September 2011 Whatever Ladies Having Babies!

[Baby_Cakes]

Member List:

lyeterae ~ Baby boy born February 2011
annie ~ Baby girl born April 7, 2011
Barefootscientist ~ Baby boy born May 30, 2011
AnnieA (due 7/18) ~ Baby girl born July 17, 2011
MarineWife (due 7/30) ~ Baby boy born July 25, 2011
Baby_Cakes (due 8/16) ~ Baby boy born August 16, 2011
MovingMomma (due 8/9) ~ Baby girl born August 18, 2011

akind1 ~ 9/28
mom2one ~ 10/23
jeninejessica ~ 12/1
Kindermama ~ 1/6

Here is last month's thread:

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1324485/august-2011-whatever-ladies-having-babies/360

[Baby_Cakes]

I wanted to mention that I started Finn in the BG OSes and am LOVING them on him.  They fit really well and are much easier for me than the diapers with covers are.  I'm almost mad I spent so much $$ on covers when I could have bought a few more OSes.  Though, once he slows down and isn't using so many a day I should be good.  I'm washing every day though, which sucks.

I also purged all his nb clothes, he didn't even wear most of them.  Sniff, sniff.  I had such cute things!  Oh well.  He's into 0-3 and 3 month clothes at not quite 3 weeks.  Cloth diaper butt contributes, but it's not all of it, even with sposies he can't fit the nb stuff.  Sigh.

Ordered his birth announcement too!  Here's how it looks:  

How is everyone else doing?

[MarineWife]

thanks for starting a new thread. All I did was update when anyone had a baby.

my butt and legs are sore from sitting on the couch doing nothing all day. I'm trying to really take it easy today. D has been very cooperative. He's been mostly sleeping on my lap, not too fussy if he wakes up. I hope he still sleeps tonight. At one point I did go upstairs to help K get dressed and got distracted putting laundry away. I almost instantly got very hot, sweaty and winded. A good reminder that I'm sick. Not that I need a reminder. I still feel quite sick. I have that crawling skin feeling where I can't stand if anyone touches (and, of course, my kids want to touch me constantly), alternating between sweating and chilled, don't feel like eating much, my eyes are burning, my throat is sore and so are my poor boobies. I've cried a few times b/c I feel so bad. It's times like these when I realize just how alone I am.

I've already got D in 6 month size t-shirts. They are a bit big but not huge and it saves me buying a bunch. He's pretty much grown out of his 0-3 month Gerber kimono shirts. Oh, and I boiled those dipes I was having problems with and it seems to have worked. I've used a few with no sign of a rash. They are pretty old and kind of threadbare, though, so not very absorbent anymore. Too bad b/c they were my fave dipes and I think the store went out of business.

What kind of snarky remarks did you get? Too bad people can't be more supportive. I have a milk storing question. I don't have much of a system. The first bit of milk that I collect for the day I put directly into a bag and in the fridge. The second collection goes in a cup with a lid in the fridge until it has cooled. When I have more, I poor the milk in the cup into the bag and put the warm milk in the cup too cool. The thing is that when the milk cools the fat separates and sometimes sticks to the side of the cup. I've been swishing it to try to redissolve it before pouring it into the bag. Is that ok?

Edited b/c i forgot to subscribe.

[MarineWife]

i don't think it worked so i'm posting again so i'll be subscribed.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

What kind of snarky remarks did you get? Too bad people can't be more supportive. I have a milk storing question. I don't have much of a system. The first bit of milk that I collect for the day I put directly into a bag and in the fridge. The second collection goes in a cup with a lid in the fridge until it has cooled. When I have more, I poor the milk in the cup into the bag and put the warm milk in the cup too cool. The thing is that when the milk cools the fat separates and sometimes sticks to the side of the cup. I've been swishing it to try to redissolve it before pouring it into the bag. Is that ok?
 

Ok good you saw.  I mean, wasn't that awful but wasn't very helpful either.  I saw that poster saying some other awful things to people so I'm just going to ignore her.  Thanks for your advice though!!

Swishing it is fine.  I used to run mine under lukewarm (not hot) tapwater to get the fat off the sides of the bottle before making DD's bottles when I worked.

I hope you're feeling better soon!!! How is the fever? 
 

[MarineWife]

yeah, i didn't think that post was awful. not the most sensitive and supportive when you're sleep-deprived and stressed. i know how difficult overactive let-down is b/c i'm dealing with it, too. all i can say is that it does get better with time. block nursing may help you. if nothing else, you'll feel like you're doing something.

my fever seems to be gone (i don't take my temp so i have to go by how i feel), along with the other symptoms except my sore breast. it's very tender all over. i can find some spots that are more tender than others but no hard lumps that feel like a plugged duct. i don't know what to do for that. i'm going to try to take it easy again today. i'm going to see if i can supervise some clean up upstairs without participating. haha! we'll see how that goes.

i meant to answer you about your sling. have you tried completely unthreading it and rethreading it? maybe it got twisted somehow. whenever one is digging into my back it's b/c it's twisted. make sure that the tail is flat and as spread out over the rings as possible. make sure it's spread out flat across your back and shoulder before putting finn in it. i'll post more if i think of anything. all of that was probably covered on the sites you read. take it with to the LLL meeting. i bet they'll be someone else there who uses one and could help you.

where are the preggos? this thread is supposed to be for them.

oh, have you tried the new groups yet? i read some of the thread about it and saw that you requested one. i think we could probably do that. we don't have to have a lot of separate threads if we don't want.

[Baby_Cakes]

I'm waiting for them to get our DDC going as a group.  I think it'll happen sometime this week.  If it works out and is cool, we can totally do it for us.  We can of course still have our chat thread but maybe we can do a picture thread or something too.  It might be fun to have it be in a special place just for us, and if someone else wants to join they can.

Thanks for the tips on the sling.  I'll do that whole rethreading thing today.  I want to use it today b/c we're going to my ILs and I think we'll be outside a lot.  They're weird they don't like to hold babies much, so he'll be in my arms the whole time.  I'd rather just wear him!!  

Id nurse as much as possible on that sore bewb, and do warm compresses to try to break up the infection.  I'm glad overall you're feeling better though.  Do you have poke root on hand?  I'd do a dose of that just to clear out the breast tissue and then I bet you'll be good to go in a day or so.

where are all the preggos?  

[jeninejessica]

We're sleeeeeeeeping. lol. 

No really though, I've been sleeping like crazy the last little bit. I feel like I'm fighting off some sort of sickness, so trying to just pamper my body a lot. I also have been going to the chiro, and he completely fixed my hip pain... but now my hips are back in place, I can feel I've got some major pubic symphysis pain going on. Wow. I'd rather the hip pain- that one was constant and throbbing, but the psd feels like someone is shooting you in the pelvis, and out of nowhere! Brutal guys! And if I remember from you guys talking about it, there's nothing really to do for it, but just wait. 

So, I'm feeling very... I don't even know the word, some combination of silly/incapacitated/useless/pathetic. I'm only 27 weeks, but feel like I'm acting closer to full term. Walking anywhere, even from one room to the next in the house, hurts. I don't even waddle... I just hobble. It's embarassing. Other than that, really I feel fine. But you tend to count walking as a basic human necessity, and it's very degrading not to be able to anymore. 

blah. Anyways... happy talk. It was a wonderful milestone seeing baby hit (based on the average growth anyways) 2lbs. That seems so big! And I've finished putting away almost all the rest of my non-mat clothes and fully fully into all my maternity wardrobe, right in time for fall to start (more of it is long sleeve and sweaters, so it's great). I'm just having a bit of a hard time finding comfy pants- I am sitting super low, so the only thing that feels right is very low rise sweatpants, etc. It makes it hard to dress up or wear jeans! lol. I'll have to take a photo for you guys. But-- it's still a plus in a way, because I was worried about that dreaded rib pain everyone talks about, and so far, baby isn't anywhere near them. I should be good for at least another month before she grows enough to come near my ribs. I think my fundus is still sitting about 2 inches below them. 

Getting frustrated with DH. I figure, if he's off work in order to work on the house (ie bringing in no money), then he should be working on the house as if it were a job-- ie for 8 hours every day. He's not. He's treating them like days off, and working for maybe two hours, and doing... who knows what else in the meantime. But I'm also not in the mood to fight, so I'm trying to be gentle about it. But right now, we are NOWHERE on target to have our basement finished by the time baby gets here. And it needs to be, because the baby's room is piled floor to ceiling with boxes from the basement right now- which obviously need to be emptied before we can organize and set up the nursery. blah. 

Time for food for this cranky preggo. lol. 

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by jeninejessica 

We're sleeeeeeeeping. lol.

hey! don't rub it in!

once i got to a certain size i couldn't wear any bottoms except very stretchy soft cotton or spandex, like my yoga skirts, pants and short. it just hurts to have anything the least bit constrictive across my tummy anywhere. full panel pants are more comfortable in that sense. you could get a couple full panel things just for dress up when you need to.

[akind1]

Hey -

Carrie - the ring part of the ring sling is why I much rather would wrap. I just can't picture it being comfortable, though people have told me they really liked theirs. 

MW: hope you are feeling better!

JJ: I'm tired, but can't be comfortable sleeping for long. Not that DS will let me, anyway!  take it while you can get it!  I hear you on your DH, but not much to be done about it. and bummer about the SPD - take it easy -

AfM: I have been super emotional the last couple days (hoping this is a sign of the end - FX!)  I totally exploded on DH . . .and he was like, wow, I didn't mean to make you that upset. I told him it is partly hormones, but partly really valid stuff. Don't ignore the stuff that's valid because hormones blew it out of proportion!  Anyway, feeling a little better yesterday and today, but boy, labor day! I was a wreck. I was either crying or trying not to most of the day. Not fun, because I really, really, hate crying. And I feel like I've been leaking fluid, but surely not, as it is only maybe once or twice a day the last couple days I've felt a little trickle. maybe just extra fluid down there in general . . .

So I'm going to go ahead and say it - I am ready to be done and meet this little girl!  - the pregnancy itself doesn't bother me - I'm uncomfortable, but it's bearable - but I don't like being super emotional and volatile. I'm ready to not be working. at least for a while, I have to go back to work by 8 weeks PP.

I need to pack my hospital bag though, and call our short term disability company to put them on the alert.

JJ: I agree re: full belly pants, unless you find some comfy underbelly ones. try to find ones that are pretty thin stretchy material over the belly, those are more comfy - IMHO - another thing that bummed me out this weekend was tearing my one really comfy pair of maternity pants (non work ones) so now I just have my shorts and dress clothes. ugh.

I need something to cheer me up! I've got coffee . . . .

ETA: 37 week picture. the ladies at work think I've dropped a bit. I hope so! I can say I feel like I can eat a little more than I used to, but it's hard to say.

Edited by akind1 - 9/7/11 at 6:03am

[Kindermama]

Must be something in the air because I've been so emotional lately. I'm feeling the weight of something....kids! too many kids! school starting! nesting---I have 10 pages of "nesting" plans..... and a husband who just does his own thing on his own schedule (food, exercise, errands) and I'm jealous and angry about it. I'm hating my life right now....one of those weeks I guess where it all gets to be too much for me. I've been crying a lot. Weird because most of August, I was so zen ALL.THE.TIME. Must be the transition of summer to fall.....new routines. I've been nesting like crazy (I can't remember past pregnancies---isn't this a bit early???) and I just fall to pieces when the next day rolls around and someone has ruined whatever I organized. I get so worked up and just cry and cry. Rescue Remedy has been helping me a lot. I swear I need to use it everyday lately. I've told my DH to "shut up" a few days this week and I could have spanked my son when he threw his heavy airplane into the wall and make a little hole. I had to send him to his room for over an hour just to protect him from my anger. Nevermind my almost-teen's eye-rolling and back-talk.....I need time for me and I can't find it! Sadly, I don't think it's going to change especially with my new boy coming soon! 

[Kindermama]

Oh, Carrie, that is a the cutest card and Finn is just so scrumptious! I love the elephants on the top! My 6yo DD is obsessed with elephants and keeps picking out baby boy stuff with elephants on it! She even asked me to google "elephant shoes" for her...she wanted a pair for herself 

MW--oh man, I feel for you. It sucks to be sick and then to be sick when you're on your own...doubly sucks!   Feel better mama!

[MarineWife]

back at you, Kinder. I know how you feel being overwhelmed with life and kids and family right now. I posted in the Parenting forum about being so fed up with my boys' bickering and just bad behavior. I can't take it anymore! I've been doing a lot of sending them to their rooms just so I can get some peace and quiet and cool down. Thank goodness they are playing a board game nicely right now.

Kat ~ I was very emotional starting a week before I went into labor. Remember? I had a complete break down for 2 or 3 days. A few people told me that was a sign that birth was close but I didn't really believe it. I can't remember, were you early with Gabe?

Getting the ring sling positioned correctly can take a few tries. I think the first few times I used mine the rings hurt me. I had them too high so they were pressing on my collarbone. Too low, though, and the whole thing will hurt your back.

I am feeling much better. My breast is now barely even tender. Amazing how that could heal on it's own like that. I was worried I would need abx after how bad I felt. We all slept pretty well last night. D went down for good at about 10 pm, 2 hours earlier than the night before. He did start to squirm and grunt and groan around 3 am but it wasn't as bad as the night before so I think I was able to sleep through some of it. He's not awake and he's not really fussing. He's trying to work out some gas, poor guy. I think the difference was that last night I gave him the Hyland's Colic tablets. The night before I couldn't find them and he was much more restless and noisy so that I couldn't sleep at all.

E starts homeschool chorus today. I'm so excited for him. He wanted to take singing lessons. Private lessons cost $75 a month. I didn't think we were going to be able to afford it but, just in time, I got a card in the mail about this homeschool chorus that's only $20 a month. Total bonus that he'll get to be in a class with other kids, which he's been wanting to do. Of course, now he's not sure he wants to do it. I think he's a little nervous. He say's he won't sing jingles and only likes pop and rock.

[akind1]

I think I remember something of the sort, which is why I'm slightly hopeful. I was induced at 41+6 with Gabe. BUT I think I may possibly have gone earlier (I was having good regular early labor contractions 2 days before my EDC, but stupid me went to the hospital and between having to be on a monitor not moving forever and the one CNM I didn't like examining me - I felt Gabe jump up in my my uterus, away from her hand - and needless to say, labor petered out)

At any rate, I have my GBS swab tomorrow, so we'll see what the doc says - not that they can really predict labor really, but may give some indication as to whether he feels she's engaged at all. I think so, but not sure.

Kinder - it's never too early to nest!  I was doing that Monday, trying to get closets more organized. I really want to do the kitchen and pantry, but since it is really my MIL's house, I'm not sure that would go over well. If you can, find some time to yourself. I am feeling slightly more sane today because I spent yesterday away from my DH with a friend of mine. so If you can, try! it will likely help a little.

MW - so glad you're feeling better and didn't need the ABX.  also yay on boys playing well by themselves for a bit! I'm sure E will enjoy the chorus once he gets going. Wonder if he'd mind singing "jingle bell rock"?! LOL

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by akind1 

I'm sure E will enjoy the chorus once he gets going. Wonder if he'd mind singing "jingle bell rock"?! LOL

Hehe, I'll have to suggest that to him. He came out of the class with a funny look on his face and ripped of his name tag like he was mad. I was sure he was going to say something bad happened and he wasn't going back. I didn't react or say anything, just waited for him. He said to me, "I think I'll come back next week."

right, i forgot you were induced and all of that. just don't get your hopes up too much. as i'm sure carrie can attest, it can be very frustrating and distressing to get all set on having baby by a certain time when it doesn't happen.

[akind1]

yeah, not getting my hopes up, but want to make sure we are all ready, just in case. It is a fine line to walk. I mean, I really do expect her to go all the way, if not over a bit, but all the same, wouldn't mind her coming a little early either . . . I'm conflicted. She'll come when she's good and ready in any case.

Glad he says he'll go back next week :)

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

right, i forgot you were induced and all of that. just don't get your hopes up too much. as i'm sure carrie can attest, it can be very frustrating and distressing to get all set on having baby by a certain time when it doesn't happen.

VERY frustrating!  Too many ppl told me I wouldn't make it to my due date.  I should have just stayed with the mentality I had from the beginning that he'd come late!  LOL!!

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

back at you, Kinder. I know how you feel being overwhelmed with life and kids and family right now. I posted in the Parenting forum about being so fed up with my boys' bickering and just bad behavior. I can't take it anymore! I've been doing a lot of sending them to their rooms just so I can get some peace and quiet and cool down. Thank goodness they are playing a board game nicely right now.

Kat ~ I was very emotional starting a week before I went into labor. Remember? I had a complete break down for 2 or 3 days. A few people told me that was a sign that birth was close but I didn't really believe it. I can't remember, were you early with Gabe?

Getting the ring sling positioned correctly can take a few tries. I think the first few times I used mine the rings hurt me. I had them too high so they were pressing on my collarbone. Too low, though, and the whole thing will hurt your back.

I am feeling much better. My breast is now barely even tender. Amazing how that could heal on it's own like that. I was worried I would need abx after how bad I felt. We all slept pretty well last night. D went down for good at about 10 pm, 2 hours earlier than the night before. He did start to squirm and grunt and groan around 3 am but it wasn't as bad as the night before so I think I was able to sleep through some of it. He's not awake and he's not really fussing. He's trying to work out some gas, poor guy. I think the difference was that last night I gave him the Hyland's Colic tablets. The night before I couldn't find them and he was much more restless and noisy so that I couldn't sleep at all.

E starts homeschool chorus today. I'm so excited for him. He wanted to take singing lessons. Private lessons cost $75 a month. I didn't think we were going to be able to afford it but, just in time, I got a card in the mail about this homeschool chorus that's only $20 a month. Total bonus that he'll get to be in a class with other kids, which he's been wanting to do. Of course, now he's not sure he wants to do it. I think he's a little nervous. He say's he won't sing jingles and only likes pop and rock.

O.M.G.  I've been dealing with a TON of issues with Nora too.  I've had less than stellar parenting moments these past few days.  She is driving me INSANE.  Her whining is redic and she's regressing with the potty.  Not full accidents but enough that she needs to get to the bathroom sooner but just doesn't.  She pooped her pants and grandmas and that's just unheard of.  But, of course, we gently remind her, try not to chastise or make her feel embarassed but MAN.  WTF!?  And don't get me started on the whining and the tantrums.  

I'm glad you're feeling better, MW.  Continue to take it easy so it really goes away.

I'm glad Ethan enjoyed his chorus class.  That sounds fun.  

I rethreaded my sling and it really did help.  I'm still working on getting him in a good spot so it doesn't kill my neck.  The rings don't cut in anywhere, it's just the fabric against my neck. All the pics and tutorials I see, the fabric is spread nicely over the shoulder.  Mine sits right against my neck and I can't get it spread out.  Idk what I'm doing wrong.  Maybe I'll do LLL and have them help me...

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

I rethreaded my sling and it really did help.  I'm still working on getting him in a good spot so it doesn't kill my neck.  The rings don't cut in anywhere, it's just the fabric against my neck. All the pics and tutorials I see, the fabric is spread nicely over the shoulder.  Mine sits right against my neck and I can't get it spread out.  Idk what I'm doing wrong.  Maybe I'll do LLL and have them help me...

maybe if you lower the ring a little, the fabric will spread better. what brand and fabric is it?

mine is folded and fanned so that it's thick like padding so it can't bunch up. it's nice b/c it doesn't hurt but not so great b/c it restricts my shoulder movement. it would be nice to have the option of bunching it up on my neck.

kat ~ always good to be ready. i had so convinced myself that D wasn't coming until a day or two after my edd that i was very unprepared when he came 5 days early.

i posted this, http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1328258/is-this-strange#post_16641709, a few days ago and seizures were suggested. now i'm totally freaked out about it. if you have time, will you all read it and tell me what you think?

you all know how distrusting i am of doctors so i'm king of scared to take it to a doctor. but i'm now concerned enough to wonder if i can wait for D's 2 month check up on the 26th or if i should take him to the doc sooner. i've been paying closer attention to when this happens. yesterday there was once when maybe his whole body was shaking like a more classic seizure but i'm really not sure i saw what i think i saw. it happened so fast.

[akind1]

MW:  if you are honestly concerned, I really think it can't hurt to visit the doc. with something like seizures, it is better to know sooner than not.

Carrie: wish I could help with the ring sling issue. I know I never really got the fabric on my wrap to fan out over my shoulders, but it's not a big a deal in those.  and with Nora . . . don't know what to say; I know several of our friends with newborns are having issues with the older sibling, so I guess it's perfectly normal, but also perfectly frustrating!

I think I only got 4 hours total sleep last night. Gabe came to bed with us around 2 - no big deal, that, really - but did. not. go. back. to. sleep. Until after 5. I'm pretty sure. He'd get restless and wiggle and kick, and so therefore, DH and I neither one slept either. (maybe DH a little, because DS insists on snuggling with me). It didn't help that I was restless anyway, I'd wake up right before a contraction came (nothing big, regular, or whatever - but definitely noticeable) and that happened several times before Gabe came into bed with us. And I know she has definitely dropped, because the overhang of skin is applying more pressure against my symphasis pubis, which is uncomfortable/painful.

End of whine!

Dr. appointment in a bit. fun stuff!

[MarineWife]

kat ~ i forgot to say that i think you do look a little lower.

what's with everyone getting SPD? i had never even heard of it until a couple of years ago, and i had been through 3 pgs, and now it seems it's more common than not.

i agree that regression and increased sensitivity, etc. is normal in an older sibling when new baby comes. it can start even before baby is born. it's not limited to young children, either. i went through it with ryan when ethan was born and he was 12, turned 13 2 months later. give as much positive attention and cuddles as you can to the older child that doesn't involve the baby. i know, very hard to do.

i was able to get some time with K yesterday while E was in his singing class. D was with us but he was sleeping so i was able to focus completely on K. then last night by sheer luck i got some time with E after K and D fell asleep. we just talked but it was nice. yesterday was a much more pleasant day, too. nowhere near as much bickering.

i don't know how worried i am about the idea of D having seizures. I must not be that worried or I would have already rushed him to the ER. i hadn't thought of that until someone else mentioned it. i googled it and decided that wasn't it b/c D didn't exhibit any of the symptoms i read. then someone suggested the leg shaking was like the leg jerkiness described with seizures. it's really not, tho. with seizures, both legs jerk up toward the stomach in large movements. with D, it's just one leg and it straightens, if anything, and shakes very rapidly in very small movements the way a dog's leg shakes when you scratch it in just the right spot. His arms don't jerk at all. Most of the time, when his eyes roll like that, his entire body is completely limp. it's really hard to tell, though. infant seizures aren't as obvious as seizures in older children and adults. Someone suggested video taping it but it happens so fast that I wouldn't be able to get the camera on in time to get anything.

I do have the problem of the shoulders bunching on my wrap and hurting me sometimes. It has to have something with the way I put it on sometimes b/c it doesn't always happen. Haven't figured out what the problem is yet. I'm thinking maybe it hurts when I don't make the wrap tight enough so that D hangs off me a little and it pulls. I've been trying to put it on more loosely b/c it felt kind of tight and was hard to get D in. I thought maybe he was getting squished. Maybe I need to go back to making it tight. I keep forgetting I want to get some rings so I can try making a sling out of my wrap, too. If I can do that, I'll need to take one carrier with me instead of both when I go out.