Calling all the Pregnant PS''ers

[Blenheim]

Middies just left. Baby has moved up substantially since last week and I need to schedule an u/s for suspected breech.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 3/24/2009 8:49:20 PM
Author: Blenheim
Middies just left. Baby has moved up substantially since last week and I need to schedule an u/s for suspected breech.

Oh no Blen! I''ll keep my fingers crossed for you...

 

[taovandel]

My first appointment with my new doctor is April 9th. I should be 8 weeks by then. I feel like I wasted my time going to my regular doctor because the new doctor said they will do all the same things at my first appointment (pee on a stick, blood work, etc). I was under the impression that my old doctor would send over all of the information to the new doctor---hence why they took my blood and all of that stuff.

Oh well, I''m hoping they will also check for the heartbeat at this appointment---they didn''t mention it on the phone though.

 

[nycbkgirl]

O no blen...finger crossed for u!

 

[phoenixgirl]

Blen, hope they''re wrong!


I''m just curious . . . can you guys make out my U/S picture? I just wonder if I can see the head and everything because I saw it moving too. Doesn''t it kind of look like it''s sucking its thumb (not even sure if that is possible)?

 

[fieryred33143]

Oh Blen...turn baby turn!!!!

 

[Blenheim]

Thanks, girls. Middie says that she's about 65-70% sure the baby's breech, but that there's still a pretty decent chance that it's not. There are things about how it feels and about the location of the heartbeat that would seem to rule out both breech and vertex, but we know that it's one of the two. It's definitely not transverse. The baby's high and wiggly enough that she said that she could have easily turned it tonight, only she didn't want to get a reputation for being the midwife who turns vertex babies to breech.

At one point she was doing an internal exam to try to figure out if she felt a head or not down there, but the baby was so high that she couldn't feel whatever the body part was, even pushing down some on the (head? butt? body part near my ribs). So, she had me do what hubby was calling the "Captain Morgan internal exam" - standing with my foot up on the couch while she did an internal, so that gravity could help us out some. That wasn't conclusive, either.

I need an u/s this week, and then if baby's breech we'll schedule an ECV, maybe look at chiropractic techniques or acupunture if that doesn't work. She doesn't see me going into labor tonight, but we discussed contingency plans just in case.

Phoenix - I can make it out, but I know that my mom wouldn't know what the heck she was looking at. She wasn't able to make out my 18 week baby on its first u/s.

ETA-
Kay - thanks for sharing your story! That sounds like quite the ordeal getting her out. And wow that's a lot of vernex!

 

[Courtneylub]

Blen, still a good chance SHE''s not breech! I''ll cross my fingers for that! Captain Morgan exam...hehe

Kay, she is so beautiful! Look at that happy face! And I have to admit the "right after birth" picture is a shocker! I don''t know why because I''ve seen many like it, but maybe it''s because I''m so close!

 

[snlee]

Blen, hope baby turns! My fingers are crossed for you.

Kay, great birth story. I am glad you got to deliver vaginally!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Blen Poop! That sucks! Well, there is NOTHING predictable about pregnancy and childbirth, that is for sure. I feel like the last 4 weeks are anything goes! I hope hope hope it all works out for baby to be head down!

Kay Thanks for the story and the picture! Man alive that is worth a 1000 words eh? Hunter didn''t look that goopy, but he was so blue he looked like that girl on Willy Wonka who turns into the grape

 

[TravelingGal]

kay what a story! Your DD is precious!

And wow, I didn''t know babies looked like that right after. I didn''t see Amelia immediately (I had a C) but I saw the video and she just looked pink and slimey, but nothing like that!!! She cleaned up well, your girl, lol!

 

[Kay]

Nycbk, thanks – we are enjoying her. My OB is supposed to be one of the best in this area, so that made me a little more comfortable when he suggested forceps. Recovering from the episiotomy really sucked, though.

Sunkist, sorry you are so tired. Unfortunately, that does not change after the LO arrives. A was not crying yet when that pic was snapped, but she was wailing a couple of frames later!

Blen, I’m keeping my fingers crossed the baby is not really breech. Lol re the Captain Morgan exam. A really did have a lot of vernex – DH insisted on calling it “cheese.”

Taovandel, sorry for the frustration with switching doctors, but hopefully you will really like your new doctor.

Phoenix, that might be a thumb sucking picture. The Dr. pointed out A sucking her thumb during one of my US scans.

Courtney, thanks. I knew babies don’t pop out pretty, but it was still a shock just how strange she looked.

Snlee, thanks. How is your LO doing?

DD, lol re the Willy Wonka grape baby.

 

[sunkist]

Hi Taovandel

I don''t think I congratulated you yet, so , Congrats on the pregnancy!

Is this your first too? When is your due date? Sorry if I missed all this (the thread moves so fast while i''m at work all day). How come you had to switch doctors? That stinks that they''re doing all the same tests again. I guess doctors trust their own results better??

 

[Sabine]

Awe, Blen, sending head down dust your way! Hopefully if he/she is breech, your middie will still have a chance to turn him/her.

Kay, what an amazing story! A is just gorgeous!

Lindsay, sorry to hear you are in pain, but glad that the shortened hours seem to be helping! Sending head down dust to you too!

Sunkist, I''m not one to talk about boob symptoms, since I''ve had them since early on and even got stretch marks on them as early as 16 weeks, ugh! Be glad for no soreness yet! But I know how hard it is when you just want to make sure everything is going the way it should be!

Phoenix, definitely thing pregnant rage exists, although I''ve found with my students, I''m much too tired anymore to argue/yell/scold and just jump to straight out punishment. I''m lucky that I have a pretty good bunch this year. My only slight trouble makers are the last period of the day, and they can pretty much tell if I''m tired and irritable, and know not to push things. They''ve also learned that if they''re good and we get done all we need to, I''ll let them end early cause I''m just too tired.

I really wish I had a slightly less demanding job. I''m starting to get uncomfortable with my back, hips, knees, and feet hurting after standing almost all day, plus I''ve got random aches and pains going on in the tummy area, but I hold it together almost all day and stay "high energy", and then crash when I get home. It''s no fun.

 

[Pandora II]

Phoenix - I don''t think that can be thumb sucking I''m afraid - they don''t have fingers or a formed oral cavity (forms between 11-14 weeks) or a sucking reflex at early stages. Occasionally they''ll look like they''re sucking their thumbs at 12 weeks, but it''s more likely that they actually are nearer to 20 weeks.

Pregnancy rage... tell me about it. DH was stunned watching me lose my temper with an extremely well-known and highly placed politician - I bumped into him in the street and he''s made a somewhat sarcastic comment about something, so told him I''d f''ing resign if he didn''t get me some more f''ing staff in my f''ing office. The poor guy started walking off and I ran up the road after him, stamped my foot and said "Get back here, I haven''t finished yet" Oooops, luckily it was so out of character for me that they were all somewhat amused and just laughed

Then I shouted at DH on our honeymoon - the first and only time I have raised my voice in nearly 5 years. Then I burst into tears and hid in the bathroom for half an hour. When I came out DH just gave me a big hug - and laughed (people seem to do that a lot round me

).

It''s quite frightening - I''m a control freak and don''t like feeling as if I''m not in charge of myself and my emotions!

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 3/24/2009 5:16:11 PM
Author: AmberWaves
Sunkist, I''m supposedly 5w2d (I am soo confused by all these EDDs, going from 11/22-11/24), and my boobs are a bit sore, and I don''t know if the veins have always been here or not, but I see them- then again, I''m translucent pale!

I''ve noticed my nipples went from itching like crazy to now super sore when pinched (or just squeezed)- not that we''ve experimented,

and now they look bigger, and seem to always be out, which drives me batty. I''m still feeling random crampies as well, not consistently like I was before, but off and on. No spotting of any kind for me as of now (knock on wood), nothing else different aside from stuffy nose/runny nose constantly and the jugs.

I kind of wish I felt more symptoms, but it''s still early days yet. My first appointment is 3/31.

Amber, I''ve had the stuffy nose right from the start and it''s still there - basically it''s all the muscous membranes swelling up due to the hormones. Once your blood volume increases as well you''ll find a lot more than just the inside of your nose will swell up - the joys of pregnancy

With the EDD, normally they will use your LMP, but if you know when you ovulated for sure you can use that. My hospital only uses LMP so I just adjusted it to fit my O date. It can be quite important if you have a long cycle - say you don''t O until CD28, the hospital will still calculate your EDD as if you ovulated on CD 14. This could mean that your dates are out for things like an accurate NT scan, or that you could end up being induced as overdue when you are actually not overdue. They''ll normally correct things with a dating scan but I still like to be as accurate as possible.

 

[fieryred33143]

Ladies I need some MIL help!!!

I love my MIL. I always have and she and I have never had any problems at all. Sure there have been times when I''ll get annoyed but it always passes almost as quickly as it arrives. So now that we are at this road, I don''t know what to do. I don''t want to get her upset or have this cause a problem in our relationship.

I posted before how she casually mentioned that her SIL told her that it was ok for grandmother''s to be in the hospital room. Because she kind of caught me off guard I just said that the hospital has a policy that only one person can be in the room with you.

Last night we were visiting since they came back from Chile on Monday. She had bought the baby some adorable dresses. Then she says "you know, my SILs were trying to get me to buy her a white dress to wear when she gets out of the hospital. I told them that I couldn''t get involved because I''m not the mother but they said that I should just do it anyway and that I should just tell you that the baby is supposed to wear a white dress when she leaves the hospital."

Annoyed feeling approaching. Then I remembered that I''m going to put her in a white dress anyway. I don''t know if it''s a hispanic thing but it is a tradition in my family to put the baby in communion-like clothing for their first trip home so I was going to keep that tradition. Annoyed feeling gone.

Then she follows up with "Oh, and I told them how you said the hospital only allows one person and they said that doesn''t sound like something a hospital would do so they told me to ask the Doctor at your next appointment. That way if Richard can''t handle it I can be there to support you."

I looked over at him and just said "I''ll ask" all the while staring at him waiting for him to come to my rescue. He knows I do not want this at all. I don''t want her in the room with me. My own mother isn''t going to be there. So when we left I just said "babe I''m sorry but..." and he goes "I know. You don''t have to tell me. I''m going to sit with her privately and tell her that I don''t want her there."

I feel bad because I know she means well but I''m angry that she would just invite herself to something like this without even considering how I may feel about it. Why in the world would she think I would want her there when all of my goodies will be on display?

And the thing that frustrates me the most is that I wanted at least 3 hours alone with the baby and with FI before we get visitors. And I only wanted his parents and brother at the hospital. Everyone else can come visit us a week or two later at home. I''m starting to think there is no way I''ll get that time and I just picture giving birth, going into my room, and not seeing my baby again for hours because she and her entire family will be playing hot potato

 

[Dreamer_D]

Fiery this is your baby and you can call the shots, so call them and family can lump it. Seriously. You only get this exeprience once with each child and it is sacred! I had similar worries with my in laws. They knew that we would call them and tell them when they could come to the hospital, so we told them when I went into labour, but in your case I wouldn''t call them until baby arrives and it is time for them to come visit. After all, you may give birth in the middle of the night anyways! Then, if they are mad about it, your DH can just say that he was so focussed and involved that he forgot to call them! They will get over their crapola in little time.

You need to lay it down now because it will only get worse when baby comes. Some grandparents feel real ownership over their grandchild and it can be really annoying, to say the least. My MIL invited all her sisters to meet our baby, even though we said we weren''t ready for visitors, and although we held firm and avoided the topic for a long time, she bugs DH every time she sees him. Again, although it is annoying and I feel bad sometimes about keepign her at arms length, it needs to be done. You WILL NOT have the evergy to deal with her crap when you have a new born!

 

[neatfreak]

Fiery The nurses will totally play bad cop for you at the hospital if you want. Don''t be afraid to tell them you don''t want visitors and you don''t want anyone besides the baby''s dad in the room and they will make sure it happens.

Big hugs hon...my MIL is getting on a plane to come visit as we speak...should be an interesting week. Our mantra is just repeating "she means well, she means well" over and over. It helps you remember that she isn''t trying to be annoying when you are supremely pissed off at something she does.

 

[fieryred33143]

Thanks ladies for the input. I''m going to tell my nurses to be my bodyguards

. I think at this point we can make sure she doesn''t make her way into the delivery room. At first FI didn''t think of it as a big deal but then I reminded him of where babies typically exit from and then asked him if he really thought it would be appropriate for his mother to witness that so now we''re on the same page. We just have to come up with a plan for afterwards.

It''s my fault because I created a monster. FI doesn''t get to go to all the appointments and since she isn''t working she would ask to tag along. I didn''t mind. All of the appointments were kind of uneventful and it was nice to have someone to chat with while I was waiting. But I think she sees that as her opportunity to be there throughout the entire thing. She asked when was my next appointment (you know, so she can ask the doctor if she can be in the room with us

) and I told her it was on Monday but I''m going alone. She didn''t say anything but I wouldn''t be surprised if she showed up. I didn''t tell her what time but she knows I always have morning appointments (because of work).

 

[Pandora II]

I''m so sorry about your MIL, but your FI needs to step up and set the boundaries now.

I told all our relatives that I did not want ANYONE camped outside the delivery room and that we didn''t want visitors at home for the first 2 weeks as DH has paternity leave and I don''t want to spend it all having to entertain everyone.

Now that I know that I''m in hospital for seven days, and DH is postponing his leave till I come home, I''ve said that they are welcome to come and see me after the second day.

Everyone has been pretty good about it - MIL even said that we were entitled to choose how we wanted to spend our first days with our new baby - whether it was showing her off to everyone or taking some private time together as a family and if anyone thought otherwise she would deal with them.

I''m allowed two people during delivery and I''ve gone for DH and my friend who is an OB is going to be on standby in case I get worried. There are many horror stories in the UK of people giving birth in corridors because of no beds; of 2 midwives for 10 women and no OB''s on call etc. With any luck my hospital will be as good during delivery as it has been during antenatal - but if I am left totally alone and get scared, she will come round and deliver the baby if necessary herself!

Birth is not exactly a glamorous or tidy event and the last thing you want to feel is inhibited or embarrassed about things because MIL is sitting there. I worry about certain silly things - pooping, or doing a huge fart or just generally being a complete wuss for example - in front of DH and the medical staff, and if my friend does end up having to come to the rescue I still feel a little strange about having someone I''m more used to having dinner and a gossip with getting to see my hoohaa in glorious technicolour - even though she must have seen hundreds by now! The idea of my MIL (and I adore her) just makes me cringe.

I think it''s very unfair of your MIL to be trying to take over things at this point - it may be her grandchild, but that doesn''t give her ''rights''. It''s good that she''s excited, but your DH needs to take things in hand now.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/25/2009 10:05:50 AM
Author: fieryred33143
Thanks ladies for the input. I'm going to tell my nurses to be my bodyguards

. I think at this point we can make sure she doesn't make her way into the delivery room. At first FI didn't think of it as a big deal but then I reminded him of where babies typically exit from and then asked him if he really thought it would be appropriate for his mother to witness that so now we're on the same page. We just have to come up with a plan for afterwards.

It's my fault because I created a monster. FI doesn't get to go to all the appointments and since she isn't working she would ask to tag along. I didn't mind. All of the appointments were kind of uneventful and it was nice to have someone to chat with while I was waiting. But I think she sees that as her opportunity to be there throughout the entire thing. She asked when was my next appointment (you know, so she can ask the doctor if she can be in the room with us

) and I told her it was on Monday but I'm going alone. She didn't say anything but I wouldn't be surprised if she showed up. I didn't tell her what time but she knows I always have morning appointments (because of work).

And that isn't the only or even the most important reason. It is a very emotional, vulnerable, and stressful time and you only need people around you whom you trust and who make you feel safe and secure!

ETA Plus 5 to 10 of your new best friends--the doctors and nurses

 

[fieryred33143]

Pandora-I totally agree that this should be on him. I told him he needs to have that conversation and hopefully he will. She tends to put a huge guilt trip on him but I have seen him put her in her place when he felt the need. I''m hoping he steps up for me, otherwise I''m going to have to do it alone and I really don''t want to.

 

[taovandel]

Man, thankfully only my FI (when I give birth, Husband) will be in the room with me. My mom and dad said they would happily wait outside and same goes for the in-laws. I couldn''t imagine anyone wanting to be in the room.

I want that time to be with our baby. Like you said, I wouldn''t want them to be "hot potato-ing" the baby all over the room.


The reason I have to switch doctor''s is because I normally only see a general pract. A friend recommended me to her gynecologist. When I met with my doctor--she ran all the normal test (Urine and Blood) and said she would send the information along to the new doctor.

When we made the appointment with the new doctor they said I wouldn''t even get to see the Doctor until the next visit. The first visit they would take blood and urine and prescribe me prenatal vitamins.

Like it was said before--I guess they only trust their own tests. I''m just disappointed because I will be 8 weeks by that appointment and I still will not have heard the heart beat!

 

[mela lu]

Amber/Sunkist – nose and nips. BIG changes to both. My nips are SO dark and the areolas are so much bigger. gak. My nasal cavities are always congested and bleeding. For some reason, this doesn''t bother me...

Lindsey – you tell Miss Natalie to turn around and behave herself!

Vis – try not to worry, I had blood and thick “flowing” brown CM for 3 weeks (week 12 – 15 approx) and it was really nerve wracking but all is well.

Kay – welcome back to PS. Totally understandable needing a break. Alexis is just adorable! I love blond babies. We don’t see many in our Italian family, let me tell you. Your L&D story made me cry a little (not hard these days). The “cheese” made me laugh though….but I’ve never seen so much vernex, ever! I cannot wait to start my Mat leave so I can start watching “baby story” etc. to see more newborns. I feel like nothing will prepare me to see my own child, but your picture definitely helped me in terms of “expecting the unexpected”! She is gorgeous now…regardless of her cheesy entrance into this world. Was she long? In her photo, she looks loooooong! So glad the delivery worked out in the end.

What in the HOODLEBERRY is BRU? Edumacate me please!

Phoenix – great u/s pic! How far along are you again? I don’t *think* that can be thumb sucking already, although our baby was 100% sucking at the 13 week scan. I knew this because we saw it in detail, as well as a full fledge yawn before it continued to thumb suck. Incidentally, the baby was stiiiiiiiiil thumb sucking at the 18 week ultrasound. I too have rage days. Its so hard to control – you are not alone!!

Blen – funny (okay not funny at all) that your middie is suspecting a breech. Guess what happened at my middie appt yesterday? “mystery position”. Now, for me it’s not a big deal since I’m barely at 32 weeks – your little monkey needs to turn the fark around and get into position!!!! My middie suspects that my baby is oblique / transverse…but she couldn’t be sure. There were no Captain Morgan moments. Lol. But the intense poking and feeling left me feelin a little bruised. Not gonna lie. She’s not concerned because I still have 8 weeks to go.

I really hope your baby turns! Did she give you any advice on things you can do to get the baby head down? Is there anything?

Fiery – I agree with what everyone has said re: MIL. So sorry that you have to deal with this, but hopefully, DH can intervene now and put this to bed once and for all.

***
Otherwise, I’m doing well. Lost one pound since my appt. two weeks ago. No idea. Lol.

Just towing the (itchy skin) line.

Mela 31w5d

 

[ChinaCat]

Hi lovely ladies!!! Man, this thread moves FAST when you don''t check it everyday! I was OOT until late Monday night- will try to catch up but forgive me b/c I know I missed some stuff.

Kay- Welcome back! Alexis is just gorgeous. That was one scary pic, but thanks for sharing, I am so fascinated by all of this. I agree, she looks so LONG in that pic. Thank you so much for sharing your story. It really helps us prepare and try to imagine every case scenario.

Fiery- Cute story about the names/food. Good you know your man''s weak spot now!

. Oh boy, about your MIL. She sounds sweet and like she means well, but your FI needs to put a stop to that notion ASAP. If worse comes to worse, I can''t see how anyone wouldn''t understand not wanting people to see you in that way. Luckily, my in-laws live in another state. Good luck! Keep us posted.

Blen- Ahh, you''re so close, sorry you are so uncomfortable. Let''s hope your little one turns all by itself. I bet she will! Yep, I think it''s a girl. Though it could be all of the girl names we''ve discussed with you!

Mandarine- What cute twin pics! You must be so excited.

Phoenix- Your "rage" is making me laugh! Everyone thought I would be "rageful" as I tend to be impatient and have a short temper when I get tired and such, but so far I''ve been pretty balanced. Which is weird. I am sure it will bust out at some point. That is seriously the cutest u/s pic!!!!! Ours so far have been pretty scary looking.

Sabine- Anyway you can sit for some portion of the day? Even if you are up front teaching, maybe a tall stool??? Did you ever find comfy shoes? Feeling for you. I can''t imagine standing on my feet all day.

Mela- Just hi!

I love all of your posts- your names, your cute Etsy finds. BRU- BABIES R US!!!!!

 

[mela lu]

Date: 3/25/2009 3:49:21 PM
Author: ChinaCat
Mela- Just hi!

I love all of your posts- your names, your cute Etsy finds. BRU- BABIES R US!!!!!

WHAT? All this time it was "babies R Us"?

Oh THAT.IS.IT!!!!!

Lol. hahahahahaha. We have BRU here too. I just never thought of abbreviating it. Hilarious.


***

ETA: Dreamer and Blen have been talking about increased CF before going into labour. I just cannot imagine having MORE CF!! Some gushes are so big I would swear I've peed myself. I wear a liner every day, and have for a long long time. MORE CF? MORE!?

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 3/25/2009 3:07:32 PM
Author: taovandel
Man, thankfully only my FI (when I give birth, Husband) will be in the room with me. My mom and dad said they would happily wait outside and same goes for the in-laws. I couldn''t imagine anyone wanting to be in the room.

I want that time to be with our baby. Like you said, I wouldn''t want them to be ''hot potato-ing'' the baby all over the room.


The reason I have to switch doctor''s is because I normally only see a general pract. A friend recommended me to her gynecologist. When I met with my doctor--she ran all the normal test (Urine and Blood) and said she would send the information along to the new doctor.

When we made the appointment with the new doctor they said I wouldn''t even get to see the Doctor until the next visit. The first visit they would take blood and urine and prescribe me prenatal vitamins.

Like it was said before--I guess they only trust their own tests. I''m just disappointed because I will be 8 weeks by that appointment and I still will not have heard the heart beat!

If you look back through past posts you will see this is pretty normal - you often can''t hear a heartbeat until 10+ weeks and it can just freak people out if you can''t get one.

Over here we don''t get a first appointment till around 10 weeks and then all they do is BP, urine and a blood-test.

Other than the U/S, pregnancy appointments are normally pretty boring for the most part till you get towards the end.

 

[Kay]

Fiery,

I completely understand your desire for peace and privacy both during L&D and in the first few hours after your child is born. Giving birth is so intimate that I would have been very uncomfortable and self-conscious having anyone I know (other than DH) present. Medical personnel aside, I did not want anyone at the birth that was not at the conception.

Aside from the embarrassment issue, I would not have wanted to feel like I had to chat with visitors – I wanted to be free to do what I wanted/needed to do when I wanted to do it.

IMHO there actually is a good reason to avoid having visitors in the first few hours after birth. After 9 months of being in his/her cozy cocoon, your baby is suddenly in a brand new environment, and I imagine it is a scary and confusing time for the baby. There is so much that happens in the first 30-60 minutes after delivery: delivering the placenta, stitches for you if necessary, the baby is examined, weighed and cleaned up, you may move to a new room, etc. After the initial craziness, you need quiet, private time with your newborn to comfort her and to try to initiate breast feeding as soon as possible. Breast feeding requires privacy for you (other than the nurse who will likely be assisting) and quiet and lack of distractions for your baby. Not all babies just take to breast feeding easily – it can really require some work. Your FI needs to sit down with his mother and explain these things, and he needs to do it before your next appointment. (I wonder if she had / wanted to have her MIL in the room when she gave birth to her son and tried to BF him for the first time!)

About 2 months before A was born, DH and I informed our respective parents that we wanted a week alone with the baby before we had visitors. I was in a different position because none of our family lives in town. If they lived here, I would have been okay with my parents and his coming to see the baby at the hospital (after I had a little time to recover from the birth) if they could go back to their own places after. Unfortunately, when they come to town they stay with us, and I did not want anyone in the house right when I came home from the hospital. I want to have at least a week to rest, recover from labor, and just let DH and I bond with our daughter and get used to our new life. The inlaws were actually ok with that (or at least they did not complain to me). I could tell my mother was disappointed (by the silence on her end of the phone when I told her), but she abided by my choice.

L&D is your time, and you have the right to decide what you need, including who should or should not be invited. Good luck!

 

[Kay]

Tgal, thanks, I think she cleaned up pretty well too. From watching the baby shows, I expected slime (especially blood), but nothing like that! I wasn’t sure what to think when they first held her up for us to see – she looked like some kind of alien creature with the big purple lips and the white slime coating. This is terrible of me to say, but I was much more excited when they gave her a bath and handed her back clean so I could finally see what she really looked like.

Sabine, thank you! It must be so hard on you having to stand most of the day. I didn’t have that issue to contend with, but can sympathize with having to be high energy all day at work and then crashing as soon as you get home.

Mela, thank you. My DH is actually ¾ Italian, but he says he was born with blond hair too (it’s dark brown now). A’s hair is already starting to darken – it is now light brown with some gold highlights. Be careful about watching Baby Story – I had to stop because the episodes were just making me more nervous about L&D. A was 19” long at birth. I do not know if that is considered long for a newborn. She was at 26.5” at 4 months, which is extremely long for that age. I am a bit nervous because I am 5’ 10.5” and I was only 16” long at birth, so I can’t imagine how tall A will be if she keeps up this pace! BRU = Babies R Us, my second home. What the heck is a hoodleberry?

ChinaCat, thanks, I’m happy to share. Each L&D story here is a bit different.