are you treating yourself/baby to anything this pregnancy?

[ScarletBegonias]

i saw a similar thread in another ddc, and i thought it would be fun!

we are on a pretty tight budget, and we also have pretty much every and anything we need baby-wise, but there are a couple things i want and kind of need:

- a baby sling (i sold my maya ring sling), i'd like to try a stretchy wrap, i could just get an infant insert for my ergo, but i like slings for little babies more
- organic cotton flat-fold dipes (pf's and snap dipes are so thick and hard to wash)
- prenatal yoga classes (a bf works at a yoga studio, so i can get a discount)
eta: i decided to rent a few prenatal dvd's from netflix and find one or two i like and just do yoga at home
- a few really cute long skirts (i'm making a couple of them)
- comfy sandals like some strappy naots (my birks bit the dust this summer)

eta: i'd like a birth ball, maybe a birth pool, a moses basket and lambskin - i'm dreaming really big here!

care to fantasize with me?

[othersomethings]

regular pedicures.

I started making my own carriers after DD was born, and did the woven wrap when she was really little, but then became a Mei Tai freak and have adapted my own pattern, I think I'm finally on one that I truly love. Can't wait to try it with a tiny baby!!!

[chattyprincess]

hmmm great question...

a 180 as far as eating is concerend...I eat a more tf diet (no ferments or soakings....yet...)

a better knowledege of how to care for myself!

Regular consistent excersise

pedicures

a sling

cloth diapers, probably a mix of g's and grobabies...

[maranapanda]

A home birth!!!! Its my first. I had a consult with my midwife yesterday, and her package includes all the usual plus a few extra...
~a new birthing pool
~a doula, of my choice, she'll set up a few to interview if I want one
~a belly casting kit
~all visits can be done in my home, including ultrasounds, if I want them

I've never done a belly casting, and as this is my last pregnancy I think its a really good idea! I was worried about the added cost of a doula, or if I would even want one, as my mw worked as one for 12 years, and has DONA certified 780 doulas.

Aside from that my dream list for baby would be...
~an amber necklace
~a sheepskin
~a handmade wooden rattle

[Terrilein]

I got rid of so many things when I moved last winter and before meeting DP. the only thing I'm sure I have are my two slings. We might be able to get his brother's cloth dipes if they haven't sold them yet. But really that's no biggie. What I absolutely must have this time is a doula and birthing in a breastfeeding friendly hospital this time. I don't want to repeat the catastrophe I experienced at the hands of lazy tech-freaks. A home-birth would be my absolute fantasy, but I just don't see it happening for me.

[mamakaikai]

My thing will be clothes!! I don't care if i buy them second hand, but I will be wearing clothes that feel like me this pregnancy! Last time I bought and was gifted from the standard maternity wear shop and felt uncomfortable and not myself the whole time.

Postpartum too! I delayed getting clothes that fit me for a multitude of reasons. This time, I will wear clothes that fit and work with my body and style.

also, my wish list:
~ new clothe diapers
~a Mei Tei
~ Moses basket on a stand
~ big sister book for dd
~ Haircut the month before due date
~ Pedicure, never had one professionally, but it will be summer and all!


I still have some really great things from dd, so that makes it easier.

[krisalee]

I'd like to do a belly cast this time around. I did one with my 5th child, and love it.

I'll need new Maternity clothing and baby clothing- I gave/sold everything after my last as I thought we were done.

[michellebelle]

This time around I am definitely getting a doula...for a VBAC I think that's an absolute must.

I only had a bjorn for DS and I really want a sling for this baby, and also a co-sleeper. We had DS with us in a basinette for a few months, but after he outgrew the weight limits we only occasionally co-slept. I would like this new babe to share our bed with us much longer.

[Juise]

Things are extremely tight for us right now, so I'm not sure all of these things can actually happen, but what I would *like* if I can manage it:

Originally Posted by mamakaikai

My thing will be clothes!! I don't care if i buy them second hand, but I will be wearing clothes that feel like me this pregnancy!

All of my maternity clothes last time came from hand-me-downs or some things I bought on clearance. There were a couple things that were okay, just not really what I would normally like to wear, but most were just, excuse me, but.. god-awful-butt-ugly. Ugh! I absolutely hated it! But I also felt too guilty to buy things that you only wear for such a relatively small period of time. I wish I had! I could have then, now I can't, I probably shouldn't at all, but I want to feel better about myself this time, so I will definitely be browsing the second-hand stores.

I would really like a ring sling, too. I had a variety of different hand-me-down slings for DD, all of which she hated, and even a new moby wrap my sister-in-law gave to us, which DD also hated. She was a little more open to letting DH wrap / sling her, but I was. not. allowed. to. I tried so hard! I still carried her all the time, I just couldn't have my hands free I am really hoping this baby lets me wear them instead of carry them all the time

I would love to be able to have a water birth although I'm not yet sure how to figure that one out.

An amber necklace for the new LO, DD is still wearing hers.

A pre-natal yoga class would be so awesome, but I just don't see that one coming anywhere near happening for me

[maranapanda]

Originally Posted by Juise

A pre-natal yoga class would be so awesome, but I just don't see that one coming anywhere near happening for me

I have a dvd that I use, it fits nicely into my no budget!

Also, I wanted to agree with the whole hand me down clothes thing. I felt like another person, a boring person, in my clothes the last two times. I also feel bad buying clothes that I can only wear a few months. Must hit the 2nd stores... Good luck to all of us in this area!

[TopHat]

I'm treating myself to a Birthing from Within Class. Based off the cost of my last UP/UC (less than $100) I figure we're probably saving enough that it shouldn't hurt to spend a few hundred on a birthing class.

[Surfacing]

More exercise

Eating wisely

MEDITATION

Carving out a space for myself, reclaiming my Mama Power

I want to find a new group of Mamas to socialize with IRL. Our group of friends in our community (that dh and danced with for years and years) hold very different politics and parenting than we do. I don't find a lot of support there if/when we are having co-sleeping troubles (they say just CIO). They are also much more independent from their children which, while I envy their ability and time to do the things they love, I'm not sure they have a great close loving relationship with their children. Like I wonder how things are going to look when we hit the teen years and beyond. So airing my frustrations to them about lack of me time is met with, "Well why don't you just come back dancing again?" I'm still nursing dd2. "Why? She's almost 2 y.o. Give it up!" While I don't think we all need to have the same beliefs and same parenting style, and I feel confident in my choices, it's just not the type of response that really helps. YK?

I'll be hitting 2nd hand shops for clothes too! ScarletBegonias - I hear you on the NAOTs. We have a store near us that has a discount wall. I have the most gorgeous pair of green and copper mules. $60. Love it! It's so nice you are sewing for yourself too. I would like to do so but have to RECLAIM A SPACE FOR MY SEWING MACHINE!

[welsh]

Originally Posted by Juise

All of my maternity clothes last time came from hand-me-downs or some things I bought on clearance. There were a couple things that were okay, just not really what I would normally like to wear, but most were just, excuse me, but.. god-awful-butt-ugly. Ugh! I absolutely hated it! But I also felt too guilty to buy things that you only wear for such a relatively small period of time. I wish I had! I could have then, now I can't, I probably shouldn't at all, but I want to feel better about myself this time, so I will definitely be browsing the second-hand stores.

I would really like a ring sling, too. I had a variety of different hand-me-down slings for DD, all of which she hated, and even a new moby wrap my sister-in-law gave to us, which DD also hated. She was a little more open to letting DH wrap / sling her, but I was. not. allowed. to. I tried so hard! I still carried her all the time, I just couldn't have my hands free I am really hoping this baby lets me wear them instead of carry them all the time

I recommend a padded ring sling. DS hated lying flat in it though. Only wanted to be upright. He'd face outwards with his legs folded like a little yogi sometime around 12 wks. We'd have a short daily neighborhood stroll and it was the only time he was happy not on the boob!

What saved my pregnancy wardrobe last time was cheap costume jewellery.
I had a basic wardrobe of say; black pants, brown pants, couple of neutral skirts. Lots of camis and tshirts with low v necks to accentuate the great cleavage (!) .
I'd layer them and then add a big chunky necklace for some colour.
Oh and I always made time for make-up. Made a big difference to how I felt about myself.
Good thing about summer babies - birkenstocks!!! Mine will be on my feet from May-September! I have a white pair and a bronze pair and I don't care what they look like, they're so comfy!

[welsh]

My Wish List

New sling (I lost 50 lbs from my pre-pg weight so gave my old one away as it got too big)
Regular haircuts
Healthy diet (more challenging here than it was in the US last pregnancy)
Enjoy DS while it's 'just us'
Monthly date night with DH
A changing table to save my back. Just the cheap Ikea one will do!

[wavybrains]

A woven wrap! I'm calling it my "birth" wrap. I'm going to get a wrap and take it with me to the birth and use it for comfort, pulling on, dangling from, etc. Ever since I heard from a local mama who did a birth wrap I've planned to do that.

My best friend will be our doula, but depending on what birth option I choose, we may add a second doula which would fall into the "treat" range.

I'll be treating myself to all the produce and fresh foods I need all winter long, which is a luxury in the cold months, but a necessary one.

I am also considering getting a membership to be able to swim whenever I want. I swam a lot with DD and it was such amazing stress relief especially at the end--I just spent hours in the pool. It would be a splurge, but perhaps one that would pay off in the long run.

I HATED my late pregnancy wardrobe. Just hideous. I'll be adding some pieces, but it will be all clearance/second hand/begging from friends.

[expat-mama]

wow...these are all great ideas!
I have no idea what I will want or need. But I am planning on joining a prenatal yoga class and if I can find a good one, a meditation class that will hopefully help prepare me a bit for a natural birth.
Also, I'm a consultant so I work on a contractual basis and DH and I have been talking about me stopping or cutting down on work a few months earlier than planned (maybe January!) which I think I will LOVE and will help me be less of a stress ball while I'm roasting this turkey.
And I guess I'm buying a lot more organic stuff which is really expensive here so that's a big treat.
And I have been planning on buying a new pair of birks (the flip-flop kind) anyway, so that will be a treat.
ETA: oh yeah, and a new camera and video camera!

[veesmimi]

Great ideas

My "baby" is almost 5, so you know all my baby stuff is sent to the four winds. The only thing I NEED for my baby is a sling. I had a padded ring with dd (who is 9 1/2 now!) and my mom bought a new one for ds, but I prefered the original... I wonder who has that old thing....

I checked online and am blown away at how costly my fav sling is now... and the fabrics aren't nearly as cute. A neighbors trick-or-treated with their tiny 2yo and the dad was carrying the baby boy, about 4months now. I told them to go buy a sling!

I'm all joyous inside thinking about my new little one in a sling. How I've missed that! I felt a little like Linus with mine, all the many,many things you can do with it!

[ScarletBegonias]

a question for all the mamas who get pedicures while pg: doesn't the chemical smell bother you or do you go to an all-natural salon?

i would probably puke all over the person doing my pedi, and have a headache for days from the strong chemical smells in the nail salon. i don't know if i could even hack the natural ones.

[veesmimi]

I have turned and walked out of nail salons that have the chemical smell-- that was when I was NOT pregnant! Splurging the extra 5-10 bucks for a pedi at a dayspa, where they do more services than nails, would be a good bet. I have a nail place near me that is vigilant about ventilation. We're not fortunate enough to have an all natural place. But I say spend the extra bucks on the nicer place, no need to inhale and worry when you are treating yourself!

Maybe we should start piggy banks to collect for our spring/summer time toes!

[chattyprincess]

I agree, go to a nicer day spa. If that is out of the question (most in this area are at least 30 or more dollars expensive!) Take the earliest morning appt. you can get!