12/2 Weekly Thread « Back to Group Discussions

[lulubikes]

I was here and thought I'd start the new thread. Unfortunately due to a computer glitch - I typed it it post and then lost it all.

Here goes it!

Congrats to Esp, Tropicana and Kaliki! So exciting you are snuggled in with your new babies!

I feel lots of mamas on the brink - prodromal labor, things getting moving... so exciting. I think we'll be meeting a lot of babies soon! 

AFM - I'm feeling in a funk - I've been working hard on keeping busy and distracting myself, but today not doing a good job. DH is feeling a bit the same. But I just am getting bored and annoyed with everything. We came to this comfy local tea shop that I love and I thought I would knit on the baby blanket I'm trying to finish, but I'm bored with that.

Oh well. I hope you are all doing well this weekend/week!

[Lilac11]

Yes congrats to the new mamas and welcome to the first December babies!   Esp I must have missed your post in one of the other threads!

Lulu I'm bored for the first time today too!  I was just telling DH!

Can't wait to meet this babe... I know I'm only 40w tomorrow and I might have to wait quite a while longer for him to decide to come out!  With DS it was so different cause he was born at 39+0 and I wasn't expecting it!

I would be feeling great if it weren't for the lack of sleep (about 5hrs a night due to hip and pelvis pain and reflux).  But I'm hanging in there!

Hope you're all having a nice weekend!

[segolilymama]

Congratulations Tropicana! I want to kiss his fat little lips!!!!

And congrats to esp & Kailikai! It's definitely baby time around here now!

I had a great Mama Blessing yesterday - about 10 women, and 2 girls, my henna came out gorgeous (will have to post a pic later because I don't have it on this computer yet), and my friend made a purple (my favorite color) cloth diaper cake for me. It was wonderful - got a few things I needed/wanted (boppy, diaper bag, and a purple Moby coming tomorrow!). NOW I feel really ready for a baby :)

We have a storm front coming in, so I think the current contractions are due to pressure changes. Who knows. Just waiting, now!

[purposefuldoula]

I am loving hearing about all of these babies!! Can you all believe it's our time now?!? 

I'm still having prodromal labor, though today isn't too bad. I'll be "due" tomorrow or Wednesday, depending on who's date you go by. I feel like he's going to wait to come at least until Friday, until DH is done with the school semester. I could totally go another two weeks though, like I did with my girls, too. Now that I'm this far, two weeks does not feel like that long, so we are pretty content over here. 

We are all Christmas'd up over here. We got a real tree for the first time this year and decorated last week.  I've just been working on knitting Christmas gifts this week and that will probably be my projects for the next couple of weeks. DH asked for a knitted tie this year! I'm too excited for that! 

[purposefuldoula]

Also, I should add that while we are pretty content over here, the texts have started coming in from family wondering if I'm in labor yet. Who else is starting to get pestered about this? 

[segolilymama]

Natalie - all day, every day...texts, calls, I don;t even want to talk about running into people (it's making me really want to hibernate!).

I'm really irritable right now. It probably has something to do with the fact that there are about 30 people gathering in our yurt. I was VERY clear that I needed this to NOT interfere with life at the house. So far, there are 12 extra kids in my house, 6 people have ignored the 'go to the yurt' sign and rung the bell, and my dog is FREAKING OUT because instead of having people park down at the bottom of the property, they are pulling up in front of the house. I want to scream, and I' hoping it doesn't end up getting taken out on an innocent kid....

[AlaskAnne]

Babies!  So exciting!  Tropicana, Esp, and Kaliki - congrats!

For all of you who are getting close, hang in there, you don't have much longer to go.  AFM, I'm not feeling too birthy yet but I have noticed a few more "twinges" in my cervix when I get up or chance positions.  I'm just continuing to gather up the little things that I think I need and trying to take it easy.  Today one of my colleagues was really sweet and took me grocery shopping with her, helped me carry bags, etc.  It was soo nice not having to go outside and start the car in the 3 degree weather and do everything myself.  

I've been working on a few crafty projects that I'll post in the sewing thread.  Yesterday I finished up flaxseed heat pack with dried lavender.  I used it last night and I think it put me to sleep!

Today's my birthday and I'm going to get a massage later from my sister in law, and then my husband is taking me out to dinner.  Overall its been a lovely, relaxing day!

[Mamabeakley]

So excited to hear about the babies!

Alaskanne, that sounds like a lovely birthday.  And did you know you and Darkblue share the same birthday?  Happy Birthday to you both!

Segolily, I hope things chill out around there!  I think I would just want to go hide!  Glad you had a lovely mama blessing first, though :-)

Purposeful, I work on Sundays and spent most of the morning today explaining that no, I haven't had my baby and yes, I will eventually have it .

And I am SO TIRED.  I have to get up around 6 for work on Sundays, but no other day so I normally get up later.  It was a busy 2/3 of a day at work.  Then my mom offered to take all three kids to JCPenney's for free haircuts so I skipped out on the rest of work and DH and I had a $4 date   We have so little money right now, and we are both so tired . . . we just walked to the nearest coffee place in the mall, found a place to sit down, and talked about what to get the kids for Christmas.  It was nice to just have a conversation about something non-stressful, though.  And the kids' haircuts are cute :-)

But being out of the house and going for all 12 hours of it has worn me out!

[annaka]

Pretty exciting news from the moms with their babes in arm! I'm so happy for you all! And to those who are at or very near their due dates, good luck! For those not quite full term, like me, keep those babes in for a few more weeks or at least days! I'm having a hard time believing that it's already Dec 2nd! 26 Days until my EDD. All I have to do this next three and a half weeks is go to my OB appts and take care of my two twerps here. I've been calling them minions (like on 'Despicable Me'). Seriously, the writers for that movie must have followed around 1 and 2yos for their ideas. They can be quite exhausting. DD the 2yo is testing my limits by refusing everything I ask of her. Parenting gets more and more interesting as they get older... I'm looking forward to an innocent little angel that doesn't know how to lie or backtalk...

Anyways, I've just been working on crocheting some winter hats for the kids, and other small projects around the house. Yesterday DH made it through his list of things to do! So pumped! Now we can just relax and enjoy our family of four before it becomes five.

Tonight I'm feeling very thankful that I found this group to connect with this pregnancy. You ladies and your experiences, advice, and even just humorous comments have helped me through the last month or two. So I'd like to say thanks to you all!

[zebrachick83]

Congrats again to all the mamas with new babies! 

I'm due today, but there are no signs that anything's happening in the next couple of days. Baby's definitely dropped, though, and it's gotten to the point that my stomach feels like the bottom will fall out when I stand up, so I know we're getting close. I've been trying to keep myself busy with work and knitting because my sewjo has just completely run out. I think it's the constant sitting with my feet down that I've had enough of...lol. If we're not in labor by this time next week, I'll probably be open to induction. We'll see. 

[stegenrae]

Zebrachick, this is the longest you've ever gone, right? 

Annaka, I can't believe you and your DH have finished all of your projects--that's impressive! We still haven't done everything we've wanted to get done, and I'm due in 12 days. :P

mamabeakley, that $4 date sounds really nice, actually! While the boys were at a birthday party Friday night, DH and I went grocery shopping and to Five Guys to get me some fries, lol. It was a nice time, too--just hanging out without stressing about the kids or anything else. :)

Alaskanne, what a thoughtful colleague to take you shopping with her. (YIKES to 3 degrees...I cringe at 30 degrees, despite living in the midwest, lol) 

sego, I hope your day chilled out and people got their stuff together. I'm sorry it was so crappy and stressful. I would have totally lost my shit. (but I'm not a particularly patient person, either...) Glad you got to have a wonderful mama blessing, though!

purposeful, my DH has requested babe come Friday, too. That would be fine with me--I'd be right about 39w, anyway--but we'll see. My prodromal labor pretty much ended, too...weird that I had it at all, and even weirder once I did have it to have it disappear. I'm only due in 12 days, but feel like yours and mine (and sego's too!) have all kind of been somewhat sync'd. 

lilac, I'm getting about the same amount of sleep and for the same freaking reasons. :( I wish I could nap, but then I'd just stay up later, I'm sure. 

lulu, sorry you're in a funk. Hopefully you'll wake up tomorrow to either labor or a renewed sense of patience. ;)

AFM, I'm 38+2, and if I hadn't had prodromal labor off/on for a week, I'd be fine waiting...but since I had it and put my head in a space where I feel like I'm going to have this baby "early," it's hard to backpedal and be content with 40w, yk? (My boys were both within 2 days of their EDDs.) DH and I have stockpiled food and snacks for birth/babymoon, and are in waiting mode now. OH, we did get a new-to-us van over the weekend--a 2011 Honda Odyssey. The middle row not only has LATCH in all THREE seats, but it has this awesome feature where you can slide out the outer seats to make for SAFE, comfy 3-across carseat configurations. It will even fit our convertible carseat alongside my boys' seats! We'll still use the bucket for winter, though--I don't imagine a baby would be likely to stay asleep when placed against a freezing cold seat, yk? (I will be the crazy woman with the carseat *and* baby in a wrap/sling whenever we go to the store or something, lol.) We just have a couple Solstice gifts to finish getting and then we're all set--we got a nice bike for DS1 tonight from a guy whose hobby is fixing them up and selling on craigslist, and we have him on notice to find/fix one for DS2, also, since both boys seriously outgrew their bikes this year and use them all the time despite looking way uncomfortable riding them. DS1 just needs PJs and slippers, and IDK what to get DS2 to make things "even." ugh. 

[Lilac11]

Yes, totally random "soooo... what's new?" calls, texts and emails constantly over here too!!   40w today and nothin' goin' on!  I cleaned my house today not so much out of nesting but out of total boredom! All that's left is the windows LOL!  Tomorrow I have friends coming over which will be a nice distraction.  I kind of forgot to schedule normal stuff for this week - I was too sure I would be babymooning by now!

I feel for all the tiiiiiired mamas, I am just totally sleep-deprived over here.  I am quite sure I will sleep better with a newborn who wakes up every hour than I am now.

Can you tell I am getting impatient? LOL

Thinking of all of you Dec DDC mamas! x

[segolilymama]

AFM, I'm 38+2, and if I hadn't had prodromal labor off/on for a week, I'd be fine waiting...but since I had it and put my head in a space where I feel like I'm going to have this baby "early," it's hard to backpedal and be content with 40w, yk?

That is exactly how I am feeling! 2+ weeks of off/on, and still no baby... I have done a few small things (essential oils, some pressure points, sex) to perhaps move things along, but I also know that baby will come when ready. However, the idea of another full week of this crap is a bit hard to stomach!

Rae - congrats on the van, so glad you got THAT worked out!

Happy late birthday, Anne! Sounds like a wonderful day :)

Annaka - I agree, this has been a wonderful group to stay connected with throughout this process :)

MamaB - I can't imagine doing a 12 hour day at this point! That sounds like a nice little 'date' though - a quiet conversation can be hard to come by when you have kiddos!

lilac - I'm with you on the tiredness - I KNOW I will be getting more sleep when baby comes than I am now! I am up EVERY 45 minutes due to contractions, which cause me to need to pee.... Even my worst sleeping baby slept for an hour at a time with a good 3-4 hour stretch in there somewhere ;)

I was happier when everyone left yesterday, but the kids all made me crazy... DS3 was in a really bad mood (didn't get enough sleep), and so fought with everything that anyone said - including what time it was, whether or not he had a candy in his hand, etc - it was crazy. I finally told DH to deal with him, I was so done with it... I felt like my labor could have totally picked up yesterday with the storm/pressure front, etc, but that I was having a mamallian response to an 'unsafe' environment and it shut everything back down. At least I will get to go see the boys sing tonight - our school is having a book fair at Barnes & Noble, and the kids are doing some holiday caroling there this evening. I say labor after that, OK universe????

[zebrachick83]

stengenrae, we went 40w6d with our first, but the rest were either a bit before or right at the due date. Seems to be a thing with our girls only....lol. Lots of deep pelvic pressure and spasms last night. I accidentally woke DH up moaning during one of them, but they weren't actual contractions. It just felt like the baby was trying to push herself out, if that makes sense. I don't mind going until 41 1/2 weeks or so, but another week and a half of those doesn't sound great. I've been having prodromal labor here since week 38 as well and this is my first time dealing with that, so I'm a bit more impatient than normal. With our other kids, there were no signs of labor until we were actually in labor. 

[kel]

Well, like I said on another thread - I finally ordered my home birth kit today - figured I should since we're okay for a home birth in the next week - even though I still imagine I'll go well past my due date.  My 7 and 13-yr-old daughters are throwing a baby shower for me this coming Sunday and it will be fun to hang out with all my good friends for a couple hours.  And another incentive to keep cleaning!  Home visit also happens this week and switching to once a week visits, plus a birthday today for my now 12-year-old, going out dancing with DP Saturday night, and a ton of custom doll orders to sew. 

hugs to everyone

And I can't wait to hear more from you esp and tropicana!

xox

[stegenrae]

I had my 38w midwife appointment tonight. Nothing new, really. Measuring 39w. The Alien-like movements this girl makes are entertaining to my midwives, too. Before I went, I was at Costco, and the checker wouldn't believe me that I'm due in less than 2 weeks. UGH. DH took the boys on an errand tonight, so I'm going to go soak in a hot bath with my RRL tea now. 

...I'm getting really bored... 

[chicajones]

Babies babies babies!!! I love checking in each day and seeing the sweet new faces.

segolily, maybe I missed it, but why are so many people at your house/yurt? Sounds like craziness! I hope you get some peace.

AlaskAnne, I was looking at the "Who's Who" thread and noticed your EDD is close to mine! It will be fun to see when our babies arrive. :) The flaxseed heat packs sounds wonderful! A birthday massage sounds wonderful...that's the one thing I haven't had that I would love (a pregnancy massage). I hope your day was fantastic (and yours darkblue)!

mamabeakley your $4 date sounds so sweet. DH and I do that a lot -- there's a popsicle shop here that is perfect for a cheap date. :)

stegenrae, prodromal sounds like no fun at all. Hopefully it will turn back on and turn INTO real labor very soon! Sounds like you're getting everything lined up, including presents, which is great. DH and I are pretty much forgoing presents this year, except for each other. He's getting me a new pair of Warby Parker glasses since he knows I won't want to wear contacts during birth/recovery/sleepless nights. I'm getting him a new watch, although I need to get on that. Oh, and UGH to that rude checker -- I had a checker the other day who literally would not let me leave without having her take my bags to the car. I get that she was trying to be nice, but they were light and I just wanted to leave.

kel, doesn't it feel good to have your kit ordered? We finally got everything in the closet for the birth and it's such a great relief to know we're as ready as we can be!

I went a little crazy this week. I found a dresser in DH's grandma's garage that is perfect for Baby Jones' little "corner" in our room, and spent most of yesterday painting it kelly green. Ran a ton of errands to finish getting everything for our home walkthrough visit tonight with our midwife. I'm taking it easier today, but Thursday is a trip to CostCo to pick up a bunch of stuff for Freezer Cooking Friday. I have so much that I want to make, hopefully I'll get through at least some of it. 

I felt like I was having some contractions last night, but in some ways it just felt like baby was tensing up and pushing himself out. Not sure if I can tell, lol! It was somewhat pattern-like though, although very spaced out. Today I just can't seem to stay comfortable (sitting or laying down). I told DH that I just want to take my stomach off for a little while so I can curl up and be comfortable! 

I also feel like my shoes are getting a bit tighter, and my feet are spreading out. Hopefully they won't get too nuts, because I'm really not in a place where I can buy a bunch of new shoes right now.

Looking forward to more babies and birth stories from all of you early December gals!

[lulubikes]

Hey Mamas -

I've been reading along mostly on my phone and posting from there is a bit of a pain... I think I said that last week... I've also been spending a lot of time checking things on the FB page. Anyone else finding it hard to keep up with both? I kind of wish we just had one place people were posting. Obviously, I could just choose one, but at this point I feel attached to everyone in both places!

I had a good cry Sunday night and it really helped my mood. My husband really had a hard time, he just wanted to make it all better, but he can't. Anyway, I'm in a bit of a better space now. Also trying to keep busy. 

I'm thinking a lot about all of you. This group has been so much support to me other this pregnancy. I have to say that now things are mixed for me. I know I have all your support, but seeing other babies being born is exciting and but I get a bit jealous and down sometimes... then hearing about those of you with prodromal labor makes me wonder each time I start getting some contractions - will this be the "real" thing or prodromal?

[kel]

(I'm sure that you already know) that lots and lots of first babies are born after their due date, lulu - often a week or two past - so don't lose heart!  I think my first was born two weeks past due, on the dot.  And then there are those of us who always go past due;) and have come to expect it.  I suppose it's easier after the first time though - just because you've been there before.   I actually like having the extra time to get last minute stuff done or just relax with my dp and have a few more dates together before there is a babe connected to me at the hip/breast again for the next couple years.  You should just take this time to keep doing anything that will better prepare you for the baby's birth and arrival, but also just relax and have some dates and *pamper yourself*.  Also, try to get out and do anything that will be hard to do with a newborn in tow (and the list is endless) - any extraneous shopping you think you might want/need to do in the next month or so, for instance, will be so much easier pregnant and huge, rather than with a crying newborn... 

I actually got off the facebook group, at least for now,  just because I like the organization of these boards better and I recognize everyone more easily on here! 

hugs

[newCTmama]

So exciting to see new posts about babies arriving! I'd love to do personals but am typing one handed during my 15 minutes of rest before making dinner, so know that I'm eagerly reading & following along with everyone's stories, and sending good thoughts out into the universe for you! I'm just at 36/37 weeks, so think that I have a ways to go, though time will tell. I had an excellent appt with my midwife yesterday, really hoping she's on call when I go into labor. Two weeks ago, I had a very 'tricky," shall we say, appt. with one of the OB's in the practice. I'm very much hoping for/committed to a VBAC, and this DR really wanted to get an u/s to "make sure the baby isn't too big" - uh, no thank you! Hoping that issue doesn't resurface again... also hoping I click with the doula I'm meeting with next week : ) DH and I have been doing Bradley stuff again this pg, and I feel very supported by him, as well as by the m/w & a number of the OBs in the pratice. However, if I do go into labor and one of the less-vbac-supportive DRs are on call, I think a doula would be a particularly good suport person...

On a personal note... bit of a scare this morning & wondering if any of you can relate/ offer advice. After a bit of a dry spell, DH & I had intercourse. I've noticed a real increased amount of moisture today, and have even felt a few small "gushes," though that may be an exageration, as each one was no more than a quarter or half-tsp of liquid... (if I used emoticons regularly, I'd insert that blushing one here!!!). Anyhow, I'd say that it's been no more than a TBL of clear, whitish liquid, but I've been worrying about PROM. Silly, I hope! I keep thinking that if I were really leaking fluid, I'd know it...? Ok, 15 min are up, but if any of you ladies have words of wisdom, I'm all ears!