Calling all the Pregnant PS''ers

[Blenheim]

I love everyone''s bellies!!! And Mandarine, that looks like such a great shower!

People helping after birth - Like TGal and Curly, I really liked having my space and getting time to get used to everything without having other people around. We stocked our house with easy to make stuff, and so all there really was to do was to take care of the baby (and they sleep a lot at first), sometimes grab something to eat, do a load of laundry every day or two, and let the dogs out sometimes. I laminated a card with diaper laundry instructions and put it on the wall above the washing machine, so that DH (and later family) could easily do it. All of the other stuff could wait. Our midwives came by almost every day to help with BFing stuff and other issues, so I didn''t feel isolated or anything. I really liked being able to bond and get to know each other without other people around. I mourned a little bit when we had family over and we lost it being just us. I also tend to be both introverted and a hostess, FWIW.

Childbirth classes - They didn''t teach me much of anything, quite honestly, but I still think that they were invaluable because DH wasn''t going to read anything that I gave him and by going to them he was able to absorb a lot of information and practice various ways of helping me cope with pain. He got some practice applying counterpressure to my hips, which ended up being the most helpful thing that he could have possibly done.

 

[Mara]

MP sorry your family is being negative about the news. As if you already don't feel crappy enough with nausea! The last thing I wanted to deal with when I was sick was ANYTHING really. I also am not loving meat right now which sucks because I typically DO...but I am so picky about it now.

Sabine you look great!! But I have to say in general I am DEPRESSED that our bodies don't just deflate like a balloon back to normal. But maybe it's good because we'd have all that extra skin. HAHA. Darn biology!

I have been dealing with odd pins and needles all over various parts of my body now that I am getting a little further along. Aka when I sit indian style in my bar chairs at our island which is my fave position if I am working on my laptop...when I uncurl and stand up my FEET are asleep. And then of course it's no fun to wake them up. This just started in the last few days so I wonder if my nerves are being hit by the uterus now or something, anyway, odd!

Mandarine your photos are so cute!

I feel great on weekends because we get a bit more sleep and I work out in the mornings which makes me feel more normal (and I get more bloated as the day wears on so I feel less spry). I am still getting indigestion, BLAH...but my nausea is pretty much gone now..THANK GOD. Still not that keen on most foods though. My sweet tooth is also coming back (yay?).

PG...btw your story about the class had me laughing so hard. I agree though, why would the baby be wearing WOOL SWEATER of all things? hahaa.

 

[fieryred33143]

All of you ladies look wonderful!

Anchor-I''m guessing girl for you. You give me a girl vibe.

Mandy-the photos are great! I loved your wedding photos so its awesome your photog got to take pics of the shower.

Amber-You look beautiful!

Cello-I think this is the first time I see a photo of you. You are adorable and you have a great bump!

Mtjoya-Congrats on the pregnancy and the upcoming wedding! FI and I haven''t gotten married just yet (DD is 5 weeks old) but he''s wearing me down.

Sabine-You look wonderful! I wish I would have taken my 1 week PP photos. My belly went completely down but my hips...oh the horror. I''m still wearing maternity jeans because of my hips. It''s awful.

MP-Sorry about how it went with your parents but I hope it goes well with DH''s parents!

 

[ChinaCat]

Sabine- Hey there. I'm still here. This waiting thing sucks, I am now a teensy bit jealous of your planned birth! You look AMAZING, I cannot believe how much your belly has gone down. I just went back and found your last picture, and wow!!!! You sound really good too. How's the feeding thing going?

MP- People, and especially family, are so weird about weddings and pregnancies. You just never know. Sorry you didn't get the reaction you wanted, but sounds like you kind of expected it, so hope you weren't too disappointed. Do they not want you to be pregnant, or will your mom just worry about you? I've just learned not to expect things from certain people, and that way I am not disappointed, or am pleasantly surprised if they do act right. FWIW, my mom is about the biggest baby person on the planet and is beyond excited about her first grandchild. I was worried about how my sister and dad would react, but not my mom. Well, my sister and dad were thrilled and so sweet, but guess who freaked out? Yep, my mom. She actually burst into tears, threw her napkin on the table and ran out of the restaurant. And she is so not a drama person, it was completely out of character. It's just such an emotional thing for moms, and she just was so shocked b/c she had no idea we were trying and I'm not much of a baby person, so she wasn't sure if I would have kids. Her feelings were a little bit hurt that I hadn't told her right away. But she apologized and I understand, I was freaked out myself. Anyways, point being, some people need to process things. And if they don't come around, well too bad, but you and your DH are creating your own little family now, and that's what's important.

Phxgirl- OMG, your class sounds like a nightmare!!!! But in a funny way. Mine was pretty good but not funny. I think you should keep going, it gives you a great story to tell. And so cute that you and your DH are getting a laugh out of it together.

As for me- today is D-Day, the official due date. I have never thought he would come ON the due date, and I know it's a pretty arbitrary day, and I've been pretty laid back about his arrival- like he'll get here when he gets here. Well, all of that went out the window today! I have been bitchy and antsy ALL day. I don't know what to do with myself, it's freaking weird. I remember Mela being anxious and wanting to go into labor, and I remember thinking that's so cute, but I won't be like that, I can wait - like you know the baby is coming out, just relax and let it happen. Well apparently something about the actual due date does a number on your brain! It's like, what now? So silly. I've been trying to distract myself all day. Went to lunch, got a mani/pedi, went and saw Julie and Julia- with, btw, I think the entire elderly population of my city. Got home a bit ago- DH and I are going to order pizza and stay in. And EVERYBODY is calling, which is cute and sweet, but I'm like, nope, still here!

 

[Sha]

Awww...Mandarine, you look like your mom! Looks like you had a great time.

Cute belly, cello! I''ve had days like that too - where my belly seemed to ''pop'' out of nowhere.

 

[mela lu]

haha China! Hang in there. the waiting is SO hard

SABINE - if you are on antibiotics (from the C-section) I highly recommend you up your intake of probiotics (yogurt has it, but Acidopholos capsules are the BEST form) to avoid getting excess yeast in your system which could lead to thrush (yeast infection of the breasts. I''m not sure if I have it/had it, but I forgot to take my acidopholos after my C-section and suffered terrible pain nursing. Anyways, I''m feeling better now but I was kinda kicking myself for not being more proactive

. Just a heads up

 

[littlelysser]

Hi ladies!

Doing alright here. Yesterday was my bday, the big 35. Yup, I'm old as these here hills! I must say, being this prego has made this a pretty anticlimactic bday...Much more excited about da kid than my birthday. Luckily, we got TONS of baby stuff as presents! Like the Boon High Chair I've been loving! YAY! Also, 36 weeks today. Which is totally insane. I'm starting to get looks of sympathy from strangers - one woman even walked by and said, "poor thing, I've been there - You're almost done." Ha. I guess I was looking a wee bit uncomfortable! Oh, and despite not gaining much this pregnancy, I gained FIVE POUNDS IN A WEEK! The doc didn't say anything to me about it, and the nurse chalked it up to fluid (my feet are currently rivaling fred flinstone's) but holy cow. I was a bit shocked!!!

Quick update on my diabetic pooch - She's doing great. Getting insulin shots twice a day - and she's such a little trooper. DH and I both learned how to give her her shots. I think it was harder on us than it was on her. She's a tough little bird - doesn't run away or flinch when she gets her shots. And she's not having issues going to the bathroom in the house anymore or anything. So all in all, YAY!

CC - Keep on keepin' on! I'm exactly 4 weeks behind you...and I feel for you! I cannot wait to not be pregnant anymore...and I can't imagine how I'll feel in 4 weeks! I may have taken to eating eviction notices! Who knows! We STILL don't have a name picked out for the kid. We have a list of several names we like (Sebastian Michael is currently my fave) and we'll decide after he gets here. I hope. Oh, and I know I'm not a BTDT in terms of having my mom around, but I think mine will come stay with us when we come back. Who knows, maybe I'll have him and being a mom will come so easy I won't want the help, but I can't really imagine not wanting her to there. But who knows.

Sabine - Jackson is so darn adorable and you look fantastic!

Pink Flamingo - Welcome!

PG - I must admit, I didn't love our childbirth class. Interestingly enough, in our class, the uterus was a wooly looking sweater thing. Luckily, the baby was naked. But yeah. I'm glad I took it, but it was not world changing.

Kelly - Micah is a doll!

Mandarine - Your shower pics were adorable! and YAY for passing the three hour. I had to take it too...whew. It was NOT fun. But yay for passing!

Amber - Thanks for the bday wishes! And also, you are a such a cute prego! You go girl!

Mara - Hope you are doing well. The GD test stinks. I'll be over 35 when I deliver (turned 35 yesterday, in fact), but I only had to do the test once, at 26 weeks. I guess better safe than sorry? I failed the one hour test, but passed the three hour. It is pretty common to do that. And many women that have GD have no symptoms at all. It is a nutty thing.

Natalina - I'm glad I took the class...if for no reason, than because I had an idea of what to expect. Of course, I'm not sure the info isn't available other places, but overall, it wasn't a horrible way to spend a weekend. Oh, and I totally feel you on the swelling. My left foot is insane! I've been working 3 days a week for the past couple weeks - sitting behind a desk mind you - but I get home and my left foot is HUGE! My right is swollen too, but my left looks like something out a monster film. Ugh. My BP and stuffs have been good - so my docs aren't worried...they have chalked it up to being 9 months prego in August...but blergh. I do not puffy heart the swelling at all.

Cello - Cute pics! How are you feeling?

Monkey Pie - I'm sorry about your parents' reaction. I hope they come around! The smoking things stinks too. Has your dad said anything about maybe not smoking while you are PG?

Applequeen - Congrats. I'm a little confused about what you are saying about hearing the HB. At 6 weeks, they can't hear the HB with a doppler, but I think they can sort of magnify/put sound to the visual HB they get from a US. And like the others have said, at that point, the HB would be really fast, so I can't imagine your doc would try to pass off your HB as the baby's. But hey, what do I know?

Anchor - Congrats on a good US! I really enjoyed the 20 week US. Fun to see that much of our little dude.

Everyone else, HELLO!

Alright, I'm off to watch some TV and head to bed soon. A girlfriend and I are getting pedicures tomorrow! I'm uber excited about it.

36 weeks today.

 

[mtjoya]

All u ladies look great & beautiful!

I feel like I look like I have a fat stomach, not a formed belly yet. I am 12 weeks. My stomach feels like it''s getting harder!

But, it''s all good, I can''t wait til I can post some pics here!

Fiery-Tell me about it! I am tired all the time and I am only 12 weeks! My mom tells me that it''s nothing and only wait & expect to get worse!

LOL...

 

[anchor31]

Mandy - You look fantastic and your shower looked like so much fun!

cello - You look great. I mean really great.

MP - I''m sorry your parents reacted like this. Any reason why they would be upset by baby news? It just seems so weird to me.

BTW I''m having a hard time with meat too, even past the first tri.

DH''s grandma passed away in a car accident on Friday.

My SIL had planned a brunch to announce her upcoming wedding yesterday, so it was a pretty bittersweet family gathering, with u/s pics being passed around and engagement news thrown in with the grief and shock of a sudden, tragic death.

 

[drk]

Applequeen - I doubt the doc would lie about that being baby''s heartbeat when it was really yours. They can turn on sound when they''re doing the ultrasound and measuring the heartbeat, so that''s not abnormal. Usually it''s more like 10-12 weeks before they can hear the heartbeat on a regular doppler. And at just 6 weeks, I''d be surprised if baby''s heartbeat was much more than 90-100/min, which likely wouldn''t be much faster than yours if you were excited/anxious about the ultrasound. It gets faster very quickly after that, but at 6 weeks, it''s just barely started beating, and is nowhere near the 140-160 kind of range you''d see in a couple more weeks. So don''t worry, and don''t assume the doc''s lying!

Anchor - sorry for your loss. It''s probably a good thing that there''s so much to celebrate right now, even as people are grieving for your DH''s grandma. Circle of life and all. As an old lady (79) I gave an anesthetic to on Friday told me (as she was struggling to get out of her wheelchair without help, and then to slowly climb up onto the OR table), getting old isn''t what it''s cracked up to be. I''d bet she''d rather pass away quickly than watch her abilities fade away bit by bit over the next few years. At least I know I would! Hope grandma didn''t suffer in the accident.

Kate

 

[phoenixgirl]

Anchor, I''m so sorry to hear about your DH''s grandma. I wish your family peace and healing.

 

[cellososweet]

Thanks everyone. It''s nice that I look healthy, I just wish I felt the same way. I''ve had to switch from my midwives to a maternal fetal medicine specialist. At first I was really mad about it because I''m so sick to death of the hospital that I''ve been at and I did not want to deliver there. But, at this point, it''s like a second home. That''s kind of pathetic. Haha.

I think I might''ve figured out my issue with passing out and such inadvertently. Is anyone here familiar with POTS? (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) I have all the symptoms and my doctors in the hospital noted syncope, and an "orthostatic issue," but this is rare so possibly it wasn''t on their radar?

In baby-related news, I posted about in the gear thread about Phil and Ted''s strollers. If anyone here has one, can you please give me a review or see my post over on the gear thread?

 

[cellososweet]

Anchor, I just read. I''m so sorry for your loss. It''s never easy to lose anyone and you will all be in my thoughts.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Thanks, ladies. My parents are coming back into town today (they went to visit my grandma overnight), so hopefully when they get back things will be different. I think they just know that right now, things are financially tight, so they think it''s silly to get pregnant right now. But we most certainly didn''t do it on purpose! It''s too late to go back now, so I hope they just get over it.

My in-laws were really excited for us though! We told them yesterday, and we got lots of hugs and congragulations and offers to help us down the road if we needed it. It was wonderful. DH''s grandma told me I would be "fat and cute" soon. LOL. She''s so funny, she speaks half in spanish and half in english, so I think we lose some things in translation.

Mara, my MIL told me she couldn''t really tolerate meat when she was pregnant with my husband, but that her second baby, she couldn''t stand her uncle! He would come over and she would be sick! I''m lucky mine is only food-related lol. Oh, and I have been getting the pins and needles too - I wonder if blood flow just isn''t as good now that we are pregnant?

ChinaCat, you''re right, I think people just handle the news differently. I expected a lack of excitement from my parents so it wasn''t horrible, but it still makes me sad that they can''t ever just be HAPPY for something that happens to me. I don''t get it. I really hope your little one comes soon!

littleelysser, my dad said nothing at all about the smoking, but I''m hoping to bring it up soon. I feel terrible asking, but my sickness is SO bad I just can''t stand it. I''m hoping he will bend, at least a little.

anchor31, I''m so sorry about your DH''s grandmother

 

[taovandel]

Sorry your parents weren''t that excited about the news. I can see it from their side also--I believe in your previous post you said that you were living at their home due to financial reasons that you were trying to sort out due to unemployment. I''m sure they were hoping that the baby wouldn''t be a reality until you were more settled. Hopefully over the next few days they will get genuinely excited for you and realize how lucky they are to be getting a grandchild out of this and it''s never really "the right time" for a baby.

 

[Sapphire_Cutie]

Well...my U/S is Tuesday at 1pm... Baby dropped down a bit last Sunday... He has been head down for the last 2 mos almost... And the past few days Ive had a mixture of thick lightly tinted pink discharge and clear egg white discharge with bits of blood in it.... Gotta feelin Logan will be making his appearance sooner then expected!... 36 weeks this Wednsday

 

[taovandel]

How exciting Sapphire!! Can''t wait to hear how the u/s goes tomorrow.

 

[drk]

I''m not totally jumping in over here till the NT scan in 1.5 weeks (too scared I''ll jinx something!), but have a question I can''t help but ask.

Did any of you have EWCM during pregnancy? I had some today, which I haven''t noticed before (but I''ve been on estrogen and progesterone suppositories, which might mask things a bit). I sure hope you''ll tell me it''s normal!

Kate

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 8/9/2009 6:52:12 PM
Author: drk
I''m not totally jumping in over here till the NT scan in 1.5 weeks (too scared I''ll jinx something!), but have a question I can''t help but ask.

Did any of you have EWCM during pregnancy? I had some today, which I haven''t noticed before (but I''ve been on estrogen and progesterone suppositories, which might mask things a bit). I sure hope you''ll tell me it''s normal!

Kate

I''ve had some off and on the past week, so I looked it up online (I forget where - I''ll see if I can find the link) and it''s apparently normal!

 

[Mara]

What is EWCM?

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 8/9/2009 8:50:51 PM
Author: Mara
What is EWCM?

Egg white cervical mucus???

I never knew any of this back in the day. I swear this thread messes with my dreams, I have dreamed I am preggo!!!

My next thread willl be for us older gals going through menpause.. Cause I am there, big time...

 

[qtiekiki]

drk
EWCM is totally normal throughout the pregnancy. I had them last time and this time. Don''t worry.

 

[ChinaCat]

Mara- LOL. Spend some time on the TTC thread, you learn all kinds of interesting acronyms!!!

DRK- Totally normal, in fact it was one "sign" that I was preggo. Can''t wait to see you over here "officially!"

 

[Kaleigh]

Was I correct in my answer??

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 8/9/2009 8:50:51 PM
Author: Mara
What is EWCM?

Mara, aka tw*t snot.

 

[lili]

Date: 8/10/2009 12:12:47 AM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 8/9/2009 8:50:51 PM

Author: Mara

What is EWCM?

Mara, aka tw*t snot.

LOL.....the runny kind.

 

[Mara]

YUM! hahaha. all those fun tidbits is why i didn't want to hang out on the TTC or the preggos in waiting, and why i didn't read that thread about 'what's the grossest thing' or whatever it was. i like being totally in the dark as to half the stuff that actually goes on...and if anything weird or bad happens i just blame it on the pregnancy without even knowing. HAAH.

i am also not reading any books on pregnancy, i figure i will just be surprised as time goes on. ('hey is that a head?') i did just get a copy of happiest baby on the block from my pal tonite since everyone says it's the best dvd ever and i figure i can be prepared for the 'after'.

 

[steph72276]

Hey, girls. Sorry I haven''t posted in a week but I was at the beach with the family. We had so much fun and it is hard to be back without waking up to the ocean every morning!

Can I just rant for a second about how hard it is having a food coloring allergy? I found out around this time last year that I had some sort of food allergy. I kept breaking out in hives and even had to go to the ER twice for IVs b/c my throat was closing up. So after months of trying to figure it out through an elimination diet, I figured out that it was food coloring giving me the issues. And can I just tell you that they put food coloring in almost EVERYTHING from food to gum to medicines. I have cut everything out unless I slip up and forget to read a package, but I was still getting hives at night and then last night a light bulb went off and I checked my prenatal vitamins and ding ding ding, the last 3 ingredients were yellow, red, and blue food coloring! Who would have thought they needed to add food coloring to vitamins?? I just assumed they only had healthy stuff in them! Now I guess I am going to have to go with the expensive prescription stuff. Anyone have any recommendations on the one they take?

Hope everyone is doing well. I''m about to go back for the last few pages and catch up!

 

[vizsla]

morning ladies:

cello - i have the phil and teds, and so does curly.. i''ll check the other thread, but i luvvv it already

fiery - i''m totally preparing to have the baby blues (depression runs in the family) and although i''m *really* hoping i skirt by without any major ''issues'' (i know a little is to be expected) my mom is ''on call'' if DH is having trouble w/ me the first few days alone.

i guess another reason i really want to try and do the first week w/ just DH and i is that DH is going to watch the babe one day a week after i go back to work (solo

). i want him to be as comfortable with the babe as possible and to figure things out for himself ... i shudder thinking about having to tell him everything to do, ya know? like, i don''t want to make a list that says "here is baby''s schedule" -- i want him to be involved enough that he knows the schedule as well as i do.... now his parents watching the babe the other day of the week is an entirely different story

mandy - LOVE the pictures... how great to have a professional photog there. jealous!

cello - your belly is downright perfection at 18 weeks!

qtiekiki - i''ve heard about the love/hate relationship with the bella band... i actually was very hesitant to try it b/c so many women just didn''t like it... sometimes when it rides up, i switch it around so the ''tighter'' side is over my hips.... but it does get annoying sometimes.

sabine - first... girl! you look amazing 1 week pp! thanks for posting that picture! second, at the wedding i attended this weekend i met a girl who had recently had a baby, and she said the same thing about the visitors at the hospital. apparently, she had her son at like 3 in the morning and from the time she got into her pp room until 8 at night she had a steady stream of visitors... and it was really draining. ugh, i''m soooooo private and a little mama bear already over this cub that i just hope i''ll be so happy from my adrenaline rush that i won''t care... she also said that -- without a doubt -- send the babe to the nursery so you can sleep... i think that was one of the other pearls of advice i''ve read on this thread.

monkey pie - so sorry about the reaction

hopefully they will come around and get excited for you!

china - LOL re: the due date. i just know that is going to be me too... all calm and collected and then wham-o. ugh, i don''t know if i could handle all of those phone calls if i pass my due date.... i think that would make me more anxious.

sapphire - good luck girlie!!

kaleigh - i didn''t want to laugh at your last post.. but i did i love it b/c i think you were the one that started this thread too

mara - ditto on not reading any books about PG. i''ve only read the ''what the heck do i do now that i have a baby'' books. i''ve read "the happiest baby on the block"... and i''ll also throw out my recommendation for "secrets of the baby whisperer" -- she has some great pearls of wisdom. someone also suggested i read "baby wise"... anyone else read this?

as for me.. this baby is moving day and night ... whenever i roll over in the middle of the night, i think it gets excited that i''m up and decides to do some backflips for joy

-- last night, as i was desperately trying to get comfortable, the LO got the hiccups ... so i had to wait them out before i could go back to sleep. ahhhhhhhhhh... i''m a girl who loves her sleep.. this is going to be quite an adjustment.

nothing much else to report. i have a therapeutic massage scheduled for tomorrow night that *hopefully* will give me some relief from this back/rib pain (fingers crossed) - or at least some insight into what i can do to help the pain.

guess that''s all the news i have this am.

 

[Mandarine]

Happy Monday!!!

Thank you all for the sweet comments about the shower pics

DrK - I have had EWCM the whole pregnancy...I think it stopped a bit during the 2nd trimester, and then it started back up. I think it''s totally normal.

Sabine - You look amazing!!!!!!!!

MP - Sorry about their reaction!....I''m sure that was hard...and I ope they come around...maybe it was just the shock...

China, you crack me up....hang in there!! the little one will be here before you know it!. Did you start baking yet?

Viz, a massage sounds heavenly!!!!!!!!

. I think the lack of sleep in pregnancy is mother''s nature way of training us!. I sleep in 2-hour intervals now...and even the hours I do sleep are not deep sleep!!



**

As for me, we got two more things off our list!. Did the hospital tour on Saturday and built the new dresser/changing table on Sunday. I sure hope we don''t have to go to that hospital (it''s a little farther, not ina nice area and just not nice overall), but if the babies arrive before 36 weeks then we have to go there (they have the highest level NICU).

The dresser is perfect...just wondering if it''s a little high now?...How high are just changing tables? It''s the ikea hemnes dresser.

M~