Calling all the Pregnant PS''ers

[lulu66]

luvthemstrawberries i feel you on the carrying low...i feel like there is a bowling ball in here i've been carrying pretty low this whole time. so glad you all got to take a little pre-baby vacation. that's so nice! don't stress about *temporarily* forgetting your husband's birthday; luckily you will have many, many more to celebrate!

bean YAY for team pink!! we are too we also went with the britax seat and stroller. which model stroller did you get? can't wait to hear more about the nursery!


AFM, 37 wks here. i'm over being upset at my friend (well, it still ticks me off that the one friend felt the need to share that tidbit with me but...i'm letting it go.). i was chatting w/another mutual friend about the whole situation & she said, "no matter what, can we please tell friends A & B that your pain never got above a 3 level & you almost did the whole thing natural?!" i love her!! at my appt doc must have sensed i needed some reassurance about the whole labor thing & out of the blue said he gives me 90% that i will be able to do it (w/o needing a c-section). he said he doesn't give all of his patients such a high percentage (i have a feeling he might but i needed to hear it anyways). apparently my hips are very good for birthing! LOL. other than that, had my first internal, nothing seems to be happening for now. he feels i have at least 2 weeks before we see anything start. OH & i've self-diagnosed (w/the help of dr. google) that i have PUPPS. and it totally sucks. will call the doc on monday & have an appt on wed but it doens't seem like there's a lot to be done. basically i noticed this past week that i began really itching my stomach (i thought it was just growing). then wed i began to notice red bumps forming inside my stretch marks on my stomach & the itching was getting greater & greater. i feel like it might be spreading to my arms...the bumps haven't shown up yet but my arms are starting to itch. no one knows what really causes it & apparently the only thing you can really do to get rid of it is to give birth. it feels like, what i imagine, having posion ivy rash feels like--i'm just itching like crazy & wake up during the night even more than before b/c it itches so bad. i have been putting lotion on 4+ times a day & then placing a cool wash cloth on when i can (that provides very temporary relief). i think i have had every pregnancy symptom w/the exception of morning sickness (i luckily only had slight nausea until wk 16 or so) and hemmoroids (and there's still a few weeks for those to show up! LOL)...lucky me!

 

[Haven]

All of this talk is making me want to check out strollers and car seats again! We settled on the Britax system but now I want to see that the fuss is about over the keyfit 30

Is anyone else still on zofran??

I'm still on Zofran. I only take one per day, in the morning.

I wish I had an urge to go shopping for baby stuff. It's so overwhelming, I hate to do it.
I bought bed linens for the crib yesterday though, so that's a step in the right direction! Pottery Barn Georgia, it's called. It's perfect because we are decorating the nursery with soft greys and yellow accents, and it was on sale. Sold!

 

[Haven]

Everyone keeps asking me if the baby has dropped yet. I don't think it has because I am constantly being kicked under my ribs, it is so painful. I guess when the baby drops I'll trade the painful ribs out for the pressure on my pelvis. Woohoo!

 

[Haven]

We checked out a store that carried more Baby Jogger strollers and decided to buy the City Mini GT. It's a big heavier, but the adjustable handlebar is really good for me, since I'm tall, and it was cushier inside. It handled nicely, as well, and we just liked it a bit more overall. So, one big decision down.

The store we visited said they would give us the adaptor for free if we buy the stroller and our car seat from them. That's pretty sweet, since the adaptor costs $60. Woohoo!

 

[S&I]

That's awesome Haven! Glad you were able to decide on the CM GT. That's the one we would have gotten too, except that we found the City Elite for $30 cheaper than the CM GT by getting the 2011 model. I think you'll really like the CM GT. BJ really does make awesome strollers and their one-handed quick fold is really what sold me on them in the first place. Oh, and score on getting the adapter for free! One less thing to buy. Which color are you going to get?

 

[Haven]

DH wants the black stroller, which is fine with me. I would have gotten the gray version with orange detailing, but I don't really care about the color so DH wins! The quick-fold is pretty awesome. I also loved shopping in a smaller store, it was far less overwhelming. We went to Galt Baby, I don't think it's all over, but it is very nice and not a warehouse, which is more my style. I basically hyperventilate every time we go into one of those warehouse stores, too much!

ETA: Hey mamas! Just as I said I don't like shopping in the big warehouse stores, Babies R Us posted a 20% off coupon on their homepage today. There are exclusions, but the Chicco car seat isn't one of them. Check it out, ladies!
http://www.babiesrus.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=2255957

 

[MuffDog]

Haven - I'm so glad you started this conversation about registry items - reading all the recommendations here is so helpful, and this has been the story of our lives this week. I'm really trying not to get overwhelmed, but there is just WAY too much information and too many products out there, in my opinion. We've really just tried to go with our gut on most products, based on some smart research and trying to be streamlined and not get overrun by products for every possible need - if we can get something that is quality but a little more expensive, or that will work for multiple uses and for a long time period, that's us.

I love that people are recommending the City Elite - that's the stroller we very quickly settled on after some quick research and a Buy Buy Baby trip. We have an SUV, and the extra size of the stroller is worth being able to take the stroller in the mall, on a gravel trail, wherever we need it and just have one for all purposes.

We also were down between the Chicco Keyfit 30 and one of the Graco Snugrides, and I think we're going with the Chicco - it's more expensive, as are its extra bases, but it feels a bit better to us, and happens to be the consumer reports top recommendation as well - we just can't see a reason to go with the Graco over the Chicco, except for price.

For some of the other big items... husband doesn't like the monster-sized cribs that convert into the beds in the future, so we're most likely going with a simple crib from Ikea - bonus that the Singlair one comes in untreated wood and therefore is free of all the toxic stuff that I'm not a fan of. I know you can get affordable pack and plays, but we really like the 4moms Breeze - it's expensive, but SO easy to use and travel with, and I love that the colors are simple and not so outlandishly "baby" colors. We're registering for a door jumper instead of a dedicated plastic seat thingy, for space-saving. And we're considering putting a big leather recliner we have into the nursery when we move, instead of a glider, just for re-use reasons, but we'll see. I did sit in the gliders at the store and have to say they are pretty darn comfortable.

I'm going to have to peruse the various recommendations here for the slings/carriers too - I'm having a hard time choosing that, but I've always been interested in baby-wearing. My husband is super-simple, so he keeps giving me the "just so you know, I never had this when I was a baby" and "why do we need this again?" on every single item, including a carrier. He read one thing about slings and now thinks they're not safe.

I'm having a hard time accepting the feeling of getting overrun with baby items, especially items that are so distinctly "baby" - I know it's going to happen, but I just don't like the look of some of this stuff, if that makes any sense - I feel like some of those swings and high chairs are just so BIG and plastic-y looking. I know there are some newer, more modern looks, but they are not cheap either. I like the space-saving idea of the feeding chairs that sit in a dining table chair, instead of the dedicated high chair, but the husband prefers the actual high chair. And I think we're going to go with the 4moms Mamaroo rocker/bouncer thing, instead of a swing - it's kind of space-age looking, but it's also not this monstrous baby-looking swing that runs on batteries and takes up huge floor space... I don't know. Like I said, too many choices, and I think things have just gotten out of control in the baby world!

LTS - I was just reading through your post and had a few comments. Love that you are going with simple furniture! Smart. Anyways...re: the carrier. I think you will love having one. We actually have two. As a young baby, we used a simple ring sling which if you are at all handy could make yourself. Nothing fancy is needed to keep baby cuddly and close. As the baby gets a bit sturdier, having an Ergo or something will be super useful and comfortable. Plus it makes it really easy for Dad to carry the baby!

As far as the swing goes, I have heard pretty mixed reviews of the 4moms Mamaroo. It is expensive so I thought I'd let you know. If your baby likes swinging (they don't all like it), it won't necessarily like the Mamaroo because it isn't fast enough. I know that the typical baby swings are hideous, but if you have a bad sleeper (most babies are at some point), you probably won't care if you have that big plasticky thing in the house because it works!

YOu and I are similar in not wanting too much "baby" stuff all over the house. My recommendation would be to wait on buying a swing and anything else that has a limited life span and maybe consider buying used or borrowing one from a friend. Then once the baby grows out of it (which is in about 2 months or so), then you can give it back or resell it.

Things like the high chair which will be used much longer, I think splurging for one that works in your house makes sense, so long as it does the job baby-wise!

Anyways - hope that helps!

 

[Haven]

We totally just scored a great deal on our stroller! DH and I went to Babies R Us because we placed an order for the car seat to be picked up at the store. (We got 15% off on it, and decided to get it from BRU just in case the deal we are supposed to get at a smaller store didn't go through.) SO, while at BRU we tell them that when we tried to order the City Mini GT online it wouldn't allow us to add it to the cart, so does this mean they just won't be getting anymore for a while? The guy said, "No, I have on here in the store." We were told they didn't carry them in store, so we were confused, and went with him to check it out. Turns out, someone ordered one online, never opened it, and returned it to this store. So we said, "Could you give us a discount on it since it's a return?" And they said, "Sure, how about 20% off?" SOLD!

So, we ended up getting the City Mini GT (in the orange and gray that I wanted, btw,) for $280 before tax instead of $350. SWEET. THEN, they gave us the car seat for 20% off total instead of the 15% we originally got off, so we saved over $100. I was so not into buying this stuff, but the deals make it much easier.

Anyway, just wanted to share.

 

[S&I]

Don't you just love an awesome deal on baby stuff you were already planning to buy anyway?

 

[lulu66]

haven that's so awesome!! yay for you all!

 

[Haven]

Don't you just love an awesome deal on baby stuff you were already planning to buy anyway?

YES! I was so excited! I'm always the person asking for a deal, but it never works out this well.
Thanks, Lulu!

I had to share our score with someone, and I knew you ladies would understand.
I sent an email to my mom about it and her response was, "Holy cow! For that much money it better walk itself." So, she didn't really celebrate our awesome savings with me.

 

[Dandi]

Wow!! Nice going, Haven! What a deal!

 

[Haven]

Thanks, Andi!
I wonder if people will be able to score awesome deals on the 2012 strollers once the 2013 models come out. That would be awesome!

I took a bump picture yesterday at 35w5d. I can't believe how big I am now, and how small I was in the beginning. Sorry for the terrible picture, we have an awesome yellow bathroom but it isn't the best backdrop for a photo.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

LTS - I was just reading through your post and had a few comments. Love that you are going with simple furniture! Smart. Anyways...re: the carrier. I think you will love having one. We actually have two. As a young baby, we used a simple ring sling which if you are at all handy could make yourself. Nothing fancy is needed to keep baby cuddly and close. As the baby gets a bit sturdier, having an Ergo or something will be super useful and comfortable. Plus it makes it really easy for Dad to carry the baby!

As far as the swing goes, I have heard pretty mixed reviews of the 4moms Mamaroo. It is expensive so I thought I'd let you know. If your baby likes swinging (they don't all like it), it won't necessarily like the Mamaroo because it isn't fast enough. I know that the typical baby swings are hideous, but if you have a bad sleeper (most babies are at some point), you probably won't care if you have that big plasticky thing in the house because it works!

YOu and I are similar in not wanting too much "baby" stuff all over the house. My recommendation would be to wait on buying a swing and anything else that has a limited life span and maybe consider buying used or borrowing one from a friend. Then once the baby grows out of it (which is in about 2 months or so), then you can give it back or resell it.

Things like the high chair which will be used much longer, I think splurging for one that works in your house makes sense, so long as it does the job baby-wise!

Anyways - hope that helps!

Hi MuffDog - thank you so much for the advice, it is much appreciated!!

Very good to hear about the carriers - it is something I have been wanting to do, although the husband is still going to take some convincing that it's a good piece of gear to have, but I think he'll see it.

I do appreciate your info on the Mamaroo - that is one of the items we are very unsure about, and you are right - it is definitely expensive, and that is one of my biggest issues with an item that you're not even sure the baby will like. And I do agree that the look of the swing really doesn't matter, and that we will be so thankful if we had one and it is something the baby really responded to. I have had multiple people swear by their swing, which is why I wanted to get something for movement/soothing, but just struggling with what that something is. We don't know anyone right now that we could borrow from, but I'll keep looking. Is something like this bad to find used (with some cleaning of course)?

I really do appreciate the input! I hope I don't sound naive or silly about the look of baby items - I'm very aware that's what we're getting into, just didn't want to get completely overrun by it all, haha. I have faith that it can be done in moderation, somehow!

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Man Haven, you are scoring some serious deals! First the free carseat bases, then the deal on the stroller AND carseat, plus a free adapter? Um, use some big check marks on those items on the list! We went with the Black Baby Jogger too, as well as the black/grey Chicco carseat.

Thanks for the BRU coupon!

PS - you are looking beautiful!!

 

[lulu66]

haven you are looking great!!

luvthemstrawberries i'd def say go ahead w/a swing/bouncer/whatever in gently used condition. preferably one that has padding that can be removed and washed. but even if it can't be removed you can spot clean it. i am so w/you on not being overrun w/baby stuff. we struggled so much with all the "stuff." that being said, someone gifted us a monstrous swing (the fisher price snugabunny) that has great reviews, so we're going to keep it. (i also coveted the mamaroo but couldn't see shelling out $200 for a short use item that baby may not even like.) if the swing was going to be purchased from our pocketbook, i was set on waiting to see the temperament of this little one. we did get the bouncy seat b/c i would like to shower & i've heard putting the baby in the bouncy seat in the bathroom while you shower works out pretty well (and they are small & generally much cheaper).

dandiandi how are you feeling? i'm just huge; my swelling is getting out of control & i have this rash that is out of control. and it's frustrating because chores that normally would take 2 hours now take me all day. right now i don't see how any woman in her right mind wants to do this more than once!


AFM, last night was DH & i's last night just the two of us in our house. MIL comes in just a few short hours, FIL next week, then my mom the week after and the baby somewhere in there! it's all so crazy & surreal!! i have an appt tomorrow; i don't feel like she's anymore ready to come out then she was last week. i need to pack my hospital bag--for some reason i'm totally procrastinating that one. maybe because that's going to make it for real-FOR REAL: i will be going to the hospital & coming back home w/a new little baby!

 

[lliang_chi]

Haven, just a nugget to store away in your brain, but we went to Galt Baby when looking at convertible seats. The technician will install the seat into your car for you for you to "try on" with the baby. It totally helped cinch the decision to get our Diono Radian.

~LC

 

[Haven]

Haven, just a nugget to store away in your brain, but we went to Galt Baby when looking at convertible seats. The technician will install the seat into your car for you for you to "try on" with the baby. It totally helped cinch the decision to get our Diono Radian.

~LC

Thanks, LC! One of the women who attends my writing workshops at the college works at Galt Baby, so I was totally planning on recruiting her to help us with details like this. Good to know I don't need a connection to get the help!

I really liked shopping there as opposed to BRU. It was so much nicer to be in a normal-sized store and not a warehouse.

 

[Dandi]

Haven, looking gorgeous as usual! I was so torn what colour BJ pram to get, I ended up with the sandstone one but loved the vibrant colours too, like the red one, so cute!

lulu, feeling good thanks lovely! Oh you poor thing, is it that PUPP rash you have? Nasty My fingers are pretty chunky but other than that I haven't swollen up much, although yesterday was HOT here and I spent most of the day in a cool bath!

strawberries, I'm the same with swings and all that other stuff, I just can't decide what to do! I figure I'll snag one if a great second hand one comes up at some stage, but for now I have a friend's bouncer, and I bought a tummy time activity mat with hanging toys and mirrors etc. I just hate clutter though! I guess we'll just wait and see what keeps baby happy.

AFM, travelling along nicely. 38 weeks tomorrow and feeling mahooooosive!! My energy levels are a bit depleted, but I'm just putting around home doing computer work for DH, which is easy to manage, plus I've been busy catching up with friends most days so keeping busy! Friends of mine have organised a lunch for about 40 people on Sunday in lieu of a baby shower as I didn't particularly want one. It's outside at a beach house restaurant and the weather is meant to be beautiful, so it should be heaps of fun. I'm getting a bit uncomfortable *down there*, I think baby has dropped a bit in the last couple of days, and s/he is still super active. I was hoping to deliver a couple of weeks early but now I have to make a conscious effort not to before my lunch date on Sunday, hehe!

 

[lulu66]

dandiandi not 100% sure if its pupps rash. doc felt confident its related to the pregnancy but no real need for diagnosis because nothing can be done other than topical OTC cortisone cream or inducing the baby. slept for 2 hours last night, awake for 2, on & off for 3 more (guess I better get used to it ) hope you make it to your lunch Sunday!!! I bet you will! how nice of your friends to organize it.

hi everyone else!!


afm, 38 wks. well, had an internal today & am 2 cm dilated, 60% effaced. doc gives me another week. I'm just praying baby can stay in till dec 2nd as that is when my mom arrives & she is just so torn up about missing the birth once I gave her the update today, she said she was going to go home & cry. it's the first grandbaby on my side & I just hate that she might not be here but...that's nature, can't control it as much as I wish I could!

anyone have any experiences that might lead me to believe this baby will still be baking for a week & a half?? I just plan to take it real easy...nothing too strenuous or spicy! lol.

...off to pack my hospital bag...

 

[Haven]

Andi--I've been marking my progress along with yours because you've been just a bit further along the entire time, so seeing you at 38 weeks FREAKED ME OUT! I know 38 comes two weeks after 36, but for some reason seeing YOU at 38 weeks made it seem like I was so much closer to it!

Your lunch sounds so nice, I hope you make it!

Lulu--Oh, I hope baby waits until your mom comes in. Even if you deliver before the 2nd, I'm sure she'll just melt the moment she sees baby and all her sadness about missing the birth will disappear. If she's in town is she going to be in the room with you for the actual birth? I'm just being nosey, sorry!
I can't believe you are so close!!!!

Be well, mamas! I can't wait to hear big updates from you!!!!

 

[Dandi]

Haven, you're a classic!!

 

[lulu66]

haven dh & I discussed who will be in the room b/c (the plan was) both his parents & my mom would be in town. dh said its ultimately up to me but it will probably be just the two of us. I said I reserve the right to ask for my mommy at any time though!

we're over here still processing that this little one might be here in less than a week...

 

[mia1181]

Hi everyone I think I am ready to join this thread! I'll be 26 weeks tomorrow so just 99 days until my due date!

Mamaroo- I was also obsessed with the mamaroo to but once I started registering and I realized how much everything would cost, I prioritized and decided to get a cheap bouncy seat instead. I know of A TON of babies who did not like the swing at all or only used it for a month tops so for me it's not worth the price. Another drawback is that it is very heavy and you can't pick it up with one hand to move from room to room like other swings or bouncy seats. I did look on Craigslist and there were a bunch selling for around $100 that looked brand new and the description said they were only used a couple of times. If I want one later or if we have some extra money after our showers then I would just get one from Craigslist. But I also take the fact that there a bunch of people selling them after a few uses to mean that my baby will probably not really need it.

Who will be in the room?- Is anyone else planning on having a lot of people in the room? My hospital allows as many people as you want and I will have my mother and MIL in town so I will have them in the room. I've also invited all of my friends! Haha! My DH is verrry squeamish so I don't know how much help he will be so I think I will need some backup support. Also I am a ridiculously social person and I like having a crowd. I am not afraid to kick people out if I need to. We'll see how it goes. If I can stand to go natural I probably won't want to talk and if I'm up all night I may need to sleep. But I know of a few people who got the epidural and then just hung out with family and friends until it was time to push.

 

[lulu66]

welcome, Mia!!

 

[Dandi]

Welcome mia!! On the people in the room thing, for me it will just be myself and DH. The birthing suites at the hospital I'm delivering at are huge, so he should have plenty of room to spread out I will definitely ring my mum if I feel the need but not planning on having her there from the get go, and my MIL would drive me bonkers, so no way to that

 

[Haven]

Welcome, Mia!

DH is the only person I want in the room for the birth. We're very private people, and I want DH to be the only one there so we can share the moment of our baby's birth together without anyone else from our family there. We are very calm people and our families . . . aren't. I imagine there would be a lot of exclaiming and chattering and whatnot, and we like to just *be* together for big moments, if that makes sense. And we don't want our baby's first moments in the world to be filled with people crowding around him/her and gaping and squealing, and we know our families just wouldn't be able to help themselves! They're so LOUD!

I also don't even like anyone to see me brushing my teeth, let alone spread eagle birthing a baby, so . . . there's that, too.

 

[Haven]

haven dh & I discussed who will be in the room b/c (the plan was) both his parents & my mom would be in town. dh said its ultimately up to me but it will probably be just the two of us. I said I reserve the right to ask for my mommy at any time though!

we're over here still processing that this little one might be here in less than a week...

Awwwwww. That's so sweet.

 

[lulu66]

i think it's so interesting all the different perspectives on "the people in the room." my MIL is now saying she'll take photos for us in the delivery room if my mom's not there. i have to figure out a nice way to say, no thanks! my bff had the nurses take some photos (the weighing, cord cutting, on mom's chest, etc) & i might be ok for that. i think it will hurt my mom's feeling more knowing that MIL was present when she couldn't be than any joy from seeing any sort of photos (which would NOT be of the main action). plus, like haven, i'm pretty chill & modest & just don't feel that comfortable with the idea of my hyperactive MIL flitting around w/her camera.

well, i just told my boss tomorrow is my last day of work. originally i planned to work till dec 1st; then cut it back to nov 27th but just can't do it anymore. this rash is out of control, my legs & feet are so swollen and it's not even going down at night, my hands are swollen & i am losing feeling in them if my elbow is at less than a 90 degree angle. basically: the end sucks. but, really, even with all of that, i'd still be okay if she wanted to stay in longer. i'm so excited to meet her but honestly scared too! short day at work tomorrow, then just resting & preparing for labor & delivery. definitely feel like this little one is running out of room. movements are still there but not much pronounced kicking & punching; it's all like repostitioning now. on the brightside: MIL has rearranged kitchen & made room for all the baby kitchen stuff and is washing all of the baby stuff that still needs washed. and has been doing all the cooking & cleaning--it's so appreciated

hope everyone else is well!!!

 

[Haven]

Be well, Lulu! I hope your time at home helps ease some of your discomfort.

Giiiiirl, my feet started swelling up about a week or two ago, and I commiserate--it is miserable. Last night they were so bad (and painful!) when I got up from the dinner table that I really freaked out when I pulled my pant leg up and saw them. I'm just hoping I'll be able to teach at least one more week to be with my students when they take their big exit exam. After that, if the swelling gets very bad, I don't know how long I'll be able to make it. My mom and I went to the Red Door for mani/pedis today and it was pretty amazing, but looking at my sausage feet during my pedi made me want to cry!

I imagine your MIL will understand when you explain that you wouldn't feel right having her in the room if your mom couldn't be there. And even if she doesn't, too bad! Your baby, your rules. I hope your mom makes it, but if she doesn't I really believe one look at that baby will melt away all of her sadness about it.