Weekly Chat March 5-11 « Back to Group Discussions

[hyde]

Happy Monday, everyone! Thought I'd get this started.

Hope you're all doing well. I'm living every pregnant woman's dream.. two weeks at the in-laws' with absolutely no means of escape!

[WindyCityMom]

Thanks hyde!  Have fun with your in-laws  

My DH has been hounding me for the genetic screening  I declined at my last appt (10wks) and he has really been wanting me to call back and see if they'll still do it for me.  He is nervous because of my DD1's issues and because my DD2 has started showing some signs of sensory issues as well (that's how DD1 started and she likely has some ASD thing going on).  DD2 also has delayed speech (improving) so my DH wants peace of mind and I guess would like to mentally prepare should something be amiss.  I'm really against it because I know that it can be horribly inaccurate (these midwives do the NT+Blood test) and I just hate being poked and prodded.. but this IS his baby also, so I'm giving in.  I called the office and the midwife should be calling me back sometime today or tomorrow to set it up.  My next appt isn't until after 14 weeks, I believe, and I think the last day to have it done is 13+6.  I could be wrong.  I'm suddenly really nervous about it though.

[Carlin]

Happy Monday!

Hope you survive the in-laws Hyde! I have to admit I have the best in-laws in the world and the week we spent there last month was awesome. No cooking, no cleaning, someone else to chase the toddler. I think if I could have moved in for the rest of the first tri I would have seriously considered it!

Windycitymom, I hope the testing gives your husband some peace of mind rather than more worries. It might be worth gently pointing out to him that issues such as you've mentioned are not likely to show up anyways.

I have my first midwife appointment tomorrow and I'm so hoping we get to hear the heartbeat.  I've also been having daydreams (or maybe daymares?) that we are having twins and I'll be so glad to get that out of my head! I did the same thing with DD and have no reason what so ever to actually think there might be more than one, but my brain insists on going there anyways.

In toddler news, it's now been over a week and a half since DD weaned and she didn't ask to nurse at all yesterday so I think she's pretty much accepted it. She also, totally unexpectedly and without any prompting on our part asked to sleep in her "yiddo bed" - the toddler bed in her room -  on Friday, and has now slept there for 3 nights in a row. I actually miss having her cuddled up with me in our bed, but at the same time this will make it so much easier once the new baby arrives and it's so nice to be able to move at night again! I was so torn on whether or not to try and move her out of our room, so I'm thrilled she's made the decision for us.

Hope everyone had a great weekend and is gearing up for a great week! I'm still struggling with nausea but have way more energy. My house might not ever look like a disaster zone anymore by the end of the week!

[Jend1002]

Hi everyone!  I only have a second but WindyCityMom, I wanted to let you know of a new blood test that I just had on Friday.  I am 38 and wanted to have all info possible and am not comfortable with odds or the chance of a false positive, or negative for that matter.  It's called Maternal 21 - it's also a blood draw but is 99% accurate at detecting trisomy 13, trisomy 18, and trisomy 21.  I have an OB at a medical university so perhaps that is why I learned of it, but it is also really new.  Of course I realize that testing isn't for everyone, but I think it's a nice balance because it's non-invasive and highly accurate if you are a need-to-know person.  Or your DH is!

[WindyCityMom]

Thanks Carlin and Jend!  I think the test is the Maternal21... they are sending me to another hospital to have it done.

Carlin- WTG for your DD!  That is so awesome that she is growing more independent.  Mine has cut down nursing a lot.. I haven't nursed her in two days, but I know that she'll probably ask sometime today and I'm okay with it.  I think she's sick of hearing/seeing me wince at her latch so she doesn't want to bother.  Totally ok with me!  I still have milk though...

[Jend1002]

Oops - it's called MaterniT21, in case you were looking it up.

[LibraryMo]

Oh happy (?) Monday! This past weekend we had a wedding to attend in Columbus, OH and my MIL came down from NY to watch ds overnight. It was such a fabulous time to have a full 36 hours with dh, without chasing a toddler. Of course, now it's Monday and the week has begun in earnest. Sigh.

WCM - I'm going t take a blood test sometime next week for genetic screening. As far as I know it's only a blood test and may very well be the MaterniT21 you and Jend are referring to. It makes me nervous but my dh wants it and I figure I may as well.

Carlin - I'm so impressed with your dd's independence! How old is she?

Hyde - GOOD LUCK!

AFM - I am 11w1d and as tired as ever. I feel like the nausea is lifting pretty significantly but I can hardly climb a flight of stairs without needing to take a break. I am anxiously counting the days until 13 weeks. This pregnancy was such a surprise (after years of infertility) and I still hardly believe its real, so to make it to the second trimester will be quite a triumph!
Have any of you used sittercity or care.com? We're new to nova and I've had no luck culling babysitters from the neighborhood. I'm seriously considering using one of those sites and I'm curious if any of you have experience with them? Thanks!

[MacKinnon]

Hey everyone! I haven't been posting much lately, I've been so tired and going to bed with DD2 at like 7:45. My wonderful DH has been putting the big kids to bed, and doing 100% of the evening stuff- cleaning up the main living area, washing dishes, etc. packing bags/lunches for the next day, etc. I keep trying to get up, but I'm so tired, I just crash out for like 11 hours and I'm still tired at 7am when the alarm goes off! With my very end of the month due date, I'm just around 10 weeks now, and it's great to see you all hitting 12+ weeks! I keep trying to hurry time along.

I have my second appointment Wednesday and I'm going to ask what testing they do. I've always declined this testing, but I have also heard that the new screen is much more accurate. I guess it's probably my increasing "maternal age", but I've decided that I would feel better with some testing done. DH thinks I'm being paranoid, since we've never done it. The very, very high rate of false positives with the quad screen, plus my lack of willingess to do an amnio drove that decision, but I want to know what she thinks about the new test, since I would really like to birth at home, or at least the free standing birth center. We're still with the hospital CNM's right now, as we sort out what we're doing.

This is the first time I haven't been weaning in early pregnancy in a while. I weaned DD at 2 1/2 while pregnant with DS, and then DS at 3 when pregnant with DD2. My milk dries up quickly, and my nipples were just too sore to continue. DD2, however, was my problem nurser. She cut way back on nursing around 10 months, and I had to supplement. By 13 months she was DONE-DONE. I'm not sure what I did differently than with the first two, or if it's just her, but being my third, I was able to me more philosophical and not feel like I did something wrong. One of the things I'm excited about is the ability to get a do-over with my last nursing experience. I totally expected to nurse my last forever, but DD2 had other plans, so it's nice to get to do that part again!

We are going to tell the kids Wednesday, assuming the appointment goes well. Which will totally let the cat out of the bag, they can't keep secrets, so the whole world will know like immediately! I'm planning my 12-ish week facebook announcement now. Anyone have excellent ideas?

[Carlin]

LibraryMo - DD's 2 1/2 (32 months actually) and it's amazing how much more independence we are seeing just in the last few weeks. Don't get me wrong, we're also getting lots of "I need my mommy" and "up, up, up" etc. I think she's needing that extra closeness to reassure her we are still there for her as she develops more and more independence. I'm still shocked at how easily the transition away from co-sleeping is going though! I though it would be a huge issue as she's never, ever shown any interest in sleeping anywhere but in our bed before this. She still wants me to lie down with her until she falls asleep and I think we've got a long way to go before we can just say goodnight and expect her to go to sleep on her on, but we've come so far from a couple months ago when she was waking up 3 or 4 times a night, nursing to sleep and generally making our nights miserable! lol

[cryswilkins]

Hi everyone!

We are 12 weeks 1 day today! We made it Facebook official (by posting a cute drawing if a family of feet labeled with our names) and I announced to the rest of work. I had an appointment today and I am officially released to my midwife. We discussed testing which I declined. I need to decide of we want to do a level 2 ultrasound at 20 weeks. I am up in the air about that. I will see the OB again at 35 weeks for a placenta check, so I feel like a 20 week is not totally nessissary. Anyone have thoughts on that? I am going to discuss it with my MW when I see her in two weeks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MacKinnon]

We are 12 weeks 1 day today! We made it Facebook official (by posting a cute drawing if a family of feet labeled with our names) and I announced to the rest of work. I had an appointment today and I am officially released to my midwife. We discussed testing which I declined. I need to decide of we want to do a level 2 ultrasound at 20 weeks. I am up in the air about that. I will see the OB again at 35 weeks for a placenta check, so I feel like a 20 week is not totally nessissary. Anyone have thoughts on that? I am going to discuss it with my MW when I see her in two weeks.

The only testing I have usually done (after the first few weeks) is the 20 week ultrasound. I want to have some assurance we've looked for major abnormalities or issues that may make an out of hospital birth unsafe. There are issues that could require immediate life saving attention following birth, or rule out a vaginal birth, etc. With DS, we also had a placenta check at 36 weeks, but that was due to a very low lying placenta at my 20 week ultrasound. They wanted to be sure it had moved up and out of the way. Why does your OB recommend a 35 week placenta check? What is he checking?

[MamanFrancaise]

I can't believe I'm 14 weeks already! The first trimester flew by! It didn't at the time, but now that I'm nearly 4 months along, I can't believe it!

I don't post much but I read everyhting. Subscribing. 

 

[MissE]

12 weeks for me tomorrow. i will be going home to germany for a week tomorrow and while i'm excited, i'm also freaking out about the kids lol. my husband's aunt is gonna watch them for two days and she has a mild form of aspergers. i'm sfraid my kids will be watching tv all day, eating chips and candy. that is my mommy nightmare and so off i went today to stock up on fruits and veggies and whole grain bread. i havent bought a bread in years..man it's expensive. i usually bake mine in the machine. anyway..tons to do. i have to pack and get the offspring to bed.

[crystal_buffaloe]

I threw my back out picking DD up tonight!

Ugh! So I have to find a chiro (my insurance changed, and the one I used to see isn't covered) in the morning -- hopefully, I can get in soon and work around my class schedule.

[goin' green]

Not much going on here.  I'm coaching twice a day for the next few weeks, my Etsy shop is going gangbusters (which is a blessing but man - talk about not having any time to yourself!) and I'm finally really feeling much better.  The exhaustion has definitely tapered off.  DH and kids are headed to in-laws this weekend to spend time with DH's step-dad but I might not be able to go because of all the sewing.....ugh.  Also finally started (regularly) working out again. I worked out last Thursday, did some lifting at home on Sunday, and did a workout and some lifting yesterday.  Headed to another this morning.  

I was supposed to see my mw yesterday for my 1st appt with her and it was cancelled as she was off to a birth.  So next week, same day, same time.  

That's about it here.  Oh - and 11 weeks today.  Yay!

[anacaro]

Hello everyone!

I just joined the Sept forum today.  Morning sickness  has been really rough this time around.  I think it is partly because I have not been riding my bike or exercising as regularly.  I am 13 weeks today and we have not yet announced it with the exception of family.  We want to decide on prenatal  care first.  We just had an appointment with a team of homebirth midwives since the midwife that cared for me with DS  is taking a vacation after 11 years of working solo and not having taken a break. 

Thank God for DH who is a SAHD at the moment and does pretty much all the household chores.

[amanders]

Hi all!

I'm 12 weeks and 6 days today and just back from our first ultrasound appointment!  Everything looks good - and I'm so relieved to have seen the baby (and confirmed that there is only one!) and to have seen the heart beating (156). I'm actually a bit in shock, because I was working so hard to prepare myself for bad news for some reason. Anyway, it's on for real! And so amazing.

[Carlin]

Cryswilkins, from what I understand, 18 to 20 weeks is the best time for the anatomy scan mostly 'cause the baby gets pretty crowded by late pregnancy and it can be hard to see everything you want to. It seems to me though that a placenta scan at 35 weeks would only be necessary if there are concerns about its placement at 20 weeks. AFAIK the placenta only moves up as the uterus grows it doesn't move down so if it's position is OK early it's not going to get any worse, unless there's concern due to a c-section scar or other uterine scarring.

MamanF, nice to hear from you! I was wondering if you were feeling any better?

MissE, enjoy your trip! I spent a few weeks in Germany a number of years ago and I loved it. Don't worry to much about your kids. A couple days of junk food isn't going to do any harm.

Crystal_B,  I hope your back is feeling better and that you found a new chiro. The whole insurance system you guys have to deal with seems like such a pain!

Welcome Anacaro! I hope the nausea lets up soon! I feel like my lack of exercise is contributing to mine too, but at the same time the nausea is making it really difficult to get motivated!

Amanders, yay for a good appointment! I hope you can relax a little and enjoy your pregnancy now!

AFM, I had my first midwife appointment today and everything looked good. We got to hear the hearbeat (160 bpm) and the midwife showed my toddler a picture of what the baby looks like right now. She was thrilled and spent the rest of the appointment talking about the baby in mommy's tummy.  We had a bit of a scare because my fundus measured really high at first, but after I peed it went back to where it belongs. Both the midwife and I had thoughts of multiples for a few minutes there!  The only minor hicup we've come across is that it turns out my midwife is due 4 days before me, so I'll have to transfer care to her partner once she's back from mat leave. Last pregnancy the 2 of them did shared care so I'm familiar with them both and like them just fine, I'm just a little more comfortable with the one I have now, as she ended up being the one at my birth and who did all the post-natal stuff. I'm sure it'll work out just fine though!

[Milano]

Carlin, yay for a great appointment and hearing the heartbeat!  Its so precious when our toddlers get excited about the new baby!

[crystal_buffaloe]

Carlin - Really, I'm just glad I have insurance I meant to find a new one earlier, but procrastinated, so instead of getting recommendations, I called the covered provider closest to my house and asked if they did adjustments on pregnant women and if they could get me in this morning and that's how I picked.

My back does not feel better -- I'm hobbling around and in pretty sad shape! DH kindly reminded me that there is a drop side feature to the crib when I called him because I couldn't pick DD up last night (he picked her up, but it's been a lifesaver today). I've been icing my back and using BioFreeze (like Icy Hot) and doing some stretches the chiro gave me. I've got to go back to work tomorrow, though, and take the students on a field trip on Thurs. Oy vey!

What kills me is how it happened -- I was doing nothing out of the ordinary, just picking DD up -- she's not even very heavy and I didn't use miserable form or anything. The chiro thought it was the straw that broke the camel's back. She told me not to vacuum (snort!) but I've picked up DD about a million times today -- I got her to climb up into her booster seat at the table by pushing another chair over and I mostly got her to climb up into the carseat, but she can't climb up to the toilet by herself or get in and out of the crib for nap. At least DH can take over when he gets home at 6.

So that was long-winded and self involved. But Yay! for good first appointments and heartbeats and reassuring ultrasounds and all that!

Goin Green - congrats on the Etsy success and I hope you get to go on your visit!

MissE - Enjoy your trip! DH and I did a six-month internship in Germany (Vilseck, in Baveria) and it was lovely.

amanders and anacaro!