My name is Jamie.
I have 4 boys so far... 7, 6, 3 and almost 9 months. This baby is quite a sweet surprise! :)
So far I've had 4 wonderful home births, the first and last with just my husband catching the baby, and the 2 middle ones with a midwife.
EDD: Feb 8th.
Name (screen name or real): Karen
EDD: 2/14/13
Number of kids/partner: No kids/not married. I've been with my partner for 2 1/2 years.
General location, if you want to share: Columbus, OH. I'm working as an LPN for a women's healthcare provider, and attending school part-time for my RN. My goal is to become a CNM!!
Other things you could include, depending on how much you want to share...
Hospital or home? I made an appointment with a CNM practice. They don't do home births, but they work with the only hospital in the area to offer waterbirths. I may see them for more "traditional" prenatal care, and move to the local CPM/home birth group, depending on my risk factors and living situation. Right now, I'm living alone in a 1-bedroom apartment with a lease that ends 2/1!
Team blue or pink? I had a dream a few years ago that made me think I'm going to have 2 girls...so I'm thinking it's a girl! But I'll be happy either way!
Earliest symptoms? I've been working hard at losing weight over the last few months...mostly cutting calories and exercising HARD. Before I took the test, I noticed that my appetite was increased, so sticking to the calorie plan became almost impossible. Also, I would feel completely winded and need to pause during workouts, even though my endurance has been pretty high for strength and cardio. Last week, I started feeling extremely tired, especially around 8pm every day, and started noticing breast tenderness.
Surprise or TTC? Surprise!! Everyone I know is pregnant or TTC right now, so I kind of feel like maybe all the baby-energy rubbed off on me!
Tell us what matters to YOU. I'm in pretty good shape, and am pretty muscular, but I'm still overweight. My goal in this pregnancy is to stay healthy, keep exercising, and stay on top of my weight gain in a healthy way. I'm not trying to be on a diet or cut calories while pregnant, but I'd like to sit down with the CNM in a few weeks and make a sensible nutrition-management plan.
I still haven't told him yet! (Or anyone else) My fear is that he will be upset and freaked out...I'm sort of freaking out too, but I feel ready and excited! Last week, I took the test on Tuesday, and my period wasn't even supposed to come until Thursday. Finding out I was pregnant coincided with finals week for 2 really hard classes, and I kind of needed to focus on those exams before I had to worry about his reaction. Another stressor in my life lately has been planning a baby shower for my best friend. I'm actually headed over to set up her house in about an hour, and some out of town friends are staying with me. I'm NOT ready to tell anyone yet, so I'm hiding the pregnancy clues around the house (books, vitamins), and I'm going to have to come up with an excuse for not having champagne at this thing. :D
Name (screen name or real): Ani
EDD: February 13
Number of kids/partner: 5 kids (this is my 13th pregnancy though)
General location, if you want to share: Canada
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Hospital or home? Team blue or pink? Earliest symptoms? Surprise or TTC?: I'm assuming I'll have the baby at home, I had 4 hospital births and my last was a homebirth, I much preferred that. I have four girls and a boy so probably a girl but my boy would really like a brother. Earliest symptoms came about 2 days after ovulation... I found myself worn out very quickly into my workout & unable to stay awake in the afternoon, at the same time I started getting that *fabulous* pelvic ripping pain every time I rolled over. VERY much a surprise pregnancy. My partner had a vasectomy and we were very very very very done.
Name (screen name or real): Jo
EDD: 2/17
Number of kids/partner: I have two boys, 4 and almost 7 months, and two girls, 3 and 2. I have been married to my DH for almost 5.5 years!
General location, if you want to share: NE Ohio
Hospital or home? Team blue or pink? Earliest symptoms? Surprise or TTC? Tell us what matters to YOU. Homebirth, gender doesn't matter, earliest symptoms were cramping, frequent peeing and no PMS. We were more NTNP. I could tell I had low progesterone, so I used NPC this cycle and Bam! My youngest is still EBF and my period came back at 8 weeks PP despite that.
My oldest will be 5 in November. :D If it is twins I could have six under 5. I can't even... imagine? Haha!
Oof, sorry to hear your period came back after 8 wks... but you're pregnant and happy so congrats!
Thank you! It comes back very quickly and I can't figure out why. But that's ok, the babies I get out of it are beautiful! 
Hiiii, everyone! Finally posting an introduction!
Name (screen name or real): Kelley
EDD: 2 - something - 2011. LMP has me around February 5, but early blood work says probably a week or so later - DS2's birthday is February 10, so I hope he doesn't have to share it!
Number of kids/partner: DS1 is 3, DS2 is 15 months, partner has been my DH for 4 years in June.
General location, if you want to share: Wilds of western Pennsylvania.
Other things you could include, depending on how much you want to share...
Hospital or home? It depends on how the pregnancy goes - I'll probably be moderate-to-high risk, since with my first I had severe pre-eclampsia at 28 weeks (and a c-section) and with my second I had pregnancy induced hypertension with no pre-e (and another c-section). I really want a home birth at a hospital, so I'm talking to a local HB midwife with hospital priveleges tomorrow about what we can possibly make happen!
Team blue or pink? Totally joining Team Healthy Baby :). A little girl or a little boy would be amazing, although if I could choose, it'd be fun to have a little girl since we already have two boys - so I guess I'm green but inside I'm hoping for pink (Team Watermelon?). This time I really want to hold out and be surprised when our new Valentine arrives!
Earliest symptoms? Tired, a little queasy sometimes, and (ahem) my bowels are moving pretty slowly, so I just started taking some extra magnesium today. I think I'm still pretty early, though, so we'll see what develops over the next couple weeks ...
Surprise or TTC? Big surprise - as in, I had to have my IUD taken out on Monday! The statistics on pregnancy with the Paragard are 6 in 1000 - everyone buy a lottery ticket!
I found out a week ago and was having some spotting which I blame on the IUD that was still in. Apparently it was in there perfectly, but this little June Bug snuck in! I was joking with my OB about my IUD was clearly reading a novel or something and slacking off. The spotting has resolved, though, and some symptoms are setting in, so it looks like maybe I'll get to stick around. I really hope so! It looks like such a cool group to be on this journey with!
Name (screen name or real): Mary
EDD: by LMP 2/19/13, sometime in late Feb. is my thought
Number of kids/partner: 3 boys, 11, 5 and 2 (my surprise breech/cesarean baby) and my DH & have been married for 18 years in August. We also have had two miscarriages-one at 16.5 weeks and one at 8 weeks.
General location, if you want to share: North Texas--Dallas & Fort Worth are in our backyard
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Hospital or home? Home VBAC
Team blue or pink? For ease, blue would be the winner, for something different-pink. We'll be thrilled with either, so we go team green until the moment of birth.
Surprise or TTC? A little of both. We literally just had a miscarriage in April, so we weren't expecting a positive this quickly. Just really praying this baby stays with us for a long time.
wow mandy, you are strong. your kids are lucky to have you for a mom.
Name (screen name or real): Emily
EDD: February 7
Number of kids/partner: just me and DH, Mike and our 2 dogs. this is our first, and maybe only!
General location, if you want to share: Cape Cod, MA
Other things you could include, depending on how much you want to share...
Hospital or home? Hopefully home if insurance will cover. There is a hospital near by that will do water-births, so we will look into that too.
Team blue or pink? Either! we are not going to find out, but I have a feeling about blue...
Earliest symptoms? Suuuuper tender breasts, and that's it so far.
Surprise or TTC?: Surprise. BIG surprise.
Name (screen name or real): Sarah
EDD: Mid-Februrary. My mama's birthday is the 13th. I'd love for baby to share her day :)
Number of kids/partner: No kiddos yet. One husband. ;)
General location, if you want to share: Philadelphia, PA.
Other things you could include, depending on how much you want to share...
Hospital or home? We'll see! I'm working out our insurance coverage. Most likely either a birth center or at home with a midwife. :)
Team blue or pink? Ahh. I'd love a girl and husband would love a boy. We'll both be psyched for a healthy rugrat.
Earliest symptoms? Tender boobies! Fatigue! Cramping! And spotting on Monday :(
Surprise or TTC? Neither.
We're first time parents, so we don't have a set "style" or "method". (Methinks it's best to go in with an open mind anyway, no?) Both my husband and I grew up in large families and I work as a nanny to two boys under two. So from what I'd guess, we err on the crunchy side of things: breastfeeding, co sleeping, baby led weaning, baby wearing. We're Catholic, so faith is HUGE for us. We're animal lovers think it's important for kiddos to grow up around them.
That is all :)
Name (screen name or real): Noel
EDD: 2/16/13
Number of kids/partner: I have a 4 year old daughter and have been married for 7 years.
General location, if you want to share: Arizona
Other things you could include, depending on how much you want to share...
Hospital or home? Home, I am a homebirth midwife myself so it's a no brainer for us:-)
Team blue or pink? I don't really have a preference. I was sure my daughter was a boy and was very surprisedwhen she came out without boy parts. This time I'm just going to wait until the evidence is right in front of me.
Earliest symptoms? fatigue, some breast tenderness, increased thirst, increased appetite.
Surprise or TTC? We had been trying for a few months.
Tell us what matters to YOU. I'm in naturopathic medical school right now which is really stressful so I really want to work on staying as stress free for me and the baby. I also want to get in better shape. We lived in Oregon when my daughter was born and I was so good about getting out and hiking all through my pregnancy. It's so HOT here and I'm so busy that it's harder for me to stay active but I will keep working on it.
Really excited to get to know everyone!
Name (screen name or real): Kristin
EDD: mid-February, 2013
Number of kids/partner: DP (Jeff) of 6 years, and a DD (Elodie) born July 30, 2010
General location, if you want to share: Alberta, Canada
Other things you could include, depending on how much you want to share... I'm so excited to be pregnant because I think my DD will be the best big sister. Little nervous because we're still nursing and don't plan on weaning anytime soon. Also my DP is still in school so there's always $$$ to worry about... but we've been ok so far :)
Hospital or home? Home or birth centre... definitely water birth!
Team blue or pink? No idea... but either seems great! (Which is what everyone says, but with my first pregnancy I definitely wanted a girl, haha)
Earliest symptoms? None! My positive test, pretty much, which is weird because my first was a surprise and I KNEW even before my period was due.
Surprise or TTC? It was our first month TTC
I've been a part of Mothering since I was pregnant with my first, but I really want to get involved now that I am going to be making the transition to SAHM after my 2nd is born. I'm fairly young (24), so I find it's hard to make friends in the AP world. Everyone I meet is great and friendly, but I find we're just in different parts of our life because of age difference. But I joined a local AP group recently and I'm really hoping to make some connections to online mamas as well!
Name (screen name or real): Amanda
EDD: Feb 21
Number of kids/partner: Married. We have three living, and this will be our fifth child
General location, if you want to share: Lebanon, Indiana
Hospital or Home? This will most likely be a home birth, as was our last.
Team blue or pink? No idea... I used to think I wanted another girl but, after our son died, I don't know... maybe another boy would be nice.
Earliest symptoms? I had to pee. A lot. And I was hungry. A lot. And I had really bad acne. And... I just knew.
Surprise or TTC? Honestly, we weren't trying, but we weren't not trying, either. If that makes sense.
Name (screen name or real): Espri
EDD: 2/23/13
Number of kids/partner: Married to DH going on 9 years this fall, DD: 2.5 yrs.
General location, if you want to share: Southern Indiana (just an hour from Lousiville - I think we've got two other members from Louisville area - hey ladies!)
Other things you could include, depending on how much you want to share...
Hospital or home? Still deciding. Closest midwives are an hour away, and I don't like the idea of driving that far every month (or every week at the end!). I was fairly happy with my hospital birth experience with DD, but I'm open to convincing.
Team blue or pink? DH and I both would prefer a girl, but I've been feeling more ok with the possibility of a boy lately - maybe that means something??
Earliest symptoms? Just 4 weeks right now, so not much yet: That empty tummy feeling even when it's not (will turn into nausea soon I'm sure), and starting to experience more nipple pain while nursing (just 3 times a day right now so pretty manageable).
Surprise or TTC? First cycle ttc since a 10-week miscarriage 3 months ago.
Hello all. It still feels early for me to be talking to anyone about being pregnant since I am only about 4.5 weeks along and anything could happen but at least this gives me somewhere to talk about it... right?
Name (screen name or real): I go with meli-mello all over the internet but my name is Melanie
EDD: February 19th, 2013 (so sometime in February)
Number of kids/partner: It will be 8 years married to DH in July and we have two daughters age 4 and 22 months.
General location, if you want to share: Alberta, Canada
Hospital or home? I've had two c-sections so no mid-wife would touch me. Apparently I *have* to have another c-section but I'm going to just wait and see how this pregnancy goes.
Team blue or pink? Team healthy baby! A girl would be nice because they would make quite the trio but a boy would really shake things up. I don't plan on finding out.
Earliest symptoms? I look pregnant already - don't know how long I'm going to be able to keep this a secret.
Surprise or TTC? I actually have a doctors appointment on Monday for a physical that was the pre-cursor to either getting my tubes-tied or discussing birth control options. I guess now it is a prenatal appointment. DH doesn't even want to talk about the baby yet. I just found out on Monday.
Hey ladies!
My name is Kasi
I am hoping to be due around Feb 9th, though I am anticipating a home birth, so whenever our little one decides to show up!
I live in Indianapolis
With my husband and our 2 cats, 3 fish.
Our little bundle of joy was a quick try at TTC!
We are hoping and PRAYING for a girl! Everyone is saying it is a girl :)
Worst symptom yet is my extremely hard and VERY sore nipples. I am soooo over it! hahah
Good luck and congrats Ladies!!!!
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