Week of September 20 - the Home Stretch! - Page 5

[Lucysmama]

Nancy -

Sorry, but your story cracked me up, too. That is totally something my mom would do, turn around and say I am huge after having that conversation! For those of you who have toddlers, or who just like the game, today my dd told me I look like GLOPPY from Candy Land. You know, the mud-puddle guy. So I told dh that, and he said, "Are you sure she didn't mean PLUMPY?" (The short, fat guy) He was totally serious. I wanted to smack him. About an hour later he made a crack about me hogging all the grapes we were eating, and I had a talk with him: "Look, don't say to a pregnant woman that she looks like PLUMPY, and don't tell her she is HOGGING anything!"

Perineal massage: I have tried doing it with dh, but it really hurts me. Even with a lot of lube. I hope that isn't a bad sign. Is it supposed to be so uncomfortable/painful to stretch like that? I'm a little small down there and I am really worried about tearing. My midwife also says the worst tears she sees are with waterbirthing mamas cause she cannot support their perineums as well without actually jumping in the tub with them.

Momma2Liam - I found the New Native really hard to use, too. I got mine when my dd was 6 months, and we never got comfy with it, so we sold it. I love the Maya for newborns, though. I didn't have one for my dd, but last year I nannied for a newborn and he and I just loved it. It takes a lot of practice, though.

For the new slingers out there: My biggest recommendation when learning is to get moving as soon as the baby is in the sling. A lot of babies aren't used to being held like that and cry upon being put in the sling, and bouncing around or taking a walk helps them calm down and get used to slinging. Also, if your baby seems to freak out upon being put in every time you try, see if you can get a more experienced sling wearer to wear them for a while to get them used to it. Some babies pick up on the sling wearer's inexperience and nervousness. (This was the case with the baby I nannied. He loved me wearing him, but hated his parents wearing him cause they were so nervous. Eventually his parents calmed down and he grew to like it.) Anyway. It took us a while to figure this stuff out, so I thought I'd share.

Letia, where are you?!?! Hope you are ok!

I got diaper-fairied today!!! I did a trade with a mom and she was just supposed to send me a Patchwork Pixie fitted. But she threw in 3 newborn fitteds, a newborn soaker, and a pack of onesies. I love MDC mamas!!!

[Piglet68]

36 weeks, 2 days

Hey everyone! First, welcome to Nikole!

And Soogie, thanks alot for making me crave brownies, lol!

I'm also remiss on the bead-sending. I was going to go tomorrow to get them, but with my dad and his wife coming for dinner i'll need to save all my energy just to go grocery shopping and cook.

Regarding slings, ITA with what Katie said: you gotta start moving as soon as you put them in. I have a Maya pouch and sling. Mum is making me a couple of pouches out of heavier material: a denim-like cotton in chocolate brown, and a navy blue fleece one. I'm also making a couple of wraps, one long and one short, that I'm looking forward to trying out.

Went to the doc today and found out I'm GBS positive. Surprised me. But, as I posted in the GBS thread, it's moot for me since I'm a c/s. Unless my water breaks before my scheduled date, I won't need any antibiotics nor will baby.

mirthfulmum, you must be stir crazy being so close! i was gonna call you about a playdate then decided you need this time to yourself. besides, i'm supposed to be sending out the final draft of a paper to my boss this week, and DH is going to take Emily out tomorrow morning so I can get some work done on it. If you end up going over your due date, which for your sake I completely hope you don't, we may end up in hospital together! That might be fun.

So, I have this crazy (but sweet) cousin who was going to buy Emily some antique high chair as a baby gift, but never got around to it (and frankly, we didn't need it). She called my mother the other day and said she wants to get a big gift for both Emily and Sasha, and told Mum to go get me something up to $300 US, woo hoo! Problem is, DH and I can't think of something! I was gonna get a double stroller, but I'm totally befuddled as to what I want. I know I don't want those tandem things: too big!! I plan on slinging Sasha for as long as possible, but I know for DD by the time she was 7 months I was ready for a stroller. I looked at a "sit and stand" type, but Emily wouldn't be happy in the jump seat at all. She might be when she's older. And then DH suggested a double jogging stroller since we live right by the seawall. Basically we realized that we have no idea what we want or what we will need until the time comes, so we've ditched that idea. So what the heck do I spend her money on? We don't need a high chair, we don't have room for a glider rocker, I'm completely uninterested in swings or cribs (no room for t hem either). One idea I did have was to replace DD's stroller; I don't really like it and now that I know what features to look for I could get a nice one with a big basket for my shopping. But do I spend that money on something that I may only use for six months or so, only to discover I need a double? Or maybe I should replace the car seat I hate with a Britax (drool, drool) but then I also feel like I'm wasting this opportunity on something I don't really need...sigh, like I should get any sympathy for being in this situation, but it's honestly driving me nuts!

Okay, now that my sugar tooth is screaming at me, I guess I'll have to go get a bowl of cereal with lots of sugar. Or heck, maybe I'll wobble over to the convenience store around the corner and treat myself to a chocolate bar (so good to be back in the land of Cadbury's!!).

hugs to all who needed them today!! my day was relatively nice for a change, lol.

[True Blue]

Oooh Piglet...Cadbury's....and you have the real stuff made outside the US....YUM!!!!

[Lucysmama]

Piglet -

Just a thought: could they give you a gift certificate to somewhere, and when you find out what you need you could get it? And, think out of the baby-box...do you need a new vaccum, a new dryer? Do YOU need new clothes?

People have just begun asking me what we need, and dh and I decided we aren't going to be shy - what we really need are clothes, shoes, and a coat for Lucy, NOT baby clothes. So that is what we are telling people. We already have stacks of newborn stuff (unless we have a boy) but our dd is outgrowing everything. So, if Grandma comes over and wants to get us some stuff, I am going to say "Please take Lucy shopping instead." (I hope it isn't too rude!) What I personally would get if someone said, "What can I spend $300 on?" is a gift card to Hanna Andersson or Gap so I could get some new clothes for myself after the baby, and get the kids stuff they need too when the time comes.

I don't know, just my two cents.

[mirthfulmum]

Oh I'm going stir crazy all right. Every day I know I'm one day closer to having our baby, but how many days do I have to go? And I too am actually jealous of you moms who are experincing hip pains from a dropped baby. Sad isn't it?

Well my mind is just whirring away in completly random directions making it very hard for me to get a post out. I've written and erased so many paragraphs I think it's probably best for me to just log off and go read a book .

[OakEmber]

OMGoodG! I don't know WHAT was up with me earlier! I seriously look back on it and think I was drunk! Sheesh...anyway, I am glad to report that my head is no longer swimming! I don't think I can handle doing that too many more times. One of my poor best friends thought I was in labour by the message I left on her answering machine :LOL

Anyway...now that I can think a little straighter I want to Nikwik, I just love that so many new Momma's are finding us near the end...extra birth stories to read

Piglet- I have always thought those 2 baby jogging strollers are cool, so I would probably get one of those myself...or the Little Tykes one (or something like it, I am sure there are better quality ones out there) that can also be converted to a bike trailer, not sure if you will be biking or not. It seems to be great for protecting against the elements, and you could use it just on walks too (well, you could here at least, I guess it would be a little harder to manouver down a crowded sidewalk, :LOL). My other wish list item would be a Peg Perego Pliko or something like that where a toddler can stand and ride on the back. WOW, what a generous cousin...my parents don't even spend that on a baby gift for me!!

Katie- Thanks for the slingin tip! :bf And that's so awesome that a momma was so kind as to throw in extra for you!

Now I am wondering where Letia is too...usually she responds to our calls for her

I got beads today too, from 3 different Momma's....thank you Soogie, Krnflr, and Ann! It was so exciting to get 3 envelopes all at once! What I love best is how they all compliment eachother so nicely.

Ack! I just realised it is 2 AM! Definately going to go back to bed now....I've got BIG plans for this messy house of mine tomorrow

[momadance]

Hey mama's!

Piglet: Do you have a Target in BC? I would LOOVEEEEE a $300 gift certificate for a place like that... You could just get stuff on a as needed bases for the whole family!

My belly is like a rock, and has been for a while. It's so diff. then when pregnate with Miles, my belly was mushy, and I always felt uncomfortable when people touched it 'cuz it just felt fat My sis was like "what are ya' doing abs"...

I think I was rough on MIL. She's probably just feeling like she wants to be involved. I haven't spoke with her, but my thought process was negative about her I have such guilt issues.

I need to start doing my yoga again, this body is slowing me down, and I keep thinking I should be training for the feet it's going to need to preform.

I have no desire to eat anymore, it's not worth the indigestion. I had A cracker last night befor bed, and woke up with a burning heart... I went to sleep at 8:45 (with ds) and woke at 8:00!! Ds is still conked out... Man, it really feels good to be up and have the house to myself.

It's funny, I feel like the babys dropped because of my aching pubic bone, and the grinding down there, but I still feel major action up high, and am getting heart burn.

[ameliabedelia]

I am also actually kinda jealous of all of you with the groin pain and signs of labor soon. I don't have any of that. Of course, I am only 34 weeks (35 weeks tomorrow).

Welcome to Nicole: Glad you found us!!

I also think the double jogging strollers are cool and will most definitely get one next spring. I plan to to carry Greta in a wrap until it gets to be too hot to do so and will then put her in a stroller. But, I do need a good stoller, since I take dd on a long walk 4 days a weeks or so.

Katie, I haven't been shy about telling people what we need either (if they ask). In fact, I told dh to tell all his family that if they want to get us anything they should chip in money to buy us a webcam, or a double jogging stroller as mentioned before. Otherwise we will end up with a bunch of baby clothes which we don't need and most she probably won't get to wear because we inadvertently always gets the wrong sizes for the wrong seasons or people just give us stuff which is cute but totally impractical for a baby to wear.

Mmmm, Cadbury's, Hey I never had the "real stuff made outside the US", anyone want to ship some down here j/k

Happy Anniversary Nancy!!

I don't know if this has anything to do with upcoming birth, but dd has totally turned into little miss mommy recently. About the only thing she has been playing with recently has been her dolls or stuffed animals, and she takes them everywhere. She carries them around the house, wraps them up in blankets, tucks them into bed, sings to them (that song from the book "Love you Forever"). We can't go anywhere without her taking her dollies wrapped in blankets, into the store, post office, library, etc. etc. It is sooo cute and sweet

[nikwik]

Wow... I just realized I hadn't even answered the QotW yet *laugh* I swear I'd forget my head if it weren't attached As with so many things, better late than never, I guess...

QotW: We seem to go in stages, if that makes any sense. I lost the desire altogether during the first pregnancy (which is probably a good thing, since I was on bedrest for 16 weeks with that one, bleh) and it never did come back fully after I'd given birth... and that was almost 6 years ago! The second pregnacy was a lot easier for DH, since I went in this cycle of wanting a lot of attention and then wanting to be ignored and each "cycle" would last about a week. This time, we've really slacked off again... I think we MAY have DTD twice within the last 3 weeks. He gets really cranky if he doesn't get sexual satisfaction once in a while, though (we're talking total pain in the rear end if he goes more than a week), so I try to give a little pleasure here and there without going ~there~ with it.

Weight/Size Jokes: I think I finally just decided that I refused to let anything on that level bother me, so I now make more jokes about myself than anyone else does... and in ways that they're sure I'd beat the stuffing out of them if they tried My favorite one is something to this effect -- "I feel like a whale... just give me a pool and an audience, and I've got a new job!" Lately, though, I've referenced Titanic far more than Shamu for size *snicker*

momadance ~ I know what you mean about feeling action on both ends of the spectrum there. For about 2 months now, I have wondered if the baby is in the process of dropping... my pelvic bone feels like it's about to break from all the pressure most of the time and it often feels like she's using me as her own personal trampoline down there yet it also still feels like she's hanging off my ribcage by her toes.

Last night I had the strongest B/H that I've had so far... they were actually strong enough that after they'd lasted about an hour and the pressure had been tight for a while, I called my mom to let her know that IF the baby kept acting that way, I might be calling late-night to have her come on down. I am really beginning to think the baby's just messin' around with me lately, though... she puts on the pressure, my uterus goes crazy with pulsing, and I feel like I'm about to explode like a human champagne bottle... and then? nothing. It'll last from an hour to 3 hours, and then just calms down and I feel next to no movement for about 8 hours... until I'm ready to sleep, and the baby decides to start karate exercise

Okay, I need to hush now... I have clothes to get together to be washed today (need to make sure DH has work clothes for when I DO start labor ) and I have yet to find the energy to actually get started.

to all the mamas and mamas to be

[ashleep]

37w 2d!!!!

Oh my I've missed a lot!

Hi Nikole! Glad to have you!

I am a little apprehensive about the whole sling idea. I really want to try one, but we don't have the money right now to spend on trial and error. And there's so many to choose from! I like the look of the one-piece fleece type, but maybe not for a newborn? I'll probably just head on over to babywearing and pick their brains

As far as the weight/size comments go, the ones that get me are the '37 weeks! But you're so small!' I've always (like, my entire life!) gotten comments about how small I am and i hate it just as much as an overweight person hates fat jokes. I just inherited an extremely fast metabolism from my mom, and it's not like I'm tiny! I'm about 5'6" and weighed about 125 prepreg. So when I get the big comments (usually I just get those from friends and family) I just smile. Cause one of these days my metabolism will slow down and I'll look back and remember how these comments made me happy...

I have a question about nerve pain. This babe has been head-down for a week now, and since Sunday I have been getting the strangest nerve pain! It happens on the front of both thighs at the crease where my legs attach to my hips, and on the right side in the back right next to where I had been getting sciatic nerve pain around 20 weeks. But this feels like I am getting electrically shocked from the inside! I can usually feel baby moving when it happens, but other times I can't and wonder if maybe it's the head grinding on a nerve? It has got to be the oddest thing to see, I'll be walking and all of a sudden my leg(s) get 'shocked' and I do this funny little contorted movement trying to make it quit. Anyone ever felt this or even heard of it?
Ok, I'm off to wash baby clothes! Hope everyone has a great day!!
Oh yeah, has anyone's body odor gotten a lot stronger? The past few days you can't even tell I'm wearing deoderant!

[Momma2LiamandTara]

B.o.

I can relate to the whole BO thing! It's weird this time around it's the armpits that will not stop stinking but last time around it was down below!

For slings I love the Maya Wrap Ring Sling and My Kozy Carrier. I just ordered a Hotslings fleece pouch so hopefully that will be good for winter. I know you can find a good deal on maya's. I don't know about the others. I see a variety of slings up for sale or trade on the babywearing swap group on yahoo. Hopefully babywearing will be easier for me this time since I've learned a lot more about slings.

Take Care,
Carrie

[ashleep]

I knew I forgot something! Carrie!

[mirthfulmum]

Slings do take a bit of practice. And I can totally relate to not wanting to invest in one in particular since there are soooooo many to choose from. And they can be quite pricey. I bought myself a Hotsling this pregnancy (my splurge) and we still have the sling that we used with Alias (that is far more complicated and high tech, but fabulous for when they're 6 months and older) so I feel like we got the baby carrying situatoin well in hand.

And Yup, I'm quite the stinker over here too. I'm putting deoderant on 2 or 3 times a day now and I am still very aware of my smell. I think that it has a lot to do with the fact that I am just sweating way more than usual. We're experincing typical Autum weather here, not too chilly put it's definatly not warm either but I still work up a sweat in my short sleeve T-shirt.

Well I'm not sure what we're going to do with ourselves today. It's grey and gloomy out, not playground weather. And I just don't feel like doing anything but lie around on the couch... but I've got a 2 year old who does not think that watching mom lounge and read books is any fun at all. Party Pooper.

[True Blue]

35 weeks

Hello all! Wow last night I started Mickade in his own bed in his own room for the first time...it was so weird!! Took him forever to go to sleep (we also napped late and long) and I was totally frustrated but in the end he fell asleep even without me in the room. Woke up around 1am, I went in, he went right back to sleep, at 4am he woke up and came in my room. The funniest thing is when he made it to my room, he grabbed my hand to pull me out of bed and said "Kade's room"!! I guess he really wanted to be there! But I was too tired to trek across the house so I got him to climb in next to me instead.

Ok I started this this morning and then got sidetracked...so now I'll finish with more of the same annoying news...another hurricane is coming!!!!

[krnflwr]

37 wks

Good afternoon, Mamas.
Had a bit of excitement here this morning. Hannah woke me up early, saying she was cold (she went to bed w/o pj's) and I told her to go find some pjs and have DH help her put them on (DH was already awake). About 30 min later, DH comes in the bedroom to get ready for work and wakes me up, asking "where's Hannah?". She isn't in bed with me, and she isn't with him. Uh, where's our daughter? I get up and we race around our tiny house, checking everywhere and I'm starting to panic. Are any doors open? Windows?
We're starting to shout out her name and I'm comtemplating calling the police, when I go (again) into the back bedroom (which is actually Hannah's room but she's never slept in there) to search in the closets again, when the lump at the bottom of the bed starts to wiggle a bit and Hannah sleepily pulls all the covers off her head. "huh...mama?" she says.
Holy sh*t. This is the girl who has NEVER fallen asleep on her own, never slept by herself and never w/o nursing down...and she went and tucked herself into bed and back to sleep. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Jeeze, what a wake up.
We also went to the farmer's market today, and Hannah picked out a teeny tiny little pumpkin, saying it was for Baby Cookie and one a bit larger, calling it her "big sister" pumpkin. Sweet.
She actually wants to eat them, but I'm not sure how one cooks or prepares a pumpkin. I only know the goo from a can that you use to make pie. Any ideas?

[mirthfulmum]

Add me to the D'oh group ...

Carrie! I'm loving that we're getting new people joining us. Like Amie said, more birth stories to read about!

And of course a belated Happy Anniversary to Nancy!

Honestly at this point in my pregnancy brain, if it dosen' have to do with Alias, Harrison or I my brain just dosen't seem to want to store the information. It's pretty embarasing how self-centered I get at the very end of pregnancy .

[gottaknit]

35 weeks 4 days!

Karin - I wouldn't recommend eating those little Halloween pumpkins. They're more decorative in function and taste pretty blah. But if you do get a pie pumpkin, they are super easy to prepare. Cut it into a few big chunks, clean out the seeds and stringy stuff, put it in a baking pan with a little water in the bottom, cover with foil and bake until it's nice and soft. Then you can easily scoop out the flesh, put it all in a bowl and mush it together. (Also works for any other winter squash - butternut, delicata, etc.)

I do this every year with our pumpkin crop and then aliquot it into 1 or 2 cup portions and freeze individually in little ziplocs. Pumpkin bread, pie, risotto, and soup all year long!

Piglet - My choice would be to get a two-seat burley bike trailer! I want one of those so bad! But if you don't bike it probably wouldn't be a good idea.

Well I'm glad I could keep you all amused with my Huge story. :LOL It actually is pretty funny. I have five siblings and we are all total blabbermouths, so it always amazes me when my mom thinks she can get away with telling one of us anything...

Got my beads yesterday and they will be in the mail today! Hope they all make it on time!

So I feel like I'm going to pop any day now. I am crampy and cranky and it is nearly impossible to get comfortable in bed. I used to love going to bed at night - now I dread it! I toss and turn (or attempt to, anyway) and moan all night long. It hurts so much to get up and go to the bathroom at night (pubic bone, hips, back). Every time I try to stand up I have contractions and feel like the baby is jabbing me in the cervix. So is this just how it goes the last month? Or am I getting close?..... Maybe I'm just a big whiner.

I know I'm forgetting to comment on a million things....

Thanks everyone for the well-wishes for our anniversary! We had a nice dinner out (discussing politics - how romantic!) and I even got a little back rub. The restaurant we went to was a kick. The food was excellent, but the atmosphere was soooo pretentious! Hipster central! I have never felt so old and frumpy in my life (and I'm only 30!) The waitstaff were all unemployed models, I'm guessing, by the way they strutted back and forth, practicing their catwalk moves, admiring their reflections in the wall of windows. Our waiter couldn't even make eye contact with me because he was busy checking himself out in the mirror over my head! :LOL

[Jillerina]

Having a nice quiet day at home today. Clara is a bit feverish and just wants to cuddle - I'm not complaining. I've been having lots and lots of BH contractions over the past few days but darn it if they will amount to something more significant. I'm trying not to get my hopes up for this baby to arrive before its due date (Oct 4,th) but it is SO hard!!! I know I'll be facing a whole new set of difficulties with a newborn but I really just don't want to be pregnant anymore...I can't even fit into my maternity clothes anymore, everything cuts into me or exposes too much of me! OK, sorry that ends this afternoon's vent. I'll be back later with a much better disposition to catch up with posts.

[stanleymama]

I am taking a break..I have been busy filling orders as I get ready to close down my business. It will be so nice when everything is gone!

Happy Belated anniversary Nancy!!! And welcome Carrie!

I had another dr. appt. today and baby is in the ideal postition. My dr. wants me to get my bag packed because he thinks that when its time, its all gonna go pretty quickly. He is the neatest dr. Oh and my cervix is starting to thin a bit at a time.

to all you who are feeling big and uncomfortable. Before I just had the cervical pressure, but now everything is starting to loosen up, hips, pelvic... I now have the pg waddle I am thankful to still be able to get somewhat comfortable at night and I only get up once to pee.

Well I need to head to the po and get this stuff in the mail. My friend who had her little boy a week ago today is coming over this evening. I get to hold a newborn tonight

[mandalamama]

i won! i won! ok, i didn't win anything, but i did successfully decline an internal exam today at the OB's she tried pretty hard to talk me into it but in the end the only reason she could give that it was necessary was "it's nice to know how you're doing." seems like a small battle but i feel SO much better knowing i am able to decline something. i just knew if she'd checked me and i was still high-n-tight, i would have felt discouraged.

peace,
meli