Calling all the Pregnant PS''ers

[blushingbride]

Hi All!

Thanks for all the sweet comments regarding my belly shot and shower pics! I did end up getting a lot of great stuff which will definitely come in handy once the twins arrive.

Dani and Curlygirl - the shower was held at Battery Gardens in Battery Park. The service, food and atmosphere was fantastic. Would definitely recommend that place to others who are looking for a wedding or baby shower.

I have a doctor's appt. this afternoon so, I'm excited to see the babes again (I go every two weeks now). I just found out through one of my other preggo friends that she hasn't gotten many ultrasounds during pregnancy. In fact, she's 27 weeks and the last time she saw her baby was at her anatomy scan at 20 weeks. I had no idea! I feel so spoiled - I see them everytime and get to see them monthly at the hospital! I do find that strange though considering you have a human being growing inside you - wouldn't the Drs. just want to take a quick look at each appointment?

 

[HOUMedGal]

Geri - I need to see this all-of-a-sudden belly of yours!! Hmmm, team pink or blue for you....I dunno, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say PINK!

CatLuver - I do enjoy crafty things! ALthough I have been know to start things and never finish them too...

Noel - thank you!! It's so strange to start feeling like your belly is taking up room....like when I shift my weight or bend over, or when one of the cats hops up to sit in my lap....I definitely have the sensation of the belly starting to make its presence known. I am loving all your Stokke goodies - yaaay for new baby stuff!! re: Jack and Jill test - yes, they take mom's blood for it. Here's a blurb about it from a website I found: "The Viaguard Prenatal Gender Test is a non-invasive procedure that utilizes exclusive DNAffirm precision technology to genetically determine the gender of a fetus with 98% accuracy after approximately 7 weeks of gestation (or 10 weeks after last period). At this stage of pregnancy, the maternal blood carries sufficient fetal DNA for identification of the gender of the fetus. Gender identification is based on the specific identification of the Y chromosome which indicates that the fetus is absolutely a male, absence of the Y chromosome means a female fetus. The Viaguard genetic non-invasive gender determination test has evolved from work done in 1997 when Lo et al first described the presence of fetal DNA in material plasma and serum. The cell free fetal DNA offered an important path for non-invasive prenatal gender determination. Based on a PCR assay, Viaguard has determined that the concentration of fetal DNA in maternal plasma in the first trimester and particularly after 7 weeks of gestation was about 3.4% and it is estimated that a mean of 24.4 copies of fetal DNA circulates per ml. of maternal plasma. At this level there is almost 100% precision in identifying the Y chromosome and establishing fetal gender."

HH - you're right, 35 weeks sounds like there's still a lot of time left, but when you put it into days, WOW! You are so close!! I think it's totally normal to have cold feet re: being ready for it. You'll probably surprise yourself once he's here, and settle into a comfortable rhythm before too long.

LV - I hear you. I still get overwhelmed thinking about all the stuff there is out there! Carter's does have cute stuff for very reasonable prices, though.

Blushing - yay for seeing the babies again!! IKWYM re: wanting to see the baby (babies) often...my doc does an ultrasound every time she sees me. My last appt was 3 weeks ago, and my next one isn't for 2 more weeks, and it feels like an eternity to wait to see my baby!! It would be hard to wait 2 mos in between like your friend!

 

[Lanie]

noel -- what a chic crib! I love that it "grows" with the baby! How cute!

HOU -- you get an u/s every time you go in?!?!? I've only gotten 2 with her out of the 4 times I've seen her. And they were milestone ones I guess you could say...Booo!

Experienced mommies -- speaking of classes...what ones do you recommend as necessity? We have the option of bfeeding, infant care, infant CPR, and birthing. I def want to take CPR and bfeeding, and I'm thinking I can read on my own about infant care. The birthing one I'm iffy about. I made the mistake of Youtubing live births. It made me scared and X out.

 

[Sha]

Wow, you ladies look AMAZING! I am loving the belly bumps!!!!! All shapes and sizes! Gorge US!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats to all!

CONGRATULATIONS LV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG OMG, a GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree with Mara - did you switch practices yet? Your OB should never make you feel rushed ever ever!

Split_shank & Hudson - I'm with you on the crazy abs refusing to let the baby through! Sometimes I feel like they're working against me like an internal steel girdle. You both look SO amazing, though. I feel like all of my internal organs are smushed up against this baby! I am actually pushing OUT my abs now to give the baby more room! For a while, I also hated feeling "thick" but now that we're 17 weeks... the tiny bump is showing! Hudson, you popped near the end and you have the most BEAUTIFUL round bump now!!!!

Laila, what an amazingly beautiful belly you have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not sure on the later scans, but we get a scan every time we go to the OB. I had one at 4, 7, 10 or 11, 12 (NT), 14 and 17 weeks. Like you, I've had a lot of scans! Since they're short scans, I don't worry too much about it. The only in-depth scan was the NT and I guess the 20-week scan which is coming up. I had concerns initially with the first bebe and all the scans (we had super in-depth scans every week with that one), but with this one... I'm pretty much just happy to see the baby and don't worry about it at all.

Wow, Noelwr! 21 weeks already???? Almost 22? How time flies!!!!!! Love the belly pic!

Cara, how exciting for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would love to feel all the kicks and pats! So cute!!!!!! Glad that your LO is so active and that you're unpacked! Whew! And yay for all the fun new baby loot!

CatLuver!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!! Hooray for your awesome NT results! Yay for you and your baby!!!! I know what you mean about it all being surreal. I feel the same way! Often, I forget I am even pregnant! BTW, you look HAWT MAMA!!!!!! Boy, do you have a body or do you have a body? What do you do, yoga/pilates? Whatever it is, sign me up! You and I are wearing the same outfits in our belly pics! Love it! Wait until your boobs go nuts - that cutie little lime green tank won't be able to hold them in!!!! Ahhh, regarding your question about working... In my head I would like to stop working once the baby is born but I'll have to see how I feel when that day comes. Will I love it? Will I go nuts? Different gfs of mine urge me not to quit... LOL... DH is happy either way, so we'll see how I feel about it once the LO is here. Right now we have a perfect balance and I'm taking it day by day. If once the baby comes I feel like I want to stay home, I won't hesitate to do so!

HOU!!!!!!!! AWESOME belly shot!!!!!!! I know work is a lot, but keep chugging pretty Mama! You're doing great!

Tao!!!!! Oh, may your first tri pass quickly and easily! How wonderful that you're not feeling as sick this time around. Wonderful!

*****************
So..... we went to our 17 week appointment and.....TEAM PINK!!!!!!! We are beyond thrilled. I have wanted a baby girl my whole life!!!!!!!!!!!! My mom is so excited. It will be so amazing to have 3 generations of women together. I'm so happy that I find myself tearing up all day thinking about it. Oh, it's going to be so much fun to raise her, play with her and dress her! But how amazing that I will also get to teach her how to be a strong beautiful woman... wow, I'm so humbled.

SQUEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! My heart's desire, a little baby girl.... OMG, my heart is bursting today.

LV, congrats to you as well! GO TEAM PINK!

Love the BOYS, too!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, I would love one of each!

Ha, ha! Bliss, your enthusiasm and excitement make me smile! I identify with you because I felt the same way too (last year) when I found out I was having a girl. Congrats!!

************************

Congrats to everyone!!

 

[HOUMedGal]

Lanie - yeah, I have gotten a scan each time so far (6 weeks, 7w3d, 9w3d, NT scan at 12w3d at CMG, then back at her office at 13w3d). I don't know what's in store for my next appt at 18w4d - maybe she won't do one since I'll be getting my anatomy scan soon thereafter? I know all the scans early on were because of my previous loss - maybe she'll stop doing them so frequently now that I'm further along. I'm sorry you haven't gotten to see your little man much.

Ditto Lanie's ? about what classes do you recommend - We may or may not do CPR (I could just teach DH how to do it on my own, but wonder if the class would be better for him than me trying to do it), I'll def do BFing, and I'm wondering about the childbirthing ones. I don't feel like I need the infant care one, being a pediatrician, but again, might be good for DH.

Sha - nice to see you over here! BTW, I love seeing pics of your lovely little lady on the mommies thread - she's precious!!

 

[icekid]

HMG- Lucky girl with all of your ultrasounds! It does not seem that my practice does them really except for the scheduled ones. Oh well. I've been contemplating classes too; breast feeding and the hospital tour for sure, but other than that... I dunno. Might be painful, yet probably helpful for the hubby?? Hmm. You're looking great. I have a kind of weird-looking belly, too. It's definitely not round, dunno what that is about! oh well

Geri- I agree, we need a belly shot

Noel- That is such a nice crib!

Blushing- WOW, what a shower. Beautiful way to celebrate the arrival of your precious twins. And I am seriously impressed with your FIL's baking skills. You have an adorable belly and totally not even close to looking like there are twins in there.

HH- 35 days..... somehow that is a little scary. But I just checked and I am just over the 100 days left mark which also seems insane. It really does fly.

LV- Carter's shell shock?? Hehehe, I looooove looking at the baby clothes but am trying to hold off buying because people love to buy clothes as gifts!

CatLuver- Being short definitely makes for a less comfy pregnancy. At 24+ weeks my uterus is already darn near my ribs And it's getting to be somewhat uncomfortable when he kicks me up there.

cara- We did the Manhattan set. It seems to be pretty nice quality for the price. I'm just hoping we don't have one of those kids who thinks the crib makes a good teether.

----------------
We had an exciting weekend We stumbled into a baby boutique that had the Bumbleride Indie so now we do not have to drive 40 miles to know that it is the stroller for us! Totally loved it. I think we'll go with the seagrass, otherwise maybe black. It looks like a great stroller at a moderately reasonable price.

In nursery news, we put up the solar system decals on the wall and some rockets and stars. My hubby was soooo excited. This is probably the room that he dreamed of as a kid hehe. It's really sweet and we like how it's turning out. Finally decided on a glider, too. This is something that was so hard to really spend money on since it seems totally hit or miss as to whether people find them crucial or not so much. So we spent a decent amount of money on it, so hopefully it will work out well.

Otherwise, my kid continues to be a little Jumper NUT. I can already feel body parts from the outside when he moves strongly Was so not expecting that this early- my little alien is trying to escape!! And because of my insanely short torso, my uterus is already only an inch or so below my ribs so his kicking and somersaulting is getting into uncomfortable territory already. Yikes. Upcoming 3rd tri should be wonderful........

I finally took a belly shot at a little over 24 on the weekend. let's see if I can find it and post it shortly...

 

[icekid]

24+

Ok, the belly shot at a bit over 24............ I am definitely feeling BIGGER, and my hips and legs seem more chunky Sigh, oh well.

This was taken later in the day, because gravity definitely does a number on the size of my belly!! Such a weird, not round, is she just gaining weight type belly still. I guess my abs are still trying to hold it in, because my uterus is literally only an inch below my ribs now (damn short torso!)

 

[somethingshiny]

YAY for baby girls!!!

wish i could catch up but lily seems to know when i log into ps!!

for those of you who don't peruse the baby thread, lily's card appt went great!

 

[Blackpaw]

Hey SS, just wanted to pop in to say im glad Lily's doing well

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I know it's not Friday, but here's my 35/35 picture. It's not the best so I might take another one for Friday

 

[Lynnie]

Thanks to all of you who commented on the drop-side crib dilemma! We're gonna keep the crib and just make it a fixed side. Interesting that they're banning the drop-sides now...

Lanie, thanks for the heads up on the bedding options! I definitely see some contenders, and I'll let you know what we end up with! I LOVE your bedding, too!

Blushing, you look great!! And all the little details at your shower were amazing!!

HMG - you're definitely poppin!! Lookin good, mama!! I liked that factoid about the Jack and Jill test, too... technology is just amazing, isn't it??

Noel, Yay on all your new goodies! I really like that stroller!

Icekid - Love your belly pic! I'm with ya on the gravity thing... I definitely feel bigger at the end of the workday!

HH - wow! 35 days seems sooooo short!! We'll be congratulating you in no time!

I was hesitant to post this, but WTH... Anyone else having - um - labia pain? It feels like the ligaments in there are stretching, and it's very uncomfortable. I did google it, and it seems common enough... just wondering if anyone else is experiencing it.

Here's my very late belly pic. I just took it today, at 22w3d. It's gettin' there!

 

[noelwr]

22w5d

lookin' good HH!

gosh Lynnie, we're both the same far along, but you're still so cute and compact.

somethingshiny - fantastic news about Lily.

---

I don't know what's going on with my baby but she is always active. this morning at 4am she decided to have another party in my belly... I don't get invited. I'm just the venue.

 

[Sha]

Lanie - yeah, I have gotten a scan each time so far (6 weeks, 7w3d, 9w3d, NT scan at 12w3d at CMG, then back at her office at 13w3d). I don't know what's in store for my next appt at 18w4d - maybe she won't do one since I'll be getting my anatomy scan soon thereafter? I know all the scans early on were because of my previous loss - maybe she'll stop doing them so frequently now that I'm further along. I'm sorry you haven't gotten to see your little man much.

Ditto Lanie's ? about what classes do you recommend - We may or may not do CPR (I could just teach DH how to do it on my own, but wonder if the class would be better for him than me trying to do it), I'll def do BFing, and I'm wondering about the childbirthing ones. I don't feel like I need the infant care one, being a pediatrician, but again, might be good for DH.

Sha - nice to see you over here! BTW, I love seeing pics of your lovely little lady on the mommies thread - she's precious!!

Thanks Hou! I do pop in from time to time. Can't wait till you lovely ladies and your beautiful bebes join us over in the mommies' thread!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Lanie - yeah, I have gotten a scan each time so far (6 weeks, 7w3d, 9w3d, NT scan at 12w3d at CMG, then back at her office at 13w3d). I don't know what's in store for my next appt at 18w4d - maybe she won't do one since I'll be getting my anatomy scan soon thereafter? I know all the scans early on were because of my previous loss - maybe she'll stop doing them so frequently now that I'm further along. I'm sorry you haven't gotten to see your little man much.

Ditto Lanie's ? about what classes do you recommend - We may or may not do CPR (I could just teach DH how to do it on my own, but wonder if the class would be better for him than me trying to do it), I'll def do BFing, and I'm wondering about the childbirthing ones. I don't feel like I need the infant care one, being a pediatrician, but again, might be good for DH.

Sha - nice to see you over here! BTW, I love seeing pics of your lovely little lady on the mommies thread - she's precious!!

Thanks Hou! I do pop in from time to time. Can't wait till you lovely ladies and your beautiful bebes join us over in the mommies' thread!

Oh Noel, I feel your pain! Last night Aidan decided he wanted to emulate an MMA prize fighter and spent 3 hours beating the c*ap out of my insides. No position was comfortable or safe. I'd lay on my back and he'd try and launch himself off my spine, on my side he'd lodge his feet in my ribs and bash his head into my bladder/cervix. This was while he was squirming in full body movements like he was doing modern dance or something. The only saving grace is that I was awake watching TV while this was going on. If I were asleep I'd be

 

[Loves Vintage]

Oh Noel, I feel your pain! Last night Aidan decided he wanted to emulate an MMA prize fighter and spent 3 hours beating the c*ap out of my insides. No position was comfortable or safe. I'd lay on my back and he'd try and launch himself off my spine, on my side he'd lodge his feet in my ribs and bash his head into my bladder/cervix. This was while he was squirming in full body movements like he was doing modern dance or something. The only saving grace is that I was awake watching TV while this was going on. If I were asleep I'd be

Yikes! I still haven't felt a thing. Doctor said I may not until 22 weeks. We shall see.

Sleeping question - I fall asleep on my side, but have been waking up on my back. I planned to order one of those pregnancy pillows today, but then started reading the negative reviews -- too hot, scratchy fabric. Anyone use one?

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I went out and got the snoogle around the 20 week mark when the books say to stop sleeping on your side. Honestly, I hate it. Want mine? I'm a big toss and turner and you can't really take it with you so every time you turn over you have to unwrap your entire body from it, turn over and reposition it. Too much of a hassle. It was also hot.

Both my OB and the instructor at my baby class pointed out that sleeping on your back isn't the huge issue the books make it out to be. It's true, there a vein that runs along the inside of the right side of your pelvis and as the weight of your uterus increases, laying on your back can constrict blood flow to the baby. HOWEVER, you, the mom, are likely to feel this happening LONG before it has any affect on LO. Your body will tell you it's time to change positions.

I am only now, at 35 weeks,starting to notice the "signs" of needing to change positions. I'm a side/back sleeper and I've noticed several times recently I've woken up on my back and my right heel was asleep. Not my whole foot mind you, just my heel. Of course I usually have to get up to pee at the same time, so I change positions and by the time I get back to my bed the tingling is gone. I randomly put two and two together the other night and I'm trying to be more mindful about the pillow under the hip.

If you're a serious back sleeper and you're still concerned, you can try putting a pillow under your right hip. It doesn't need to be stuck far under there, just enough to shift your weight a bit.

 

[Mara]

re: back sleeping, i would wake up sometimes that way and would just move. i have a friend that slept that way for most of her preg--ditto that you the Mom would feel it and it would make you want to move. towards the end (after 34 weeks) i would wake up that way really uncomfortable so i'd HAVE to move. but up until then i never felt anything.

re: preg pillow, never used it. i was mostly a side sleeper and that was most comfortable. i used to throw a leg out with a space where my belly was BEFORE preg, but as i got bigger that wasn't possible, however laying on a pillow all night would not be comfy for me either--too soft. also those pillows are huge so i was like 'where in the world would i store this afterwards?!'... i figured if i really wanted to, like 2 regular pillows would suffice and then they are still useful afterwards.

 

[Loves Vintage]

Mara and HH, What would I do without you ladies? I didn't realize that I would feel the effects first. I've been waking up and wondering if I am somehow harming the baby. I am usually a stomach sleeper, but have been forcing myself to sleep on my side, and then wake up on my back. I'll skip the special pillow, as I do get very hot at night, and will try to use a pillow under my hip. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Laila619]

I'm a big toss and turner and you can't really take it with you so every time you turn over you have to unwrap your entire body from it, turn over and reposition it. Too much of a hassle.

Yep, that's why I don't think I'll be buying one.

I just use a regular old pillow between my knees.

LV, do you have anterior placenta also? You should be feeling your little girl very soon! The kicking really started for me around 21 weeks.

 

[cara]

LV, I haven't been comfortable on my back since at least week 20. Even leaning back in chairs tends to make me nauseous, and when I lie flat on my back I am pretty sure there is some kind of circulatory effect going on as I get nauseous, lightheaded, and legs easily go numb. Anyway, I don't know that you need to worry about it if you don't feel it, but I feel it!

As for pillows, I wrote a desperate plea on here a while ago and people did recommended one of the preggo pillows - for some people they work/help. I ended up not getting a special pillow, just sequestering a few more regular pillows that I wedge around me. Poor husband is allotted only one. Not for *under* my hips but often next to my hips, spreading the weight out over a larger area. Occasionally I can position the pillows so that I lean into them a little bit, thus sleeping not directly over my hip but at an angle partially resting on the pillow(s) without back sleeping. I think that would be the real draw of one of the preggo pillows. Even though I was a side or back sleeper pre-pregnancy, my hips tend to ache when I side sleep now and I spend much of the night flipping sides and rearranging pillows. And I often get cramps in my hips if my legs are bent much, so I try to keep them straight. Yikes, ~5 more weeks of this madness, then a new madness begins!.

 

[HOUMedGal]

Quick post - if anyone's interested, my hubby is going to be on TV tonight! (In about 10 minutes!) On History Channel, show is called "The Universe" and the episode is called "Time Travel." DH is the physicist with the British accent who will be at the beach with a surfboard talking about time travel...initials R.O. Comes on at 7pm central time!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Mara and HH, What would I do without you ladies? I didn't realize that I would feel the effects first. I've been waking up and wondering if I am somehow harming the baby. I am usually a stomach sleeper, but have been forcing myself to sleep on my side, and then wake up on my back. I'll skip the special pillow, as I do get very hot at night, and will try to use a pillow under my hip. Thanks for the advice.

Just another note. Last week I woke up laying on my stomach! Yes, 100% on my stomach with my arms stretched out above my head. Don't ask me how I was able to do this, but I was and Aidan was NOT happy with me-hence waking up.

The lesson here is your body has a mind of its own when your mind is alseep. There's only so much you can do and getting a good night's sleep without worrying about your position is more important than the slim possibility of endangering the baby. We're designed to incubate and protect, our bodies will tell us when something is wrong.

 

[Loves Vintage]

Thanks, HH. Wow, that you were sleeping on your stomach, haha! Doesn't sound too comfy!

Laila, I haven't been told that I have an anterior placenta. I was worried a few weeks ago, but since I've heard the heartbeat again and had the u/s, I'm ok with waiting a little while longer.

Cara, Interesting about not being back comfy at 20 weeks. I did use a bunch of pillows last night, and was very comfy. When I woke up at 3:30, they had all been moved to various parts of the bed. Funny. Yay, for only 5 more weeks!!!

HMG, I wasn't able to tune in to the History Channel last night, but just wanted to say "yay!" for a British accent!

So, it's been kind of quiet around here lately. Where are all the pregnant ladies?

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I don't know

 

[Loves Vintage]

I guess it means everyone is having a quiet pregnancy, right? So, that's good, but I still want to chat, though I admittedly have nothing left to talk about myself!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Ditto LV. I'm bored here at the office today.

 

[noelwr]

22w6d

I still sleep on my back sometimes. it took me a long time to get used to the pregnancy pillow because I had to learn to sleep on my side, and it's a mission to turn from side to side. it is indeed not comfortable for hot nights, but I can't sleep without support between my legs... but then I just end up on my back, anyway. the midwife said it was ok. when I was in Singapore, I just used a normal pillow between my legs and that was fine.

HH - sounds like you've got a little karate kid in your belly! I was having a massage on Monday and DD decided she'd massage my insides at the same time.

HMG - I would have liked to have seen your husband. maybe I'll download the program.

to everyone else, bored at work or otherwise...

I want to get a professional shot of me and DH with our hands on my belly. I am thinking it might be cheaper to do it during our vacation in the States. do they usually have good photographers at a shop in a mall or should I do some research before I go? and how long til you can get your photos on DVD? we're going for only 2 weeks.

 

[noelwr]

22w6d

so what are you ladies doing about swollen legs/ankles/feet? I've got a gel but don't think it really helps.

here's my pic of today. where's yours?

 

[Loves Vintage]

Hey Noel, I can't think of a photography place in any of the malls near me. Are you looking for just a few shots or a full session? Perhaps someone here can recommend someone in the area where you'll be visiting? Otherwise, I'd definitely research in advance.

You look great in your pic!! I can't wait to look a little more prego myself. Oh, and if that's your place, WOW, you get a lot of light! Is that a huge window!? I'm jealous.

 

[taovandel]

I had the swollen flinstone feet with Evan towards the end of my pregnancy...I just kept them elevated as much as possible, avoided really salty foods and I would soak them in a cold bath.