Calling all the Pregnant PS''ers

[AmberWaves]

I have a ton to catch up on, so forgive me if I miss anyone!

Kelley: Congrats on Micah, he looks like a little angel!

China: congrats on your almost due date! I''m glad your own doc is back now!

Phoenix: that class sounds like a huge nightmare! Our hospital has two childcare classes, one breastfeeding class, one childbirth class, as well as a c-section class, which is interesting. Then we''re also taking a car seat safety class at the end of August.

MS: I must say I didn''t have it AS bad as others. I was lucky in that nothing ON my person made me sick, just the kitchen smells (fridge, cooking smells) and dog food. I noticed it did get worse the later I got in my 1st tri, though. I think a big part was keeping food in my stomach at all times- crackers, dried fruit (apricots were my savior for a few weeks), hungry or not- that really helped keep it from getting too bad.

As for that second tri energy boost: where the hell is mine?? I''m still just as tired as I was in first tri, but I didn''t have that all-encompassing fatigue like a lot of people had. I get tired and weak very easily now. I''m starting to get winded now, which is odd, because having asthma, I thought it would just be like that- shortness of breath and wheezing. Instead, it''s just like I couldn''t get enough air. Inhalers don''t help. I guess my lungs are starting to lose out to the baby.

Hiccups: our girl had them last week, it was pretty entertaining. It''s like, what? Did you drink too much of my lemonade leavins too fast? I can''t stand the taste of water- and the only way I''ll drink it is with a TON of lemon (it''s the mexican in me, I LOVE LEMON) and even then it has to be ICE COLD.

I have a wedding this weekend, too. It''s at 3pm, and outside. I''m going to die from heat overload.

Happy Birthday to LittleLysser! Inside information I had.

Burk: yay for less m/s!!

Sapphire: Hope all goes well at your ultrasound and you won''t need to be induced!

Anchor: cute belly!!

Here is my contribution:

Amber at 24w4d. I have my 24 week checkup today, we''ll see how it all goes. I''m pretty large for 24 weeks, I think. She''s doing just fine in there, rolling and punching and flipping around in there. Having quite the joyful time!

 

[vizsla]

quiekiki - have you tried the bella band? they also have a 'cheaper' version at target called be band. anyhoodles i LOVE LOVE LOVE mine. it allowed me to wear my pants (unbuttoned or with a rubberband) for months before i actually had to buy maternity pants. i actually still wear it a lot under clothes.. helps me feel less 'bumpy' and give me a little bit of belly support.

you're lucky you get along with your MIL, not that i don't get along with mine, she's lovely.. just real real intense. however, i could not imagine ever ever living with her... or having her at the house right when we got home from the hospital... (shivers).

our biggest difference is that she is the town crier (and DH and i are really private).... we can't sneeze wrong without her telling everyone she knows ..... and then the next time we see anyone we will, without a doubt, hear "oh, so i heard you had trouble sneezing last week." ugh.

china - i think if you enjoy your mom's company it would be great to have someone there. oh, i was explaining what a baby nurse did to DH and he volunteered to be mine sweet plan and all DH ... but the bassinet is going to be, oh, about 3 feet from my side of the bed... thanks darling.

i've heard that boys tend to be higher up than girls.... gah... it's hard to imagine getting thru the next 10 or 11 weeks with this rib pain... was yours on the same side or did it switch?

amber i think you look fantastic! so sorry you haven't gotten the energy kick

although, i'm losing mine fast.

here's a picture i just snapped of myself in the bathroom... 29 weeks... i wish i would have gotten my bump sooner.... it's very liberating to look as PG as i feel.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 8/7/2009 1:17:06 PM
Author: mela lu

Date: 8/7/2009 10:19:16 AM
Author: ChinaCat
Oh- any BTDT moms on this thread- question for you:
My question is: do you think we are going to want/need her right away, or do you think it will be nice to have a day or two with just our new little family? I''d like the day or two alone, but having NO idea of what I''m about to get into, can''t decide if it''s better to have the extra help right away.
Thanks in advance!

Right away right away. Even just help preparing meals, cleaning up, and doing laundry is a LIFESAVER. Also, someone to answer the phone for you - so you don''t have to!

ditto neatfreak and mela! my mom was a lifesaver and i ended up having her present in labour too which i am so thankful for!!

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 8/7/2009 2:35:34 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 8/7/2009 1:17:06 PM
Author: mela lu

Date: 8/7/2009 10:19:16 AM
Author: ChinaCat
Oh- any BTDT moms on this thread- question for you:
My question is: do you think we are going to want/need her right away, or do you think it will be nice to have a day or two with just our new little family? I''d like the day or two alone, but having NO idea of what I''m about to get into, can''t decide if it''s better to have the extra help right away.
Thanks in advance!

Right away right away. Even just help preparing meals, cleaning up, and doing laundry is a LIFESAVER. Also, someone to answer the phone for you - so you don''t have to!

ditto neatfreak and mela! my mom was a lifesaver and i ended up having her present in labour too which i am so thankful for!!

I''m totally wired differently. I didn''t want anyone around and did it all myself (with the help of TGuy of course) for the first 4.5 months. I figured that she was my kid, and I''d learn how to hack it on my own.

In hindsight, I should have asked my mom to help. NOT because I needed her - I didn''t. But because now having a daughter, I realize how much she would have loved to be there for me, so I feel I deprived her of the experience. I try to make her feel very appreciated and needed now though, because she is. My mom does say that I''m the only new mom she''s seen from her circle of friends who just managed on her own since day one (even my ped''s nursing staff was shocked that I took Amelia for her first appointment by myself without even TGuy). I''ll take that as a compliment.

 

[fieryred33143]

Date: 8/7/2009 2:35:34 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 8/7/2009 1:17:06 PM
Author: mela lu

Date: 8/7/2009 10:19:16 AM
Author: ChinaCat
Oh- any BTDT moms on this thread- question for you:
My question is: do you think we are going to want/need her right away, or do you think it will be nice to have a day or two with just our new little family? I''d like the day or two alone, but having NO idea of what I''m about to get into, can''t decide if it''s better to have the extra help right away.
Thanks in advance!

Right away right away. Even just help preparing meals, cleaning up, and doing laundry is a LIFESAVER. Also, someone to answer the phone for you - so you don''t have to!

ditto neatfreak and mela! my mom was a lifesaver and i ended up having her present in labour too which i am so thankful for!!

thritto!

My mom was so awesome. All I did during the first 2 weeks was take care of DD. My mom did all the cleaning and cooking. She would even bring me food while I was in bed and she froze a bunch of meals for us. I told my mom that I wanted to do as much for DD by myself as I could in order to learn and she respected that. But she also helped me with things like learning how to wash her hair and when her cord fell, how to give her a bath.

She was a lifesaver seriously.

 

[taovandel]

mt: I got married when I was 17 weeks pregnant...I got engaged in December and found out I was pregnant in March. We had already booked our destination wedding hotel and everything (contacted cake/flower vendors, etc). We wound up canceling everything and having our wedding the first week in June. So we planned everything out in about 3 months. It was crazy and pretty close to being a perfect dream wedding.


So I''m 26 weeks pregnant and the baby has officially found my bladder! UGH---that is the absolute worst! Also on my right side at the bottom of the bump it hurts...I''m assuming it''s ligament pains still.

 

[vizsla]

I'm totally wired differently. I didn't want anyone around and did it all myself (with the help of TGuy of course) for the first 4.5 months. I figured that she was my kid, and I'd learn how to hack it on my own.


In hindsight, I should have asked my mom to help. NOT because I needed her - I didn't. But because now having a daughter, I realize how much she would have loved to be there for me, so I feel I deprived her of the experience. I try to make her feel very appreciated and needed now though, because she is. My mom does say that I'm the only new mom she's seen from her circle of friends who just managed on her own since day one (even my ped's nursing staff was shocked that I took Amelia for her first appointment by myself without even TGuy). I'll take that as a compliment.

well then you and i must be wired the same

- i've *always* been fiercely independent ... a characteristic my mom taught me was important at a very young age (and now hates b/c we only talk about once a week

) anyhoo, i love to figure things out for myself, make my own path. and the majority of the time i feel this way about coming home with baby... there *is* a part of me that thinks the pampering would be heavenly - but then the independent viz comes out and says "i want to do this on my own" - i love that sense of accomplishment.
plus when DH and i get pushed into a corner, we emerge stronger and much more in sync. not that there aren't bumps (read: fights) along the way, but we always come out on the other end better for it.... am i a glutton for punishment that i'm slightly looking forward to this?

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 8/7/2009 3:50:35 PM
Author: vizsla

I''m totally wired differently. I didn''t want anyone around and did it all myself (with the help of TGuy of course) for the first 4.5 months. I figured that she was my kid, and I''d learn how to hack it on my own.


In hindsight, I should have asked my mom to help. NOT because I needed her - I didn''t. But because now having a daughter, I realize how much she would have loved to be there for me, so I feel I deprived her of the experience. I try to make her feel very appreciated and needed now though, because she is. My mom does say that I''m the only new mom she''s seen from her circle of friends who just managed on her own since day one (even my ped''s nursing staff was shocked that I took Amelia for her first appointment by myself without even TGuy). I''ll take that as a compliment.

well then you and i must be wired the same

- i''ve *always* been fiercely independent ... a characteristic my mom taught me was important at a very young age (and now hates b/c we only talk about once a week

) anyhoo, i love to figure things out for myself, make my own path. and the majority of the time i feel this way about coming home with baby... there *is* a part of me that thinks the pampering would be heavenly - but then the independent viz comes out and says ''i want to do this on my own'' - i love that sense of accomplishment.
plus when DH and i get pushed into a corner, we emerge stronger and much more in sync. not that there aren''t bumps (read: fights) along the way, but we always come out on the other end better for it.... am i a glutton for punishment that i''m slightly looking forward to this?

I don''t think it makes you a glutton for punishment - you are who you are.

Bringing home baby isn''t rocket science (although BFing can definitely seem like it.) You WILL survive. But it IS tough and if people want support and have mom around, it doesn''t make them a wuss or any less of a strong mom. A smart woman does utilize all her resources.

My personality is that I am an introvert AND a hostess. So I would have been trying to make sure my mom was comfortable too and I knew that I wouldn''t have the energy to worry about her, no matter how much she told me to cut it out. I am not prone to being pampered - I''ve always done the pampering. It''s just who I am so I did what I knew would make sense for me. It was hard, and I had a few good cries in the shower. Everyone survived.

 

[curlygirl]

Date: 8/7/2009 3:50:35 PM
Author: vizsla

I''m totally wired differently. I didn''t want anyone around and did it all myself (with the help of TGuy of course) for the first 4.5 months. I figured that she was my kid, and I''d learn how to hack it on my own.


In hindsight, I should have asked my mom to help. NOT because I needed her - I didn''t. But because now having a daughter, I realize how much she would have loved to be there for me, so I feel I deprived her of the experience. I try to make her feel very appreciated and needed now though, because she is. My mom does say that I''m the only new mom she''s seen from her circle of friends who just managed on her own since day one (even my ped''s nursing staff was shocked that I took Amelia for her first appointment by myself without even TGuy). I''ll take that as a compliment.

well then you and i must be wired the same

- i''ve *always* been fiercely independent ... a characteristic my mom taught me was important at a very young age (and now hates b/c we only talk about once a week

) anyhoo, i love to figure things out for myself, make my own path. and the majority of the time i feel this way about coming home with baby... there *is* a part of me that thinks the pampering would be heavenly - but then the independent viz comes out and says ''i want to do this on my own'' - i love that sense of accomplishment.
plus when DH and i get pushed into a corner, we emerge stronger and much more in sync. not that there aren''t bumps (read: fights) along the way, but we always come out on the other end better for it.... am i a glutton for punishment that i''m slightly looking forward to this?

I guess I''m wired the same way as the 2 of you!!

I didn''t have help with either of my babies. Didn''t want it, didn''t need it. I think it truly is a psychological thing. I always believed that I would be able to do it on my own and I was happy to be able to prove that. DH didn''t take off any time either! With my first, I gave birth on Saturday, came home on Monday and he went to work on Tuesday. With the 2nd, he actually took off one day because it was really nice weather but I was alone the rest of the time. Of course he helped at night and was especially helpful after the 2nd when we had a toddler and a newborn to deal with in the evenings (he still is!) but during the day it was just me and the baby. I did have visitors and my mom did come to spend time with me and her grandchildren but I was generally on my own and have no regrets about it at all.

 

[fieryred33143]

HA HA I’m the same way re: being a hostess. I would wake up and ask my mom if she wanted me to make her some coffee and my mom would yell at me and tell me to go back to sleep.

I should also mention that I went through severe baby blues and my confidence was totally shot. I honestly didn’t feel like I was capable of taking care of DD and having my mom there to boost my confidence and tell me that I’m doing everything well and that I’ll learn was really helpful for my mental/emotional health.

 

[Mandarine]

Hi girls!!! Sorry...since my mom came to visit I;ve been busy spending time with her

Just wanted to have a selfish post and post a few baby shower pics

My sister did a great job!!! My wedding photographer came, so these pictures are from her, she''s the best

 

[Mandarine]

...

 

[Mandarine]

...

 

[Mandarine]

don''t love this pic of me...my face looks weird, but oh well!

 

[Mandarine]

my favorite picture
After my mom surprised me

 

[Kaleigh]

Awwww Mandarine, that is such a great pic of you and your Mom!!!!

 

[Mandarine]

and the belated bump picture from this week!!

27 weeks!!!

Getting tired and heavy...but loving it

 

[Mandarine]

aww, thanks Kaleigh

It was just such a surprise...so special!. I have it on video and cry every time I see it!

 

[lili]

Awww Mandy--
You looked gorgeous.
You and your mom looked so genuinely happy in that picture.
And I love love your bw belly picture

ETA: your sister outdid herself for your baby shower -- the spread look lovely.
Oh and yay on passing your GD.

 

[cellososweet]

Awwww Mandarine! I love the pics.

Here''s me finally. I haven''t had much to contribute because I''ve basically looked the same. But, I woke up this morning, put on this shirt and went "ahh, I look so obviously pregnant." So strange.

18 weeks tomorrow

 

[cellososweet]

I need to clean my mirror. Ugh.

 

[MonkeyPie]

cellososweet, your bump is so cute and little! Just wait - soon you will have tons more pictures

Mandarine, oh, your shower looks so GREAT! Everything looks amazing, and you look so wonderful and happy. I love the shot of you and your mom.

 

[qtiekiki]

Mandy
Your sis did an awesome job with the shower. So chic.
Love the pic of you and your mom. You both look fabulous, and she looks very young. You are carrying the twins really well.

cello
You are definitely pregnant now. So adorable. I love your hair btw.

anchor
Cute bump.

Amber
How was your appt?
You look great.

Viz
I have the belly band from the first pregnancy. I hate that thing. It keeps slipping up and bunching up, so it made me more lumpy. I think it''s b/c I have wide hips since my tank tops slip up. Since I already have maternity clothes, I just took them out. I don''t need the tops yet, but probably soon.

LOL at you shivering at the thought of your MIL waiting for you at home. My MIL is very mellow and kind of timid/shy; I think she is really only comfortable around my SILs and her sisters. She is very quiet even with her in-laws (FIL''s family). I don''t think our relationship would be the same if she had a strong personality.

I love your tops, very cute. And you are all belly.

 

[mtjoya]

Date: 8/7/2009 3:27:33 PM
Author: taovandel
mt: I got married when I was 17 weeks pregnant...I got engaged in December and found out I was pregnant in March. We had already booked our destination wedding hotel and everything (contacted cake/flower vendors, etc). We wound up canceling everything and having our wedding the first week in June. So we planned everything out in about 3 months. It was crazy and pretty close to being a perfect dream wedding.


So I''m 26 weeks pregnant and the baby has officially found my bladder! UGH---that is the absolute worst! Also on my right side at the bottom of the bump it hurts...I''m assuming it''s ligament pains still.

Thanks for your input! I will be 14 weeks when I get married. I was orignally planning to get married in vegas next March but we decided to speed things up a bit. I am glad that I am not the only one out there that is preg and getting married! Thanks for your response!

I feel better...

 

[taovandel]

I thought it would be really weird getting married when I was pregnant. I thought that people would judge me or something...but apparently I have a wonderful family! It was the exact opposite of everything I expected. I''m sure your wedding will still be everything you dreamed it would be!

 

[Sabine]

China, you hanging in there? I have to admit, I''m glad I got to skip out on a LOT of the waiting around for things to start happening. I was definitely glad my mom was here the first night home. The first 2 nights were ROUGH for me to say the least. If anything, I would have STRONGLY limited the time visitors spent with us in the hospital if I were doing it again though, but dh''s parents drove 8 hours to be here for 2 days, so we wanted them to see as much of Jacks as they could in those 2 days, but looking back, we should have been using our time a lot better in the hospital. We aren''t letting my mom help out overnight, but we do let her take Jacks first thing in the morning if he''s not sleeping, and those hours of sleep have been precious to me and usually teh only time I get that is more than 30-45 minutes at a time.

Anchor, those u/s pics are great! I''m going to refrain from guessing on gender though because I never really got the whole 3 lines things. You also look great!

Cello, I''ve been thinking about you and praying things get better for you. Yay for looking adorably preggo!

Mandarine, that belly shot of you is stunning! Love the shower shots too!

Phoenix, we felt like that a bit about our childbirth classes too...they took way too long to explain simple things, went over, etc. I felt like it was all stuff I knew already too, but was still glad I took it because otherwise I would have been feeling like I was missing out on something that could be important.

Sapphire, good luck wiht the u/s! Hope everything is okay with your lo!

Amber, cute bump!

Okay, since I know I loved seeing these when people like Blen posted them, I have my 1 week post partum pics. I know this is going to sound crazy, but I''m actually down a pound or two from my pre-preg weight. I think my thyroid levels were really off right before I got pregnant, so even though I''m back down to that number, that is not what is healthy for my body or where I really should be. I definitely want to lose another 15-20 lbs to be back to my "normal" weight that I was at before my thyroid got all out of whack.

 

[Sabine]

Bare belly...this one doesn''t look too bad, but you can''t see the condition of my skin that is covered in silvery stretch marks. You also can''t see the irritated, saggy skin that is below the line of my shorts. I basically have a little pouch of skin hanging down over my c/s incision. I have a pic of that if any of you really want to see it, but it''s pretty gross so I didn''t want to just put it out there. I had my staples out yesterday, which didn''t really hurt, but my skin is still a little sore so they put me on antibiotics in case I have an infection.

 

[mtjoya]

Date: 8/7/2009 8:03:16 PM
Author: taovandel
I thought it would be really weird getting married when I was pregnant. I thought that people would judge me or something...but apparently I have a wonderful family! It was the exact opposite of everything I expected. I''m sure your wedding will still be everything you dreamed it would be!

Thanks! Yeah, I am going to be 14 weeks when I will get married. Right now, you can kinda tell so I think that by then I will be popping out a bit. I feel weird but I think that I will be okay since I don''t care about what anyone says. My family & friends have been very great, I guess that it''s all in my head. When I went in to book everything at the chapel I saw a preg bride. I estimated that she might''ve been 5-6 months. So, I didn''t feel too funny.

So, did you guys find out the sex of the baby? I still have time to find out. Maybe at 20 weeks.

Take Care!

 

[taovandel]

Sabine! You look fantastic!! I have to admit--I showed my husband your belly pic right before you went in and he was amazed at the after picture.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 8/8/2009 1:35:13 PM
Author: taovandel
Sabine! You look fantastic!! I have to admit--I showed my husband your belly pic right before you went in and he was amazed at the after picture.

My husband was, too. I think you look great! I''m sure you will be back to your normal weight in no time!

So I told my parents last night. My husband and I went with them to my brother and SIL''s house for dinner, and were having a good time watching them cook. (They LOVE cooking, so they love to have us over.) They made pork chops, veggies and potatoes, and it looked soooo good. So I get mine and sit down, and take one bite of the pork chops, and OMG sickness kicked in. I just stopped chewing, and looked at my husband in alarm, and he started laughing right away. "Spit it out, babe, it''s ok." But I felt SO BAD, so I would chew and stop, chew and stop, all while trying not to be sick. My brother and SIL looked seriously concerned, but I finally got the bite chewed enough to swallow, and just waited a minute to be sure it would stay down. Then I figured it was as good a time as any to share, so I told them we were PG and apparently, the baby loathes pork chops.

It was so mortifying! How sad that the one time I actually CAN''T eat something, was the one time I had planned to give the big announcement. Oh man, it was awful. But my brother came and hugged me right away and took the offending meat away, and my parents just kind of sat there in shock.

Of course, they reacted just like I thought - my mom asked when, I said I didn''t know yet since I was only about 5-6 weeks along, and she changed the subject. We haven''t spoken since last night since they went out of town to visit my grandparents early this morning. It''s disappointing, but to be expected. My parents never react like they should to happy news - it''s like they carry a black cloud of angst all day and just always look for the downside of things.

At least I know hubby''s parents will be excited, and we are telling them later today. I plan to not eat any meat this time lol.