The First-Time Mamas Thread - Page 3

[cwill]

Ok, I'm going to chime in here!  I've been hanging out in the December DDC, but I'm due somewhere between 12/27 and 1/4 so I lurk over here on occasion as well.

I'm 16 weeks, 3 days and my big news is that I heard a heart beat today!  Super cool!  I still haven't felt any definitive movement, but sometimes I can tell what side of my abdomen the baby is on.  Sometimes it really pushes OUT and I feel tight and stretched across my stomach.

In terms of pregnancy signs, nearly everything has faded.  I'm still not popped, my boobs aren't sore anymore, lots of energy... It's kind of weird to be in this lull.  I was happy to hear a beating heart this morning.  :)

[writinglove]

Anyone found out anything interesting about cloth diapering?

[wombjuice]

Welcome, cwill!!

writinglove, what kind of information are you looking for?  I will be cloth diapering my little one.  I plan on using prefolds and knitted wool covers.  I'll be buying my entire newborn stash from Green Mountain Diapers.  If you click the link to their site, you can read tons of info about the different types of diapers, covers, fasteners, and info about washing.  It's a very informative site.

[cwill]

Thanks wombjuice!

writinglove, Jaimee in the November DDC put together an awesome youtube series about all the different types of cloth diapers, pros and cons, and accessories.  It's really, really impressive.  I'll see if I can find the link.

ETA: Here it is http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1320026/interested-in-cloth-diapering

[Conchobhar]

Originally Posted by cwill 

Thanks wombjuice!

writinglove, Jaimee in the November DDC put together an awesome youtube series about all the different types of cloth diapers, pros and cons, and accessories.  It's really, really impressive.  I'll see if I can find the link.

ETA: Here it is http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1320026/interested-in-cloth-diapering

Thank you!  I am such a visual learner and didn't do cloth the first time around because it seemed very daunting, as I was only going off of words.  I can't wait to watch the whole series, when I'm not at work!

Edit:  Sorry, I'm crashing your thread, but I did want to thank you!
 

Edited by Conchobhar - 7/20/11 at 9:40am

[writinglove]

thanks womb and cwill! I'm looking for general recommendations based on research and experience, although I suppose experience isn't appropriate for a 1st time mama thread. :)

[wombjuice]

Ladies, both DH and I felt the baby move today!!!  I'm about 15 weeks and a couple days...I didn't expect to feel it so early!  I was laying in bed and felt something moving through my lower belly and thought it was gas (I was still half asleep, lol), and then realized...there's no way that could be gas.  So I put my hand on my belly and totally felt it move from the outside!  Then I put DH's hand on my belly, and baby kicked him hard!!  It was just incredible!!  Sprout has now been moving around all morning!  I can't believe how fast it went from feeling nothing to feeling definite movement.  I'm so happy and excited!!  And I've now officially told the rest of my friends and family (through facebook, lol), so they're all excited for us, too.

[element2012]

Oh my goodness wombjuice that is so exciting!! So happy for you and your DH that you now have had a two way communication with your LO.  Had you heard the heartbeat before this?

I am 13 weeks now, and yesterday I thought I felt a flutter in my lower abdomen, and I wasn't sure if it was the LO or gas.  This darn gas, lol.  I feel that I felt him/her move.  My next MW appt is at 16 weeks and I am getting a little antsy.  I'm not planning any ultrasounds, and I wasn't planning to use the doppler but am starting to really want to hear the heartbeat at the next appointment.  I'm not sure if I should stick to my resolve to not use those technologies or put my heart and mind at ease and hear the heartbeat...  Hopefully I will be like you and feel some for sure movement soon so I can feel that bit bit of confirmation...

[wombjuice]

No, we have not heard the heartbeat.  I will not use the doppler unless medically indicated (just not worth the risk, imo...I've done too much research on doppler and ultrasound to feel comfortable using it on my baby...), so we're waiting waiting waiting til around 18 weeks when we can hear the heartbeat with my fetoscope.  Of course, I've already tried to hear it with the fetoscope...no luck, lol.  I figure, what's 3 more weeks?  I've already waited this long, ya know?  *Sigh*  I am definitely impatient to hear it though, so I understand where you're coming from.
 

Originally Posted by element2012 

Oh my goodness wombjuice that is so exciting!! So happy for you and your DH that you now have had a two way communication with your LO.  Had you heard the heartbeat before this?

I am 13 weeks now, and yesterday I thought I felt a flutter in my lower abdomen, and I wasn't sure if it was the LO or gas.  This darn gas, lol.  I feel that I felt him/her move.  My next MW appt is at 16 weeks and I am getting a little antsy.  I'm not planning any ultrasounds, and I wasn't planning to use the doppler but am starting to really want to hear the heartbeat at the next appointment.  I'm not sure if I should stick to my resolve to not use those technologies or put my heart and mind at ease and hear the heartbeat...  Hopefully I will be like you and feel some for sure movement soon so I can feel that bit bit of confirmation...

[1stchild]

HEY MY NAME IS QUAY!!!THIS IS MY FIRST CHILD AND I'M VERY EXCITED!!!I WOULD LOVED TO HEAR FROM OTHER WOMEN ALSO ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THEIR EXPERIENCE NOW!!!!I'M 21 YEARS OLDD A COLLEGE GRADUATE,I'M ALSO A MARINE WIFE!!!!I LOVE TO DO YOGA AND SWIM!!!HELLOO EVERYONE:joy

[futuremamaheather]

Welcome, 1stchild :-)

wombjuice, SO cool that you can feel Sprout already!! I'm 18 weeks today and have had a couple of time when I thought maybe I was feeling the baby, but not for sure. Can't wait until it's certain and frequent!

As for diapers, we're doing a combo of pre-loved (so far we have 7 fitteds, 7 covers - bummis & sustainable babyish wool knit, 6 pockets - blueberry minkie (TO DIE FOR), happy heiny, baby kanga....the fitteds and covers are size small, the pockets are one size fits all) and new (probably get a couple of dozen good prefolds and couple of snappis to fasten them) and see how we do with that. I think seven covers should do us, but if we need a couple more, we'll get those as needed. Depending on how we like the various types/combos, we'll decide what to do when it's time to get mediums. Oh! I also have a bunch of Fuzzibuns, size medium I think. The assorted smalls and the one sizes came from one friend de-stashing, the Fuzzi's came from another friend de-stashing, and whatever we buy will come from greenmountaindiapers.com. For newborn size, we'll use disposables the first week or so (however long a bag or two of 7th Gen lasts us) and then there is a stash of newborn sized (assorted types) cloth diapers that circulates amongst my cloth diapering buds.

[themomadance]

HI everyone, 1st baby - 16 weeks!  We're not going to find out the sex and it's killing all of our friends and family!  

I'm a music teacher, and enjoying the summer off, but just thought of the fact that I'll be 9 months pregnant when I put on the winter concert this year!  That'll be a sight!  No videos please!!!!

almost 100% positive we're going for a home birth.  Have a great midwife, my second real appointment with her is next week and I'm looking forward to hearing the heartbeat again!

As far as my pregnancy so far, I've been having episodes of light spotting, nothing serious, yet totally freaks me out at times.  I've had no m/s at all!  no energy either, but that seems to be improving.

I get super cranky if I don't eat, and I go from totally fine to starving in seconds, so I always carry granola bars wherever I go.

I actually just registered for baby stuff this past weekend, and my parents got the crib out from the attic this week and cleaned it up for me (I will be getting a new mattress - somehow the idea of my baby sleeping on a 32 year old mattress bugs me out a bit!)
 

My husband and I are slowly turning our giant walk in closet (really a bedroom) into a nursery!

The weirdest thing so far,,, I feel TOTALLY guilty about getting excited about this baby.  Don't get me wrong, I am SO excited, but I am afraid if I say it out loud too much I'll jinx it!  

Well Congrats and nice to meet you all!!!! 

[writinglove]

Hello first-time mamas, here a link to a page that defines commonly used cloth diapering terms. I know I was getting confused about the difference between soakers and wool soakers. :)

http://www.diaperjungle.com/cloth-diaper-terminology.html

[wombjuice]

Welcome to themomadance and 1stchild!! 

writinglove, thanks for sharing that link!  Very useful!

[cedarwoman]

Oh I think I missed this thread! I'm really thrilled to be welcoming our first in January... after 8 years together with DH we had a marriage ceremony in May with our friends and family, and baby was there with us too in the forest :)

I'm planning a homebirth with my midwives, and worried about the distance + weather in January (I'm in a valley, surrounded by mountains, which get covered in snow... and MWs are on the other side of the mountains... le sigh)

[wombjuice]

Welcome cedarwoman!!  Congratulations on both your marriage and new little one!  Sounds like it was a beautiful ceremony.  I was also married recently in June!  DH and I grew up together, but only recently found each other again two years ago.  Our baby was in my belly at our wedding ceremony, too.

I can understand being worried about the distance and weather in Canada in January!  Have you been on the Unassisted Childbirth forums here on Mothering?  It's a very supportive little forum and the ladies there are great.  Babies come out despite weather, and whether or not midwives make it in time.  And it's usually no problem at all when they come that fast!  There's a little book called "Emergency Childbirth" by Gregory J. White, M.D. that might be useful to have around the house for you and DH.  And, of course, Laura Shanley's website Bornfree! has lots of great articles and info.  Your midwife will probably make it to the birth with plenty of time to spare, but one can never be too prepared.
 

Originally Posted by cedarwoman 

Oh I think I missed this thread! I'm really thrilled to be welcoming our first in January... after 8 years together with DH we had a marriage ceremony in May with our friends and family, and baby was there with us too in the forest :)

I'm planning a homebirth with my midwives, and worried about the distance + weather in January (I'm in a valley, surrounded by mountains, which get covered in snow... and MWs are on the other side of the mountains... le sigh)

[element2012]

First time mamas- anyone getting nervous about weight gain yet?  I weighed myself yesterday, and realized that I am up 8 pounds already at 16 weeks.  Yikes, I think I'm getting ahead of myself here! 

[wombjuice]

You've gained 8 pounds total so far?  That's actually fantastic.  One of the midwifery texts I've read says women are likely to gain 10 lbs by 14 weeks.  I'm up 10 lbs in total, also, and I've really not changed my diet much at all.  Your blood volume has doubled, your breasts are growing extra mammary tissue, your uterus is growing new muscle mass AND it is full of amniotic fluid, and your baby and placenta has some measurable weight now, too.  Releax, mama.  Eat nutritious foods, try to walk (or whatever you do for exercise) at least three times per week, and do not worry about weight gain.  You're doing great!
 

Originally Posted by element2012 

First time mamas- anyone getting nervous about weight gain yet?  I weighed myself yesterday, and realized that I am up 8 pounds already at 16 weeks.  Yikes, I think I'm getting ahead of myself here! 

[Harleth]

Last night we got all excited and tried to listen to the baby with a stethoscope, which of course did not work since I am only 16 weeks but we couldn't help ourselves. We were so excited to try.

Last time I weighed myself was 13 weeks and I had only put on 2 lbs (I lost some weight first trimester unintentionally). I am hoping ot have put on more this time. We don't own a scale - I have never wanted one in the house - so I only weigh at the physician's.

[wombjuice]

I've been trying to hear baby's heartbeat with my fetoscope since around 14 weeks!   And I'm a midwifery student who does not know a single midwife in real life who has heard heart tones with a fetoscope before 22 weeks, but here I am, trying it anyway!  Still not able to hear it at 17 weeks, but baby's been moving every day since 15 wks 3 days, so I don't really care as much anymore, lol.
 

Originally Posted by Harleth 

Last night we got all excited and tried to listen to the baby with a stethoscope, which of course did not work since I am only 16 weeks but we couldn't help ourselves. We were so excited to try.

Last time I weighed myself was 13 weeks and I had only put on 2 lbs (I lost some weight first trimester unintentionally). I am hoping ot have put on more this time. We don't own a scale - I have never wanted one in the house - so I only weigh at the physician's.