbury Creme Eggs in her pantry as we speak ...

[MISSINDI]

I must say, it's weird to sit here watching Lucy sleep and think that four days ago, she was inside me. Even having done it once, that is still a miracle to me. And I have to say, my DS looks so HUGE to me!

I know, right?! I look at Madeline's legs and think -- that's what was kicking me all the time. And the little butt that was sitting on my ribcage. The thought that she was inside me never fails to be a little weird. And this time, even though the epidural meds were strong, I felt the final pull of her limbs coming out of me when the doctor pulled her out. Very strange feeling.

Congrats on baby Lucy, by the way! Love the name Lucy and it was on my short list for awhile. :)

Anybody have headaches for awhile after the epidural? The first week, I had a daily headache. This week, it's not daily, but definitely still there. My sister, who had her baby 4 months ago, apparently has had a lot of headaches since too. Wondering if it's just the residual epidural effects?

[Couperine]

It's probably not the epidural giving you headaches - it's fairly common to have post-partum headaches due to your wildly changing hormones. There's just a lot of stuff going on with your body trying to turn you into a milk cow and return your uterus back to its normal self. Hopefully things will even out soon for you, Missindi! :)

I finally picked out a newborn outfit for David, and it was almost the same size as Ethan's underwear. I cannot wait to have him - Ethan is completely enthralled with babies these days. Of course from the perspective of all the house stuff going on, I'm grateful to have 10 weeks left!

[Delanl]

Just popping in to say congrats Chefbecky and welcome Lucy!

Missindi--I hear you about the headaches. Last weekend I got two migraines. They were horrible. I couldn't even get up to nurse, my DH had to bring the baby into bed with me. I heard its from all the extra hormones too. Thankfully, I haven't had one since. Hope yours get better soon.

PS--I think our little ones were born on the same day! :)

[willybean]

I am going back on Monday to meet with the nurse practioner to see if she can find the heartbeat. Then I have appointments scheduled over the next few weeks to check out a few new doctors. Will see how that goes but am excited to find someone I feel comfortable with.

I am almost 11 weeks and already feel like I am showing and my pants are getting very tight. When did everyone here start showing? I probably just look like I have gained weight (gained 5 lbs) but I feel like it must be so obvious to my coworkers (and I am not planning to tell them just yet).

Hope everyone is hanging in there and doing well!

[AliKat11]

[QUOTE=willybean;1346693]
I am almost 11 weeks and already feel like I am showing and my pants are getting very tight. When did everyone here start showing? I probably just look like I have gained weight (gained 5 lbs) but I feel like it must be so obvious to my coworkers (and I am not planning to tell them just yet).
[QUOTE]

I think I probably started showing around 11-12 weeks, but definitely noticed that my body had changed a lot prior to that, mainly that I lost my waist completely. I think it's safe to say that the changes aren't nearly as noticeable as you think they are! I think I was able to wait until 16 weeks to tell my boss, and it was closer to 20 weeks before I was actually in maternity jeans even though I would have sworn back where you are that it would be any day if this kept up. (Bella Bands will be your best friend!)

Welcome to those who just 'outed' themselves, and congratulations to ChefBecky & Apricot! Only a few more weeks until I join you! :D

[SusanPC]

Just got back from an OB appt. I passed 3 of the 4 blood tests at the 3 hour Glucose tolerance test yesterday. So, no need to see a specialist or a dietician or anything....she just said to watch refined sugars, try to eat more lean protein, etc.

I am 29 weeks tomorrow and have gained 10 lbs. Joy. She said the head is down at the moment but that she is probably still moving around in there these days.

Uneventful appt. which I like! I have an u/s next Wed....excited for a peak.

[MISSINDI]

Delanl - just scrolled through to find your announcement, somehow missed it. Congrats on baby Kylie! I totally hear you on the epidural wearing off at the "right" time. ;) This time, they gave me more and I was completely numb, for the first and many, many hours later. It's such an uncomfortable feeling to not have control of anything from the ribs down, and I really debated about getting the extra dose. With Nicholas, different doctor, and she wanted me to feel enough to be able to push.

Congrats, honeygirl! My mom's side of the family is French, and I debated about spelling Madeline the French way to honor that, but went with what I thought would be the more common spelling here. So far we've found five different ways to spell Madeline - geesh! :D

Headaches are much better, or at least I'm not reaching for Tylenol daily, so I'll take it. Body no longer as sore as it was last week. Now if I could just get rid of the, ahem, leaking every time I sneeze or cough, I'd be right as rain. Particularly since I have a bad cold/sore throat now and I'm coughing a lot! :)

So y'all banned me from talking about weight during pregnancy, can I talk now? ;) I gained a total of 15 with Madeline and have lost the 15, plus an additional 2. It came off WAY quicker with her than with Nicholas, and I'm looking forward to starting to go for walks and doing a bit of exercising. Although I lost the weight I gained with Nicholas, I gained it back over the last 5 years, so that's my next project. :D

[sweetpea]

Congrats to all the new mommies/daddies! wow! I love seeing the pictures...makes me antsy to see my little one!

I'm 26 weeks and change--next week is my glucose test. I didn't have one with DD--the midwives just didn't do it at the birth center, so this will be my first. I'm taking a good book and looking forward to an hour of quiet :).

And I am starting to freak about my weight gain--mind you, I lost all that i gained and another 10 lbs with DD--but i feel HUGE! I have gained 20 lbs. already and still have to make it to MAY! As a dietitian who used to work with prenatals, I know i'm not WAY out of line, but gads. I don't want to be any bigger than I already am! So today I started with my food diary on a wipe off board on the fridge. Just to track all that I put in my mouth--I need to do better with eating fruits/veggies too--just so darn hard in WINTER! there, my rant is over. thanks for listening. I know i'm doing okay, but man, that prepregnancy weight/waist seems so far away!!!!!!!!!!

[SusanPC]

Sweetpea---I hear you. We are moving and I was packing up a wardrobe box of stuff to put in storage while we list our house. I almost started crying when I packed up my gym shorts...they look so small at the moment.

But, sounds like you will lose it all if history repeats. And, it sounds like you are at a normal/healthy weight gain! Hang in there.


Missindi--So jealous of your quick loss. That's AWESOME!

[2HUNGRY!]

willybean -- Good luck today.

Susan -- I'm glad you passed the three hour.

Christine -- I hope you are okay out there.

Well, I am back to the land of the living. I got the flu last week and didn't stand up for four days. It was not fun, and I also watched way too much Discovery Health Channel.

My DH and I saw a commericial for Jon and Kate Plus 8 last week, and I told him that high order multiples was my biggest nighmare while we were going through fertility treatments (well, besides never having children at all). Do you know what he said? "You're so big now, I can't imagine if you were carrying six." He's so lucky I couldn't get off the couch to kill him.

[MISSINDI]

My DH and I saw a commericial for Jon and Kate Plus 8 last week, and I told him that high order multiples was my biggest nighmare while we were going through fertility treatments (well, besides never having children at all). Do you know what he said? "You're so big now, I can't imagine if you were carrying six." He's so lucky I couldn't get off the couch to kill him.

LOL. When I had been in labor for five hours, dh went right outside the room to take a call from his sister and I heard him say, "Yeah, she just started labor now." I explained to him when he came back in the room that I had actually been in labor for FIVE HOURS thankyouverymuch and he responded that he considered labor the "huffing and puffing" part. The nurse, who had been with me all day, then explained to him, "You know, even with the epidural, she still has use of her legs and you're certainly within reach that she could kick you right now, if she wanted." :D

[ChristineB]

Hi Ladies,

Checking in from my hospital room:( Finally got internet working. Came in on Feb 7th b/c I had another bleed. I am here now until I deliver. They are scheduling my c-section at 36 weeks. I have had some additional bleeding since I have been here, so I am really nervous. Luckily it stops but it is still scarry. I am now 33 weeks 1 day, so we are getting closer. Hospital life is really tough. Friends and family have been great about visiting but the nights are lonely.

My last ultrasound 3 weeks ago they estimated the baby at 4.3 pounds, so it seem she is growing and healthy, which is most important.

Congrats to all the new mommies and newly pregnant!
ChristineB

[Couperine]

((((Christine)))) - Thank goodness your baby is still growing well; it must be incredibly difficult for you to be stuck there for so long.

[mst]

Christine- sorry about the bedrest in the hospital. That stinks. But, 33 weeks is really promising. And, at least you know that you only have 3 weeks to go. One of my friends was put on hospital bedrest at 20 weeks for the rest of her pregnancy.

I can be your partner in crime, as I am also on bedrest (only 28 weeks, though!). I am at home, which is nice. I joined Netflix, and have a whole bunch of projects planned. It is very hard for me because of DD. We had to put her in full-time daycare, which was really hard for me. She loves it though. She has a hard time going in the morning, but comes home with big smiles.

We bought me this crazy inversion vibrating massage chair, which helps a lot. I just worry that our kid will come out vibrating! My husband thinks that we are going to end up having wars over him wanting to get rid of this ugly chair, and me becoming too attached to it.

Thinking of you, and hoping time passes quickly.

[bbpizzapro]

Christine so sorry to hear you on such strict bedrest..At least you will meet your little one in 3 weeks.
Mst- I hope you get off bedrest soon...
Hope everyone is doing well.

Emma and I have been getting to know each other and we officially are in love w/ each other..
I still miss her inside though

[2HUNGRY!]

Christine -- I'm glad you could post. Sorry you're in the hospital. You've had a long, long road. I'm sure three weeks sounds a lot longer to you than it does to me, so I won't tell you its almost over! I hope you have nice nurses.

mst -- Sorry you're on bedrest too, but enjoy Netflix. I love renting the TV series. It must have been hard to send your DD to daycare.

BB -- I'm so glad things are going well with little Emma!

Missindi -- I think you should kick your DH now in memory of that comment!

Here's a blog I came accross for anyone who may have time to kill on the internet. Its from a L&D nurse -- so if you don't like L&D stuff don't read. I find it very funny:

http://itsababynotbrainsurgery.blogspot.com/

[willybean]

Christine--Hopefully the next few weeks will fly by and soon enough you will meet your little one!

mst--thinking of you too.

I went to meet with the nurse yesterday and she was able to find the heartbeat and it was very strong so I felt great about that. I am in my 12th week now so am prety much officially telling people although it feels weird "coming out". Still on a search for a new doctor and have some appts in the coming weeks.

Hope everyone is doing well!

[2HUNGRY!]

Yay! Congrats Willybean!

[willybean]

Thanks 2HUNGRY!

[mabvt]

Hi there. I'm new here although I've been lurking awhile.

I am 8 weeks along and am feeling pretty lousy most of the time. It's my first pregnancy so I really had no clue what to expect. Right now I am tired and cranky and nauseous. I have my first apt today with a nurse at my doc's office to start the OB file so I'm a bit excited. DH is out of the country so that is making me a little crazy too. Luckily, he'll be home this weekend.

I've already learned a ton from my lurking...I'm looking forward to becoming an active part of this community!

[chefbecky]

((Christine and mst)) Thinking of you both ...

[Couperine]

Willybean - I'm glad you heard the heartbeat!!

Mabvt - Congratulations and welcome! Hopefully you will feel better in a few more weeks.

Hopefully Christine and mst are keeping their sanity intact while on bedrest!

BB - I'm so thrilled you've bonded well with Emma; I remember thinking how much easier it was having DS1 inside than getting used to doing things together after he was born. Currently though, I'm ready to regain the use of my waist - I miss bending over through the middle. :)

[bbpizzapro]

Couperine....I hear you about the waist...It is much smaller and I can bend again...yeah!

Willybean, so glad about the hb!!

[mabvt]

I had my first appointment with the nurse this afternoon and weighed in at ten pounds less than usual. A few of the pounds may have been lost pre-preggers...but still! Nurse reminded me I need to keep food in my stomach, eat whatever sounds good etc, etc. On the way home from the office I stopped and got some food and up it all came. :( What to do? Is first trimester weight loss normal?

[mst]

mabvt- congrats. Yes, it is very normal to lose weight in the first trimester. The advice that everyone seems to get is just try to get anything down, and take a prenatal vitamin.

willybean- congrats on the hb. The first time I heard it with each child, I cried. It is such a miracle to think that someone's heart is beating inside me!

bbpizzapro- so glad that everything is going great with Emma. I love newborns- it is such a special time, and you will be shocked how quickly it passes!

Nancy- I am looking forward to getting out of bed without needing to use both hands to push me up. Last week, I did not use my hands, and pulled a stomach muscle. Nice, huh?

[2HUNGRY!]

Welcome mabvt. Yes, it is normal to lose weight. Don't be too hard on yourself, and if something sounds good eat it. I had good luck with smoothies made with whole milk. Also, make sure you drink plenty of water. Hydration is important. I also tried adding peanut butter and cheese to as many things as I could. I didn't actually lose that much weight, but didn't really gain either during the beginning of my second trimester, even though my stomach got bigger. All of my excess weight in my face and hips kind of went straight to my belly. My doctor called it liposuction from within. I felt really guilty about the whole thing (and not so nice comments from co-workers and in-laws didn't help) but really there's nothing you can do. Hang in there and hopefully you'll start feeling better in a few weeks.

[mabvt]

Thanks for the advice/kind words.

I know I am probably worrying too much. It's the "I want to do every single thing the right way" syndrome and I need to get over it!

Also, thanks for the assurance that the ickiness will go away eventually...there are days I wonder.

[AliKat11]

Thanks for the advice/kind words.
I know I am probably worrying too much. It's the "I want to do every single thing the right way" syndrome and I need to get over it!


I'm on the last few weeks of my first pregnancy, and what you said above has seriously been the worst part of the whole thing. You will find that there is no agreement whatsoever on what the 'right' way is to do ANYTHING, and you will drive yourself literally insane trying to be perfect when there isn't any one way to do this perfectly.

It wasn't until this last couple of months that I finally managed to find my own way of doing things that was right for me and felt comfortable. It takes effort to tune out all the advice, criticism and conflicting information from people who should be experts, but you'll eventually find your own zen with this experience.

Just my $.02.

[chefbecky]

It wasn't until this last couple of months that I finally managed to find my own way of doing things that was right for me and felt comfortable. It takes effort to tune out all the advice, criticism and conflicting information from people who should be experts, but you'll eventually find your own zen with this experience.

This is good advice when the baby comes too -- you won't believe how free people are offering their opinion about what you're doing wrong. Both times, I've found it to be worse than during pregnancy. You have to be confident that you're doing what's right for you and your child.

Missindi, sorry I was cranky about weight talk during our pregnancies, but I'm so happy for you that it came off so fast! I can't say the same. I haven't weighed myself, but I think I've got a ways to go. I'm looking forward to the weather warming up so we can get outside and walk -- that's how it all came off with DS.

[ChristineB]

Doctor just came in and told me my c-section is scheduled for March 17th--boy can we use some Irish luck!! I will be 36 weeks, I hope that the baby will be healthy enough coming a little early.

My poor husband is in the emergency room right now (at a different hospital than where I am) b/c he has strep and tonsilitis and can't swallow water. And today is his birthday:( Come on Irish luck!!

Christine

[MISSINDI]

Missindi, sorry I was cranky about weight talk during our pregnancies, but I'm so happy for you that it came off so fast! I can't say the same. I haven't weighed myself, but I think I've got a ways to go. I'm looking forward to the weather warming up so we can get outside and walk -- that's how it all came off with DS.

Don't be silly! You weren't cranky at all! Normally I don't pay attention to the scale at all, particularly because I have such a hard time losing it - that's why I was so surprised that a) I didn't gain that much and b) that it's coming off so quickly. I've lost an extra 7 on top of the 15 that I gained during the pregnancy, and I'm not sure why it came off this quickly this time, but I'll take it. Like you, I can't wait for Spring so we can start walking, going to the park, etc. Feel like this is finally my impetus to lose the last bit of extra weight I've been carrying around once and for all.

(((ChristineB))) I am so sorry for everything you guys are going through - you certainly have your hands full! At least now you have an end date and the light at the end of the tunnel, and 3/17 will be here before you know it. Hard to believe Madeline's been here over 2 weeks already. Seems like no matter what's going on, in the end, time flies. (Although my grandmother used to say that was a sign of old age) :rolleyes:

[mst]

Christine- oy. You guys can't catch a break. I will be thinking of all of you.

[AliKat11]

Christine--huge hugs to you!

So, I just got back from my latest OB appt. Have I mentioned that I’m really, really done being pregnant? My OB seems to agree with me, and is actually concerned that I have a really big baby in here, she’s guessing 9-10 lbs already and I'm at 36w 1d today. Over the past week & a half, I’ve just gotten enormous. Seriously-beach ball sized, but only in my stomach. He’s out of room, and she’s quite frankly amazed that I’m still working, going to the gym, etc. since I’m having so much pelvic pain and am pretty short of breath a lot because my lungs (and everything else for that matter) are so displaced.

I now have an ultrasound scheduled for Tuesday of next week to see how big he is, and then we talk about next steps being induction (and if so, when?) or a scheduled c-section.

She told me to enjoy my last week alone as she left the exam room. As much as I’ve been in tears lately wanting this to be over, I’m suddenly terrified. :eek:

I have so much to do this weekend…

[bbpizzapro]

my goodness christine....st. patty's day can't come too soon!!!

allikat.....I was so anxious to be done and then scheduled my induction and I was so scared. I wanted to cancel it...well she came before being induced and it was better than I thought!

[Couperine]

Mabvt - It's just plain hard to gain weight when you are nauseous, but I hope you don't stress yourself too much. Hopefully once your first trimester is over, you become the queen of all things edible and have a wonderful time with your pregnancy after that! Ah yes, and I have found with this pregnancy I stress SO much less than I did when I had no children - I think when you are a first-time pregnancy that you just have too much time to think about everything, and after that, you get too busy to spend as much time worrying. :)

Alikat - No wonder you feel so bad if your baby is already so well developed when you are at 36 weeks! I hope your ultrasound shows that things are a go for an earlier delivery - it's funny how for so long in the pregnancy you wish to be further along, and then right at end, you just aren't ready yet!

mst - Immobilizing pain in your back and stretched stomach muscles too - you can't catch a break either! Any updates on the bedrest front, or do they think your back pain won't go away until you deliver?

Missindi and Chefbecky - I'm so glad you two are enjoying your newborns; I'd take Missindi's weight gain and loss in a heartbeat, but I'm hanging strong at 35 lbs gained with 10 wks to go. I had a *15* lb gain over Christmas, but since then I've maintained - I just hope to keep things relatively reasonable in these last 10 weeks; at least I have no room to overeat now. One q about your carpal tunnel, Missindi - did they tell you anything to do for it? I have it in my right hand this time - I finally told the dr about it and she said yup that can happen.

Christine - I hope your husband recovers quickly - I'm glad that they gave you a target date to look forward to. Hopefully your family has gone through enough and things will be smoother til the delivery. :)

Same old, same old stuff going on here - had an appt on Tuesday, set up all the rest of my appts through my due date, measured normally, got poked and told my swelling still seemed reasonable, heard the heartbeat easily, all those good things. Zantac is still working for stomach issues, and I'm eating little meals all day long because frankly I feel better than way. Ah yes, my unmentioned little gem, I have the sex drive of a rock, but DH is surviving. I read in pregnancy books that it goes either way, but it's a bit of a relationship boondoggle - I'm ready to feel...the zing? :)

[SusanPC]

Hi ladies--checking in at 29.5 weeks!

Christine--Darn it, you can't catch a break. I am so sorry for you and your Dh....But I am also glad you have your induction scheduled and the end is in sight. You know your Docs won't take the little one out until ready....hang in there and don't worry.

MST--How is your bed rest going? I am glad you daughter is enjoying daycare so that can be a little less stress/guilt.

Nancy--Sounds like things are going well with you. I hear you on the lack of drive.....I swear, I feel like my Dh is jaws circling me esp on the weekends :o I totally missed that 2nd trimester excitement.

Mabvt--I wouldn't worry about the weight loss. I lost 18 lbs in the first 18 weeks and I am all good and healthy now....I think the 2nd trimester is when it is more important to start gaining. Still, at 29 weeks, I am just now at my weight when I found out I was pregnant (although I was on the WW threads at the time....so I had about 30 to lose!)

Missindi--So jealous of your quick weight loss. Hope that happens to me.

Me--Met with my boss yesterday. I am cleared for 16 weeks of maternity leave and then will work 2 days from home when I go back. Still haven't decided if I will work both of those days or go to 80% pay and take one off. Of course, who knows, I may not want to go back...glad to have the options as I have no idea how I will feel. We move on the 24th of March and I am getting anxious to get the nursery going. All of the strollers/bouncer/pack n play, etc have arrived and I am dying to open boxes and set things up!

I had an u/s today. Baby is just over 2 lbs and is head down at the moment. All looked good. Next ob appt is next Thursday.

[MomofMooch]

Wow, this thread is hoppin'!

Christine, sending more virtual support and hugs your way! I do hope your family's luck starts to turn around! I am sure the doctors wouldn't be setting a date if they didn't feel comfortable that baby will be ok at 36 weeks. You should be congratulated for getting this far and surviving bedrest so long! You are doing everything in your power to get this baby as big and healthy as possible before he/she arrives, which will be just around the corner!

Speaking of the trying-to-do-everything-right syndrome, I'll echo what others have said, which is that other people's advice/pressure/assumptions about what's "right" can really make you go batty if you let it, especially AFTER the baby arrives! Whoever said that (too lazy to scroll down, but somebody else gets credit for bringing it up) is totally right, in my opinion, as I found the comments and "advice" from others to be even worse once you are parenting. Particularly from in-laws! I quickly accumulated a little collection of polite, agreeable-sounding, pat little phrases that gave the advice-giver the impression I was agreeing with her but in fact reflected absolutely nothing about my actual intentions or opinions, such as:

"Hmmm, I've heard that."
"Ohhhh, that makes sense."
"Gosh, I'll have to find out more about that at my next doctor's appointment."
"Yes, I just read that."
"Oh, I was actually planning to ask the lactation consultant about that."

You get the idea ... meanwhile, in my head, I would keep reminding myself, "This is MY baby, and I, as his mother, am doing what's best," and then I'd probably also be thinking some not-so-polite things that are not nice to put into print here. :) But, confidence does come with time, and by the time you are pregnant with your second, you are just too tired to worry about the unsolicited advice anymore ...

Missindi, very jealous of the weight loss, and SusanPC, very jealous of 16 weeks maternity leave! Sounds like you have an awesome employer to be so flexible!

I, too, am huge and really, really done with being pregnant. AliKat, maybe you and I are in a neck-and-neck race to the finish now! My c-section is scheduled for 3/13, so two weeks away, but it sounds like you might beat me! Good luck getting things done this weekend!

My last thought for the night: I know I am huge when, not 1, not 2, but 3 complete strangers at Target ask me how much longer I have to go, when I am completely bundled up in a big winter coat (which I think makes it more difficult to discern if someone is pregnant or just really large). In fact, when one of them worded it as "How many months are you?" I replied, "Um, nine!"

[mabvt]

Christine & mst-- I hope everything goes well for you in the next weeks and that you are blessed with an extra big doses of patience and calm!

All--Thanks so much for the good advice re: worrying and doing what's "right". Momofmooch--those pat phrases are great I will have to remember those!

It is so great to hear stories from those of you who are on the other end of the spectrum. When I'm feeling crummy (and only about 4 people know I am p right now so I am not doing a lot of talkin irl) it is hard to remember the end result of this is actually (gulp!) a baby.

[2HUNGRY!]

Christine -- Wow, how terrible for your DH. Its too bad they couldn't put you two in the same room to at least keep each other company. I hope he at least is home now. I hope the 17th gets here quickly!

Susan -- You must work in DC too. I love the 16 week maternity leave thing. I am taking 14 or so and it seems like I am doing the company a favor!

Hi everyone else!

[SusanPC]

2Hungry--Yep, work in DC where FMLA is 16 weeks. 12 of those are paid, not the full 16. I MAY go back after 14, but we will see....DH is Australian and we need to take her over to meet family at some point. So, not sure I'll want to request 2 weeks off at the holidays after taking 4 months off earlier in the year. Time will tell. :confused:

Have a great day to all.

[Kerri]

Just wanted to weigh on the weight issue. You people need to stop looking at the scale! I *think* I gained 40 the first time around and *think* I am on track to gain maybe a little less than that this time. We will see. I lost a lot from having the baby...more than they say you do, but was down to my prepregnancy weight by my 6 week check up. That was mainly due to my PPD so it isn't always a good thing!

So sorry to hear about those of you on bedrest. I just couldn't imagine!

And Mabvt, just wanted to reiterate, its worse after having the baby! Really, you just have to pick your one or two things that are really important to you and let the rest go. I recommend the "everything in moderation" rule.

[MISSINDI]

Missindi - did they tell you anything to do for it? I have it in my right hand this time - I finally told the dr about it and she said yup that can happen.

Unfortunately not much can be done about it. I have the gel mousepad, the gel wrist thing for the keyboard and during the really bad months, I slept with wrist splints on both hands and took 2 Tylenol in the hopes of making it through the night. While it is numb during the day, the worst months woke me up in the middle of the night, feeling like my hands were on fire. Truly bad. Now, nearly 3 weeks after Madeline's arrival, have feeling in 3 fingers on my left hand, but my right hand (and, of course, I'm right-handed) has gotten worse. Giving it 6 weeks, then going to hand doctor. There is a shot you can get for instant relief, but trying to hold out. :D

Formula stains on clothes - ack! I remember with Nicholas, we stopped buying white/grey clothing because formula stains. But with Madeline, a lot of her stuff is white and/or pink. Tried Dreft to no avail. Anything else to recommend?

She had her 2-week check-up Wednesday and doing good. Switched formula for the 4th, and hopefully last, time. Now on soy-based Enfanmil.

[Couperine]

It sounds like your carpal tunnel is worse than mine - I had a few bad weeks and then I started figuring out ways to hold my hand at night. I hate the tingly fingers - just plucking my eyebrows kills my fingers. The really painful part seems to have passed - for a while I woke up during the night with a burning hand. Now it's just tingles - that downward dog is awesome for other stuff too; it's wonderful to let my belly hang off my body.

I remember having good luck with a Spray n Wash that had 2 parts - they squirt at the same time, but have separate chambers. You're making me realize how long it's been since I had to deal with those kind of stains - can't even remember the product name, and it was a life-saver at the time. :)

I hope Madeline's new formula works out well for her - it will be nice to settle into a brand and then work on finding the best deals for it, I'm sure.

[SusanPC]

Nancy--I've never had carpal tunnel but my prenatal yoga instructor said it is really common in pg and has been showing us poses in class that can help it a bit. One is the standard downward facing dog pose...really anything that stretches/bends the wrists. Of course, if you are in terrible pain that may be impractical. Hang in there.

Missindi--wow, 2 weeks already. Doesn't time fly?

[Kerri]

Formula stains on clothes - ack! I remember with Nicholas, we stopped buying white/grey clothing because formula stains. But with Madeline, a lot of her stuff is white and/or pink. Tried Dreft to no avail. Anything else to recommend?



Oxyclean!! That was one of the best things I bought post-baby and now give a bottle for gifts for new moms.

I also had carpal tunnel with #1 and just waiting for it to come back with #2:( I never did find anything to help with this, just know you will eventually loose all feelings in your fingers. Mine stayed around until DS was 6-8 months, but it did eventually go away.

[food girl]

Just seconding the oxyclean. Works even better once your little one has moved on to things like grape juice and avacado!

Congrats to all the new Moms!

Lisa

[nowimcooking]

:o :o :o

Hello from a long lost, formerly pregnant poster. For various reasons I wasn't online for a while, and then I just never got back to post the details of our little arrival....so here they are, long, long overdue! I'm kind of embarrassed to even post the date!

Sawyer Elliot was born October 26, 2007 at 4:33pm. He weighed 7 lbs, 9.2 oz and was 20.5 inches long. I went to the hospital on the 24th after my water broke and they made me go nearly a full 48 hours before he was finally delivered via c-section! He came into the world wide awake, alert and peaceful and is a wonderful little baby boy (who now just celebrated his 4-month birthday!). I'm enjoying fumbling my way through momhood, and will hopefully join some of the other moms on the "new mom" thread.

I wish all of you the best of luck with your pregnancies....exciting to see mst and Kerri here again!

[Couperine]

Congratulations on baby Sawyer and thanks for letting us know that you made it with flying colors! I'm sure you've been busy since having a little one - babies can change your priorities. :D

[2HUNGRY!]

Yay! Congrats and thanks for letting us know.

[mst]

nowimcooking- Congrats! I love the name Sawyer. How cute! Thanks for checking in with us.