July Mamas - Feb 17-29

[oceanbaby]

So here's our fresh new thread. Someone brought up that we were past the middle of the month, and since I was all excited to come post here I thought I would go ahead and get it started.

I felt a real external kick tonight! I've been feeling flutters, and some little bladder kicks, but tonight we were watching a movie, I had my hand on my stomach, and felt a big ole kick right into my hand! This is my 2nd baby, but wow, it is just as exciting.

I have what may be my last OB appt. tomorrow. We've decided to go ahead with a homebirth even if our insurance won't cover any of it. It will be really rough financially, and I'm not sure how we will swing it, but I'll be damned before I let my friggin' insurance company dictate how I birth! Anyway, I am excited yet nervous about the whole thing. I have my first penatal meeting with my midwives next Friday the 27th.

I must go to bed. I got so excited about feeling the kick (and then riled up reading a mainstream parenting board - why do I do that to myself?) that I'm having a hard time shutting of the computer and going to bed. I sure will regret this in the morning.

[Hibou]

I'll be right there with you, dragging my feet in the morning...it's 3 am and I can't sleep, so I got up and made some 'breakfast', and hopefully will get some sleep soon. I don't know why this happens while I'm pregnant- like I don't need the sleep-- oh well, sometimes a snack helps.

Congrats on feeling those kicks oceanbaby- it is a really reassuring sensation.

I got some good news last night too; the woman who teaches hypnobirthing here (small city, there is only 1 person who teaches it) is going to run a class just for dh and I!! She usually tries to wait until she has at least 2 mother-birthing partner teams, but since no one else has signed up, she is going to do a class just for us. Hypnobirthing is virtually unheard of here- I still haven't met a doctor or LC who has even heard the term. That's why I'm really excited that she's running the class- it seemed for awhile like there wouldn't be one, and I really really wanted to do it.

Besides that, I'm running out of clothes- this belly seems to be expanding fast now! Feeling better all the time though. A good friend had a baby last week, and it made me really excited for ours to come! Just started going through my baby stuff...got some collecting to do.

[Artisan]

Sheesh, I haven't been around much lately! My teaching job has been particularly busy right now!

I am feeling well -- 17 weeks 2 days. I feel like I am finally out from under the covers of exhaustion and starvation. :) I have also been feeling little movements, which is fun.

Y'all have probably discussed this already, but is everyone having an u/s around 20 weeks? Will you be finding out the gender? Mine is scheduled for March 2nd, and I'm really waffling on whether or not to find out. I knew with my son, and didn't regret it at all. Part of me would really like to know, for a myriad of reasons. One of the reasons is that I'm a knitter and want to knit some cute stuff for the new baby. But the other part of me wants to be surprised.

I am also cloth diapering. I CD'd my son, and am excited to have a new bum to diaper! To those of you considering it, it is so much fun and truly not hard. It requires around two extra loads of laundry a week -- that's it. I really admire all of our grandmothers/great grandmothers who diapered babies with no washing machines and pins! So glad times have changed.

As for the newborn poop (someone asked what you do with it), you certainly CAN dunk it if you want to. However, breastmilk poop is SO soluble and runny that there is really no need. If you make sure that you don't overload your washer, they really do come all the way clean without dunking. One other tip is to get some fleece liners/doublers. Poop just rolls right off of them -- a lot of times, you can literally just hold the diaper over the toilet and it rolls off the fleece.

Here's what I have for the new baby so far:
6 Sugar Peas size 1
6 Little Lambs AIOs
4 Angel Wraps AIOs
4 Bummis covers
6 Bottombumpers hand-dyed hemp fitteds

You have to check out Little Lambs AIOs and Bottombumpers! Little Lambs (www.cutest-cloth-diapers.com) makes great AIOs for newborns, she has tons of fabric choices, and she's very affordable. Bottombumpers (www.bottombumpers.com) makes these beautiful colored hemp fitteds -- so nice when you're tired of plain beige hemp and want something else but don't want gender-specific fairy or truck diapers. Her sewing is awesome. I think she plans on opening an instock store later this month (mine was a custom order).

Has this been long enough? :) Nice to be back!

[kris1225]

Oh Oceanbaby! That's the best news about switching to a homebirth! I am so happy for you. You won't regret it. We are paying out of pocket here too. I just give my MW a couple of hundred bucks in cash at each visit. She's $2600 total - which I think is a steal for a gentle birth. I am almost thankful this time that I don't have health insurance. I think it's given me MORE options and the freedom to choose whatever kind of birth I want.

I also know someone who took almost a year after her son was born to pay off her MW. I think it's a kinder/gentler world all around, even in the finance office.

[ebethmom]

Congratulations on feeling those kicks and your homebirth decision!! I've been feeling lots of movement, and dh felt some of the bump-bumps the other day.

I have a midwife appt. this Thursday, and they will schedule my ultrasound then. I still need to figure out if our insurance will cover the 3D ultrasound that they are recommending since I hit the magic 35 next month.

I can't wait to know the gender so I can buy cute diapers!! I'm so tired of plain old white prefolds. We're all set on clothes. We have all the boy clothes we could possibly need, and my friend has offered me all of her girl clothes. My Mom already has a few new baby outfits hanging in the closet. I wish she would buy diapers and covers instead!

I'm 18 weeks and 4 days now, and really showing. I went for a massage yesterday, hoping to alleviate some of this lower back pain. It helped a little bit - I slept better last night. But I think I need to see my chiropractor, too. My L4 spot is all out of whack.

[candleofthought]

Ohhh a backrub sounds NICE!!
Yay for homebirth..this is my first HB, and I my ins says they will cover 70%...but the midwife is licensed but not an RN...so I don't know if they'll give me grief...
she'll charge me $1600 if its out of pocket or 0 if ins will pay 70% of some outrageous amount.

Butterflyma~ those cute dipes are from www.loveybums.com
she is great, and my favorites are the velour inner/sherpa outer with snaps. They are like kissaluvs, but more absorbent (I hear)..
If I could get good velour and sherpa I'd make them myself! But hers are like $7 each I think..?
I also got a great deal on the color fuzzibunz at www.ethansplace.com they were $13.95 ppd or white was 12.95ppd

I can't think of ANY boys names that I like! Our last name is Cunningham :scratch

We are debating if we should get an ultrasound....i kind of want to *know* that everyhting is growing right..and we don't *need* the hospital for anything....but I also can't decide if i want to know the gender....if we have the u/s we'll want to know...yiyiyi

just busy with my sewing and cross-stitching...I'm doing the 'baby's don't keep' poem..if you've never read it, you should! I want to hopefully have it stitched and ready before the baby's born, to hang over the rocker...we'll see...
happy 4th/5th month everyone...we're almost halfway there!!!!!

[majazama]

It's so awesome that we are all doing well and feeling movement, myself included. It would be so cool if we could all get together and compare bellies! then babies!

I've got a million things to do this morning, just wanted to get subscribed to this thread so I don't miss anything.

[youngnhappymamma]

Hello all. I am feeling tons-o-movement as well...VERY fun!!! Sometimes it catches me off guard and I have to remind myself...oh yeah...that's the baby. :D It's so fun, though. :love

I have also decided that I can not go through with a hospital birth...ever again. I have been reading a bunch of uc books, but don't know if that is right for us this time around. We are dirt poor (on medicaid so the hospital would have been free) so I hope to find a midwife who will give me a discount or something. I haven't started calling midwives yet, though. I think I am nervous to have to bring up the money issue and then still have to find a midwife who will be EXTREMELY hands off and mellow and not try and manage my labor. I just haven't figured out how to go about it all yet.

I am also having some stupid pregnancy related discomforts, etc. Every morning when I get up for like the first two to three hours I feel a bit dizzy and short of breath if I stand up for very long. Anyone know what causes this? I remember also feeling this way in past pregnancies, but this time seems even worse. I've actually come close to fainting a few times. It is so inconvenient and uncomfortable. I eat breakfast as soon as I wake up, so it can't be low blood sugar. Could it be high blood sugar? If so, can anyone suggest some foods I should be eating for breakfast (right now I either eat a bowl of cold ceral or hot cereal). It's starting to worry me.....
And sleeping on my hips at night is already super uncomfortable. That is really the only part of pregnancy that I HATE. I do need to start exercising and I'm sure that will help, but it's still stupid. :)

[kris1225]

Hey youngnhappymama,

I know for a fact that there are at least two midwife-run birth centers here in Dallas that accept Medicaid. Maybe there's one in your area? I would start asking around.....

My baby is wigglin' away in there....

[candleofthought]

WHen I was preggy in Colorado, I used Colorado West Womans
Dr David Robbins...he works in practice with at least one midwife...anita, is her name....they are in grand junction and they take state ins...
HTH goodluck
there is also a directory of midwives online..if you search hard enough....
happy pregancy!

[youngnhappymamma]

thank you for the suggestions. I am acctually seeing midwives right now who deliver at the hospital. the hospital here is extremely non-interventionist and has the highest rate of non- medicated births in colorado, but I would still like to deliver at home (and unfortunatly there are no free standing birth centers in the area).

[Snowy Owl]

Hi everyone...finally got internet service back. Phew. Life resumes...

About ultrasounds..maybe some of you noticed the thread I started here about dh and I disagreeing on knowing the sex. Tragic...it really was his idea to get the ultrasound in the first place... I never had one with dd. I'm kind of excited.
Anyway, there was lot's of good advice in that thread if anyone encounters the same dilemma.

Also, I had my second midwife visit today. All the questions and blood draws etc. What a terrible time we had of it...I have weird veins and she had to keep poking and poking, and still didn't get enough blood. I almost fainted, and then I barfed.
Awful. I am not afraid of needles, it was more of a physiological reaction.
I did get a chocolate at the end of it, so that was nice.

About cravings....I can't seem to get enough Thai food...those lovely soups...mmmmmm

Oh, I have just started feeling movement...sporadic but definite, mostly at night.

And a warm welcome to those who have recently joined us....

:)

That's all for now!

[Threefold]

Missed out on the last thread, busy with ds, dh, teaching, life, and being pregnant. . .
17 wks today and yesterday I had someone comment on my belly:love I didn't show with ds until 25 weeks or so, and this belly is really fun! (Though I still could pass for just out of shape:LOL )
Getting sporactic kicks, but nothing predictable yet, though ds felt a kick a few days ago and THAT was exciting! He was a bit upset after b/c he thought the baby was actually kicking him and he knows that you don't kick people. . .we got it figured out though.
I am scheduled for an u/s on Mar 3 (My cervix seems short to the NP/CNM and ds delivered at 34 weeks, so she really wants to check my cervix out this time to make sure we keeo this baby in), but fortunately both my dh and I agree that we want to know the gender. We found out with ds too and were glad we did. I saw your thread Snowy Owl, but didn't get a chance to reply. My cousins had the same dilemma and did the envelope thing, she opened it and just didn't tell him! Worked for them, I guess.
Sleeping positions, insominia, hungry at 3am, I relate!

[ebethmom]

Thai soup! Mmmmmmm! The closest Thai restaurant here is 30 minutes away, and not well suited for an exuberant 2 1/2 year old. I miss our old Thai restaurant! Everyone there knew my son by name - we still go back every time we're driving through.

And I SO know the pain of sleeping on my hips. It's messing up my lower back big time. If I could go to Yoga class every day, see my chiropractor every Thursday and my massage therapist every Friday, life would be grand. And I would be penniless!

I heard the baby's heartbeat again today at my midwife appointment. Ds went with me, and he was actually interested in the heartbeat. He doesn't want to talk about the baby AT ALL. The heartrate was about 120-130. Does that sound like a girl? Ds's heartrate was always higher.

I am really ready for Spring. We've had two 40 degree days in a row, and I want more. I want to wear all of those cute cropped maternity pants. I want to go to the playground!!

[Greg&Jen]

Hi,
I'm due 7/19/04 with my first. Just felt the baby yesterday (for sure) for the first time. And felt it about 9 times in 30 minutes, but not again for the rest of the day. Same thing this morning (at least so far). That's exciting... it feels more real now.
I'm planning a homebirth and all has been well with my visits so far. I'm trying to organize an ultrasound, but since we just moved to the area, I don't have a doc yet. We are trying to get in to see one that works well with our midwife and is comfortable with homebirths.
Anyway, that's my intro.
:o

Jennifer

[Snowy Owl]

I just started feeling movement *for sure* the last few days, though infrequently...and in a book I was reading an Australian Aborigine stated that the spirit enters when the baby lets you know of his presence through movement.
Just something to think about....
There are of course different opinions on when the spirit enters, at conception etc.
But I tend to think it is a gradual process that lasts a lifetime....

anyway.....

[Snowbaby]

Hi everyone. i've been gone for a while and missed the last thread but glad to hear everyone is doing so much better. As for me, I actually started my morning sickness in the second trimester!! Had nothing the first except major exhaustion and stuffy nose. At first it freaked me out a bit but turns out it happens though it's not the most common. Luckily, I'm only barfing about once a week and am kind of nauseous the rest of the time except right after I eat. I guess this baby's going to be unconventional!

We have an ultrasound scheduled for Tuesday just to make sure the bean is nice and healthy, but DH and I agreed that we won't find out the gender. I think it'll be really nice to have the surprise plus I worry that we (and family) will start gender-typing it too soon -- like buying all pink or blue and calling it "pretty girl" or "strong boy" ... things like that.

I've felt some flutters but not really sure if they are the real thing or not. I guess since this is my first it takes longer to recognize plus I'm trying not to obsess about it. When the kiddo wants to really whack me so it's unmistakable, then I'll pay attention. Would hate to be mistaking gas for my baby!! :D

I'm amazed so many of you have so many supplies already. I haven't bought a single thing, though I am starting to really want to. I did get a copy of Baby Bargains though and am starting to research car seats and other things. We're getting most of our big ticket items (crib, changing table, high chair) from family so I don't have to worry about those.

I want to CD as well - but am still very confused of what exactly I will need, don't even know the terminology, or where to get it. So if you all can start listing websites, that would really help.

Same thing for clothing. I know BabysRus but honestly though I could get a few things from there, I just don't want to be that unoriginal - that stuff is so generic that every baby will be wearing it and I want to get some less common items.

[butterflyma]

A woman I didn't know asked me when I am due, without me telling her that I am pregnant, today! :love I was so happy! I finally have confirmation that I look pregnant :D

Sharonal & Sunfairy~thanks for the great links:) I am anxiously awaiting my next check so I can resume diaper shopping!!!

Sorry about the lousy appt, SnowyOwl. I didn't see your thread- what did you and your dh decide to do about determining the sex of your baby?

Congrats on feeling your baby move Oceanbaby! I'm still only feeling my bebe move sporadically, but I LOVE when it happens!

Welcome Jennifer :wave

Ugh the hip pain :( My chiropractor has helped out in a major way, but still...Sometimes I feel like an old woman when I stand up, I can't even straighten my back out all the way. I've already started sitting on the floor less at school because it's so awkard to get up. And (last gripe, I swear:o ) I think I somehow have pulled a muscle in my groin! At first I thought that my underwear were "pinching" my inner leg, but then I realized that the pain was related to certain types of movement. Owweee. I do love being pregnant, all of the little pains aside.

Snowbaby :crap bummer about the morning sickness kicking in! We registered at BabysRus, but not for clothes. We just figured that people like shopping for baby clothes and they'll find cute things if they want to give clothes to the baby. I have learned a ton from the diapering boards here at MDC, BTW.

Bright Blessings to everyone! :love Brandi

[gigismom]

Hi everyone

Wow, I've missed you guys. Funny how I wonder how you all are doing even though I really don't "know" you. I've been so busy with everything.

I am 21 weeks 2 days and have officially entered the realm of pregnancy when people are compelled to pat the tummy!! I look obviously pregnant and have a cute little ball sticking out in front. SOOOO much fun!! I'm sure I will get sick of it soon. Also, complete strangers ask when I am due. I love being to the point where I don't just look sloppy and fat!!

Movement--I've been feeling lots of movement lately. Not just in the evening anymore and not just flutters. These are the real thing. In fact, a couple of nights ago, I had just fallen asleep and Dh was all curled around me holding my tummy. All of the sudden, he woke me up and said that he had just felt the baby move for the first time while I was sleeping. I thought this was so sweet because it was as if the baby were communicating just with him! He was very excited.

I spent $150 on maternity clothes yesterday. But, I ask you, am I the only pregnant woman who also gains weight in the butt and thighs? Why are maternity pants so impossible to make fit correctly? I currently have only 4 pants and none of them will last to the end. UGH!!

Jen

[williamsmommy2002]

I'm now 20 weeks 5 days and am obviously pregnant. I look like I did at about 26 weeks with my ds. My milk is definately mostly gone. My bb's have been very empty feeling lately and ds is hungry after nursing. Today when I tried to express, I got a little drop that looked more like colostrum.

I'm feeling pretty well. I have a little heartburn and still vomit about once a week. I don't have any nausea though.

The new baby already has a pretty nice diaper stash. I already have:
12 Kissaluv size 0
3 Sugarpeas size 1
2 WAHM newborn fitteds
1 Fern & Faerie recycled fitted in small
2 Sugarbums fitteds in small on the way
1 Nanipoos in small

1 size 0 first lass baby wool cover
2 FMBG newborn covers
1 Sugarpeas cover in small
1 Kiwipie cover in Small
1 WAHM small wool cover
I want some more small diapers and covers. My ds was almost 9lbs at birth and 10 lbs at 1 month. I figure if this baby winds up being small, i'll order some premie prefolds and newborn covers right away.

[spinach]

Hi all, it's been ages since I've posted. I'm almost 18 weeks and looking very pregnant. I'm pretty thin and was completely shocked at how huge I got with dd. My husband, knowing I would take it well, said "Wow! You went from the 1st trimester to the 3rd in one night!" I did make him take it back though.

Dh felt some baby bumping for the first time a couple of days ago - very exciting!

I'm a vegetarian and usually eat very well. But, I asked my dh to buy a (13 oz) bag of Cool Ranch Doritos yesterday because I got a craving. He bought them yesterday, yada, yada, yada... they're gone. I feel horrible. I hope the baby forgives me. I certainly took care of the craving though and don't suspect it will come back this pregnancy.

I'm feeling great, other than very inconsistent sleeping. I seem to go in streaks - 3+ nights of good sleeps followed by 3+ nights of sleeplessness.

Glad everyone seems to be in good spirits!

[Greg&Jen]

Hi all!

Youngnhappymomma:
I live in N. Colorado (FC), and am having a homebirth in July. There are a number of midwives who do homebirths in this area (and will cover the smaller towns around here). Also, in FC, there is a birthing center staffed by midwives. If you'd like more info, let me know on here (post) or email me at pariseaujen@yahoo.com.

SnowyOwl:
I liked what you said about the spirit entering beliefs. I'm not sure what I believe about it yet, but liked your idea that it is a lifetime process.

Snowbaby:
I've been slow to buy as well. Most of what I have right now are hand me downs from family and friends. My husband and I did find some wood and such to build a few things and I'm working on the designs to paint them. That's a hobby of mine and it keeps me occupied while "waiting". The clothing I find most difficult because I'm not keen on whites and pastels. It's hard to find clothes in brighter colors. The only things we've bought so far were two onesies in bright orange (with a sun on it) and bright blue (with a catepillar eating fruits and such). I was so happy to find them (they were on major sale at JCPenneys).

Butterflymama:
Thank you for the welcome ... :wave
I'm glad you've passed into the noticeably pregnant stage. I'm still in the "fat and/or sloppy" phase because people keep telling me I don't look pregnant (and I thought I was getting huge!). Sorry to hear about the hip pain. It sounds aggravating!!


Well, hope all is well with everyone! Looking forward to hearing more from you!

Jennifer
:belly due July 04.. Hoping to :diaper and :bf and homebirth

[kris1225]

Hey Jen,

You're NOT the only one who gets a big 'ol booty. I am bootylicious when preggo. And wiiiiiiiide. It's weird because to look at me non-pregnant, you would never say I had good 'birthin' hips - I am straight figured and skinny (just look at the sizing page of my website). But pregnant, I look like a rotund fertility goddess. :D

[Threefold]

:LOL :LOL with ds I joked that I carried the baby in my butt, as I didn't look pregnant 'til 6 months along, but really got round everywhere! I could barely squeeze into Motherhood's size large pants This time, either Motherhood changed their sizes or I lost all the muscle tone in my glutes along with the ds pregnancy wieght (more likely :rolleyes: :LOL ) b/c a medium is just fine.
And today, at 17 weeks I noticed the belly glance "is she pregnant? or what?" from strangers for the first time. So fun!
I want to CD too, but couldn't quite swing it with ds (so went the tushies route, at least). My head swims when I try to make sense of all the CD language, so I'm gonna have my Cding friends give me tuturing sessions so I can really SEE what goes where.
Anyone else with other babes notice that the fetus seems to respond more to them? I feel much more movemnt when ds is touching my belly inadvertently than when dh caresses it trying to play with baby. Also, ds was the first one to dream about baby, and we suspect that he knew I was pregnant before I did!
butterflyma~ I currently teach K part time (job share) and do have to think a lot more before I plop down on the rug with the kids too!
Williamsmommy2002~my milk has been gone since December around ds's b-day, he still nurses though! Ouch!! I'm wondering if his latch will still be correct when the milk comes in again.

[Snowbaby]

Call me Bootylicious too!!!! It's all growin!

williamsmommy2002: where'd you get all that stuff?

U/s is tomorrow and am very excited - though the M/W freaked me a bit today by saying that my uterus seems a bit big for my dates. Oh well, we'll see.

Can't wait to take a look at my little munchkin!!

[oceanbaby]

Well after my first very excited post, I have yet to feel another kick. I feel little flutters, especially on my bladder, but am still awaiting less subtle and more constant movements, just so I don't have to worry as much.

Um, has anyone else gained 20lbs already? While most of it is in my stomach, I made the mistake of checking out my butt last night when I got up to pee, and couldn't fall back asleep for almost an hour thinking about what it was going to look like by the time July rolls around! Holy moly - I was a pretty decent weight, about a size 8, when I got pregnant. I gained 40lbs with ds, but was heavier when I started. I was pretty much all stomach with ds, but this time it is definitely collecting in all areas. And I am just sooooo hungry all the time! Why did you have to mention Doritos? Now I am wanting them badly!

I too am starting to collect some newborn diapers, because I didn't start cloth with ds until he was about 1 year old. I have about 10 kissaluvs size 0, and then maybe 5 other various WAHM fitted newborn diapers. I'm having the hardest time deciding what to order and how much and in what size. I would prefer to wait until the baby is born to know how big they are, but many WAHMs have a waiting list, and I'd rather be prepared up front, you know? How do you decide?

DalaiMama - I think we live fairly close to one another, and I'd love to get together sometime and show you all the cloth diaper stuff. I remember when I was first checking it out it was sooo confusing, and I didn't know anyone with babies, let alone with coth diapers, so it took me awhile to get up to speed. It really is so much simpler than it seems!

I have the first official prenatal with my midwives on Friday, and am nervous about finalizing the arrangements knowing that the fee is probably going to be out of our pocket with no reimbursement. It is going to be really tough to swing financially, and we will probably end up going into more debt to finance it, but I just really have my heart set on it.

[majazama]

I don't really gain much weight when I'm pregnant. Part of it is that I have not much of an appatite, and partly genetics.

I just read that there ARE places to buy maternity clothes in my area. WOOOHOO! I'm goin' shopping. My pants are all getting too tight, even though they are low rise, stretch type. I don't want to end up wearing my p.j.'s when these jeans stop fitting completely. And some cute shirts would be nice too!!! All my shirts are riding up and my tummy get cold sometimes.

[my2girlz]

I haven't posted on this thread in a while. I am a little over 17 weeks right now (according to early ultrasound) but I feel a lot further than that. I know this is my 3rd, but I feel huge. I can feel the tip of my uterus right at my belly button. I've been feeling movements within the last week, but they are more like the baby rubs up against the side of my uterus. Generally, I grow round, but this time I'm definitely growing straight out. DH is convinced that this is a boy because of the way I'm carrying this one.

For the first time I'll be using cloth from birth. I didn't start with Saige till she was 4 months old. So far I have...

9 kissaluvs sz 0
6 sugarpeas sz 0
3 nanipoos newborn
1 doz. infant cpf
1 newborn first class baby
1 newborn righteous baby contour

Plus I have a bunch of misc. covers in the newborn size.

I can't wait to put these on a little bum! :D

[Threefold]

oceanbaby~ that sounds great! Lets pm eachother with info. I'll do it this afternoon (I'm at school right now and should get off MDC :) )
My head is really swimming with all these terms, and my friends seem to use only the rectangular cotton cloth diapers I remember my mom using with my sister. So far, the only clue I have is to use these either with a snappi and a cover or with a velcro cover. I'm sure I could get through with these method, but if there is so much more out there, I may as well get educated!:diaper :scratch :-wool :scratch

[ChildoftheMoon]

Hello ladies. Looks like everyone is feeling well and having fun collecting diapers:D I have plenty of dipes, but I like to open my cupboard and look at them. I can't wait to wash them and hang them to dry in the lovely sunshine! (which we have very little of right now) I am 19 w 4 d and feeling well. I get a big butt and thighs too, which feels really strange because I usually have skinny legs and not much of a butt. I told my older dd that my tummy is growing and she says (in that innocent four year old observant tone) and your butt too mommy. I laughed to myself and told her I need a bigger butt to hold my growing tummy when I sit down:p My 2 year old was so sweet when I got out of the shower the other day. Sh exclaimed, "Mommy! Your belly is getting bigger! Baby is growing!" She then ran over and hugged my belly and said, "I love your pregnant belly mommy, it is beautiful!" I just about cried. I am not craving much, but I do like to have avocados and orange juice on hand.
love and light:love
Brandi

[Mamma2Addison]

Hi ladies. I think my last post was waaaay back around Thanksgiving. Morning sickness and a toddler have kept me busy! At least the morning sickness is in the distant past. :wave

I'm in the middle of week 21. No ultrasound yet since my ob waits til week 24 {counting down the days til March 15}. Lots of kicks and pushing, though, and dh was able to feel some of it. I think I had my first external kick the other night but just caught it out of the corner of my eye so I'm not sure. Nothing since like that since. :crying

I'm totally unprepared thus far, LOL. I'm waiting to see if we find out the sex before I buy anything, and I've been holding off on diapers til our tax refund. I did make one itty bitty diaper, though. Oh well, lots of time ~ catch me in full panic mode come end of May!

Trying to read through some of the old posts, but glad to hear everyone's doing well. The last few months have been so slow, much slower than when I was pg with ds.

[ebethmom]

The strangest thing happened to me yesterday. I was just finishing my last bite of breakfast when that FEELING came over me. I had to race to the bathroom, and barely made it there before it all came back up. I didn't feel sick before, and only tired after. I waited an hour, then ate breakfast again and was just fine.

Has morning sickness hit at 19 weeks?? I had a bad case of queasies from about 6 - 12 weeks, but never actually threw up. I felt kind of yucky after breakfast this morning, too, and took a plastic bag with me in the car.

I did have my first bout of indigestion yesterday, too. Drat. I had AWFUL indigestion/heartburn with ds and was hoping that affliction would stay away. At least it's later in the pregnancy this time. Dandelion tea helped a little.

I'm waiting until after the ultrasound to really get serious about the diaper collecting, too. Mine is scheduled for March 12. Anyone have any guesses (boy or girl) on a heartrate that is about 120-130?

[majazama]

ebethmom~~ I threw up once in my last pregnancy after 12 weeks. And I also threw up several more times, because of calcium supplements. But the one time when it was odd, was a morning after breakfast. I had a big arguement with my partner, and left to go swimming..... on the way there, I got QuEezzY, and I pulled over and ralphed on the side of the highway. (I know TMI) But I think it was an emotional thing, as while I was eating breakfast, we were fighting, and that food wasn't digesting very well. I think that A LOT of morning sickness has to do with your emotional atmosphere. When I'm pregnant, I get queesy, sometimes, but when I go somewhere else, it subsides. I actually had a bit of queesyness this morning, and I think it was because of my emotional state (and the fact that it was a very heavy breakfast)

I have an ultrasound booked for the 15th. I'm not sure yet if I will go. I think I'm having a boy because I'm a lot more "emotionally stable" this time around. Last time I was crying about everything, I think it was the extra estrogen.

[Foobar]

Mamma2Addison! I have a 4th of July due date too!
Cool!


Ok- I must admit, I am doing the evil diapers on Moo..

However, it is great to know that she is a girl (at least I swear I saw her vulva on the u/s. Certainly didn't see a penis there!) and Goo was born at the same time of year, so we have tons of clothes from Goo that Moo can wear! I am so psyched to have 2 girls!

I am having a hard time in terms of pain and nasuea in this pregnancy. I can't eat veggies or even see some or I'll hurl. Sad....

My little Moo is "kung-fu" girl and kicking the crap out of me day and night. The movements make me sick too. Oh well. I look forward to a healthy little girl in my arms!

Oceanbaby- Comgrats on your hb decision!

[Saralynn]

Foobar and Mamma2Addison, I also share your July 4th due date!

DH and I found out yesterday that we are having a healthy little girl! She kicked straight through the U/S (as always!) and then continued for nearly 5 hours straight! Our U/S tech told us that she could feel the kicking through the U/S probe and then later that our little peanut had the most developed leg muscles she'd ever seen around 21-22 weeks. Tell me about it! Our little sprout loves to kick mommy.:D I don't mind!

My butt has gotten somewhat wider too - I notice because I am swimming twice a week and boy do I feel silly in a bathing suit now...swimming feels great though and the swimming with my chiropractic has really helped my sacroiliac joint and on and off sciatic pain!

I was also told that my uterus was way ahead of schedule - by 4 weeks in growth. I'm not too concerned about this but on the other hand, I'm only 5'1" and hope it doesn't grow too far past my xyphoid process! Unbearable! :eek I guess my high uterus explains why I've had some heartburn for the first time in my life...

Does anyone know if that's meaningful? Having an overeager uterus??? This is my first and wowsers is body ever eager to be pregnant! My breasts have been leaking colostrum on and off for a few weeks too. DH gets a good laugh out of this...

[williamsmommy2002]

I started collecting dipes when we were TTC. I got the newborns in case we had a little one but my ds was 8lbs 14oz at birth. The Kissaluvs are seconds but you can't tell unless you inspect them closely. I also check the trading post often. I try to buy stuff I know has good resale value because I know these will be grown out of quickly. I figure the Sugarpeas will take us through many months of growth so are a great investment. I starting using cloth when my ds was 2 months old but he could fit into mediums because he was so big.

I don't gain much weight until the end of my pregnancy. As of 17 weeks I weighed 2 lbs under my prepregnancy weight. This baby is kicking up a storm. I think it is another boy but I won't have my u/s for couple more weeks.

[Mamma2Addison]

I'm carrying so differently this time around. With ds I was all in front and this time I just seem to have spread sideways. I signed ds up for toddler swimming starting on Saturday and the sight of me in a bathing suit is amusing. :rolleyes:

I've been scouring the Kissaluvs site for size 0 seconds but no luck. I don't dare go over to the TP until I have cash in hand, LOL. Ds was 7 lb 8 oz at birth so I don't think I'll need too many newborns, but the size is getting to me. :love

[ebethmom]

I've so peeved. Dh told me the other day that I would need to reschedule my ultrasound appointment since he has an out of town meeting that morning. Never mind that he was sitting by my side when I MADE the appointment. Grrrr.

So now my ultrasound is set for March 19, the same day as my midwife appointment.

I'm just feeling peevish in general today. I've still got a whopper of a cold, and none of my tops fit. I thought I could get by with my regular tops and maternity pants, but I had forgotten about the mongo boob factor.

Time to go teach. Hope I don't bark at anyone.

[Jennifer H]

Had my 18 week u/s today!!

Tech can't tell me if everything is okay, but I asked when someone would call if there was a problem and she said the radiologist would call today if there was a problem, "but, I wouldn't be waiting by the phone if I were you!" She also said that I have no indication of placenta previa.

I did see a four chambered heart and she said blood flow looked good, two kidneys and a full bladder (indicating the kidneys are working), a fully covered spine, a nice round head, two arms, two legs and feet and hands with the right number of digits, two eyes, a nose and a mouth that never stopped moving, the right number of vessels in the umbilical cord, stomach where it belongs and...
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GIRL PARTS!!!!

The tech was very patient because this baby moved so much it was hard to even get the right stills for the diagnostics. She spent another 15 minutes getting the baby into the right position to see the three lines indicating a girl.

When she got the picture of the girl she typed on the screen, "Hello Dolly". Dolly is what my grandmother always called me when I was little. She passed away in June and I've been so sad thinking she won't be here to greet this baby... now I feel like she was speaking to us today and is here and is happy for us!

[Snowy Owl]

Congrats on your healthy little girl, Jennifer H!
I soooooo want to know the sex of my baby after reading that....
Sigh....

[oceanbaby]

Congrats! If I could choose, I would have 2 boys and then a girl, which sounds like what yours will be. Of course, I'm not sure if we'll have a third, so I don't even know what to wish for with this one!

I was pretty tempted to find out, but dh was totally against it, so I didn't find out. But oh how exciting it would be to know!

[Michelle Leigh]

:wave
Hello friends! I'm so happy to hear everyone's good news! Yeah!

I didn't write for a while because I was suffering from nausea & vommiting & now I'm well!! I hit 15 weeks and felt like the switch for all of that was turned off. I'm so grateful.

I started feeling this baby (#2) very early which I've loved feeling.

At the beginning of the month I experienced something very interesting that some pregnant moms may want to feel: I had a watsu massage (in water) and a water journey in which I felt what it feels like to be cradled--like an infant. Very hard to describe, but I was like, "Wow. This is how a baby feels when it's being held." And, I even felt what a baby feels traveling through the birth canal. I went to this place: www.aquaest.com

Saturday I got a wonderful cranio sacral treatment and a great massage.

Today I got a massage ($55 for an amazing hour) and then a chiropractic adjustment ($45). I feel all straight & "tuned up" now.

I have decided to get a massage every week and a chiropractic adjustment every month. I so value this! I don't spend money on a lot of things, so I'm justifying it.

I've been eating a lot & exercising very little.
I've gone for a few walks, but my lower abdomen doesn't like for me to jog at all. The few times I've tried I experienced discomfort. So, I think I'm finally ready--and have the energy--to practice a prenatal yoga video dh got me.

No one can tell I'm pregnant yet--except dd & dh, but I feel like people are looking at my very round breasts.

Yeah to all of you who have switched to homebirthing! I'm happy for you. :love

That's my plan, too.

I'm 20 weeks! Today I saw a midwife in AR for the first time. She can't deliver in MO, so I'm going to see her monthly for blood pressure, urine, heart beat (153), and measurement check ups. I think it's worth it for only $35 a visit.

Thank you to all of you post so honestly! You make me laugh & cry. And, I feel such a connection. It gives me a lot of energy to read your posts. Now I've gotta catch up on the last couple of months' posts.

Peace and love to all!

[Michelle Leigh]

Are any of you experiencing hair loss? I remember that it was like not a single hair fell out when I was pregnant with dd until some long while after delivery. Then hair started falling out big time. This time (#2 pregnancy) I'm losing hair & I'm wondering if something is hormonally out of whack.

[Mamma2Addison]

Jennifer H ~ Congratulations! I am such a planner that I'm counting the days until we have the opportunity to find out the sex.

Michelle Leigh ~ My hair is falling out. It's not as bad as after ds was born, but it had stopped falling out when he was about eight months with just a few hairs here and there. Now it's just small clumps every few days. My hormones are all over the place {at least according to family :rolleyes: } so maybe you're right?

[Foobar]

ML-

sorry, my hair is thickening up like it did for Goo.

However, my hormones are all out of whack this time around. Very sad....

[Threefold]

Jennifer H~~congrats!!

My hair just stopped falling out a few weeks ago, but until then, I had the same qyeation, especially as I'd ahve to unclog the darin after every shower. . .

We have out 18 week u/s next Wed! We alos hope to find out the gender, and I can't wait! Though, honestly, I don't care. I adore my little boy and would welcome another, but a girl would also be a nice addition.

[Mamma2Addison]

the_dalai_mama ~ I feel the same way. The first time around I had definite leanings toward wanting a boy or girl. This time I'd be thrilled either way. I had no idea what to expect with a little boy, but being mama to a little boy is so much fun. Of course, a girl would be wonderful too. So long as he/she is healthy and happy, that's all I hope for.

And I'm trying not to be jealous of you lucky mamas who get u/s at 18 weeks. I couldn't believe it when I switched practices at 18 weeks, totally expecting an u/s in a couple of weeks, only to find out I had to wait six. :jaw Oh well, the excitement builds...plus, dh has only heard the heartbeat and that was just once. He missed the first appt. when they did a scan to date the pregnancy.

[happay]

I just got a call from the doc and my ultrasound is scheduled for March 15. I can't wait. My parents will be in town (just a coincidence) and they are very excited as well. I have been trying not to wish for one gender over the other but it is hard, especially when I see all those cute little girl dresses. I will be most happy if the baby is healthy and I can't wait to get a good look at it!

Hope you all are doing well. :)

[butterflyma]

We had our ultrasound today!:D The baby seems to be perfectly wonderful; the correct number and placement of everything... including a penis!!!! :love

We were not going to find out, but dh really wanted to and knowing that I could find out if I wanted to- I caved! I wasn't leaning toward either gender, but finding out the sex and being able to say "he" instead of "the baby" makes him seem so much more real!

So now I can start buying clothes and diapers without worrying if they are gender neutral! :banana Yippee!

Michelle~ no, my hair is just getting wavier/curlier. Glad to hear you're feeling better!

[gigismom]

Bottylicious!!! :LOL Thank you all so much for that!!

Glad to hear so many are feeling well and having u/s etc... this is such an exciting time of pg. I really feel very good, just slightly more tired than usual. Also, this baby is kicking so much that I need to go lay down to rest. I saw the whole belly move earlier tonight and dd finally felt a kick too.... so sweet. She was so excited and couldn't stop kissing my belly where she felt the kick

stay well and happy
jen

[Jennifer H]

Butterflyma - Congratulations on your baby boy!! I just love the u/s. I cried through the whole thing this time (tears of joy). I just feel so much more like it is a baby after I see what is in there!

I have gone three whole days without buying anything girly! DH asks every night when I get home from work if I've spent any girl money yet. Nope! I'm being really good... hmmmm - is a trip to Old Navy tomorrow in order?!

I'm taking my oldest to Disneyland for part of next week. Wish us luck on the drive down (my mom is coming with us, but dh is staying home with our little one). Lars has never been before and he is SOOOOOOO excited!

[Michelle Leigh]

Very cool. Hope Disneyland is fun! We're taking Isabella (now 4) to Disneyworld in FL in MAR. since a friend is getting married there.

Has anybody felt a sensation just like let down? I was talking to somebody yesterday and I felt that--which I remember distinctly from nursing dd. No milk came out, but my breasts felt so full.

[butterflyma]

Jennifer, that sounds so fun! I went to Disneyland and California Adventure with my friend's almost-4-year-old this summer and it was such a blast! I really reccommend buying tickets that can be used at either park, California Adventure seemed to have even more for littler kids to do and a lot of the "themes" were based on more recent disney stuff (like a bugs life).

Michelle, I've never been pregnant before, so I have no idea what a let down feels like, but I've definitely had a lot of strange sensations in my ta-tas lately :D

I've got this awful fear that I won't be able to nurse. Even though I've felt soreness and had some changes to my breasts since pg, they haven't really gotten larger and I'm afraid it's a sign that their not good for feeding....:shake I suppose I shouldn't spend time worrying about such things.

Happy Saturday!

[ebethmom]

Brandi - don't worry too much if your breast size doesn't change. Just from going to LLL meetings, I know that it is different for every mother. I get mongo breasts when I'm pregnant, but no tingly sensations until after delivery.

If you have concerns about breastfeeding (and even if you don't) I recommend going to several La Lache League meetings before your baby is due. You can hear about other mother's breastfeeding experiences and learn from them. And also feel supported in your decision to breastfeed.

We did have a rough start with nursing, and the lactation consultant we met through our Lamaze class was my lifeline. I met with her several times, and she called me every day for the first two weeks.

Congratulations on your boy!! I just have this feeling that I'm carrying a boy. I won't find out until March 19.

We're having a gorgeous weekend here! The first playground weather since last Fall.

[Dawnalex]

Hi, im realitivly new here:)
I just found this thread, i am due 7-20 Although the baby will be born via c-sec sometime in June.
My next app is 3-4 and i am excited, i will be 20 wks i will get an ultrasound that day, im hoping we can find out the sex. And i also get a 3-d ultrasound sometime this month:D

My son luke was c-sec and i tried a VBAC with Irelend, got to puching when we discovered my uterus ruptured so i had an emerg c-sec.
I am very thankfull that were still here, and i am nervous scared about the later months of this pg.
any other ? feel free to ask, i cant wait to get to know everyone:)

[spinach]

Welcome, Dawnalex.

Congrats, Jennifer and Brandi!

Brandi, don't worry about your breast size. My breasts are small and didn't get much bigger while pregnant or after dd was born. I nursed like crazy and my dd didn't wean until 22 months (and at that point, my breasts had shrunk to smaller than pre-pregnancy:( ).

I have a u/s on March 15th as well, Mama2Addison and happay. I would also love for my dd to have a sister (something I always craved but never had) but I bet a younger brother would be pretty great as well. We have a girl name picked out but not a boy name. My husband and I differ on the circumcision issue as well so, if it's a boy, I'm not looking forward to making my husband change HIS mind!:LOL

[Michelle Leigh]

These posts make me laugh! I love reading them.

Brandi, I was most concerned about breastfeeding because I had read that it's not natural. My guess it that many women feel like this. Another girl in one of my classes said that that was the only part she was worried about, too.

I agree with Spinach's advice. I went to every class I could and a La Leche meeting and read until I felt that I was "mentally prepared." I expected it to be hard/difficult, but to my surprise, it was natural. It was really easy.

They took dd to a table to work on her after birth and then I got to hold her for a minute. Then they took her to the nursery. I delivered at 3:25 am & didn't see her again until 9:30 a.m.!! I'd read that if the baby doesn't nurse right away that problems arise. However, the only problem I had was that she was sleepy and I had to wake her so that she'd nurse. She'd latch on & suckle, suckle, suckle. And, for me, it felt good. It was a really, really good experience for 17 months--one of the most beautiful things to share.

[Michelle Leigh]

Just got a pregnancy planner/journal & am so enjoying writing in it. I love to write down all the stats --what's going on, how I feel, etc. I highly recommend it--even if you think it's kinda late for it. I think it's never too late.

[butterflyma]

Thanks Elizabeth, Shannon & Michelle:) It eases my mind to hear from experienced moms.

Has anyone signed up for a birthing class yet (if you are planning on taking one)? We're probably going to sign up this week. I can't believe I'm almost to the 1/2 way point :eek I'm so excited to hold this little one in my arms!:love

[Mamma2Addison]

butterflyma ~ I worried about the exact opposite problem since I'm, ahem, rather well-endowed up there. But both myself and my friend who isn't have nursed for nearly two years {ds seems to be weaning now}. I had some latch issues early on, but we got a lot of help from a lactation consultant and LLL. Our ped said ds was the poster child for a healthy breastfed baby, LOL. Definitely go to a LLL meeting before the birth if you can ~ it's a wonderful organization.

We're not going to take a childbirth class this time around. I'm debating the Bradley classes {better hurry on that if I do} since my ob is open to that method, but dh figures he can remember the breathing on his own. :rolleyes: I really enjoyed the classes, though. It helped me a lot to be able to identify the stages of labor and expect what was coming.

Does anyone know when relaxin {sp?} is supposed to start being produced? It's getting uncomfortable and difficult to lift my legs like I did before I was pg and was curious if that was why. I remember this with ds but can't recall how far along I was at that point.

[butterflyma]

Mamma2Addison~ I've had the Relaxin for months now! I've actually had problems because of how great it worked- every time I cough hard I pop out a rib!

[Michelle Leigh]

Anybody had experience wit hypnobirthing in a previous birth? I'm wondering if that's a class I'd like to take.