Calling all the Pregnant PS''ers

[njc]

Chrono – What an angel! Thanks for sharing.

Ella – Congrats on the house! Homeowenership is fun! And you are so right about the testing… I passed on all the optional stuff (Nuchal, amnio, etc) because the stress of false positives isn’t worth it to me! Hope you can relax until the amnio… it’s the only test that does not give false positives because it is an answer test vs a percentage test… does that make sense? I''m sure everything is fine! Everyone is right… you are TINY! I saw a pic the other day of a woman I think at 22 weeks with twins and she was smaller than me! I couldn’t believe it… maybe I will come across the pic again and post it for you.

Tacori – Yup, BPK. I like the paint treatment too. Our room is no where near that big though, so I’m not sure how it would look, but it is nice. There isnt a USA Baby near us, but no worries on me getting the PB cirb… no way I am paying that much for a crib! Maybe you are just one of those to gain in the middle versus throughout, at the begining or the end. Everyone does it different!

Thanks for the thoughts on the bedding… if it’s a go, I’ll post it in the nursery thread. I do like it though. I’m just so excited to have possibly found something and that DH actually OOOed over before I did! I''ve searched from one end of the internet to the other... crazy.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Thanks njc! I hope it will level out here. Obviously I will gain lots more but 2 lbs/week is just TOO much! I guess I was just concerned b/c I gained it SO fast. I hope it is not a sign of GD. My friend talked me off the ledge today. I feel like such a complainer

The body image thing is just much harder than I thought it would be. I just need to remind myself that there is a baby in there. We go to Ohio next week. I am hoping don''t get any negative weight comments from his family. I think I may snap if I do

17 weeks to go!

I love the strips and think you should do that if you can. I thought about having DH put up white paneling like in your photo but decided that seemed like too much work. He told me last night he doesn''t want to paint the nursey any light colors. He wants something "cool." We''ll see

 

[chrono]

Initially I lost something like 5 lbs due to morning sickness. Once I got going at around 25 weeks, I started putting on weight fast, sometimes 2 lbs a week. With both pregnancies, I ended up 40 lbs over my original weight which is super scary since these are numbers I have NEVER seen before on the scale. I lost 10lbs right away after birth, then a couple lbs a week during my 6 weeks post partum rest period. I held on to the last 10 - 15 lbs until after I stopped nursing.

 

[lovelylulu]

Just popping in to say hello! Like ephemery, I''m just having wishful parenting daydreams! and maybe i should steer clear of this thread, but i just love hearing about the progress and the pictures are adorable!!!

tacori: happy belated birthday. and while i''m not pregnant and going through the body change, i was just thinking the other day that i''ve finally gotten myself back into shape, to a place that i''m really loving my body and all i want is to stretch it out

i bet it''s not easy, but i also bet you look beautiful!

curly: your baby girl is too sweet. i can''t believe how much personality babies can have at such a young age. bright eyes. my DH and I are also in a small space living situation in a city, but i do see it as a positive! i think!!

chrono and jadeleave: such handsome little men!

ellaila: so many congratulations on your closing!!!! I can''t hardly wait until July 20th when all our paperwork is DONE and we can MOVE IN! and i''m sorry that you are going through so much anxiety about the tests. i''m sure your babies are perfect and healthy and i wish that the tests were more accurate so they didn''t give people such cause for alarm.

back to daydreaming about motherhood

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Chrono, how sad that NOW I would be happy with 40 lbs?!!! I was hoping for the standard 35 lbs. Awww well. I have never seen these numbers either

Of course I have never been in this bra size either so at least that is fun

So you don''t think it is a sign of GD or anything do you?

lovelylulu, you are so sweet. I was actually looking at our wedding photos last week and couldn''t believe I was not 100% happy with my body then. Now with my huge belly I think I looked great at our wedding! Haha! Maybe I will never be happy. Are you and your DH thinking of starting a family soon?

 

[njc]

Tacori - We might give the stripes a shot. Who knows! I want something cool like your DH... I was trying to talk DH into painting a quote on a wall or something, but he gave me a crazy look! I''d love to do wanscotting (or however you spell it!) below a chair rail or that paneling in the pic is nice too. There is another pic out there that has this awesome dark blue wall. Here is a link.

I dont think the weight gain is a sign of GD. Being *really* thirsty is though... like cant drink enough thirsty. I think you are just at that point where the baby is growing a lot. My belly has gotten a lot bigger in the past couple weeks. I remember going for my u/s at 20 weeks thinking people probably thought I was crazy because I still wasnt showing much. 6 weeks later, there is no doubt! I am even getting unsolicited advice from strangers.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

njc, you gotta give the stripes a shot! It looks so cool! DH''s idea of cool is painting the room red, orange or gray. I wouldn''t mind his ideas if ANY of those colors worked with the bedding but no....no they won''t.

I do want the room to look put together. Maybe the darker, limey green. I really just need to see it in person first. At least he FINALLY agreed on painting our sunroom chocolate brown. I love it when I *finally* wear him down. *evil laugh*

My dad is too funny. He really liked my mom preggo and told me the pregnant body is a beautiful thing and he is sure I look stunning. Gotta love the confidence perk from the parents! Also I actually found a FLATTERING maternity swimming suit at Target ($32 so decent price). Two different women and a teenage girl were gushing over the maternity clothes (thought they were so cute and it is not fair since they were not preggo). They do have some cute stuff but some of the stuff fits really bad IMHO.

 

[indecisive]

I just started lurking on this thread because my FSIL is pregnant with a baby girl! I doubt my brother will ever have kids so I am really excited about being an aunt! I am already shopping for little Alexandra!

Congrats to all the PS moms and soon to be moms. I am not ready for it now but it is fun to read about how things are going for you guys.

njc- have you bought any of the adorable baby Hokie things? It is all too cute! I am going to buy a onesie and some other things for my future niece... gotta start them early

 

[Tacori E-ring]

indecisive, old navy has some ADORABLE little girls clothes. When is she due?

 

[indecisive]

She is due November 3rd, so Thanksgiving should be fun with the new baby. I did look at Old Navy the other day and my goodness, is baby girl stuff the cutest or what?! I bought her a couple things for the baby when I was in France but that was before we knew she is a girl. It is hard to find unisex clothes, although there are some cute green and yellow things out there! You must be so patient, Tacori. We are nervous about things because FI and his brothers had heart problems as babies. FI actually technically "died" 13 times after he was born because of heart issues. She is doing everything right, though so we will just think positively.

BTW I am in love the dark cribs and nursery you and njc picked. I like the white furniture look too but I think the dark brown is such a rich, classy look. I can''t wait to see pics when they are all finished.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

indecisive, waiting is SOOOO hard! Even harder now that I am at the stage where we could find out if we wanted. I am not sure I could do it for the next time. Plus I feel really bad call our baby "it." DH wanted to buckle when we saw how cute the clothes are (unisex...not so much!) I wish I could start my own line. My MIL is even getting sick of buying green/yellow. She is currently on a bib kick. (The first trimester she was on a onesie/sleeper spree, then recieving blankets) She is getting slightly out of control. I figure I am saving her money but NOT finding out the sex b/c then she would REALLY go crazy! I love the little sun dresses at Old Navy. Just make sure you are buying the right size for the season (so for summer 6-9 months). Oh they have their little sweatsuits on sale (the hoodies are just too adorable for words). I stocked up on the gray ones. Your FSIL is just a week behind me. I am sure they checked its heart during the scan (for obvious problems) I have every faith she will be healthy. It is amazing how strong little babies are!

I like the dark wood too! It is so beautiful. At first I wanted black but couldn''t find a set I liked. So the espresso seemed like a good choice. White cribs are very sweet. Just not my style. I will post plenty of pics once the nursery is done (which won''t be for awhile

)

 

[divergrrl]

NJC: I got that same crib from Target.com for $200. It''s by Bassett Baby....They only have the dark color online...in the store they carry the honey color.

Ellaila: Ok...no worries....your twins are FINE! Don''t think about the amnio...truly, it hurts LESS than getting a blood draw. The actual procedure takes about 60 seconds tops....but for about a half hour you get to stare at your babies on an ultrasound, so really, think of it as an opportunity to take a peek-sie! I had an amnio this time & it all turned out fine. My OB won''t even LET you do the bloodwork because the FALSE POSITIVE rate is OVER 65%. And remember, bloodwork is NOT diagnostic (meaning: it can''t tell you if there is or is not a problem). The bloodwork is a "probability" tool. For instance, if your AFP levels are low or high, that *could* indicate a problem, but its certainly no guarantee. So at his office, if you want testing, he just sends you straight to amnio. He told me in his 32 years of practice, he''s never lost a baby or had a complication due to amnio. Hell, mine was botched & we were just fine. When you get the results, you are gonna be sooo happy. I had no testing with Jake & I worried until he was 6 months old...LOL. Now, I''m not so worried about this baby. I mean, I''m still worried (mothers are the worry machines fer shure

) but its nice to know that the chromosomal abnormalities are a non-issues.....

I had my GD test today...ugh..I almost passed out from hunger (we have to fast overnight & go in the a.m. -- have a blood draw, drink the orange pop, wait an hour and then another draw....thank goodness my MIL was with me to keep me company.

I only gained 3lbs this month! woooowoooooooo!!!!

We are having a great time with MIL...she''s so funny, its not even funny. I realize that''s where my dh gets his funnybone from. Tomorrow she''s taking us to the specialty dept. store for babies & buying our double stroller! Wahoo! Go mum! She had fun at my pre-natal appt. today. She wanted to hear the heartbeat & my doc put the doppler speaker on my belly & Delaney kicked it and it bounced & made a weird noise....MIL totally jumped, it was really cute.
Yesterday we did mani/pedi''s (my treat) and had a fun girls day with lunch & shopping afterwards.

She''ll be here until Mon...so I''ll still be scarce, but everyone have a FAB weekend & take care!

xoxo

 

[Kaleigh]

diver,
Your MIL sounds like a riot!!! That''s so nice she is buying you guys a double stroller. Enjoy the rest of her stay!!!

 

[ellaila]

Congrats on being a soon-to-be-auntie, Indecisive!! Is this your first time being an aunt? It''s a lot of fun!!

Thanks for the congrats, Lulu -- and same to you!! Be prepared to sign TONS of papers on July 20

But it''s worth it!

diver, which double stroller are you getting? I''m thinking the Graco Duoglider -- that seems to be the favorite among twins-moms. Are you looking at tandem or side-by-side? And thanks for the reassurances -- it helps!! My dr. actually did tell me NOT to do the screening, just to get the u/s, but I didn''t realize that I had to change my appt. from "screening" to "u/s" (I had already made the appt. before I talked to the dr. speciifically about options) so when I got there, they wouldn''t JUST do an u/s -- they said they had to do the whole thing! Huh?! So yeah, he doesn''t really put much faith in the results, I guess ...

I really love that dark furniture too, but we are borrowing a crib from a friend and it''s natural wood, so I guess that''s what we''re going to have in the nursery! I guess we''ll just go out and try to find a matching one so that we can be at least somewhat coordinate.! I too have heard that Target has great baby furniture -- Costco too! A friend of mine who did her whole nursery in PB stuff got her crib at Costco, and it''s beautiful (dark wood).

 

[njc]

Tacori – Hopefully we will be painting in about 2 weeks, so I will let you know what we do. Okay, yeah, I’m not trying to do orange or anything crazy like that. I think the limey green would be nice! Isnt that the color of the walls in the pics? LOL on wearing DH down. I always try and win color arguments by pulling the graphic designer card on him. At least he is good at seeing colors too… like if I tell him something has green in it, he can usually see and agree, KWIM? I can totally picture a nice bright sunroom in a chocolate brown. Good job on finding a nice bathing suit! I love Targets swimsuits… I have several. Not a huge fan of the mat clothes though, or at least the ones mine has. I did buy some t-shirts to bum around the house in, but that’s it.

Indecisive – Alexandra is a beautiful name! Congrats Aunt-to-be… it’s a lot of fun! All I’ve bought is a little pair of socks. I have a feeling, we will be getting plenty from friends and family, or at least I hope so! When we announced the sex to our friends, I sent out an email claiming our son to be a starter for the 2027 football season! I’ve given tons of Hokie stuff to my niece and nephew over the years, but my SIL is a Hokie too. OH, they even have maternity shirts. You are right… need to plant that seed early! I agree about the dark being nice and classy… we have dark wood all over our house too.

Diver – Now that is what I am talking about! $200 is more what I was thinking. I’ll check the ones at Target out. I also found some nice ones at BRU for around that. Sounds like you are having a blast with your MIL! So glad I just had to drink the orange stuff and wait an hour… crazy about all that fasting!

Ella – I like the natural wood too. The white is just, I don’t know, WHITE and not my thing! Before DH said he liked a dark crib with that bedding I was hoping to get him to like a natural colored crib… figured that was some sort of compromise between white and dark! And you cant pass up free… your nursery will look great!

I just got a call from my SIL… she is pregnant with #3!!!

I am so excited and cant believe it! They thought they were done (niece is 9, nephew is 7) and I kept teasing them that N&N were at the perfect age for a surprise baby! I was the surprise baby for my parents and my brothers were 9 and 6, hence the perfect age bit. Plus, my nephew is EXACTLY like my brother, so we always teased that he was distend to be a middle child and now he will be!!! She just figured it all out this week… has no clue when her last period was, but we are thinking we have either a Jan or Feb baby on our hands! She goes to the doctor Thursday. Hardest part is SIL-to-be's b-party is tomorrow night and my SIL isnt one to not have a drink in her hand, so we are going to try and be a little sneaky about her drinking... bar is easy (virgin anything) but the limo is going to be the hard part! She just wants to go to the doctor before the whole world knows. Real kicker would be if its twins! From what I've read the more babies you've had, plus the older you are, the greater your chances. Shes only 35, but still, its #3... I think my brother would die!

I am just so excited… co-worker thought I was going to go into labor I got so excited! What a big year for my family… I’m pregnant, oldest brother getting married and now baby #4 on the way! At least our bean will have a cousin close to his age!!!

 

[AmberWaves]

Hi guys, I''m normally a lurker (FI doesn''t want us to start trying until after a year of marriage), but I just wanted to post to Elaila about the twins. My cousin had twins in January. She got a tandem stroller. Anyway, I wanted to show you the cool bed thing she got- it''s an "Arms reach co-sleeper" found here She loved it, and great for a c-section recovery!

Anyway, I''m always here listening to all of you and your great stories. I want babies so badly right now, it''s insane! Still, my FI insists I retreat back into lurkdom! Good luck ladies!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

njc, I agree about Target's clothes

Old Navy's fit me SO much better. I think the sunroom will look great brown. It has windows on three sides and glass french doors to connect to our living room. The ceiling is vaulted too and lots of trim (which we will keep white). The floor is white tile (for now). I think it will still be a bright room despite a dark color. Plus out sofa in there is bright red and I love the red/chocolate combo. I think the color in the sample nursery is a light aqua. I think that would look great with the dark wood but not sure if I can talk DH into it. Yeah about being an aunt again! How fun that your kids will be the same age!

ell, how nice of your friends. Make sure you get a new mattress though. Used mattress has been linked to SIDS. Not worth the risk obviously.

 

[njc]

Tacori - You''ll have to post pic when you get it done... sounds fabulous! Totally see it in my head. White trim and red sofa... YUM! Ha... silly me, you are right! New cousin wont just be close in age, they will be the SAME age! And with other brother getting married, wouldnt be surprised to have another baby on the way soon. How crazy is that... never in my life would I have thought my brothers would have kids the same age as mine... I''m so much younger than them!

 

[divergrrl]

Ellaila: Here is the stroller, and YES you can put 2 carseats in it according to the Graco website, so its perfect for twins as well. It''s the Graco Quattro Tour Duo (I got the Metropolitan color shown, but it comes in 5 or 6 different ones) and its the "latest" and greatest upgrade to the DuoGlider. Folds up smaller, has some better, newer features. I loathe the duoglider I pushed my friends at the zoo with her kids in it and wanted to kill myself. Ok, that was a wee dramatic, but you get my drift. The new Quattro Tour Duo steers MUCH better & easier!

http://www.albeebaby.com/grqutoduost62.html

Its longer in person than in the picture, but its a double stroller after all....size comes with the territory. Now i''m just keeping my eye on Craigslist for a used BOB Revolution Duallie Jogger (the joggers work so much better on rough terrain, parks etc....I''ll keep the graco in my car for malls, shopping, city stuff etc.)

NJC: Here is the crib but its in natural & not the dark cherry like mine (if you peek on the baby nurseries thread TAcori started, you can see my son''s)
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-1/qid=1183163584/ref=sr_1_1/601-8795397-1702533?ie=UTF8&asin=B0000DG7TR

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 6/29/2007 2:47:45 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring

ell, how nice of your friends. Make sure you get a new mattress though. Used mattress has been linked to SIDS. Not worth the risk obviously.

tacori, i''d never heard that before. that is interesting. Do you know if the stats are the same if the kids are in the same family. My daugters are 20 months apart and we passed down the crib mattress to my youngest when she was born b/c it was super expensive and was 2 sided, one side for up to 6 months and the other for toddlers, something to do with the springs. we ended up just buying the older one a new one for her toddler bed. If we have a third I was planning on using the same mattress...just curious as to where to find more info??

 

[mrssalvo]

ok, did some research on the crib mattress thing and it seems it's still very debatable. It did say that expensive mattresses that are waterproof etc.(like the one I have) seem to be fine for re-using. I also had to dig for info, there is no mention on the sids website about the mattress itself and reusing at all.


still, if it were me, there are many things I wouldn't mind getting used or secondhand from friends, but I'd still want a new mattress for my first baby. I'm just weird like that...


i have a baby picture of me sleeping in my crib 30+ years ago. there are blankets, bumpers, stuffed animals and I was asleep on my tummy...stuff that are all HUGE no/no's with infants today.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 6/29/2007 9:01:50 PM
Author: mrssalvo

Date: 6/29/2007 2:47:45 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring

ell, how nice of your friends. Make sure you get a new mattress though. Used mattress has been linked to SIDS. Not worth the risk obviously.

tacori, i'd never heard that before. that is interesting. Do you know if the stats are the same if the kids are in the same family. My daugters are 20 months apart and we passed down the crib mattress to my youngest when she was born b/c it was super expensive and was 2 sided, one side for up to 6 months and the other for toddlers, something to do with the springs. we ended up just buying the older one a new one for her toddler bed. If we have a third I was planning on using the same mattress...just curious as to where to find more info??

I'm interested to know more about this too. We did the same, passed my daughter's crib mattress down to our son and got her a new toddler mattress.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I think it is really an issue with a mattress from a different home. I can''t remember which books I have read it in but I know I have seen it mentioned a few places. I am sure we will use our new mattress for our second child as well but I would never use one from a friend. Just peace of mind I guess

I''ll look back in my books and see what I can dig up. Used car seats and used mattresses seem to be the BIG no nos.

 

[MommaBear]

Just dropping by to say hello!
Good to see and hear that everyone is doing well!
I''m coming up to my month of BM!!!
Excited and nervous. My son is going to be 2 in august and
i think it''s time for a sibling. I''m hoping to deliver in may/june
(due to work schedules)

Wish me luck!!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 6/30/2007 1:32:12 AM
Author: MommaBear
Just dropping by to say hello!
Good to see and hear that everyone is doing well!
I''m coming up to my month of BM!!!
Excited and nervous. My son is going to be 2 in august and
i think it''s time for a sibling. I''m hoping to deliver in may/june
(due to work schedules)

Wish me luck!!

Best wishes!!!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 6/30/2007 1:32:12 AM
Author: MommaBear
Just dropping by to say hello!

Good to see and hear that everyone is doing well!

I''m coming up to my month of BM!!!

Excited and nervous. My son is going to be 2 in august and

i think it''s time for a sibling. I''m hoping to deliver in may/june

(due to work schedules)


Wish me luck!!

That is wonderful news! Good luck and lots of baby dust!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

*Re-Used Mattresses*

"The risk of death increases when mattresses are re-used from one baby to the next (Tappin 2002). The fungus has already had a chance to establish itself in the used mattress. When the next baby uses the same mattress, the fungus is soon active. Toxic gas production begins sooner and is generated in greater volume. It is known that crib death rates increase markedly from the first baby in a family to the second, and from the second to the third, and so on (Mitchell 2001)." Info found here

"The study compared 131 babies who had died of SIDS and 278 healthy infants of the same age to look for factors that could have contributed to the deaths. Researchers discovered a significant association between SIDS and used infant mattresses.

The link between SIDS and the use of the second-hand mattresses was even stronger if the mattress had been used by another child from a different home. Dr. Senay says it’s not clear if the used mattresses were the cause of the death, but the study confirms previous evidence that children who sleep on them are more susceptible to the syndrome.

Why would old mattresses be dangerous to an infant? Well, one theory is that a used mattress soiled by saliva, urine or milk could be a breeding ground for bacteria that might be dangerous for an infant, particularly if the child is already ill with another infection." from www.cbsnews.com.

This was similar to what was in the book my doctor gave me. (Dr Sears from "BabyTalk magazine.")
"If you can, avoid buying a used crib mattress. A recent study confirmed the theory that infants who sleep on a mattress previously used by another child (particularly from another home) have a greater risk of SIDS, though the precise link is not understood. Talk to your doctor if you plan to use a crib mattress from another home."

After all the articles online I am going to seriously look into Babesafe mattress covers. They are suppose to block the toxins from the mattress. Has anyone used one before?

 

[mrssalvo]

thanks TAcori, very interesting and worth noting. I personally don''t think there is enough full proof evidence out there to warrant purchasing multiple mattresses for the same family. But everyone has to do what is right for them.



here''s something similar to what I have...It''s a non-toxic mattress that''s waterproof, dust mite proof..etc so I''ll use it again if we have a 3rd.



http://www.healthychild.com/natural-baby-crib-mattress.htm

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Mrssalvo I agree about using the same mattress for other children in the same house and probably will do the same (are you thinking of a 3rd?!?!). My doctor told me (he is so wise) that there are so many opinions/advice out there you need to decide which you believe and which you don't. This is after I asked him about baby bumpers. Still I just don't know if I would feel comfortable using a mattress from another household. There are so many opinions of SIDS and it is such a scary thing.

ETA: we already have our crib mattress. I can't recall the company but I guess it has the best consumer reports rating. Still I might go ahead and get one of those covers. According to them there has been no SIDs related deaths using the Babe product correctly. Could be true, could be good marketing....

 

[mrssalvo]

yes, still thinking of of 3rd and letting nature take it''s course, so we''ll see.

I agree with your doctor about all the info and just figuring out what works best for you.