Introductions « Back to Group Discussions

[CDsMom1031]

Since we're all going to be getting to know each other, I figured we could introduce ourselves.

My name is Nicole. I'm an RVT (Registered Vet Tech) and I work at the Emergency Clinic here in town. I have two dogs, two cats, and two turtles. My DH and I have been married for almost two years. We have a 14-month old son who was born on Halloween last year.

This newest kiddo was kind of a surprise. I ran out of BCP, went to the doctor, got another prescription, then said I'd restart my pill when my period came back... And it never came back. LOL Conner took 16 months to conceive, so I was SHOCKED when that test came up +. LOL I was off the pill a whole 40 days when I got the +.

I'm a pretty boring pregnant person. Besides Carpel Tunnel last time, the only other thing that happened to me was getting fat. I'm hoping for that kind of pregnancy again.

I THINK I'm due the 2nd of September. I haven't had an U/S or anything yet to confirm it, but I'm pretty sure that's what it is.

I look forward to meeting all of you and growing bellies and babies with you ladies!

[nettlesoup]

Hi there! I'm Anna, and I'm a stay at home mum to my daughter who will be 4 in March, and I also homeschool. I'm also a botanical illustrator although I haven't had much in the way of work for ages. I've been with my partner for over 7 years now, and we've been engaged for just under 6. He works at the local university as a computing officer.

We originally tried for another one at the beginning of the year, but I was put off after having an early miscarriage at 5 weeks. So we decided to give it another go more recently and I got my positive on Boxing Day! But due to the previous one I'm really paranoid that I'll lose this one. Also, I don't want a gap any larger between the two children; if this baby stays put, there will be 4 and a half years between them.

My symptoms haven't been too bad yet. I get mild nausea when I'm hungry and I have sore boobs. I already feel big, but that's probably just bloating from all the Christmas food! Anyway, lovely to meet you all!
 

[countrybound]

Hello ladies! I'm Marelle! I'm a stay at home mom right now but going to school full time. Prior to my last childs birth I was an licensed nurse for OB/GYN so sometimes I feel like I know more than I want to with pregnancy. I have a 7 year old (as of tomorrow NEW YEARS BIRTHDAY) and a 8 month old, both boys. Which means the two little ones will be 16 months apart (yikes). I've had two miscarriages before so I'm trying not to stress too much and whatever will be will be.

We tried for only one month and boom preggo.

No symptoms yet except mild boob pain. I don't normally get symptoms until week 7.

So welcome everyone.. hope we're all here to stay!

[deborahbgkelly]

Hi everyone- My name is Deborah. I am 31 and DH is 30. We have two furbabies, Peaches (2 year old American Staffordshire Terrier) and Leo (Domestic Long Hair/Maine Coone Mix). I am also mother to my identical twin butterfly boys who passed at 22 weeks gestation due to placental thrombosis. We now know I'm homozygous positive for MTHFR and have therapies in place to help us bring this one home. I am due around September 2. I am a writer and editor with a primary focus on search engine optimization (SEO) content. I also work seasonally as a bilingual test evaluator and am studying for my graduate certificate in Business Administration. I only have 3 courses left so I should be able to finish it before LO comes along. I am much calmer than I expected to be about this pregnancy, but have my moments of doubt and anxiety. I think we will all get each other through the tough times. I am having really bad morning sickness so far, but I don't mind that much.

[jen&james]

Hi Everyone!  I am Jen and I am 36 this will be our 4th child and most likely the last.  I have 2 sons and a daughter and I tried really hard after my daughter was born to convince myself I was done. I gave away all my baby stuff but the feeling that someone was missing never went away so we decided we had to complete our family with one more.  I am a WAHM and I homeschool my eldest son.  My work at home is more on the creative side.  I make waldorf inspired ponies so it is alot of sewing and hand stitching.  I really enjoy it but plan to put it on the back burner a bit this year with the pregnancy.  I have fairly easy pregnancies with very little nausea just mostly fatigue in the beginning.  We will be planning our 3rd home/water birth with this one and I am hoping for balance that this baby is a girl but would of course be happy with a boy too.  It would just be nice for my daughter to have a sister.  I really didn't think we would get pregnant this month as I was sick and I ovulated on thursday the week before Christmas and then ran a fever on friday and found out I had pneumonia which I took antibiotics for that were safe for pregnancy because I told the DR in the ER that I might be PG.  Somehow this little one stuck and we are hoping it keeps on sticking :) Anyway we are due Sept 6th and I am overjoyed to be pregnant and praying for a healthy baby boy or girl :)

[letniaLynne]

Hi ladies!
My name is Andrea I'm 32, my fiancée's is 31 and we have been close friends since college. We are moving to the north Boston area in July or so.
This will be my third child and his first. We are to the moon excited to be pregnant! We found out Dec 21 since I was a few days late. We had been charting to prevent pregnancy for the last year but over the last few months we had not been as careful around the fertile time since we were kind of hoping we might get lucky without really planning . So I guess you could say this one is going to be nicknamed "love baby". We are due Sept 1.

Currently I am a sahm to my dd1 who is almost 7 and dd2 who is 4. I was an electrical engineer before the kids but I don't practice very often anymore. I know after all the kids get to be school aged ill be itching to get back to my career.

We are planning a home birth for this little one and I also had a extremely fast home birth with dd2 . I'm 5wks, 4days and feeling really great! Just super tender breasts, a bit of acid when I'm hungry and some slight fatigue. But I'm super scared of morning sickness setting in. The first time I ended up on medication and still could not function and the last time it was a bit better I managed without the drugs but I really was no where near even a shell of myself. Hoping this time I'm can keep it under control.

Congratulations to everyone !!! Looking forward to traveling this journey with you!

[splath]

I am Lisa. I am 34, but turn the dreaded advanced maternal age in June my husband and I have two daughters-- our oldest was a c-section, and our second was a successful vbac. Hoping for another vbac this time, provided this baby is sticky. It took us two years to conceive our first daughter -- i have pcos nd we had two miscarriages prior to that. One at 7 weeks and one at 4 weeks. It only took us three months to conceive my younger daughter but we had an ectopic pregnancy over the summer- my first cycle post partum-- that was a terrible ordeal. My husband and I finally decided to "try" for number three and got pregnant the first month of trying this time!

We are a homeschooling family-- I had planned on starting my oldest on a kindergarten curriculum next fall. Not sure how we'll work that now that I will be due September 9th...

As far as symptoms right now, Just super cranky and tired. And really missing my afternoon cup of coffee. I usually have at least three cups a day and have cut it back to about 1/2 a cup.

Other than that just taking it one day at a time. I have made it past the date of my earliest miscarriage, now just have to make it to 8 weeks plus make sure it's not ectopic. Planning to call my midwife's office to see about bloodwork this week. I can't wait until I'm through the first trimester and can getting more relaxed and hands off about everything!

[mrsandmrs]

I'm Jess. I'm 30. My wife and I will be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary in 2013. We got married in Canada, although we live in Washington. She's spectacular and spoils me endlessly. I work for a girl-empowerment non-profit organization that you've probably heard of, which is often stressful and a lot of work, but I really can't complain about it. We have a 16-year-old son, who my wife birthed as a teenager, but this is my first pregnancy. We've been going to the fertility clinic for a year, so this pregnancy was beyond planned and hoped for but I am still kind of in shock that it worked.

I spent a lot of time research in/fertility and I'm parenting a teenager, but I feel like I know practically nothing about pregnancy and infants? I'm reeling. Fortunately, my wife has BTDT so we're not totally at square one. Our estimated due date is September 6. Our first ultrasound is scheduled for Jan 8th. Since I have been working with a fertility clinic, I am going to have a lot of first trimester monitoring, which has its pro's and con's. So far, I am fairly nauseous and exhausted. And I have some cramping or weird pressure in the uterus area every day, but not all day. I guess that's normal? I have no idea. I quit caffeine and alcohol quite a while ago since I've been going through fertility treatment, so I am not really missing anything but runny eggs. 

[deborahbgkelly]

Mrsandmrs- Yes, the cramping is normal. Your uterus is stretching to make room for baby!

[CDsMom1031]

I'm having the cramping and pulling and tugging, too. Totally normal.

[MamaMash]

Hi ladies 😊 my name is Michelle. I am 24, 25 in April. I have been married for almost 3 years (February will make it 3). We have an almost 18 month old daughter named Alyvia, but everyone calls her Lyvi-loo. I got my BFP this month and was able to announce it to dd and my close family on Christmas Day. I'm very excited and hoping for a sticky bean. I am due September 5th. So far I have been tired, the last couple days I've been pretty nauseated when I get hungry or eat. I've had quite a lot of dull achy cramps yesterday and today along with a pinchy type pain in my lower right abdomen like where my ovary is and maybe a little further to the left sometimes. Not sure what that is. I'm trying not to read into anything as I've already had 2 betas done and my levels are high and rising. I'm totally missing my morning cup of coffee!

[MadelynMc]

Hi! My name is Madelyn. I'm 25 and I live in Nashville with my husband and our three-year-old daughter. We finally decided to try for our second child after much deliberation, and we somehow got it on the first shot. I'm kind of still in shock! I've been feeling super nauseous since the day I had IB at 7 DPO, and I think I'm developing an aversion to cilantro (which is tragic, because I LOVE Mexican food). Seriously, it tastes like permanent markers. Other than that, just feeling tired and a little emotional. I got my third positive test on Christmas morning, so we decided to tell our family

I think we are going to use a nurse midwife this time at Vanderbilt. I would love to have a home birth, but I may be too chicken, and also it costs so much more due to insurance not covering. I should be due around September 3. Cheers to being sweaty and pregnant this summer!

I'm also new here, so I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone!

[mommy42]

Hi Ladies!! My name is Julianne, I am 29 yrs old and this will be baby #3. I have 2 Daughters a 4 yr old and a 22 month old. My husband and I will have been married for 9 yrs come Sept, but were only planning on having 2 children. So OOPS! I am very excited, but hubby not so much. We are due on Sept. 8th however I tend to go into labor early. 2 days with 1st and 1 wk with 2nd. I normally don't start feeling symptoms right away but the heartburn I have is so intense. I am fatigue, tender boobs and lots of tugging and pulling in my uterus. I have had a miscarriage before so I am so afraid this baby wont stick. 

I am looking forward to reading all about everyones pregnancies 

Happy New Years!

[Pickle9909]

Hello,

I am an 31 year old (will be 32 on the 4th)  Army Wife originally from Vermont, currently living in Germany, but will be moving back to the States this Summer.

I have a 13 year old daughter, 3 year old son who share a Halloween Birthday and 5 year old Mini Schnauzer. We are also expecting baby #3..EDD 9.6.13. Baby will be born in Augusta, GA...which is where I had my son.

I love to travel and most recently went on a quick trip to Amsterdam which may have been my favorite European trip since we have lived here. I also love to read, love fitness and nutrition and starting to really love to cook...oddly I never loved it until a few years ago. I mean, I could cook, but didn't have fun doing it.

I nursed my oldest until she was 33 months old (I had her when I was 18) and at 38 months my son is still going strong. I just found out I am expecting baby number 3 and so far no sore nipples. Willing to tandem nurse, but we will see...maybe he will wean before baby arrives?

I ended up having an epidural with both of births, and would live to do a homebirth this time around, but since we are moving this summer, I don't see the timing working out and us getting our household goods and unpacked/settled enough for me to feel comfortable planning that So, I am planning to get a Doula...but as far as I know there is not a birthing center in the area and water births are not allowed at any of the local hospitals Needless to say, this will be our last baby and I really want to do it naturally.

[dejagerw]

Hi!

I just found out yesterday that I'm expecting my 3rd! What a great way to start off the new year! I'll be 32 in a week and I have two boys, 4 and 2. I'm still nursing the youngest quite a bit. The oldest is down to once a day. I'm not sure what I'd like to happen as far as nursing goes. Well, I'm hoping my oldest weans with this pregnancy, but I'm not sure how I feel about the two year old yet. I guess we'll just take it day by day. My youngest also just potty trained, so that's exciting! He might be getting a little better at night too (more frequent dry nights), so maybe I'll get a nice diaper break too before this next one comes.

I think I'm due around September 12. My chart was a little bit unclear this month, I kinda had a slow rise when my thermal shift happened, so I'm not as clear with my due date than I was with the other two. Also, I got a later BFP with this one. My first two I had my BFP's on 10DPO. This one I got a negative (it was either 10 DPO or 12 DPO depending on how I figure my chart) and then I got my faint BFP the next day.

I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone!
 

[Nenya]

Hi!  I am 30 and have been married for 4.5 years.  This is my first pregnancy, and I am SO excited!  I've been lurking on MDC for years!  My due date is September 4th.  We have been TTC for about 9 months, which probably doesn't sound like a long time to some people, but honestly I was starting to think maybe it wasn't meant to be.  DH just turned 39 and was starting to feel like he was too old to be a first-time dad, so I am so glad it happened before he changed his mind.  We have a furbaby (black lab-pitbull mix) who we spoil to the point of ridiculousness.  

I work full time as an RN but am looking forward to cutting back to one day every other week after the baby is born.  I am hoping to have a home birth but our local hospital's birth center is pretty amazing and I would be okay with delivering there too if things don't work out.  I am also hoping to have very low-intervention prenatal care since I am in very good health and most likely will have a low-risk pregnancy.

So far I have felt pretty good - lots of crampiness as my uterus stretches but no morning sickness.  I felt pretty exhausted for a few days last week but that seems to have passed too.

Congratulations to everyone!  I am looking forward to getting to know you all better.

[momzilla]

Hello, everyone.

I am almost 34 years old and have been a doula for almost 8 years, attending over 100 births.  I am also a homebirth midwife's assistant.  I was planning on starting my masters program in midwifery this summer, but just found out I'm expecting #6.  This means that dream will be on hold for a bit.  I just got a faint positive line today.  My "due date" is Sept. 14.  

I have been married to a wonderful man for 12 years. We were API attachment parenting support group leaders for 8 years.   We  have 1 girl and 4 boys: DD 12, DS 10, DS 6, DS 4, and DS 21 mo.  (You can guess we are hoping for a girl.) All of my children were born at home in water, except for the last one (he was born during a spring blizzard, and my homebirth midwife was not able to make it out to us...he ended being born in an ambulance.;))  Of coarse, I'm planning a home waterbirth this time around, and am happy to not be due when a blizzard may strike.  I was born at home in The Netherlands, as well.

My first child was born at 36 weeks, 2nd child at 40 wks 6 days, 3rd at 41 wks 1 day, 4th at 42 weeks 3 days, and 5th at 40 weeks 2 days.

My 21 month old DS is nursing, but my last 2 children weaned during pregnancy.  This makes me think he will, as well.

With my last 4 pregnancies, I experienced intense nausea.  The nausea starts early for me, and I'm already experiencing some of it. 

Congratulations to everyone!  I look forward to this journey together!

~Christine

[LivingSky]

Hello to everyone! My name is Allison, and DH and I are expecting child #2. Our DS was born July 14/11 so he will be ~26 months when #2 arrives. We had been trying for 9 months to get pregnant this time (it took 7 months for #1) so Nenya, I know what you mean. It's frustrating when it seems like it isn't going to happen, even though 9 months really isn't that long in the scheme of things when it comes to fertility.

Our EDD is September 6th, though I was 2 weeks early with DS and am hoping to be early again. I really wanted a winter baby (even daring a blizzard) so I wouldn't be really pregnant through summer again. Not just because of the heat (though that is a big factor!) but because I breed horses and summer is the really busy season for me, and it's hard to manage breeding and foaling with a huge pregnant belly. Oh well, where there is a will there's a way! Anyway, we are planning another birth-suite birth in a private residence owned by the local doula trainer, attended by the same midwife who delivered DS.

I'm hoping to be a SAHM after my maternity leave this time around

ETA: I forgot about symptoms - last time it was pretty much just heartburn. Killer, never ending heartburn that no amount of medicine seemed to help. Last time it started at 6DPO, and it hasn't started yet, so maybe I'll get away without it this time? I can hope, right?
Edited by LivingSky - 1/1/13 at 6:42pm

[MamaMash]

Livingsky I forgot how close our littles are. My dd was born 7/11/11. And now my EDD with this little bean is September 5th!

[swissmiss2584]

Hello!

My name is Lindsey and I am 28 years old. I'm a stay at home mommy and I homeschool. I'm old fashion ane love crochet, sewing, heirloom gardening, herbalism, and vintage things. I've been married for 7 years to a wonderful man. We have one daughter named Amelia who turned 4 in July. We just found out we are expecting our 2nd child after trying for only one month. I wanted to have my children closer together but I developed terrible anxiety after having Amelia and struggled with it so much that it started to cause health problems. I found a naturopath over a year ago who helped me control my anxiety and got my health back in order. I'm planning and praying for another quick and safe homebirth with this baby.

I've had sore boobs and nipples since I ovulated and my heartburn has arrived early with this one. My have dull achiness in my lower abdomen once in awhile and that pulling and tugging feeling around my uterus. The gassiness is going away. That was bad! Lol I had a little brown discharge this morning that freaked me out. I called my midwife and she isn't too concerned. She just told me to take it easy and not worry about it right now. I know it's not uncommon to have brown discharge in the beginning. I don't remember it with my first.

Excited to get to know everyone!