Pregnant w/ #1 in our 30s June Thread - Page 3

[PiePie]

CJ,

[veganone]

Happy Monday ladies! CJ - hope to hear that the baby's coming SOON!

Grace - I used to nanny and have some friends with little ones... I learned a lot as a nanny (infant for one summer and an infant + 4 y/o another in college). The 4- year old was a monster for his mom, but was good for me. I suspect a lot of it was just that tantrums and whining don't work with me... I have dogs and frankly, they've trained me to be good at ignoring this behavior. I was also VERY responsive and encouraging of actual interaction (talking/asking vs. whining). We'll see when it's actually my kid!!!

Natalia - My VERY deep (and agled upward so I never saw the bottom) innie belly button is now very shallow (23 weeks). And it hurt for a few days each time it changed shape. It's very strange, especially because I really loved my belly button! Wonder if it will come back?

I bought the first couple of baby outfits over the weekend. I was shopping for a friends new son and couldn't help myself! I can't believe I'm going to have a little person to put in them! Of course, I got home and realized they have tags and now I'll have to figure out how to get those out. I figure if I don't like itchy tags on my neck, she won't either. I keep looking at them - something about buying them myself makes them seem stranger than the few things we've been given so far. I am so lost as to what all we will really need!!! The lists in the books just don't seem adequate. There's no way I'm going to be doing laundry daily, so two t-shirts isn't going to do it!

[beckyphry]

CJ, glad it looks like things are progressing! Fingers crossed for you! :

[dctexan]

Originally Posted by ~minnow~

Ah, but see. I have guilt in spades, and yet my dissertation is also languishing...I'm scared. What if I can't finish my dissertation because I'm so focused on my baby, and then my student loans come due and I just can't pay them but they come to me and say, ah ha, we know you bought new shoes with your student loan money MORE THAN ONCE, and then they send me to jail with Paris Hilton? And then everyone laughs at me and throws rotton fruit? I didn't sleep very well last night and am really tired which makes me very exagerratey.

Hee hee. No debtors prison anymore so I doubt they will throw you in jail. I think they just force you to turn over a portion of your wages or something. If it makes you feel any better, my back up plan when I was a grad student was that I could always works at Starbucks and make more money (and get benefits!) than I made as a grad student so not finishing my dissertation did not mean the end of the world. Actually the thing that most motivated me to get my dissertation done was getting hired as a postdoc because then I 1). had something new and exciting to look forward to doing AND 2). because you just can't be a postdoc without a dissertation! If I had waited until AFTER I finished my dissertation to look for/accept a job I would probably still be in grad school.

There also seems ot be an optimal level of guilt - too little and you just don't feel motivated, too much and it is all so overwhelming that you can't do squat. Unfortunately the "optimal" window is very narrow and I rarely find my way into it. You can do it Lane, I know you can!! (You too Dee - just try typing one sentence per day. It's more progress than NOT typing a sentence, right?! I wrote 1 sentence on my stupid book review, so now I am rewarding myself with MDC time )

Originally Posted by Grace24

K, now I'm a little freaked. You say they'll get bigger? How much? I'm 15 weeks and the 36E bra I bought a month ago is tight. The good news is that at least my belly is starting to look as pregnant as my boobs...or close anyhow depending on what I wear. Naked, whoo-boy, it's belly-town. With clothes, sometimes you can tell, sometimes not so much. I'm not as freaked as I was before about the weight gain now that my belly looks pregnant.

Yep, they DEFINITELY get bigger. However, around week 21/22 or so my belly FINALLY overtook my boobs. Now that the belly is growing at such an impressive rate, I barely notice my boobs. Anyway, I'd guess you will go up atleast one more cup size during your pregnancy then another cup (or two!) after your milk comes in. Although all of this is just based on heresay and things I've read - maybe well endowed women don't grow as much? Kinda like fluffier women don't gain as much weight? One can always hope.

Originally Posted by Grace24

Is anyone else craving milk? I'm not normally a huge fan, in fact I used to be vegan (quite happily, didn't ever miss dairy at all) but I'm drinking it by the half-gallon!

Yeah, I am all about milk this pregnancy. Normally I like milk and drink it fairly regularly (maybe 2-3 x wk). But during this pregnancy it has been 1-2 glasses per day and I LOVE it! I guess my body really needs milk.

Originally Posted by ChristyM26

I am really starting feel like a wierdo though, because I have yet to meet anybody else who's having twins. I'm happy that I get two... but I wish I had somebody to compare and contrast with (if that makes sense).

Aug DDC also has several sets of twins if you are feeling truly lonely

Originally Posted by hazieluna

While in Prague I went bra shopping. Before pregnancy I was a 36DD (E sometimes), so already busty enough in my opinion. Well I found a bra last week that fits okay (not a nursing bra yet since I may still grow - horror of horrors) and it's a size 38G.... when I asked (through DH since I don't speak Czech) if they had any bigger cup size the clerk looked shocked! What am I going to do? Geez... And now it seems that my bra rests on my belly like a it's a shelf, so I've gotten some chafing. OH and guess what else, last night I'm changing into my pjs and I look down and my nipple has a drop coming out of it.

And speaking of my body dramas, my belly button is widening and flattening out, I can now see the bottom. I've always had a very deep innie so this is also weird. My DH just keeps saying "It's normal" I guess to comfort me..Oh and a question, don't you ladies want to show off your bellies? I don't want a tankini I just want a bikini so that my belly gets some sun... unfortunately I don't think anyone makes a bikini for such huge boobs.

Another member of the WAY TOO HUGE BOOB club. How can there be so many of us and yet, no bras?! Seems like there is definitely a market?! Oh and best of luck with the bikini thing. I can barely find decently supportive bikini tops when I am NOT preggo - I haven't even tried while pregnant. One store I do know sell "larger" bra sizes (bras and swimsuits) is http://www.bravissimo.com/a London based store. I visited them last summer when I was in London and dropped a ridiculous amount of money on bras and tank tops. Very few maternity items, but if you are committed to getting a non-preggo bikini top, they may be the store for you.

Originally Posted by rock_dr

I love the book lists Pie - will be adding those to our wish list soon. thanks!

Ditto! Me too PiePie - nice list!

Originally Posted by rock_dr

So it hurts to get your membranes stripped, and cohosh is pretty gross (not as bad as the milk of magnesia I downed on saturday though ). But, I'm 'favorable' - about 70% effaced, 3 cm with a stretchy (but high) cervix. She got a good bloody show and she could feel the baby's head. Have been having contractions every 5-10 minutes since I've been home but nothing terribly painful and I think this may just be the initial response to the 'intrusion.' MW said this typically puts you into labor within about 24 hours, or else it means we need a few more days and I should try again on thursday. : for action before then! I have a high tolerance for pain I think - but everyone says I'll 'know' when it's real. hope so!

: for you CJ!!! I cannot wait to get an update. Happy labor vibes to you!!!!

BTW....
Happy third trimester Becky!!! Cute belly shots!

Lovin' yours too Natalia!

[dctexan]

Forgot to say, DH and I bought a carseat this weekend! We also settled on a crib. Of course DH freaked out a little and doesn't want to order it for another 4-6 weeks. I think buying the carseat put him back into minor freak out mode. Two steps forward, one step back

[beckyphry]

Happy 3rd trimester to you, too, Emily! Yay for getting your carseat! Makes it more real, doesn't it?

On the boob issue, I've read that you can expect to go up about 2 cup sizes by the time your milk comes in. I've gone up one so far...

[veganone]

Emily - we finally picked a carseat... It's on my registry now, which counts! And we're looking at a stroller tomorrow night and will hopefully actually be buying - we'll see!!! Now I need to find an organic, oval bassinet mattress. We won't be co-sleeping, but she will be right next to me in her bassinet, but I don't want her on a conventional mattress. It's fun to actually decide, but it makes it VERY real too! Which one did you get? Which crib? (If you feel like sharing...)

On the boob sizes - you mean it goes up 2 MORE cupsizes when your milk comes in?! Wow - I'm going to be one booby mommy! That's scary!

[dctexan]

Originally Posted by veganone

Which crib? (If you feel like sharing...)

We picked out the Black Claremont Lifetime Crib from Bella D'Este at BRU. I can't find a picture of it ANYWHERE online.

For mattresses I really want the Starlight Support Foam Crib Mattress.

Congrats on picking your car seat. DH and I got the Graco Snugride in Emerson (not because we love it, but because it was the least offensive one at BRU).

For strollers DH wants a MacClaren Quest.

[Dee-Groovy]

Ohmigosh I missed a lot! Wish I could say I've been working. I finally did jot down some ideas for the results section of my diss, so at least that's something. Minnow I hope your syllabus got written & your brilliant idea still sounded brilliant later! Don't worry too much about spending loan money on shoes - regardless of what you spend the money on right now it's all helping your get through school. I have a lot of the same fears about finishing before (or even after) the baby comes, but like Emily said, we can do it one sentence at a time. You can defer loan payments if you don't have a job and there's also sliding scale payments based on your income. That's all after the 6 month grace period. With inflation so out of control, your loan payments will be a breeze when you're making modern money to pay off old debts too.

Originally Posted by ~minnow~

..."cocktail party" version of your dissertation you've been lacking, the ability to make it sound coherent in two sentences or less.

This made me laugh b/c after 5 years I still have a hard time coherently and concisely explaining what I do - to my own DH!

Becky your belly is adorable! I freely admit that I stole my FF page idea directly from you, too. Glad you got the 3 hour GTT out of the way & it wasn't that bad. Four blood draws, huh? : You're braver than me! Hooray for being in the 3rd trimester! I know I'm way behind you but I haven't bought anything for the baby yet. We're planning on doing a little shopping after the u/s on Friday to celebrate, but it will prob be something small like onesies. Still waiting on my Amazon coupon before I buy big stuff!


CJ it sounds like having your membranes stripped isn't fun at all. Yay for a high pain threshold, I hope it takes you far in the next few days. I hope your labor is everything you want it to be & nothing you don't.

Originally Posted by rock_dr

I did do some professional nesting this spring, and I can understand the struggles some of your are having (replace 'finish dissertation' with 'getting positioned for tenure'). But that motivation is now totally gone too. Hard as it is, I do recommend trying your best to get a little bit done each day, but don't feel guilty about putting it down or not making progress. It will happen.

I'm so glad you said that b/c it confirms what I suspected. The timing for my babe is pretty awful, but I suppose it could be worse. I really realize that there is no right time for kids. I'm scared about all the "life" stuff I have to do before and after my baby is born, but there will always be a good excuse to wait to have kids. Unfortunately, fertility doesn't wait for the right time!

Originally Posted by Grace24

...when they tried to get him to stop fussing and he'd say, tears streaming down his cheeks for whatever reason, "No, I'm sad," they'd say "It's ok to be sad, but it's not ok to keep fussing about it." Man, I thought that was brilliant! In my house it was always, stop crying you're being spoiled and selfish, so I learned to stuff my feelings (enter the big butt I was talking about earlier)...but this way, it's ok to feel but you have to learn to control your behavior. I LOVED that.

Julia I love that too. It's going to be hard to remember to validate my child's feelings while I'm trying to make it all better, but it will be worth it. I stuff my feeings too and sometimes I still don't allow myself to feel them.

Natalia your belly is so cute! Sorry you're having boob issues too. My belly button is already flattening out - I'm definitely going to have an outie before this is all over. Glad you had a nice sunny vacation too. I hear ya on the crazy emotions - crying to laughing is pretty awesome though. Sometimes I crack myself up and can't stop laughing til tear are coming out of my eyes. I feel kinda crazy but hey it's preg hormones, right? If we have to put up with the crazy worry and anger and frustration, we can at least get a good laugh out of the deal. Thanks for mentioning that you can't tan your belly in a tankini - I hadn't really thought about it. If I don't get stretchmarks I'm all for letting the baby get some sun. Seriously considering a halter style bikini top with either boy shorts or board shorts on the bottom. TMI alert: (sorry Kharen) is anyone else concerned about their ability to groom the bikini line as your belly gets bigger? It's a big consideration in my choice of bottoms.

PiePie thanks for the book lists. Boy you've been busy!

Emily yay for buying a carseat! Wow, that would really make it real to me too. It's no wonder your DH is freaked out. Thanks for the diss encouragement - it really helps, believe it or not. I know what you mean about having Starbucks as a backup plan... sometimes I daydream about going back to waiting tables in fine dining, when I ate great food, drank great wine and had money in my pocket every night. Sigh. Grad school is worth it, right? Right?

Elizabeth - yay I know your name now! Congrats on your carseat purchase as well. I'm still waffling about cosleeping and trying to convince DH to check out the Arm's Reach cosleeper. An oval bassinet sounds beautiful!

Is it normal to start feeling like a giant uterus with legs at 18 weeks? I can definitely tell that my center of gravity is shifting. I already waddle and find it harder to get my shoes off & on. Does anyone have shoes they love that don't make their feet hurt? I hate all of mine right now, but I guess it's my feet & not the shoes, huh?

One last thing - I'm not advertising or anything, but thought some of you might like to know that there's a Stokke stroller on the American Express wishlist this spring. It the Explory complete, supposedly retails at over $1100, and you have the chance to get it for $450 on Sunday if you have an AmEx card (or know someone who will charge it for you). All you do is click a box on the website at exactly noon, 3pm, or 7pm EST next Sunday only (10th). It's still out of my price range even with that ridiculously good deal, but maybe someone can take advantage of it.

Phew! Bedtime.

[PiePie]

CJ,

[Grace24]

ARGH! I'm on my hubby's puter cuz mine broke, and I just wrote a whole long reply, personalizing and everything, and lost it. GAH!!!!

I'll try again later...my hand is tired from typing and I have to play tonight. Hi to everyone, I'll try again tomorrow. :

[beckyphry]

(((Julia))) What a pain in the a$$!!

CJ! Thinking of you! Sending you good labor vibes if you need them!!

My first due date is coming up on Thursday. *sigh* Anyone else out there who previously miscarried and has a due date coming up, or one that passed recently? Did you do anything special to mark the day?

[SarahJen]

Becky mine is coming up on the 15th. My m/c was at 8w5d and that's just about where I'll be with this pregnancy on that date so it'll be a double hard day I'm sure. I don't know yet if I'll do anything special, I think I'll just try to spend some time alone appreciating what I have now you know? I don't want it to be too sad but I also feel like I should be doing something, I just don't know what that would be.

[cmu204]

Originally Posted by beckyphry

Happy 3rd trimester to you, too, Emily! Yay for getting your carseat! Makes it more real, doesn't it?

On the boob issue, I've read that you can expect to go up about 2 cup sizes by the time your milk comes in. I've gone up one so far...

Delurking to say I really hope not! 42DD feels really, really huge and any bigger would make me cry a little.
I visited my family this weekend (sick grandma) and my mom just could. not. stop. staring! I was beginning to feel like I'd been put in the zoo.
She's way happy about the baby, though, so I can't be too upset. Although the telling random strangers in the grocery store was pretty embarrassing...

Anyone else's mom being excessive?

And, Emily, whenever you get a sec, can you please add me to the list?
I'm Cher, 34, and due Dec. 10. Thanks!

C.M.

[veganone]

We are getting the Snugride in Devon, if we get the stroller tonight. It's the Bugaboo Frog in Sand (khaki). I like that the Snugride is light - we looked at the Peg Perego carseats a lot, but they are heavy!

What do you guys think for breast pumps? I was thinking about getting a comfy manual one for use early on (before I go back to work) and then looking into a comfy and hopefully quiet auto one before I go back to work.

Originally Posted by dctexan

We picked out the Black Claremont Lifetime Crib from Bella D'Este at BRU. I can't find a picture of it ANYWHERE online.

For mattresses I really want the Starlight Support Foam Crib Mattress.

Congrats on picking your car seat. DH and I got the Graco Snugride in Emerson (not because we love it, but because it was the least offensive one at BRU).

For strollers DH wants a MacClaren Quest.

[veganone]

CM, My mom is always excessive. I love her to pieces, but I am an only that they tried for years and years to get... This is the only grandbaby... She's sweet, but out of control. My parents went on vacation for three weeks and she couldn't get over my belly either. It must be bizarre to see your baby with a pregnant belly!

[PiePie]

i think i am going with the medela pump in style. i hope to work 4 days a week starting when the baby is 6 months old. i hadn't planned on buying a pump already, but a sahm friend tells me i should by the first 3 weeks, now i'm not sure. she also recommends the book nursing mother, working mother, by g. pryor, for pumping schedules. i am way unclear on why she needed that but...

[dctexan]

Cher - I updated your info - so glad you decided to delurk

Elizabeth - The two pumps I am considering are Ameda Purely Yours and Medela Pump In Style.

[veganone]

Thanks for the input (gee, I'm chatty today!). The Madela website says that they are 100% Bisphynol A free. Good to know! I'm thinking about narrowing it down and then trying to rent them to see which is most comfortable for me. I just can't imagine having something vacuuming my breasts!

[Grace24]

Breast pumps: I kept hearing rave reviews about the Medela Pump in Style so I bought one on eBay for $88! I was so proud of myself. It's "gently used" and they do recommend you buy your own tubes or whatever (you can buy a replacement kit) but the pumps are so expensive so I figure I did pretty well! It came the other day. DH failed to see why I was so excited but I think someday when I'm out and he needs to feed baby and there's plenty o' mama's milk he'll understand!

By the way there were a ton of breast pumps on eBay. The one I got was the second one I bid on that day.