**********Weekly Chat! December 11th-17th ********** - Page 3 « Back to Group Discussions

[casmer]

I haven't participated in a long-while...just really haven't felt much up to it.  Anyhow...

Name: "casmer"

Weeks/Days along: 16w5d

Appointments: Gender/Anatomy Scan January 4

Symptoms: Major indigestion...it doesn't matter what I eat, I'm going to have indigestion.  I've also been experiencing round ligament pain for a few weeks now.  Oh and my skin is seriously dry.

Food: Hungry ALL the time! No major aversions anymore.  Chicken still grosses me out, unless it's fried.  I wouldn't be southern if I couldn't eat fried chicken ;)

Exercise: Some walking, stationary bicycle, and pre-natal yoga.

Body changes and other milestones: I've definitely gone up at least a cup size (DH is loving that-LOL).  I'm starting to show, but it's not a tight, cute bump yet.  I can still wear my pre-pregnancy clothes.  At my 14-week appointment, I had only gained 1 pound since my pre-pregnancy weight.  That really surprised me.  Now that I'm constantly hungry, I think I'll start slowly gaining more weight.

Thoughts: I'll be excited to know the gender in a few weeks.  I don't have a preference, although I do feel like it's a girl...so we'll see!  In the meantime, we've been dismantling the guest bedroom and clearing out excess junk.  Nesting is going to be SO much fun. 

Oh and our Bradley Classes start mid-January...can't wait!!!!

[Astraia]

Yup... SIL/BIL, their four kids, in laws, parents, cousins... I think i'm making some big batches of lotions and lip balm (I have some the of the ingredients already), nothing for the baby, paring back on what I'm making for my kids (so many plans!) and the needle-felted prettines that was supposed to go on MIL's gift won't happen. The problem is that all of these people get us things, so even if it's something small I feel like I NEED to give them something. Homemade is cheap and feels like I put lots of effort into it even if I'm not. Except that I am. Oh well.

[SaguaroMoon]

Name: Kristin

Weeks/Days along: 17 w, 3 d

Appointments: We had a MW appointment last Saturday; everything seems to be going well. We did decide to do one ultrasound at around 20 weeks, so I'll be scheduling that soon.

Symptoms: I've had a lot of indigestion lately; while I'm not having food aversions anymore, it can sometimes be tough to eat much because of this. Oh, and I had this random, exruciating pain in my right leg last week! I woke up in the middle of the night, and it lasted two hours, and then hurt (though thankfully, not nearly as much) for the rest of the day. The next day, it was totally gone. Weird - I'm guessing the baby was pressing on a nerve? My MW referred me to a PT who specializes in myofascial release - anyone tried that before?

Food: I can pretty much eat anything. I'm really into yogurt. I had a huge thing for mangoes for a while, but that seems to have passed (which is good, because they're out of season and really expensive right now). I'm not feeling that into vegetables, which is really unusual for me, but I manage to get at least a couple of servings a day.

Exercise: Getting a little better. I walk about 2 miles every other day or so. I've started doing yoga again at home, and I'm about to go to the Y (I just re-joined!) to go swimming.

Body changes and other milestones: I definitely have a bump now! I don't need maternity clothes, yet, and I hope that I won't for a while - most of my clothes tend to be pretty loose and flowy, so I can still fit into most of them. I did buy 1 pair of maternity pants at the thrift shop, just in case. My breasts are huge!

Thoughts: I'm excited to start exercising more again - as this is my first baby, and I plan on a homebirth, I feel like it's really important to make sure I'm in great shape for labor. Also, I've gotten kind of paranoid about my husband's safety - every time he leaves the house, I make him promise that he will be safe. I was reassured to read that this is a perfectly normal symptom, lol. I also noticed I've had days where I suddenly feel stressed for no particular reason - I'm assuming it's hormonal. Time to get back into daily meditation.

[MeredithA]

Name: meredith

Weeks/Days along: 19 weeks 1 day

Appointments: in a few weeks

Symptoms: tailbone pain, sudden and sharp pains on my lower right back and going down my butt/leg a bit. Perhaps nerve pain of some sort? It lasts just a few seconds but eek it hurts for that brief time. Bigger boobies -- I finally bought 2 new bras and the most fabulous invention: A bra extender! I have a couple bras that are roomier in the cups, but the band is too tight and gives me back-fat rolls which I can't stand. So these bra extenders convert any bra into a slightly bigger size. My 36 A is now a 38 A, and way more flattering from the back. Oh also I got some random acne on the back of my neck! I can't wear a pony tail until it goes away. WTH! I guess its better than on my face. I still have some there, but not as bad as the first trimester. (knock on wood!)

Food Everything! People at work keep bringing in holiday treats, so gingerbread cookies, cheese balls, and other high calorie snacks have been my foods of the week

Exercise: I walked around my entire neighborhood (about 2 miles). Once. To look at everyones holiday lights. I'll do it again sometime :-)

Body changes and other milestones: huge belly accompanied by new backfat (ugh), and TONS of baby movements. She is finally kicking throughout the entire day which I love. She usually gives me a huge kick in the morning after breakfast and I always say "Good morning sweetie!". Hubby still can't feel it. But he is impatient and doesn't keep his hand on my tummy long enough. 

Thoughts Can't decide about the 20 week anatomy scan. I have already had so many ultrasounds (3!!!) because of little worries (like when midwife couldn't find the hb, and when I was bleeding clots...) and hubby prefers to skip the anatomy scan. We wouldn't terminate if baby had a problem, but I absolutely would need to prepare myself. I am kind of a worrier and I would like to have the reassurance that baby looks fine....or the knowledge that I might need to prepare myself for a problem. Hubby argues that ultrasound itself could cause problems and he doesn't think it is worth it. I have to decide soon. I just don't know. Anyone else having a hard time deciding about this?

Saguaro, I am the same way about my Hubby's safety. He is a police officer and I'm always like "be careful!! don't get shot by any bad guys!". Hormones make me extra worried about him. 

Astria, you make your own lip balm? How neat! I would love to learn how to do that. 

[forestmushroom]

Meredith, it sounds like a pinched sciatic nerve!  Ask your midwife about stretches you can do to help it.  Ouch!  That is painful.

I think the anatomy scan is worth doing... I'd rather have a false alarm that have baby be born with a condition that everyone is unprepared to care for... but that is just me.  I had mine today and it was reassuring to see the little one in there and know that everything looked good. 

And, um, I couldn't help but notice the gender.... it was pretty obviously a little.....

B O Y !

I think I have already picked a name, too... but I haven't told my DH yet!  So fun. I'm glad I found out, it has really helped me bond with baby today... and call him by his name. 

Unfortunately my DH was so sick he couldn't come!  But it was cool....

[MeredithA]

Congrats on the boy forrestmushroom! So fun to call baby by his name for the first time :-)

[shastalily]

Yay!  Welcome to the baby boy club, forestmushroom.  :-)

[janellody]

Yes welcome to the boy club forest!!! 

Meredith - I think the anatomy scan is a good thing... although I am in the camp that ultrasounds don't harm the baby at all.  With all the measurements and stuff, I think it's a good thing.  Plus then you can peak and see if it's really a girl :P

[MLog]

Name: Megan

Weeks/Days along: 16 weeks/ 5days

Appointments: MW appt 12/30, anatomy scan u/s early Jan

Symptoms: So TIRED!  Work is also really busy right now so that's not helping.  Restless/painful legs at night.  Bloody noses.

Food: I'll pretty much eat anything now.  Turned off by ice cream but love all other sweets.

Exercise: weekly yoga/pilates class, ballet class every other week.  I'm pretty much on my feet all the time since I teach dance, though I wouldn't really consider that exercise.

Body changes and other milestones: None recently though DH did mention last night that my areolas are much darker.  I think it's been that way for awhile and he just hasn't noticed.  Finally found Bradley classes that work with our schedule and are not that far away.  This makes me very excited!  We'll start mid-Feb.

Thoughts: Can't decide whether to find out gender.  I didn't want to originally, but DH is convinced it's a girl (he's had dreams and often predicts the gender of friends' babies with amazing accuracy.)  So we've taken to calling baby "she" or even by her likely name Isabella Ocean.  (Nickname Bella of course, and it has nothing to do with the Twilight movies.  In fact, I wanted to pick a different name since Isabella is now so popular but DH is standing firm since we've decided on this name 8 years ago.)  Anyway, I feel like it would be really hard to find out at the birth that he was wrong and have to readjust our expectations.  So I guess we'll see.  DH says it's up to me. 

[LinnieThree]

Forestmushroom- YAY!!! Congrats on the boy! That's great news:)

[Kamiro]

Kristin - That paranoid about safety thing is something I have never shaken after having kids. lol - Bet you're excited to know gender?

Forest - Congratulations on a boy!

Megan - It is a fun surprise to find out gender at the birth, but if you think there would be disappointment of any sort - than I would find it out.

Linnie - How is your foot doing?

Had my midwife apt today. Measuring 26 for my fundal height. By the end of my last pregnancy I was measuring 54. That was my 10 1/2 pound 22 1/2" long baby though. Wonder how big this one will be? LOL

19w 4 days today, bp was good, and urine was good. Every thing was good. Weirdest damn thing though - I can't feel the baby moving. She was moving around today on the doppler, but I couldnt really feel it. So weird. I was feeling it really strong a couple weeks ago and now, I can't.

Perhaps it is all that delicious food I have been eating. Seriously, if there is a food for simple made foods I have been all over it.

[LinnieThree]

Onemoreontheway- thank you for asking about my foot. It is healing very well and very quickly. I am walking around like a pro but it still hurts and I still have to be very careful. All the stitches are still in and I have to keep changing the dressing every day but it looks "good". The main problem is that it hurts like heck when I try to put a shoe on. I have these old big black boots that belonged to my grandfather. He passed away two years ago and for some reason, we ended up with these boots that sat in our laundry room for two years. Well, they have come in very useful. They are the only things that I can get on my foot. They look hilarious but atleast I can go outside! I am sure that my grandpa would be happy that he is still able to help me out :)

[LinnieThree]

I just want to share something cute that DH did tonight. He set up a facebook group for all of our friends to guess the gender, weight and length of the baby. We are offering a $25 gift certificate to a well loved Canadian coffee shop. People are already recording their guesses and they are adding some extra funny things to the guesses and we are having a great time reading them. Just wanted to share that- I found it cute that DH wanted to start something like this, all on his own.

[BubbleMa]

Meredith, since you're planning a homebirth I would get the extra u/s.  If you were going to be in a hospital with all the equipment to handle an emergency that would be different.  You definitely don't want any surprises at home.

Onemore, Congrats!!  :D

Linnie, What a cute idea!  I love it!

I scheduled an u/s for Monday morning.  I can't wait!!  :D 

[hollyann]

Meredith, I'm a little concerned about excessive u/s too, I've had 4 very short ones (which I think was mostly due to a very u/s happy obgyn.)  We skipped the 12 week because we also felt we wouldnt abort or do futher testing.  We are however going ahead with the 20 week scan, our midwives require it since we are in a freestanding birth center, they want to make sure everyone is safe and sound for the birth.

[Just1More]

I don't know if it's this website, my internet, or my computer, but mothering pages take a LONG time to load, and when I try to post, it says it is submitting, but never does, and I lose what I type.  So, I recently discovered that I can read on my cell phone (not a smart phone), but not post.  So, I've been keeping up that way. 

Here's to posting...we'll see.  I'm going to put a lot in this one, instead of trying to do individual threads because I really doubt it will work, and  I only have a minute while the kids are eating breakfast... So...

Yeah for all those who have found out boy/girl.  That is SO fun.  All those "thought I was having a boy, but it was a girl" stories make me wonder now if mine is really a boy or not.  Blah!  Janelle, it's been so fun reading your posts...I am so happy that everyone around you is excited and celebrating, too.  Makes the enjoyment of everything so great!

Meredith-After my third, I decided no more anatomy scans.  They only pick up 15% of anomalies, and have the potential to cause a lot of unneccessary worry and intervention.  I also feel they could cause a false sense of security.  Instead, I've researched common symptoms of things that need prompt medical attention, and watch my baby closely in the first little bit.  There are very, very, very few things that don't give you enough time to get to the hospital.  FTR-That's how I feel about GBS testing, too.  Your status could change at any point, so being negative at 36 weeks doesn't mean you are still negative at 40, though a doctor will assume that you are.  I'd just rather watch the baby for ANY symptom that needs checked out, than to put my hope in the correct reading of a test.

The safety thing...ugh.  For ME, it goes away if I am regular with my vitamins, hydration, iron, and sleep.  If not, it gets worse by the day. 

Linnethree-That is SO sweet about your dh!  I love that!

Astraia- Christmas presents!  Ack!  I feel your pain.  I JUST finished the last of the machine stitching for my kids' gifts.  Now I have a lot of hand-stitching and stuffing to do.  I very much dislike that part. :)  And, I am looking at a ton of cooking and packing for our trip to see family.  Whew.  Good luck!

Onemore-Wow! Big babies!  I am measuring a little big, too.  About 23 or 24, but my babies are slightly bigger also.  Not 10lbs, though. :)  I wanted to make a suggestiong for the master gender thread.  It might be easier to read if people were listed first by boy/girl/surprise, and then by due date?  It would be easy to scan through and see who we are expecting and roughly when.

Weeks: 18? 19?

Appts: sometime after the first of the year

symptoms: feeling the baby much more.  it likes to hang out really high up, and sometimes I can even palpitate position.  kicks feeling like rolling or falling or something.  makes me grab my belly to steady it sometimes.

food: plain and room temperature

exercise: i just discovered that 8 laps around my yard is about a mile.  So, I can walk at naptime.  we live on a slope, too, so plenty of extra work.  I was having a hard time getting in a walk because it's no fun and not exercise to take my 4 littles with me, and dh gets home after dark.  But, now, I just circle the house and it works out pretty well.  our house has been really warm, and i get overheated in my sleep, which means that my heart is acting all funky again.  makes me wonder if i should exercise right now or not? 

body changes: finding a belly these days, but not hugely.  less than i would expect at this point, but always more than i think when i look in the mirror. :)  I gained 25lbs overnight a few days ago, and that totally shocked me...until I realized that you shouldn't use your scale on carpet, lol.  I have gained, from the beginning, about 7 or so, I think.  I'm not certain of a starting weight.  I did think of a fun thing to do.  I'm going to go measure the waist of my pre pg pants, and then keep track of my waist size from here on out.  I think that will be a better indicator of the change.

thoughts: just overwhelmed with lots to do.  but, very excited about christmas this year, and feeling generally at peace.

[JynxGirl]

Name : Jen
Weeks : 17 weeks right now.
Appointments : I saw my new gastroenterologist, who basically can't do anything until I have the baby. He wants to schedule the first tests just two weeks after the baby is born... I'm going to delay them until 6 weeks post-partum. I see my OB next on the 9th of January.
Body changes: I'm looking more and more pregnant by the day. :-) the baby is also getting a lot more active., which is really nice. :-)
Food : I'm craving meat. All the time, I just want steak or burgers or roast.
Exercise : yeah, no... other than walking my dogs and housework, I'm a lazy lady. :P

[cristeen]

Meredith - sounds like Sciatica.  There are some stretches you can do that might help, and you could try chiropractic (just make sure they're practiced with pregnant women).  But for the most part, you just have to live with the pain.  The good thing is it's not constant.  I've had it all 3 pregnancies, and it sucks. 

Not a whole lot to report here (and I don't feel like going and grabbing the template)...

I'm 17 weeks on Monday.

Had my "intake" appt with the MW yesterday.  She was here almost 3 hours!  My MW in my last pg didn't take that kind of time.  I'm already feeling like this is going to be a totally different experience (which is why I switched MWs).

I am definitely "showing", in that my regular clothes don't fit, shirts are too short and pants too small, but I just look fatter to others.  Even at 9 mos with DS, I didn't look obviously pg, just fat.  DH and I can see the changes as my belly rounds (and my butt shrinks, what's up with that?), but a casual observer won't see those things.  My weight gain so far has been less than half a pound though.  0.4 lbs in 3 mos, according to my Wii Fit. 

Cravings - lots.  Random.  Changing constantly.  My longest lasting one so far was mint.  In any form, but preferably without chocolate (ever try to find mint that's not paired with chocolate?  it's not easy).  Not really any aversions this pg so far (thankfully).   The reflux is starting early this time around though.  Which I hate.  I can control it with diet, but like I told my MW yesterday, it's not so bad yet that I'm motivated to do that.  But that time is coming, I'm sure. 

Exercise - HA!  I'm lucky if I leave the house twice a week.  I just can't handle DS in public by myself most of the time.  And I'm far more interested in sleeping during his down-time, since he's still up 2x/night, and waking for the day before 5.  I'm hoping tonight I can convince DH to give me the night off (have him take night duty), so I can get 8 hours. 

As for the question of u/s - I don't care for them.  If I had my preference I wouldn't do them.  Both DS1 and DS reacted badly to the scans, so you can't convince me they didn't have some sort of effect on them.  All that being said, I do have them because after DS1's problems we need to know.  This time though I'm insisting on not finding out gender.  I want that moment of surprise and wonder at birth.  I think everyone has to make an informed decision for themselves, but I do really urge you to think about what you're going to do with the information.  If all I were going to do is worry myself crazy with it, I wouldn't do it.  I spent all of DS' pregnancy worrying (with no reason), and it had some serious effects on both me and us (especially bonding).  I will also urge you to never go to a scan alone.  If your partner can't go with you, ask a friend to do it.  Getting bad news while you're by yourself is extremely difficult - you're all wrapped up in this baby and have trouble thinking straight, you need someone with a little bit more space... and this is experience speaking.  Yes, none of us plan on the bad news, but ultimately that's why you're there - to rule out bad news.  Be prepared for the possibility. 

[casmer]

Originally Posted by cristeen 
The reflux is starting early this time around though.  Which I hate.  I can control it with diet, but like I told my MW yesterday, it's not so bad yet that I'm motivated to do that.  But that time is coming, I'm sure. 

I think I'm *almost* to the point of making some diet changes.  I really like spicy food and I figure if EVERYthing gives me reflux, then why cut the spicy stuff?  Well at 1:30 this morning (after having Chipotle for dinner) I still couldn't sleep.  I went to our hall closet and pulled out probably 5 pillows, propped myself up and then it slowly went away.  I can't say it was incredibly comfortable sleeping like that, but the reflux relief was worth it.  I really do enjoy my Tex-Mex :(

Today I'm experiencing some short, sharp pains in my breasts.  I've already outgrown my 34D bra that I had just bought prior to getting pg, so I'm (really) hoping they're still not growing.  I don't know much about nursing bras, but some ladies I know have suggested I get one...I just don't know what size and if it will still fit by the end of the pregnancy.  Yesterday marked 17 weeks, so I still have a while to go.  I'm just tired of m'ladies being uncomfortable...ugh!

[janellody]

Meredith - get a massage, it can help with sciatic pain also!!  :)

My crib came today!!! YAY!  Hubby gets to set it up when we clean the nursery out a little more, probably this weekend.  Can I just say that I love amazon??  We ordered the crib on Monday because the price shot down and we had to get it while it was cheapest.  We chose free shipping and expected it to take a while, which was fine!!  It got shipped the NEXT day and I was impressed, and it arrived TODAY!  4 days later!!  Amazon is awesome, I just love them!

I have added a ton of items to my registry since we found out we had little Deacon in there, we were kinda waiting to see if it was a boy or girl and now that we know, it's on!!  How exciting!!