How 'bout Pregnant Susans - Pt 3???

[kwormann]

Hey guys....That thread was also way long! How bout a new one?

Kim http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[erinl]

Kim-I agree.
mb-As long as your SIL is comfortable with doing things for herself and her family, I say let them stay. They might even be helpful!
Hopefully, I'll have a similar problem soon! My closest family lives 6 hours away, and hotels in Chicago are expensive.

[KristaMB]

mb~ One of my friends has asked if she can come for a week in September to be with me after my mom leaves. I'm a little hesitant about it, because I don't really know what she is expecting. But I think I have made it really clear that I won't be up for entertaining. I told her she was welcome to come, but not to expect excitement and sight seeing. Hopefully she can help me out with cooking, etc.

Maybe you could just tell your SIL that you don't think you'll be up for entertaining, but they are welcome to stay and be their own hosts. As far as sleeping arrangements go, may I suggest that they buy and bring thier own air mattress?

I think you're in a pretty tough situation, though. I can definitely understand you not wanting guests. And, man, if my MIL were coming to visit, there would be no way I'd say yes. (But that's another story http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif)

~Krista

[MrsReber]

I was thinking we needed a new thread,too. However, I think the next one will need a new name! I hate to think that the Susans are dominating here when we have some other pregnant ladies out there! Anyway, I think SusanD and I will be the first ones to leave the pregnant womens' club.

I am afraid of visitors after the baby. My sister said that she hated when people came to visit because she loved her time alone with her baby. She felt it was such an intrusion, though she did like the occasional help. I don't know how I'd feel about having people actually stay in the house with me. We have lots of family around so we can kick them out after an hour or two! If SIL has an 11 month old baby, though, she is probably sensitive to all those things. If they go to Disney for a couple of days, even better! But you may want to discuss it with her more or tell her about your fears. I'm sure she'd understand, especially if your husband is close to her. She may actually be a huge help to you since she just went through it all herself!

Just read the last few posts on that other thread. My husband does not call me Preggo or any variation thereof. He knows it annoys me and it's best not to mess with hormonal woman right now. Actually, he really is the only one who does not get on my nerves at all and can always make me smile when I'm feeling huge, bloated and unattractive. I told him I hate the pregnant nicknames. I have a name and I don't make up nicknames for others. He said he totally understands.

Hubby is setting up the crib in the baby's room. We got the instructions faxed over yesterday.

Becky, good luck!! Yes, there are many things that cause autism- I even read that the mercury that binds the mumps/measles/rubella/ shot can cause autism. That scares me. I want to find a pediatrician who will give the shots separately. Ahhh! I need a pediatrician!!! Another thing to worry about. Guess it's just the beginning.

[This message has been edited by MrsReber (edited 04-10-2001).]

[mb]

a new thread sounds good - that other one was way too long!

everyone, thanks for your advice. we are actually in the midst of re-thinking our plans for after baby arrives...at first, we thought we'd have one big party w/ family. however, that will mean that all the family will descend in on us shortly after baby arrives, and it may be stressful. plus, i'm not so sure i want our tiny baby being around large groups of people, family or not. so now we are thinking of skipping the 'party' and just having different parts of the family visit at different times (also b/c my DH's parents are divorced and it's hard to have his ENTIRE family together!). this way baby can meet everyone one-on-one, and we won't feel even more overwhelmed right after she arrives.

plus, when we're a bit more settled w/ baby, i might feel a little more up to being hostess. i know most of you said i should just give up the idea of hostessing, but i am just too anal-retentive to go along with that idea (well, at least i say that NOW!). plus, my SIL always lets us be our own hosts when we stay with her, and actually it kinda drives me crazy, so it makes me want to be hostess-with-the-mostest even more! plus, this will only be their 2nd time visiting FL, so I want to make sure they have a really good time.

MrsReber, where did you read about that stuff with the mercury in the MMR vaccine & autism? that is so scary! i never heard of that before! we also need to start looking for a pediatrician... my pediatricians from when i was a kid are still around, and very close to our house, so we're kinda debating that (but they're a little on the older side these days!) oh, and about the nickname - i don't get offended by it when my DH calls me preggo. actually, it makes me smile & laugh... i think at this point our husbands are becoming more and more supportive; probably because we are getting so huge they feel bad for us! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif good luck setting up your crib. you're going to be so excited when it's done!

well, i better stop typing before this thread gets to 3 pages on my posting alone!!

marisa http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[SusanD]

Kim, good idea! By the way, how did things go with the dr.? Susan & I are looking to pass the torch (or maternity bra, as the case may be...)

Marisa, we went out to Denver and stayed with my SIL for a long weekend right after she had her baby last summer (in fact, our baby was with us but we didn't know it at the time! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif). We did everything we could to help out - cooked, cleaned, watched the baby while she went grocery shopping or took a nap, and went sightseeing on our own. Now she's planning to come visit us in May, and I know that I'll be able to count on the same from her. I would hope that your SIL would offer to help as much as she could (especially having a little one herself) - in which case it might be nice to have her around.

I'm facing a similar situation...I know that my parents and in-laws will be a huge help, but unfortunately my sister is the kind of person who will sit there and expect to be entertained, and will complain if things aren't exactly to her satisfaction. So I've had to be the bad guy and tell her that she's going to have to wait for awhile before she comes to visit. I know it's rotten, but this is a time when I have to take care of myself and my family first.

Susan, how did the crib turn out? When do you start going to the dr. every other week?
I've never heard the thing about the MMR shots. Shows you how much I know, I never knew that a child could develop autism after birth - I just thought it was there or not. I'll have to ask my dr. about the shots next week. My pediatrician is in the same practice as my dr. now...there's only two of them and they're both OB/GYN and Family Practice. So I'll see one and baby will see the other.

Fortunately I haven't had to put up with too many nicknames either. Jay's always coming up with something (i.e. The Waddler), but I know he's just trying to make me laugh. The only person who's called me preggo is my SIL, and she's allowed.

I had a dr. appointment last night and she checked my cervix to see if it's made any progress. Very little http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif and boy did it hurt!!! Poor Jay, he's so squeamish, and he was going to leave the room when she checked me (which he has done in the past) and she made him stay. She said he might as well get used to it. It will be a miracle if he makes it through the delivery!

Good luck to all the other soon-to-be pregnant women...we must keep the FMC (Future Moms Club) going! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif


P.S. Marisa, you & I must have been typing at the same time! I think you're making the right decision...you need to do what's best for you & your baby.

[This message has been edited by SusanD (edited 04-10-2001).]

[MrsReber]

One other thing, Marisa- right now, you don't know how the delivery is going to be. My neighbor tore badly when her son was born and she was in agony for a while. You may need more recovery time than you think! Plus, since it's a first baby, you and your husband will be going through a huge adjustment to begin with. I would think being hostess to a large group of people would be a bit overwhelming.

Yes, I would be thrilled to pass the maternity bra! This thing is not very comfortable. Though the Playtex fit better, I still can't wait to take it off when I get home!

Going to visit some daycares on Monday. I have three that I want to see, but I think I have to rule one of them out since it is $205 a week! With hubby's current job situation, I think that would really stretch the budget.

The crib isn't together just yet. The instructions are on the kitchen counter.

Actually, my mother was telling me about the mercury in the mmr shots. I haven't checked into it on my own and my failing memory won't let me remember the entire conversation so I'm not sure what her source was. I want to ask my SIL's about their pediatricians since they live nearby. I don't know many doctors in the area and I hate to go to just anyone.

Wow, Susan, I don't think my husband would want to be in the room for that! He'll be way uncomfortable. He may not even go to those visits with me, though. He's still funny about going to the gynecologist's office with me.

[Vanessa]

When my sil's twins were 6 months she called that she needed help and I went for 9 days and tried to help all I could with both babies and the older one. I think when people visit new parents they should be prepared that is not really a visit but to give help so the parents can take a nap, help with feeding, bathing etc. I did some baking for them and being a guest one should also give parents room and privacy. When sil was feeding I took the other baby and when she was with my brother I went upstairs etc so they would have talks or time by themselves or when she was on the phone I would put the babies down or rock them etc.
I think helping out tired new parents its great but I think its best not to impose help. I always expressed that if they need me to call & they know I will come.

[BeckyM]

Just wanted to pass along what I've heard about the Measles/Mumps/Rubella shots and the alleged link to autism. According to my brother & sister-in-law (the ones who are both physicians and have an autistic daughter), scientific research has proven that there is not a link between the MMR shot and autism. There was a study done in a country where the MMR shot was not given and then they started giving it to every child (I'm thinking it was somewhere in Europe -- maybe England or Sweden or somewhere like that). They did not see any increase in the rate of autism after starting to give the MMR shots. So, the conclusion is that there is not a link.

I have heard though that most of the symptoms of autism start to show about the age that the MMR shot is given, so it is easy to see how people could conclude there is a link. But developmentally, that is the point when most children are developing their understanding of emotions, interactions with others, etc., which are areas where autistic children have great difficulties.

So that's my understanding of the MMR shot thing. I'll be sure to ask my brother & sister-in-law again when we see them. I'm also going to be sure to ask if there is any belief about anything I can do while pregnant or trying to get pregnant that may reduce our risks -- increased folic acid, etc. Of course I am going to do everything I can to be healthy & fit, to give the baby the best chance to be healthy, but I want to know if there's anything specific I should do. If you're all interested, I'll let you know what we find out. It may be a while though, because we won't see them until at least the weekend after Easter.

In the meantime, best of luck to everyone who is expecting to deliver soon. Hang in there, and don't worry too much about the labor room! (Easy for me to say.) What I mean is, the more you can relax and not stress about things, the easier things should go. We'll be eagerly awaiting the wonderful news!

Becky http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[saw]

mb -- I just wanted to add my story about visits after a baby is born. My best friend wanted me to come after her first baby was born a few years ago. I was uncertatin because I didn't want to intrude, but I also wanted to visit and see her, the baby, etc. I went for about 6 days when the baby was three weeks old. It was great -- I basically used the time to help out around the house-- I cooked dinners, made casseroles to freeze, did laundry, took care of the baby while she showered, took naps, etc. It was a great visit because I was able to help them out and have time to visit.

I think if you want visitors, you just have to be certain that whoever is visiting understands that they are not there to be entertained or taken care of -- it is you and the baby who need to extra time and attention. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Sarah

[SusanD]

Becky, thanks for clearing up the MMR shot concerns. I'd never heard that, but then I'm learning a lot of new stuff these days. Good luck to you...hopefully you'll be posting your own pregnancy stories soon!

Marisa, isn't it weird, even though I'm not due for another 18 days, just knowing that I'm past that 37-week mark has made me sooo impatient! Last night I scheduled my next three appointments (every Monday), and told the receptionist "hopefully I won't need them all!"

Sounds like you made the right decision regarding your in-laws. If you can't count on them for help then it's better to do it yourself!

[MrsReber]

Interesting- thanks for the information, Becky.

Susan, I am still on my 2 week doctor visits. I start one week visits the first week of May! I hope you don't need all your visits, too. I'd hate to go past my due date.

Good news! I have two very wonderful friends who say they are coming to clean my house in a few weeks. I have had other offers to help, I am just so weird about asking people to clean for me. I feel like I should just do it myself. I will try to help, if they even let me!

My husband's problem with me being in labor is that I'll be in pain and there won't be anything he can do. I told him there's plenty he can do- like get me drugs!!!! But seriously, I tell him that I just need him to be there and that is enough. He seems worried about it. He doesn't want to look. I had to laugh when I asked him if he wanted to cut the umbilical cord. His response? "I don't think I need to be involved in all that". He wants to stay by me and has no desire to watch what's going on. But that could all change on the big day.

[kwormann]

Right now we are waiting for MIL and FIL to find all of Scotts medical records to fax them to the counselor so we can set up an appt. I'll lay odds that these people (that still have some of our christmas gifts there that they cant manage to send to us) will scramble to get these records for this cause......

Kim

[CheerLiz]

Hi everyone;

I've been "lurking" for a few weeks, and although I'm not pregnant, I love to hear about all of it!

I'm a high school English teacher now, but I used to work with autistic children in a pretty intense setting about 4 years ago, and I keep in touch with many of the parents I worked with. Symptoms for autism can be detected in children as young as 1.5 years, and there actually is a "checklist" that doctors can consult to detect it that early. If it is detected early enough, and if children go into intense treatment early enough, the effects can be mitigated quite surprisingly. I've seen kids who have entered kindergarten with minimal assistance after being in treatment for three or four years, and who go on to live fairly "normal" lives (whatever that means!) Autism is actually one of the most treatable of all disabilities.

Research has also shown that children who develop "noramlly" and then regress (e.g., start talking and then "lose" their words) respond less favorably to treatment than children who seem to develop very, very slowly (e.g., never seem to catch on to speech patterns.)

There is also some recent research that shows autism may have a genetic link -- children with a family history of schizophrenia are more susceptible, and I've treated twins with autism as well.

Anyway -- there's my limited knowlege of the subject. Don't worry about the MMR vaccine...just notice if your toddler starts "losing" vocabulary or eye contact, and mention it to your doctor. And it's pretty rare, so don't worry about it too much. Besides, if you happen to be given a child with autism, you will be amazed at how much your capacity for love increases; it's not an easy path, but it's definitely a rewarding one.

[SusanD]

CheerLiz, thank you for that information. I have to admit the idea of having a disabled child scares me to death (as I'm sure it does other people as well), but you just accept it and move on with life.

Kim, good luck to you, I can't wait to hear what happens! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Susan, I laughed at what you said about Kyle cutting the cord. My dr. asked Jay if he was going to want to do that and I thought he was going to pass out! She said, "OK, not all fathers want to do that but I thought I'd ask." It's a good thing she's pretty young and has a great sense of humor, I think I'll be very comfortable having her in the delivery room. You're so lucky that your friends are coming to clean your house! I'm going to try to do it one more time and then I'm sure I'll be able to talk my mom into doing it (she's such a clean freak that all I'll have to do is let it get dirty enough...)

[KristaMB]

Okay, I have another entry for the "people say the dumbest things" chronicles. One of my friends at work today actually told me, "You better hope you quit growing soon!" I am 5 months! I'm not that big! I've probably gained 10-13 pounds. Aarrrgh! Of course, she's a size zero, and would probably have a heart attack at the thought of gaining that much weight...

One of our coworkers is due in three weeks and has only gained 13 pounds total, so maybe she's basing her statement on that. I didn't even know how to respond. Smile and nod?

[mb]

Thanks to BeckyM for clearing up some info on the MMR/autism thing...I think I have a little more peace of mind now!

Thanks again to everyone for all their advice on houseguests. i agree that people visiting should be coming to meet the baby, entertain themselves, and maybe even help out around the house. HOWEVER, my SIL and her husband are not exactly the happy-little-homemakers that my DH and I are. When we go to their house to visit, my husband fixes all their plumbing, electrical, and even stuff that isn't too involved (he's a computer guy, but a very handy one!). When we lived with them for 2 months, I did all the cooking & grocery shopping. If it wasn't for me, there never would have been juice or fruit or anything partway healthy in their fridge. Plus, we probably would have had chinese food, pizza, or fried chicken every night for 2 months! So what I'm thinking is: if they don't do those things for themselves, i can't really imagine that they're going to do them at our house while they're on a weeklong florida 'vacation'!

don't get me wrong - i don't mean to paint them in such a bad light. it's just that my husband and i are very different from them, and that has been a strong influence on my hesitations! i think it will work out better if they come when baby is a little bit older (even 1 month might be better).

MrsReber, i am also very concerned about the 'after-effects' of labor & delivery (i.e. rips and tears!). that stuff is pretty scary and i don't think you can predict what might happen!

SusanD, sorry to hear your cervix hasn't made much progress. I know you're ready to give birth now! Good luck to Jay on surviving the whole experience. I think my husband is less squeamish about those things than I am, but I know he might be kinda freaked out during labor since he won't be able to understand all the pains or how to make them go away. These poor guys! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[BeckyM]

It's interesting to read people's comments about their husbands' squeamishness and they might be in the delivery room. Projecting ahead to how my husband might react, he sounds somewhat different than the others I've heard described. Since my husband is a physical therapist and grew up in a family with quite a few medical professionals, he really isn't squeamish about much. Blood, wounds, and all those sorts of things never really bother him.

But I do think it will be different when it comes down to me being in labor. The reason I think so is that when I had laser eye surgery this past fall, he got to sit where he could watch the surgery close up on a video monitor. He said he has never minded watching that kind of thing before, but he found it rather disturbing, knowing it was MY eye he was seeing. So I think even though he is normally unaffected by seeing pain, blood, etc., he may have a different reaction in a delivery room! (Hopefully someday I'll find out!)

[MrsReber]

Krista, that's terrible! I really wonder what's wrong with people. My SIL (my brother's wife) is so wonderful. She remembers how people would say dumb things to her and how they'd offer unsolicited advice. She NEVER does this to me. She realizes that everyone is different. Some women gain 10 pounds, others gain 80. I am afraid to step on the scale at the dr's office tomorrow. I think some of this weight is water, though. My feet have been a bit swollen and my little toes hurt from wearing shoes.

If I hear about this NC vacation from one more family member, I will lose my mind. They are now telling my husband it's only 8 hours (how is that possible?) and that the baby will only sleep anyway. Ha ha ha! Maybe the baby will sleep, maybe the baby will be up all the time. The thing is, we just don't know and we have never been parents before. I told my husband if he wants to go, then he should go,but I will not subject myself and my baby to a beach vacation that we won't be able to enjoy. Of course, if he does go, he's in big trouble http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif!

Oh, I am getting so very uncomfortable. My back is starting to really really hurt. I am desperately counting down the days to May 11th (my last day at work). It can't get here soon enough for me.

Oh, Kyle was thrilled when I told him that my friends were going to clean my house! He can't wait! The umbilical cord thing is kind of funny. I can't believe a man who goes hunting and fishing doesn't even want to look at his child being born. That's okay. I think I'd rather have it that way! My BIL watched my sister's c-section! He thought it was really interesting.

Hi CheerLiz! Glad you're enjoying our stories (and complaints!). Thanks for that bit of info, as well. I worry about having a child who isn't "normal". I honestly don't know how I'd handle it- or my husband for that matter. But they do say that God never gives us more than we can handle.

[SusanD]

Krista, that's awful! At 5 months if you've only gained 10-13 pounds you're in great shape! I can't believe your co-worker has only gained 13 pounds total, if it were me I'd be a little concerned about that. But everybody's different I guess. I'm lucky, a good friend of mine here at work had a baby last year and was absolutely HUGE...so everyone compares me to her and tells me how good I look (I feel bad for my friend, though, who fortunately has a great sense of humor about it). I've gained 35 pounds total - which is right in the "normal" range but I hope I don't gain too much more than that.

Susan, if it makes you feel any better I'm getting soooo achey and uncomfortable too! I can't wear my rings anymore, so I look like an unwed mother (which just does wonders for my self-esteem of course!) and no matter how I sit I just can't get comfortable unless I'm surrounded by 50 pillows. I have a very limited selection of shoes, too - most of mine don't fit me anymore which is very difficult because I am a shoe freak!

[mb]

Susans, I think it's kinda cute how your DH's are squeamish about cutting the cord. I think my husband will be better about that stuff than I am. He'll pretty much do whatever. If they offer him to cut the cord, he'll probably do it. Well of course, I say this NOW, but when we're there, it could be a very different thing!

our house is also in desperate need of cleaning - it's making me nuts! MrsReber, maybe your friends will come to my house too?!?

Krista, sorry to hear someone said such stupid things to you. I think I gained 10-13 lbs by the 3rd month! I was a size 0 to start out with, so it's been kinda weird for me (i.e. when you call your size 3 jeans your 'fat girl pants'). I think your coworker must never have had a child before, otherwise they would know that everyone grows at different rates. my neighbor said she only gained 13 pounds the whole time, but i think that's weird. i think i'm going to reach the 45 pound mark. i don't know how my legs are still holding me up! At the doctor last time, i took my shoes off before being weighed. i know there was a whole other thread on what people do before getting weighed - usually i dont' follow any practice, but now that i'm seeing the scale go into uncharted territory, i find that it makes me feel better to remove my shoes before stepping on the scale!!

in terms of shoes, this is the other reason why i'm glad i live in florida. i have been able to wear open-toed, open-back sandals the entire time! it also helps that my office is pretty casual!

SusanD, sorry you can't wear your wedding rings anymore. i wouldn't worry too much about the unwed mom thing; i think most people know it gets hard to wear rings towards the end of your pregnancy... My problem is that I look like I'm 15 years old anyhow, so looking like a pregnant 15 year old isn't much better...my wedding rings are my only defense!! i hope i'm able to wear them until delivery!

MrsReber, I am so sorry that you are still being bugged about the NC trip. I think someone suggested previously that you just say you'll go, and then at the last minute say the baby doesn't feel well or whatever & you can't go. I'm more for being open and honest from the beginning, but that plan may just work. At least they'll stop bugging you for a while?

We also have a new update on this end with visiting family members: my DH spoke to his aunt last night & explained we weren't going to have a big thing, and we'd rather family members come in dribs & drabs instead of inundating us. also, since my husband's grandparents are ill & won't be able to come, we are thinking of going to NY when baby is maybe 3 months old so they can see her. so now, my husband's aunt is like 'well, if you're coming here in september & you're not having a party, then i guess we don't need to come; we'd rather come in the winter anyway'. so now our plan has backfired because my DH feels like no one WANTS to come and visit & meet the baby! sometimes, you just can't win!

well, have a great day everyone! marisa http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[MrsReber]

Marisa, you have made me feel so much better! I have gained over 30 pounds so far and I have a feeling I'll reach 45 pounds, too. I really hate the idea, but there's not a whole lot I can do about it. I don't eat that badly overall- lots of fruit during the day. The problem is that sometimes I get SOOOO hungry that I just have to eat something. I ate a bunch of crackers on the way home last night because I was starving and there was no way I could wait until dinner. I see my mom on the train 3 days a week and she's always got something to eat in her bag.

Susan, I'm so sorry your ring doesn't fit! Mine is still hanging on, though in the morning it's a bit tight. I'm hoping that I can keep wearing it.

Oh, this trip! I'm going to snap!! My SIL told my husband that we'll need a 4WD vehicle to get to this house. Oh, okay, so we're supposed to rent a vehicle, too? The haven't mentioned it, but I think we'd also be expected to chip in for the cost of the house. My other SIL was invited to go 2 years ago. She agreed to go for the week and then found out that they expected her to pay for part of the rental in that case. Not that she shouldn't chip in, but they didn't tell her this up front, they simply invited her and her husband. We really do not have the money for that right now.

Marisa, I say enjoy your time alone with your baby. They're only that small once! The way I see it is that we're first time moms and we just have no idea how we'll feel or how we'll adjust. We'll all be more relaxed with baby number two!!

[mb]

MrsReber, sorry to hear about all your frustrations w/ the family. It sounds like they are just pushing your buttons, waiting for you to explode at them! So let me get this right: they're insisting you rent a 4WD vehicle to drive 12 hours one-way with a newborn (with an unknown temperament!) to a beach house, where you'll be expected to pay 'rent' for the week & you and the baby won't even be able to enjoy the beach, plus you'll be in the house with 20 people? i don't think so! it's nice in a way, because they want to see the baby & spend time w/ the baby, but on the other hand, they don't seem to be respecting your wishes... i would say just wait it out to see what will happen, but it doesn't sound like they're going to let you 'wait' to answer!

also, do they know about the cutback of hours at kyle's job? that might at least clue them in to the fact that you may not be able to afford to rent a SUV and help pay for the house rental, among all your other upcoming expenses (i.e. BABY!).

oh, and by the way, did you get the crib set up? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

marisa http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[SusanD]

Okay, one more thing to add to the what-not-to-say-to-a-pregnant-woman list..."haven't you had that baby YET?"

Well, I'm still here, aren't I? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/rolleyes.gif

Susan, I give you credit, you have a lot more patience in dealing with your family than I would! I guess this is one of those cases where you just have to look like the bad guy to do what's best for you & baby. They'll get over it! Especially if it means an extra outlay of cash on your part to rent an SUV and chip in for the house...they should understand that you've got other expenses right now, especially with Kyle's income up in the air.

Shoyski, that's a great idea! I don't know why I didn't think of that. I know the last thing I should be concerned about is what other people think. I guess it's those good old hormones kicking in again, making me hyper-sensitive.

Marisa, that's great that you look so young - it's probably annoying now, but when your kids are in high school I bet you'll be glad! That's funny that your size 3's are your "fat" pants. I worked with a woman who was like that - she started out a size 0-2 and at about her 6th month she was complaining about having to wear an 8. I told her I didn't want to hear about it! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif I always take my shoes off at the dr. too, plus I make my husband look away so he can't see how much I weigh!

So now you're not getting any visitors right away? You'll probably be happier that way. I'm sure it's not that no one wants to come see the baby...maybe they're just finally realizing that a new mom needs time to adjust!

Lindrusso, I can't believe your family dragged you to a casino town like that! Sometimes people just don't think...

Shoot! I had a coke with lunch and now the baby is moving around a lot...she's not used to caffeine. She's getting way up into my ribs and it HURTS!

[This message has been edited by SusanD (edited 04-11-2001).]

[MrsReber]

Susan, I can relate! That's why I am trying my best to avoid sweet things. The baby goes crazy! As much as I want those peanut m&m's in the snack machine, I will be subject to intense kicking afterwards!

Lindrusso, thanks for sharing your stories. I really am feeling bad about the whole thing, but I have to do what's best for me and baby. Some people just don't think.

Nope, the crib is not together yet. We have the instructions, but hubby has been quite busy, now working 2 jobs http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif. He'll probably get to it this weekend.

Marisa, I don't think I could even get one leg into a size 0! Sounds like you are built small to begin with, though. It's frustrating gaining all this weight, but I do look forward to getting back into an exercise routine afterwards.

Susan, my SIL wore her ring around her neck, too. I forgot about that. There was a woman at the breastfeeding class who told me that she hasn't been able to wear her ring since the third month! She didn't look all that big to me to begin with so I guess she was very tiny before she got pregnant. She was having bad problems with swelling. We should at least be glad we don't have that. I hope these hormones don't get worse. I can't even imagine! I get so irritable now- I hope it's not too evident when I post messages on the BB!

[mb]

shoyski, the ring-on-a-necklace thing sounds like a good idea. but i'm still going to try to wear my rings until after i deliver! i think if i wear a ring on a necklace, i'm going to look like a high school kid w/ my boyfriend's promise ring! (even though my wedding rings definitely look like wedding rings!)

lindrusso, thanks for sharing your input on traveling w/ baby. i think you're right - most people are just plain "unthinking"! (is that a word?!? :rolleyes http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

To the Susans, I haven't complained about wearing a size 8, because I don't really know what size I am now! Once my regular & baggy clothes stopped fitting, I tried to wear maternity clothes. Maternity clothes have been a little tricky though, especially with pants. I had to buy from gap maternity because they are the only ones that make an extra small. my parents are of course extremely unsympathetic about this because they have weight problems & are at the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of clothes not fitting, etc.

i don't really care if my DH sees how much I weigh. I have almost caught up to him, weight-wise. Thank goodness he isn't that huge either. It's kinda weird to think that we're going to weigh the same thing soon!

MrsReber, it is definitely weird to gain all this weight. most of all, i just can't wait to sleep on my stomach again!

one question about your baby's movement: have other people felt your baby moving? my baby only moves for me & my DH! whenever anyone else is around, she holds very still - like she's shy! or if she does move, as soon as someone sticks their hand on my belly, she stops! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[shoyski]

I have a question for all of you farther along than me...I'm due September 9th.

When did you first start to feel your baby moving and can you possibly describe the feeling? I'm sure for those of you who are being subjected to hard kicks will laugh but I'm very anxious to feel life. We had a doctor visit a week ago and the heartbeat was very strong. In fact, the baby made some wild noises besides the heartbeat and the doctor smiled and said we had "a wild one" in there.

[CheerLiz]

I'm just so excited for all of you...it's funny that pregnancy seems to be the theme of the week --- I just assigned a research paper to my high school freshmen about the week that they were born; and the first assignment was to interview their parents about their births. There were some wild, wild stories in those interviews -- and I laughed and laughed at some of them!! So I'm paying close attention to all of your stories...and remember everything you can, because in 14 years, your child's mean, mean English teacher may assign a paper on the week you deliver. Imagine that!

[KristaMB]

Susans and Marisa~ The other (13 lb) lady at work was a little bigger to start out with, and has also been on a restricted diet due to gestational diabetes. According to her doctor, she's fine. (Thank goodness!) But it still is really frustrating to be compared to her. Marisa, you're right. The woman who made the comment has not had a child. Maybe someday she'll understand.

MrsReber, there's pretty much no way that I'd go to NC. Tell your family to leave you alone! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Rent a 4WD?! Travel 12 hours each way with a newborn?!? Plus your husband's job situation? Some people just don't think!

Marisa, I can sympathize with the 15 year old thing. Both my husband and I look very young, so it's been interesting to see how people look at us now that I am really starting to look pregnant.

I was joking with my husband today about how I weighed a ton. I think I'll probably outweigh him soon, as he doesn't weigh all that much. That's a weird thought. I actually don't feel like I weigh that much, it's just that I look big!

Shoyski, I haven't felt the baby yet either. Well, at least that I can definitely attest to. Sometimes at night when I'm trying to fall asleep, I think I feel something, but I'm not really sure. That's another thing that everybody keeps asking me about, too.

When I was at the doctor's last month and we were listening to the heartbeat, she said that the baby was really moving around. She said I should feel it within the next few weeks, but still nothing. I think maybe I'm just not recognizing it. What do the Susans and other moms think?

Just curious, have any of you been keeping a pregnancy journal? Today at work somebody suggested that I start keeping one.

[Laura]

Hi folks

I just wanted to add something about the weight gain. I gained 47 pounds with my daughter and 30 with my son. With both pregnancies I had the weight off within 4 months. I truly believe that if you are the type of person who ate healthy and exercised before your baby, you are going to be the same person after and the weight will come off.

With respect to labor. Mine were not easy, but they weren't horrible either. But, I have never met a mom who said she wouldn't do it again simply because the labor was tough. My only advice; I did it with drugs and without. For me, drugs were the way to go. I wish you all the best.

[shoyski]

SusanD, you may have thought about this already but how about wearing your ring on a chain around your neck?

My husband proposed to me with his grandmother's ring and since it didn't fit, I wear it all the time around my neck using a gold chain. It starts to be a topic of conversation with some people. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Jen]

I've been reading these threads for weeks and thoroughly enjoying all your pregnancy stories! DH and I will not be planning on kids for a couple of years, at least (we will be married 5 years this summer) but I am so interested in pregnancy and excited about when I will get to experience it! I work in a smallish company (about 50 people), but 3 women are pregnant right now - two in my department, and one who is my closest coworker (just the two of us in our section, so we work very closely together). It's been so much fun to go through her pregnancy with her. I had to share her "feeling the baby" story, because she too was late in feeling it and was starting to get worried that there was something wrong with her or the baby! Everyone kept asking "have you felt it yet?" and she just couldn't be sure...she said she felt something, but couldn't tell if it was just gas! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif One of the other women at work who recently had a baby told her not to worry, that when she felt it she would know because she'd feel it not only in her tummy, but "she would feel it in her heart". She is a very easy-going person, but had a "hormonal moment" (her words) the night before one doctor's appointment and completely broke down when talking to her husband about not feeling the baby yet (I think she was about 20-21 weeks). When she asked her doctor the next day, the doctor said "have you tried poking it?" Of course, she said "no!!" but the doctor tried poking her stomach all over. When the baby didn't move, she just said not to worry, that it would happen and the baby seemed completely healthy. Later that evening, in temple (she and her husband are devout Muslims), during a very quiet, contemplative time, she finally felt the baby move and she said the other woman had been right - she knew in her heart! I guess the baby just didn't like all that poking!! I thought it was such a sweet story. So don't worry - it might take longer than you expect but eventually you will feel the baby (and when it happens, according to her, it will be so different from any other feeling you've ever had that you will know right away. She said if you doubt that's what it is, it probably isn't!).

Best wishes to all of you for nice easy deliveries and healthy babies!

[lindrusso]

Mrs. Reber,

Was just taking a brief spin through some of the baby threads and can I just say I can sympathize with your trip problems??!!

I don't think I would have wanted to do that with a 3 month old!! If the baby starts sleeping through the night, that makes things easier, but still, it will all be so new and it's overwhelming to be faced with so many uncertainties!! I say, don't stress yourself out and stay home! I was probably a little too stressed out by changes in routine early on, but knowing that I would be stressed was even more reason for me to avoid those situations. I wouldn't have fun and would be no fun.

It's amazing how unthinking some people can be. Our family was also renting a house in NC on the Outer Banks and they wanted to rent one that could only be accessed by 4x4. Most didn't care because they'd have to be renting a car anyway, but we CARED! We had a perfectly good car and had NO PLANS to rent and add more expenses to the trip. So we flat-out vetoed it.

I remember a trip once with my oldest when he was 18 months old. We went to CO to visit my husband's family - but my husband was in the Army and couldn't go, so I went alone. One day everyone decides to go visit this casino town. I figured there would be shopping or a nice place for me to walk around with the little guy. WRONG! There were ONLY casinos and the streets were quite steep - not even good for walking. What in the world were they thinking???? That I would actually have fun?? That an 18-month old would have fun???? They could have warned me - I would have stayed home! And my son was very well-behaved - I can't imagine what it would have been like if he'd been really active and/or hornery. Then, after a long day at the casinos - they decide to stop for dinner at 9p.m. I would have rather just gone home. Anyway, it sucked.

And you're right - you'll definitely be more relaxed with number two. That's one of the benefits for the subsequent siblings - they may not get as much one on one time with mommy, but they get a more relaxed, more confident mommy.

[mb]

shoyski, don't worry if you haven't felt the baby yet (i know it's hard not to, though!), in time, the baby will move so much you'll wish they could settle down a bit!!! i probably didn't feel 'major' action until 25 weeks-ish. before that, i think i only felt some little flutters. they say when it's your 1st baby that you feel them moving later, only because you don't recognize that what you feel is them moving! to me, i guess it sort of feels like little bubbles gurgling in my tummy, but everyone describes it differently.

after the flutters, and then kicks, you will also notice that the baby will hiccup! to me, it felt like my whole tummy would sort of spasm (but not in a bad way) - just different from 'localized' kicking. now, she feels like she's just squirming around, and you can see bulges protruding out from my stomach. i think that's only going to get more pronounced, but we'll have to defer to The Susans for that info!

Krista, if you think you feel something at night, my guess is that it is the baby moving. That's when I first noticed the most movement - right when I was trying to get to bed! All day, I wouldn't feel a thing; at night when I was exhausted and trying to fall asleep, she'd really get going!

By the way shoyski, what kind of other noises did baby make?!?!

Krista, it's so funny that you feel big now. I feel like I should be bigger, given the # of pounds I've gained! I just got some pics back that were taken of me at 26 weeks (when I thought I was really huge...) and my tummy looks like a little bump! my friends who got the pics by email were disappointed, saying i looked too skinny (but i gained about 27lbs?!? is that possible?) now, at 31 weeks, i feel even bigger, so i'll have to take some more pics (in the same outfit!) to compare!

I don't keep a pregnancy journal, but we did buy a baby book where we can put in ultrasound pics, and write in our feelings, etc.

Laura, thanks for the advice. I discussed the options w/ my dr at the last visit, and told her that I don't like any of the options! i.e. natural=painful, cesarean = go to sleep & wake up w/ baby, but MAJOR surgery/recovery, drugs=scary, but comfortable (scary because I read somewhere that after you get an epidural, you can't feel your legs for a while!) But my dr assured me that they will make things as comfortable as possible so I can 'enjoy' the experience. Hmmm... we'll see about that!

Well, today is sort of "Friday" for me; we have tomorrow off! Yay! Also, tomorrow is our first childbirth class so we're excited. We have to bring 4 pillows! That's a lot of pillows! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Have a great day everyone!
Marisa

[SusanD]

Well, I put my wedding band on a chain today. Jay laughed and asked if I'd like his class ring instead. I tried putting my diamond wedding ring on the chain, but it's a marquis cut so it kept poking me...so I went for the plain band instead.

Susan, I can't believe that woman in your class had to give up her rings at three months! I feel much better now...

Marisa, I can sympathize with your clothing problems. I went through a few weeks where "stretchy" clothes were too small, but maternity clothes were too big. I was actually glad to be able to finally fit into maternity clothes...but that wasn't till late January (7th month). Plus I have very long legs and most maternity clothes don't come in tall sizes, so I have a lot of highwater pants. Lovely! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Jen, I loved your story! As for baby's movement...the first time I felt her was just before Christmas, towards the end of my fifth month. I was starting to get concerned too, because everyone I talked to about it had felt their babies move by that point. I was sitting at my desk one day and all of a sudden felt this very strange sensation - I knew it was the baby because I'd never felt anything like it before. The best way I can describe it was like a "whoosh"...almost like she was swimming inside me. I didn't start feeling actual kicks for a couple weeks after that. Now the kicks and punches are starting to subside again (thank goodness). I think she's running out of room in there, so now she just wiggles around. My dr. has me doing movement checks - every day around the same time I'm supposed to sit still near a clock and see how long it takes for me to count 10 movements. I do it after dinner because I know that's when I'll have time to sit still. Saturday night we went out for mexican and I ate WAY too much (I can't help it, put a bowl of guacamole in front of me and it's all over!). I tried doing the movement counts on the way home but I didn't feel very much and got concerned. I asked my dr. on Monday and she said that the baby was probably just sleepy after such a big meal and that I should try not to eat so much in one sitting.

I haven't kept a pregnancy journal..I know I should have, but it was just one of those things that I never got around to. I did write a bunch of stuff in her baby book, though. CheerLiz, I guess I'd better start keeping a log of everything that happens for the rest of the month...just in case she has you for a teacher later on! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

PS - Marisa, you & I must be typing at the same time every day! I was just telling my husband the other day that I was kind of disappointed that I'd never felt her hiccup - that's supposed to be the funniest feeling! Yes, I do see bulges sometimes when she's moving around, I'm always trying to guess what body part is sticking out!

[This message has been edited by SusanD (edited 04-12-2001).]

[MrsReber]

I swear I felt my baby move around 15 weeks. The doctor said I was crazy, it was too early. I only felt it maybe once or twice a week if I was sitting a certain way. They say first time mothers don't feel it as early becuase they, obviously, don't know what it feels like! It is so hard to describe. For me, it mostly felt like twitching. Now it is definitely beating me up!! When I first started feeling it, I wanted so badly for my husband to feel it. I could see my shirt moving sometimes. I really had no idea I'd feel as much movement as I do now! My doctor told me I have a "little mover". In the beginning, whenever my husband would put his hand on my stomach, it would stop. Now he can sit on the other side of the couch and see my stomach moving out of control! He was so cute last night. He said he really needs to watch more because he just can't conceive that there's a child in there! I guess it's easier for us to get used to since we live with it everyday! As far as feeling regular movement, I think that started sometime in the fifth month. Hopefully you don't get the round ligament pain. That hurts!!

It's funny when they stretch out and your stomach is in a weird shape for a few minutes. I have this spot on top that looks flat most of the time. It's weird. Hubby was poking at the baby last night. I told him it was okay. He yells at me when I do that. He gets so concerned. I try to explain that I will feel pain before the baby does!

Marisa, I know what you mean about people not sympathizing with you. I tell my sister how hard it is to find a bra to fit. I was in a rather big cup size to begin with so this is torture for me!. My sister says she doesn't care because when she was pregnant, it was the only time that she needed a bra! I have to tell you, each one of these things must weigh at least five pounds and it is just so uncomfortable!

Krista, I did start keeping a journal, but I didn't like any of the "Pregnancy" journals that I saw. I just bought a regular journal and started writing to the baby. It's actually kind of fun. I write down what's happening at the time, the snowstorm and how hubby won't let me go to work if the weather is bad. Just whatever thoughts I have or whatever I'd like to tell the baby. It's kind of fun. I don't write in it everyday. I should write in it more, but I think it'll be fun to share with my child in the future. I'm going to get a regular baby book for the sonograms and the pictures.

I have a meeting to run to, but I will check back in later! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by MrsReber (edited 04-12-2001).]

[This message has been edited by MrsReber (edited 04-12-2001).]

[mb]

Quick reply to SusanD - i think we do type at the same time each day! oh, and in terms of the baby bulging out of your tummy - I always try to guess which parts also. The other night, my DH was CONVINCED that the little bulges were her feet...so he tried rubbing the bulges & then she would kick - he is SO sure that he was playing with her & tickling her feet! Not sure if that's what it was, but it makes for a cute story. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Kristilyn1]

Another weigh-in on the movement thing. I thought it felt like a tapping from the inside out--or a fluttering feeling below my belly button. The whole "like gas" thing wasn't very helpful to me--as I almost never have it, and didn't think it felt anything like it.

This thread has been busy! The whole disabled thing is probably every pregnant woman's secret fear--I remember being obsessed with my first that he would be crosseyed (my husband and his brother were born that way) I never told my husband--because I felt terrible, but oh boy--it drove me crazy! Is that shallow or what? Like there aren't worse things to be worried about.....

My husband passed out during my first labor, when they were putting the IV in. As we all know--either the person knows how to do it--or they don't. I got someone who didn't. I have fabulous veins and she must have stuck me 5 times trying to get it in. I was getting upset cause I'm a big time needle baby and Don got upset that she was hurting me--so he quite literally passed out--a nurse walking into the room caught him as he headed towards the floor, head first. I tease him about it a lot--which he hates. Otherwise, he really enjoyed watching the labor. It really is sooo cool--even just from a medical standpoint. I'd love to be able to see one again (not my own!)

Not that there is anything wrong with not watching--but I'm going to be really curious if your husbands will change their minds and really get into watching it---I'm betting they probably will!

Kristi

[shoyski]

Thanks, everyone. I feel much better. I have so many people ask me whether I've felt my baby yet and these are women who have had children! I guess everyone is different.


MB, the noises are hard to explain but while we were listening to the heartbeat, every five seconds or so we'd hear a VERY loud, wwwarrrwwww kind of noise that came and went very quickly. I'm sure you've all heard it as well,it just probably sounds different to each of us. Thanks again, everyone, for making me feel a whole heck of a lot better.

[SusanD]

Speaking of movement, she is a busy busy girl right now! Yowch!

[mb]

shoyski, i always just thought that noise was my stomach growling! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

question for The Susans: do you all have a problem staying awake at work, esp. towards the end of the day? i feel like the work day is somehow getting longer and longer - i'm exhausted! i'm just wondering if this is from the baby, or if i just haven't adjusted to daylight savings yet!

[karen w]

Mrs. Reber(and all the pregnant BBer's),

I too felt my babies move very early. It was at about 14-15 weeks with all 3 pregnancies. It is not unheard of to feel it this early, but most people do not. I am very thin so that may have been one reason. Also with my second son I felt more stronger activity sooner than with the first because with #2 my placenta was posterior while with the first it was anterior(in other word with #1 it was between the baby and my abdomen so any kicking was "muffled" so to speak by the placenta while # 2 could get uncushioned jabs at me!). The bottom line is sometimes body habitus and placental position affect when you feel baby move. I'm sure there are probably alot of other factors. I'd have to say with #1 The feeling was more a fluttery feeling until about 18 weeks when it became definite kicking. Same with #3!
As far as the weight issue goes...I had 3 healthy babies(6#8oz., 7#14oz., 7#2oz.) all born at full term, yet with each pregnancy I gained anywhere from 15-18 pounds. With the biggest baby I gained the 15#, with the other two I gained 18#. I still felt like a beached whale. I did not get any swelling anywhere. All my weight was upfront-all baby. From behind people could not tell I was pregnant! And I hated it when people commented about my weight gain. I ate like a horse, so there remarks would make me worry maybe the babies are not growing. But with every Dr.'s appt., they grew. The most important thing was the Dr.'s did not seem concerned since the babies were growing with each appt. So everyone is very different. And weight comments-either too little or too much are just not appropriate! It's too bad people must compare you to others. I guess that's human nature. It's kind of sad, though. Anyway, I dropped all my weight immediately after the babies were born(the tone takes a little more time to come back, though.) And I would suspect that all you guys will successfully drop that weight too. You would not be on this BB if you did not care about healthy living and eating! So enjoy those jabs, pokes, kicks etc... while you are getting them because beleive it or not you will miss them(just a little!).

Karen W

P.S. With all three of my kids my husband took a profile picture of me for each of their photo albums when I was in labor with them. That is the first picture in each of their baby albums. I have a separate album of ultrasound pictures. (We had alot of these...My husband's a radiologist!!)

Good luck guys!!

[MrsReber]

Karen, you're lucky! I keep trying to get my husband to take a nice picture of me so we have them for later. What does he do? He waits until I am slouched on the couch half asleep with huge clothes on so I look fat instead of pregnant! I am going to have to remember on Easter to bring my camera to my mom's house and have her take a nice picture. Not one where I look so awful!

Well, the doctor's appointment yeserday went well. I didn't gain anything at all, which was a relief to me because I feel huge. Must just be the baby's position. The heartbeat was really really fast! I said something about it and the obstetric nurse said it was quite fast, but then it really slowed down. She said the baby must've been moving. I think baby does not like the stethoscope. Every single time I go to the doctor, the baby moves away from it.

Marisa, I do feel tired every afternoon around 2:00. It's harder and harder to get through each work day. I find that a little bit of exercise does help, though. I did my aerobics tape yesterday (and then fell asleep at 8:00. Hubby had to wake me up so we could eat dinner). Today I feel really good. I have good days and bad days. I guess that's normal. Monday was a very bad day, but the rest of this week I felt great. I even did some cleaning yesterday after I worked out. Of course, getting out of bed in the morning is still a challenge- for more than one reason. I have to think about how to get from a lying down position to a standing position.

I'm stuck here at work today, but I think we can "unofficially" leave early. Then I'm off on Monday to visit a couple of daycares near our house- and to celebrate hubby's birthday! By the way, I told him (since I will most likely miss mother's day this year) that he cannot have father's day. What do you think? I told him we have to start that next year. Unless of course, I am recognized this year. Then maybe I'll get him a card http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[SusanD]

Ohhhh...Karen, I am so jealous of you...only 18 pounds? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif How tall are you? I've noticed the past few days that my hips and knees are really starting to hurt and I'm guessing that a lot of it is due to the extra weight that my body's not used to carrying around. You're right, no two pregnancies are alike so it's really stupid to compare...and can lead to hurt feelings!

I plan to have my husband take a picture of me right before I deliver too. A woman I work with took a pic. of her daughter & son-in-law as they were leaving for the hospital and I thought that was really cute. I don't have too many pregnant photos of myself, but if I'm going to, I might as well capture that image of me at my absolute biggest!

Marisa, I am pooped too! I keep waiting for that burst of energy that everyone says happens the last couple weeks of your pregnancy, but none so far. People keep asking me if I've started nesting yet, but I don't think so - of course I've always been a neat freak so I don't know if I'll be able to tell the difference. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Kristi, that's funny that your husband passed out! I have this feeling that mine isn't going to do so well either.

Susan, how is the furniture coming? Do you have the room set up yet? That's great that you're still doing aerobics! I'm still walking in the morning, but they're getting shorter these days. It's just so beautiful and peaceful in the morning that I really enjoy the time alone (with the dog)...I find that it's such a nice way to start the day! I agree, getting out of bed is a major challenge, though!!!

Oh, the braxton-hicks contractions have really started to get intense the past couple of days. I'm having probably 7-8 of them a day, and they're getting a lot stronger, almost to the point of painful. I looked in one of my books to see if it's a "sign"...but apparently it just means that I'll deliver sometime in the next 2-4 weeks (fingers crossed it's closer to 2). It's only in the front that I feel them, and if they were real contractions I'd be feeling them in my back too.

Have a good weekend everyone!

[This message has been edited by SusanD (edited 04-13-2001).]

[Kristilyn1]

Just wanted to make a comment on braxton-hicks. I actually got them with each pregnancy--starting around 33 weeks and I would get them 20-30 times a day and by the last few weeks--they hurt. (now before any gets nervous--I mean hurt--like uncomfortable squeezing sensation--not actual pain). Some days they were as rhythmic as labor (again--not painful like contractions) just steady squeeze, release, squeeze, release. It drove me nutty. Between that and the fact that both my babies were BIG time hiccupers--I guess they get it from their mom......the constant movement kept me pretty uncomfortable.

I can't believe Susan is so close! Just goes to show you that pregnancies go so fast---for other people!!

Kristi

[mb]

MrsReber, you should definitely try to take some pictures. My original plan was to take a pic each week so you could see the progression of my tummy getting larger & larger. Of course, my anal-retentive plan didn't really happen! Every time my DH wanted to take pictures, I was also half asleep or not looking at my 'best'. We have taken some though, and it's kinda funny...I felt huge before, but looking back, I wasn't even all that big! We just got a new video camera so we're ready for the baby; it also takes digital photos, so now we can take a bunch of 'preggo pictures' and email them to faraway family easily (plus, you can easily delete the icky pics!)

Exercise is such a funny thing. Somehow, it always gives you more energy. But really, you need the extra energy just to start exercising. Catch-22, I think. I slept for 1.5 hours yesterday when I came home from work. Maybe today I'll try to go walking...

And MrsReber, I think you should let Kyle have Fathers Day depending on his 'performance' in the delivery room! I.e. he can't pass out, he has to cut the cord, etc.!!! No really, I think you should let him have Father's Day either way...maybe just give him that little ultimatum to play with him a little! (See, I'm really evil! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif) We just realized that our baby's due date IS Father's Day (June 17 this year!) - my DH has been so wonderful this whole time, I definitely think he 'deserves' Father's Day!

Last night as we were trying to get to sleep, baby was squirming like crazy! Hubby kept his hand on my tummy in awe that she was moving so much! All of a sudden he says, "I don't know how you sleep at night!" I just started laughing! It's funny what the men are missing out on!

SusanD, you are starting to sound very tired and ready to have the baby! The increased Braxton-Hicks sound like a good sign. I have also heard that you will know when it's real contractions because they will come from your back and be much more painful. Your dr appointment is Monday, right? We'll keep our fingers crossed that your cervix has made some progress http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Happy Easter to everyone! Have a great weekend! MrsReber, good luck this weekend getting your furniture ready & finding a daycare!

Marisa

[MrsReber]

Okay, let's try this again! I typed a whole response, then I was told my password was wrong and it deleted everything http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/mad.gif !!

So anyway, Susan, you are very very close now! I like the idea of taking a picture before you go to the hospital. I want a nicer picture of me so my poor child doesn't think I was miserable and tired for 9 months! My dad bought us a digital camera for Christmas and a nice video camera that takes digital pictures for our wedding. Guess he figures since he moved to AZ, we can at least send him pictures. It's sad, but I don't think he'll be out to visit my baby anytime soon. My sister's little boy was 2 1/2 years old before he met his grandpa.

Marisa, my husband says the same thing. He feels the baby moving all night long and doesn't know how I sleep through it! The crib is not together yet as trout season opened last Saturday. Hubby has been out fishing everyday after work. I'll have to see how I get treated on Mother's Day before I decide if he gets to have Father's Day! I've been a mom for about 8 months now. Shouldn't I get gifts too http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif!

It'd be great to only gain 18 pounds! I'm up to 34 now, but since I haven't gained anything in the past 2 weeks, I feel a little better. I can deal with losing 10-15 pounds, but 20-25 pounds would depress me. Everyone is different. My gained 50 pounds with my brother, but only about 25 with me and my sister. This other woman told me she gained 80!!! Yikes!

[KristaMB]

I'm getting ready to go for a walk. It is so beautiful here!

My friend has been taking a picture of me every time she sees me. She's been doing this since we first announced the pregnancy. I haven't seen any of the pictures yet, but I don't think they'll be too bad. I see her every 2-3 weeks, so the pictures should be far enough apart to show a noticeable difference.

Happy Easter, everybody!

~Krista

[shoyski]

I hope all of you had a wonderful, peaceful Easter weekend. The weather is turning colder
here in Ohio and we're supposed to have snow flurries by mid-week! EEEKK!

I have another question for you guys but it's a bit embarrassing...thank goodness for the computer. Have any of you had gas for a very long time...I mean hours? I started having a bloated, uncomfortable feeling around noon on Friday and it escalated to the point where I left at 4:50pm from work because I just couldn't stand it.

I came home, took off the hose and skirt and laid down in bed immediately which brought a tad bit of relief. However, as soon as I stood up the pain came rushing back. My husband, bless his heart, stopped by the store on the way home and asked the pharmacist if I could take GasX, to which the answer was yes. That didn't seem to even make a dent in the problem. And to top it all off, I had little tiny pains every so often like the baby was kicking me right on my lower lips. Ouch, very uncomfortable.

About 7pm I was worried enough to have the doctor paged but boy, was I embarrassed to do so. He ended up by telling me he was sure everything was fine and to take more GasX.

I went over what I had to eat and drink that day and it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. I just couldn't believe the pain lasted so long. So, any of you have an experience like that or am I just an overly gaseous, pregnant woman?

On a more positive note, I discovered that the Gap has a maternity line that can be purchased on-line.... www.gap.com (http://www.gap.com)
The clothes are very stylish, normal looking items I would ordinarily wear if I wasn't pregnant. The best part is that if it doesn't fit or you don't like it, you can return it to a regular Gap store. OR, and I think I have this right, they send a prepaid return address label with each order.

[Kristilyn1]

Yes, I used to have terribly painful gas when pregnant--and I don't normally get it. Maalox worked best for me--and again--there didn't seem to be any particular food that set it off. This gas wouldn't be confused with heartburn--which I don't think I've ever had.

Just another joyful pregnancy "thing".

Kristi

[mb]

shoyski, it sounds like you did everything right...i haven't had a gas problem, but i think that gas isn't unusual, either. one note of caution, and I certainly don't mean to alarm anyone! my SIL was having MAJOR gas pains (she figured it was from eating mexican food). finally, she was in so much pain, her MIL told her to call the doctor - the dr told her to go to the hospital, and my SIL ended up giving birth that night (even though she was only in month 7). everything is ok now, and baby is doing well. HOWEVER, what i've learned is that if you're having gas pains, CALL THE DOCTOR!

Again, I don't mean to scare anyone, just to stress the importance of communicating w/ your dr. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

And shoyski, I really like Gap Maternity, although I've found that their prices are higher than at Motherhood Maternity. However, the Gap really saved me because they are the only ones that make maternity clothes in XS, so I could be sure to have some pants & T-shirts that actually fit! plus, returning things is really easy (to the store, or with the prepaid shipping label), and you just have to order the clothes in your pre-prenancy gap size. (Gee, maybe I should work for them! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif)

[MrsReber]

Okay, where's SusanD?? I don't see any posts from her recently......

Too much family last weekend. Saturday night was dinner with the in-laws and Sunday was dinner with my family. I have heard enough boy/girl theories, what everyone's preference is for my baby, this *$*&^$# NC trip!! and people wanting to look at me and touch me. Oh, any my favorite, my mom's fiance making fun of the way I walk and imitating me! They all wanted to give me tea to drink or decaf coffee (insisted) when I just wanted water. I told Kyle I need to lock myself in a room for the next six weeks. I need to stay away from these people!

I think the shower is going to be next Saturday- the 21st. That'd be my guess. My mother sat down next to me last night and asked if we were coming back up to her house again next Saturday because my uncle will be visiting and she wants me to be there at 1:00 for lunch. Hmmmm.

I find that my hormones are really out of whack and I am not too pleasant lately. But I'm sure you guys can at least sympathize with me!! I promise not to be mean to anyone here. You guys help me keep my sanity!

I've been lucky with the gas and bathroom situations. My husband was talking to our neighbor yesterday. He and his wife have a 3 month old baby. He asks my husband if I have "smelly gas" yet. He was going on about how awful it was with his wife. I had to laugh- this is what they talk about? I have been having trouble sleeping lately, though. Seems something always hurts no matter how many pillows I use.

Yes, we may be in for some snow here in NJ, too. I can't believe it. It could snow later today or tonight and tomorrow. Very weird.

The crib is together and I am washing the bedding stuff so I can set it up- And then take it appart because I have no mattress pad yet. Oh well, at least I'll see what it looks like! The walls look so bare, but my husband says not to buy anything and that supposedly we're getting "everything we need". I really will be kind of mad if nobody buys the registry stuff. I have been registered for the past 6 months. My sister forgot to tell everyone where I was registered for my wedding shower. They mean well, but my family is not one for planning things properly. If this is the shower this coming weekend, they're making everyone drive 35-40 minutes up to my mom's house. They need me to plan it. They've already driven my poor husband to the edge.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and didn't get poked at prodded too much by the family! I have to go check out some daycare centers today and then make hubby's birthday cake.

[SusanD]

Sorry, guys, still here! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Just waiting and waiting...I have another dr. appointment today so we'll she what she says.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend - it was beautiful here but now starting to turn chilly. We even had flurries this morning...blech! Saturday I blew over $200 at Target buying little stuff...diaper rash creme, baby Tylenol, gas drops, bottles, pacifiers, etc. I bought an Avent Isis pump - since I won't really need a big one till I go back to work, I thought I'd save some $$ and buy this one for now. It might be nice to have anyway in case I go somewhere and need to pump but don't have access to an electrical outlet.

I never really had any BAD gas, but in my first trimester and now again the past couple of months I've had problems with heartburn and acid reflux. Usually a couple of Tums will take care of it, though. I feel bad for you shoyski, that must have been so horribly uncomfortable!

The biggest problem I've had (even more embarrasing than gas) is...well...the opposite of being constipated. I'm about as "regular" as a person could possibly get. In fact, many times I have been asked (jokingly) if I'd like to take the sports section in with me. According to my dr. it just means my system is functioning and I should be glad...but it sure is embarassing sometimes, especially at work!

Susan, I would be very frustrated too if I were you! I can't believe they're so hung up on this trip! Hopefully everything will go well with your shower. Don't worry, I've been a little moody lately too. I really try not to take it out on Jay, but sometimes he just pushes the wrong button!

Whoops, meeting in 10 minutes...have a good day all!

[mb]

SusanD, can I say I'm sorry you're still here?!?! Of course, I only mean that in the nicest way, since I know you want to have the baby already!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif We had our first childbirth class Friday night, and our instructor was talking about effacing cervixes - apparently, one way to make that happen is to have prostaglandin come in contact with your cervix - and your DH could be of great help in that area, if you know what I mean. Now, I know this isn't an X-rated type of BB, but I was just thinking that might help you along a little bit! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

I've heard very good things about the Isis pump. Many people actually prefer it over some of the electric models. That's actually the only pump I'm planning to get (at least at first). We have also been stocking up on baby supplies, a little bit at a time. Our grocery store has a baby club (free to join) and they give you coupons for all kinds of free things (including diapers), and also $1 and $2 off coupons for all sorts of baby stuff like lotion, baby bath, etc.

MrsReber, I am SOOOOOO sorry that you weren't able to have an enjoyable Easter weekend! I don't know how you put up with all of that - the imitating, etc. Oh, and that's nice that everyone has a boy/girl preference for your baby - what if everyone 'wants' a boy, and then it's a girl, what will they do then?!? they really are a little 'unthinking'. on the other hand, i'm sure they were probably just trying to make conversation, and they didn't realize how insulting they were being!!! Plus, they should know that you are having some mood issues!

On another note, I hope my DH isn't discussing 'gas' with any of his friends or coworkers. I hope they have some better things to talk about! A lot of people seem to think that all that modesty just gets thrown out the window after you have a baby. I guess we'll find out if that's true or not. (I hope not!)

Congrats on getting the crib together! This weekend we also washed all the bedding and set it up, but now we are re-thinking our choice of bedding! We bought the John Lennon collection bedding set, and after putting it on, we feel like there is too much blue in it (especially since we think we're having a girl). So I spent all day yesterday online searching for more girly bedding that isn't too 'frou-frou'. I think i found 2 things that were outrageously priced! ugh! at least we still have a few more weeks before baby arrives... and honestly, i'm sure she isn't going to care what her sheets look like!

Sorry you all are getting snow - isn't it mid-April?!?! On the other hand, we seem to be having a mini heat-wave, as it will be almost 90 degrees today! yikes!

have a nice day everyone!
Marisa http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[MrsReber]

Susan, the moodiness gets so awful sometimes! I think Kyle is the only one who doesn't get yelled at. I get bad heartburn, too and occasional acid reflux. Ouch! I had a huge bottle of tums that I finished. I just had to buy more. I find myself scrambling for them in the middle of the night.

Marisa, the greatest thing about not having really warm weather is that I don't have to shave my legs. I was thinking of you the other day when I was in the shower and wondering if you have any problems with that. I can barely see if there's hair on my legs or not. I saw the John Lennon collection! I know what you mean. It's funny how the bedding matters so much to us, but the babies won't care at all!

It was nice to not have to cook all weekend and I'm sure that my family doesn't mean to annoy me. I guess it's really a combination of things - all the things I'm scared of right now. I saw 2 daycares this morning and I just wanted to go home and cry. One of them (a Goddard school) was great, but really expensive. The other one was very reasonable, but the kids were just sitting around. Seems they had alot of "free play" time. That's fine, but the teachers didn't seem too involved at all. The infant room was so dark and dingy. Kyle says I should just go through the 6 hours of training (yes, that's all they require in this state)and take kids into our home to watch. It's sounding better all the time!

Well, I just ate my lunch. I have one more place that I'm going to look at today. Then I'm putting my feet up!!

[Kristilyn1]

No one has asked my opinion on this--and I don't want to be an alarmist--but I would be a bad friend if I didn't repeat this.

I have a book loop I belong to--we've been together for 5+ years! Two of the "moms" on it, are very active in the SIDS Foundation and something that is very important to them in getting their message out, is the "putting baby to sleep on his back--EVERY time" which I'm sure most of you already know. The other is puffy bedding, stuffed animals, etc. in the crib. Not having these items in a small baby's crib is just as important as having babies sleep on their backs. Everyone will make their own deicisions on this--but they also DO NOT recommend the "wedges" and putting baby on his side, etc.

I hope I don't offend anyone, and I STRONGLY encourage all our pregnant moms to do their own research on this and make their decisions based on the facts and not on my recommendations or the old ladies at baby showers who insist on all kinds of crazy advice with the "my kids survived it" school of thought behind it.

Knowledge = Power!

Kristi

[mb]

MrsReber, sorry that the daycares haven't been too thrilling. Hopefully the last one you see today will be good. Is there any nearby family that could watch the baby when you go to work? For example, my mother would be more than thrilled to have the baby every single day if I go back to work full-time... I know of some people that take kids into their home for daycare (you only need 6 hours? i think we need 20 hours here if you want to work at a daycare). It might be a good option for you if you don't want to leave your baby at a daycare. However, it might be kinda tough at first, being a first-time mom home with a new baby.

Also, you have to calculate the cost of daycare vs. you staying home with the baby. Or maybe you could work at your office 2-3 days a week, and then leave the baby with a willing relative that you trust. Well, I'm sure you've thought all these things out already. Just thought I'd pitch in my 2 cents. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Good luck this afternoon. Let us know how it goes!

Marisa

P.S. So far, it hasn't been that hard to shave my legs. It requires a bit more contorting, but since I was a gymnast for 15 years, that isn't so horrible! On the other hand, clipping my toenails is getting difficult. My DH volunteered to help me, but I think I can still do it so far. But maybe not in a few weeks from now... !

[mb]

Kristi - we must have been typing at the same time. Thanks for the input. I've read a lot about SIDS, and know to put baby to sleep on their back (it's ok for them to be on their tummies during awake-time, though). I was wondering about all those wedges though...it seems to me that they're just marketing ploys to get you to buy more "stuff"! But they really play on your emotions, so you really feel obligated to get them. I was wondering what the consensus was on those "wedges" and "back-to-sleep positioner" things...

[Kristilyn1]

personally--

I never used the wedge or a rolled blanket--my kids stayed flat on their backs, all night. Like every new mother though--I worried. I checked their breathing at nap times--it's compulsive. I don't know much about the wedges and encourage everyone to do some research on them. I know some tv news/magazine show did something on products like these and I would imagine that there are a lot of reviews and articles about them available on the internet. Keep in mind though, that misinformation finds it's way to the written word as well. The friends I mentioned in my earlier post have griped more than once about the misquotes and misinformation that still finds it's way into magazines.

Good luck!

Kristi

[SusanD]

Yikes! I bought the wedges! They're called "2-in-1" so that you can put baby on her back or side. I plan to have her sleep on her back. Kristi, I had a related question, maybe you can help with this one...everyone says you should put those sheet protectors on top of their sheets in case they leak in the night, but all the ones that I've seen are just pads with no way to attach them to the crib or sheet underneath. Since you're not supposed to have any loose bedding, what do you use to protect the sheet and why do they even sell these pads? I have a waterproof mattress pad underneath the sheet, but what about on top?

Marisa, thanks for the tip on hurrying up labor...I'm pretty sure DH won't mind helping out with that one! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif I'm glad to hear something positive about the Isis pump. I'm going to give it a shot - if I do find that it's not enough once I get back to work I can always buy another one (the Pump In Style is what I had planned on getting), and if it does work out then I've just saved myself a ton of cash!

If you're looking for some nice sheets without spending a lot, try the Company Store. That's where I got mine, they have a website or you can call for a catalog. I actually bought solid colors and got the whole set plus extra sheets for just over $100. They're very good quality, and they got great reviews in Baby Bargains. I wanted to buy the Funny Friends fish set, but it was about $250 for the set, plus the colors didn't match the nursery.

Susan, you can tell Kyle he's not alone. Maybe they could start their own support group. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif In fact I have a meeting this afternoon at 2:00 to chew out a printer who goofed up a project of mine. Little does he know he's dealing with the hormonal pregnant lady from you-know-where! I shaved my legs this weekend too, that was an adventure. Good thing Jay wasn't home to laugh at me. I sat on our vanity with one leg on the floor and then had to switch sides when I did the other leg. But..I also painted my toenails if you can believe it. If anyone had seen me they would have thought I was trying out for the circus, but they look good if I do say so myself!

I'm so sorry you had such a rough experience with daycare. I hope you find something that you're comfortable with! Maybe you should stay home and have your own babysitting service. Too bad we don't live closer, I'd bring my baby to you! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif The whole idea is so difficult to deal with. The first place that I looked at, even though I did feel very comfortable with it, I still cried in the car on my way home. I feel very lucky that I found the place that I did - I'm still not thrilled about the idea of putting my child in daycare but at least I feel comfortable that she'll be in good hands and that I can get to her quickly anytime I need to.

[Kristilyn1]

I've never used the pads! The mattress I used is a "wipable" material, so if we had an accident, I cleaned it up with soapy water and just put on a new sheet. So I know I'm not much help, maybe some others can weigh in? I would imagine that you could lay it down in the crib and put the fitted sheet over it. Another source for great baby sheets is Lands End. I'm still using the same set I got for my first and they are my favorite material--flannel, which is cool in the summer and nice and warm for winter.

[KristaMB]

Finally! I am positive that I felt the baby move! Yippppeee! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Shoyski, I have definitely been more gassy than usual. My husband laughs at me because I don't really know how to burp and I end up making this terrible hiccup-type noise. I really need to go buy some Tums. I have had pretty bad heartburn today. I didn't eat that well. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif Ick!

MrsReber, I'm sorry to hear that your family won't leave you alone about the trip to NC. How frustrating! Sounds like you had a tough weekend.

I hope the last day care you visited was what you were looking for. If not, maybe you should consider getting licensed. There are waiting lists everywhere here for good daycare places. A friend of mine put her baby's name on the list as soon as she found out she was expecting. Her baby is 7 months old and still hasn't gotten in. Her two sons have to go to two different day care centers! I have been avoiding the issue, since I am really hoping to stay at home. But I feel like I should put my name in somewhere just in case.

Everybody at my work is getting excited for our sonogram on Thursday. They all want to place bets on the gender of the baby. The only hitch to their plan is that nobody thinks I am having a girl. The newest theory on how to determine the sex is to hold a piece of string or thread with a weight on it over my belly. If it moves in circles it's a boy, and if it moves back and forth it's a girl. (or vice versa) These people are strange, I tell ya'. They have the weirdest notions about pregnancy!

~Krista

[clairea]

I was just catching up on this thread, and thought I would share my $.02 about some of the issues you guys are talking about.

Shoyski -- I also had terrible gas pains when I was pregnant with my first, and none of the over-the-counter gas medicines really helped me either. I know it can be incredibly painful, so I hope it eases off soon.

SusanD -- I never used the sheet protectors either, but I have seen some that have ties on each corner so that you can tie them to the crib rails. I just use a waterproof matress pad under the crib sheet, and change both if there is a "leak" (fortunately, through 2 kids, this has only happened a handful of times). I think the theory behind the sheet protectors is so that you don't have to change the whole crib in the middle of the night, but to me, any changing you have to do in the middle of the night is a pain, so why spend the extra money (especially when you could spend it on something more fun, like those cute little clothes)? Just be sure you have 2 mattress pads, so that if you have to take one off you can put another one back on.

MrsReber -- I also cried the whole way home after visiting daycares. I think it is natural because it is so hard to think about leaving your baby anywhere and those hormones are probably raging anywhere. I think we discussed on an earlier thread, though, that I ultimately put both my children in daycare and was very happy with it (and this was a center that left me in tears when I first visited). If you can, try to visit a few more times to see if you are more comfortable with it.

As far as the weight gain -- I gained 30 pounds with my first and 50 http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif with my second (in my defense, I spent 3 months on strict bedrest that time), and both times lost the weight within a year (less the first time). One thing to keep in mind if you are breastfeeding is that some people have a really hard time losing weight while nursing (despite what the books tell you). Several of my friends and I have all had this experience, but have found that the weight comes off pretty easily when you stop. I am a big advocate of breastfeeding if you can and want to, so I am certainly not encouraging you not to try it, but I think it is important to know this so that you don't get discouraged if you can't lose weight right away.

[MrsReber]

I heard about the "back to sleep" thing, too. That's how I was planning on having baby sleep. I saw the wedges, but figured a rolled up blanket would do just as well.

Well, after visiting 2 other daycares, I think I am going with the first one. It was clean and the kids looked happy. It seemed like a fun place for them. Last night at dinner (more family!!!! It was Kyle's birthday) my SIL offered to watch the baby one day a week for us. We didn't ask or anything, she said she really wants to. So we figured with her watching the baby one day a week and then 2 grandmas and two other aunts nearby, we can go with 3 days a week at daycare. This really cuts down the cost for us and makes me feel a little better. Plus, I think it's a good combination of learning and family. After seeing the other places, I have to go back to the first one. They're fully licensed, one of the owners is on site everyday along with the director, all the women there are certified teachers, including the one owner who taught gradeschool for 30 years. The owners are a mother and daughter. I stopped in one place and the woman tells me if I want to see the playground area, just open the back door and look out there. The door wasn't even locked!! It was a storefront, too, so the playground wasn't so great. Then, there's 4 babies in the infant room. One belongs to the owner and another one belongs to the other woman working there. Guess which two babies were getting all the attention? Very scary. But then it just makes me sad for the people who do leave their kids there because it's rather inexpensive. I thought hard about it all day.

Yes, we have weighed the cost of me staying home. Even with 5 days a week in daycare, it still would not make sense for me to stay home.

[SusanD]

Krista, how exciting! Isn't that the most amazing feeling? That's funny that your husband says you don't know how to burp. Such a guy thing, maybe he can teach you to say the alphabet while your belch. Ha-ha! Good luck with your ultrasound - I loved both of mine and was almost sad when they were over. Let us know if the "weight on a string" theory was correct - I've heard so many goofy theories about determining the baby's sex it's almost funny!

Well, I went to the dr. again last night and...nothing. Cervix is hard as a rock. My dr. laughed and told me I'm too impatient, that the baby will come when she's ready. Then she told my husband that he knows what his job is. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif (same as Marisa's previous post). I've only gained 1 pound since last week, so I felt pretty good about that.

Thanks for the advice on the bed pads, everyone. I bought four and have washed two already, so maybe I'll return the other two. One of the baby stores near us is having a preferred customer sale Thursday night so I'm sure we'll find plenty of other things to spend our $$ on!

Susan, how did the other daycare visit go? I hope you've had a chance to recover from your weekend!

Oh...we must have been typing at the same time! I'm so glad you found a place that you're comfortable with! What a relief. Isn't it scary to walk in to some of those places and see what their definition of "child care" is? That's wonderful that your SIL offered to watch the baby one day a week. I wish we had family nearby! The closest is my husband's parents but they're 1 1/2 hours away. Oh, and tell Kyle we all said happy birthday!

[This message has been edited by SusanD (edited 04-17-2001).]

[mb]

Krista, congratulations on feeling the baby move!!!! That's so exciting! A few times during pregnancy I got sick (with colds, strep throat, etc.) and I always knew the baby was ok because I felt her moving all the time. It's weird at first, and when she kicks you in the ribs it hurts, but overall, I've found it to be pretty comforting - to me, it's the main way I can tell she's doing ok in there!

Also, I'm glad to hear that you are also burp-deficient. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I burp on accident maybe one time per year! My DH thinks it's funny that I don't know how to burp, but when I was little, I actually got teased quite a bit (I know, it sounds like an interesting group of friends I had...)

Good luck at your ultrasound on Thursday. It is very neat. The only bad part is that you have to drink a lot of liquid right before you go and then they press on your stomach! We enjoyed ours, despite the baby's shyness! It is really cool - we hope to have another one in the next few weeks...

I took a poll before ours to see if people thought it would be a boy or girl. Not many people thought I was having a girl either, not that their guesses were based on anything scientific. I don't remember the exact numbers, but it was something like 25% girl and 75% boy. I was going to test to see if there was an effect from people's own experiences (i.e. were people who had boys more likely to think i was having a boy too?), but I didn't have a big enough sample size to really get anything interesting. I am a statistician, so you can see what kind of fun my baby is in for! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

Clairea, that is very interesting about breastfeeding possibly being an inhibitor of weight loss! All along, I've heard the exact opposite! But then again, everyone is different...

MrsReber, it sounds like you have found a good compromise between familycare & a daycare center. That is nice that you have a variety of family nearby to watch the baby. It will make them feel important and helpful too! My parents are the only nearby ones that I'd have watch the baby, but I'm trying to be careful about giving them too much 'power'. They already want to have their very own pack-and-play and carseat at their house for the baby...

SusanD, are you in week 38 now? My dr said they tend to induce if you haven't given birth by week 41, so technically, the baby still has 3 weeks to make her move! Maybe, if you stopped thinking about her arrival and just pretended it's still weeks away, she would come immediately! Maybe she's feels too much pressure to make her debut!

Have a great day everyone. MrsReber, Happy B-day to Kyle!

Marisa http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[MrsReber]

I had to run before for a "meeting" so I didn't get to finish! Turns out the "meeting" was a surprise shower for me at work. They really did surprise me. It's nice that they were able to! My co-worker packed up the decorations for me and told me to bring them to my mom's on Saturday for my "surprise" baby shower. How funny would that be for me to walk in with decorations for my own surprise shower?

Anyway, I was going on about the daycare. The last place I visited yesterday told me to "come by anytime". I come by and there's no one there to really help me. The director stepped out. They tell me there's always someone at the front desk for security purposes, yet nobody was there when I dropped by. It wasn't a horrible place. If the Goddard school wasn't down the road, I'd probably choose this other place. They just didn't seem as organized to me. They have a corporate office that heads up all the facilities across the country. The owners aren't on site and they have "canned" lesson plans. But they do offer meals and they are a licensed kindergarten. The place was clean and bright. I just fell in love with the other place. It's just so very happy at the Goddard school. Well, if one of us were to stay home full time, it'd have to be Kyle and not me. Especially the way things are going at his job now. Yes, we are lucky to have so much family nearby. They do all want to help, too, which is nice. They can drive us crazy, but they do all care about each other.

Ahh! I was just talking about drinking all that water for the sonogram! Don't let them fool you! You don't need THAT much! I drank a ton of water and then the tech was still at lunch when I got there (and they told me to be 15 mins early!). I told them that I absolutely had to use the bathroom so they let me. But the sonogram itself is really cool.

I am going to try to get some work done today. I have so much on my mind. Susan, how do you go to all these meetings everyday and pay attention? My sister was saying how you can go to the doctor in the morning and have no change and then suddenly be in labor that evening, so don't worry about the baby not coming! It just might take you by surprise!

Krista, I hope now that the baby's movements are stronger you don't get beat up too badly! We had cake and now baby is out of control. Sugar rush. And I am stuffed! Okay, let's see if I can actually get any work done today!

[mb]

one quick note about drinking water before the ultrasound: they told me to drink 32oz in the hour before... but then they let me go to the bathroom midway because my bladder was so full! really, you only need to have a full bladder at first so that they can get a good view of your cervix...once they check that out, you can get a little more comfortable and enjoy the baby pictures! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Kristilyn1]

1. Wedges--Just wanted to add on here re: SIDS. it's not just the wedge products that they don't like you to use, but anything in the crib at all to keep the baby in a position. Again--do the research.

2. Daycare and family. Having done straight daycare, straight family and a combination of both--I'm jumping in to offer unsolicited advice. This can be an AWESOME solution for you and your family--BUT--make sure that you stress with family (Mrs.Reber) that while you appreciate the offer to watch the baby--that it would be VERY bad for them to just as quickly decide they don't want to do it anymore or feel free to make last minute schedule changes (vacations, appts. etc.)and either expect you to then use daycare that day or hand off the baby to someone else in the family whenever they want. Continuity is very important for babies and relatives need to understand that by doing this "favor" for you--it comes with strings attached, strings that they need to make sure they are okay with. When my sister watched my oldest twice a week--she would want to switch a day here and there--every few weeks. Which meant each time I had to clear the change with daycare and it was upsetting for Drew to not be secure as to where he would be at any given day. In her mind, she was doing me a favor and since she never had to deal with daycare herself--she didn't understand that it's not as easy to make changes with their schedule. Sometimes she would have doctors appointments and leave the kids with one of our other sisters....a couple of times with her sister in law. While I was okay with this--it is a scenario that may play itself out in ways that are not acceptable to you.

Just throwing out there the issues that are not neccesarily a stumbling block to a happy situation for all--they just need to be understood up front.

Mrs. Reber--I would second the recommendation that you consider getting yourself licensed. Personally for my children: if all they get from a daycare situation is respect, loving care in a clean, safe environment with interaction with other children and opportunities to play and explore without excessive television--I would consider it a perfect arrangement. While it's great to "learn" things at preschool--the other things are just as important. If you think you could enjoy it--then go for it--don't worry about the lack of experience.

Kristi
<stepping down off her soapbox>

[clairea]

Originally posted by mb:

Clairea, that is very interesting about breastfeeding possibly being an inhibitor of weight loss! All along, I've heard the exact opposite! But then again, everyone is different...


Everything I read while pregnant said that breastfeeding helps you lose weight, too. You can imagine how discouraging I found it when, despite my best efforts, I really couldn't lose much weight (other than the initial drop right after having the baby) while nursing my first. It was only after I stopped nursing that I started hearing from a lot of other people that they had had the same experience, and one of the nurse-midwives at my OB-Gyn's office told me that this is pretty common. I'm not sure why all the information that is commonly given to new moms is the opposite -- maybe they want to use everything they can to encourage you to breastfeed? Hopefully you will be one of the ones who loses weight easily while breastfeeding, but if not, just remember that it will come off whenever you stop. While I certainly didn't like carrying around those extra pounds for several more months, to me it was worth it in order to do such a wonderful thing for my babies.

Good luck!