The. Fabulous. May. Chat. Thread. Week 1 - Page 3

[camprunner]

Love hearing about the batch cooking. I think we are going to have to do something in a hurry...

1. Make up a huge batch of broth and freeze in one cup portions and then mix dry ingredients for lentil casserole (Oldest dd loves it) and put in pantry with instructions.

2. Make a couple of batches of dh's favorite casserole.

3. Make a  couple of batches of sloppy joe filing (again oldest dd loves it)

4. Make some pizza crusts

5. Make a list of quick recipes that take 20-40 minutes and are easy along chopping veggies and freezing to go with them.

6. Make chicken and dumplings (again, oldest dd loves them)

Once I have some of these things done maybe I will calm down enough to do more. 

I slept much better last night knowing the bedroom has been painted (pink and we are going to have a boy LOL).  I'll sleep great tonight if all the contents of my bedroom makes it back into the bedroom.  Had the first good day of school with the kids in a long time. We've just been getting by with a subject or two for a while.  We'll probably have to clean all day tomorrow since the midwives come on Wednesday for their home visit.

[PunkElmo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by camprunner   I'll sleep great tonight if all the contents of my bedroom makes it back into the bedroom.

  why does painting cleanup never seem to get FULLY done? lol!  There's still painter's tape in our bedroom from it being painted... what, 4 months ago? and the kitchen nearly a year ago, and... so all this stuff from the dining nook hanging out in the living room is making me a little nervous, since that's where the pool is supposed to go!

It's my first day off of work - I've spent WAY too much time online. 

I heard from the diaper peeps about washing directions, so now I know what to do (will wash by hand crank washer and dry in the dryer downstairs on the lowest setting - the dryer does help condition them - and apparently the reason some dipes have to be washed separately from others for the prewash is oils in the fabrics... who knew?)

My friend who manages a high-end cigar store gifted me some merchandise (I wanted to get some nice cigars as a surprise for DP, but I'm not gonna lie, I'll probably have a few puffs too!) - I just have to go pick them up, and I'll hit up the whole foods in the area while I'm there (fruits, veggies, vitamins & more).
 

[PAgreenmama]

Originally Posted by ryleeee 

i thought i might be a little jealous of everyone going into labour, but honestly i think it makes the time go by quicker! every time i log in it seems like someone is either in labour or has just had a baby, and that's sooooooooo awesome! 

i agree... i was worried that hearing about everyone else having babies would make these last few weeks excruciating but i think it's actually motivating me to get stuff done around the house and reading all the stories is making me soooo excited to be holding my own little one :)

[MrsBone]

and today's my due date. I know I probably sound like a broken record, but I'm getting so impatient! DH is already off work for 2 weeks, and this baby hasn't made her arrival yet. I'm grateful for having DH around though since he works SO much normally, and he's been home, helping out a ton with DS. Cleaning not so much, but I don't expect much from him anymore, lol. We had a fun day today though. After being cooped up in the house all weekend, DH, DS and I ran some errands, lunch, costco(stocking the freezer and pantry for the next couple weeks), Lowes (to get DD's curtain rod for her room), and home. After we got home we ate dinner then attempted to take DS out to see Rio in the theater. First attempt at the movie theater since he was 15 months old(took him to see Babies, which he actually sat through). Well, we almost made it til the end, with about 20 minutes to spare. It was in 3D, which I thought he'd be more likely to sit through, but he ended up getting out of his seat many times and walking up and down the stairs, generally just being a big distraction for us and everyone else, so we left. He was upset, but we promised him a movie at home tomorrow with popcorn, and that he is just too little to go to the movie theater! :) Picked up a big container of sliced pineapple at costco today, in hopes that would move things along, but it seems to have done squat so far. Probably only had 5 contractions all day. DH and I are yet again going to DTD in attempt to get things going again, but I'm not getting my hopes up. My next midwife appointment is Wednesday, and if I make it til then I'm going to ask her about taking castor oil, or other more aggressive ways to induce labor. We'll see what she says.

[lizzie]

Originally Posted by bluepetals 

lizzie, congrats on the house - I hope the inspection goes great.  So exciting! 

Sending lots of "come on baby" vibes to those on the brink, and lots of "hang on a while" for those that need to clue up a few things before baby arrives! :)

Thanks! And thanks for the "chill, baby, chill!" vibes as well. ;)

Becca, that was so funny! Dh puts the clock out of our reach or one of us will turn it off and then we both sleep right through whatever we're supposed to be doing!

PE, your commitment to cloth diapering is admirable... and I need to go ask someone with a clue if I should wash my hemp stuff separate from my cotton stuff, apparently.

Originally Posted by dayiscoming2006 

Lizzie,

Baby dropped way low for me about a week and a half ago and nothing has happened, so, yeah. 

Yeeeeeah. After lots of contractions yesterday - none of which I took seriously but, did notice they just kept coming back - today was all calm. I had the audacity to text my mw in France and ask her about when I *had* to go to the hospital or if things got crazy this week could I still go to the birth center. Today I let her know I really doubt that much is happening, I was SO busy today and got another chiro adjustment (can I get a Hallelujah chorus to kick in somehow?) and went shopping for freezer cooking til I just couldn't stand up anymore really, and pretty much NOTHING was happening, so I've chilled myself back out! My mw was very sweet to take my concerns so seriously when she's got so many more amazing things going on!

Still. Sigh!! :)

Originally Posted by KarenMT   The test went great- baby's heart rate was in the 130's most of the time and would go up to the 150's whenever it started kicking.  This is exactly what they look for so that just gives me one more sigh of relief.

Yay! I'm sorry you've been worried, but that's awesome that everything went so well and now everyone knows everything is ok so you can relax and hopefully they will let you! :)

Originally Posted by camprunner 

I slept much better last night knowing the bedroom has been painted (pink and we are going to have a boy LOL).

My MIL insisted they paint the nursery and practically everything in it pink when she was pg with dh... he had a pink room until they moved when he was about two years old! LOL... of course I think he turned out pretty well, so maybe the pink room was a soothing counter balance to my MIL, saving him years of therapy in the long run? NOT that your little dude is going to have any such concerns!!

AFM - Actually had a great day. I can't believe how much the iron supplements and chiro adjustments have helped. I've had so much fun shocking and amazing people with the house buying news - no one knew we were looking. WE didn't know we were looking. :) And as long as I wear my belly support belt, LO doesn't aggravate my pubic bone by bouncing on it while I'm walking around. Now I'm torn between finishing up shopping tomorrow for the freezer cooking OR just doing some of the freezer cooking and getting more laundry (and diapers!!) done tomorrow. Oooh! I finally ordered a car seat today. Heehee! Got a few things for my "take to the birth center" list today as well. Good fun! :)

[camprunner]

Thanks for making me feel better about the painting everyone. Things are being moved back into our room as I type and it looks so good I can hardly believe it. The best part is that there is once again room for the pool!  DH had originally eliminated this room when he rearranged before painting so I'm relieved to have it back!

I know I probably sound like a broken record, but I'm getting so impatient!

My due date isn't for almost a month and I'm getting impatient too! This is the first time at the point where I've just been done with pregnancy. Usually at this point, I could wait forever!

Today, I've been having lots of Braxton Hix contractions and my feet look like watermelons! 5yo dd keeps stepping on my feet and telling me she is trying to help  "flatten them out".  She's small so she's only causing a mild discomfort and not pain but she doesn't understand that what she is doing isn't going to help!

[PunkElmo]

I dunno if it's so much my commitment to CD as "trying to figure out these instructions and WHY they exist"

I got the try cloth for $10 package from Jillian's Drawers (there's a link to the newborn package on that page too) - they send you a bunch of different types of cloth diapers to try for 21 days, even if you return all of them, it only costs $10 for those 3 weeks (or you can keep all the dipes for around $145) which is AWESOME... but the washing instructions led the ever-curious PunkElmo to wonder why they were the way they were, and how to make it work for my strange (but not THAT strange) washing situation.

When you receive the list, it has some dipes listed in RED and some in GREEN, and you're supposed to wash and dry (hot water) the GREEN ones once, and separately wash and dry the RED ones 3 times (hot water, wash-dry-wash-dry-wash-dry).

After an e-mail to the company and a thorough response, it seems that the unbleached products have oils in them that need to be stripped (which bleach probably strips on the other products). AND a run through a hot drier is, apparently, a good idea for anything with PUL...

I was told a hand-prewash was fine as long as I could generate enough suds to properly remove the oils in the "red" diapers, so last night I pre-washed the "green" diapers in my wonder wash, hung the inserts and pre-folds to dry, and took the covers, AIO and pocket diaper outer bits down to the laundry room and tossed them in the dryer with our towels.  Then I washed the "red" diapers in the wonder wash and hung them to dry - two more rounds of that in store (which may well take 2 days, since I'm too lazy to drag the spin dryer out of the closet, so drying is taking awhile)

anyway, enough about cloth diapers for now... I'm feeling large and uncomfortable... anyone else!? lol.

I feel like labor is imminent, but I haven't actually had a single contraction.  we've had the bed made up with a hypo-allergenic/waterproof encasement under our sheets for over a week now - I cleaned the cat fur off the sheets, put a waterproof fitted cover on, another layer of fitted/flat, and then a reusable underpad on top on my side, just in case.

DP painted our dining nook a beautiful glowing orange - now we just need to move all the furniture back in from the living room (esp. since I want to do a trial run of the pool today!).

Our cats also TOTALLY know that a disruption to life is coming - been doing lots of extra snuggling, snacks and playing, reassuring them that they won't be forgotten even though we're adding to the family. *sigh*

Okay, off to put birth supplies where they go (faucet adapter/hose in the kitchen, pool in the living room, etc), then go down to grab DP's surprise (really nice cigars) and get my grocery shopping on at whole foods/trader joes, maybe if I'm super-ambitious, I'll take the posters/photographs to the framing place - WHEEEEEE!

Originally Posted by lizzie 

PE, your commitment to cloth diapering is admirable... and I need to go ask someone with a clue if I should wash my hemp stuff separate from my cotton stuff, apparently.

[clutterbug]

Due date today (if you go by my date - I know when I ovulated...my midwives are going by May 5 cause I can't be bothered to argue it, it just buys me a couple of days before I offically go post-dates :P).  And we got a "checking in" e-mail from MIL saying her schedule for this morning and to call her on her cell with any announcements, and then saying "oh, it just occurred to me if you're not home, you might not see this e-mail".  Sigh.  So it begins.  I wrote back with "we are here. nothing happening." and hit send. Probably bitchy of me, but I just can't stand check-ins.  I know people are excited but seriously, we know how to reach them if we have a baby and we will be calling them as soon as the baby is here, we're not holding out on anyone!

Late last night while watching election results, I started to think things might be happening a little.  I would really rather go into labour by day, so I told the baby to please ease off. :P  It was really just strong BH, they still weren't hurting, but the pressure from them was way lower than it's been in the past.  I'm hoping things will keep moving in that direction over the next couple of days.  We are SO SO ready for this baby!!  I would be thrilled to not make it to my midwife appointment tomorrow, but as the minutes tick by that seems more like wishful thinking :P

[Evergreen]

I am pretty jealous of you guys who are due already! As much as I am NOT ready to have a baby- house in shambles from 'renovating', baby clothes still in attic, diapers unwashed....  I got really sick of being pregnant yesterday and it has carried over til today.  The Zantac that has been so awesome for heartburn is making me nauseated reminiscint of early pregnancy.  My AC is still broken. I used the money I was giong to use to have a guy come look at it to pay for seat deposits at law school so I'm just hoping the weather stays nice for a while.

I bet we see a few babies this week!!!!

[annaconda]

Hi everyone, I've been delightedly following along on my phone, but can't post that way.  Have to get to the computer.

Happy for all these there babies!!!  Progress all around seems like.  Baby steps :)

I'm due in six days and am 1) huge 2) covered in stretch marks 3) SAID STRETCH MARKS HAVE BECOME AN ITCH FACTORY.

I cannot tell you how much insult to injury it is to have these things itch like this.  I went through an entire tube of extra strength gold bond cream and am setting out on a field trip for more.

We set up the fishy pool.  I didn't do a test run of filling it but I did find some great threads on MDC about it so I feel pretty good.  I have my good hose and a faucet adaptor that works.

RE The Baby: I think I had some leakage last night.  Not much but I definitely woke once to wetness and a tiny spot on the bed.  My little guy's head is probably plugging things from a good big gush - he's been head down for the last 20 weeks.  I'm having surges randomly.  I thought at 4:30am that it might be the day but not much has happened since then.  So I'm gussied up (maternity hoodie and black floppy shorts) for a trip to town to run three errands.  My shorts are dark so if my water breaks while I'm out... hahaha hopefully it won't be too embarrassing.

Yesterday the stretch marks had me up walking the driveway at 7:30am... so fucking itchy it's just not cool.  My poor skin!!!  I woke up scratching and was like GET THIS THING OUT OF ME!!!

Last days of work are me working from home and keeping up on my emails pretty much.  I'm so starting my leave on my due date next Monday no matter what.

BABIES BABIES BABIES!!!  I started to get down yesterday (because of the itching boredom) but perked up last night knowing that he could come any time now and that there is no use being a negative nelly.

Take care mamas!

[becca_howell]

Just got back from my appointment. DIDN'T get checked this time. I just don't want to hear if I'm not dilated or get false hopes if I am. She did say he's almost completely engaged. She said she can wiggle his head just a tiny bit, so there's more room to move down, but he's almost there. I've had a lot of tightness today. My DH wants me to wait until after the 13th, but I don't know if we'll make it. I would love him to be born on the 16th because it would mean 2 more weeks DH has to work, and for nostalgic purposes. DD and DS were both born on Mondays and the 16ths, so it'd be perfect. But we know we can't schedule these things. I guess we *could*, but where's the fun in that?

[KarenMT]

I'm sympathizing with the other mamas out there who are feeling very large and uncomfortable.  Just had a wonderful appt with my HB midwife and her assistants.  My fundal height is measuring 39 cms but since I am so short that means the top of my fundus is actually at the xyphoid process on my ribs- basically where your rib cage becomes one.  SOOOO not comfortable to feel the baby's legs riding above my ribs.  My girls had dropped by this point so who knows.  This baby is a spinner and keeps going from ROA to ROP to LOA... mostly on the right side and either anterior or posterior.  I am a bit worried about labor since both of my girls were firmly in that LOA position.  I've tried some exercises from spinning babies but this baby really just doesn't like to hang tight on one side/position so I'm going to have to have faith that during labor my body will respond and baby will get itself in the corred position.

[BHappy]

(cheated and also posted in june ddc...)

hey everyone, i am just able to keep up with the reading here, but not so much on the posting and updating.

i don't have too much to report. i had a wonderful blessingway on saturday. i feel totally embraced and loved and supported for this birth! its such a great feeling to be so held... i'm reading and re-reading birth stories. meeting with doula this thursday, and she's bringing the emerg. birth kit to leave with us, just in case.

i am officially on maternity leave, although i am not quite done with my student reports and birthday verses. i hope to get all that closed up and put away in the next two weeks.

in week 36 now, so feels like it could be end of may for me. it is still hard to believe, and sometimes i get that sudden realization that i'm going to have a little person on the outside, and it feels so crazy! i've been feeling really well, nothing to complain about, so i'm just going along like i'll be pregnant forever....

hugs to everyone. may the aches and pains fade away and all the checklists get finished!

xo

[clutterbug]

Ack, the cottage guy called today asking if we were showing up to check in (it's my due date).  He said it's fine, there is still flexibility...but around middle of May he has other bookings that might interfere with availability.  Apparently my DH knew this but didn't tell me.  I know middle of May is still 12 days away, and the chances are very, very, very good that baby will come by then, but I didn't know it was quite so tight - we want to stay a week after the birth!!

Deep breaths.   Come on baby!  With this knowledge, I am kind of reconsidering not being checked and possibly having membranes swept tomorrow.  At least I will feel like we did something to encourage it.  Oh to have come all this way only to have cottage scheduling screw up our plans!!!

[MamaChef]

Bluepetals.. My appt is today and I want her to do a sweep if she can get in.  My due date was 2 days ago, although hers is later, but Im pretty sure on my dates at this point.  I do appreciate the post dates leeway, but I want my membranes swept.. LOL.  My midwife is really hands off so I hope she will do it.  Im having lotsa contractions and downward pressure and my cervix is definitely forward and super soft.. It's just not very dilated.  Im so sick of being pregnant though, Im already touched out with my toddler and I just want this baby to get out of my belly.  It's time.

Oh.. and my blood pressure was up a little last week (128/78), so Id like baby to just go ahead and make that a non issue.

[clutterbug]

That's right along the line with my thinking on my BP, too, Mamachef.  Last week it was 138/72 on the second reading, so my midwife is cool with that, but I feel like I'm on borrowed time worrying about it creeping up more!

My midwife offered to sweep last week, although she said she doesn't usually offer until full term.  I declined and planned to decline again this week (I have never had a vaginal exam in pregnancy, so I am feeling kind of stubborn that I want to go all three pregnancies without one.  Why?  No idea, just cause.  LOL!).  But yeah, now I'm thinking it's worth a go.  A friend told me yesterday that it worked great for her but in a way she might not do it again cause she found the after effects (but before labour started) really painful and had she not ended up in labour, she would have been bitter for suffering through that for nothing!  Sigh.  Decisions, decisions...

[camprunner]

BHappy: That is exactly how I've felt most of the pregnancy.

BluePetals: Hope everything works out the way you want it to.

I decided that I should probably set up our cosleeper today to make sure it still has all the parts. Was so sick for so long after 5yo dd was born that things didn't get put away the way they should have. Unfortunately, it was stained and looked like an animal had been living it or something :(  So I had to put in an order for a new one. I'm unbelievably disappointed.  I set up the pack n play in it's spot for now (usually a place to set the baby down in the main living area) because we don't have a crib in part because I haven't decided where I want his room to be yet and figure there is no rush on deciding.    Also, this morning, dh pointed out that when I ordered a years worth of Organic sugar, I didn't check into the cross contaminiation factor and dd won't be able to eat it...so now I have to figure out what do do with it all.  Not been the best day by any means.

Physically, I'm pretty exhausted and my ankles keep swelling everytime I sit or stand.  I'm not sure if I want the baby to come early to get rid of the physical issues or later so  that I'll be more prepared (the cosleeper here and aired out; the house cleaner; doing more with my older dds, etc) and not have to work with a newborn (truth be told, I'm having so much trouble focusing, it probably wouldn't make a difference!)

On a good note, dh is painting our bathroom (blue) and the midwives are scheduled to show up tomorrow afternoon for our home visit. 

[KarenMT]

Bluepetals- FWIW.  with my first pregnancy the midwife swept my membranes at 40 weeks and it just led to a lot of cramping and discomfort all night long but never progressed to labor.  At 41 weeks, she did it again but definitely was more thorough/aggressive in the sense that it really was uncomfortable.  I had the same cramping.  DH and I DTD before bed and those two combined- along with being obviously somewhat ready- I went into labor that night.  I wouldn't recommend it unless you/ your midwife feel like you are really close to labor. 

[MamaChef]

Originally Posted by bluepetals 

That's right along the line with my thinking on my BP, too, Mamachef.  Last week it was 138/72 on the second reading, so my midwife is cool with that, but I feel like I'm on borrowed time worrying about it creeping up more!

My midwife offered to sweep last week, although she said she doesn't usually offer until full term.  I declined and planned to decline again this week (I have never had a vaginal exam in pregnancy, so I am feeling kind of stubborn that I want to go all three pregnancies without one.  Why?  No idea, just cause.  LOL!).  But yeah, now I'm thinking it's worth a go.  A friend told me yesterday that it worked great for her but in a way she might not do it again cause she found the after effects (but before labour started) really painful and had she not ended up in labour, she would have been bitter for suffering through that for nothing!  Sigh.  Decisions, decisions...

I dont personally think sweeps are that bad if your provider goes slow and is gentle.  Ive swept many women and always make sure to go really really slow and to massage the cervix open for a bit before sweeping. 

I was a stretchy 2cm today, 90% effaced and baby is good and engaged so we went for the sweep.  It wasnt terrible and I am definitely crampy, but Im used to really bad period cramps, so.. yeah.. I didnt make nearly the progress Im making this pregnancy with the last one, so we did several sweeps starting at 41w3d last time, which was the soonest we could get in to do a sweep and same deal with the cramps.. but also the sweep itself was painful because the provider was so quick with it.  The thing about the sweeping is that even if it doesnt initiate labor, it is initiating hormones to get you closer to labor.  For me, it's totally worth some discomfort if it moves my body forward a little bit quicker.

[clutterbug]

thanks for all the sweep input, everyone.  I will talk with my midwife at my appointment tomorrow and see how I feel about it after that. :)