The Queer & Pregnant thread -- June, July, and August - Page 3

[giggleblue]

i'm still in a state of shock over here! i just can't believe this is happening. i feel like i'm dreaming, you know???

meanwhile, i went online yesterday and priced all the cloth diapering supplies that we will need to the tune of $650 for 2 babies from 4 to 30 lbs, which is pretty good. that's for prefolds, bummis covers, snappies, doublers, cloth wipes, a pail, a toilet washer, and some pail freshners, which is not too bad. considering how many diapers babies go through and how expensive they are, we would spend $650 in diapers in a 5 months. yes, i did the math...

i called my ob/gyn and i have an appointment on the 23rd. they call it a pregnancy confirmation appointment, and i may be an ultrasound. i guess it depends. i also talked to the midwife yesterday - i have an appointment there with them on the 11th of august, which will be just in time for the second trimester i guess (time is going to fly by!). we talked a bit about diet and pre-eclamsia.

this is taking hold, and i'm really excited! we are going to have a baby!!

[simcon]

Big congrats to our new additions!! I'm so excited for you all!

pranava--those pains are totally common, as are early pregnancy cramps (which I've gotten in every pregnancy for a couple of weeks)

AngelaM--I can't believe you're almost there! I'll be crossing my fingers that you stay GBS-free for the next few weeks!

I'm home from my crazy work travel, and still recuperating a bit (days in a row of 8 a.m.-11 p.m. days will really take it out of a pregnant person!)--we just went to the beach for a couple of days, which was nice, though not long enough!

My next mw appt. is tomorrow, so hopefully all will be good--I'm a little worried about being a little anemic, because I'm pretty exhausted, though I know that's par for the course after excessive work, so I'll just have to see... I'm looking forward to a more reasonably paced rest of the summer--let's hope that happens!

[pigirl]

Originally Posted by pranava

Thanks everybody for putting my mind at ease!! I'll stop being paranoid about ectopic - there's plenty of other things to worry about

Hi! It's so cool we're in this preggers thread now!

Two things-- first, I've had the same pains you described. I blew my nose one night, and it felt like I'd shot my little blastocyst across my uterus, it hurt so bad. Now I try to go a little easier with the sudden movements thing.

Second-- I'm reading the Pregnany Book (by Sears) and it says that by the time you get a BFP you would most likely already know if it were an ectopic pregnancy-- the symptoms usually occur before then. I know that calmed me down a lot about that particular worry.

Oh, and I guess a couple other things.

Third, is anyone else's partner getting sympathic morning sickness? Mine appears to be, and he's really not happy about it. I find it hilarious.

Fourth, I saw some EWCM yesterday (which was 5w 2d), and started feeling what seem like light ovulation pains today. Just on the right side, which would be the side I'm due to ovulate on next. Anyone else feel anything like that?

[MujerMamaMismo]

Originally Posted by pigirl

Fourth, I saw some EWCM yesterday (which was 5w 2d), and started feeling what seem like light ovulation pains today. Just on the right side, which would be the side I'm due to ovulate on next. Anyone else feel anything like that?

EWCM is a good sign. It means your progesterone is building and early in a pregnancy, progesterone maintains that little embryo. If you're really unlucky, like me, you could spend your entire pregnancy with obscene amounts of all kinds of cervical mucus. It's all totally normal.

[venustx]

Oh yeah, the EWCM is normal...as is increased discharge for the entire pregnancy.

I also had those little pains in the beginning. It's your uterus starting to stretch and grow to hold your little babe!

[giggleblue]

yeah, i'm having the discharge too. what's totally weird is that i'm still cramping on and off, so that combined with the discharge has me running to the bathroom every few minutes to make sure that af hasn't started...

i think i may be driving myself a little mad.

oh, and do you guys have any good pregnancy books to suggest? what pregnancy books are you reading? do you like them? which ones are best. i've heard that "what to expect while you are expecting" isn't that great, so i'm wondering what would be a good title. of course, i need to finish the brill book too. i only read up through the "how to get pregnant" parts.

[MujerMamaMismo]

Originally Posted by pigirl

Hi! It's so cool we're in this preggers thread now!

Two things-- first, I've had the same pains you described. I blew my nose one night, and it felt like I'd shot my little blastocyst across my uterus, it hurt so bad. Now I try to go a little easier with the sudden movements thing.

Second-- I'm reading the Pregnany Book (by Sears) and it says that by the time you get a BFP you would most likely already know if it were an ectopic pregnancy-- the symptoms usually occur before then. I know that calmed me down a lot about that particular worry.

Oh, and I guess a couple other things.

Third, is anyone else's partner getting sympathic morning sickness? Mine appears to be, and he's really not happy about it. I find it hilarious.

Fourth, I saw some EWCM yesterday (which was 5w 2d), and started feeling what seem like light ovulation pains today. Just on the right side, which would be the side I'm due to ovulate on next. Anyone else feel anything like that?

Originally Posted by giggleblue

yeah, i'm having the discharge too. what's totally weird is that i'm still cramping on and off, so that combined with the discharge has me running to the bathroom every few minutes to make sure that af hasn't started...

i think i may be driving myself a little mad.

oh, and do you guys have any good pregnancy books to suggest? what pregnancy books are you reading? do you like them? which ones are best. i've heard that "what to expect while you are expecting" isn't that great, so i'm wondering what would be a good title. of course, i need to finish the brill book too. i only read up through the "how to get pregnant" parts.

Cramps and mucus and thinking you're bleeding are so common. I spent the first 6 weeks of pregnancy convinced that my period was a minute away. It's so hard not to drive yourself mad.

I really like Sheila Kitzinger and have her Complete Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth, as well as Birth Your Way.

I have some others too but those are the ones on high rotation...
I also plan on getting some more birth ones.

[JenInMpls]

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. Definite . Very straight and totally hippie but real, sound, good advice. Made me want to drive to Tennessee to give birth at The Farm.

Rachel Pepper's Complete Guide to Lesbian Conception, Pregnancy and Childbirth - How to Stay Sane and Care for Yourself - or something close to that. A lighter tone than Brill and Toevs, more anecdotal.

So That's What They're For! - a guide to breastfeeding - very, very informative book about breastfeeding and it's funny to boot.

Birthing from Within by Pam England. These are the birth classes we are taking, too.

What to Expect when you're expecting is good fodder for the fire ring or the grill, in my opinion. Oops, did i say that?

giggleblue you didn't ask, but I'm going to tell you anyway : I have found snappis to be worthless and unnecessary with Bummi covers, you can use a step-lid trashcan from Target or Organized Living or whoever sells them as a diaper pail, the toilet washer is unnecessary because a dry diaper pail works better anyway, and the best butt wipes we EVER found were the 12-packs of washcloths they sell at Target when dorm-stocking season kicks in. 12 for, like, $5. We started out with 36 of them 4 years ago and they're still in great shape after hundreds of washes in hot water. IKEA ones are good too but we used the IKEA ones as food rags and were able to tell the food rags from the butt rags by the little loops sewn on the IKEA cloths. If your little pepito needs a very soft rag, you can always buy flannel, sew it onto the washcloth and then flip them inside out... but our kid never seemed to suffer from the washcloths.

And lastly, the MDC Diaper Trading Post is a REALLY good way to get decent diapers for cheaper.

[KnittingTigers]

Originally Posted by pranava

Anybody get occasional sharp pains around your uterus in early pregnancy? These aren't like my normal af cramps. If I move the wrong way, or sneeze, it feels like I've pulled something in my lower abdomen. It's a sharp stabbing type of pain and lasts about 20 seconds. Now I'm paranoid it's ectopic. Somebody tell me this happened to you.

Angela - How did you get the timeline thing in your signature? I want one too!

Oops, you beat me to this! I squandered my day yesterday swimming in the ocean with KJM and FtMPapa, and am just getting caught up on my MDC. Oh well. If anyone else wants to copy the timeline in my sig, just ask and I'll send it to you.

And yes, sharp pains are very normal. I have actually had them, in slightly different manifestations, throughout most of my pregnancy. But yeah, those early ones freaked me out. And, um, I don't know if you've been feeling frisky, but every time I had an orgasm for the first couple months, my uterus started these painful contractions. Totally normal, apparently, but scary. I'm happy to report that that symptom ended with the first trimester. (Second trimester, for anyone who's interested, was, in my experience at least, some of the best sex of my life!)

Originally Posted by pigirl

Third, is anyone else's partner getting sympathic morning sickness? Mine appears to be, and he's really not happy about it. I find it hilarious.

No, however mine gained about ten pounds once I got past my first trimester morning sickness.

Originally Posted by MujerMamaMismo

EWCM is a good sign. It means your progesterone is building and early in a pregnancy, progesterone maintains that little embryo. If you're really unlucky, like me, you could spend your entire pregnancy with obscene amounts of all kinds of cervical mucus. It's all totally normal.

Yup, pregnancy does gross stuff to your underwear...

[pigirl]

Originally Posted by giggleblue

oh, and do you guys have any good pregnancy books to suggest? what pregnancy books are you reading? do you like them? which ones are best. i've heard that "what to expect while you are expecting" isn't that great, so i'm wondering what would be a good title. of course, i need to finish the brill book too. i only read up through the "how to get pregnant" parts.

I'm really loving The Pregnany Book by Sears. It's completely heterosexual-based, which is annoying as heck, but the info about pregnancy, risks, how to cope with morning sickness, delivery, etc., seem right on, and very non-alarmist. Sears the doctor, not Sears the store, by the way. I was confused at first.

[2happymamas]

I promise to update here this evening, everybody! We went camping this past weekend, I have all of my freaking monthly reports due by 4pm today, and feel as though I am coming down with strep throat! Ugh.

But, I am starting to feel better and after 4pm today, I am golden!

[JenInMpls]

Originally Posted by AngelaM

I squandered my day yesterday swimming in the ocean with KJM and FtMPapa ...

That does not sound like squandering at all. I would LOVE to do that. As it is I'm trying (half-heartedly) to drum up someone to go to the beach with us today...

Originally Posted by pigirl

Third, is anyone else's partner getting sympathic morning sickness?

No, although mine seems to be experiencing sympathetic crabbiness

The fancy term for sympathetic pain shared by partners of pregnant women (weight gain, nausea, etc) is couvade. Everyone see if they can work that into a sentence today

[pigirl]

Funny story-- we just got the credit card bill for the swimmers that got me pregnant. And used our also-just-received economic stimulus checks to pay it! Thanks, feds!

SO not what they had in mind....

[giggleblue]

you used your stimulus check to pay for sperm too??? yeah it sure isn't want they had in mind, but i'll take the $1,200 and start my lesbo family anyday. i think we burned through it already after the first month, but still it was a nice help! and hey, it's going to turn into a gift that keeps on giving for a tax perspective.

i think this is the only thing george did for us in 8 years.

[JenInMpls]

Originally Posted by pigirl

SO not what they had in mind....

Originally Posted by giggleblue

i think this is the only thing george did for us in 8 years.

[giggleblue]

Originally Posted by JenInMpls

giggleblue you didn't ask, but I'm going to tell you anyway : I have found snappis to be worthless and unnecessary with Bummi covers, you can use a step-lid trashcan from Target or Organized Living or whoever sells them as a diaper pail, the toilet washer is unnecessary because a dry diaper pail works better anyway, and the best butt wipes we EVER found were the 12-packs of washcloths they sell at Target when dorm-stocking season kicks in. 12 for, like, $5. We started out with 36 of them 4 years ago and they're still in great shape after hundreds of washes in hot water. IKEA ones are good too but we used the IKEA ones as food rags and were able to tell the food rags from the butt rags by the little loops sewn on the IKEA cloths. If your little pepito needs a very soft rag, you can always buy flannel, sew it onto the washcloth and then flip them inside out... but our kid never seemed to suffer from the washcloths.

And lastly, the MDC Diaper Trading Post is a REALLY good way to get decent diapers for cheaper.

that's good to know about the snappies because they are high as hell! i was thinking about the diaper pail thing, and we are going to take a look around target this weekend. conviently, it's back to school time, and i just got a magazine from target for their dorm stuff (complete with a coupon) so i'll check them out for the rags and the trashcan. did you use one of those plastic lined bags for the trashcan? i was thinking of trying to make one of those too. also, did you make diaper doublers yourself? i've seen some people make them and some people use the smaller newborn diapers inside of the larger diapers. what's your take.

i'm going to check out the diaper trading post to see what's over there. oh, one last question - what do you wash them in? we were thinking about charlie's soap, but i'm not so sure yet.

sorry guys, i'm not trying to turn this into a cloth diaper thread... i know there is a section for cloth diapering on the board, but it's really really granola...

[JenInMpls]

Originally Posted by giggleblue

did you use one of those plastic lined bags for the trashcan? i was thinking of trying to make one of those too. also, did you make diaper doublers yourself? i've seen some people make them and some people use the smaller newborn diapers inside of the larger diapers. what's your take.

oh, one last question - what do you wash them in? we were thinking about charlie's soap, but i'm not so sure yet.

We didn't use a trash can liner, we used one that has a removable plastic inner can and we washed it out with hot water - and then put a couple of squirts of Bac-Out.

We actually never used diaper doublers. Overnight we'd just stuff an extra insert into a Fuzzi Bunz (that's what we mostly used). When they're wee you're up with them so much overnight anyways nursing that you don't really need a doubler... at least that was my experience. By the time we got into sleeping for 4-5 hour stretches we were on to Fuzzi Bunz.

For washing we used Bac-Out and Bi-o-kleen detergent. We bought both in bulk and if you're interested in doing that i can tell you where you can order it from for cheapest and get free drop shipping.

Bac-out is a cold water enzyme treatment and we absolutely love it. Gets nearly everything out.

[pranava]

We used both our economic stimulus checks too!!!

[pigirl]

Originally Posted by pranava

We used both our economic stimulus checks too!!!

This is so great! I wonder if there'll be a little gay baby boom next year, courtesy of the stimulus checks. Cracks me the heck up! : Not what they meant to, um, stimulate, you know?

You're right, giggleblue, this is perhaps the one thing W did for us!

[simcon]

Originally Posted by JenInMpls

We didn't use a trash can liner, we used one that has a removable plastic inner can and we washed it out with hot water - and then put a couple of squirts of Bac-Out.

For washing we used Bac-Out and Bi-o-kleen detergent. We bought both in bulk and if you're interested in doing that i can tell you where you can order it from for cheapest and get free drop shipping.

Bac-out is a cold water enzyme treatment and we absolutely love it. Gets nearly everything out.

Not to turn this into a diapering thread, but just to add some other experience--we loved snappis, both with covers and without--I especially liked keeping just the cloth diaper snappied on Maddie when we were at home and on things that were washable, so she could air out a bit.

For a "pail," we used a waterproof wetbag that we zipped at the top and hung on a hook--made by a wahm. What was great about it was that it contained odors totally well, didn't take up much room (it hung on the back of a door, or in a closet), and to wash it, we just threw it in the laundry (inside out) with the diapers. Totally painless. For detergent, I used trader joe's "next to godliness" powder, with an occasional squirt of bac-out if things were especially dirty (waited an extra day to do the laundry, lots of poopy ones, etc.)

And I want to second that the diapering board here was a great, great resource to me! It seems a little overwhelming, but once you're trying different things out, I found lots of people totally willing to troubleshoot leakiness and washing issues, so that you can make your routine as easy and effective as possible.

That's amazing that you're thinking of those sorts of details already, giggleblue! I'm so far from that at the moment--I think this is all going to happen way faster than I'm anticipating... my sister convinced me to sign up for a registry at Babies R Us (not that we need much from there for #2, but she had a coupon for a $10 gift card that you could get if you created a registry)--she is all purposeful and on top of this stuff (and due in August) while I'm feeling like a total pg lazybones, just shooting the scanner at random things... And I'm just hoping her babe grows out of her newborn prefolds before ours is born, so I can inherit them nice and smoothly and not have to worry about much (we have lots of the bigger sizes, but had a diaper service for the newborn size...).