March Mamas: February 14 - 20

[Patchfire]

Our list:

Rebecca (Ravenmoon) 3/1 Girl
Christine (Cholderby) 3/2 Boy
Kylie (luvmy3boyz) 3/2 Girl
LeShea 3/3 Girl
Barb (meant2beamom) 3/4 Surprise
Alicyn (mommy2b) 3/5
OaklandMama 3/5
bubbles 3/6
JoyfulMomma 3/6 Surprise
MsDoula 3/8
Shannon (MamaSpruce) 3/8 Surprise
Aquarianmom 3/8
Emily (AnneCordelia) 3/8
Eva (Finnsma) 3/8 Girl
Susan (srmina) 3/9 Boy
Fiercelove 3/9 Boy
Michelle (Mtm) 3/10 Boy
Dawn&Gianna 3/11
Cyndi (CyndiN) 3/11
mommyto2 3/11 Surprise
Citygirl 3/12
Kimberly (kimisaur) 3/12
Sarah (mamasarah) 3/12 Surprise
Ang (Crayon) 3/13 Surprise
Jo (Jocmtl) 3/13 Boy
Autumn (newmomma2005) 3/13 Boy
Serina (Somewhere to grow) 3/13 Girl
Annabelle's Wish 3/13
Melissa (Ladyelmo1) 3/16
Maya (muse) 3/16
Rachel (rad) 3/16
Shannon (RaisinGirl) 3/17
Wildcrafter 3/18 Surprise
Rebecca (MamaGaia) 3/20
Heidi (Weebitty2) 3/20
Rebecca (GeoGirl) 3/20 Girl
Shannon (sm3247) 3/20 Girl
Tiffany (TTaylor) 3/20 Girl
Kash (Patchfire) 3/21 Surprise
puddinnpeanut 3/21
Trish (Ellis Herr) 3/21 Girl
Amanda (TXmidwife) 3/22 Boy
Shannon (Isfahan) 3/22
Desirae (mamadaisy) 3/23
Jennie (Jenniebug) 3/23
Kim (EllieB) 3/23 Boy
Molly (Mimim) 3/23 Surprise
Simplehome 3/23 Boy
Dee (Morningtillmoonmama) 3/24 Boy
Jen (LoveChild421) 3/24 Boy
Lotta 3/24
Lise (TOmomma) 3/25 Surprise
Gina (stringbean) 3/26 Boy
Ryann (anazmommy) 3/26
Giggs 3/28
Sprinklepocket 3/28
Erica (Kindermama) 3/28 Girl

Sometime in March:
polihaupt Boy
Pam (EMZ) Girl
Jenrose
Carla (carlasher)
Mady (Mady5) late March Girl


All right, mamas... I know several of you are past 37 weeks now. Who's going to be first?? I want to put some birth stats on that list.

My good news for the week: with the exception of hoses for the fishy pool, I've collected everything I absolutely have to have in terms of birth supplies. There are a few other things I might pick up, but I don't have to have them, so I feel good about saying I'm nearly done getting things together!

Nesting bug has definitely hit full-force... I randomly decided to clean up my office yesterday, I have a desire to clean out the closet in my office (even though it's really not that bad and I know what's in it... go figure), and my plans for today include pulling out more baby clothes to wash. Among other things.

My best accomplishment so far, though? I've managed to finish 3/4 of the scrapbooking I wanted to get done. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get the other 1/4 done before the baby gets here... that is a *huge* accomplishment... and relief.

What's everyone else's 'best accomplishment'?

[crayon]

My best accomplishment?? DH got some action I have tried to write off the loving because I am in pretty bad pelvic pain, but there was loving in the house today! I figued perhaps that would get things going! But I still have another 4 weeks until my due date, so I dont exspect anything soon. I was 2 weeks over with my DD, and I dont see me going early with this one. My safe zone for my MW is 36 weeks and I have hit that- however, I really dont want a 36 week baby- I would like to hold off until the fist week in March when I am 38+ weeks....

I did get the touch tape sewn onto the fitted dipes I made for the baby- I think I am going to venture into the closet today and pull out all the "girl" stuff and put it in a bag- just in case this is a boy, it will be one last thing for me to do after the baby- and if it is a girl then I can look at all the cute clothes I have again! I am going to put some newborn stuff in my dresser next to my bed, so I dont have to search after the birth for clothes or rely on DH to find something "cute"

I guess I should make my "still to do list" If you dont mind- I will make it here

Clean Kitchen- I mean really clean it!
Get all boxes out of the house
Clean ALL CLOTHES! (once that is done I will feel so much better!)
Get all unwanted clothes to goodwill or St. Vinnies
Move all idems that have to go to the basement to the back side of the house (we have to wait for the snow to melt to get into the basement!)
Get more kitty litter (yuck- I hate kitty litter!)
Get the office clean and orginzed
Get the TV and such downstairs to the livingroom
Clean the living room- Free from computer stuff!
Sort clothes for baby.
Make a pile for the attic and get DH to put stuff up there!

Man'o Man that is a lot of stuff- But we are having a winter storm, so I am for sure inside most of the week. I just hope my pelvis and my back can keep up with the cleaning I need done!

[crayon]

That was my 1900th post!!!

[bubbles]

Well, lucky dh, lovin doesn't seem to be a problem around here, lol. I always seem to be in the mood. I joked that we may make this baby come soon
I still need to get down the box of clothes from y ds. I also need to wash the infant seat cover. I washed and dried everything from my shower on Saturday and organized them in the bedroom. My sis is buying me a new changing table/dresser so as soon as that comes I can get everything all set up. Can't wait!
Unfortuntely, or fortunately (depending upon the mood I am in!) our kitchen is officially torn apart. We have no cabinets, appliances, or sink. WE do have a fridge though. It will be quite a hectic week for everyone. The cabinets go in on Saturday and then the appliances. Still no counters or sink for awhile though.
I still need to figure out all the details of setting up the pool. I need to head to Home Depot or Lowe's for the hose and adaptor too. That is looming over me so I will get on that this week.
Oh, then there is my dissertation proposal hanging over my head. Just a little going on! Gosh, I wish I could fit in some scrapbooking and sewing too, but I guess that won't happen.
Take care everyone! I hope everyone is feeling good and the upcoming labors and deliveries go well. .

[mtm]

I put dh to work this weekend and got a lot of the little chores done, washed all the sheets, got out dresser stocked with baby clothes, sterilized my pump etc. We are now officially all ready for baby! I forgot how tiny all the newborn socks were. Well, other than having a name we're all ready. Ds is telling everyone the baby's name is Domino Tallulah. Doc made my dh cancel his business trip for this week so that's a weight off my mind, I'm 37 weeks on Friday so depending on how my pre-e looks, might be having this baby soon after. I'd love to make it another couple of weeks though.

[welldone]

I can't believe we don't have any babies yet! This is great news, by the way--we must all be eating well and taking care of ourselves. But I am anxious to see pictures and here birth stories...

36 weeks now. It seems a homebirth is likely at this point, unless we choose to go to the hospital. I don't think we will. Our midwives' official cutoff is 37 weeks, but they said they'd come in week 36, if I wanted. That's exciting!

We have all the homebirth stuff ready, including waterbirth stuff! Finally bought the drinking-safe RV hose for filling the fishy pool, and a plastic drop cloth to cover it to keep things warm when I'm not in it.

Diapers are out and washed, even bought a new cart so that each kid has their own diaper cart. Baby clothes washed, but still in piles in laundry baskets in our room! And whoever said those newborn socks are teeny was right--it's so hard not to gush over them!

Still haven't scrapbooked. My poor firstborn as no baby book to speak of, and I feel awful.

Getting nesty--need to clean the master suite (esp. the bathroom, yuck) and get those baby clothes put away. Need to finish knitting the baby's sweater!

I've been having Braxton-Hicks contractions 3-6 times an hour since yesterday afternoon. Not a bit of pain, just tightening, and there's no pattern to them. When I rest, they stop. But I've never had this many before!

We have an open house scheduled for this Sunday...I just know the baby will come that day!

[cholderby]

Originally Posted by bubbles

Unfortuntely, or fortunately (depending upon the mood I am in!) our kitchen is officially torn apart. We have no cabinets, appliances, or sink. WE do have a fridge though. It will be quite a hectic week for everyone. The cabinets go in on Saturday and then the appliances. Still no counters or sink for awhile though.

Right there with you on the kitchen. The granite guy was supposed to measure on Friday, but the cabinets weren't completely level. And we can't figure out how to get them level. So we have no scheduled counter tops (or sink, or dishwasher) in our future!

I am proud to say that I've been awfully zen about the whole thing, but I nearly snapped when DH wanted to start YET ANOTHER home improvement project this weekend without first finishing up one of the 72,000 ones that are currently in process (he wanted to put in a wood floor!). So he cleaned up some stuff before painting the last room in the house. I guess I should be happy that he's doing my nesting for me. We'll have to sell the house once I quit my job, so that's the rationale behind all of this home improvement.

We spent last night watching my belly move. I can't believe how big (and boney) this baby is. I've started doing some passive-agressive labor inducing things like walking an insane amount and eating lots of licorice and spicy foods. I hope he gets the hint.

How soon after delivery do you think my swelling will go down? When will I be able to wear my wedding ring again? Or normal shoes? Oh how I miss my old shoes....

Oh, and the BEST THING happened on Friday! My BIL got a job in the Detroit area so my sister will be moving back here from Chicago. Even better - she'll be unemployed while I'm on maternity leave. Can't wait.

Oh and Patch, if you are taking voluneteers for who will go first - how about me!?! But, as this is my first, I wouldn't put my money on it (no matter how much Thai food I ingest).

[eminer]

Originally Posted by cholderby

How soon after delivery do you think my swelling will go down? When will I be able to wear my wedding ring again? Or normal shoes? Oh how I miss my old shoes....

Last time for me the swelling went away practically immediately. After I woke up from crashing after the birth and made my way home from the hospital and then slept again (since it was nighttime), I put my engagement ring back on. :-) I guess by then I had peed several times and gushed about half my blood volume (not literally, my bleeding was fine, but subjectively -- maybe a little literally, because I was down to regular pads by the next day!) and starting about an hour after dd's birth had near-constant thirst to motivate me to drink water.

My feet stayed a half a size bigger, though. Hopefully that will not happen with you.

...

My great accomplishment for the week:
Now DON'T laugh too hard at me...

We got our apartment clean on Wednesday, including (gasp) MOPPING THE FLOORS! And...we've kept it clean since then!!!

Yes, I know that this is a regular occurance for some people, but for us it is barely short of miraculous. I was almost despairing that we would ever manage to keep the apt. clean for two days together before the birth. I think we may actually be able to keep this up!

I feel really good about how we are gradually plugging along getting things done, and I'm savoring it. (Put the tiny clothes in a drawer one week, wash diapers the next...) Last time I was a basket case after 37 weeks, incredibly impatient, and didn't give birth until 41. It helps SO much having a yummy toddler around. She helps keep me from getting too much done too fast, and helps me remember to enjoy how dh and I are right now, and provides me with someone to hug and nurse when I am feeling hormonal. :-) She is also my role model for savoring ritual thoughts in time. She hugs my belly a lot when she nurses and teases me: "How many months will it be before Footies is born? Nine months? Eight months? -- giggle -- Why only *one* month?" She pulls out her dolls and stuffed animals and makes up endless slightly different birth stories. I am going to eat chocolate today and enjoy how sensuous I feel imagining opening up to let a little fairy person swim out of me. Onto the clean floor! Ha.

[eminer]

Oh, this week I also bought the mix and frosting for the baby's birthday cake. I went out with a friend, and she gave me a gift of several kinds of cheese and crackers and a box of chocolates and a cute candle made out of blocks that spell "BABY". I'm going to save it and put it all out on the table for the birthday. (Yeah, yeah, I'll freeze some healthy food, too. :-))

[Ravenmoon]

I'm now 38 weeks.The other night i was having horrible contrax but they felt so much like gas pain.Which contrax can feel like.They were coming in waves of every 3 minutes which i knew was too fast for begining labor.I was upset because i was so tired and exhausted and just desperatley wanted some sleep.I told the babe not tonight please and then i finally had the urge to go to the bathroom and sure enough it was gas pains.After i went my body relaxed and i got to sleep.I am not a huge fan of middle of the night labors because i like my sleep.The morning is perfect timing for me.Lots of lower cervical pressure though and i get plenty of contrax throughout the day.I feel fairly ready but would like another week to get some things done.

[TRIBE]

I am almost 35 weeks and my prodromal labor has already started. I usually get it 2-3 weeks before delivery, but it doesnt normally start until 37/38 weeks. I at first thought I was just contracting due to dehydration but I got myself rehydrated and still contracting so I am sure this is the beginning of the end for me.

I did dream this baby would enter at 36 weeks and be nearly 9lbs so she may just do that. I had a talk with DH over the possibility of an early delivery and he seems to be ok with that. I am going to set up the bed tommorow and order my birth tub. I just hope my tub gets here asap! I am also going to pickup the carseat tommorow, once I have that I have everything I need for the baby. If the birth tub doesn't make it, so be it.

My belly has finaly popped out this past week or so, I cant believe how big I have gotten! Now if the ctrx would chill long enough for me to enjoy a quiet moment lol. Oh the memories come rushing back of my past 2 labors and the prodromal part of it all. I really want to make it to at least March 2 (37 wks) but i will be ok with a feb 23 or after birth as well.

[mimim]

Originally Posted by Ravenmoon

They were coming in waves of every 3 minutes which i knew was too fast for begining labor.

Don't be too sure about that! My second labor slammed right into active labor immediately. I kept having DH time my contractions because I couldn't believe that they were only 2 minutes apart although they had started only like a 1/2 hour earlier.

You ladies are organized! I have sooooo much to do yet before this baby comes. I'm still sewing, haven't done any major cleaning or baby laundry, and I still have to arrange for storage space. I haven't even bought a new car seat yet.

I'm not due for 5 weeks though, and my first two were way late. So, I might actually have until April to get all of this done.

[Ravenmoon]

My third baby was super fast too with contrax back to back but this just felt too different and too fast.

I awoke this morning feeling 'different'.Around 5am i felt alot of energy in my vaginal area.Nothing contrax like,kind of crampy but more orgasmic.I had a lot of loose stools and then i laid back down and listened to the birds sing for awhile.Now i am babysitting the kids i watch and getting my kids ready for school and i still feel the same.Alot of energy down there.This may be a preview

[crayon]

Ravenmoon!

Sending you lots of

How exciting!! I cant wait to be in your shoes! Please keep us posted! I cant wait to hear your story and see your perfect chubby baby! I will be thinking of you all day!

[srmina]

I've had a good week so far! I had my repeat ultrasound which, fortunately, was 100% normal. Baby is measuring big, especially the head (although hard to measure in his current position), so I may be going a little sooner than we thought. I am just 37 weeks by dates!! As long as I make it past Thursday I will be happy (that is my dissertation defense)!! I also saw my midwife yesterday. She totally cracks me up...she was telling me how sexy my OB is!

I still have a ton to do, but most of the essential stuff is done. Here's my list:
pack hospital bag (OK I really need to do that)
clean floors
clean bird cages and bird area (they fly free)
clean fish tank
clean out dh's closet...total mess!
clean both bathrooms and scrub tubs
arrange 24hr childcare for March when DH is at work (I can't lift my disabled dd for a minimum of one month)
learn everything in my 700pg dissertation by Thursday!!!!!!

I am still really active and able to do pretty much everything. I went grocery shopping by myself this weekend (you suburbanites won't get the significance of this, but in the city, that means walking a mile each way and then carting all the groceries home in a little cart and backpacks and other such things). I am actually feeling really good.

I'm guessing we will have our first March baby this week, but I don't think it will be me...

[muse]

ooh, ravenmoon, sounds exciting!....

I'm 36 weeks. Just had the birth plan meeting with our midwives yesterday and they were fine with all my choices; main thing is being left well alone for the third stage. They were also incredibly laid back about when I should call them in labour; mostly because I have a doula and this is my second, but they are generally very hands off and un-interfering. I have a feeling I won't want them around till pretty late on in labour.

I'm feeling suddenly very heavy and like everything is dropping. Some crampiness and ctxs, lots of pressure on the cervix. And all I want to do is eat and sleep....not so easy with a 3 yr old but he's been pretty great. He definitely knows this one is coming soon now; this morning he said it would be today! Noooooo....another week or two at least, please.

Oh, and also dh and I confessed to each other last night that we have both been feeling in the past week that this baby is a girl..hmm...I hadn't had any sense at all up till now, even though DS insists this baby will have a penis!

cholderby, I remember the swelling going almost immediately. On day 3 or 4 pp I had incredible nightsweats (wish I'd known about them beforehand) and lost most of the extra fluid.

Now, as for when all the pregnancy weight went...well.....

[Paxetbonum]

Ravenmoon,

I have been having the exact same crazy contractions! They are a little painful but also a little orgasmic too. I had several loose stools in a row yesterday followed by a pick up in contractions and actually called the midwife because we thought this was it. Turns out things completely stopped. But my body is definitley getting ready. I was expecting the possibility of an early baby but not this early!

So today I finally ordered a sling, bought a bunch of receiving blankets to sew my pp pads out of this afternoon, and got about 80% of our tax info together.

I still have to wash baby clothes and clean the floors.

At least our basement is finally finished off and the renters have moved in!
dh went down the other day and told them we were planning a homebirth just so they woudn't be alarmed if they heard me in labor or anything. (they are two college girls) Turns out one of them had several sisters who were born at home and they offered to help in any way they can. I love our renters!

Well there is tons of yard work to do too but intend to delegate that to my father when he comes to visit after the baby is born. He thrives on that sort of thing.

[Finnsma]

Hey preggos! Sounds like you're all doing well! I'm 37w1d now and the prodromal labor has been pretty intense. Baby is VERY low, feels like if she gets any lower she'll be out! lol I'm pretty much over the nesting, very lazy now. All I want to do is lay, eat, and sleep. Figure I'm storing some energy up for the big day or something. lol My first came at 38w4d, 2nd at 38w2d, so I figure it'll be about a week till this one makes her grand entrance. Very excited to meet her but since this is likely to be our last, really enjoying this big belly too!

Oh there goes the micro, my veggie/rice bowl is ready. MMMM YUM! :LOL

[bubbles]

Not much new here. Just some insomnia again. No changes to indicate this little one is coming soon. I have all the baby clothes and dipes washed and ready. I told dh today that if it is a girl, we have to go out and choose a few girly outfits. WE really don't need anything, but all the new stuff is gn and the stuff from ds is either boy or gn. We will see!
Someone's post just reminded me I have no pp pads! Better pick those up today. I do the sposie kind so yet another trip to Target.

[crayon]

Originally Posted by bubbles

Someone's post just reminded me I have no pp pads!

Me either~ I need to sew some up or I am going to be in trouble.... However, to sew that mean I have a 2 year old on the sewing table grabbing my thread It drives me

Also that means I have to clean the room, so I can move in it! It is DD's play room and our guest room. And she has managed to distroy it along with my office... I had a ton of energy yesterday- but none today. I wish I could just be one of those women who "love to clean!" But no I am one of those pack rats.....