Weekly chit-chat December 6th-12th - Page 2

[BathrobeGoddess]

I'm not going to count becasue I totally get caught up in the numbers and my babies are always "late."

I know that it will go really quickly though since my dd and my dh both have February birthdays and they seem to come right after the holidays each year. I am ordering my birth kit this week just to have it done, got the clothes washed have dipes all ready but I need to reorganize the table so that the little diapers have a good space. No room for babe here either and we didn't even take the side car-ed crib down after dd moved out of it so we don't have to worry about it! Still need a car seat, I am having a hard time choosing one...

We do however have to finish paying the midwife! We have it only 1/3 pd off but thankfully she is being very flexible with us.

I. hate. money.

[Vegan Princess]

Went to my friend's x-mas party last night. She is a nurse midwife who has delivered over 700 babies (she works in Kaiser so it is high volume) and was a labor delivery nurse for a few years before that. She said that she has only seen 3 instances when the ultrasound was wrong. So that makes me feel a bit more reassured that maybe we are indeed having a girl. LOL.

I am having my baby shower next weekend! After that I will know what I still need to buy and then will need to close out my registry, which has basically everything I still need on it. But that is mostly small things like crib sheets, clothes, bottles, etc. Other than that we just need to pick up the nursery furniture and set everything up but we are waiting until end of month to do that. I also need to order diaper service and have our appointment with the pediatrician - but he is picked and scheduled already. I also want to do professional maternity photos - but the photographer suggests doing it b/w 32-36 weeks so I think first half of january. Otherwise I think we are pretty on top of things. I got an extra car seat base and a graco snap and go stroller off craigslist this weekend for less than half price.

Oh I also want to get life insurance for me and DH - hopefully we will get that done before baby arrives!

We are taking an infant CPR class today.

Cindy

[Mainstream Hippie]

Originally Posted by Jenivere

What exactly does everyone have left to do that that two months isn't enough time? In one week I will Order my car seat base, birth supplies, diaper sprayer and finalize diaper plans and thats it.

Eesh, well a lot of it is non-birth related, but pushes birth related stuff.

Like, I need to get our tree up, finish holiday shopping, do holiday wrapping, organize everything for the charity that I am resigning from's board so I can hand that all over, both our families are in town so we end up celebrating Christmas 4 times- including our own family and with our best friends, my friend is having a baby around the new year I want to be very available to her, my kids have school and extracurricular activities, I try to volunteer at the school at least weekly, then there is finalizing my birth plans, discussing them with my doulas, cleaning the house, ordering my birth supplies, setting up the crib to sidecar, all of my appointments with my midwife, and my chiro, and muscle therapy, and pilates, and all the other stuff that comes up day to day. AND I want to do the hypnobabies home study!

So, it is mostly self-imposed, but there is a lot, and it is hard for me to prioritize.

[Mainstream Hippie]

I have seen my son's scrotum and penis multiple times on ultrasound, but am refusing to donate or sell my girl clothes until I see his stuff in "real life"!

I also need to look through more stored stuff. I haven't found my maya wrap yet...

OH! We also have 2 December birthdays to get through! I think I need to get shopping on those!

[Jenivere]

Well if you put it that way then yeah there is plenty left to do. I was just thinking strictly baby related. I didn't list pay the midwife but that needs to be done as well.

I need to do most of my Christmas shopping but it's not much really. I want my kitchen floor finished by Christmas. I have Christmas parties to go to and to bake for; have one this friday and two next week that I know of so far. I do need to buy baby socks but that will happen sometime soon. I'm on a mission to get the house in order but I can only do so much at a time. So yeah, there is other stuff. *shrug*

[justKate]

I love thinking about it in days! I've got somewhere around 65-70 left, I think. I'm really not ready for Baby in terms of stuff and arrangements, but i think it's some weird mental block I'm having. I just have this fear that if i put the crib together and move it into our room, open the car seat box, that sort of thing, then something will happen to baby. Is that weird? I mean there's no reason to think anything bad will happen... I guess the more prepared I am, the more heartbroken I will be if, God forbid, something happened and I couldn't bring her home. I guess I need to get over that. My parents are coming to visit on Thursday, so maybe that will help. I dunno.

I guess all of the preparation will get done in time.

[Mamato2]

We were looking at beds today at Ikea for my dd trying to figure out how to configure the rooms. Well, I've been thinking about it but its the first time my dh has . If we get her a daybed with drawers then the dresser can go to my son's room, she has a new bed (which she needs badly) and we should be good for a bit. It seems like most people I have talked to with 3 kids and 3 bedrooms do a fair bit of shuffling back and forth depending on who's sleeping etc. The baby will be with us for the first few months anyways but storage is a problem.

Ummm so is anyone else feeling a little over-sensitive and grumpy lately? Especially with the shopping crowds and all that I find I am opting to stay home most of the time. Not only do I get tired out from walking but I'm just feeling more uncomfortable, anxious, and less tolerant than usual. I was like this at the end of my other pregnancies, just wishing the hormones could have held off until after Christmas...

[Mal85]

I feel so far behind! I have about 80 days. I'm due at the very end of the month and hoping she comes right on time or a few days early. I'm really crossing my fingers for February babe. It's one of the very few months out of the year that isn't completely cluttered with other family members' birthdays. March already has at least 3 birthdays I can think of.

80 days seems so long, but I know the time will fly. Christmas is less than 3 weeks away, my birthday is just 3 days later. We have friends coming into town for two weeks over the holidays, which always makes time fly. I have showers in January. I go back to school January 13, taking 18 credit hours and get to quit my job! I'm fairly certain all these things will make the time go by very quickly. I'm ready for this babe to be in my arms!

I have much left to do, but I've put it on hold until after Christmas. We're low on funds, first of all and barely able to get the gifts we've gotten so far. Plus, my mom is giving us money for Christmas to get baby stuff, so I'm waiting to get that. I also have 3 showers planned for me in January, so I hate to buy much until I know what I have.

On another note, I have been in pain this week. I feel very sore in my upper abdomen and it's hard to do anything that flexes my ab muscles, especially sitting up and reaching up for things. It hurts when she moves too...

[Queen of my Castle]

I'm with you, Jenivere. I don't really feel like I have so much to do. As far as baby stuff, I have to sort through clothes and re-wash diapers. That's it, and I probably won't do that until February! I have some bigger goals non-baby related, some to do with house renovations, but those are on a moving time frame, and the baby will come if they get done or not. Mostly I'm trying to relish my 'independence', enjoy my kids and try to enjoy the winter.

Originally Posted by tomsTXmom

I had a friend who would only ever give vague generalities about when her baby was due ("Around mid-February..."). I thought this was brilliant for natural onset births. This time around, I'm just going with "around Valentines Day." It's a mental game for me to be patient!

I always say, 'the end of February'. My due date is the 24, but I got frusterated at the end last time with prodromel and false labour, so I'd like to avoid that.

Some of you were talking birth stories before. I certainly enjoy reading them still, because I'm interested in pregnancy and birth. I'm not doing research for my own, last pregnancy I ate them up like candy. I just really love birth, so it's always interesting to me.

Somebody said in the previous weeks' thread that they realized they weren't going to 'find' their birth in others stories. While this may be true, I would encourage you to visualize your own birth scenarios. With my first I was scared to dream a 'perfect' birth, then I did some reading and decided to go ahead and practice visualizing my perfect birth, as well as countless other scenarios and my possible reactions. The point wasn't to become set on this certain flow of events, but to visualize it in a positive way, look forward to it and dream about it. And playing through different scenarios helps to imagine some of your reactions if certain situations come up; hopefully diminishing any potential dissapointment if things don't go as 'planned'. I don't know, I spend a lot of time dwelling on birth, and so far my births have been better than my anticipations.

[nighten]

Originally Posted by Mal85

On another note, I have been in pain this week. I feel very sore in my upper abdomen and it's hard to do anything that flexes my ab muscles, especially sitting up and reaching up for things. It hurts when she moves too...

PSA, because I had no clue until this week, but apparently upper abdomen pain (especially if it occurs after eating a fattening meal) can indicate gallbladder issues.

You might want to mention it to your m/w or OB, just to be safe.

Sorry you're uncomfortable.

---

I'm depressed. Just overwhelmed and depressed, and have a ton of stuff to do between now and when the new baby arrives. And my husband is being clueless and my mom is being defensive. When I asked her for help with my toddler, she took it in a weird way, as if I were implying she isn't always willing to help. Oh for the love of Pete. I ended up bawling on the phone saying I was just trying to ask for some help.

My mother and her guilt !@#% trips. I wish I hadn't talked to her at all now.

[k13]

Eek, moms are good at those guilt trips, eh? Sigh...

I love reading birth stories too... for me it is all about trusting that what will be will be - never will you be in a situation in your life where you so much just have to let go! I believe what happens is meant to happen, it will only make me stronger/teach me something. With parenting in general I've finally figured out that every time I think I have it figured out something inevitably will happen to remind me that I don't. I'm not traditionally religious but I think it helps to have faith in fate or the universe and to not take it like some personal challenge that I have failed if things don't go the way I think it should! Easier said than done of course

I am feeling pretty overwhelmed with holiday shopping (and no $) and having to get all my homebirth supplies by early January as well. I'm not too worried about whether I have exactly everything I need as far as baby gear. I'm pretty minimalist and I figure if there's something we need DH can run to the store!

I have two showers planned for me in January (one by family, one by friends). Hopefully I don't go into early labor so I can make it to both of them!

[Queen of my Castle]

Originally Posted by nighten

I'm depressed. Just overwhelmed and depressed, and have a ton of stuff to do between now and when the new baby arrives. And my husband is being clueless and my mom is being defensive. When I asked her for help with my toddler, she took it in a weird way, as if I were implying she isn't always willing to help. Oh for the love of Pete. I ended up bawling on the phone saying I was just trying to ask for some help.

My mother and her guilt !@#% trips. I wish I hadn't talked to her at all now.

Oh, I'm sorry! My mom sometimes has a weird way of saying things too, and they just get under my skin sometimes, even though we have a great relationship. I just have to let it slide off...like water on a duck's back...but it really irks me because I feel like I have to have my mom's approval. Actually, as I mature I am seeking my mom's approval less and less. Anyway- I hope you can work it out or just forget about it.

I'm sorry you're feeling down too- this can be a tough time of year, and you're already fragile and busy with preparing for a new babe. Can you do something special for yourself? Like go on a fun date with your toddler, go shopping by yourself, get out for some exercise? Nutritionally, can you take some supplements to help fight depression? I'm taking a B complex, fish oil and kyolic garlic, I indulge in sweets (especially dark chocolate) and I've found I need to get fresh air and sunshine, and time to myself. I feel like it's especially important to fight off depression this year- winter is hard on me (long and cold and dark), being at home with the kids can get tiring and feeling isolated, preparing for a new baby can be so overwhelming, even mentally, and I need to head into the postpartum period with as positive state as possible.

This morning it's very cold here- -20C, but it's sunny and brilliant. The whole house is static-y because our wood stoves are going, and my skin is dry and irritated but I don't want to shower because it will make it worse. I need to go grocery shopping but it's too cold and I don't have any money- and of course the house seems cluttered and unorganized- so things are getting pitched into the trash as I come across them! What to do... I know- soup day! Make some soup for the week :-)
Oh- and I've joined the non-sleeping club. It so sucks. Does it go away again? I figure I'm a few weeks behind a lot of you, and you were all mentioning this a little while ago. I think I need more exercise- but a few days of tossing and turning all night, with RLS going nuts it miserable!\

And I'd just like to report- my dh is actually (for the first time in our marraige) turning me down for lovin' time cuz he's just so friggin' satisfied (and tired). This whole 'deal' is working out well.

[Larissa]

I got a ton done today!!

I cleared out the storage space in the changing table. Moved Jonathan's clothes to a drawer in the boys dresser - after having cleared a drawer in their dresser and Stored a bunch of summer clothes.
Then I washed all the baby clothes and put them away under the changing table.
We also did a couple days worth of school in one day, so that we can take Thursday and Friday off for middle son's birthday and dh's graduation!!!

I now have to take my 6 bags of baby boy clothes and store them somewhere until I know for certain that this baby is a girl.

I love productive days!

[MomtoXane]

I am very pleased to announce that it's been a whole week and I haven't been sick!! Seven months of morning sickness is entirely too long, lol. Finally got my blood sugars managed as well.

70 days to go!!

I fired my OB! I mentioned how she wants me to start BPP/NSTs twice a week at 32 weeks. Well today she told me how she prefers inductions and c/s for her "at risk" patients. I heard some very concerning reports about her at a BF support group meeting this weekend. One being that she only delivers in the lithotomy position! That was more than enough reasons for me to just switch. I got a few recommendations from the LLL leader and I see the new OB in two weeks.

[CandyApple]

I'm running a little behind in the thread - but I'm at 59 days today! I can't believe it.

Quick question - anyone's hands falling asleep when you're in a deep sleep? This has happened the last 2 nights. I'm not worried, just curious.

[CandyApple]

Way to go mamatoXane - thats great that you're feeling better and you were able to make the switch and didn't have to stick with that OB. I hope the new one is awesome for you!

[Larissa]

About the hands -
I get pregnancy induced carpel tunnel with every baby. It starts with my hands falling asleep at night. I have to keep them in certain positions to manage it. As I get further along it progresses to falling asleep and being very painful. I eventually have to wear wrist braces on both hands all night long to manage it. It's the worse part about pregnancy for me. At this point, I don't have pain. . . just the hands falling asleep. I'd love for it to stay that way . . . and not progress to pain, but only time will tell.

[k13]

I'm tired today and suddenly having a lot of Braxton Hicks. Guess it's time for me to take it easier. :yawning:

[nighten]

MomtoXane, that's great! Congrats on both counts. :-)

Queen, thanks for the tips. I take flax oil, and B vitamins, but not the garlic, and the dark chocolate -- ah, that will surely help.

To clarify, my mom's response isn't about wording. It's about guilt. And the issue is about how she is doing things for me that she thinks I need help with instead of what I genuinely need help with. And when I try to ask her for what I actually need help with (which I'm not comfortable doing to begin with -- I don't like having to ask for help at all), she makes me feel guilty for rejecting the bit she thinks is what I "really" need. It's not about approval; it's about her being supportive in a way that is truly helpful.

Which she's normally okay about but lately it's just gotten out of hand is all. :-/ Anyway. It was just a hard couple of days. Everyone has those. I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed is all. Sorry for whining.

[CandyApple]

Originally Posted by Larissa

About the hands -
I get pregnancy induced carpel tunnel with every baby. It starts with my hands falling asleep at night. I have to keep them in certain positions to manage it. As I get further along it progresses to falling asleep and being very painful. I eventually have to wear wrist braces on both hands all night long to manage it. It's the worse part about pregnancy for me. At this point, I don't have pain. . . just the hands falling asleep. I'd love for it to stay that way . . . and not progress to pain, but only time will tell.

Thanks Larissa - I hope it doesn't progress further for you this time, or for me either. I noticed some weird sensation in my left arm the other night, but I've never had carpel tunnel, and wouldn't expect it in my left side, so I didn't think much of it. I take it that there is not much we can do to keep it at bay? I might try to do a little research, the falling asleep part doesn't bother me, but I'd rather not deal with any other aches and pains at this stage of the game!

On a good note, I just got the call for our first snow day - YEAH! : I'm so excited, I'm going to pry myself from the warm couch and computer and get some wrapping done before the boys wake up. Then I'll be free to spend the whole day playing and baking with them, at least until nap time when we'll all crash together. I just love snow days, they're like free day - no prior obligations.