June 2011 Whatever Ladies Graduates - Page 9

[MarineWife]

Carrie ~ Such cute hats! Maybe your body just needs to gain 50 lbs. Your belly does look noticeably bigger. It defies gravity.

Did I mention that I now weigh more than Ryan, who is 5'11" (at least). That means I also weigh more than my dh. I'm up about 32 lbs. now with about 6 weeks to go. If I keep gaining the way I have been lately, that'll be another 12 lbs. before I'm done. That's about normal for my last 2 pregnancies. I gained about 45 lbs. with each of those.

I've already been researching ediets to see if I can get diet meals delivered. They don't seem to have anything for nursing mothers, though. Weight Watchers and Nutrisystem do but I don't like those programs as much. In case you all haven't figured it out yet, I'm not big on making food so WW is a pain. Plus, when I tried it before I was hungry all the time. Nutrisystem is much easier and I did lose weight fast when I did it and I wasn't hungry but the food wasn't that good. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't good.

DH and I went through a lot of stuff and got rid of a lot of things before he left. Now it's stuff that I need to keep because I reuse that I'm just terrible about putting away again once I get out. The kids have agreed to get rid of some toys. I just need to get moving on getting that done. Right now I'm waiting on getting the bins for the Lego pieces. I think I've decided to just order some online and have them delivered even if it does cost a little more because I am just not going to make it to the store. I am such a homebody. I hate to go out and especially hate shopping in stores.

I do have some Similisan earache drops that I used. They seemed to work. I also thought I had garlic ear drops but can't find them now. I put little things like that away all the time and can't remember where when I need them.

Shannon ~ How are things going with the blood sugars?

[AnnieA]

JJ: I have the same carseat and it is certainly large. But considering how long you will be able to use it, it definitely seems worth it to me. Plus it's so cushy and soft. I wish I could ride in it!

Baby_Cakes: Your belly is amazing! And the fact that you can still wear a bikini and look fabulous in it is awesome. You look great, you exercise and you are seemingly healthy. I think you need to start ignoring those numbers! Oh and those hats are super adorable!

MW: Any progress on the naming front?

AFM: Chiro appt yesterday afternoon went well. He was able to adjust my left hip some which he hadn't been able to do the last two times. I felt SO much better when I left! Baby appeared to be transverse last night and I'm definitely feeling more kicks up top this morning but who knows if that means she's flipped? She tends to keep one leg extended in front of her so she has a foot by her head so it could mean nothing. I'll go see him again tomorrow afternoon and hopefully he can get me adjusted the rest of the way.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

Carrie ~ Such cute hats! Maybe your body just needs to gain 50 lbs. Your belly does look noticeably bigger. It defies gravity.


I've already been researching ediets to see if I can get diet meals delivered. They don't seem to have anything for nursing mothers, though. Weight Watchers and Nutrisystem do but I don't like those programs as much. In case you all haven't figured it out yet, I'm not big on making food so WW is a pain. Plus, when I tried it before I was hungry all the time. Nutrisystem is much easier and I did lose weight fast when I did it and I wasn't hungry but the food wasn't that good. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't good.

I do have some Similisan earache drops that I used. They seemed to work. I also thought I had garlic ear drops but can't find them now. I put little things like that away all the time and can't remember where when I need them.
 

Ha, it does seem to defy the laws of physics, doesn't it?  

My MIL, FIL, and BIL like Jenny Craig.  You don't have to go to meetings, but you have to buy their food.  When I was a weight loss counselor for LA Weight Loss, we helped people learn how to buy their OWN food at the food store, and offered recipes and such.  I feel like thats such a more realistic way to go.  People think they can eat packaged food morning, noon, and night, but it's just really hard.  Sometimes you just want pizza, or it's a holiday, or you're going to a theme park with your kids.  Life happens.  It's much more important to learn to eat healthy than to be fed healthy food only, ukwim?

I don't personally think you eat unhealthy, MW.  I bet once you have Aston (hee hee) the weight will come off thru nursing and light exercise.  I'm planning on mostly using the treadmill but if things don't budge quick enough for me, I might re-join the gym.  My best friend is doing the P90X program and man, she hates it but she is looking AMAZING just 3 months postpartum!!

Oh, and yes those are the drops I had bought from whole foods!

Originally Posted by AnnieA 

AFM: Chiro appt yesterday afternoon went well. He was able to adjust my left hip some which he hadn't been able to do the last two times. I felt SO much better when I left! Baby appeared to be transverse last night and I'm definitely feeling more kicks up top this morning but who knows if that means she's flipped? She tends to keep one leg extended in front of her so she has a foot by her head so it could mean nothing. I'll go see him again tomorrow afternoon and hopefully he can get me adjusted the rest of the way.

Oooh, fingers and toes crossed for good news!!  It could mean something -- it also means she can still move around in there pretty well and maybe don't worry yet.  I mean, remain aware, but don't worry too hard, ok?

[akind1]

JJ: that is interesting; I had a meeting with my doula yesterday (who was a VBAC herself and is in training to be a CPM) and didn't mention that ECV would be contraindicated in a VBAC. But we have plenty of time before we are there, and I am pretty sure she'd flip.

My worries about a breech vaginal birth are more along the lines that most OB's aren't trained or have any experience with breech vaginal births, and there are things that you do need to be concerned with. I wouldn't want to attempt a breech vaginal birth with an inexperienced provider. (but that is just me)

A great meeting at any rate with her.

Carrie - I love your belly pic! you do look amazing, and forget the numbers!

MW: Finding any diet tht works with a nursing mother's nutritional needs will be tough.Most of the nursing women I know just do WW, but you do have to cook and count points, etc. I didn't bother with anything after DS, the more I ate, the more weight I lost :) (so long as I remembered to move and not just be a bump on a log)

JJ: good deal on the carseat! couponer-wannabe that I am, I would have tried to find it on sale AND used a coupon; BRU and buybuyBaby always have 20% off ones out there. I try to wait on stuff until I can do both.

I am a little bummed because our bedroom to be in MIL's house is not as big as I thought it was, and there will not be room for a full size pack n' play or co-sleeper. So I will need to use a half size or mini one. (means I have to change up our various registries)

I am trying to decide on the next big baby purchase - DH and I tend to like to get the big things ourselves and let others get the little stuff. Debating between the video monitor I want or the double stroller. the stroller is a bit cheaper. The monitor is a definite must have with a 2 story house though. hmmm.

Annie: yay on a good chiro appointment! hopefully the baby will work her way into a more favorable position. and soon!

[MovingMomma]

I finished my week of monitoring & had one number that was out of line.  The first morning I got a 95 & the NH wants all morning ones 60-90.  The MW there didn't have any problems with my numbers when I brought them in, though.  I haven't brought them to O yet, but she should be fine w/them.  

[MarineWife]

I was thinking the same thing about you, Carrie. You certainly don't look like you are carrying a lot of extra weight. Looks like almost all baby to me.

JJ ~ I have 2 Britax Boulevards, one for the baby and one for ds3. They were originally for ds2 and ds3 but ds2 has since grown into a booster. They are huge, too. The convertible ones are. I love them, though, because you only have to get one car seat that you can use for almost ever. My ds2 was in his Boulevard until he was 6.5 or 7 and ds3 is still in his at 4 and has plenty of growth left. DS2 actually grew out of the Boulevard in height rather than weight, which is surprising because he's a little guy. I'm nervous about next year. He'll be 8 and the law here is a child can sit in a the car without a booster at 8 years or 80 lbs. He wants to get out of the booster but he's so small. I don't know what I'm going to do.

Annie ~ That's great that your chiro was able to get things adjusted. Hopefully, that will encourage baby to get into position. You are a week ahead of me, right? So you must be 37w now? You still have some time for baby to move around.

Will HCPs try a version at the beginning of labor? I think I mentioned before that I have read that sometimes baby will suddenly go head down just before or right as labor starts. I wonder how dangerous it would be to wait to the last minute to see. If you were in a hospital, wouldn't they have time to do a c-section if needed rather than preemptively scheduling one early?

Oh, you won't believe what a neighborhood girl told ds2 the other day. She told him that if you have a baby when you're over 30 the baby will be retarded. Apparently, she and her mother didn't realize how old I am. The mother thought I was in my late 20s. I guess when ds2 told them I was 41 they were a bit surprised.

DS2 was like, "Wait a minute. My mom was 34 (I was actually 33, 2 months to 34, but close enough) when she had me and I'm fine. And she was 37 when she had my little bro and he's fine." Yesterday the girl said she looked it up on the internet and learned that babies of 30+ moms aren't always retarded. Can you believe it?!

Oops, forgot about the name question. No, we haven't gotten any further. I haven't heard from my dh since our last conversation last week. The limited and sporadic contact makes it that much more difficult. I started a thread about in the July DDC to commiserate with anyone who may not have a name picked yet. I'm getting a lot of suggestions, which is nice but not really what I'm looking for. I feel like we've seen and considered every name there is. It's time to just pick.

[MovingMomma]

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

He'll be 8 and the law here is a child can sit in a the car without a booster at 8 years or 80 lbs. He wants to get out of the booster but he's so small. I don't know what I'm going to do.
 

Oh, crud.  Don't tell my DH that!  I was thinking the law was 8 AND 80.  DH has ridiculous ideas about carseats.   DD1 will be 8 in Aug., but there's no way I'm putting my barely 40 lb kid in just a seat belt!  I've even been contemplating putting her back in a harnessed seat b/c she slips the belt off her shoulder in the booster about 10% of the time. 

[MarineWife]

I don't know how I missed all the posts in between mine and Annie's but I'm double posting.

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

My MIL, FIL, and BIL like Jenny Craig.  You don't have to go to meetings, but you have to buy their food.  When I was a weight loss counselor for LA Weight Loss, we helped people learn how to buy their OWN food at the food store, and offered recipes and such.  I feel like thats such a more realistic way to go.  People think they can eat packaged food morning, noon, and night, but it's just really hard.  Sometimes you just want pizza, or it's a holiday, or you're going to a theme park with your kids.  Life happens.  It's much more important to learn to eat healthy than to be fed healthy food only, ukwim?

I don't personally think you eat unhealthy, MW.  I bet once you have Aston (hee hee) the weight will come off thru nursing and light exercise.  I'm planning on mostly using the treadmill but if things don't budge quick enough for me, I might re-join the gym.  My best friend is doing the P90X program and man, she hates it but she is looking AMAZING just 3 months postpartum!!

My sister did LA Weight Loss for a while and it worked for her when she did it. Same for my mom and her BF with WW. They both lost a lot of weight when they did it. I think probably any of those programs will work if they are followed, at least in the beginning.

I know how to eat healthy. My problem is that I don't like to prepare food. I really do prefer to have my food prepared or I eat out. I'm lazy like that. I'm worried about losing the weight after baby because after ds3 I was stuck at 130 (which is 15-20 lbs. more than I should be) no matter what I did except when I was doing the Nutrisystem meals. It was so easy, which is what I need right now, and I got extra food for nursing. I can buy WW meals at the grocery but the points plan, even with the extra points for nursing, left me hungry all the time.

eDiets gives the option of picking a meal plan that you shop for and prepare yourself or having meals delivered. I thought I might try the delivered meals. You can choose a 5 or 7 day meal plan so can leave wiggle room for times when you might eat out or go to a BBQ or something like that. The problem was that I didn't find anything for nursing moms. I am paranoid about dieting and/or exercising too much while nursing and losing my milk. It's never happened to me but I have read that it can and I would be so upset if I did that to myself and my baby.

I would love to get down to at least 120 before my dh comes home. I'll have at least 8 months. If things go like they did with ds3, I'll drop 15 lbs. the minute this baby is born. If I gain as much as I expect, that will leave me about 40 lbs. more to lose. Over an 8 month period, that's right in line with the healthy 1-2 lbs. a week. But if my life is crazy with 3 LOs and no other adult to help with anything, I know I won't eat well. It will be mostly convenience foods or eating out and I won't lose enough.

Shannon ~ Glad the sugar levels were good. It would really surprise me if you were having blood sugar problems. Are you ready for your home visit? I'm getting more and more excited to actually see this baby.

I've started getting the, "When are you going to pop?" questions. Since we were MIA from TKD last week everyone thought I had the baby. They were shocked when I told them I still had about 6 weeks to go. Everyone there is very nice, though. Lots of them have given me their phone numbers in case I need anything and have offered to take the boys to and from TKD if I can't make it.

[AnnieA]

Re: booster seats. The law in my state is 8 yrs or 80 lbs too but the current safety guidelines are that a child stays in a booster until at least 4'9" or they can pass the 5-step test. http://www.carseat.org/ My 10.5 yr old is still in a booster. He only weighs about 65 lbs now. He's almost tall enough to use the seatbelt only but it will probably be closer to his 11th b-day before he's ready for that.

I'm 36 weeks this week but I'm starting to get the "It should be soon now, right?" questions. I just keep saying, "Oh I have about a month to go." But I was thinking this morning that I would have no problem with her coming next week or the week after provided she has figured out how to go vertex again.

[akind1]

I would have been in a booster until I was 12 years old! LOL I think when we were little the rule was age 2 or so for boosters . . . I don't know the 8 or 80 lbs seems a bit much to me. it used to be 4 or 40 which seemed more reasonable.

I LOVE convertible seats. However DH likes the ability to take baby into carts and restaurants in the infant seat, so we have that too.Personally, I only like them for restaurants. for shopping, I can as easily wear baby as pop them in the cart in the carseat. he is skeptical of my desire for another baby carrier. i want a baby k'tan. I like the moby but hate wrapping and wearing it all day. It's not hard really, to learn how to tie, and I can do it quickly, I just don't WANT to.

MM: yay on the glucose numbers!

MW: can you do a delivered meal plan, say like eDiets or Nutrisystem, or whatever, and just add a snack or two to make up for the extra calories you need while nursing?

Carrie: P90X is tough, but man, it works! I did it for a while a few years ago, and I really liked the results I got. I didn't lose weight right away, but I certainly noticed a difference in fit and tone. Not cheap though.

[MarineWife]

Annie ~ That's my issue with ds2. He's 7.5yo but just 4 feet tall and maybe 43 lbs. We joke that he'll be in a booster until he's 13. There were no other guidelines on the state website about size, just the 80 lbs., which seems rather irresponsible to me. I let him convince me to take the harness out of his booster so that he uses the car seat belt with the booster. I read some on the Safety Board here and it seems that a harness on an older child isn't any safer and may actually be more dangerous than a seat belt with a booster. Something about holding the body so tightly in the seat that the head/neck gets snapped harder.

Katrina ~ That's exactly why I got an infant carseat/carrier at the 2nd hand store. I won't use it in the car but have it for TKD when we'll be sitting for hours, in a restaurant and the grocery store. I figure I'll pop baby in my sling and carry the carrier so I'll have it. I can't carry a baby in a bucket carrier. It's too heavy and bulky. My dh doesn't mind it, though.

The Nutrisystem plan has an option for breastfeeding mothers. That's what I did before. I wouldn't know how much to add to the other diets for that. I guess I could try to figure it out. The eDiets meals look better, on TV anyway . They advertise that they are fresh, freeze-dried or something like that, rather than made the Nutrisystem way. I don't know how to describe those. They aren't frozen, just in sealed packages. They don't look very appetizing, a lot of sloppy sauce and not much solid food. The snacks and deserts are good, though. Ryan used to eat those so I'd have to order extra.

[akind1]

my MIL did nutrisystem for a while, so I know what the meals look like! ugh. How many calories per day do you get on the eDiets? I would add probably 300-500 calories a day to that, as I think that is about how many extra calories Kellymom says to add or that you burn, so to speak, while breastfeeding. It wouldn't be difficult to do, that is 3 of the 100 calorie snack packs or a probably most people's reasonable snack amount (maybe some hummus and chips, or icecream serving?)

For WW I know that is the only really difference for nursing moms, is they get more points to "spend".

I saw a mama at Target yesterday struggling with the infant seat, she was leaning to one side and just having a hard time carrying the infant seat just from the carts out the door to the car. Not worth it! People asked me when DS was little(r) if I wasn't worried about waking him up during the transfer from carseat to carrier, and honestly, I never was. Even now he stays asleep usually from being moved from carseat to stroller and back again, and then carseat to crib if he falls asleep on the way home from somewhere. Long may this last!

[AnnieA]

Originally Posted by akind1 

I saw a mama at Target yesterday struggling with the infant seat, she was leaning to one side and just having a hard time carrying the infant seat just from the carts out the door to the car. Not worth it! People asked me when DS was little(r) if I wasn't worried about waking him up during the transfer from carseat to carrier, and honestly, I never was. Even now he stays asleep usually from being moved from carseat to stroller and back again, and then carseat to crib if he falls asleep on the way home from somewhere. Long may this last!

That's exactly why I didn't want to get an infant carrier. I'm short and by the time you put one of those carriers in the shopping cart, I can't see where I'm going! Plus those things are heavy including the weight of the baby! I'll just carry the baby!

[MarineWife]

I think the eDiets was 1200-1500 calories a day. I may just be assuming, though, because that's what I always seem to get when I look at diet stuff. That makes sense, though, if it tells me how many calories I'm getting that I can just add snacks or a little extra to meals to make up the difference. I don't think I ever got a calorie count for the Nutrisystem meal plans. The meals do look nasty but they really don't taste bad, which surprised me, especially since I'm a very picky eater. When I did WW, I got 10 extra points for nursing. I have no idea what the calorie equivalents of that were. It was never enough, though.

Annie ~ I'm the same way. I can't see over the cart with a baby carrier in it. However, it was also very difficult for me to shop with ds2 and ds3 in my various carriers. Having to overextend to reach things because I had a baby in front of me wreaked havoc on my back. A back carry in the mei tai was the only way that really worked and you can't carry an infant like that. The wrap would probably be best for that if you can get it to work. I was almost always by myself and getting a tiny infant into a back carry with a wrap was difficult. Plus, if you get halfway through the store and baby needs to nurse, which seemed to always happen with me, it's a major pain to get baby out to nurse and then get him back in.

I also never did get very good at nursing baby in a sling or other carrier. You'd think after nursing 3 babies I'd be an expert but nope. I think there must be some kind of trick, like wearing button down shirts. I always felt too exposed either way. Either I had to pull my shirt up and my belly and back were uncovered not to mention that it's hard to pull a shirt up between you and baby or I would unbutton from top down but then felt like my chest was too exposed.

[Baby_Cakes]

I think once milk supply is established, by like 4-6 weeks, I'd be comfortable doing a 1500 calorie diet.  

When Nora was like 4-5 months old, I hit the gym really hard doing spin classes and cardio like crazy.  All of a sudden I went from being able to easily pump 3 oz per pumping session per boob down to 1.5-2.  I freaked.  I NEEDED that milk b/c I was working full time and DID NOT want to supplement with formula.  I immediately cut back on the exercise and it took like a good 2 weeks using More Milk Plus and eating oatmeal like it was going out of style to get my output back.  I know pumping isn't necessarily the best indicator of supply, but I really noticed a difference.  I was terrified.  It never quite got back up to where it had been, and maybe that drop was just going to happen regardless, but still.  Better safe than sorry with working out!!

This time, since I'm still not sure if we'll need to supplement, I'm not going to freak out yet.  The weight will come off eventually.  I know myself and I'm not going to want to start working out until 6 weeks pp anyway, lol!

I want to shop!  I don't even know what I want/need but I feel the urge.  I ordered all my postpartum goodies from earth mama angel baby, and I think I want to order some After Ease tincture for afterpains.  But what else?  What goodies are you ladies planning on getting or have you gotten already?  For yourself or for the baby?

[akind1]

I want to shop too, but don't have the $$ right now! so far I have this I got at consignment for like $25. and some outfits from Gymboree during the sale, and CD covers. I already have the crib. For me, I would love another nursing nightgown or two, and I need new nursing bras. I also want a mani/pedi at this new maternity spa/yoga center in town. They use all non-toxic stuff and no UV for nail drying, etc.

For me, I think in order to actually lose weight, I was eating 1800-2000 calories; any less and my body just held onto the weight. But that is me, and not everyone's bodies react the same way.

Carrie, fx you have no need to supplement little Mr. Dax.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by akind1 

Carrie, fx you have no need to supplement little Mr. Dax.

Aw, thanks Katrina.  I'm really crossing my fingers, too.  I just keep telling myself it'll be ok no matter what.  

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

I ordered all my postpartum goodies from earth mama angel baby

What did you get? I look at stuff periodically but have no idea what I might need or want. I do have my birth kit but I haven't opened the box to make sure everything is in there.

I think I've got everything I need for the baby. I got the last basket for the changing table today. It was the 3rd time I went to the store and bought/exchanged them but I think this last one will finally fit.

[Baby_Cakes]

I got the bottom balm, the bottom spray, the nipple butter, and the baby bottom balm.    I loved the spray last time.  It was heaven.  So I got another, and then another mama in my DDC said that the bottom balm was even nicer than the spray.  So, win win.  And their nipple butter is awesome.  Melts and smells lovely.

ETA:

So I just had my mw appt, and my platelets fricking DROPPED.  From 138 last time to 129.  Damn.  My mw told me thought that she did some research and talked to her back up and nobody says it's any reason to risk out of homebirth.  So I at least have that on my side!  I'm just so confused.  She also told me that at this point in pregnancy, normally platelets drop b/c of increase in blood volume, etc, and that this could be just that blip.  That after 36 weeks they would rise again.  I forgot to ask if she was going to do another draw after then, so I have to email her, but still.  Even if she doesn't, WTH?  Ugh.  

I also have to get in touch with the Mayo Clinic about the genetic testing after the birth.  I NEED the result overnight or within a day.  We are both carriers of a genetic disorder, why is it unheard of to get genetic results on your child within a reasonable time frame?!? 2 weeks is NOT reasonable.

Edited by Baby_Cakes - 6/21/11 at 1:41pm

[MarineWife]

Ugh, Carrie. I hope you can get all of that figured out.

Annie ~ Something just occurred to me. I don't get how you are 36w already. If your EDD is 7/21, you are due exactly one week before me, right? I'm 34w3d. Wouldn't that make you only 35w4d? I may be missing something since I've already demonstrated that I can't do simple math anymore thinking that you were 37w after saying I thought you were a week ahead of me.