Bajingo Babies in the New Year: Having Baby #1 in Our 30's, Winter 2012 - Page 19

[Calycanth]

Hey everyone! Thanks for all the birthday love!  We went out for appetizers last night (I really wanted some spinach artichoke dip, but next time I have that craving I'm just going to make it, because mine is way better than what we got at the restaurant), then we came home and I went to bed early, which was awesome. I was so exhausted from the work week - I'm already dreading Monday. Today we went to Ikea and bought a cheap-ass crib (the Sniglar). I'm not sure how much use it's going to get early on as I imagine we'll co-sleep for a while. We weren't planning on that initially, but it just seems so much easier than getting up every time she wants to nurse. We also got our groceries for the week and cleaned the house, and now I'm tired again.

LilyTiger - I did my registry on Amazon. I really enjoyed the blog post you linked. Unfortunately, I still can't find the one I mentioned. Sounds like you had a fabulous extended Valentine's Day celebration!

Andaluza - An 11-hour day? Yuck. Glad you made it through relatively unscathed and that everyone responded positively to the big news!

Reelala - Ack! So sorry to hear that! Sounds like you've found the silver lining (more time for crafty stuff), but still, that sucks.

Tank and LivingSky, such cutie pies!

Erica, congrats on making it to 12 weeks!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! I'm eating a donut right now, and it's totally making my day.

[Calycanth]

Earlier this week, I ordered a cloth diaper "sample pack" (three pocket diapers, three different brands). We'll be using disposables through the newborn period (a friend gave me her leftover diapers), but once the baby outgrows them we want to switch to cloth. My package arrived yesterday. I don't think I had ever seen a cloth diaper in person before. They are totally freaking adorable! Definitely more aesthetically pleasing than plastic, which is the only kind I have any experience with. I think this is the first baby purchase we've made that I am really excited about using.

[bootsvalentine]

Okay, we just posted our facebook announcement photo:

Not the happiest of times for me, but I'm starting to think keeping this secret is causing me more stress than not. I am thinking I'm going to be going to see the NP at my docs office tomorrow because work stress exploded Friday and I had a bad few days of uncontrollable crying, etc. If you'll remember I went off antidepressants as soon as I became pregnant and now I'm worried about the stress level affecting my immune system, blood pressure, etc. I am going to discuss this with them and see if they have any opinions about when to start talking medication risks and benefits and I hope a therapist recommendation. Feeling okay now but I'm dreading going back to work Tuesday.

[RosieL]

Boots - :hugs: I'm so sorry stress is increasing. I wish there was a dial that we could all just use to turn it down a couple notches. All the advice about pregnancy boils down to trying to take care of ourselves and reduce stress...UGH easier said that done. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that picture, it's so bright and happy-feeling to me. 

Caly - We had our "diaper shower" over the weekend. Talk about cute colors! This is a bad picture (no focus), but DH took it and posted on FB. He's apparently excited. Hopefully it's visible:

[Calycanth]

Rosie, yeah, look at that stash! I'd say you're set!

Boots, I LOVE your photo! The tiny Crocs are fabulous. I'm so sorry you're having such a rough time right now. Will PM you.

[lilacvioletiris]

Ah, boots, that is such a cute picture!  I might steal that idea when the time comes!

[ericaf]

Aw, boots! That's the cutest pic ever!!!! I love it! I'll be announcing on FB this week too after my appt today! Think I'm using this, and we'll just see how long it takes everyone to get it lol:

Hope you start feeling a little more like yourself soon. I was sobbing over the Westminster Dog show. Really? REALLY? They were just all so cute, and I was ridiculous. I also keep crying stilllll over the thought of my dog Beef dying. Why? No idea. He's 5 and absolutely fine. I'm nuts.

Rosie: I'm in loveeeeeee with that drawer!! I want to steal it!

AFM: Dr's appt in 8 hours. Dying over here! I just want to HEAR the h/b on theirrrrr machine already! And see a good u/s pic where bebe looks a little more... like a baby... and not a cocktail weenie. Lol.

[andaluza]

Erica, congrats on 12 weeks! I hope you enjoy the scan! We haven't had any new pictures of the little one since 8w, but I recorded the heartbeat a week ago. I hope you have a great appointment!

Caly, glad you had some enjoyment on your birthday. It is disappointing when you go to a restaurant and think, "I could do this better," but it sounds like the rest of the night and weekend went better. We checked out the cribs at IKEA some weeks ago. Did you get one that converts into a bed?

It's amazing to think that even diapers can be adorable, and Rosie's great picture definitely showcases that!

What an adorable picture, Boots! I hope you get some relief and assurance soon about the mental health issues. 

AFM, we're headed to the genetic perinatal specialists this afternoon and hope dh's tests give us some quick answers. I'm also going to ask what this doc thinks about my ob's explanation of the NT scan.

Take care, ladies!

[2sweetsparrows]

Boots and Caly- Happy Happy Belated birthday!!

Andaluza - hope you had fun on your trip- and everyone is excited about the news!!

Reelala - I am also not working- I am not officially on bed rest but I have severe Hypermesis- so I just hang out because I feel sick all of the time.  I am really board-if I did not feel so bad I would totally work on my house and crafts.  Hope you get some great work done!  Nice to 'meet' you.

Tank and LivingSky, the babes are so cute- can't believe the hair change!!

Erica- Congratulations!!  I am three weeks away- I really just want this nausea to go away already- the milestone is coveted!!!  Cute announcement I need to find a cute one too.

Rosie- what diaper system are those?  I was looking at g diapers???  I need more info on these diaper things- I just don't want poop leaks- ahhh!

AFM- SOOOO board with my life right now I can't do anything fun or much of anything at all without feeling terrible- my body wants me to sit and stay- as soon as I move I feel awful - the smells of the kitchen make me vomit so I cannot really prepare food or do the dishes so it is all up to my dh- poor guy- I used to be a really active spunky fun gal and now I am a couch potato.  I cannot take road trips or really go anywhere- I always wondered what it meant when people say "her pregnancy was really HARD"- now I know.  I am literally a sick person- tired of this- end of rant ...

I want to get excited about this- I am still afraid of loss and really sick- but after that I plan on getting out the books I bought while I was pregnant the first time- and Boarders closed down I bought like 20 books on everything from discipline to super baby food- come to think of it I should do that now while I am a bump on a log- if and when this ends I am going to be so antsy I won't want to read.  I need to schedule my apt with the radiologist for the nucal scan I am excited to see the progress so I can be reminded of why I am doing this.  

[andaluza]

Hi ladies! Hope everyone had a great day.

2sweetsparrows, I am sorry you are feeling so sick. I hope you find some relief soon!

So, I don't think our visit with the perinatologist could have gone better. The genetic counselor was great and talked everything over with us. She confirmed that my ob's decision against the NT scan is really odd, which is good in a way but also more disconcerting in that it makes me continue to be uncertain about her. I'm going to keep playing it by ear with her and see if any more red flags come up. Dh's test results will be back in about 10 days, and I opted to do the MaterniT21 test, a blood test which now tests for all 3 trisomies (13, 18, 21), since it was an option that seems like it makes up in some ways for the no 1st tri scan (it apparently has a 99% accuracy). We'll find out those results around the same time.

And we had a great scan!!! with some marvelous pictures (feet, hand, tons of full body). I wasn't expecting it at all, but it was so nice and comforting to see the little one in there!  We also know the SEX!!! It was clear as day to me...he  was moving around a ton, but the tech got a very clear shot and the dr later confirmed. I knew it already deep within me, but my mil is going to be pretty sad. Both the tech and dr said that everything looks great, from the heart, brain, kidneys, arteries, arms, legs, toes, etc.

I can't get over how much he's moving around and how I don't think I can feel any of it. There were some very clear double leg kicks to my uterus, but the tech said that it's basically impossible to feel anything yet and what I think I may be feeling is probably gas/digestion. The dr said my uterus looks perfect, but my placenta is close to the cervix. He's not concerned yet because I guess it can still move a considerable amount.  All in all, dh and I are thrilled with this experience, but kind of dreading breaking the news about no girl to mil. I'm afraid to open the dvd on my laptop, since it has some issues with the viewer, but I'll try to upload a pic once we have a backup if one looks particularly interesting. We go back in 4 w for the 19w scan. 

ETA: fixed some missing words I omitted in my excitement. And, the dvd is actually a video of the entire scan! I can´t believe it--so cool!

Edited by andaluza - 2/21/12 at 8:49pm

[Calycanth]

Andaluza, a baby BOY! Congrats! The scans are just amazing, aren't they? And I'm so glad to hear that the perinatologist was helpful. My understanding is that most low placentas are shifted upwards as the uterus stretches, so odds are that's going to resolve itself.

Sparrows, ugh, I am so sorry you've got hyperemesis. Are you being treated for it? Zofran did wonders for me (well, maybe not wonders, but it did allow me to eat a little bit, which I wasn't able to do at all without it). It is REALLY difficult to feel excited about being pregnant when you feel miserable all the time. It's totally okay NOT to be excited right now. 

AFM, the baby is kicking up a storm today! I spent quite a bit of time slouching in my recliner this afternoon, watching my belly bounce around while she kicked. This is the first time I've seen movement from the outside. I wish I could recreate it for DH now that he's home, but she's not as active as she was earlier.

[LilyTiger]

Andaluza, congrats!!!!!!!   A baby boy!  I'm jealous... Even though we're not finding out until the birth by choice I'm still jealous of people who know.  Because I'm crazy.  Great news!  I hope the tests that come back in a week or so are perfect too.  I'm sure they will be.  We saw a ton of movement (including some hilarious crawling up my uterus with his/her legs) at my scan, and you're right that it's so weird that you can't feel it.  I mean, there's a freaking human being kicking the inside of my uterus and I don't know about it?  Kind of bizarre.

Boots, I love love love the little baby Crocs.  We were going to do something similar with dog bowls.  We have three dogs of all different sizes (and thus all different size bowls) and we were going to line them up and then add a baby bottle at the end.  Then we lamed out and just did the sonogram.  Oh well.  Points for good intentions?  I'm so sorry too you're struggling with everything.  It really sucks.  I hope you get some relief, either from life changes or meds.  Whatever works.  I'm crossing my fingers you get the insane burst of energy I did at 16 weeks.  It sucks you've been out of it for so long.

RosieL, amazing diaper drawer.  I freaking love cloth diapers... they are so cute. 

Sparrow, sorry about the never ending m/s.  The nuchal scan may really help.  I felt much more connected to the little bugger after I saw it smashing its little legs into my uterus.  It's a very cool thing.

Caly, I cannot wait to feel/see movement.  I know I have a while (I'm at 16 weeks), but I'm not feeling a damn thing yet.  And now that most of my symptoms have subsided, it seems almost unreal.  I almost (almost) forget that I'm pregnant.  So, I'd really like the reassurance of movement.  So cool that you can see her bopping around in there.  Can you record it to share with DH later?

AFM, The Fetus and I are just hanging out.  I still have a huge deadline for the final manuscript of my book, which is supposed to go out to publishers, but I just don't care.  I asked a more experienced scholar what to do about the conclusion, because my brain fell into my uterus and sustained writing is not happening at this stage.  He said it was fine to send the manuscript in sans conclusion and write it in six months when I have a better idea of what I want to say.  That seemed like a good idea until I remembered that in six months I will have a newborn and my brain will have moved into my boobs.  I just don't think that part of the book is going to get written.  Otherwise, things are good.  Workouts feel solid and I have so much energy, most of which revolves around wanting to clean the house.  DH has been very supportive of this new stage.   

[ericaf]

2SweetSparrows: Hopefully you feel some relief soon! I started feeling better around 10 weeks, and I feel pretty good now except for being tired (less than before though!) and nowwwww I constantly get up to pee. I didn't before like most preggies in early pregnancy!! But I have a retroverted uterus, so I think that now that it's righting itself up... it's pressing on my bladder. That's what my OB said, at least! Makes sense to me!

andaluza: That sounds like an awesome appointment! And even cooler they told you the sex!!! I'm soooooooo on the fence what I think my bubby is. I thinkkkk girl, but I guess I wouldn't be totally shocked if it were a boy either! How come your OB doesn't want you to do the NT scan? My DOES, and I told her no... they were sorta trying to convince me yesterday to do it... but I just don't want to. I'm okay with whatever happens, but... I wouldddd be excited to see if they could maybe tell the sex a little early! Teehee.

Caly: You just reminded me of a video on America's Funniest Home videos the other night! A veryyy preggo lady tape her belly and the baby kicking, it was surreallllll. Looked like an alien belly! Hahaha. I can't wait to feel movement in there!

Lily: I just realized you're due on my birthday! Woot! I always lovedddd having my bday in August. Everyone was off school, so they could come to my party and it was always nice out!

AFM: Good appointment last night... still didn't HEAR the hearbeat on their machine, but I saw it again... 153! And wow... so crazy that in one month, he/she looks like a BABY now and not a cocktail weenie. My DH was shocked. He was just staringggg at the screen. The baby was super active, which I was very surprised by. He/she was waving to us a few times... cutest thing ever!! They moved my due date up to 8/30 now which is my Mom's bday, andddd I love cause it's my birth month as well! Kinda weird to be in a whole new month though?! As I said before to andaluza, my Dr. wants me to do the NT scan but I declined and they are semi sorta trying to push me to get one. But now that my due date has moved up, and you need to get it by 13 weeks... ummmm, that gives me TODAY to get it done so that's pretty pointless. There is some other blood test they would want me to do at my next appt for basically the same thing (down syndrome and spina bifida) only it's 85% accurate. I really just don't want to stress myself out my entire pregnancy. I have three, THREE friends close to me who had false positives on their NT scan and all their babies were perfect. Sigh. Hate. Besides that... doing good! Telling work today, and I'm nervous! I'm am normally a super outgoing (erm, and loud person ), but I told one coworker last night and I turned bright red and started sweating. God help me. Lol. Babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! Yeyyyyy!

[RosieL]

2sweet - They are FuzziBunz XS (for newborn) and FB One Size (for the rest of the time). Seems like BumGenious 4.0 and these are the most popular pocket-style dipes. I got them because a good friend has them and will shepherd me along in their use. :)

andaluza - Congrats on your great scan and your little BOY! :)

Caly - How cool is it to see the movement from the outside. I miss that! Now all the movement I get is usually toward the inside, so the chance externally seeing it is slim. I miss it! 

LT - Awesome that you have so much energy. :) I'm struggling to get through the final drafts of a research paper to circulate amongst my entire faculty. It's due today! And what am I doing…sitting on Mothering…whoops.

I put together our stroller today (super easy) and I'm in love with it. I have to send out a paper and get through two more days of classes this week, and then my friends descend on our house. Two couples (one with twins) and two singles will stay here Friday-Sun, three more couples (with 3 kids) arrive Saturday morning to hang out until the shower at 1PM. After shower everyone comes back to our house to hang out, and after dinner the menfolk (and whatever women still have energy) go downtown for a night out. Somewhere in there we'll have a maternity shoot with my prof. photographer friend, put henna on my belly, and…what else? This'll be a marathon weekend but I'm hoping the excitement of seeing all my outtatown friends will boost my energy levels! 

Have I said recently that I feel so lucky. Yeah I'm starting to be sore and less able, and school is tough, and we have dwindling funds. But in the balance, life is so good and sweet. 

[birdie.lee]

Hi friends!  I've been reading along but I'm not able to post much.  I love the announcement photos, how clever and cute!

Congratulations Andaluza on your BOY!

Boots, I hope your doctor's appointment went well and you are able to have a plan to ease your stress.  I'm sorry that work is so difficult for you.    But that crocs picture is sooooooo cute!

Caly, isn't it fun to see the baby kick from the outside!  I miss my alien belly, haha.

Rosie, what a cute diaper drawer!  We use prefolds and soakers/covers and LOVE them.  Disposable diapers are so stinky.

Hi Lilac!  I hope you will be in this thread soon.

Erica, I'm so glad that things are going well for you!  That's awesome you got to see your little one's heartbeat again.

Lily, a book, how cool!  What is it about?

Tank, Wolverine is a cutie!  And LivingSky, yours is adorable as well.

Edited by birdie.lee - 2/26/12 at 6:50am

[Calycanth]

Wow, look at those eyelashes! 

[bootsvalentine]

Birdie, he's gorgeous, and I love the knitted vest!

[tank]

He is beautiful Birdie!  I am so glad to "see" him and you again!

[andaluza]

That's great about the kicking, Calycanth! I cannot wait. I am a little nervous, though, judging by what we saw yesterday. He was hanging out the whole time with his back lying down and feet propped up on one side of my uterus--we saw some major kicking. I can only imagine how that will feel. But, if my placenta moves as they think it will, it will be anterior, so maybe that will alleviate some of the "pain"? 

LilyTiger, I feel your pain! Maybe you need a little distance from the project and the conclusion will come to you near the end of the pregnancy? I have more work to do on my huge project and an important presentation to finish for travel at the end of this week, which I will probably get done right before the deadline. Last week I had another important event at work and it felt good to find intense focus again. I'm just hoping I stay focused through the summer.

Erica, my ob said that since I'm 35, the NT scan + bloodwork will just automatically throw me in a higher risk category. The genetic counselor said that it's not necessarily the case. I'm glad to have heard an interpretation that is more in line with what I had read and researched. I had also heard about some of the issues with the 1st trimester scan and was not sold on it, but I at least wanted to make the decision myself and I feel as though she did it for me, which turned me off. So happy that you had a great u/s and saw the heartbeat. I wonder if your face getting red is not just due to extra blood flow. I used to be pretty shy and afraid to speak in public, but got over that long ago for my job, but lately I can feel my face and/or ears getting red in certain situations and am chalking it up to that!

Wow, Rosie, so much great stuff happening for you! I hope the visits and shower are wonderful.

What a cutie, Birdie! That vest really makes his eyes and hair color stand out! Did you knit it? My mom can't wait to knit tons of stuff for our little one and I really appreciate her talent. I have several projects still languishing that I should pick up when my nesting instinct kicks in.

Hope everyone else is doing well! I am battling the return of major hunger in the early morning. I am going to start keeping peanut butter and crackers near the bed, any other suggestions? Life was so much better when I was getting 8-10 hours of sleep, but now hunger gets me out of bed a little too early.

[2sweetsparrows]

andaluza- yay Baby Boy!!!  I am convinced I am having a boy- my twins (that I lost) were boys- my dh has a son and all of the children in my husbands generation in his family are boys maternal and paternal and I have two brother and two male cousins no female- the only women are me and my brothers daughter.  I am just convinced that it is my lesson in life to be around males.  I wold love a girl too just don't think it is in the cards for me.  We'll see in time- think mid May will be my 20 w scan.

Birdie- super cute!  I can NOT wait to have a cute little huggable BABY!

Lily and Rosie- Hope your projects go well.  I am fortunate enough to be off work on disability I hope you all find the energy you need to get where you need to be with you projects!  Baby makin s really distracting.

Caly- I am being treated - I have prescriptions for- unison blend- B6- Zophran 4 & 8- relagan and a suppository and prescription sea bands.  I have it all- I stopped the unison because I was a ZOMBIE I was sleeping like 20 hours a day and nearly had the energy to walk to the bathroom- I am taking the zophran which allows me to keep most food and liquid down I still vomit from 1-3 times a day- and feel severe quiziness most of the day.  Errrr so tired of this :(

AFM- still feeling sick but I am trying to pick myself up and do some cleaning and errands.  I decided that while I was out for the count and basically a bed ridden sick person I would do some studying- not for my impending graduate program- NO- for my impending birth AAAAHHHHHH!  So I spent an afternoon watching birth videos.  Now I never really wanted to do this- I thought- "I'll just go through what my body wants- and roll with it.  THen everything will work out okay."  I grew curious as to the way it works- as I have never attended a birth- I never saw my mother or friends give birth- my only reference on birth is movies.  I began thinking- like all other things in nature and science there is probably a general pattern about it and you can kind of predict the way it will go- besides variances like breech- or cord issues or any other issues that are unexpected- but by and large normal births are somewhat similar.  So I dove in.  I found a great set of birth videos.  Wow- I am really glad I watched them because I think it has taken some of the secret mystique out of that time and what it looks like.  I feel a bit more comfortable with the process- here is the link of the site I used- 

http://yourbirthcoach.com/videos-of-birth-video-of-birth-best-birth-prenatal-class-childbirth-course-natural-birthing-water-birth-videos-unaasited-videos-of-birth-home-birth-video-hospital-video-of-birth/

Some might find them difficult to watch but I can say I think these are well done- so take a look if this interests you- let me know what you think- of those of us who have yet to do it is so exciting and scary and weird- haha.