Baby in the Bajingo ~ TTC #1 In Our 30's Graduates ~ Spring 2011

[birdie.lee]

 Welcome Bajingo Juice Club Graduates! 

This thread is an extension of TTC #1 In Our 30's.

We are the ladies of the BJC who have gotten our BFPs.

All due dates are welcome.

Are you pregnant, in your 30's, and weren't involved in the BJC?  Welcome and please join us!

Let's keep in touch during our pregnancy journeys.

The more the merrier!

Due July 2011:

26 ~ LivingSky, BFP after 7 months, expecting a boy!

31 ~ meander, BFP after 13 months and 2 m/c, expecting a boy!

Due August 2011:

04 ~ Tear78, BFP through IVF after 2.5 years and 3 losses, expecting a girl!

Due September 2011:

27 ~ ValH, 31, BFP after 13 cycles, expecting a boy!

Due October 2011:

30 ~ Hykue, BFP after 4 (spread out) months trying and one miscarriage

31 ~ tank, 29, BFP after 16 months, expecting a boy!

Due November 2011:

17 ~ cristinimartini, 30, BFP after 4 months of trying (2 of charting)

21 ~ birdie.lee, 31, BFP after 12 months, expecting a delivery surprise!

Congratulations 2011 Mamas!

Blanca78, Elonwy

Edited by birdie.lee - 6/14/11 at 11:33am

[birdie.lee]

Hi ladies!  I hope you find me over here. :)

I thought it might be nice to have a list of our due dates and our ages.  If you want to, I could put something about how long it took for you to get your BFP?

I'm new to this threadkeeping so I am making it up as I go along.

[ValH]

Birdie - Great idea!!  Please add me - due September 27, 2011; BFP after 13 cycles of trying at age 31. 

[cristinimartini]

Hi BJC Ladies!!!

Birdie, thanks for starting this thread! And Val, thank you for sending me the link to it...

You can add me to the list! EDD: 11/17/11; BFP after approx. 4 months of trying (2 of charting). EDIT: Forgot to add that I'm 30 now, 31 at delivery.

I'm 7w4d today and I had to break down this weekend and buy a belly band and two "maternity tanks" in addition to pants that are two sizes up from my usual size. According to my first official prenatal appointment on Friday, I've only gained one pound from my visit a month before. I feel like I'm 20 pounds heavier though. I also have this neurotic thought that everyone can tell I'm preggo now. I don't mind at all...I just can't let the people at work find out yet!

Can I ask you ladies a question? Are you getting the NT scan? I initially signed the paperwork to NOT get one and my doctor cocked his head at that and said "Oh! You're NOT getting the scan?" like I was some kind of freak for saying no. I told him I didn't have any family history and I didn't think I needed it. He said "those are the people that SHOULD get the scan". So I was consufed...but I ended up re-signing the paperwork and opted for the scan and genetic counseling. I'm nervous already. It's also scheduled for Friday, May 13th! The only good thing is, I'll get to see the baby again! Otherwise I wouldn't have another u/s until 20 weeks.

Hope you all are doing well!!!

[Ramzubo]

So wanted to say good idea for the thread Birdie.

Hope to be in here soon and happy XX months to all!

[birdie.lee]

Hi!  I'm glad you found me here. :)  I hope I got all the information right on the first post.  If not, please let me know.  I will use pregnant brain as an excuse.

Cristini ~ I also feel like I'm getting huge.  My thighs are bigger I think.  I haven't gotten any maternity clothes though.  I have some 'fat' clothes that I kept after I lost weight with the intention to have them be maternity clothes.  I don't know about the NT scan.  I have a midwives appointment next week, my first, and I guess I'll be getting an ultrasound.  It is at a birth center, I don't really like it there, but I want an ultrasound to check and make sure everything is okay, then I am transferring care to a homebirth midwife.

Hi Val!

Hi Ram!  Hope you join soon!

[meander]

Thanks for the thread, birdie! (And Val, thanks for the heads up!)

My general info: BFP after 13 months and 2 m/c, due 7/31/11 'officially'

cristini: Here's more info than you could possibly want. I have trouble stopping typing when I get going! I did the NT scan--but I'm 38, so rather higher risk factors from age alone, with 2 m/c in a row and I had had some severe bleeding early on so this pregnancy was classified as 'threatened' too. I was completely convinced something was going to go wrong again, so part of the reason I wanted the scan was to make sure things really were going okay in there...it did wonders for my peace of mind. The genetic counseling was sort of useful, in that it helped to get both DH and I together and piece together ALL the family history with someone who could ask the right questions. The extended u/s on a better machine was just awesome....I was honestly shocked at how personlike he looked at 12w. Lovely profile and everything. If it's stressing you more to think about getting it than not, then I would totally opt out. Ditto if you would feel more worried by an ambiguous result, the wait for the results, or just if dealing with statistics rather than actual facts makes you crazy. A lot of women get some serious stress involved when they get a 'positive' result, too...which may be something like 1 in 200 risk...and fret constantly until they get amnio results which are, 199 times out of 200, totally normal. Only you know how you'd take that! Also, ask your doctor to make sure insurance will cover it for you. Not all companies are the same, and yours may be much less stingy, but mine required either that I be over 35 or have a pressing medical reason for the scan. It would have been about $600 for me out of pocket.

(edited for tragic lack of paragraphs)

[tank]

Hey ladies

EDD Oct 31st after 16 months of trying.  I'm 29.

I am not getting any of the genetic testing done.  My midwife told me because of our family histories that we don't have a huge reason to test and when they do the 20 week U/S that they can see if anything looks fishy and if so they will do any testing then if they think its necessary. 

I feel like I am getting huge too and that people are starting to notice.  My belly is just starting to pop out.  I said this in the other thread too but I took my 1st belly pic on Sunday and hope to take one every week. 

[ValH]

cristini - I haven't gained any weight at all (actually was fluctuating down a little, but now back up to original weight), but I can now only button one pair of pants... guess it's redistrubuting.  Not that I'm complaining, I love my little pregnant belly!  I also LOVE my belly band and wear it every day.  Well, I have been... I've done a little maternity shopping and now have a pair of capri pants, black pants, and a couple of shirts.  Maternity clothes shopping is so much fun!  I think I might do some online shopping later today to see if I can find any good sales. 

As for the genetic testing/screening... we decided not to.  After some discussion with both my doctor and MW, we determined that whatever they found out would not affect the course that we would take with this pregnancy (meaning - we had no intention of terminating even if there was a genetic disorder).  With our health/family backgrounds and my relatively young age, we've decided only to do the 20 week u/s, no additional screenings unless deemed medically necessary later down the road. 

Here's a fun question for you... will you find out the gender of your baby??  Or if you're past that and did or did not, what were your reasons??  We're struggling with this right now... we have three weeks to decide!

[cristinimartini]

Wow! Thanks for all the replies ladies!!! I don't know how or what we'd do with a "positive" result. Our age (30- me, 31-hubs) plus our lack of family history, in addition to not knowing if our insurance will pay for it, all made me say "no thanks". I wish I had just stuck with my initial reaction. Since I'm so new to all of this, I felt like the doctor would push me in the right direction, and not just the way towards his wallet (if that's the case). Since we haven't told anyone yet, I really felt like it would be a great question for my sister who just had her baby on 3/13. *sigh*...I guess you live and learn?

As for gender, we're definitely going to find out. I think it will help everyone build a better relationship with the baby, not just me. Plus I'll know what to buy...and I don't think it takes anything away from the surprise at birth. I hope to be able to have the technician write down the gender on a piece of paper and seal it. Then have my grandmother read it out loud to everyone so we all find out together.

[tank]

I am going to find out the gender.  Since I am going to have a 20 week u/s and they will be able to see it I just don't see the point in not looking of having the u/s tec know and not me!  I'm not a gender specific person so I am not worried about buying the right stuff but I just don't see a reason for me to not find out.  For me finding out midway through the pregnancy is enough of a wait and still a suprise.

[birdie.lee]

Hi !!!

We are going to wait to find out the gender.  I want to be surprised!  Someone asked me today how will we know what to buy?  I said everything in green.  We aren't planning on buying much anyways.  I've always thought of that moment, it's a boy! or it's a girl!  I want to wait to know when it comes out of my hoohaa (thanks Boots for that terminology).

I am not going to get to see the babe on ultrasound next week as planned.  My new work has gone on some weird lockdown, no one is allowed personal time or sick time or calling in sick.  Mind you, we take care of children.  So you'd think that they would want someone sick to stay home to avoid spreading germs.  But no, money is more important.  I'm upset about it.

Can I get you ladies to send me some good job interview vibes tomorrow morning?  I have an interview for a part-time job over my lunch break.

Tank, you're vegan right?  Me too, but I am having massive meat and cheese cravings.  I am sort of having everything cravings.  I keep seeing this happy face miracle whip commercial on tv and all I want is that freaking ham and cheese sandwich.  I just ordered The Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook.  Just wondering how you are dealing with cravings if you are having any?

[tank]

Birdie I am actually not having any non vegan cravings.  I have been vegan for 12 years and I don't know if that has anything to do with it.  I think that anything I can think of that I want I love a vegan version of it or forget what it even tastes like so it doesn't matter if it is vegan.  My biggest fear with becoming pregnant has always been craving something non vegan though.  My cravings have been random the biggest one lately is ramen.  So not healthy.  So far I have had chocolate cravings at the beginning and I ate a tablespoon of chocolate chips when I got that craving and it worked well.  I have also really been wanting sandwiches and have been making a lot of fake bacon BLTs.  I normally don't eat any premade foods so this is really weird for me.  I am hoping that once I am done being so tired I will be motivated to cook healty meals again.  I had been cooking a lot out of appetite for reduction before I lost my energy so everytime I go to the store I buy tons of veggies to cook but then only end up eating sandwiches. 

[Hykue]

Hiya, ladies, please do add me

EDD October 30, 4 (spread out) months trying and one miscarriage.

Wow, I hit submit accidentally.  So now I'm editing.

Did you know, homebirth (with a trained attendant) actually has better outcomes than hospital birth?  Crazy, no?  I'm reading "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" (from my library), and it's really interesting.  A little shocking and a bit frightening, since I think I pretty much have to have a hospital birth, but still really interesting.  It's written by a doula, and the focus is on studies.  So it's pretty evidence-based.  I highly recommend that book to everyone.  I think it's also helpful for me because it helps me cement in my mind that there are REASONS I don't want all the interventions that scare me - they scare me because they're mostly pretty bad ideas.  Epidurals just sound like a really bad idea to me, because they put a needle in your spine.  A NEEDLE . . . in your SPINE.  That's a really bad idea in my books.  And, it turns out, it's actually a little bit risky, too.  Same with episiotomies, the last thing I want is someone to cut open . . . well, any part of me, really, and it turns out that they don't do any good.  They actually CAUSE the complications that they are supposed to help prevent.  That's what the studies say.  Ugh.  So now I'm really hoping against hope that when I ask about all of these things at the hospital, they'll tell me that they are totally not interested in doing any of those things unless I really think they should . . . and that they have low rates for all of them to back that up.  Or, failing that, that when I call the doula tomorrow she'll know of a great homebirth midwife in the area, with tons of experience and wonderful references.

Anyway, regardless of any of that, I'm sure looking forward to my ultrasound next week!  I'm feeling pretty hopeful maybe 75% of the time now, which is pretty good.

[cristinimartini]

Speaking of cravings and aversions...all I want is food I see on TV. Doesn't matter what it is. I want it. I think I just really want food that other people make. I don't have the energy to cook, but I do it anyway. I haven't had a real craving for anything, other than sushi, but when I do crave something I end up eating chocolate chips dumped into a container of peanut butter and then my "craving" goes away. I'm so weird.

I couldn't believe the scale at the doctor's office when it said I gained a pound. I thought for sure I was up at least 5. And since my clothes don't fit anymore (at 8 weeks?!) the low gain number was really not what I expected.

I was doing some reading online about pros and cons of finding out the gender. I did come across a good point. They said once people know the gender they buy you outfits instead of stuff you really need. I thought that was interesting...my first thought when I buy someone a gift for a baby shower is "What do they need?". I hardly ever buy clothes because you never know what size the baby will be. My sister was planning on a larger than average sized baby...well nothing fit because the kid was skinny and long. I guess you can never win...LOL

Hykue, I would love to have a homebirth, but I don't really have a home, I have an apartment, and I think that would be a little weird. Plus, I hate where I live :-(  We're considering buying a home, and if we end up with one before the baby is due, I wonder if I could switch over really quick to a midwife? I'd love to be able to use more natural methods of birthing, and from what I hear, hosipital births are the standard "on your back" method and that's it. I read where women in Europe hardly ever give birth on their back, but rather do it on all fours! There's less tearing they say...

Birdie, I'm sorry you won't be able to see your baby like you thought you would. Can you reschedule for a weekend? Even though I only have that one picture, it still makes me smile every time I see it. How did the interview go?

[ValH]

Hykue - I'm with you on the needle in the spine thing.  I plan on avoiding it if at all possible.  I'm leaving myself the option to change my mind if the pain gets to be too much, but in general, I hope to go med-free.  My sister has had two children, and the epidural did not work with either child... so she had the needle in her back for no reason.  And on top of that, she got the post dural puncture headache with the second child and was incapacitated for days.  So... call me a big fat scaredy cat, but I don't wanna do it! 

cristini - Good point about the clothes thing after you find out gender... people are less likely to buy clothes if you don't know the gender.  I know at my sister's shower, she had tons and tons of clothes.  And then the kid ended up being huge (10lb 5oz), so he couldn't wear half of the stuff she had gotten.  I always buy useful gifts and/or things off the registry. 

birdie - How'd the interview go??

I just tried on my altered bridesmaid dress, and it fits - yay!!  You can't even tell I'm pregnant in it, because it's an A-Line.  I'm kind of disappointed, I like wearing stuff where you can tell I'm pregnant.  Oh well, at leat I can show off my pregnant belly at the other wedding functions.

[birdie.lee]

Tank, thank you so much for sharing.  I have been vegan for about 6 years and normally I didn't not ever have cravings for non-vegan things.  I think I may be like Cristini, in that whatever I see on tv, I want to eat.  Coffee cake, sandwiches, pie, meatloaf, anything.  I think I am just hungry!  I am going to get some vegan thai food for dinner tonight, yum!

Val, thanks for asking about the interview.  I got the job!  I'll be working 25 hours a week and I am so incredibly thrilled.  I know my current work won't be happy with me leaving but I have a growing babe to think about.  Glad your bridesmaid dress fits!

Hykue, I'm also reading stuff about birth.  I am on the last couple chapters of Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and it is so interesting.  I am so hopping on the homebirth bandwagon.

[ValH]

birdie - CONGRATS on the new job!!! 

[birdie.lee]

Thanks Val!  I'm totally thrilled.  No job is perfect, but I feel a weight lifted off of me now that I do not have to work where I was.

Hope all you ladies have a wonderful weekend!

[birdie.lee]

I have a question 

What sort of prenatal vitamins do you take?

I take Rainbow Light vegan one-a-day prenatals.  I am also looking into getting a DHA-EPA supplement as well.