Baby in the Bajingo ~ TTC #1 In Our 30's Graduates ~ Spring 2011 - Page 5

[LivingSky]

ValH: Glad your back pain is mostly gone away! And don't worry about not buying stuff yet - I'm due almost exactly 2 months ahead of you and two months ago, I had not one single baby thing yet. We had our (first) baby shower on April 10th so that was what started the baby stuff collecting.

My parents arrived last night and I now have some idea of the scope of baby clothes that we have. I was all worried because I don't really have any friends with young children, so I thought getting hand me downs was going to be a problem. Silly me! My mom has collected stuff from everyone she knows (and their kids and grandkids!) and I think I have 2 or 3 outfits for every day of the first two years of baby's life! Holy macro! I don't know where I'm going to put all this stuff. And a lot of it is brand new or worn only once or twice. At least we're well prepared no matter what the weather out here decides to do this year! We have outfits for pretty much every situation.

I sure hope the ultrasound tech was right about it being a boy though, because we do seem to have ended up with a lot of boy stuff!

Now to finally decide on a car seat and stroller, and go buy those!

[birdie.lee]

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Edited by birdie.lee - 5/7/13 at 12:16pm

[LivingSky]

birdie.lee: My parents are staying for 2 weeks (I hope) or maybe longer. They bring their 5th wheel trailer with them so it's perfect - they're on the property but they have their own space. I hope they'll stay longer, but my mom is facing having to go in for surgery and she'll be leaving as soon as she gets a spot in an OR. She's on the waiting list. So I want them to stay but I also want her to get in for surgery ASAP - and then I also want to be able to take time off work to take care of her after surgery but I probably can't due to impending mat leave.

If it helps any, I really haven't had any strangers do the belly-touching thing. I was worried about that because I don't really like people I don't know in my personal space. I had heard lots of horror stories of random people coming up and touching a pregnant woman's belly but it hasn't happened to me. So I hope the same happens for you!

[meander]

I failed my glucose test last week apparently--my regular appt is tomorrow, so I want to ask her how badly I failed it. I'm supposed to do the 3-hour test 'as soon as I can'...really, really hoping I pass next time around! My SIL had GD and the diet they put her on was super strict. My OB isn't as, umm, psychotic as hers was....but I'd love to be able to enjoy an occasional dessert over the next few months!

I only had random belly touching once, by a crazy lady in Italy. Personal space works a little differently with old Italian women, apparently. :)

[LivingSky]

meander: Ick, I hope you pass your 3 hour test.

My midwife and I have only one thing we disagree on - and that is the impact of my (over)weight on my pregnancy. She was insistant that I do the GD test at 20 weeks and again at 30 weeks, and I wasn't intending to do the test at all We finally compromised and decided I would do one test at 28 weeks, which I did last week - but I went straight to the 2 hour, 75 ml test. I agree to do the harder test because it's hard for me to get time off work during lab hours without sacrificing pay, so I only wanted to have to go in once! I should have gotten the results yesterday but I haven't heard anything yet. Hopefully I'll hear tomorrow. I'm choosing to believe that hearing nothing is good news, and that they would have called me if I was in desperate need of insulin or some such thing.

[ValH]

Tank - Yay for the changing table!  Cheap baby stuff is always good.  ;)

Birdie - MIL leaves today - yay!  I'm going to miss her, but it'll be nice to have my house back.  As for the belly touching, only people that know me do it right now, and that's annoying enough.  At the rate I'm going I'll be nine months pregnant before anyone I don't know is sure I'm pregnant, so I won't have too long to deal with the belly touching. 

LivingSky - I hope you have a great visit with your parents!  I'll also keep your mom in my prayers with her pending surgery - I hope it goes well. 

Meander - That sucks about the glucose test.  I hope the next one has better results. 

All is well here - MIL leaves today, and then DH and I can get to the nesting.  We need to clean out the nursery (it's currently a spare bedroom), paint it, and pick out nursery furniture.  We also need to start seriously checking into daycares.  We've visited one and I've called a few, but that's it so far.  I think doing baby stuff will be much easier when it's just the two of us again.

[tank]

The changing table turned out to be great and it is so weird to have it in our house. 

I had another appointment today.  heard the heartbeat again.  The baby was kicking when she was trying to find it.  Pretty cool. 

I have already had someone touch my belly.  A coworker.  I didn't mind that much.

I went to a cloth diapering class today.  It was weird being in a room with a bunch of other pregnant women.  Other than than that it was pretty informational.

[Hykue]

Really not much time to post, but I read it all pretty regularly . . . I just couldn't put it off anymore and had to post just the one thing . . .

Blanca, CONGRATULATIONS!

I'm so happy for you.  I don't imagine you've got a lot of time to come on here, but I still wanted to post it.

Goodnight, everyone.

[meander]

I had my 28 week appt yesterday. From now on I'll be seeing them every 2 weeks. My OB was even on time for the first time ever--she's always been randomly held up at the hospital before, no matter when I schedule. I really do believe it's random coincidence, but the coincidences were getting super annoying!

My belly is measuring right on (though it's amazing lopsided and measures at 34 on the right and 24 on the left....still 'normal' but it sure looks a bit odd) My BP was good; it was up a bit last time, so I was glad they got to see it lower again; I check at home and always got decent readings, so not sure what the spike was about. All my swelling is considered within normal ranges. It looks awful, it's uncomfortable, and I hate shoes now--but it's not hurting anything. *shrug* I'm supposed to try a brace for the carpal tunnel issues, which are getting worse daily now; I haven't been able to feel my fingertips for days, but it isn't painful, just numb. I am super clumsy though! Trying to sew some things for the kid, but it's a bit of a slog trying to work with all the little fiddly bits.

I'm doing the 3-hr GTT tomorrow, and really hoping it goes better. (I failed the 1-hr by 24 points, though, so I don't think the chances of passing are great.)

In more exciting news: Apparently the MFM specialists I saw have recommended I get growth scans to make sure the kid isn't running out of room. (Crohn's Disease comes with elevated risks for IUGR) Thus I get another look at the kid on Monday! I hadn't figured on seeing him again until he was born, so I'm all a-glee. :)

[ValH]

Tank - Glad the changing table worked out for you!  I can't imagine having baby furniture in the house.  I just spent a few minutes while cleaning the "spare bedroom" imagining what it will look like as a nursery.  It's so surreal! 

Hi Hykue!  Hope you and little one are doing well!! 

Meander - Sorry to hear about the swelling and carpel tunnel issues!  But, on a positive note, YAY for getting another peek at the baby in a few days, that has to be exciting.  I'm assuming I won't have anymore U/S, and both DH and I are pretty bummed about it.  I can't believe I have to wait another 20 weeks to see our little bundle.  So how'd the glucose test go???  Hopefully much better than the first one. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend!  I've started mine by doing some deep cleaning of the house now that MIL is gone.  I still get tired easier than I used to, so I'm taking a break after doing a few rooms.  I know it'll be a multi-day project anyway, so I'm in no hurry.

[LivingSky]

Hey everyone!

Tank - isn't having baby furniture around just bizarre? We have our playpen here now as well as a diaper pail. My mom and I spent yesterday afternoon sorting through all of the clothes that we've been given or purchased. I can not believe how many baby clothes we have! The only thing we need to buy clothing wise is one of those sleep sack thingies, and then we're pretty much set - until around when the baby turns 2 years old!

Hykue - glad to see you!!!!!! How's everything with you??? We really need to meet up some time for coffee or something

meander - Good luck with your GTT test! I hope it goes well for you. Failing the one hour absolutely could be either a fluke, or it might be that your blood sugar takes a bit longer to even out and will be fine over a 3 hour test. I'm hypoglycemic (unrelated to pregnancy) so I was positive I would fail the GD test. My midwife insisted that I do the long test and just skip the shorter one because she was sure I would fail it as well - and I didn't. So never count yourself out until the test is in!

ValH - are you enjoying having your house to yourself again??

AFM - As I mentioned, I passed my GD test! I was in absolute shock. I figured at best I would be borderline but I really had no intention of going onto insulin so I didn't want to take the test at all. Now I'm kind of glad I suffered through it because my midwife can go ahead and shut up about my eating habits The bad news was, my UTI is either refusing to go away, or going away briefly and then coming back again, so I have to go an antibiotics - AGAIN. This will be the fourth time since I got pregnant. I may end up having to stay on a low dose of antibiotics until baby arrive, which makes me distinctly unhappy.

Back to the bright side - my dad has almost finished renovating our bedroom and should be done by the time I get home from work tonight. Which means I finally have room to get into and out of bed comfortably! Next week we'll hopefully be buying our crib so we'll get that set up in a few weeks as well. Then my dad is building us a whole bunch of overhead storage space in our garage so we can clean boxes out of the house. It's going to be really great to have our house cleaned out of all the extra junk and set up in such a way that we can actually use all of the rooms. And then in late June/July, my dad is building on a fully enclosed porch that will add about 200 sq ft to our house - considering the house is only about 750 sq ft to start with, it will be a HUGE difference.

All in all it will be a VERY busy, very exciting summer!!!

[Tear78]

Hi Ladies! I don't get on much, but I wanted to post a hi!

Blanca, congratulations hon! What a beautiful picture! How is the babymoon going?

meander, I am having similar swelling problems, and I've been wearing braces to bed for a month now because of carpal tunnel. It's amazing, and very uncomfortable at times. Last night I took off my socks after teaching all day and there was a sizeable depression where my socks were. I think I need to get sup hose. We have our next appointment this coming week, and then we go to every other week too. Have fun seeing the little guy on Monday! I've started dreaming about what our girl must look like in there.

LivingSky, congrats on the GD test! I have only had one surprise belly grab so far, and it was from a student who is learning to ask before hugging people so I wasn't too surprised. He was gentle, and it was kind of cute. People at work are definitely starting to comment every time they walk past me in the hall, though. I feel like a whiner when they ask how I'm doing, because the honest answer is almost always "tired" or "exhausted." I've started lying and saying "ok," because people are starting to say "oh just wait till the baby comes!" It's like...um...you ASKED...I didn't INVITE you to comment on my current state. Anyway..lol.

Happy Belated Mother's Day to everybody! Keep growing healthy and strong, little ones!!!

[meander]

So it turns out the lab screwed up my GD test...they gave me 75g instead of 50, so my giant number of 154? Not so giant.

Pity I didn't realize this until after I took the 3-hr test. Oh well. Now I have some hope of passing, anyway. I was convinced I would fail...

I'm excited about the U/S tomorrow. I am particularly keen to see if the big bulge pressing on my kidney is his head or his bum....I feel kinda odd talking to the bum end, somehow. :)

I have a brace for the carpal tunnel now and it makes typing really hard. I will try and post more tomorrow after the appt--I would love to get some good pics to share!

[birdie.lee]

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Edited by birdie.lee - 5/7/13 at 12:16pm

[meander]

Birdie: Yay for hearing the heartbeat!!! How are you feeling these days?

Tear: I have mostly given up on socks, but the few days I have worn them, my ankles end up looking like mushrooms. :) I will get to the support hos eventually, but am balking so far because I'm constantly hot as it is, and adding a layer sounds awful. Have you had much relief from the braces you have been wearing? I have been trying one for the last several days, but not sure I am seeing improvement.

LivingSky: Congrats on passing the GD test!!! But boooo for the UTI... I hope that clears up properly for you this time around. It sounds like you have an awesome handyman dad. :)

ValH: Three cheers for having the house back to yourselves!

If I missed people, I apologize...I just hope everyone is feeling well (or as well as can be expected) :)

Had my U/S today. Baby looked perfectly healthy, good amount of fluid, no issues with the placenta. He (and he is DEFINITELY still a he) kept his hands in front of his face the whole time, so the best pic we got was actually of his little calves and ankles. He's still measuring about a week ahead, and estimated on the large side at (gulp) 3lb10oz. At what should be 29/1, but maybe is closer to 30. Still biggish. He's in a diagonal breech/oblique position, which is starting to get old--I've had a head poking me in the same spot for about 5 weeks now! I realize I am at the point where I'm likely to be a bit uncomfortable no matter what, but I'd be happy to have him push on some different body parts for a while!

Oh, and: I PASSED the 3hour test! I get to still eat dessert! WOOOHOOO!

[ValH]

LivingSky - Yay for passing the GD test!!!  Boo for the UTI - I hope it clears up quickly and you can avoid antibiotics for the rest of your pregnancy.  And another yay for the porch your dad will be building!  Isn't it great to have a handyman dad?  My dad is much like that, and I love it. 

Tear - Don't you just love people's uninvited comments?  I love when people tell me I should sleep now, because I won't when the baby comes.  Can someone tell me how sleeping a lot now will make me feel better once the baby arrives?  I'm pretty sure sleep doesn't work that way.  Anyway, good luck with the swelling and carpal tunnel! 

birdie - Yay for the heartbeat!  It is the most amazing sound in the world. 

Meander - Yay for passsing the 3-hour test!!!  And maybe since you are measuring big, you'll go a week earlier?  A girl can hope, right? 

My little one has been super active recently, and yesterday I felt the biggest movement from the outside that I had ever felt.  And DH got to feel a lot of movement, which he was very excited about.  He says the baby is practicing for soccer already. 

[LivingSky]

meander: CONGRATS!!! I'm kind of glad the lab screwed up your original test - that sounds wierd, right? - because passing the 3 hr test means you're REALLY in the clear. My midwife doesn't like the short test because it has so many ambiguous results that most people end up having to take the longer one anyways to be sure. So now you know 100% that you're good to go. Wooohoo!
Oh, and I hear you on not wanting to add more layers! I've been overheating consistently the past few weeks as our weather gets warmer. I usually regulate my temperature quite well so I'm finding this rather annoying. I wear the lightest clothes to work that I can and I'm still sweltering by early afternoon! I'm afraid to think what it will be like by mid-July

birdie.lee - no decorating plans for the porch yet. I suspect thatdue to time contraints, we'll get the outside of it finished and the inside insulted and vapour barrier up, but it may not have any real inside walls until next year. I'm okay with that as long as all insulation and wiring is safely away from baby's seeking fingers! Next year it will probably get wood panelling for inside walls and some antique-y looking light fixtures. I'm planning to move our kitchen table out to the porch and probably get some wicker furniture for it and set up a sitting area. The view will look out to my mom-and-babies horse field so it will be a pleasant place to sit

Two days until baby crib-dresser-carseat shopping day, and my next midwife appointment! It feels like things are really speeding up now.

[birdie.lee]

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Edited by birdie.lee - 5/7/13 at 12:16pm

[Tear78]

birdie.lee, I gained 9 pounds in my first trimester. For me, eating was the only way to combat the almost CONSTANT nausea. I think people tend to gain differently, and some gain more earlier than later. I was also freaked out, but once the nausea finally went away I started to eat more like my normal self and I only gained about a pound a week since then. My midwife/OB haven't said a thing about it. I think also that the "expected weight gain" depends on a person's starting weight as some people need to gain more than others. I try not to freak out about it, because I think if you're focusing on eating healthy then that's the most important thing. There's a really validating thread about this in the August DDC that you might want to check out.

LivingSky, I hear you on overheating. I know that that will be an issue for me too if it ever gets above 50 degrees/rainy here. Stupid weather!!! lol...happy shopping!

ValH, those comments frustrate me, too. How am I SUPPOSED to get more sleep now? I TRY, but my bladder wakes me up, among other things. And yeah...sleep doesn't work that way. I remember when DH first felt strong movements from our girl: it was just simply the best moment.

meander MUSHROOM FEET! How painfully right-on. I'm still having carpal-tunnel issues even with wearing the braces at night. This morning I had two fingertips go numb while eating breakfast. Oh dear. My midwife said it's normal. I do notice that when I fall asleep without the braces it's way worse. I'm going back for more acupuncture next week, because that definitely helped last time. And hooray for passing your GD test! Argh, silly lab! Did your baby look way bigger than last time? I would imagine so, but then sometimes I swear they just zoom out and the baby looks the same.

ok, off to cook dinner! Seriously...i could use some sunlight. It has rained almost ALL of April and May. Like....seriously. ENOUGH NOW!

[meander]

Birdie: I have already gained about 32 lbs, and my OB hasn't said a word to me about it. I was heavy to start with, and taking prednisone for most of the pregnancy probably didn't help me any....but if my care provider is not going to worry, neither am I. I know what I eat, it's really fairly healthy, I am not gorging myself...what would I change anyway? Being hungry while pregnant SUCKS.

(I would have had to switch providers if they had been sticklers for following weight guidelines. There's only so much I can do, you know?)

I would recommend keeping a LOT of healthy/semi-healthy snacks around. I do find myself tending to eat badly if I am just hungry and there's nothing healthy and super-easy around. I eat a ton of string cheese and yogurt these days, but have gone through phases of grapes, pickles, tangerines, pretzels, nuts, raisins...anything at all that can be eaten *right now*. If I have to work for it, it's likely to end up involving butter and/or chocolate...

LivingSky: I hate being hot normally, but now it's like torture! I am generally not much of an exhibitionist, but I may swing into full-blown nudism by July... Stretch marks and all! I just don't seem to be able to cool myself down at all, and it's awful at night lately. DH is shivering under all the covers, and I'm lying there sweating with no covers at all. I don't know how to find a temp we can both sleep in! I was so excited that it was cold today--except for the part where I had to stuff my feet into socks and shoes!

Tear: The baby looked HUGE. They couldn't zoom out enough that we could see more than half a body part at a time. So weird that he's that big! I mean, I can feel that he is that big, but it's different somehow. (Partly this is probably because my OB has an older machine; I had all the 'important' scans done with a high-risk OB, with vastly better resolution, and none of the pics from the regular office have compared.)

My hands are getting worse every day, and the brace really doesn't seem to help much, unfortunately.  I think I might need to see a specialist; the numbness never goes away anymore--it's been days since I had sensation in my fingers, and I am getting to the point where I drop silverware, etc. Acupuncture might be something to look into...hmm, wonder if my insurance would pay? Typing is really, really hard, especially because I HATE typos. :P  And I am terminally hopeless with my left hand, so it's not picking up enough of the slack. I've got 50 million crafty things I want to do for the baby, and I can't sew unless I am pretty sure I will notice if I stick myself with a needle!

ValH: I think I really am about a week ahead, but I am keeping the 'official EDD' around to trick myself into thinking it's longer than it is, so when July comes, it will seem so short if he is a bit early. Yeah, I play these little tricks on myself a lot... heck, sometimes it even works! :)