*July Moms* (May 1-15)

[Snowbaby]

Seems like it's time for the next thread....

[williamsmommy2002]

I'm doing ok. I'll be 31 weeks in 2 days. It's hard to believe it's getting so close. I'm feeling ok right now. I have pretty low hemoglobin and my ob wants to start iron injections next week if it doesn't improve. I have a hard time keeping food down because of a bad reflux and nausea so that is the reason for the anemia. I'm trying really hard with my diet right now so hopefully we will see improvement. I'm really tired and do have a lot of symptoms of anemia which i've never had before.

We have pretty much everything ready for the baby. We just need to wash the clothes and diapers. I would like to get a pouch sling before this babe is born because all we are using now is the Maya Wrap. I'm thinking of getting a Hotsling and have been looking at the Moby Wraps. The only other things we have to do are pack the bag for the hospital and put the carseat in the car.

[majazama]

Wow, williamsmommy, you are ready already? I've just moved so I'm getting into my new place. I'm sorting through all my accumulated junk and finding some cool stuff (hey, I din't know I had one of those!!:LOL)

My baby, Haeven is keeping me busy as well. Always wants to do the things that I don't want her to. It's frustrating to say the least. I'm tired sometimes, because I'm growing a baby inside of me. I just want to sleep, glorious sleep. I actually think things will be easier when this new babe arrives, because I'll finally have milk... *sigh* 2 months to go.

I'm gonna post a pic~~~

eta: I posted some pics in my signature there.

[wolfmom]

okay girls, i am finally trying to get back on the band wagon here! Sorry i've been away so long. life has been more than insane - the highlights include too much work for me and hubby, being really sick for a week, my sweet 2 year old's first illness, and an infection on my son's scratched penis! (don't ask, it's crazy!)
anyway, we are all on the mend now. my son decided to potty train himself so that is going pretty well. what a suprise it was! he is so sweet i can hardly stand it sometimes! I am feeling pretty well except for some serious pelvic and sacral pain sometimes. this babe is very active and head down already. (i'm 30 wks) now i am just getting nervous about getting everything done and ready before the baby comes!
now if i could just get one problem solved: where is this baby going to come in to the world??!! My birth center is closing may 30th so i am screwed! i can either drive to another birth center and have to worry about setting up a good relationship with them or have a homebirth. Here's the problems: the birth center is 40 min away with no traffic. unfortunately there is almost always traffic on weekdays and i will be birthing in july and it is right on the way to the beach, which means even worse traffic. hubby is quite nervous about the drive! The homebirth option sounds lovely to me but i still have to get hubby totally on board with it and i don't yet know how much insurance will pay. I don't mind paying for some but we can't swing too much! Sigh. I will just feel so much more settled when this is all figured out!
anyway, i should stop writing this book now and go clean my kitchen. hope you all are feeling well!
peace and health,

[oceanbaby]

I guess you could say I am entering a nesting/panic phase. We have a small 2 bedroom house, and even though I know people live just fine in much smaller areas, I somehow can't seem to make everything fit! I've gotten all the cloth diapers for the new baby, and am trying to find a place to put them all. This involves taking the door off the closet, putting up a curtain, cleaning out the whole closet, maybe installing some shelving, etc. etc. We also had to buy a new dresser to accomodate clothing for 2 kids instead of 1, but haven't picked it up yet because we have no one to help dh carry it up the stairs, and I don't want to pay $70 to have it delivered.

Ds's 3rd birthday is May 15, and my evil twin decided to throw a birthday party. Now I have to get this house in shape, and only have 1.5 weeks to do it! Plus this weekend is my sister's birthday and mother's day. Looks like I'll be spending mother's day cleaning out closets! I figured it's better now than when I'm 9 months pregnant, so what am I waiting for. But I HATE throwing parties! I am a horribly nervous hostess, and I stress about everything. And in a moment of weakness dh convinced me to go ahead and invite all OUR friends (none of whom have kids), as it might be the last time we see everyone for awhile. I figure what the hell, how bad could it be? All our family and friends, in one small space, and me responsible for feeding and entertaining everyone? How do you hostesses do it?

Oh yeah, the baby. Everything seems to be going along just fine. My midwife is pretty sure the head is down already. I'm trying to find a refresher weekend birth class, but no luck yet. I'm also trying to figure out where the heck I'm going to put the birthing tub. I think I'll start a separate thread about that.

Can you tell I'm starting to get a little frantic? Would it be horrible of me to cancel mother's day plans with my inlaws and try to schedule a massage instead? I think I need to go do some deep breathing.

[sweet tea]

sounds like we are all busy busy mamas!
chloe had her 4th birthday party! It was a blast!
pics~ http://photos.yahoo.com/sunpharee

I don't know about you gals...but with my 1st baby I had those AWFUL charlie horse like cramps in my legs..always in the middle of the night~waking up screaming..well I have been dreading it...and I've had one or two like that so far, but now I'm having them during the day, in my feet!! My foot cramps up, and I can't move my toes..can't walk..sometimes it lasts over a minute!
my midwife is coming for my 28 wk visit tomorrow, so I'll have to ask her about it...anyone else having this problem...? It *usually* happens in the mall or after I've been walking a bit.

other than that, things are really good..been keeping busy cleaning house, and doing a couple swaps at the TP...my sewing machine had to go into the shop to get serviced ...so I think I will use the extra free time to get a couple of closets organized.

I think the baby is head down..I took a bath and sat up~ like doing a sit up...and I could totally see the form of the little baby butt and arch of his back..it was so neat!
k~enough outta me

[Threefold]

I'm here but ds just woke and is downstairs alone and I heard somehting suspicious, followed by a "mama!"
gotta run!

[Threefold]

DH just told me he lost his job. He was "terminated".
I am angry and worried and scared. Dh has a long history of not being able to support us and he was finally getting his act together. He is defensive and acting as though its all fine, but it is not. We are just barely making it and that was with him working and me working 60%. I don't get paid in the summer and I go down to 40% in the fall.
I am so sad that I have to deal with this right now.

[kris1225]

Hugs to you Dalai Mama!! I know it's hard, but everything will work itself out. And I can totally relate! I have been carrying the financial stuff for a while now with my home biz and it's really hard. DH is in a career crossroads *grrr*. He's been bartending part-time. But somehow we've managed for about a year now on two half-incomes. Go figure. I hope you guys get it all together!!

[ChildoftheMoon]

dalai mama-sorry that you are going through this. Things do have a way have working out. I know it doesn't really help, but we have been in that position too. It sucks, but it is temporary. Hang in there!

sunfairy-I have had the foot cramp thing happen to me twice so far. Had leg cramps with my first two. Very strange.

I am turning 30 weeks this week! I still have to get a fishy pool and get my birthing stuff together (towels, drinks food, etc) and need to wash up everything for the baby. I feel like I still have some time. I am so busy lately! Looking forward to slowing down and having nothing to do before baby gets here. I feel good physically, just need the slow down mentally.

Brandi

[kris1225]

Brandi - Are you saying I am not supposed to wait until 40 weeks to do all this? LOL! I feel like I have all the time in the world. I guess I don't.

When do ya'll think is the deadline for getting birth supplies together and washing baby's stuff? I pulled the 'bucket' car-seat yesterday out of storage. It had spider webs all over it. Is that bad?

[ChildoftheMoon]

Bing! Your time now is up

I just get anxious to see baby, need things to do to help the time pass once I get in the home stretch. I would like to have all my stuff done by 35-36 weeks so I can relax and not feel like I am cutting it close. Besides I have a 4.5yo and 2.5yo that keep me plenty busy, so I want to be prepared. There isn't much I need to do, it is just the thought that I have things left to do hanging over my head.
Brandi

[Foobar]

Dalai Mama: big hugs go out to you. I am sorry you have to deal with this right now.

I am doing ok. I've actually been able to eat this week, sort of. The crazy part has been the visitors. My mother and father are visiting right now. I love them, but MAN am I ready for them to leave! Last week, we had MIL and FIL. They didn't drive me quite as nuts, but then again, I think it drove DH crazy.

Goo is LOVING the attention. And the spoiling she is getting. Sigh...can't wait until they head home. I love family, perferrably across the country!

I am going to try to add a photo link here: These were taken May 4, two calendar months before my due date. DH and I went out to a nice dinner with friends.
Photo of Foobar

one of these days, that wallpaper is coming down!

Moo is doing great, I am in pain from her movements, but hey, small price to pay for a beautiful life. I have an appointment on Friday and I have to ask about these cramps I've been getting. I have noticed that I am getting cramps that feel like pre-menstrual cramps. They aren't regular at all and they happen more when I am stressed. They don't feel like BH which are a different kind of pain. I didn't start contracting on my own with Goo, so I am not sure if these are early contractions or not...

[LLLKerry]

Hi all,
I am so dumb, I just wrote a really long message and then accidentally deleted it before I could post...

It is so interesting to hear that many of you are prepared for the birth...I am not due until July 30th, but I am doing childcare in my home and am planning on working until July 29th (my 2nd and 3rd babies were both born exactly 2 days past their due date so I am assuming this one will come August 1st, but what if I'm wrong??!). I have not done a thing to prepare (story of my life, I think I have sooo much time to get things done and then am frantic trying to be ready on time), our house is MESSY, our birthing tub (which is just an old, funky jacuzzi tub that we have not used in almost 3 years because it is too expensive to heat) still has water from 3 years ago in it...too gross to contemplate! I have only rags for diapers because my son used them for over 3 and a half years, and whenever my inlaws decide to sell (we live in their old house, they moved away) we have to be out, which could be a month, 6 months, or maybe (HOPEFULLY!!!) more...
Am wondering if anyone else is worried about sharing the bed with an older child and new baby...my 4 year old sleeps between dh and I and I always get kicked in the face by him and have to keep a pillow over my belly because he kicks there, too. Obviously I will try to keep baby on my other side but baby will need access to both breasts in the night, sooo...... I have been putting him to sleep as always in our bed but then transferring him to a childsize futon right beside the bed when I go to sleep for the night around midnight, but he never stays in for more than an hour..

I look forward to hearing from you other July mamas!!

[majazama]

LLLkerry~~ I have concerns about how we're all going to fit in the bed as well. It's just me (and ) and my DD right now on a double mattress futon. I would like to get a child-size futon for haeven. Maybe one of those futon chairs would work. They're pretty small. I've also been wondering how am I going to BF two babies in bed????? But I've been studying Adventures in Tandem Nursing, so I'm getting a lot of helpful hints.

I'm getting all settled in my new place (ahhhhh), finally. I can nest like a real pregnant mama bear. I'm obsessive about sorting and re-sorting all the baby paraphanelia (cloth diapers, girl clothes, boy clothes...) they are sooo tiny!

Foobar~lookin' good! That a pretty nice sized belly! Did you see my pic? It's in my signature. I'm due on the same weekend. That picture is from about 3 weeks ago, though.

[majazama]

Oh, ya, just remembered I wanted to say that magnesium is what I take for cramps. I also take coral calcium (which is supposed to be the best kind you can get)so that I don't upset the cal/mag balance.

[Foobar]

Mammajazz!

Yes, I saw your photos! You look so slender! How do you do it? I've only gained about 20 lbs, so what you saw is almost all belly and breast!

We only co-sleep as needed (ie, when Goo really wants a warm body, she is a non-touchy feely type), so I am not too worried about the space issues. We realized when Goo was born that we could never fit 2 kids in our house, so we moved to a different community when she was 9 months old. Now we have enough room for everyone to have their own room and if the girls want to share when they are older, we are more than willing to make one a bedroom and one a playroom.

I am getting nervous about dropping again. Goo dropped early, but then came on her due date. I don't know if Moo will drop early or not or what this means in a second pregnancy.....

Does anyone have experience on dropping early in the second pregnancy?

[majazama]

I'm actually pretty tall .........so as my family says, the baby is standing up in there. My DD was not a tiny baby, much to the suprise of my midwives, myself, and my partner. I eat when I'm hungry, mostly organic, I just don't over-do anything, including the absurd RDA for protein.

About dropping, I can't really say, because my DD was always low, and so is this one. I have very little muscle tone (double-jointed). I know this is TMI, but I can feel the baby's head inside me, through the wall of the vagina, very close to the opening (like half a finger-length). But my DD was 9 days overdue, so I'm not worried about pre-term labour.

[Snowbaby]

Wow, you gals made me anxious. DH and I have nothing ready yet. I have like 2 onesides, about 4 diapers, three sidesnap tshirts, a pack of socks and one cap. That's it. We still have tons of preparing to do, not to mention house repairs. I thought that Memorial Day weekend would be a good weekend to shop (sales!) for everything, but it's going to be one very exhausting weekend.

I've gotten those leg cramps also, mostly at night on my calves. But I finally learned that they tend to come when I stretch or point my toes while lying in bed so now I try not to do that and, in fact, last night a cramp started and I "flexed" (toes toward head) really fast and managed to fend it off.

I'm going to be 30 weeks at the end of this week and just can't believe it. It feels so close and yet ........ I also feel like I have all the time in the world to get ready. However, as a first timer I'm probably neglecting the fact that I may not feel like doing anything (or be able to do too much, too fast) after 35 weeks.

Glad to hear you all are doing so well.

Dalai Mama - sorry to hear about your dH's job .. it is definitely bad timing.

[majazama]

Did I scare everyone away?? Ooops. Lets get our thread hopping again. I'd love to hear how everyone is doing.

I've been reading Ina May's guide to Childbirth... great book. I'm still wanting to read unassisted childbirth, by laura shanley before I have the baby... I'm looking for a copy if you've got one.

I've been trying to do a bunch of things before the baby is born... paint haeven's toybox, find a scale to weigh the baby, see about birth certificate, finish haeven's quilt, make wiping cloths, as you can tell, I'm an artsy-fartsy type. I love to make things with my hands.

gotta run...