December 21-31st Check ins!

[mirandahope]

Hey April Mamas! This next 10 days for me seem to part of one long Christmas / New years thing every year. How about you?

[mirandahope]

I like that baby's movements are getting stronger: I feel not only wiggles, but also pokes, like someone tapping me on the arm or shoulder gently. DH has felt babe 2 or 3 times in the last 2 days, doubling the number total that he had felt him/her before.

Last night I noticed something different in my body: my breasts felt like they were filling up with milk! They are heavy, warm, look different and feel like water balloons when I touch them. Thankfully they are not nearly as sore or huge as when I lost Heather a couple of years ago, but I wasn't sure what the heck was going on. Is this normal? that's my main question this time, after losing my first child: is what I am feeling in pregnancy this time normal?

I called the midwife this morning, and she assured me that it is normal, and that it is part of the natural process of what happens when women are pregnant, and happens at different times for different women.

she told me I might leak colostrum. I am a little nervous about that, but I guess will deal with it when it comes, if it comes.

I sure as anything don't want DH to touch my chest, I don't like how it feels when I do it!

Anyone else experiencing this yet?

[celestialdreamer]

I'm too lazy to update today, so I'm copying my post from the last thread which I don't think anyone saw

Heck, I'd be happy if we could hang a line *inside*... but of course, that would only be practical if we had a really powerful fan.

I'm not sure how I'll use my home-made detergent with this new washer that's coming,

Rynna- What about using one of those drying rack things inside? We have been having dryer 'issues' for months now (DH keeps trying to fix it and then more things break on it ) and I've resorted to using the drying rack quite a few times. I just set it up in the middle of a room and turn on a fan if I want stuff to dry fast, otherwise I just leave it for a day. Of course when I do that, I ususally hang up all the shirts and jeans in our closets while still wet and just hang dry the socks, washcloths, etc. Is your new machine a front loader? Is that why you are nervous about using the homemade soap? I think I might have a recipe that is okay for front loaders (thats what we have) if you want it. Okay, enough talk about washers and dryers...I'm just excited for you! I so want a dryer that actually works more than once in awhile

hairpin- I don't like the staring strangers mostly cause I'm always afraid that they are trying to figure out if I'm pregnant or just have a fat belly I am overweight and even though I was WAY out there with my dd somepeople seriously never realized I was pregnant! I think its cause I carried really weird with her. This time I look pregnant already but I'm still paranoid.

steelcitysistah- I think I probably stare sometimes too I think its mostly because of a little jealousy since I never really had the perfect round preggo belly last time. If I had a little basketball tummy I'd probably wear tight clothes too LOL

I'm 25 weeks today...this pregnancy is going by way too fast. All of a sudden I've been feeling kicks way up high near my ribs if I'm hunched over, which is really surprising. I still haven't gained any weight, still vomiting occasionally and cooking sounds like too much work. Our kitchen remodel is going to make me go insane if its not done soon. I have so much stuff to do before Christmas that I could cry just reading the 'to do' list My DH is promising that the kitchen countertops will be done and the sink installed (I'm currently washing dishes in the bathtub) by Christmas so we can still host dinner as planned. I'm not done with making Christmas gifts (some of which include baking which will have to be done at my mom's house) and haven't wrapped a single thing. I am so overwhelmed and really, really wishing I didn't procrastinate so much! Well, I better go work on putting all the food back in the pantry so we can actually set up the dining room table...unless I decide that we should just eat Christmas dinner on the sofa in front of the TV

[lmonter]

I'm just waiting on my mom's Christmas present to arrive in the mail - I should've gotten it yesterday or today. I think she's *really* going to like it. Got our Christmas tree yesterday and decorated it with the few soft ornaments we do have. It's cute. And all that isn't wrapped is my dad's gift, my mom's gift and MIL's gift. Dh was in charge of finding something for MIL, FIL and SIL. He still hasn't gotten (or even thought of) anything for FIL and SIL. Just need to go to the store today to get a few more spices and potatoes for the holidays, and I'm probably going to do that shortly.

I'm feeling the bean kick a few times throughout the day, it's reassuring.
I still love it when ds comes up to my belly to give the baby kisses. I should have dh take pictures of it sometime.
My belly button feels funny because my uterus is now a little above it.
Dh swears my boobs have gotten bigger, but I still don't think so.
Still not sure if I've gained weight or not. I've been slacking off in going to the gym, and have been utilizing my strange cravings for not-so-healthy food because I have an excuse. And for some reason I keep remembering the baby's about the size of a big baker potato (I'm 21+ weeks), but dh doesn't want to call the baby 'spud,' especially because of where we live.

[PheobNFam]

Well, I've felt REALLY stressed with all the things I'm supposed to do before Christmas. But today, things are feeling calmer. I am nearly done with gifts (FINALLY), and am actually getting a bit excited for Christmas.

The baby is growing well. I feel him kicking constantly. I'm excited to meet the li'l guy.

My body aches a lot. I don't think I'm getting enough exercise, because when I walk a lot, my lower half ACHES for hours. Last night I had to take a warm bath at 1am because I hurt too much to sleep. I soaked for a bit, then did a bunch of stretches. It felt FABULOUS. I think I'm going to start Yoga again when things calm down.

[hairpin]

Well on the talk of boobs. I guess mine have gotten bigger. Mostly they just look different, like someone else's boobs. And they look like helicopter landing pads... if you know what I mean. I keep thinking of the prehistoric fertility goddess statue made out of clay. I didn't use to look like her.

Pheobe - I need to do yoga too. Hard to get motivated though. But yes, yoga makes me feel better, along with walking.

Celestial mamma - I feel your pain with the kitchen remodel. We're doing our bathroom right now, and I think our shower will be done today. It makes me so happy, I want to open a bottle of champagne. It's been a long time without a shower and toilet... that's why. We do have to do a kitchen remodel too, which will be painful. Waiting on cabinets to come from China sometime in January. Washing dishes in the tub must stink.

Sorry, mammas dealing with stress about Christmas or holidays in general. Sometimes stressing about what you need to do is worse than anything, cause it keeps you from getting stuff done. Dont' worry about it too much. Maybe if you just put on some music, make tea, it will be easier... Although it doesn't work for me and housecleaning.

[eilonwy]

Originally Posted by celestialdrmrmama

Rynna- What about using one of those drying rack things inside? We have been having dryer 'issues' for months now (DH keeps trying to fix it and then more things break on it ) and I've resorted to using the drying rack quite a few times. I just set it up in the middle of a room and turn on a fan if I want stuff to dry fast, otherwise I just leave it for a day. Of course when I do that, I ususally hang up all the shirts and jeans in our closets while still wet and just hang dry the socks, washcloths, etc. Is your new machine a front loader? Is that why you are nervous about using the homemade soap? I think I might have a recipe that is okay for front loaders (thats what we have) if you want it. Okay, enough talk about washers and dryers...I'm just excited for you! I so want a dryer that actually works more than once in awhile

We don't have a drying rack, and if we did I'm sure it would be broken by now, having been climbed by my future gymnast and her older brother, Young Grasshopper. Then again, the IL's drying rack has remained intact... so maybe if I hid the thing when it wasn't in use, it'd be okay. Anyway, the question is totally moot because...

While our washer arrived today, the pedestal is missing some screws and apparently we can't use it until we have them. : That means I have to take a load of laundry to the laundromat *tonight*, enough clothing for the four of us for at least three days (read: nearly two normal sized loads). Argh! It's freaking 20 degrees out, if that! Blech. I mean, I'm glad for the time out and all, but I have no idea where these mystical quarters are supposed to come from (I'm down to my "buffer" in my checking account-- less money than I can withdraw from an ATM, but hopefully enough to cover any inadvertant rounding down of numbers) and did I mention that it's freaking cold outside?

It is a front loader, though, and that's *exactly* why I'm concerned about the detergent, so I'd be absolutely thrilled with a recipe for FL detergent! : I can hardly wait to get back to making my own, detergent is so freaking expensive! Back when we only used Tide for diapers, one of those gigantic boxes would last for ages... I can hardly wait to get back to that!

I was going to have to take wet laundry to the laundromat anyway, but now it looks like by the time we have the screws, we'll have the dryer so it won't be much of an issue (until the weather is nice again, when I'll feel incredibly guilty about *using* the thing ). The washer and dryer are both very efficient, the washer being a front loader (one of those fabulous machines that works best if you stuff it to within an inch of it's life and takes less detergent and less water than the average top loader, as well as less energy) and the dryer being one of those obscenely expensive Maytag Neptune Super Plus Sized things (which we got on clearance because it was a discontinued floor model-- 45% off, before the 10% off for the charge account!) which is designed to dry the laundry coming out of the Maytag Neptune front-loading washing machine.

In case you can't tell, the lack of screws has only faintly diminished my excitment. I'm going to go downstairs and pet the thing for a bit, and pick up the instruction manual (I actually find reading such things entertaining : ) to take to the laundromat, so that I can really thoroughly enjoy what will hopefully be my last trip there for a long time.

Oh yeah! This is supposed to be an update on the pregnancy... Well, I had a PNV this morning and I've finally started gaining weight! Three pounds up from last time! BellyBean is totally vertex with the buns sticking straight out in front of me, just like BeanBean was; I will definately get a picture this weekend, I promise! I look really pregnant with the buns of the BellyBean sticking out, it's excellent. My mom looked at my belly and was like, "I thought you had five months to go?!" I reminded her that it was only four months, and told her that she was looking at BellyBean's mini (which is what I say when I'm trying not to use the word "ass" -- it's short for minibuns, a reference to the time when my son had absolutely nothing behind him at all... but I digress) which probably accounted for why I looked so much bigger.

I carried BeanBean and BooBah very differently; it was "obvious" that BooBah was a girl because she carried so differently, but BellyBean, who is also a girl, is apparently carrying just like her brother. She also moves the way that BeanBean did, lots of strong, powerful kicks and giggles, rather than the intermittant, gentle wrigglings which characterized BooBah's motions. It feels to me like I've got another runner in there!

My boobs are saggy and pathetic. They're really awful! It's difficult for me, because for the first pregnancy and the first months of nursing, my boobs were round and full and damn near perky. I miss them being three dimensional, these days they're totally flat and hang looooow... like, I could throw them over my shoulder like a continental soldier.

[burke-a-bee]

I went without a washer and dryer for 10 days during the hurricane. It sucked. I hope you get everything set up soon.
My boobs.... a sad thing.
I wish I could do yoga at a studio but it's nearly impossible with my hubby's schedule and three kids. Know of any good yoga books or website?. Maybe I could try at home by myself.
I'm sorry everyone is stressed about the holidays. I have nixed any plans outside our little family. I'm just not into it and after Thanksgiving I don't think I could handle the stress.
I'm somewhat blah. I am so tired of hearing about ultrasounds being wrong. Okay, I had prepared myself for either and was told we are having a girl. I was slightly hesitant to get excited because well I've had three boys and it's just so strange to think of having a girl. Also, the tech was such a cold person..she turned the screen towards her for the measuring, took a long time to measure the brain (sacred me), and then spent 15 seconds showing me the baby on the screen before she wisked me off. I was so frazzled by the end that I think I was in shock by the whole thing. I had been looking forward to the ultrasound for so long that it didn't live up to the idea I had in my mind. Since then I have been buying girly clothes like crazy. But there is always someone who says, "My cousins, hairdresser was told it was a girl and it ended up being a boy." "Don't cut the tags off. Ultrasounds have been wrong." It really bothers me. It usually comes from someone who doesn't want to know the gender of their baby. I just wish I could push the doubt aside. I'm trying to change my mind set and use it as a motivation for getting through the birth. I'm being so silly I know. Sorry. Thanks for letting me vent.
My next appt is in a couple of weeks and then after that it's every two weeks. Yeah.
My hubby still hasn't read Emergency Childbirth. I hope he is prepared.
Thanks for listening.

[eilonwy]

Well, ultrasounds can certainly be wrong and it seems that they're more likely to be wrong about boys than girls. The problem is, many boys' testicles don't drop until long after they're out of the womb... as long as a year. If a baby boy has undescended testes in the womb, then the scrotum will look more like labial folds than a scrotum, kwim? I've only heard one story of someone who was expecting a boy that turned out to be a girl; in this case, identical triplet girls. : The ultrasound showed a fairly large baby and they saw an extra bit between the legs. They assumed that it was a penis, but it turned out to be another baby's foot. : This was a long time ago, though; ultrasounds are much more clear these days. I personally know three people who were told that they were having girls and ended up having boys, though, so I can see where that's coming from. I'm sorry your tech was crappy, that really sucks.

[Stayathomemommy]

ooh. whats Emergency Childbirth? i havent seen that book before. my hubby has promised to read one book this time. for the other three babies he was deployed for the war or in training so this is his "first time". I havent decided which book i think is the best for the husband to read. i think its between Husband coached childbirth by Bradely who i LOVE. and the Birth Partner. they both cover it all.

oh one thing about the washer. my friend has super expencive front loaders and has to use special high endurance tide. or something special and expensive. so if its anything like hers you may not be able to use any other kind. you'll have to read the manual.

So between Christmas, my fathers birthday, and taking my littles in for x-rays and a cathedar i am spent!!!!!! My daughter had a UTI that led to a bunch of tests, not fun for anyone esspecially since i could be there with her during the x-ray and she was screaming bloody murder. poor baby. all is fine and we have both recovered from the crazy day.

This boy is kicking like crazy, ALL THE TIME!! not just when i lay down but i feel him doing flips in there while i drive, walk, talk, anything!!!!!! you can see it now very clearly. with the twins my abs split and never went back together so there is really nothing but uterus and skin between him and my hand. its kind of cool.

My breasts have been preparing themselves for a while now. i know they are ready and waiting. colastrum has already come out a little and now plugged things up, i hope they dont leak before baby comes. i have to wear pads 24/7 once milk comes in and i dont want to start a minute earlier!!

other then that i am getting an achy back throughout the day. its fine if i take time to squat, tailor sit or do pelvic tilts but today i was so busy and in a dress so i could only squat in the bathroom for a few minutes to releave the aches and pains. note to self no more dresses!

i love the updates! i really look foward to them, mostly because everyone contributes. glad to see everyone is doing well. Talk to you after Chritmas. Oh and thanks for all the cards. the swap was great. i loved my gift and the cards have been so much fun to recieve! Merry Christmas! Angela

[AdinaL]

Will update tomorrow!

[steelcitysistah]

Quick update for me....

First - today is my last day of work before the holiday weekend!!! Hooray!
Work has been so stressful this month - I've really been looking forward to a break! And - actually, we get a very nice break. The University I work for shuts down from December 23 through January 3 for winter recess! Though I've volunteered to man our office a couple of days during that time (to help me out with my maternity leave) - only having to work 2 days over the next week and a half is going to be paradise!

Have an appointment with my midwife this afternoon. Not expecting too much to happen there. He should start me on 2 week appointments very soon, though, which will be kind of exciting.

As for my boobs - they are definitely getting bigger! In certain tops - I swear I feel like Dolly Parton! I don't really like it at all.... :
Loving my belly - though some days I swear it still looks more like a beer belly than a pregnant belly....
And - as for movement, this baby is actually pretty calm. For the most part, just gentle squirms and pokes.

Other than that - DH is sick. Picked it up just in time for the holiday weekend! Hate to say - but I'm mostly concerned about catching whatever he has. Have been taking my vitamins and trying to increase my fruits and veggies - but does anyone else have any other ideas about good ways to boost the immune system?

burke-a-bee - So sorry to hear that your ultrasound was disappointing! Our tech wasn't the most pleasant woman either and I know how it can really put a damper on the whole experience.

Alright - better get moving. Even though I'm feeling a bit in the babble mode, I'm at work and suppose that I should get to starting the day.

Hope everyone has a stress free and wonderful holiday!
Peace and blessing to all!

[pique]

"oh one thing about the washer. my friend has super expencive front loaders and has to use special high endurance tide. or something special and expensive. so if its anything like hers you may not be able to use any other kind. you'll have to read the manual."

(sorry, don't know how to quote properly)

eilonwy - The above isn't true. We have a super duper LG front loader. LOVE IT! We use liquid detergent from the local environmental cleaning products place (waaaayyyy cheaper than Tide). We've tried the High efficiency stuff but it doesn't work any better. Just keep in mind that you need very very little - we're talking about 2 tablespoons for a full load.

[wencit]

My boobs are huge, too. I'm normally an A cup, and they've swelled up to C cups. One of the areolas is noticeably larger and darker, too. I'm a bit sad that they don't look like cute little virgin boobs anymore.

(As an aside, who knew I would ever feel comfortable talking about my boobs on a public internet board?! LOL!)

Does anyone know if it is normal to have some menstrual-type cramping at this stage of pregnancy? I didn't have any bleeding, so I'm not terribly worried, but I'm wondering if it might have been a Braxton-Hicks contraction. DH said he could feel a tense muscle at the top of my belly/under my boobs, almost as if it were a charley horse. Whenever he touched it, it definitely felt sore, somewhat like a stronger menstrual cramp (but not low in my uterus, like my normal cramps).

Anyways, whatever it was, it was definitely uncomfortable bordering on painful. It made me start to doubt whether I can achieve a natural childbirth.

[eilonwy]

Originally Posted by pique

eilonwy - The above isn't true. We have a super duper LG front loader. LOVE IT! We use liquid detergent from the local environmental cleaning products place (waaaayyyy cheaper than Tide). We've tried the High efficiency stuff but it doesn't work any better. Just keep in mind that you need very very little - we're talking about 2 tablespoons for a full load.

That's what ours is, an LG! 2 tablespoons?! Sweeet... So does liquid work better than powders? The powder has been a bit cheaper for us in the past (and, when combined with the homemade stuff, a *lot* cheaper) so that's what we've bought.

I went downstairs and pushed the power button and listened to it beep before I took what will hopefully be our last load to the laundromat. I can hardly wait to be using cloth full time on my BooBah! Of course, that means I have some knitting and some work to do... BooBah is an *unbelievably* heavy wetter and she has grown a lot in the past 8 months; as in, right now two premium prefolds will catch one peepee. She's wearing sposies overnight because we cosleep and I can't stand the overnight leaking. On the upside, I found that I've actually got about half a dozen large sized proraps around here, so things are not as grim as I thought they were. Now I just need to find something that's a)nearly as absorbant as the gel and b)cheap. What to do, what to do...

[aprilushka]

I need to figure out the cloth diaper thing, at least get some so we can cut back on disposables esp if we go to Russia for a month where they're like 3 times more expensive.

I don't get much breast boosting out of pregnancy unfortunately, only some more roundness and firmness that is just from gaining weight I think. Unfortunately my butt seems to get most of the boosting, LOL.

[pique]

"That's what ours is, an LG! 2 tablespoons?! Sweeet... So does liquid work better than powders? The powder has been a bit cheaper for us in the past (and, when combined with the homemade stuff, a *lot* cheaper) so that's what we've bought. "

(still don't know how to quote )

I find it works better (in all machines) because it dissolves better in the wash. Also, you can use it to pretreat stains. If you google 'liquid laundry detergent" you can find some recipes for it too.

The LG is so pretty to watch - all those nice lights! 9I sat in front of it for the first few loads : DH calls it the happy fun laundry machine because of the nice sound it makes when it finishes the load. It has gotten out stains that had survived several loads in our old machine. You'll love it.

*** back on topic *** :P

I found a fabulous homebirth midwife who I love, she's so relaxed but since it's not fully legal here, I am doing shadow care too. There aren't any GPs who are willing to take new patients and it's close to the same for OBs. I found a new OB who delivers at the mommy friendly hospital who agreed to see me and I had my first appointment this week. I'm not sure I like her - very brusque and pushy (oh, but you have to have the an ultrasound because if you have placenta previa... the baby might die) Blaah Blaaah Blaaaaaah. Nevermind that I have had no bleeding and the midwife told me where my placenta is (nice & high, in front). I've agreed to take the non-fasting diabetes test to get her off my case but it was a a wrestle to get her to order that one instead of the sugar drink and/or fasting ones. I don't think she's ever met anyone who questioned her so much.

[burke-a-bee]

Originally Posted by Stayathomemommy

ooh. whats Emergency Childbirth? i havent seen that book before. my hubby has promised to read one book this time. for the other three babies he was deployed for the war or in training so this is his "first time". I havent decided which book i think is the best for the husband to read. i think its between Husband coached childbirth by Bradely who i LOVE. and the Birth Partner. they both cover it all.

My midwife gave him this book because my last labor lasted 35 minutes from the first contraction until he was out. He knows how to be supportive but not quite sure if he knows how to deliver the baby. We will see.

[burke-a-bee]

Originally Posted by eilonwy

Well, ultrasounds can certainly be wrong and it seems that they're more likely to be wrong about boys than girls. The problem is, many boys' testicles don't drop until long after they're out of the womb... as long as a year. If a baby boy has undescended testes in the womb, then the scrotum will look more like labial folds than a scrotum, kwim? I've only heard one story of someone who was expecting a boy that turned out to be a girl; in this case, identical triplet girls. : The ultrasound showed a fairly large baby and they saw an extra bit between the legs. They assumed that it was a penis, but it turned out to be another baby's foot. : This was a long time ago, though; ultrasounds are much more clear these days. I personally know three people who were told that they were having girls and ended up having boys, though, so I can see where that's coming from. I'm sorry your tech was crappy, that really sucks.

Another story. I can't take it anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AdinaL]

Don't worry too much about the ultrasound stuff. If you buy stuff that is gender specific...you take it back. If it bothers you. I had the same thoughts about not believing the ultrasound. But we have names for both sexes...and we should be fine. As long as my fam doesn't get me ALL pink lacy crap we should be fine.