Calling all the Pregnant PS''ers

[Tacori E-ring]

Bobo, I had a really hard time with the weight gain too. People around me did NOT make it easier (DH included

) Finally it got to the point that I no longer cared what they thought. I am growing a human life and that ain''t always pretty. Have you told your mom flat out that those comments hurt your feelings? Worked for me. I think people don''t *mean* to be insenstive it is just hard to see you look so different. I have always been petite so seeing my body with 40 extra lbs is tramatic to say the least (I guess for everyone). Sometimes people forget we own mirrors too and are 100% aware of how we look.

Keep your chin up. Your body obviously needs/wants the weight. Focus on that baby and IGNORE your female relatives. Keep your distance for awhile if you have to.

 

[Ellen]

njc, I came here just to check on you, and there you are, most likely in labor. Yay!!!

Wishing you all the best welcoming your wee one into the world!

 

[sasa]

Tacori E-ring, I did confront my mom with the comments. I can tell she feel bad about it and she stop making comments, at least in front of me. In the first trimester it was hard for me to see people''s shock expression when they see me. I used to have beautiful skin and was petite, and now I have pack on 20+ lbs. on me and my forehead and chin cover with acne, I can understand why people look shock. I don''t even like what I''m seeing in the mirror.

But since I can start feeling the baby move, everything seems worth it...the weight gain and the bad skin.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 10/3/2007 8:09:18 PM
Author: Bobo ^__*
Tacori E-ring, I did confront my mom with the comments. I can tell she feel bad about it and she stop making comments, at least in front of me. In the first trimester it was hard for me to see people''s shock expression when they see me. I used to have beautiful skin and was petite, and now I have pack on 20+ lbs. on me and my forehead and chin cover with acne, I can understand why people look shock. I don''t even like what I''m seeing in the mirror.


But since I can start feeling the baby move, everything seems worth it...the weight gain and the bad skin.

Oh, I got preggo acne too (not that I would have ever called my skin flawless before). I swear I have no idea what a preggo glow looks like. Sweat maybe?!? My SIL made a few comments about it until I told her how much she was hurting my feelings. Now I only get positive comments. I think they are all scared of me now

But I have learned no matter what to always tell a preggo woman she is beautiful. Have you read Jenny McCarthy''s "Baby Laughs"? It made me feel better knowing she gained 60 lbs! Suddenly I felt like I was doing good!!!

So baby''s kicks are getting SOOOO hard now. Some of them leave me breathless. I can''t imagine how strong they will get in the weeks to come.

 

[sasa]

compare to now..my skin before pregnancy is definitely flawless

and now I realized how skinny I was before

I didn''t read Jenny McCarthy''s "baby laugh" but I want to buy her new book that talks about her son''s autism.

I''m looking forward to the belly wave in the coming months...

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Oh! I meant Belly Laughs! I think Baby Laughs is her second book. Anyways, it seriously made me feel better b/c she had almost every symptom AND was so honest about them. Belly waves are fun. Rib kicks are not. But at least it is a reminder the baby is ok.

 

[Independent Gal]

Congrats Diver! Delaney is GORGEOUS!

 

[ellaila]

My babies are cracking me up lately b/c they are SO active!! My belly is definitely no longer my own! Not looking forward to when the movements get painful, but right now they are just the greatest feeling in the world.

As for how we look pregnant, I remember Tacori saying how she got so bummed when she looked at her wedding photos ... yeah, I hear ya on that one! One of my fave wedding pics is the wallpaper on my computer, and I look at it and sigh. I was so skinny! But I know that it''s totally possible to get in shape again after you have a baby, so I''m trying to stay positive about the weight gain and know that it''s just temporary. On the plus side, we don''t have to suck our bellies in for 40 weeks, right?

I''ve got my maternity portraits tonight, and I''m so excited!

I was trying on outfits last night for it, and I just can''t wait to see how these photos come out. Tonight we''re just doing indoor shots in front of sheer white curtains -- I want some dramatic black and white photos. I''ve got a black tube top (belly band actually) that I''m going to wear rolled up with either a black skirt or my black Charlotte-like pants sitting beneath my belly. Also a white blouse that will be open over my belly. And I''m going to attempt to do the sheet-as-a-drapey-skirt thing, but I don''t know if I can really pull that one off! We''re supposed to do some outdoor shots next week (gorgeous foliage hopefully!), but I have to see how much of a toll tonight takes on me.

I love this shot and hope we can get something even half as beautiful!

 

[Jas12]

Ellla--I love that photo--I am sure you can capture something like that! Make sure to post them

I am eagerly awaiting my first kicks from the baby--just at 15 weeks now so I am hoping just a couple of more weeks (but I hear that with first babies it may not be till around week 20--boo) I''ll have to concentrate.
A friend of mine had twins just over a year ago and I used to love to hear her ''movement stories'' an elbow here, a knee there--it was neat.

I am feeling so much more like myself this past week--been wanting coffee again in the AM and after dinner (when I ususally had it pre-preg.) I couldn''t look at it in the first tri--and now it''s like my body remembers. Also have *ahem* libido improvements. First Tri it was the last thing on my mind!
However, not a day passes when there isn''t some symptom to contend with--right now it is an awful stuffy nose--everyday! No other cold-like symptoms so i don''t think it''s a virus. I''ve read that pregnancy can make sinuses swell and breathing becomes more difficult--that must be what is happening. I had sinus surgery years ago so I already have nose issues, hoping this symptom doesn''t remain for rest of the pregnancy!

How is everyone else feeling. Travelling Gal--are you feeling more like your pre-preggo self now that you are into the 2nd tri?

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 10/4/2007 10:11:36 AM
Author: Jas12

How is everyone else feeling. Travelling Gal--are you feeling more like your pre-preggo self now that you are into the 2nd tri?

Jas, I was just thinking this morning that I no longer feel pregnant on the whole. I just feel normal. Minus the slight shortness of breath I feel when I walk up stairs, I have had no symptoms. It's kind of freaky because night I had a niggle of worry wondering if everything was alright in there. Assuming that everything is ok, I am not complaining. I am sure they don't call this the honeymoon trimester for nothing. And right in time too, because we leave for our much delayed honeymoon tomorow!

It's great that you are feeling much better though. The first trimester felt like it would ALWAYS feel that icky, didn't it?

Ella, that is a neat photo...I can't wait to see yours!

 

[Jas12]

TravelingGal--that''s awesome that you feel so good--esp since you are going on vacay!!! Have a great time! If my memory serves me you are going back to australia for the honeymoon? Oh how I miss that place (lived outside Sydney for a year)
Enjoy yourself!

I leave for NYC tomorrow morn so I am happy to be feeling better as well--not as symptom free as you but can''t complain (too much)

Ready to do some mat clothes shopping and eating

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 10/4/2007 12:24:43 PM
Author: Jas12
TravelingGal--that''s awesome that you feel so good--esp since you are going on vacay!!! Have a great time! If my memory serves me you are going back to australia for the honeymoon? Oh how I miss that place (lived outside Sydney for a year)
Enjoy yourself!

I leave for NYC tomorrow morn so I am happy to be feeling better as well--not as symptom free as you but can''t complain (too much)

Ready to do some mat clothes shopping and eating

Jas, have fun in NYC!

We are going to back to Australia for the holidays. Tomorrow we are heading for Hawaii for a short honeymoon as our one year anniversary is this Saturday. Time flies!!!

 

[ellaila]

Have a great honeymoon, TGal! (ETA: AND HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!) Funny how you say you no longer feel pregnant because I feel SO pregnant every minute of the day. So definitely enjoy the 2nd trimester because once it all hits, it ALL hits!

Jas, you have a great trip, too! Saw your other thread about it and it looks like you got some great recommendations. Whoo hoo! I haven't been to NYC in ages -- shame on me, since it's only a few hours' drive away too!

As for kicks, I didn't even feel anything at all until 17 weeks and that was just that butterflies-in-my-stomach (aka "could that be ...? Noo ... Maybe?") feeling. I only got it a few times and then had absolutely nothing until 22 weeks, so I was starting to worry since you always hear 18-22 weeks for the time frame, and it usually happens faster with twins. But like everything else, each body is different so you can only use those time frames as guidelines and not hard-and-fast rules. Once you start feeling them though, you'll know it! It's so cool

Comments: yesterday someone at work told me that I was bigger than she was when she gave birth to her daughter. Thanks. As I walked out of the kitchen with the other pregnant girl at work, she was like, "Ignore her. She was actually a lot bigger than she thought she was!" -- Ha ha! But seriously. I can deal with comments from people that don't know better but when people that have BEEN pregnant start making "you're so big!" comments, I want to smack them! Did you really forget how bad it makes you feel when people keep talking about your size? I mean, even though I've got 30 inches of baby in my belly (holy crap!!!) and therefore HAVE to be big, I still don't want to be told on a daily basis that I'm huge, you know?

Anyhow, I've yet to see a photo of a preggo PSer that I didn't think looks/looked absolutely fabulous pregnant!

 

[Jas12]

Ella--it just totally floors me that ppl actually seem proud that they had smaller bellies--like it was something they/we can control. General weight gain outside of pregnancy is one thing, but the size of one''s pregnant stomach--i just can''t believe women even find ways to comapare that. I didn''t think it went on until I started reading everyone''s experiences on PS.
And hello--she''s comparing your twin belly to hers --so bizarre.


Just had a co-worker come in and drop off a little baby gift for me--made my day. I work in a high school but i am in the same isolated classroom all day and do tons of paper/prep work (hence why i procrastinate on PS) and can go weeks without seeing some co-workers--it was nice to be thought of.

 

[sasa]

ellaila, love that photo. can''t wait to see yours.

Jas12, I felt my baby moved the first time @ 15 weeks. but everyone is different. The nurse said my stomach wall is thin that is why...I have the stuffy nose issue too, and the stuff that is coming out

I read in the book that sometime the stuffy nose will stay with you until you give birth.

TravelingGal,glad that you are feeling good...enjoy your 2nd trimester, I feel very pregnant every day.

 

[mrssalvo]

Have fun on your trip tgal...

tacori, hopefully the kicks will stop being so hard as the baby continues to grow it won''t have as much room to haul back and punch. but i''m so excited for you and how close you are getting

 

[divergrrl]

Yay!!! NJC is probably holding her baby right now! SO EXCITED FOR YOU! here''s to a healthy delivery!

Ella: can''t wait to see your mat pics! I love mine.

Tacori: you are next girlfriend!

Indie Gal: Thanks! Delaney is also a sweet baby girl & a total joy. I''m smitten with my little kitten.

Sorry I''m not on much. I get a few minutes a day to surf and other than that, I''m exhausted! While a mellow bebe, Delaney is a newborn & those little monkeys need to eat....OFTEN. I''m up a lot at night, I''m trying to do special time with Jake each day, and before I know it, its bedtime. Amazing. But life is good, and my kids are doing good so that''s all that matters.

Ok....gotta scoot...naptime for mommy here! Gotta git my ZZZs while the gittin'' good.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

TGal, Have a great trip and delayed honeymoon! I am so excited that you are feeling great. Take lots of pics! At least you don''t have to worry about birth control! Haha!

Jas, I didn''t feel my first kick until 20 weeks. Probably not what you want to hear. I DID feel a pop corn popping sensation that was probably the baby sooner but like ella said I just didn''t know for sure. The first kick was REALLY exciting! My little one likes to stick its butt out so I get this wierd hard lump under my boob all the time. Must be doing yoga in there! Oh wait until it goes all on ONE side. Feels so strange and heavy. I have had a stuffy nose (and bloody snot, sorry, gross) for basically my WHOLE pregnancy.

Ella, people are so mean! Been there. At least you are carrying twins so people kind of expect you to have a bigger belly. I am excited to see your photos. Be sure to post them when you get them. I am sure they will be beautiful. Looking at old photos are depressing. But I know it is worth it. 9 months up, 9 months down right? Hopefully I will be back to normal sooner but I need to remember these things take time! Doesn''t help that DH has LOST 40 lbs while I have gained it. Stinker!

MrsS, I am guessing it will run out of room soon. I am a short girl with a short torso! I am getting excited and nervous. Just scared of the unknown I guess! I was in target seeing their cute baby clothes and wanted the baby to tell me what sex it was. Like two kicks for a girl, an elbow jab for a boy. Typical child NOT listening to their mother

I will know soon enough.

Diver, I am so happy for you. You have a perfect family. I can''t believe I am only a little over 3 weeks away!

*eek* Nap all you can!

 

[mrssalvo]

ella, i hope you have fun at the photoshoot. can''t wait to see some of the pics if you''ll share them.


diver, so glad you checked in, the naps and sleeping when you can is the most important thing is those first few weeks so i''m glad you''re taking advantage instead of glued to PS. we love the updates though when you can give them.

hope all the other mommies to be are feeling well. for the most part of feel pretty good, still dealing with m/s that seems to hit later in the day but hoping that will end soon.

 

[ellaila]

Diver, good to hear from you, lady! Glad all is going well. How''s Jake doing as a big brother? Kind of funny that moms actually get more naps/sleep than preggos, eh? But you deserve it!

It''s weird but in the past few days, I''ve started getting night sweats and bloody noses. I never had bloody noses at all during the pregnancy, but now I''ve had them every day for the past three days. Not sure if that is preg-related or just seasonal? The sweating is weird too b/c I haven''t really felt hot at all (unlike a few months ago in the summer), so I def. think that one is pregnancy-related. Oh well.

Tacori, "I was in target seeing their cute baby clothes and wanted the baby to tell me what sex it was. Like two kicks for a girl, an elbow jab for a boy. Typical child NOT listening to their mother." made me laugh out loud! Yes, you will definitely know soon enough!! You''re going to be a MOMMY!!!

And speaking of Mommies, I assume that njc is one now!!! Whoo hoooooo!!!!

SecondChance, are you still around??

So I highly recommend doing maternity portraits if you can -- it was SO much fun!! I felt like a supermodel

We did the shoot in the house, and the photog brought over a light tan and a dark backdrop, so we have lots of photos with each -- did the white photos (the gauze/sheet ones) in front of the light background and then some in darker clothes in front of the dark backdrop. Hopefully I''ll have the proofs next week, and I will definitely share! From what I saw on the digital camera, some of the poses came out really beautiful, so I cannot wait to see the real pics! The only downside was that the woman would NOT quit -- she was there for over four hours, and I was dead tired like halfway through the shoot. I was trying to be polite throughout and just be like, "I need to take a break" at certain times but then at like 8:30, I was like, "OK, we''re ordering a pizza -- I need to eat!" and then at 9:30 when she started talking about trying something else I just had to tell her that I was done. She knew I was uncomfortable for much of the session, so I was kind of annoyed that she wasn''t being overly considerate of that. But all in all, it was really a lot of fun, and I''m so excited to have some hopefully beautiful shots to remember how I look now. I don''t have any stretchmarks (yet?) and she told me I''ve got a "model''s belly" (hee hee!), so all in all, I felt pretty good about showing off my big belly in some sexy little outfits.

 

[sasa]

I know as we get bigger it''s harder for us to sleep at night. But I didn''t expect it to happen until like I''m 7 or 8 months.

Last night I was woken up by soreness and pain in both my legs...like I''ve been walking for 8 hours in a theme park. I try to sleep on my left, my right and on my back and nothing help. I woke up with really bad pain in my lower back and my legs don''t feel like they''re mine. Any you ladies like that?

 

[Erin]

I''m just before 10 weeks and we haven''t told anyone yet. Hold thread about that elsewhere. But we went to a get together at a bar last night (whew smokey - thank goodness it''s still nice outside in the beer garden) and met up with friends.

So I ask the bartender for cranberry juice. I now know that it gives me heartburn or acid reflux or something so never again...BUT

The funniest part was, unbeknownst to me, two other friend''s wives whom everyone knows is pregnant ordered cranberry juice and minutes before our arrival there was a big pregnancy/baby discussion spawned from the fact that they both ordered cranberry juice. So here I come bouncing up with a big smile ordering my cranberry juice and people start to tease us...

Ohhhhhhhh - is there something you want to tell us. Giving bf a good ol fashion ribbing, teasing....

 

[lili]

Hi all, just checking in to see how all the mommies and mommies to be are doing.

Diver: So glad you checked in and gave us updates. Can''t wait to see more pix of your sweet little doll Delaney and your big boy Jake.

Ella: Love that photo. I''m glad you had a blast with your session. I''m sure your photos will be just stunning. Can''t wait to see them.
Wow, that must have been the ultimate compliment about your model belly, especially coming from a professional who''ve seen just about all the bellies there are.

Tacori: I love your statement about baby not listening to mommy. So funny, yet true. You are getting pretty close there. So have you decided on your "push" present yet?

MrsS: Glad to hear that your older one is ok. Hope she didn''t have another episode after that. Anyway, sorry to hear that you are still dealing with a bit of the m/s. Just a few more weeks maybe and you''ll be in the honeymoon tri like TGal and Jas12!

TGal: You are probably basking in the sun right now in HI. Enjoy!

Jas12: Enjoy your shopping spree in NY. Remember not to go overboard though since you''ve still got lots of shopping to do for baby stuff

Bobo: Congrats on your baby boy and being half way there already! Welcome to the club.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

MrsS, hope you feel better soon. I have started getting m/s like symptoms at night. I get crampy and sour stomach. NOT fun. I think I can only sleep an hour at a time. Plus today my cervical pressure is SO bad. I am not planning on leaving the house! It is so uncomfortable.

Ella, I cannot believe I am going to be a mom

It is really hitting me now. I get bloody noses too. I read it was something about the mucus loosening up (I might be wrong) but I never had a problem before pregnancy so obviously it is related. I hope I don''t regret not doing mat. portraits. I feel so ugly though I can''t imagine feeling good about them. I can''t to see yours though!!!!

Bobo, everyone handles pregnancy differently. I have to flip nonstop b/c my hips/thighs get numb and very sore. You should avoid sleeping on your back not that your uterus is getting larger. It is not good for blood flow. I used to get bad leg cramps where I woke up in tears but for some reason they stopped. Oh my left thigh was numb for a good three months until my uterus shifted. Now it is fine.

Starset, heartburn/reflux is NOT fun. Tums worked well for me in the early stages. I have since graduated to Zantac. Are things better between you and your BF?

Lili, I know I want a band style ring but that''s about it. I do love the facet mat. rings. Since we don''t know what we are having AND I want to wait until I have lost most of my preggo weight (my fingers are SO swollen!) it will probably be awhile before I get it. In the meantime I will have fun looking! Hehe!

 

[sasa]

Tacori E-ring, I hope you feel better soon..I know I should try to sleep on my side especially my left but I always end up on my back, and then during the many wake up thru out the night, I''ll flip on to my side again.

I''m already getting the leg cramps, couple nights ago I scream so loud because of the leg cramp my husband literally jump up the bed and went for my right leg (as you can see this is not the first

) but it''s actually my left leg that was cramping

ellaila, I get the sweating too..I have to get up to wipe myself or even change my shirt because I''ll be soaking wet.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Bobo, I think I will only feel better AFTER I give birth

What really helped me with sleeping was using an extra pillow (since my nose gets so stuffy at night) and placing a pillow under my belly. It kind of hugs my stomach that way and I can pretend I am sleeping on my stomach. You will wake yourself up if your body is having trouble with you on your back so I wouldn''t worry too much. Still it is good to get out of the habit b/c your uterus will only get heavier with time. With leg cramping make sure you are drinking enough water. Calcium is suppose to help and they say eating a banana before bed can also help. Make sure you avoid pointing your toes. This triggered my leg cramps. I guess I am lucky I have yet to experience night sweats. But there is still time haha! I don''t think I have had a good night''s sleep since I was 6 weeks preggo. It does get harder with time.

 

[mrssalvo]

I'm still early enough to not have the night sweats or sleeping comfort problems. However, I haven't gotten a good night sleep in almost 6 years which is when I was preggo with my first. seriously, last night both girls slept through the night and stayed in their own beds which is very RARE. normally it's one or the other that wakes up for some reason and comes trotting down the hall to our room. I can only think of 2 nights i've slept though the entire night and both times we were away from the kids so i think i slept much more sound b/c I wasn't worried about needing to listen for them. Oh how your life sure changes...but it's worth every single minute.

ETA: oh and occasionally my wonderful first baby in my avatar will wake me up to be let out..so if it's not the kids, it's the dog...

 

[Tacori E-ring]

MrsS, our cats wake us up too. Either they want to be let into our room or out. Or they want to play and run around like crazy. They are not going to like it when they are forced out of our room. They are cuddlers. I used to always sneak into my parents room early mornings. My mom would get SO annoyed until I stopped. Then she said she missed it.

Njc, hope you are holding your little boy RIGHT now! Can''t wait to hear about his birth story.

 

[mrssalvo]

aw Tacori, I think I know how your mom felt. although I never really mind getting to cuddle with them in bed. I figure there will be a day when the last thing they will want to do is crawl into bed with mommy and daddy. I think my little brother stopped waking up and heading into my parents room when he was 8 or 9. it was a really sad day for them b/c they knew that he was growing up and it was the end of the sleep cuddling. So, most of the time I really don't mind b/c I know they will grow out of it. too funny about your cats. i really do think taking care of pets are a good intoduction to what mommy and daddyhood will be like.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

MrsS, funny what parents miss after some time! For some reason (maybe the safety of it) sleeping in my parents bed 20 mins before school in the morning was such DEEP and wonderful sleep. It felt like hours rather than minutes. We used to always fight about who got to sleep with my mom when my dad was out of town too. I think I stopped around 9 or 10.

Cats are obviously SOOO much easier to take care of dogs but I guess it is still an introduction. They have such funny personalities. Our male basically knocks at the door when he wants in/out. Well not knock. More like bang his head and body and slide his paws *under* the door. It is really funny (and sometimes annoying). Our female is more vocal and will just meow nonstop until she gets what she wants (which is usually attention). The little girl from next store came over yesterday (she is in 3rd grade). They run for their lives. They aren''t really into kids. It will be interesting to see how they react to the baby. I just need to remember to give them some extra attention so they don''t feel too replaced.

Are your girls getting so excited for the new baby? I was 6 when my brother was born and was so excited. I never felt sad about not being the youngest anymore. I think b/c of the age difference.