Daily Chat: April 6th

[nancy11]

Go.

[IncaMama]

early start to our day today (thanks, DD). DH is going into work today (he worked from home a lot last week "just in case"). but it's pretty clear that this little one is staying inside for a while, so he's going in.

DD and DS are already being really um..."high maintenance". *sigh*

we were invited to a big playgroup at a friend's house this morning, but i don't know if i have the energy.

[nancy11]

Didn't sleep.
Peanut Party all night.
Was very hot, had to remove clothing.
Tossed and turned.
At least my back doesn't hurt when I'm lying down. :-/

[MelW]

We've been up since 4:00 because I dared um.... sleep on my side? I know my kid can't be too sick anymore when she has the energy to throw a massive tantrum about my sleep position. She joined us in bed at 2:30 with a ton of drama about why I needed to pee before getting back into bed, and I guess woke up again when I shifted positions. And I had the *nerve* to tell her to leave me alone and let me sleep in whatever position I wanted. By the time I dug up the rescue remedy we were already into full screaming freak-out mode. I'm sure the neighbours are super-impressed...

She's almost back to sleep on the couch, so I'll head back to bed for a nap before morning if I can make it.

herbanmama, sorry about the bleeding. I hope everything resolves and you can have the relaxed homebirth that you want

Yesterday afternoon I got out to do some compost spreading and planting in some communal plots at our community garden. And also scrubbed the kitchen and bathroom- again. I feel like there is an endless cycle of housework that I'm trying to keep on top of, especially with the endless early labour.

I have plans today to go for lunch with co-workers. And also to finish up birthday stuff for my husband (I need to pick up a gift certificate that I've organized, plus buy some cake making ingredients), since his b-day is tomorrow. The rest of the week is pretty busy, too... but as I've said before I'll happily cancel everything if baby wants to make an appearance

[michanders4]

Good morning ladies . I think last night was the first night in a LONG time that I did not get out of bed :. I remember waking up at one point and just laying there and I figured I must be up because I had to pee. Then I discovered I was hot and was going to turn the fan on. I must have fallen back to sleep because as far as I remember I did not get up! I think I slept pretty well overall. With a few nights like these in here I can do this!!!!

Sorry to hear about your night MelW and Nancy.

I definitely had some weird dreams last night. I had another dream about this forum except this time it was about Wobblykate's husband - he decided to post instead of Kate and was writing the funniest things. I have no idea where this dream came from. Kate - does your DH intend on posting on here anytime soon?? . It probably came from my reading a post from Mischievium's husband yesterday. I think I need to stay off the loss board for awhile. I've been checking up on them every day and reading their posts and I think it's probably giving me more anxiety. I still just feel so terrible.

Well, I'm at work. Bleh. If I make it the whole week this will be my last week though :!

[Murph12334]

peanut party here too all night. Got some sleep going to try to get more in a bit here.
I'm so happy I didn't tell dh that I either pee'ed myself or waters breaking....cause I think it was just pee and I would have been so freaking embarassed!

[fairymom]

Morning. Good? eck- dunno yet.but this is the last (7am) I've slept in a looooong time. I think that had a lot to do w/being up till 2! Dh and I watched the movie Austriala (sp?-sorry still early). Good movie but long. Then we DTD and I had a constant CTX that wouldn't go away for like an hour w/4 or 5 small CTXs on top of it. God it hurt worse than labor. But no plug or bloody show after. Kinda hoping. But did relax enough to feel lo move so reassured me. Fell asleep in this and woke once to pee.

Woke to ds4 screaming at me to get him some to eat and drink! That the sun was up and I had to get up. I love my boy but his demanding is going to drive me over the edge! I hope it gets better after lo gets here and he has to learn to "share" mama and lo needs sometimes will come before his own. Right now he's the baby and can be spoiled rotten- but he is cute and starting to be helpful so I have to remember this before I drop him off on a farm somewhere . Yesterday he discovered he likes to wash his own dishes (actually does a really good job too) and to do other's too. I may be using this to my advantage!

No snow here! Its sunny and 30ish already so maybe today will be nice out. We don't have a lot of plans. I did teel my girls they could make pretzels in their easy bake ovens so that will be fun. They made brownies yesterday. No I didn't get a sample (GD) but one week and I will be able to "taste test" the things they make!

Off to get myself some breakfast.:

[fairymom]

I have discovered i am more talkative in the am, I am here often in the eve but don't post much. probably a little to do with dc waiting to get on behind me! and I feel rushed and HATE it when people read over my shoulder what i am writing!

Let see:
Work- yeah for the mommies almost done or on their last days.good luck to those still. I've been done since Feb. and am so bored right now I wish I could go in a few hours a week but being a server (waitress) its too hard physically.Not that i worked much before (15- 20 hrs/wk) but the extra money and getting out of the house away from dc was nice, sometimes.

Fullmoon- If the fullmoon is thur. nite and I am being induced early fri morn does that quailfy as a full moon baby? I had a feeling he'd be born very close to one. I always notice my dc start to act up a few days before one and it gets worse as it gets closer. Peeking on the full monn- lucky the los will be w/ex thsi time because of the induction and it being his we w/them so he'll get to deal and I get to get ready for the next day! Less stress is always good.

Dh told his boss this weekend I'll be induced on Fri. Dh is a cook in a breakfast place here. Well he reminded his boss that he's taking the week off after los born on Sun (boss has known this for like 3 months- so should not have been a surprise) but boss didn't put two and two together and Dh had to inform him he'd not be working Easter Morn! This is a big deal in the resturant biz- we talking about 7k in 6 hrs. Dh said he thought boss was going to have a heart attack when he realized! Startedto bang his head on his desk!

I have some sympathy for the man- Dh is his best cook they are short handed because of the economony and I know how crazy Easter is to work.But at the same time I don't he has been promising Dh a raise for like 9 months and nothing. And takes advantage of Dh's loyality and southern work ethic- something you don't find here in MN. I fear he'll convince DH to work it anyways and I'll be stuck in the hospital till DH gets off of work in the afternoon alone w/lo on Easter. Ok done w/the pity party. It'll work out how its sopposed to.

Can't wait to here about your days and nights and any new los!

[heatherweh]

Woke up to the sound of thunder; I was kind of hoping that the rainstorm might bring on labor, but no luck. I slept so well. Gawd, I've been up for 2 hours and am ready for a nap already. Still feeling like I have menstrual cramps, particularly in the morning and before bed, but nothing like ctx yet. Hmmm, DS surprised me right at 37 weeks last time and I was working full time until the birth, so I never had any impatience for baby to come or had to deal with waiting. It is kind of hard isn't it? This one will probably go the opposite way and I'll end up with a May baby.

[Peony]

Originally Posted by heatherweh

Hmmm, DS surprised me right at 37 weeks last time and I was working full time until the birth, so I never had any impatience for baby to come or had to deal with waiting. It is kind of hard isn't it? This one will probably go the opposite way and I'll end up with a May baby.

That's what I'm wondering. Both my girls came at 38 weeks, I'm 38 weeks now and waiting. This little voice inside my head says that this 3rd child just might stay in there till well after EDD just to spite me for the other earlier births.

[michanders4]

Originally Posted by heatherweh

Woke up to the sound of thunder; I was kind of hoping that the rainstorm might bring on labor, but no luck. I slept so well. Gawd, I've been up for 2 hours and am ready for a nap already. Still feeling like I have menstrual cramps, particularly in the morning and before bed, but nothing like ctx yet. Hmmm, DS surprised me right at 37 weeks last time and I was working full time until the birth, so I never had any impatience for baby to come or had to deal with waiting. It is kind of hard isn't it? This one will probably go the opposite way and I'll end up with a May baby.

When are you due? It must have been nice to not have to wait with DS! Yes, yes yes the waiting is hard!!!!

[ShineliketheSon]

Originally Posted by heatherweh

Hmmm, DS surprised me right at 37 weeks last time and I was working full time until the birth, so I never had any impatience for baby to come or had to deal with waiting. It is kind of hard isn't it? This one will probably go the opposite way and I'll end up with a May baby.

Yeah, I kinda feel the same way. DD was two weeks early and at this point I was miserable with cramps, ctx, and all sorts of signs... It's weird that I'm wishing to feel miserable...I just want things to get started and stay going here! I was working preggo with DD tilll the week before she came when I was sooo uncomfortable, maybe that has something to do with the dreaded waiting period this time, being a SAHM and this yucky weather here I've had more time to dwell on it.

Slept great, which is good but again wishing something were happening! My mood is really depressive today...snow on the ground, cold, nothing on the calendar, no baby signs, and DD has been an absolutly different child latley...testing every moment...I hope I get my energy and patience back after pp healing is over.

[webjefita]

Originally Posted by IncaMama

DD and DS are already being really um..."high maintenance". *sigh*

Anyone else worrying about how siblings are going to handle the transition? Any ideas of how to help them? I'm not worried too much about sibling rivalry, per se, just about our routines being turned upside down. My older DS is very sensitive to changes in the environment, routine, having people in our house, etc. I'm trying to prepare him for what the first month is going to be like. I'm telling him that having the baby is very hard work for mama and that I'm going to be resting in bed for about a week. I told him other people will be here to help take care of him and his brother, but they can come spend as much time with me in bed as they want to. I've told him that I have bought lots of convenient "snacks" that I will leave on the lower shelf of the pantry that they can get whenever they're hungry. That I will be carrying the baby constantly and will have to do everything with one hand (unless I'm wearing him/her) and that they can help carry the baby as much as they want, except when it's time to nurse. I've also tried to prepare them for what a baby is actually like, that they sleep and nurse and don't do much else, that they can't walk or talk or play or do anything interesting

Any other ideas would be appreciated. I know they're so excited about the baby and will love him/her to pieces, and maybe I shouldn't worry about something that may not happen, but their lives are going to be very different for awhile... and let's face it, a month is a long time for them.

Originally Posted by MelW

And also scrubbed the kitchen and bathroom- again. I feel like there is an endless cycle of housework that I'm trying to keep on top of, especially with the endless early labour.

ITA. I had the house *so clean* a month ago! Then lost all my energy. I had no idea I would be doing this kind of scrubbing again... this stuff should only need to be done 2x a year, I though! Is it just because my tolerance for dirt and dust is so low?!

Full moon on Thurs? I could definitely have this baby on THurs. The only downside is he/she would be sharing DH's birthday.

[emmaegbert]

ooh, a full-moon baby would be perfect, my mom gets here Thursday early evening!

Did anyone else hear and interesting report on NPR's Morning Edition today about workplaces that have policies allowing women to bring their babies to work with them? Apparently its very rare but there is growing interest in these programs.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=102774224

Too bad my job only sorta works that way (my "job" is that I am a PhD student... I guess I can bring baby as long as I am not teaching, but its going to be pretty darn hard for me to get anything done...). I am supposed to be starting an internship and I guess I should just go ahead and say that I'll be bringing baby with me when I return (I really need a few weeks off this time though. I took only a week off before I went back to classes w/ DS and it was too hard).

Good luck everyone. Its wonderful to read all the birth announcements and birth stories.

[Murph12334]

webj - i'm nervous about how dd will do. But I figure there is no way of telling with her until he's here. So i'm trying not to worry about it. I'm hoping she'll like to play with one of her own baby dolls

emmae - that is interesting about work places letting mom's bring baby. That would totally rock!

[webjefita]

The Moon's Effect on Natural Childbirth interesting read but have no way of knowing how accurate the info is.

And then another refuting it just for good measure.

[dawncayden]

Ds had a diarrhea accident last night, so there's THAT


I started having mild contractions last night around 7pm, and they lasted through the night. Lost more mucus plug, that wasn't just clear And walking around this morning, those contrax really opened me up, I'm feeling primed

[michanders4]

Yay Dawn, I hope this is it for you!!!!

[emmaegbert]

oh... and my DS has also been much more "high maintenance" lately. He's 4 1/2. It seemed to start a few months ago- I am sure some of it is developmental, but he's definitely old enough to be anticipating change and anxious about it. And of course, I am more tired and less patient too, so I am sure some of it is my perception of his behavior.

Here is what we have been trying to do as "preparation" for new baby (separate from the birth, which he's going to be at, since we're planning HB): We've talked a lot about babies and what they are like, and how the baby will be born, etc etc. I've told him LOTS and LOTS of stories of what he was like when he was a baby, and how we felt when he was born (of course, mostly funny and happy stories, and then some stories about things like how much he needed to nurse, how many diapers we had to change, etc). He has his own washline and has been the one hanging up the baby's clothes when we do laundry. (today there wasn't any in the wash and he looked at his basket and said, "what about baby clothes?"). We packed HIS birth center blankets into the birth supplies to be the baby's first receiving blankets. He has some disposable cameras and he will be taking pictures and a friend will be helping him make his own photo book of the birth. He's also going to make a "birthday cake" with either my mom or a neighbor the first day to share with the family.

The main worry DS has expressed is that he doesn't want the baby to nurse (luckily he doesn't get a say in that decision). I have tried to just validate his feelings, while staying clear that the baby WILL nurse as much as it needs to. I think its more his way of expressing anxiety about being displaced, because he has always been very attached to me. (though he hasn't nursed since right around when he turned 2!).

The best thing I think is that my mom will be here for up to 5 weeks (less if we don't need her!) mostly to help with daily life but just to make sure my son is getting lot of one-on-one attention and just help with the transition to a new set of routines. We have a variety of family promising to visit in the first 2 months or so, and I want to be sure DS gets to do special, baby-free things.

And, this isn't exactly preparation, but I also want to make sure I set aside some special time with DS every day- even if its just 15 minutes reading a book or something, but some time where I am NOT also dealing with the baby and he can have me focused on him. As soon as I am ready I will also make sure to have a "date" with him, where we do something out of the house together (even if its an hour or something), and I want to be sure I do that with each of the kids at least once or twice a week. I remember how nice that was as a kid, to have a little special time with one parent at a time, where they weren't paying attention to the needs of other kids, or chatting with other adults.

[wobblykate]

Originally Posted by nancy11

Didn't sleep.
Peanut Party all night.
Was very hot, had to remove clothing.
Tossed and turned.
At least my back doesn't hurt when I'm lying down. :-/

Very hot here, too. I don't think I'm going to be liking that at night too long. Is it too much to ask for the weather to be exactly the way I want it? 72 during the day and 40 at night?

Originally Posted by MelW

We've been up since 4:00 because I dared um.... sleep on my side? I know my kid can't be too sick anymore when she has the energy to throw a massive tantrum about my sleep position.

How DARE you? Glad she's feeling better

Originally Posted by michanders4

Good morning ladies . I think last night was the first night in a LONG time that I did not get out of bed :.

I definitely had some weird dreams last night. I had another dream about this forum except this time it was about Wobblykate's husband - he decided to post instead of Kate and was writing the funniest things. I have no idea where this dream came from. Kate - does your DH intend on posting on here anytime soon?? . It probably came from my reading a post from Mischievium's husband yesterday. I think I need to stay off the loss board for awhile. I've been checking up on them every day and reading their posts and I think it's probably giving me more anxiety. I still just feel so terrible.

Hmm...I don't think he's planning to post...he would likely be shocked by many of the topics of discussion. He absolutely hates the terms "mucous plug" and "bloody show"

Originally Posted by fairymom

Right now he's the baby and can be spoiled rotten- but he is cute and starting to be helpful so I have to remember this before I drop him off on a farm somewhere

If they weren't so cute they wouldn't survive!!

Originally Posted by fairymom

Dh told his boss this weekend I'll be induced on Fri. Dh is a cook in a breakfast place here. Well he reminded his boss that he's taking the week off after los born on Sun (boss has known this for like 3 months- so should not have been a surprise) but boss didn't put two and two together and Dh had to inform him he'd not be working Easter Morn! This is a big deal in the resturant biz- we talking about 7k in 6 hrs. Dh said he thought boss was going to have a heart attack when he realized! Startedto bang his head on his desk!

I have some sympathy for the man- Dh is his best cook they are short handed because of the economony and I know how crazy Easter is to work.But at the same time I don't he has been promising Dh a raise for like 9 months and nothing. And takes advantage of Dh's loyality and southern work ethic- something you don't find here in MN. I fear he'll convince DH to work it anyways and I'll be stuck in the hospital till DH gets off of work in the afternoon alone w/lo on Easter. Ok done w/the pity party. It'll work out how its sopposed to.

This sound sooo familiar. My dad was a line cook in a pancake house when I was growing up and my mom waited tables at the same place. They were eternally taken advantage of because they were responsible and reliable. The boss told my mother on more than one occasion that if she didn't like it, she could leave because "waitresses are a dime a dozen." Which she should have called his bluff on because it would have taken 3 people to replace the amount of work she did, but it's hard to take those kind of risks when you have a family to feed.

Originally Posted by heatherweh

Hmmm, DS surprised me right at 37 weeks last time and I was working full time until the birth, so I never had any impatience for baby to come or had to deal with waiting. It is kind of hard isn't it? This one will probably go the opposite way and I'll end up with a May baby.

yes, the waiting is excruciating...and the longer you wait the more you have to deal with not only your own angst, but the inane questions of everyone around you..."no baby, yet?" Actually, yes, I had the baby and stuffed a basketball under my shirt and left the baby home alone with the cat to fool you.

Originally Posted by emmaegbert

Did anyone else hear and interesting report on NPR's Morning Edition today about workplaces that have policies allowing women to bring their babies to work with them? Apparently its very rare but there is growing interest in these programs.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=102774224

My old job was like this. Well, as long as you could 'okay' it with the direct supervisor. Our work place was supposedly child and pet friendly, but if your supervisor was a pill, then she could make it difficult (like mine did).

Originally Posted by dawncayden

Ds had a diarrhea accident last night, so there's THAT


I started having mild contractions last night around 7pm, and they lasted through the night. Lost more mucus plug, that wasn't just clear And walking around this morning, those contrax really opened me up, I'm feeling primed

whoo hooo! (for the cx, not the diarrhea).

I am feeling nothing...just one happy baby twitching around with no plans of moving. I'm shooting for that full moon. If it can pull the ocean tides, why not my baby?!?!

Slept okay last night, other than stumbling to the bathroom about 8 times. This bladder thing is getting OLD.