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[Pogo0685]

So how is everyone? I had a horrible home repair gone wrong weekend, people are stealing from us, so we bought a camera system for our house and as we were installing it DH hit wires in the wall with his drill and almost started a fire and we had no power all day. Called the fire department only to find out they don't come out as far as we live. So we had to call an electritian, we haven't got the bill for that yet. But then Sunday we took DS up to see the in laws and had a good day, today I baked Halloween cookies and we carved pumpkins and DS is super excited about dressing up tomorrow and getting to go trick or treating. I am feeling amazing fat and whale like lol. I am not sleeping and because I am failing to stay away from sugar right now due to cravings I have horrible heartburn. But other than the birth kit and a dresser we are all ready for this baby to come! Only 9 weeks left!! I am so excited to meet this little one and see what my family is going to be! I really hope to have the baby between 37-39 weeks, don't know if it will happen but that's what I am hoping for.

How are you all doing?

[MamaBookworm]

Sorry to hear about your home repair disaster! I'm feeling anxious about home repairs, too. We had some leaks from the storm and somebody is coming tomorrow to look at the roof. DH got a stress fracture in his leg and is not allowed to run - which is his big stress-relieving hobby! And it's dreary, dreary, dreary here in Pittsburgh.

But other than that, things are good. I am trying to arrange for a doula. My neighbor knitted me the cutest wool soakers for the new baby. DD is going to be 3 next week, and is such a big girl in all these ways I didn't expect. I feel pretty good. Lots of movement from the baby, but nothing that is uncomfortable. I'm 27 weeks and at first I was in the mindset that this would be a February baby (DD was 2 weeks after due date), but I have this nagging intuition that this baby is coming earlier. 

I also have the most incessant craving for cheese and chocolate.  Yum.

[PatchChild]

Overall, I'm doing ok.  Babe seems to be growing well, based on the amount of twisting and kicking going on in there.  Ouch!  This babe has switched from pokes to full body rolling around, stretching out everything!  

My Dr. has been irritating.  Babe switched positions right before my last appointment.  She has been very, very vertical and then switched to laying sideways.  No surprise, I measured much small at my appointment.  Well duh, I suddenly have a babe going side to side and not up and down.  Dr. still ordered an ultrasound to check everything out, what a pain.  It was scheduled for Monday but Sandy ruined that plan.  Now it's next Monday.

And to top it off, we're about 48 hours into no power from the storm.  

Just rather frustrated this week, but still trying to be positive.  My 5 yo is thrilled about Halloween tonight and we're going out with my cousin which will be great.  I need the night of fun.

[sapientia]

Doing ok. Some insomnia that liquid calcium/magnesium seems to be helping. Heartburn is YUCK...and the usual struggle to gain weight at this point in my pregnancy. The baby seems to be rolling and tumbling!

I'm almost 31 weeks and getting excited!

[Clarasmama]

Almost 31 weeks here too, I can't believe it's only 8-12 more weeks until a new baby is here in my house...lol.  That seems SO close, since the weeks are just flying by!  It's November already, how is that possible???

I'm feeling whale-ish too, and am frustrated that I only have like 2 cute long sleeved maternity shirts and 2 pairs of pants that aren't yoga pants :/  And I keep thinking I need to read my Hypnobirthing book and listen to my CDs starting NOW, but I just keep putting it off...labor is not that far away, I need to be at least somewhat prepared! 

Baby is moving a ton, DD is getting excited about it, and we're prepping our house to move after the baby is born.  Lots to do, but I just want to pretend that it's all happening later!  We have everything we absolutely need for the little guy (co-sleeper, clothes, car seat, diapers/prefolds) so it's not like we're in dire straits or anything.  Maybe that's why I'm not too worried about anything :)

[scotia]

I will be 31 weeks on Saturday - gaaah!!  I am excited to meet this little one, but still am in disbelief that it is all happening so quickly. I think we have been coasting a bit on this idea that, since this is our second, we "have everything all set!".  Ha.  I should really start a list of all the things we need to do... so far we have painted the nursery, and that is it.  Considering that she won't even be sleeping in there for a few months, we should probably start to prioritize some other things. 

I am also getting frustrated with my lack of clothing options.  It's suddenly really chilly, and I have exactly one sweater and two long-sleeved shirts that fit, along with two pairs of jeans.  (I am trying to avoid the daily yoga pants, but it is so tempting!)  I do have leggings and two dresses that fit, but - and this is terrible - somehow putting those on in the morning feels like more effort?  Ugh. 

We lost power on Monday from the storm, and it just came back late yesterday.  We escaped the worst of it, and I'm grateful for that, but it was still a chilly, frustrating two days.  I'm also still working, and feeling overwhelmed on how behind I am with everything there.  Between being out all week because of the storm, to my son being sick twice in the last month, and just general life getting in the way, I keep de-prioritizing my job.  In the grand scheme of things, I know I'm doing the right thing, but it does not help my stress levels. 

[Pogo0685]

I also have almost no clothes that fit, and I refuse to buy more for the next 2 months. Luckily I only work out of the house 2 days a week! I also don't at all dress up for almost anything, so I am mostly wearing my husbands shirts because they are longer than mine so they cover the belly better and he has probably 200 shirts so he can spare a few! On days I don't leave the house, I stay in PJ's all day long, its so much easier than getting dressed. This is our second also and I think I feel more confident because of that, but I also worry about how this will change the family structure. For the first time ever I am feeling seriously stressed out and overwhelmed by my animals and daily life. Mostly I am laid back and don't worry about much but I cant pick up a full bucket to clean my fish tanks, its hard to bend over to get the eggs out of the nest boxes, I worry because my Horse is going to need hay sometime in the middle of December and I will be completely useless by then so I wont be able to help get it and stack it. And I cant bend over right now to clean her feet like I need to so she is just sitting in the pasture not being worked at all. The 3-4 months off will be good for her, but I want so badly to go outside and work with her. I wish DH knew what to do with her so he could help, but he works all the time so he has no time to learn. I am sure it will all work itself out though, once baby is here and spring starts coming I will be able to work her and hopefully I can get a saddle on her and actually get on her! 

Clarasmama - I hear you on needing to start the hypnobirthing work, I am doing the kit and I still have so much to read and I am supposed to start listening to the cds and doing the internal work and I am just not ready to add something more to my daily routine!

I hope all you mamas on the east coast recover from the storm quickly! I was looking at the pictures on the Internet of the destruction and its like a war zone, I cant even imagine how tough it is seeing it in person and living in the chaos of it all.

[Clarasmama]

Originally Posted by scotia 

I am also getting frustrated with my lack of clothing options.  It's suddenly really chilly, and I have exactly one sweater and two long-sleeved shirts that fit, along with two pairs of jeans.  (I am trying to avoid the daily yoga pants, but it is so tempting!)  I do have leggings and two dresses that fit, but - and this is terrible - somehow putting those on in the morning feels like more effort?  Ugh. 

We lost power on Monday from the storm, and it just came back late yesterday.  We escaped the worst of it, and I'm grateful for that, but it was still a chilly, frustrating two days.  I'm also still working, and feeling overwhelmed on how behind I am with everything there.  Between being out all week because of the storm, to my son being sick twice in the last month, and just general life getting in the way, I keep de-prioritizing my job.  In the grand scheme of things, I know I'm doing the right thing, but it does not help my stress levels. 

Our cold snap came on suddenly too, and the only really warm stuff I can even wear are DHs heavy sweater and old winter coat...I wore them last time I was pregnant too, but paired with hardly anything cute to wear underneath I feel like a mess.  Plus I've done something with my hair (other than put it in a ponytail) probably 3 times in the last month, and I barely ever put on makeup...it's just so much effort when I only go out to the park or to the grocery store anymore!  I really should "make an effort" in that department at least a few times per week, I'm not so pressed for time that I can't even put on a little makeup. 

I'm glad to hear your power wasn't off for too long, we just got a good soaking rain from the storm and a cold front but otherwise were unscathed.  I was thinking about all the mamas who are like 40+ weeks pregnant, having their babies, or with newborns who are dealing with power outages/flooding/damage, it would be so scary to go through that at such a vulnerable time!

[autumngrey]

Pogo - oh that sucks about the almost fire and no power! Hopefully the repairs won't offset the DIY savings. We've been putting new treads on our back stairs and it seems like every step of progress we make, we uncover another hurdle. But at least we didn't have to pay someone else to do it ... even if it will cost more I'll know we did it.

I'm right there with you Clarasmama - in shock that there's only 8-12 weeks left to go, procrastinating on reading my hypnobabies material. How the heck did November get here so fast!?

I'm starting to be able to feel this baby almost every day. It's really frustrating since I feel about as much now as I did last time by 16 weeks--stupid anterior placenta. I don't dare wish to feel more though, since soon enough it will hurt. Other than being constantly exhausted and needing an inordinate amount of sleep, I'm feeling pretty good. I can still sleep on my belly so when I'm feeling extra sleep deprived (lately DH has been snoring a lot with a head cold) I'm still able to get into my comfort position. Not sure how much longer that will last so hoping he gets better asap.

I keep meaning to order a carseat (since it's the only item we are required to have to take the baby home ... um, not that we have anything other than a Boppy yet either) but I haven't gotten to it.

It's been getting cold here too--OK, it snowed today--and I don't know what I'm going to do once I'm too big for my sweatshirts. I have a ton of sweatshirts that I'm allowed to wear at work (anything with a work logo is OK) but they're starting to get too short. I pretty much live in sweatshirts in the winter since I'm always cold. I suppose I could buy some new work sweatshirts in a bigger size and DH can wear them after January.

My mom won't be able to come to this birth so I'm debating whether DH can handle it on his own or if I should find a doula. There's not many options around here and I wasn't planning on spending the money, but ... he froze in fear last time, so I don't know if it's wise to rely on him.

[Clarasmama]

Originally Posted by autumngrey 

My mom won't be able to come to this birth so I'm debating whether DH can handle it on his own or if I should find a doula. There's not many options around here and I wasn't planning on spending the money, but ... he froze in fear last time, so I don't know if it's wise to rely on him.

If your having any doubts at all you should very strongly consider getting a doula. The extra few hundred dollars will be absolutely worth it. I wish I had gotten a doula with my first birth, even though my DH was an amazing labor support person it would have been better to have another woman/mother with me. Seriously, the money just goes out the window anyway, you won't even realize it was spent after a few weeks....things are a little crazy those first weeks with a baby!

[Ms Rabbit]

I am doing well, my midwife wrote me a note off work last week, so I have been home since then. That means I have about 47 seconds at a time to come on the computer before one of the boys realiizes and demands my attention. I've been reading along, just not posting as much :)

I am 28 weeks now, I am doing the glucose testing tomorrow morning. This is my first time and I am kinda nervous! I was measuring 2 weeks ahead last time, so I am curious to see how big I measure tomorrow.

Ok, my time is up, DS is piling play-doh in my lap:)

[tiqa]

Mentally we're doing pretty well.  Everything is ready for the baby.  Well, the only thing off is that we still don't have anyone to watch my other two while I labor.  I can't even find a babysitter to be on-call.  That's a BIG deal for me as I have asked everyone and their mother in our little town for help and they all basically said no, sorry, we don't know you well enough.  And at this point I feel too cruddy physically to socialize.  So I guess I just have to somehow give birth in the middle of the night while the kids are in bed, asleep.  I dunno, that's the only conclusion I can come to.  I can't labor while I'm being observed, and my kids ar so freaking chaotic that even under the best of circumstances they can't be expected to chill for a few hours on their own.  (They're 4 and 5.)  DH is my only support and I need him for ME, not to parent the kids (and his idea of discipline is to yell at them anyway when he gets stressed out... SO not the environment we're aiming for.)  I don't want to bother to hire a doula even though there are several in the area.  When I'm in labor I want only DH there and no one else will do.  Bah.

But as far as things go... we have the baby stuff mostly.  Car seat's installed.  I have all the baby clothes we need for the first, like, six months.  Got my carriers out.  We still need a crib sent up at some point but that's more for show - we plan on co-sleeping as we did with the others.  I got a labor ball yesterday.  Cloth diapers should be arriving in the mail soon.  Even got postpartum mama pads ordered.  We're actually ahead of schedule paying off our debt, looks like we'll be debt-free in January instead of March (knock on wood) so that's great that baby isn't breaking the bank.

I don't have maternity clothes either... We got a cheap detergent at some point and all my shirts have these weird detergent stains on them... Whatever.

My kids are driving me batty btw.  We're so behind our homeschool schedule, but I just do.not.care.  I guess they're unschooling themselves for the moment and they're doing fine... but I just miss routine...

And then of course my BIGGEST thing is that since I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's a few weeks ago, I've been on increasing dosages of meds... My doctor wants to increase the dose, my MW wants to decrease the dosage, and either way I feel like utter crap.  I felt great BEFORE the meds, ironically.  And to top it off I have to go completely gluten free pretty much forever, and dairy free for 6 months-2 years until my bloodwork improves.  CRAP.  I'm craving milk something awful and we had to donate 80% of our pantry supplies (total waste of money).  I wouldn't mind in theory going GF, because we've done it before, but it takes a lot of effort (we're basically doing the paleo thing) and I don't have the energy for it.  I'm losing weight steadily when I'm trying to gain, so my MW is worried... The meds make me fuzzy and nauseated and really freaking tired, but I can't sleep either... And I'm getting detox headaches from the gluten.  Ugh.  I so don't want to do this while pregnant!!!  And of course I'm worried about crashing PP too, and I've already been "warned" I might not be able to make breastmilk... Which makes me think that's why I couldn't make any milk with DS.  DD I had a fine supply for (even though I lost it very suddenly when she was 18 months).  I'm praying I can bf this one...

So just, ugh.  I'm actually not doing too badly ironically enough but I'm just testy and anxious.  On one hand I'm not completely ready for the baby to get here yet (and the medical issues that might ensue) but I am also anxious to get it over with.  Bah!  lol

[MamaBookworm]

tiqa - the doula service in my town advertises child care as one of their "things" - it's way more expensive than say hiring a teenager or something, but at least you are hiring someone who will be on call for you and in it for the duration. Not sure if your hometown doulas are into that, but you could ask.

[Clarasmama]

I was going to say the same thing as MamaBookworm, that maybe you could hire a doula for the rest of your family and not so much for you.  Bonus if they're also a post-partum doula that will help you clean and prep a meal or two and help get baby latched on properly!

I hear you on the gluten detox too, it's a roller coaster for sure.  I've been GF/Primal/Paleo for 3.5 years, but I do still remember the crazy headaches and insane cravings right off the bat.  I'm sorry you're having to do that while pregnant, but hopefully after a couple of months you'll be feeling better, your thyroid will be doing better, and you'll be ready for the baby!

[Pogo0685]

Tiqa - I was also going to suggest asking one of the doulas in your area if they do child care. I really don't want anyone at my birth, but I worry non stop about how my son is going to handle it. I told my brother that I was not going to let my mom come to the birth and he went and told her, my plan was to just lie and tell her that my labor was so fast I didn't have time to call her but now I gotta figure out something else, he had suggested that I let her come to watch my son but I just really don't want her there. My husband also resorts to yelling as soon as he gets stressed or feels the slightest bit out of control, I have talked to him a lot about how he needs to behave himself while I am in labor because it stresses me out when he gets like that and its the last thing I need while I am trying to relax and have a baby. Only time will tell if all my talking has helped or if it will go in one ear and out the other. I kinda figure I will be able to just let DS watch tv while it all happens, well at least I hope it will work like that.

Gluten detox is the worst. I have gone off the primal wagon yet again so I am just going to eat as good as I can without stressing myself out over it and then once new baby is here and things are back to "normal" I plan to go back to primal but the holidays and stress and temptation is just getting the best of me right now. But I do primal more because I like it and how it makes me feel rather than to try to help a medical condition so its easier for me to fall off the wagon.

[Clarasmama]

Originally Posted by Pogo0685 

I told my brother that I was not going to let my mom come to the birth and he went and told her, my plan was to just lie and tell her that my labor was so fast I didn't have time to call her but now I gotta figure out something else, he had suggested that I let her come to watch my son but I just really don't want her there.

Brothers!!  What a pain.  He probably didn't phrase it to her the way you would have either.  I'm really glad that everyone is thousands of miles away, because I don't even have to have a reason why I don't want anyone with me but DH.

We are planning to move back to AZ soon after this baby is born now, which I have mixed feelings about, so if we have another baby we'll have to deal with people being around...We'll cross that bridge when we come to it though!

[EvaLou32]

I'm almost 31 weeks now, and I'm feeling the same things - thinking I need to get serious about preparing for the arrival of a baby. I have the essentials, I think, but I need to figure it out for sure since I know I won't want to be running to the store... in the cold...with the baby...for some little thing that I knew I'd need.

I've also been visited by my old friends - hemorrhoids. I only get them when I'm at the end of pregnancy, but they are really so annoying. I've been looking through past posts for suggestions on treating them and found some great suggestions. So hopefully I can keep them in check for the next 2 months.

[broodymama]

I'm about 32 weeks now.  Pregnancy is going great but I've been locked into a state of continuous migraine that has really been kicking my butt.  I typically have chronic daily migraines that are kept down to 2-3 a week with meds but I'm off those for pregnancy, of course.  My other pregnancies weren't quite this bad with the migraines so this has really thrown me for a loop, especially with 4 young kids (older 2 homeschooled) to take care of.  Oh, I also found out (the hard way, with an anaphylactic reaction) that I've developed an allergy to pine nuts.  I'm trying to enjoy my pregnancy since this is probably my last one, but I am definitely looking forward to birth!

[Pogo0685]

Glad to know everyone is doing good!

EvaLou32 - I am pretty sure no matter how much I try to prepare for this I will still end up needing something in the first week or so. 

[Ms Rabbit]

Wow, time is flying by - it won't be long and we will be posting birth stories!

I am 30 weeks now and huge! I have outgrown most of the clothes I was wearing at 39 weeks with DS2 and my maternity winter coat is getting tight but I really don't want to buy a new one now. I have been wearing a lot of track pants and DH's tshirts, which is comfy but creates a whole load of problems when I try to get the kids dressed in the morning... "but mom, you didn't get dressed so why do we have to??". LOL

Has anyone thought about installing car seats and setting up cribs/bassinets? I think we will probably do the crib over the holidays, as it is going in our room and will involve us rearanging all the furniture (and maybe some redecorating ). I am not too sure about the car seat. We have a minivan and right now DS1 and DS2 are sitting in the middle row. I think we will end up moving their car seats to the back seat, and putting new baby's car seat in the mddle row. I am not sure if we should move them to the back sooner to get them used to it, or wait until the very end. It is going to be a pain having them all the way back there!!