May-bee babies

[anothermama]

Uhm..........hey??
Where is everyone?????????????

:confused:

[mcsarahb]

Hi! I'm here - I think all the other May mamas just party too hard on the weekends. We always fall back to the second page. :)

I don't have any news, just adding my name to the "I found the due date clubs forum" list.

Sarah

[KKmama]

Okay, y'all... I'm going to add a link from our old thread here, and then I'll paste in our roll call...

Here... it's edited in...

Woo hoo--isn't this great?? We'll never be on the 2nd page again! ;)

And here's a link to the old thread (to see the last posts)
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?s=&threadid=124657&perpage=20&pagenumber=4

User name (name), #which, EDD

Mcsarahb, 4/29 Its a GIRL!!!
Pottermamma, #2 4/30?
Sandra Dee, #5, 4/30? or 5/8?
Sarah'sMama (Sherri), #2, 5/1 It's a GIRL!!!
Dandjsmama (Wendy), #3, 1st week of May
NorthernLight, #2, early May
Fiddlefern, #1, ??, It's a BOY!!! (Luke)
Frankies_Mama (Julie), #2, 5/2 It's a GIRL!!! (Cecelia Louise)
Shalom, #3, 5/3
GoodWillHunter, #5, 5/3
Bekahsmom (Robbie-Lynn), #2, 5/3
Mommasuz (Suzy), #2, 5/4 It's a GIRL!!!!
MorningDove, #1, 5/5
BurnsideMommy (Rissa), #2, 5/5, It's a BOY!!!! (Hunter)
Andriagirlie, #2, 5/6
KKmama (Kristine), #2, 5/7, unmedicated hospital VBAC
Owen&mama (Dinah), #2, 5/10
Learning #1 5/10
Kanpope (Nicole), #3, 5/10, homebirth, It's a BOY!!!
JesikaJ (Jesika), #1, 5/10
Defenestrator, #2, 5/12
Mollyeilis, #1, 5/12
Marbles (Rayna), #3, mid-May
SquirmyWorm, #2, mid-May
Mere, #2, mid-May
Babywearingmama (Mary), #3, mid-May?
Pipermomma, #2, 5/14
PoeticNSoul, #3, 5/15
The Lucky One,#2, 5/18
Mamameg (Megan), #1ish, 5/18, It's a GIRL!!
TwirlGirl (Carla), #4, 5/19
Gus'smama (Elsa), #2, 5/19
Merpk (Amy), #4?, 5/20
Anothermama #2, 5/20-ish, It's a BOY!!!
2nurturemore, #6, 5/21
Phishmama (Julie), #3, 5/23
Kittymama, #1, 5/23
Theelves, #2, 5/23, It's a GIRL!!! (Kathryn Nadine)
A&L+1, #1, edd 5/23
Scbegonias (Stephie), #1, 5/24
Heatherfeather, #1, 5/25
Andrea0408 (Andrea), #3, 5/25, It's a GIRL!!
Kidatheart (Jennifer), #1, 5/26
Jacqulyn, 5/26
Sagesmamacrystal, #2, 5/28
PattyCakes, #1, 5/28
jakobsmami (annika) #2 5/28
Karenpl, #7, late May
Chanin2000, #2, 5/30
Liz-hippymom, #2 or #3?, 5/31
Jacqueline, #1, late May
Kids'ncows, #3, late May, unmedicated hospital VBAC
TurboClaudia (Claudia), #1, late May/ early June
OlyMama (Trish), #2, ??
DawnaRose (Dawn), #3, ??

If you have any additions or changes, please feel free to pm me or post a message, and I will update as soon as I can.

[KKmama]

Weekend update... ;)

Here's my name thing... I'll tell you the names, because we know we won't use them (dh and I have a pact that we don't discuss names with anyone, but rejects are fine...). Ds' name is Theodore. My favorite boy name this time is Franklin. My favorite girl name is Eleanor. Anyone see why we won't be using them??

I'm kind of honked off on the cord blood thing, and I'm actually thinking of talking to the "nice" dr. and finding out if it's possible to get them to agree to waive their fee. The company processing the cord blood supplies all the collection supplies and sends a courier to pick up and transport the blood. All the dr. has to do is take a couple of minutes to use a syringe (supplied to her free of charge) to pull the blood out of the cord. $175 for that??? Part of the reason I'm mad, too, is that I had to tell the dr. the info about 5 times before she believed me (she was sure the charge came from the donation company, and I kept saying over and over, "No, I talked to *your* staff about the charges, and *your staff* told me that *you* charge $175. I called the co. and they assured me they don't charge me a dime." Grr.) Oh yeah, insurance definitely won't cover the $175.

She was also going off on my iron, how it's dropped from 34 last time to 33 this time. I was blowing it off inside my head (but should have said what I was thinking out loud)--what is the range of error in the testing??? I'm sure that 33 and 34 are statistically the same, and frankly, I'm proud that I've managed to keep my iron this high (it was unfortunately much lower at this point in my pg with ds). I don't like it when I'm treated like I don't have a brain...

I feel like I need to get my belly cast supplies ready, because I'm paranoid I'll have the baby early and not make the cast (of course, watch me, I'm going to go late).

I think I get the GBS test at my next appt, too. I've been eating my yogurt...

Annika, if I knew I were about to leave my mom and not see her for a year, I'd be bawling....

2 bad things... one funny, the other tragic... I had to go to the DMV Friday (update reg stuff), and my mom and ds were with me. I thought ds was across the room with mom, but he was very quietly right behind me... pulled the chair right out from under me as I was sitting down--yes, I fell on the floor! Lots of people rushed over to ask if I was okay... I was so embarrassed (one woman came by a couple of minutes later and asked, "Are you pregnant?" I said, "No, I'm just really fat!"--sorry, but it's pretty friggin' obvious that I'm 8 months pg!!). The only bad thing is that I've been having some sciatica (mostly in the evening) in the "bun" I landed on. I think I'm going to have my birthday massage this week... And I've been thinking about this all weekend--my cousin's sil was due last week with her 1st baby, a girl... she was stillborn... there was apparently a freak cord accident (around the neck *4* times). Everything was fine until a couple of days ago, don't know much else. I know the sil only as an acquaintance, but I'm very, very sad for the whole family. There were 3 of us due to have babies this year (cousin, her sil, and me), and I feel so bad for her.

[fiddlefern]

Kkmama- how horrible for your cousin's sil!

I've heard stories like that before. I'm just trying to erase them from my mind, because I start freaking out. That's probably my #1 irrational fear- that days or moments before birth, something will happen to Luke. I'm not worried about labor, delivery, any of that- because those are things that to some extent I can control. It's the things I have NO control over that tend to psych me out.

Deep breath- OK.

Getting away from myself and my own issues/fears, I'll keep her in my prayers tonight- that's got to be hard to go through.

I'm wishin' all you other May mommas out their tons of inner peace tonight as you drift off to sleep with your little ones.:zzz

[merpk]

:)

Like this. Much easier to find.

:)






kkmama, sorry to hear about your cousin's SIL's tragedy. Unimaginable. :( Am trying not to think about those things for the next few weeks, though ... have enough stress already ...

[KKmama]

Hey you guys, please, please, *please* don't worry about what happened to D happening to you... what happened in her case is *so* incredibly rare, so unpredictable. This is *not* going to happen to any of us! I really hope I didn't scare anyone by sharing! I've just been kind of emotional lately, and thinking about what that poor mama is going through makes me really sad. I'll probably get some food together and take it to the family... don't know what else I can do.

[owen&mama]

Hi all you May Mamas!

I find it hard to believe that I (and many of you) have only 5 WEEKS! :eek to go. There is so much....so much.....that I haven't done, or that DH hasn't done to get ready for the baby...... When our DS was born we were in the middle of house restoration/renovations, so our hands were tied on a lot. But now we have a real house and a lot of projects that were put on hold for various reasons (pure exhaustion - and poverty - from the renovations being most of it). Of course, now we're trying to get those done so that we can focus on our new family once the baby comes....all very overwhelming.

I'm the same as most of you - sore pelvis, HUGE belly. At least one complete stranger a day approaches me to ask if I am going to have the baby any minute. I don't know if it's my belly or the look on my face, but I'm trying to smile more these days, just in case it's the latter :). In any event, I'm loving my belly, even if it does scare everyone around me. I'm trying to get DH off his fanny to take our belly shots. We had ours professionally done last time, but thought we'd take a crack at them this time. I want to have time to call our photographer friend if we have to though....

KKMama, my thoughts go out to your sil's cousin. Stories like that break our hearts, and we feel the pain even more as we tend to this life inside of us. :hug

I guess that's it for now. Peace to all in our final weeks. I look forward to all the birth stories!

[scbegonias]

fiddlefern, congrat on getting on the bike. i really do find it liberating...especially now that not everyone is passing me.

things are plodding along here in the desert. its been unusually warm, but manageable.

i'm still feeling great, and after a first and second trimester where folks told me i was huge...now everyone thinks i'm tiny. at 8 weeks to go, i could care less. i just can't wait for the babe to arrive.

kkmama, peace to your cousin's sil. what a terrible sadness they must feel.

ah, any day now we'll be hearing birth stories...

[PattyCakes]

Glad to hear that you're all doing well for the most part. I'm hearin' ya on the pelvic pain and huge belly. :) My babe has been head down for a few weeks now. I hope he/she stays that way. Anyone else really, REALLY tired? By the time 2 pm comes I'm toast. It makes working a full day really crappy.

KKmama - I'm sorry to hear about your sister-in-law.

I also can't believe how quickly time is passing. 3 weeks till my replacement at work comes, 5 weeks till I'm done work and 8 weeks till I'm "due". Yikes! I feel like I can't really concentrate on preparing for the birth yet (I'm doing it in snatches which feels completely insufficient) because I have so much crap to finish up at work before I leave. Sigh. Right now I'm just focusing on the practicalities of the birth, work, becoming a parent etc and dont' have much time to really deal with any feelings. It's wierd and frustrating all at the same time.

Who was it who was doing their baby's nursery with a "garden" theme??? Was it A&L+1?? Anyway - I saw the cutest baskets at Target yesterday. They are wooden baskets with canvas inserts with cute carrots embroidered around the edges. It made me think of whoever is doing the garden theme. Some of the baskets have chicks etc - Eastery type stuff - but the carrot ones would be cute and not too Eastery.

Have a great week everyone!

[Marco Esquandolas]

...likin' our new home up here. Now we can't get bumped, lol.

KK-I'm sending prayers and <<< healing vibes >>> out their way. I cannot imagine...............

Everyone with the pelvic/ligament/streeeeetchhhhhing pains-in a word-YEOUCH!!! Yeah, got 'em, could do without 'em.

I feel huge and all I keep hearing is how much smaller I am with this baby-belly as well as the rest of my body. That makes me feel good, actually. I was rather hugantic with ds#1 and just plain large marge with #2. I've still gained a good amount of weight, but at my current rate, I should top out around 40 total pounds gained, maybe even possibly less, WOO HOO!

I have a question for those who don't mind answering: Is intercourse painful for anyone else now? TMI warning NOW-we were intimate last night and every time dh entered me (or I should say attempted to do so), it was beyond uncomfy. I mean it hurt! I've never had that feeling before. Any ideas why? I guess I'll ask at my appt on Wednesday, but I wanted to see what you wise mamas thought about this. Thanks!

[kittymama]

Hi Mamas,

I'm finally starting to feel like this baby is actually going to arrive someday, but 8 weeks seems like a long time to me. I have never been known for my patience, though.

In the meantime, we're slowly starting to get things prepared around here. We finally agreed on names, and it was surprisingly easy after all the time we've spent deliberating. It's going to be Avery if it's a boy and Lily or Lilian if it's a girl. I don't really want to share the names with people irl, but I had to tell somebody.

We also got a HUGE box of hand-me-downs from my sister's kids this weekend. Now all the drawer space we had cleared out for the baby is full- looks like we're going to have to figure out some better storage solution. All the stuff is so cute- the socks are absolutely my favorite! There are even a bunch of diaper covers in there, which means we don't have to buy any in newborn size. I think the coolest thing in the whole box is the outfit my grandmother (who passed away when I was a little kid) made for me to wear home from the hospital when I was born. My niece and nephew both wore it home as well, so I guess that's the plan for this kid too.

Other than that, I'm just pluggin' along, waiting for time to pass. I'm not feeling too huge, but I've noticed I'm slowing down and getting tired faster at work. I'm cutting down to four days a week soon, which should help. I'm really looking forward to our baby shower in a few weeks, mostly because we'll get to see a lot of family and friends we don't get to see too often.

KKMama- I'm so sorry to hear about your cousin's SIL, what an unimaginable grief that must be for them.

[BurnsideMommy]

Im due in May as well and just found this forum so thought I'd reply. :D I have an EDD of May 5, but seeing as I haven't had AF since June 2001, who knows when I'm really due. :lol

This is #2 for us, another boy! :) We had a medicated hospital birth with Austin, and this time are planning for a waterbirth at home. :love

I don't feel prepared for this baby yet. I've only bought about half of his cloth diaper stash, need to rent a breastpump (since I gave mine to my sis, and in those early weeks of being so engourged I really loved my bp even though that was the only time I used it). Austin is staying up super late at night, not napping well, I get bad leg cramps and heartburn at night, can't get comfy - so I get about 6 hours of restless sleep each night (total, not contiunuous!). Definately need to get some more rest before tackling labor! I still have Easter baskets & Austin's birthday party to plan & buy for, still have to hang photos in the nursery, finish decorating Austin's room, put our house back together after getting new carpet in, wash baby's clothes, finish buying homebirth supplies & pool, make freezer meals, and I have more on my list too.

I can't believe I only have about 5-6 more weeks to go and I am so unprepared. I have this strong nesting urge, but zero energy to follow through on it, and a lovely (ie needy) toddler to tend to as well. Doesn't help that DH is super busy with work these days and in the process of getting a new office as well. Oh and on top of all our family stress here, my parents are more or less in plans for divorce, and constant drama from my side of the family. Too much stress.

I feel like I haven't had enough time to just enjoy my pregnancy, and while I'm physically ready to be done emotionally I'm not.

Wow - that was quite the rant considering I was just coming to intro myself. :) Sorry.

Rissa

[mcsarahb]

Hi mamas-

KKmama, my thoughts go out to your cousin's SIL. I just can't think about those things right now, but I do send some strength her way.

Kittymama, Lillian's MY baby's name!:p Just kidding. We've been planning on calling her Lillian (Lilly for short) for a couple of months now. Just recently we've been starting to second guess that and are entertaining other names, but it's still the front-runner. I have a dear great-aunt named Lillian, and I love the name Lily/Lilly. At least they would be spelled differently!

And while we're talking names, one of the new ones that's come up is Matilda/Mathilda...what do you guys think? My DH loves it, and I'm kind of slowly warming up to it. I'd call her Tilly when she's little and maybe Tilda later on. Opinions?

Anyone else getting strange little tickling feelings way down low and internal, like maybe near the cervix? I keep feeling these "scratches" or something way down there, just in the past couple of days (I'll be 36 weeks on Wed.). I'm asking my midwives tonight at my birth class, but anyone got any ideas now? Is it the famous "drop," or is there a little hand playing with my cervix?? Very weird feeling.

Sarah

[pottermamma]

Welcome burnsidemommy ~ I so hear you on the intense urge to nest but no energy to follow through. I keep on tryin though!!!!!

KKmamma ~ so sorry to hear of your SIL, I so can't imagine where I'd be right now if that happened. Sending her loving thoughts.


We're doing well here. Dh and i had a GREAT date, spent a bit too much on dinner but it was worth it!!!! The pictures went great and I was amazed at how comfortable I was. I we bribed Ds with chocolate (I know bad mommy!!!) to get him to pose kissing my belly (I so want one of those pictures of him and this baby, I think they are just SO cute) so hopefully it turns out.

The name thing...its been buggin me still cause I don't want to have such a popular name for a girl(although Ds's name isn't THAT popular and I know a bunch of them too), but I so feel it is the right name for a girl...so it will probably stay...the boys name we picked out isn't nearly as popular, although we were out at a resturant about a week ago and our Ds and this other guy his age started playing and the parents were talking and they told us their names they picked out for this kid were the exact same as the 2 we picked for this coming baby!!!!!!!!

Sounds like everyone is staying happy and healthy...keep it up mammas!!!!!!! Before we know it its GO time!!!!:love

[mcsarahb]

Oh I almost forgot...welcome, BurnsideMommy! Is that Burnside as in Portland's main strip?

[karenpl]

KKmama, so sorry for your cousin's sil :-(

Rissa, welcome to the board!!

I haven't been posting much, still trying to figure out all my birthing issues. I had a myomectomy last year, which immediately got me labeled 'high risk' and 'planned cesarean'. Did tons of research and have found the perfect solution, I'll just stay home, so I won't have to deal with the whole hospital mess. I feel very at peace with this decision, although it did take me a long time to reach it.

Just wrote a letter to my ob, supporting my desire for a vaginal birth, it's in my blog (March 27th entry) if any one is interested. On the one hand I don't care whether he is convinced or not, because I am going to stay far away from him in labor. On the other hand, I would like to educate him, to hopefully avoid the 'planned c-section' issue for myomectomies that come after me.

Karen.

[Defenestrator]

Hi Everybody!

I am having huge nesting urges, but have oh so little energy. I work on one of my projects for about 2 hours and then I am totally done for the day!

Baby is ROA for the last few days and its little feet are putting huge amounts of pressure up into my ribs. It is ok, except when I am at school and have to sit for three hours straight. I am also getting weird pressure on some kind of nerve connected to my bladder. When I move a certain way I get these little sharp pains, almost like I have a UTI, but they go away again once I shift position. Annoying.

I am trying to eat healthy and drink a lot of water. My midwives want me to drink red raspberry leaf/nettle tea and I do, even though I don't particularly like it. I have also put myself on a half-dose of prenatal vitamins and fish oil capsules. Sometimes I feel like I eat more supplements than food!

Thanks to KKMama for the RLS suggestions. I have been eating more bananas and I think they help. Dairy calcium doesn't seem to help me, maybe because of the added phosphorous, but I am always open to trying new things.

I have been gardening a bit, here and there. It has been in the 50s here this week and cloudy, so not totally nice yet, but better than freezing rain.

Take care everyone,

Stacia

[gus'smama]

Hey all --

Karenpl- funny I just checked your blog to see how you were coming along w/ your birth plans (we had emailed about it a bit as a spin-off from shappy-happy...). Is Laurie going to be with you at home?

KKmama -- so sorry about your SIL's baby. how incredibly sad.

mcsarahb -- I *love* the name Mathilde/Matilda. I thought about it for us, but our last name ends w/ an "ee" sound, so I'm ruling out any first names that end that way (which is most of the girls names I like, unfortunately:( ). So Mathilde is out, cause I'm sure I'd call her Tilly or Mattie, since I nickname everyones name, even when I don't mean to. I knew a girl in hs named Matilde who went by Tilda as a nickname though.

I'm doing okay here. Starting to get worried (again) about how ds will be during labor, and even more worried about how *I* will manage a non-verbal 20 month old and an infant:eek I'm just trying to reassure myself that many other mamas have done it and survived, so I will too, right?????

The only real complaint I have is the pain in my... not sure, but general crotch area. It is worst at night, and moving around, rolling over in bed can be excruciating. I didn't have this w/ ds, but I was good about going to yoga and doing lots of walking. Unfortunately, I have done no yoga or basic stretching and very little walking (ds hates the stroller and is to big for me to sling or backpack while pg) this time around. I'm trying to remember to just stretch a bit when sitting on the floor playing w/ ds.

I missed my mw appt 2 wks ago due to that stomach flu I ranted about (thanks so much for pitying me, everyone:love ). It was supposed to be the first of my bi-weeklies, but I have one tommorrow, which I'm looking forward to. The only thing is that my MW wanted to check my Iron, but I have terrible viens and she is never able to get my blood. I don't think she likes doing draws very much, she always ends up getting very apologetic, then getting all shaky handed:eek . I really don't mind getting my blood drawn, but I can't seem to convince her that it is okay to just keep poking away and that I'm not getting upset. Really, i end up feeling so bad for her:LOL She tried at my last appt and couldn't do it, so I bought some floradix to take (although I seem to always forget! I should run and do that right not) as a just in case kind of thing, so I'm not to worried about it.

Spring is slowly arrriving in my neck of the woods -- snow is melted off 1/3 of my yard, my driveway is a huge mud pit, and daffodils are beginning to poke up through the ground. We're supposed to get rain for the next 3 days, so hopefully it will melt away the rest of the snow! I feel like this baby is coming soon, but, based on the weather, I feel like May is still so far away. Does that make sense?

Ack. I post so rarely, but when I do, I really ramble, eh?

:wave

[shalom]

I hear ya on the fatigue!!! I am soooo tired and sooo grouchy LOL! I feel like an ogre. My kids have spring break next week and I sooo want to spend some sweet time with them before the baby comes. I just hope I can get my act together...

My midwife "thinks" the baby is head down finally! She wasn't 100% sure, but sure enough to tell me to cancel my Webster appointment and give up on the slant board, moxa, etc. I AM feeling somewhat relieved, but am almost thinking about keeping my ultrasound appointment for next week just to be sure. I have been so worried about the breech situation.... I really think I could focus more on birth plans, etc. if I felt more resolved. Any thoughts?

Also... I need name help!! We really only have one name chosen and aren't even 100% sure about that one. I haven't told anyone IRL, but....
Cedar Eyrie
is the name we are thinking of. My brother (any my partner's best friend) Aaron died of cancer two years ago, so the middle name is in memory of him. We imagine this name for a boy, but I guess it could be either.

My son and daughter also have 'unconventional' names, so we need suggestions that fit.

Hope you all have some great secret stashes of names out there!

Peace to all!

[mcsarahb]

Hi all-

So I will answer my own question about the "scratches" down below: I asked my mws last night, and they said yep, the babe has a hand near her head and is poking at my cervix. Strange! Now that I know it's nothing bad it's kinda cool to feel...

Stacia - my nesting lasts about 2 hrs a day, too. Luckily I have time now (school's over - yeah!) to do my projects, and good thing since they take about 10x as long as they normally would.

Shalom - glad to hear the head-down news! I know that's a load off your mind. If the u/s would make you feel better, I say go for it, but at the same time, try not to dwell on it. And if the babe turns again, or the u/s shows it's breech, don't fear! Babies can turn at any time.

And, I LOVE the name, Cedar. That's so beautiful. I grew up on a farm in Virginia named Cedar Farm, and have always loved the word and the trees themselves. And I agree, it definitely works for girl or boy.

I'm liking Matilda more and more...now it's just how to get DH to accept that spelling instead of with the "h".

Sarah

[MorningDove]

I love the name Cedar, too. And it is definitely a boy or girl name.

I've been out of the loop for awhile and names were something I've been wanting to ask you all about. We've liked the name Rowan for years and though we tried to consider other names we keep returning to this. For a girl we're pretty sure the name will be Rowan Elena or Elena Rowan (not sure exactly how we are going to spell Elena). It is a name having to do with the light and the moon. For a boy (and that is what we are thinking this little one is), the first name will be Rowan but we are struggling for a middle name. Rowan Skye is a combo that came to me early in the pregnancy and dh is ok with it. It is the option we like the best most of the time. Other possible options for middle names are Quinn, Timothy, Edan. Other ideas? Our last name is a Mc name.

OK, now I'm worried about rashes. I had a weird heat rash in my nether region that I couldn't see but even had some minor bleeding (not a hemorroid). I used lavendar water a couple times and it went away. I mentioned it to my doctor and she wasn't too worried, but after reading the post about herpes, I'm wondering if I should be worried. I have an appointment next week for the end of pregnancy swab they do. I've already asked that they check for yeast (I had a mild infection early in pregnancy and didn't have any signs), so I'll ask about the other stuff.

Can hiccups be soft and quite strong (for babes in the womb)? Most of the time when I think babe has the hiccups, it feels soft and repetitive, but the other night, they were strong like rhythmic kicks. Poor thing. It has had the hiccups at least once and usually twice or thrice a day for the past couple weeks. Also squirms quite a bit some days. I waited so long to feel this and now sometimes I worry that babe is moving a lot because something is wrong (If it isn't one worry it is another, huh?)

We saw the lactation consultant last week. She says that even if our babe (remember the cleft lip) is good nurser, she will probably have me pump a little to really build up my milk supply so it is easier for babe to get the milk. The cleft lip can make babes slightly weaker suckers in the beginning. If the palate is cleft, this will definitely be necessary, but the good new is that she has worked with moms who were successfully able to breastfeed a baby with cleft palate. The wierdest thing is that I have to wear the plastic nipple shapers for people with inverted nipples. Mine aren't inverted, but when she checked them, they had a tendency to flatten when she squeezed where the baby would. We need to do whatever we can to make my nipples better for this babe. They look OK, but it feels weird to have plastic at the end of your breasts and I would feel very weird if I had to give anyone a hug. (Our baby shower is this week and I'm thinking of not wearing them that day for just that reason).

Oh my, another saga. I better stop there. It is good to catch up on my reading and find that everyone is doing well (for this late in our pregnancies). 5 more weeks for me.

[PattyCakes]

mcsarahb - I've had the same thing too. Little scratches/pokes in my cervix. Makes me squirm and I usually say "please don't do that to Mommy". Weird.

Anyone try to DRIVE while baby is squirming around? That is so dang distracting.

MorningDove - I'm glad that you've got some good help with your LC!

This baby's hiccups are different day to day. Some days babe really gets going in there. (then I end up getting them too - sigh). I don't worry about them too much. I find if I have a quiet time and start to worry a bit, I just take a few really deep breaths and he/she starts stretching and moving around.

[shalom]

I think Rowan Skye is beautiful!

And I just noticed what I think were hiccups for the first time last night! How weird... I always hear people talking about them but don't really think I experienced them with my two other pregnancies either. And of course I was worried- LOL. There is such a fine line between the wonder and amazement of pregnancy and WORRY!!!

About five weeks to go here too!

Peace

[mcsarahb]

Morning!

MorningDove, I like Rowan Skye. Very nice and flows well together.

I think the difference in hiccups is because of the babe's position. Sometimes I can barely feel them, and sometimes they can knock a book off my belly - that's when the babe's back is pressed right up against me in front, I think.

And yes, some days are more "move-y" than others. One day she'll be rockin' and rollin' for what seems like 8 hours straight, then the next she'll move maybe 4-5 times the entire day. I think both are perfectly normal.

If it's worrying you on a particular day, my mws said to drink a big glass of juice and lie down, and the babe should move a bit in resonse to the blood sugar. BUT, don't take that as gospel, either - I don't want to alarm you if that doesn't happen in your case!

Good job on the LC - they can definitely work wonders. Your concern about hugging with breast shields made me laugh :LOL - I would be thinking the exact same thing!

Sarah

[kids'ncows]

Does anybody else freak out a little bit when you go to the Due Date Club page and there are only two ahead of us?!?!?

Welcome Burnside!

KKmama, I'm sorry to hear about your family member's loss. It must be so hard. I had an aunt that lost a little boy in the 9th month, he tied a knot in his cord. I pray that no one on this board has to go through something like that.

Morning Dove: I think that the way the baby is positioned may affect how you feel the hicccups. Also, I think Rowan Skye sounds nice although I think of Skye as more of a girl's name. I like your other middle name choices, too. I'm really glad for you that the lactation consultant has some experience with babies with cleft lip/palate and sounds encouraging. I'm sure that's a relief to you.

Uggghhhh, names! I'm not going to go there, but dh and I need to get back on that discussion...

Spring is definitely here, and so are my allergies. My sinuses get soooo stopped up. I actually resorted to sudafed this morning because I was getting a really weird feeling about not being able to breathe. Anybody have any more natural remedies for sinus congestion?

My pelvic pain is changing from groin to more pelvic-y, but less frequent/persistent. Although if I applied pressure with my fingers to the groin area when it hurt, it would ease up and this doesn't. I was really uncomfortable the other day and ended up taking a bath and lying on my side, that really helped. So I'm going to join the somewhat local club with a swimming pool - can't wait to be "weightless"! Saw my chiropractor yesterday and am feeling really quite good today.

I'm feeling gi-huge-ic. I put on a summer dress that I wore up to the end with my last pregnancy and I'd be surprised if I can wear it two weeks from now. (And I'm not due until the END of May!) I hope my body or this baby makes a shift or something, I really don't want to buy clothes just to survive the last 6 weeks.

I suppose all that sounded rant-like. But really I'm feeling well and enjoying the little one inside me. It actually makes me feel sorry for men that they don't get to experience this miracle in the same way we do.

Guess that's it for now.

[Sarah'sMama]

:eek

This is how I'm feeling right now. I'm totally stressing about all that needs to be done in the next few weeks. I'm due in about four weeks, and all I can do is hope she doesn't decide to come early! I'm so excited to meet her, but I feel like my home is in utter chaos right now, and I just am freaking. I have a dh that works practically all the time (bless his heart) a two year old to take care of, and practically everything to do yet for this new dd! I don't even know where to begin. I am going to sit down and make a list tonight. I'm much better with a list, because I love the satisfaction of being able to check things off.

OK, enough from me. Just needed to get that off my chest.

[pottermamma]

Sarah's mamma...I'm in the SAME place. I just had my visit with the mw yesterday and I thought they couldn't deliver me at home until 38 weeks (2 more weeks...just turned 36 today) but nope....37...So, I feel like I'm missing a week all of a sudden, and even though it is only a week....it has me TOALLY freaking out. I don't have all my birth supplies together...I still have things to take care of at work (training people, getting documents to others that will cover for me, etc) for while I'm gone.....and now I feel like I really need to spend as much quality one on one mommy time with Ds as possible cause it will all be gone oh so soon (for a good reason... but this has been the only downside of having #2 for me....and I'm an only child so that might add to the feelings of guild I have).
Now watch...I'll have like 6 more weeks till I actually have the baby and by then....all this freaking out will turn into ....pleas3 come join us already beautiful baby!!!!!!!! :love

I really like the names you all are picking. Cedar is great and Rowan Skye is really nice too...I also know a boy named Skye (first name)...so I think it works for a boy or girl...so does Cedar!!!!

And whoever said there is a fine line between the joys and wonders of pregnancy and the worries is SO right. Glad to hear I'm not the only worry wort in the bunch!!!!!

[Marco Esquandolas]

Welcome Burnside mommy! :D

Ohhh, I really like some of the names you mamas have come up with! I think we're ditching Mason for our boy name, so back to square one there. We'll keep our girl name, even though it is popular right now, b/c it is special to us. Is Lukas currently popular or trendy? That was our boy middle name and I like it for the first name too. Dh is still on the fence with that one.

I had a less than thrilling appt last night. Bp is up so they wanna monitor it closely from here on out (I had pre-e with both boys). I had done so well up to now, but I guess it was inevitable. The other shocker was my weight gain, presumably due to pre-e rearing its ugly head...I picked up 8 lbs in 3 wks!! :eek Well, at least that explains all the pelvic pains and ligament stretching discomforts. :rolleyes: Doc last night did a quick palpation and said that this one is big too. lovely. Thank goodness external palpations aren't very accurate for determining the baby's weight. Dh is now convinced that I'll have this one early (recall, we didn't know my lmp or conception date so I just gave an arbitrary date to go by). I just have to laugh at him after going 12 and 8 days beyond my edd's with the boys, though I appreciate his optimism. ;)

That's it from over this way! I hope everyone else is doing well. :)

[mittendrin]

hi everybody. i cannot believe i made it back. 8 hours on a plane with a wiggling toddler on my lap and being very pregnant wasn't the smartest thing to do...

now i'm finally joining the club of "who's got the ouchies". i was proud so far that i wasn't sore at all, could sleep (if ds let me) and only gained a few pounds. now for the last 3 days ever since i got off that friggin' plane my crotch hurts so badly, sometimes i can barely walk. lieing down for a while with a pillow between my legs will help, but there's sooo much stuff to do and i want to spend lots of quality time with ds before the baby gets here.
and i have heartburn. whenever i get hungry i get heartburn. if i don't eat right away it gets so bad that i don't wanna eat at all. but i have to think about what i wanna eat forever, nothing sounds good to me. this has been a problem throughout the pregnancy though, i just don't wanna eat. just for the time i was staying with my family i ate like a pig. everything was soo good, but now that i have to cook myself again and can't get the things i want i just don't eat. baby's kicking like crazy, so at least she isn't starved, right:LOL
there's more stuff to whine about, but we all got what we wanted and it's only two more months to go...:rolleyes:

i like a lot of the names you guys were talking about, i kinda got hookes on elena marion. but i change my mind everyday and dh will shoot this one down as well

:scratch , besides, i'm in deep s*&% if it's a boy. can't come up with anything. i'd like to name hime joseph after my dad, but that's so popular. ds is jakob, so i already got a kid that is named like every other boy in america:confused:

gotta go, ds is waking up, just getting over the jetlag.

[Sarah'sMama]

Hey all. I've calmed a bit since my frantic post last night. I had an appt. today, and had to have the GBS test done, so since I was already undressed, the Nurse Practitioner decided to do a quick cervical check, and much to my relief, its pretty tightly closed. Even though it doesn't really mean anything, it makes me feel a *little* less stressed. Oh, and great news, baby is head down! :banana For some unknown reason, I was terrified of her being breach, even though dd was head down by this time too. I guess I'm really fearful of the big C for some unknown reason. I guess maybe because everyone says how much quicker the recovery is your second time around, I worry that I'll end up with a section, and still have a longer recovery, and I have my 2yo to take care of, and a dh who will be lucky to be able to take a week off to help me. Even then, he plans to have to work for an hour or so in the morning. He has his own biz, so thats why he works all the time. If he doesn't work, we don't get paid. So I really can't complain too much. Oh, and all my family is a plane ride away, and my Mom can only come for a weekend, so I'm pretty much on my own. OK OK OK!!! Enough of my pity party. I'm getting stressed again!

Welcome Burnside Mommy! And welcome back Annika! I'm so glad that plane flight is behind you. But I wish you could have brought your mom back with you. :hug

I LOOOOVE the name Cedar ( I can't remember who is considering that). Very unique and sophisticated sounding.

phish=sorry to hear of your bp issues. Hopefully it is manageable easily.

KK-my heart goes out to your sil (?) :hug

I know I'm forgetting alot of you. Hop eyou are all hanging in there. SOmeone else mentioned lots of nesting urges, but no energy, I can totally relate to that!

Belly rubs to all!

[scbegonias]

hello mommies to be!

i'm also starting to feel the time crunch...just the beginnings of it. the babes room...which won't even be used for a while since its mostly a play room (so why am i even stressing over it)...is a disaster area. i'm also a majorly anal person who always plans ahead...and its killing me to wait until after my shower to buy anything. thankfully, its only ten more days.

annika, ouch, i feel for you in your post plane pain. i had the same exact thing after flying around xmas (only on one trip, thankfully). it took days to recover...and it was so painful, but i did get better. i hope you can get past it. i know when it happened to me one of the first things i thought of was that i'd have to suffer the pain for the duration of the pregnancy. i hope you do not.

phishmama, i'm sorry to hear about your bp issues. i know you'll take good care of yourself...and i hope things workout well.

my big stress...and i'm not too stressed about it, just trying to work it out so it doesn't bum me out...is that dh has decided to go back to school to get his masters degree. i had told him that i would support him (money and otherwise) if he did this, but i wouldn't go out of my way to convince him to do it or help him get all the paper work done. since i work for a state u, his degree would be $70 semester plus books...can't beat that, and the program he's interested in is top notch. also, i think it would be easier for him to get a masters when we only have one child and he's not working (v. trying to do it in five or so years when he's working and we have more kids). its a wise decision. however, for me, it will mean going back to work full time. luckily, i will have flex time and be able to work at home two days/week...but i'd always looked forward to at least going down to part time. i just need to make sure things work out so i don't get bitter (i also worked while he finished his BA and took teacher cert classes). any suggestions?

ok, i should get back to at least thinking about work!

[fiddlefern]

phishmama-

We're naming our son Luke, and probably using the Swedish spelling (Lukas, instead of the English Lucas). However, I don't know that it's SUPER popular.

Dh came up with it 5 years ago (yes, we picked our boy and girl names while we were still just engaged- crazy but true!). I was really set on my girl name, and he liked it. I had three diff. boy names, but when dh said "how about Luke?" we both decided we really liked it.

The funny thing is, my mom has a dog named Luke (my brother named him after L. Skywalker) so my whole family jokes that we're naming our son after the dog.

:rolleyes:

[Jacqueline]

I finally caught up with you all! I've been absent since the middle of March and boy, did I have a lot of catching up to do. We even have a new home!

Anyway, sounds like people are feeling a lot of the same things and we're all doing pretty well for the most part, so I'm glad to hear that. I traveled to Colorado and North Carolina in the last two weeks and am done flying! This is good, because in the middle of the trips, I caught a cold and my allergies reared their ugly head. I think it's mostly under control now, but it was a tough few weeks. I'm glad to be home until the birth.

Things with me are going quite well. Had a mw visit on Wednesday and the dietary changes I made are working. I check my own blood sugar a couple times a week and she's pleased that my weight gain has slowed. Also, bp is staying in the same range, so that's good. She's 95% sure baby is head down, but wants me to come back next week so she can palpate again and be more sure. I guess my uterus is still thinning out, so it's a bit harder to feel right now. I feel most of the kicks right below my right breast, so she's pretty sure that's a head down position.

We also found out some unsettling news since I last wrote. We had thought all along that we'd be moving back to Colorado when dh graduated from seminary in May (he's going to be an episcopal priest if you remember). Anyway, we found out there are no jobs for new priests in Colorado, so we aren't going back! This has put a big twist in our plans...now the job search is nationwide instead of just one state and dh is still finishing up all his final classes, etc. He's very stressed he won't have a job when baby comes, and I'm already quitting my job because we won't be staying in the town we're in now either. Much more is up in the air. But, I'm relatively relaxed about it. He's got some good leads (hence the trip to North Carolina) and a couple interviews scheduled in April. A job is there, we just have to find it.

I'm staying focused on baby and taking care of me. The mw guesses the baby will be about 8 pounds, so that's good. I start ordering supplies for the birth at the end of April, I think, so we've got a few more weeks to get prepared. I can't believe it's as close as it is, either (I'm at 32 weeks).

Glad to be back with all of my compadres on this journey. Have a good weekend!

[fiddlefern]

Jacqueline- Sorry to hear about your husband's job search. What an exciting time to be an Episcopal priest! Lots going on in that church.

Has anyone else's baby dropped? Is it unusual that mine has?

I didn't really notice, but both yesterday and today people noticed and commented on it- I guess my profile is different. And then today I was walking, and Whoa! my bladder!

I still have 5.5 weeks to go- I hope the little tyke stays in there!

[mcsarahb]

Fiddlefern-

I'm not sure if mine has dropped or not. I have some of the signs - peeing A LOT, easier breathing, less heartburn, etc., but there's no different look. I have been feeling some cervical pokes, too. I just don't know - my mws say it's a bit early for the babe to drop, but I do only have 4 more weeks. If she has dropped, it certainly wasn't an obvious shift that I noticed.

Also had TONS of BH yesterday and two days ago - like 50 (not exaggerating) on Thursday. I even timed them for a couple of hours and had 15 between 7 and 9 pm. :eek

I had been drinking iced raspberry leaf and nettle tea all day (very diluted), and my mw said it was probably attributable to that. She said my uterus is "primed and ready" and any little help it gets it will contract. So...needless to say, I'm not drinking the tea anymore. I'm all for a few days early instead of two weeks late, but not four weeks!!

Sarah

[DawnaRose]

Hi there Momma's! :flower

I've missed alot here, just wanted to send everyone a hug and hope that you are all doing ok!

I'm right there with ya's in the groin/pubic area pain. :eek It hurts so bad when I get up in the mornings I can hardly walk. After a lil while its less pain, but sheesh those first few minutes up and out of bed are torture! I sleep with so many pillows DH jokes that he doesn't have a wife anymore he has a pillow factory!

I've been waking up around 2-3am every morning and taking at least an hour or more to fall back asleep too :( Its crazy! I don't remember doing that with my other two so its annoying me that I can't get a good nights sleep anymore... course I should just get used to it huh? :lol

I had my babyshower yesterday, it was very sweet and I'm SO glad that most everyone knew what I *didn't* want like "frilly dresses and disposable diapers" I didn't get any of those!

I did get--

~boppy
~lots of practical clothes and useful things like socks and onesies
~hamper for baby clothes
~wooden toys!
~hats and bonnets
~lovely *hand stitched* baby quilt made by DH's grandmother
~3 knitted baby blankets made by DH's aunt, other grandmother and family friend.
~baby soaps, lotions and stuff like that
~baby washclothes that I'll use for diaper changing wipes
~and best of all...
from my MIL a 4month membership to the cloth diaper service! :hippie
~more that I can't remember right now! ;)

I was very pleased with everything and surprised since I totally didn't expect to get so much stuff, it was amazing. My MIL must have given me at least 20 outfits, and not all in newborn sizes so the baby will get to wear them as she grows. I got lots of the lil gowns that I love.
Now I just need someplace to put everything, right now its all sitting in my living room and its driving me crazy. But we don't have a nursery (baby will room in with DH and I) so I need to head out today and see if I can find a small dresser or something to put the clothes in for now until we can get something nicer. I didn't expect so many clothes!

I'm starting my 2 week appts on Thursday. I'll have the GBS test then too, I never got tested with my other two so no idea if I was positive then or not! (7 and 9yrs ago) .

DH's cousin was at the baby shower, and her 2nd is due on April 15th, shes very upset because the baby is breech and her DH doesn't want her to try ANYthing to get the baby to change, no postitions or anything, he wants her to just go in, get a C and come home, like a take-out baby. He faints at the sight of ANY blood, can't even watch a movie with blood. For their first baby DH's aunt went in with her while she delivered and the husband stayed outside until everyone was cleaned up and in recovery. I can understand him not wanting to see anything, but its upsetting her because she doesnt want another C. :crying Her doctor was all for VBAC until the baby went breech. :(

I told her I'd print out some information from the net about possible ways to change the baby's position and she wants to try them, so she is supposed to come over tomorrow while her DH is at work. I feel bad for her because she SO doesn't want another C and she feels like her husband is pressuring her to just "do it" and get it over with :(

Ugh my son just came downstairs and said "I feel like I'm gonna puke" and ran to the bathroom, so I better stop here and take care of him. Sorry I wrote a novel again! I should keep up better!

Take care Momma's and I hope you all have a great spring day!

[scbegonias]

Dawn, how exciting about your baby shower! Our one and only, given by my work, is on Friday. I think I've gotten over living thousands of miles from friends and family and missing that type of shower...I think. Anywho, its great of you to help out DH's cousin with the breech baby...I'll think turning thoughts for her.

My baby dropped by 31 weeks. My mw was stunned. The little bugger had been in an odd position for weeks (head by my right ribs, butt by my left hip), and then I went in to our prenatal and, voila, the bugger had chosen to sink way far down...head down. The best part is, I felt the baby turning earlier that day...such a surreal feeling (and I feel the baby shift butt left to right almost daily...crazy feeling). Anywho, my fundal height went from 31 at 29 weeks to 29 at 31 weeks. My mw wasn't too worried and attributed it to baby dropping.

DH and I are moving along with the baby's play room. He finished painting the closet (we took the doors off and have a dresser and bookshelf in it), and I traced hot air balloons on to one wall. Hopefully we'll get them painted soon.

Happy April to all!

[mittendrin]

just came from my mw appt. i really have to still do that stupid gtt, so i guess i'll have to deal with drinking that awful stuff somehow....
still not a big weightgain, although i've been eating so much lately, i could have sworn to have gained 10 pounds in the last 4 weeks. but i've been also taking long walks with my mom and walking a lot of steps in her house. so far i've gained 5 lbs in the whole pregnancy and i'm not concerned knowing that overweight women don't gain much.
the pain in my pelvis is getting a bit better, i just try not to overdo it, and rest when it starts hurting again.

babyclothes are washed but i realized there's still a few things i need. ds was born in sept and i don't really have a lot of summery things for the babe, so i'll hit consignment shops soon. i also need a few more dipes.

for some reason i have an odd feeling that the baby is gonna come sooner than expected, anyone else have any vibes about their baby's bday?

still no names here, dh comes up with all those prissy, very american girls names (no offense anyone) and i just don't like them. makes me think of having a girl whose only interest is gonna be cheerleading and mall and nails when i want a tomboy who's gonna climb trees with her brother and collect bugs.
funny, since we don't even know the sex. i just cannot imagine that there's a boy inside my belly. maybe i should think about boys names also, just in case
:LOL

gotta go, tons of dishes waiting for me...:(

[mollyeilis]

"anyone else have any vibes about their baby's bday?"


I have felt all along that it was going to be significantly late, but now I'm wondering why I felt that way. My intuition just hasn't felt "on" for this whole time...

So today I MUST go gathering most of the birth supplies, just in case it does show it's little face sooner rather than later.

[KKmama]

Welcome Rissa!

Thanks for all the vibes. I think it's going to be a long, sad healing road for the family...

I had a prenatal appt today (with my favorite dr.). I feel kind of guilty, because basically, I complained about the other 2 drs. (said as politely and succinctly as I could that I thought they weren't being as supportive of my VBAC as they should be nor treating me like I might have a brain in my head ;)). It's not a big deal... if I go into labor, I don't think they'll be able to stop my "moving train", and if I don't, I won't see *them* during the surgery. Other than that, everything is fine. The chiro has helped me recover from the fall, and I feel pretty darned good. The baby seems to be well-positioned. I had the group B strep culture done today... I'm not sure what I'll do if I'm +, but I decided I'd rather *know* my (probable) status and decide later what to do.

I guess I don't look very "big", because people are usually quite surprised to find out how far along I am (36 wks on Friday). It's weird, because I know I could have the baby soon, and I actually *feel* like this baby is going to come sooner than ds did, but... ds was 2 1/2 wks late, and I feel like if I have any expectations about even going before my edd, that I'm just setting myself up for disappointment. But goodness, I don't want to be caught off guard with labor! I know this sounds nutty....

I feel like we have so much more to do, but I guess we are making progress. I've been washing baby clothes and dipes, and slowly assembling the stuff for labor and to take to the hospital. My dad stopped by a Trader Joe's when he was in AZ (there are none in CO :()... I asked him to pick me up a few (like 5) Clif Bars, and he bought 3 boxes! :O But we're also finishing up painting the house (exterior), launching a major landscaping project, and just fixing various things. I don't know what cleaning the garage has to do with having a baby, but we did it. ;) I do lots of "optimal fetal positioning" when I'm doing yard work (can you see very pregnant woman out in yard doing squats, cat position, pelvic tilts etc. while weeding/edging/pruning? ;)).

Intercourse is fine for us as long as there is adequate lubrication.

I get the scratches down low, and pokes, too! (Pokes to the bladder *hurt*!)

I feel hiccups *way* down low... they practically feel like they're coming out of my crotch. It's a little uncomfortable for *me*, but they remind me that this baby is in a much better position than ds ever was, so I actually find them reassuring...

I'm finally constipated. Sorry if TMI, but my BMs are not hard, and I'm getting a ton of fiber and water, I think that things are just so kinked up and compressed that the poop gets lost trying to find its way out...

Ooh! I want pix of ds kissing my belly, too! I'll add that to our list... ;)

Still no progress on names. I really like the names you guys are talking about (like Lillian, Matilda, Cedar, Rowan, Lukas). I still love our silly Roosevelt family names, but we're pretty resolved not to use them.

Karen, good for you on your birth decision. I feel more educated than 1 or 2 of the obs at my practice about VBAC (I feel like I've covered more of the recent/relevant research and like I have a better grip on the real risk), and it really annoys me, because I feel like the drs. ought to be up on the lit in their field. But *I* don't have the energy to try to educate them...

Ooh, Stacia, I hear you on the supplements. I feel so clinical about what goes into my mouth (even with the food, because I look at everything with a critical eye as to what it's going to "give" me_...

Jacqueline, it's great you're all moved, but the job news is disappointing. Can your dh postpone his search for a year (any prospects in CO on the horizon) by doing something shorter term?

Hope you're all feeling great!

[kytheria]

Hi everyone! I'm new here, 34 weeks along with my first child (a daughter, Aravine Stasia). My EDD is 5/18- I can barely believe she's almost here! (Then again, I bounce between "It's gone by so fast" and "Get her out NOW!" :)

I'm looking forward to getting great AP advice from all the mommies here.

[Jacqueline]

Hi there,
KKMama-I actually haven't moved yet. When I wrote in my last post that "we have a new home" I meant the May mamas, not me and dh! (unfortunately). DH has lots of good job prospects, actually, just not in CO right now. So, he's pursuing those and I believe he'll have a job come June or July (which is good since I'm done working in mid-May!) So, we'll still be moving somewhere after the baby is born, just don't know where. Thanks for your concern.

I'm at 32 1/2 weeks and I'm already starting to get a glimpse of the tired, heavy feeling that I've heard comes in the 9th month. When I go home at lunch, I could just take a long nap and be fine! But, I've got to spend that time eating so I can go back to work (it seems so pointless, yet we gotta pay the bills somehow).

I'm still feeling mostly pretty good, I can just tell the baby is getting bigger every day and my belly feels sooooo stretched and tight sometimes.

And, a question for those who've experienced Braxton Hicks cx...what do they feel like? Is it just a tightening sensation in your abdomen? I have those a lot, but no pain, just kind of uncomfortable, and if I sit down, my belly softens again. I'm just curious, cause I'm sure I've had them, but I don't know what the feeling is like since it's my first.

I go to the midwife later today to make sure baby is head down. I'm fairly sure he/she is, but I hope she can feel it for sure.

[mollyeilis]

That's what b/h contractions feel like to me! No pain, just really tight (and for me, tiring). "They" say if there's pain to tell your practitioner; they are supposedly supposed to be painless.

How's that for a sentence?

[kids'ncows]

Welcome Kytheria! How do you pronounce Aravine? It looks lovely.

Jacqueline, to me braxton hicks ctx just feel like my belly/uterus tightening into a ball. Although if this child is positioned in a certain way, it makes me want to pee, too! Definitely no pain or discomfort. Sounds like that's what your feeling.

KKmama, I'm glad you got relief from the chiropractor. I have seen chiropractors off and on for most of my life. One thing to remember is that the muscles that have been holding your spine/joints a certain way for a while need to be retrained. I'd follow your instincts though, I'm sure there are some chiropractors that will milk you for your insurance money - just like there are people with less than ideal ethics in all walks of life. My chiro is a ways away and I'll admit I mostly only go when something hurts although I imagine I'll go in for an adjustment close to my due date just to make sure things are optimal.

Hmmmm, guess I better figure out what we are going to put baby clothes in and then start some washing one of these days! (And where are we going to put what we are going to put baby clothes in? Anybody have any extra floor space they can loan me?)

Things here are just chugging along. My body (mostly pelvic area) is feeling better than it has in a while - yippee!!! I sure can tell the days I don't do enough protein and/or iron though, I can barely function. (And my level of functionality on "good" days is probably less than adequate, truth be told.)

Happy Humpday everybody!

[mcsarahb]

Morning everyone!

Welcome to the new May mamas...not long to go now!

My mws came for the home visit yesterday and brought the tub (!), checked out the lay of the land, etc. The herbalist mw even harvested some of our comfrey growing out of control in the backyard and set it out to dry for the post-labor comfrey pads. Fun.

Jacqueline, yup, those are B/H contractions. They are tiring for me, too, especially if they last longer than 15 seconds, which they frequently do. In fact, I posted a few days ago that I had about 50 in one day - talk about exhausted. What must real contractions and labor be like...?!

Everything else is fine here; I'm always tired and uncomfortable but able to get pretty good rest most days. My last day of work is next Monday - yippee! - and I'm pretty much done with baby preparations. I'm officially 37 weeks today. OHMIGOD!

Sarah

[shalom]

well.... as of yesterday, this baby is 100% HEAD DOWN!!!! No external version, no Webster, no more tilt board..... Now to start thinking about the birth!! I am 36 weeks and do not feel at all prepared for labor, birth, BABY!!

I tend go at least a week past my due date (which is the time my MW will be out of town) so I have started taking 5W (similar to PN6) and evening primrose oil to start prepping.

time is flying!!!

[kytheria]

Originally posted by kids'ncows
Welcome Kytheria! How do you pronounce Aravine? It looks lovely.

Thanks! SO and I are pronouncing it AURA-veen, but my mother still can't get it right. :) She says AIR-a-vyhne. Finally, I told her she could just call her Ari as a nickname.

She's not even born yet and there's already name problems. I think I've doomed her. :p

[kytheria]

Is anyone else here using red raspberry leaf tea in preparation for labor? I can't get enough of it! It's so tasty that I'm going to keep buying it long after this pregnancy is over.

[karenpl]

Well, it's good that I had decided on a home birth, because my midwife called me yesterday to tell me that the ob dropped me. He wasn't convinced that all the research I had done would be applicable to me :confused: I guess his biases are applicable to me though :rolleyes:

My midwife offered to call our local teaching hospital (very high tech) I politely refused and told her I would just stay home, thank you. The thing is that she won't be able to attend a home birth because of my myomectomy (licensing? / something because she is a CNM? not sure, but uterine surgery is a no no in her guidelines). I told her that I was comfortable with an unattended birth (heck, 2 out of my 6 were born unattended by accident :-) and would she still be willing to do prenatal care? She is willing to do that, so I guess that's the plan for now.

Guess I'd better check out the Unassisted Childbirth threads :-)

Karen

[theelves]

Hi! Just checking in! I got my bad old tooth pulled today Yeah! So far so good, no major pain.:p The injured knee is bothering me less and less, the swelling is going down. Just got over yeast infection #2, so that is good! Things are looking up! I guess my biggest gripe is getting up and walking! I feel like I have a bowling ball between my legs! My tail bone and pelvic bones really make me waddle!
I have not done a darn thing yet to prepare for this birth! I have supplies to buy for the home birth, and got to get baby things down from the attic to clean, and organize the baby shower for May 2! I also have to plan a birthday party for son for May 1st, and we are going camping April 16-18th! So much to do!!!:eek
Well, gotta go fix dinner (which I don't think I can eat yet). Hope all is well with everyone! Bye! Elfmamma

[gus'smama]

Karen:hug -- what a PITA. But, then again, this way you get your home birth :). And I'm sure you know what you're doing with the whole birth thing, after 6 kids!!

I just read KKmama thread about bitchiness, and was too lazy to reply:rolleyes: , but yes, I am. In a big way.

I'm supposed to be working, but I can't find the papers I need for the project (I work from home, and have no desk or office space that is just for work, so I tend to be just a little bit disorganized:LOL ). But, ds hasn't really napped for the past 2 days, so I figure I deserve the time to myself anyhow, right?

:wave

[Sarah'sMama]

Hey all.

Glad to see us all still cooking our babes!

KK-I sway from being bit&%^ from being a *complete* crybaby. EVERYTHING makes me cry these days. I'm an emotional wreck, I swear.

Welcome Kytheria! I love the name you picked out! Just beautiful.

shalom-congrats on the head-down baby! Its such a relief, isn't it? I just found out last week that mine is head down, so that was a big weight off my shoulders.

kids-i just went through all my dd's old things and washed them all up last week. What a relief!



As for me- I ahd my 37 :eek week checkup today. I can't believe how far along I am. Found out I tested GBS+. No shock, since I was + when I had my first dd and I was a strep carrier and had to have my tonsils removed when I was 7. So ABX here I come! Its not something that bothers me, though.
I have been getting some strange pressure the last day or so. I'm wondering if something is happening, like my cervix is starting to thin out.:scratch Strange.

Anyone else not aware of their own girth? I'm constantly trying to squeeze behind chairs or something only to find out I cannot. Its like I have no idea how large I am.:LOL I find it quite amusing.

Hope you all are doing well!

[PattyCakes]

I keep getting my belly caught in the fridge door! :) Ahahaha. Oops. (maybe I should stay outta the fridge) :rolleyes:

Well, I'm 34 weeks and baby is posterior. Baby stayed ROA for weeks (almost 2 months). Last week I was thinking I should get some resources on coping with back labour and within 2 hours this little stinker had moved posterior. I felt him/her move across my front, hang out at LOA then plop into a post. position. I was kickin' my butt for "thinking" so loud.

Needless to say I've been doing a lot of hands/knees and much visualization and talking to this little one to get him/her turned. Send me lots of "turn baby turn" vibes - PLEASE!

Other than that things are going well. I feel pretty good for the most part, though I agree on the bitchiness. I think for me it's more of just little patience. I have 3 weeks left until I'm done work for good (whohoo!) and the crap that's going on is driving me bonkers. That carries over to everything else. I do get tired in the afternoons and need a 1/2 hr snooze (even if I'm at work) to make it through the day.

My hips are a bit sore - I need to stretch every day and I'm starting to get some constant swelling in my feet despite being very careful with my diet (borderline GD) and drinking copious amounts of water. I'm looking forward to just being able to be at home for a few weeks before babe's arrival to just do what *I* want to do - which will mostly be rest. :)

Can you believe how CLOSE we are to having our babes in our arms??!!! Some days it seems like just yesterday that we found out.

[mcsarahb]

Mornin'-

Karen- sending you great homebirthing vibes; we all know you can do it and it will be great.

PattyCakes- turn, baby, turn! Another idea, along with your hands 'n' knees, etc.: Do you sit at a desk at work? If so, can you bring a birth ball to sit on instead of a big office chair? That way you can squat on it and lean forward instead of back. I use mine at home for a computer chair and it's so comfy, and built-in "optimal fetal positioning"!

I'm not bitchy so much as moody. Mostly up (waaaaaaay up!) but also often just whiny and complain-y. Luckily my dh is AWESOME and just dotes on me when I get that way. Last night he cleaned out the tub for me and completely waited on me the whole time I took a bath. :) Gotta love those good men.

Just found out my MIL is getting us all the rest of the diaper covers we need in infant and small sizes. Wow! She was going to try to make them, but decided they were too hard so ordered us brand new Nikkys and Fuzzibunz! I am blown away. I love being pregnant with the first grandchild on both sides :p !

Happy Friday everyone.

Sarah

[pottermamma]

Welcome new mammas
Congrats to those with the babes in the right position and turn turn turn to those that need to do so.
I'll find out today if this little one is still in the right position. We are having an appt with my midwife who is back from Africa and our friend who will be with Ds will also be there...getting things together slowly but surely.
I saw the negatives of our pictures yesterday...some of them are so great...and I got my pic of Ds kissing my belly...it looks like it will look really good...and my friend is spending the long weekend in her dark room....so I'll get to see how they really look soon!!!!!

Are anyone elses kiddos starting to act up or become emotional regarding becoming a sibling??? My Ds is having really wild mood swings (kinda like momma right!!!!!!:) ) but yesterday we were talking about the new house we are planning to build and he began talking aboout how he wished this house we were renting was just our house. I said it must be hard with so many changes going on huh...yeah, he said....and the new baby coming makes me sad....I won't like the new baby...I said you don't have to like the new baby, its OK, and mom and dad will love you however you feel about your new baby brother or sister. He thought that was OK and was done wtih the conversation...but today in the car he said the same thing, that he was really sad about the new baby. I know there isn't much I can do...it is such a huge change for everyone in the family...but I was just curious of some of the strategies others are using if this is going on....it makes me so sad to see him have to go through this....but I also just try to remember he isn't the only one...there are lots of big bros and sisters out there that must have felt the same way.

Well ladies.....enjoy your weekends and take care in these last few weeks....:love

[kittymama]

Sarah's Mama- I am totally oblivious to my own size too. I try to squeeze past people at work (bartender/server at a busy restaurant) in spaces that are waaay too small, bump doors (refrigerator, car, house, whatever) into my belly, and bump it into tables when I sit down all the time. So far I haven't exactly hurt myself doing this stuff, so it just makes me laugh. :LOL

From listening to you ladies and those in my chilbirth/yoga classes, I think my dh is about the luckiest man in the world. My temper has been on such an even keel this whole time. If anything, I find I laugh and smile more than I used to. I do have less patience for customers at work, but even there, I'm able to keep a good sense of humor and be nice to people. So anyway, I'm sending some of my happy mama vibes to all you ladies who need them. :D :D :D :D :D

I've had a happy day today on the baby front, too. We got our first baby gift in the mail, a sweet little fleece blanket with bugs and turtles and such on it. I also ordered a sling today, which my MIL sent us a check to buy. Her youngest grandchild is 21, so it's almost like this is her first all over again- nice for us! I also ordered a baby gift forour closest friends in the whole world, whose second child is due 3 weeks before our baby is. That just got me excited all over again about us having kids at the same time. We're going to see them next weekend at our baby shower, and I'm just so thrilled about the whole thing!

[mittendrin]

we finally decided on a name if it's a girl (well, let's say it's 98% final). she's gonna be Anneli Marion. the middle name is after my mom, the first name is swedish. it'll be interesting to know how americans will miss-pronounce her name. i'm surprised dh went along with it, i saw it and it just klicked for me.

now what if it's a boy...????

the pain in my pelvis is getting a bit better, thank god. but i'm starting to feel out of breath a lot and am peeing every 5 mins.
seems there's always something to complain about, although i really try to enjoy this pregnacy since it'll probably be my last. do no whining, i'm gonna miss the whole experience i know.
going in every 2 weeks now, which makes time go by even faster. i feel so unprepared, maybe i'll feel better if i start packing the hospital bags. i know it's way early, i'm only 33 weeks, but maybe it'll ease my mind.

some of us are gonna have their babies REAL soon. :)
am i the only one who's kinda unprepared for labor and birth? i tried to practice my hypnobirthing, but for some reason i can't get the feel fo it this time. i'm not really freaked out about it though, i feel very relaxed that everything will be quick and not too painful. right now that gives me enough reassurance, or do you guys think i'm totally whacko for not having a plan?

[Marco Esquandolas]

Hey mamas, and welcome to the group to our newest joiners. :D

I'm right there with so many of you-not feeling prepared, although we did finally buy a minivan, haha. I can't concentrate on anything, I'm flaking out with preggo brain, walking into stuff b/c I'm so far out in front, and the baby was doing something the other night that I can only liken to trying to get both its head AND ass wedged into my pelvis at the same time! :eek That just straight up hurt! There is no other way to put it. All the sudden in the last week, I've really started to feel like everything is catching up to me-sleep deprivation, all kinds of aches and pains, bh contrax that are pretty danged uncomfortable, I feel like my hips are spreading, and I'm nauseaus. I was whining to dh the other night about how I'm not sure how I'm gonna be able to put with all this for another 6 wks; he says he doesn't think I'll make it another six weeks. All I can do is smile at his optimism. Ok, nuff whining to you ladies too, but I knew you'd understand!

Pottermama-Ricky seemed excited about Ian's arrival until Ian actually got here, lol. He did ok for the first few days, but once he realized Ian was here to stay, he went thru a period of not liking the new baby too much. It didn't last long and of course now they are like best buds. I think it is pretty normal and natural for the oldest sib to feel displaced or bumped in the ranks w/the impending arrival of the "new baby". I think how you handled it was wonderful. There's not much else that can be done. I always enforced to Ricky how much I loved him and how everything I was doing with Ian was also done with him. He got special mommy cuddle times and one on one time too. I did basically anything I could to let him know he was/is very loved and that he was still my baby too. I hope you know the obvious: baby will come, older sib will feel put out by it all, you'll love them both emphatically and all will turn round right. :hug


Have a wonderful day, mamas! And agreed- :eek some of you are VERY VERY close!! I'm getting sooo excited for you! :D

[scbegonias]

May mamas-to-be, we are close! I can't wait to start seeing all the birth announcements.

Like Kittymama, I too am in relatively great spirits. I'm also still in great shape...riding my bike, no swelling (unless you include the swollen ankle that resulted from a run in with a rocker at my parents house...I'm the master of klutz). I feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop physically and emotionally...but enjoying the bliss while its here.

I can't recall if I've shared that the babe has once again turned into a breech position. We're not too concerned yet...if there was room to turn breech, there's room to turn vertex. The plan is for me to get checked by another midwife this week, and my regular midwife next Monday. If they can't determine position, they'll do a vaginal examine next week, and then an ultrasound if that doesn't work. If they can determine, and the babe is breech, I'll start on a regimine of body contourtions and chiropractic care. I'm already spending as much time as possible leaning forward and on my hands and knees. We have not decided what to do if we get to the point of deciding on an external version. We hope that s/he turns, and we always have the option to try a breech birth, although it would be at the hospital, not the birth center.

On a more exciting note, my work had a shower for us on Friday. It was a gorgeous day here in the desert, and the sun rained down on us. Festive and fun...plus we got many things that we had on our list to buy. We bought the rest of our 'need to have now' items on Saturday (cradle mattress, breastfeeding supplies for me, etc.) and I'm set to order the diaper service today. Ah, the clock is ticking!

Comfort vibes and happy babies...Stephie

[Sarah'sMama]

Happy Monday to you all.

Hope all you Easter-celebrators had a great day. My dd had a ball. She loooved coloring the eggs, and looooved searching for them. It was so cute. It took her finding about two eggs before she caught on, but then, look out! She was all over the house searching. It was so cute. I couldn't get great pics of her though, because she was moving so fast, the camera couldn't focus! :LOL I have some nice blurry shots of her though. :LOL

Just a question to all you who already have one or more children. Do you think they sense the huge impact this new baby will have on their lives? My dd just turned 2, and I try to talk to her about having a new baby around, but I don't think she quite "gets" it, if that makes any sense. But lately she has been quite a bit more clingy than usual, and wants me to carry her ALOT, and it is not easy to do for me physically. Also, she doesn't like to be in a room other than the one I'm in. It used to be that I could run into the kitchen to get something real quick, and she wouldn't really notice/care. But anytime I leave the room, even for a quick errand, she calls for me until I come back for her or she catches up to me. Just responding to her telling her where I'm at doesn't comfort her. I know alot of it is probably her age, but I can't help but feel she is feeling the impact of the next few weeks on her little 2 yo life. It makes me so sad some days just thinking that these are the last days that it is just the two of us at home during the day. But I know she'll eventually love having a little sister to play with, (or boss around). I guess alot is catching up to me emotionally too I guess. I'm so excited for this new baby, but at the same time, scared of all that comes with a new baby. Dh and I were just talking about how Sarah has us so spoiled, she's really such a great kid, that it will be a huge adjustment to "get to know" our new child, and get to the point of life where we are now. OK OK, enough rambling. Just feeling lots of different emotions these days. Its so hard to sort them all out.

I'm so excited, my SIL is throwing a "Mommy Shower" for me on Saturday. Since I have alot of stuff from my dd, I don't really need anything baby related, so she decided to throw a shower to pamper me. I thought it was a great idea, but I have to admit, I'm not great at getting that much attention. But she's working so hard on it, I'm so grateful.

Enough novels from me. Hope you all are doing well!

[KKmama]

Not much to say here except I think I caught some sort of tummy bug... :( I've been feeling really puffy the last 24 hrs or so, and then had the runs this morning (I have to say that "puffy" for me probably isn't really that puffy). Had my prenatal appt, and everything looks fine except I had a tiny bit of protein spilling in my urine... I expect that's because my water/electrolyte balance is probably all out of whack. So I'm taking it easy today and drinking a lot of liquids.

What y'all with another kid have been saying about behavior in dc #1 has been reassuring to me... I had been wondering how much ds "gets" what is going on (he'll be 3 at the end of June). But he's definitely been acting out. I'm just trying to be as patient as I can be, because I kind of feel sorry for how this is going to disrupt the good thing he's got. ;)

Sarah's Mama, aren't you going to be having our first baby any day now? ;) I don't remember, but I *think* you're first on the list and will be 38 wks any day now...

I dreamt last night that I was a humpbacked whale and that I was migrating. Dh wondered if I was having "body image" problems. I said, "No, they're very sleek!" He said, "Yeah, but they're still whales." ;)

[Sarah'sMama]

KK-Hope you are feeling better VERY soon! Its hard enough to be pg sometimes, w/o being sick on top of it. I think mcsarahb (?) is due the same day as me, so the race is on! :LOL We'll see. I'll be 38 weeks on tuesday. WOW.

[shalom]

Just wanted to say to all of you expecting #2.... I know there are plenty of chances for disastrous adjustments, but my ds was one week shy of three when dd was born and he could not have greeted her presence any more beautifully. He was awesome at the birth (took pictures, cut the cord, etc.) and we never had ANY adjustment problems whatsoever.

I was of course very stressed about the whole unknown, but the transition was so smooth and perfect. I didn't do anything special to prepare him, just plenty of love and reassurance...

just to say things often go just fine!

37 weeks today and starting to think about how number three is going to change our family!

oh- anyone else have terrible sciatica problems? any remedies?

blessings
:hippie

[forestmama]

Hi! :wave I read the May thread all the time but have not posted on it before, not really sure why??? Anyway, I find myself getting so excited here lately (EDD May 20th), that it is hard to convince myself to slow down and try to enjoy this last month or so. So far my 3 yod is taking the upcomming birth better than my 7 yod. My oldest kind of just ignors the whole situation other than her wanting to know if she can give the baby a nickname when he is born and to make sure that she wont have to watch him be born because "That's just gross mom." :LOL
My 3yod came up to my tummy the other night got real close to it and whispered "come out little baby", when I told her that he was not big enough to come out just yet she made a pouty little face and screamed at my tummy "Baby! Get bigger!" :LOL I'm thinking she is going to be a pushy big sis.
Any one else starting to get BH like every day? It is starting to get annoying (because every time I have one I have to run to the potty) but in a way it is exciting because I know it is getting my body ready. With my first I had BH constant for the last month and ended up having tummy labor which was very easy to deal with, with my second I had hardly any BH and had labor in my hips and back which was FAR from ideal! So here is hope for another tummy labor.
Looking forward to sharing the next couple of months with you all! :D

[mcsarahb]

Hi all-

KKmama: hope you feel better soon. Glad you can take it easy. I'd hate to be sick, on top of all my other complaints. :p

Today was my last day of work! WOO-HOO! I am so excited. I even got off early - my boss is super nice and flexible - so I am feeling good. It was hard, though, to work even the 3 1/2 hours this morning! It feels like the babe is about to fall out! As I was waddling around and sighing noticeably, my boss (who has 7 kids) joked that if we put a mirror on the floor maybe we could see her head... :LOL

And yup, I am due April 29th. I was originally due May 1, though, which is why I chose this board. My dh is sure it'll be May 2, but I'm thinkin' it might be a little early. Because, like forestmama, I have BH, too. At least 15-20 a day. My mws say my uterus is "primed and ready..." We'll see.

Have a good week everyone - I'm going to try and ENJOY these last couple/few weeks now that I'm completely free of commitments. :D

Sarah

[theelves]

Hi! Happy Easter! Hope all went well for everyone! Unfortunately mine was a bit tainted. I came down with a nasty cold, making everything that much harder to deal with. AND ds has one too! Then, to top it off, poor DH has had the worst of luck! He is overseeing an addition to a house and was working Saturday overseeing the foundation peirs being poured, trying to beat the coming rain. Well, they would have made it, but the very last hole.....wound up being the entry to the sewer! They had broken into the sewer pipe without knowing and filling it up with concrete! It went all the way into the main line, anout 25 or more feet!:jaw WELL! He is responsible, so he has to fix it, with our own money/savings. Could be $5000 or more, not sure yet!:(
So he was definetly not having a good Easter day. He was waiting on the job site for the city to come out to talk to him (they never showed!) I did what I could to help him out. I ran to get supplies, rent tools and pumps, call people, talk out plans with him, console him, all the while dealing with being very sick and DS being sick too. Then the rains have come too, very hard rains! mini-tornadoes and hail, high winds! That has really made the job site a mess. So he is out there now pumping out water to get ready for tomarrow. Poor guy.
Anyway. This week i am definetly going to go shopping for birth supplies, send out shower invitations, and make a wish list. On top of that, I have to pack for the weekend...camping with both sides of the family for the first time! We will have a cabin with AC this time, and a bed. I usually tent,but not under these circumstances! Comfort is vital!

Anyone got a cure for insomnia???? It is getting more frequent these days, really making me bitchy during the day, no patience.

Ok, enough bitchin', need to go find something happy to do, like make a wish list. Hope all is well for everyone else! HUGS!
......ELFMAMMA
:hippie

[Jacqueline]

Hey everyone,
It's so exciting that some of you are so close to birthing your babies! I can't wait to hear your stories.

I had a relaxing weekend...had Friday and Monday off work, so it was very restful. I'd been having lots of Braxton Hicks cx (thanks to everyone who confirmed that's what the tightening was) but hardly noticed any during the relaxing weekend! Now that I'm back to work, they've started up more regularly. But, I'm glad they're happening, even if they're uncomfortable. I know my body is already starting to work on birthing this baby!

I haven't had much swelling in my feet, but my fingers are more swollen. Yesterday I couldn't wear my rings, but they're okay today. The humidity here in Central Texas definitely affects it, too. I have a checkup with my midwife tomorrow. She's 99% sure baby is head down, the only reason she's not 100% is because the babe's head is pretty far down in my pelvis already and she can't make it move like she normally does. I figure that's a good thing...the head must fit! Or at least is hanging out down there to stretch things out. I've had lots more round ligament pain lately, too. She said we can always get an u/s to confirm position, but that seems kind of pointless...we'd have to go to another dr. office, take more time off, all to confirm just a 1% question mark.

I have four weeks left of work, so I'm counting down, now!

[mittendrin]

welcome forestmama, you made me happy talking about bh and how you had them with tummy labor. i didn't feel any bh during my last pregnancy and had back labor. this time i have tons of them and hope your pedictions are true and it'll be a bit easier this time...:D

theelves - bummer with your dh's concrete-mess. $5000 is a lot of money, but you sound very supportive and i'm sure he appreciates that. hope you're feeling better.

i'm not sure if ds knows what's going on. he's only 19 months and i don't think he understands. but he's been patting my belly lately cuz he must notice it's getting huge and hard and not so comfy to lie on anymore. i ask him to give the baby a kiss and he'll kiss my stomach. cute!! but he has no idea what he's in for, i'm sure. poor guy, i feel guilty to have to take so much mommy-time away from him, but in the end he's finally gonna have somebody to play with all day long. we don't know too many people here and he's not around other kids too often. i hope he'll be ok.

kkmama, are you feeling better?

so we're really gonna hear gonna hear the first birthing stories soon, huh? i'm glad i'm at the end of the list, cuz i know once i hear about our first few babies i'm gonna freak out and nest like crazy. and there's still tons of stuff to do.

anybody giving the siblings gifts for when the baby comes? i wanna buy ds something nice (sth to keep him busy too:LOL ). we're gonna put a sandbox up on our porch and hang up his swing soon, that should keep him happy and entertained for a while during those endless first week's nursing sessions.

stay healthy girls and try to ignore the big pains in your butts right now (my arse has been hurting so badly lately, the kid's gonna hear about this when she's older, i swear!!!)

[KKmama]

Thanks for the vibes, y'all... things seem to be more normal today. At least my tummy doesn't hurt. I drank *so* much water yesterday--I think I flushed everything out! (and down the toilet :LOL)

Theelves, I want you to have better luck, and I want everyone at your house to feel good for a *long* stretch of time!

We're definitely giving ds a gift from the baby. We just need to get it. We were thinking about a forklift (because he's currently obsessed with them). And ds and I went through his toys and chose some to give to the baby...

The painting guys are here painting the way high up parts of the house (I was paranoid of dh falling off a ladder and going splat). And my dad will be here later in the week to help us finish a swingset we're building for ds. And there's the endless yard work...

[A&L+1]

Just a quick check in...I haven't posted in over a month! I am doing fine. Gearing up for weekly appointments. I have my GBS test today. My OB says that if I am + that it won't change the plan for me to labor at home for as long as possible. She just wnats me ready for antibiotics when I get admitted. I am really surprised by that and I am now looking into what happens if the baby is born too quickly for the meds to be on board. Any thoughts?

KKmama - I went whale watching last May to ask the humpback whales that hang out in the bay here to help me to get pregnant (I know it sounds odd. It felt right though so I went for it). Obviously it worked! I keep thinking of this baby as a whale baby floating around inside so happily. Maybe there is a real pregnancy/whale connection BEYOND the whole feeling as big as a whale thing. I can't say that I feel too sleek right now. Glad you are feeling better.

[KKmama]

I'm back to say more (chatty today...)

I just testified in a CPS case for my across-the-street neighbor who has 5 kids. Personally, I think the whole thing should be thrown out, that a lot of what is going on is that a lot of people freak out when families have more than 2 kids and/or don't follow the mainstream parenting mode (which freaks me out a little... are they going to knock on *my* door next, because ds still sleeps with us, still nurses from time to time, isn't potty trained yet, etc?). My neighbor isn't exactly bowing down meekly to CPS, which just pisses them off. Anyway, the whole thing just brings out the fierce mama in me (and I'm already hormonal and crabby). I'm a witness because ds has played with her kids, and I've been present at several of the home visits.

Maybe the stupidest thing the prosecutor said was about one home visit in particular... one of the social workers is pg (but I think I'm further along than the SW), and the prosecutor was implying my neighbor and her kids were physically avoiding the SW... I replied that I thought SW was behaving as she was intentionally, that it was part of her technique, that if she wanted to interact with them, she could have *said* something. Prosecutor replies that SW is *quite obviously* pregnant and that slows one down, we should have taken that into consideration, etc. I replied that in case she hadn't noticed, *I* am quite obviously pg, too, and I was having no problems keeping up with/interacting with the kids, and that when one faces physical challenges such as those in some pregnancies, if one needs special accomodations, it behooves one to *ask* for it, if necessary. I don't think I'm communicating this very well, but it was all I could do to keep from rolling my eyes and laughing out loud in court. (Yeah, tell me about physical challenges and discomfort in pregnancy, lady. I'm all ears.) :rolleyes:

[kids'ncows]

Hi ladies, anybody with any nesting vibes please send them my way when you're done with them! I'm with Jakobsmami - thank goodness I'm not 'til the end of May (or even 1st of June)!

I finally went swimming last night. I didn't notice an "oh, I'm weightless" feeling, but when I got out I sure had the "oh, I'm heavy!" feeling. I swam a few laps but I'm in worse shape than I thought, or maybe it's just the drag of my belly? I need to bring the kids next time and see how that goes.

My 2.5 year old told me last night that I was going to have 2 babies, both brothers :eek !

Had a Dr app't this week, still all normal. Dr said he's not going to fix what isn't broken - I think he may be one of the few that got out of medical school with his brain intact. I need to get a birth plan done and do my pre-registering at the hospital.

Theelves, your life is much too exciting. I hope things are calm and easy going for the rest of the year for you!

KKmama, there are only two things that I can think of that terrify me - the IRS and CPS. Both seem to have unlimited power, no one to answer to, and I'm not sure what it is that gets one in trouble with them. I hope your neighbor comes out of it with a happy ending before they go broke on court/lawyer costs.

Well I can't think of anything either intelligent or interesting to say, so I guess I'll just leave it here.

Praying that everybody's end of pregnancies and births are happy and healthy.

[mcsarahb]

Morning all-

Elfmama, here's hoping, like others have said, that the rest of your year is calm and happy. Sheesh!

kids'ncows, you can have my nesting vibes - I am officially done with them and just waiting now. Two weeks ago I could stay at home all day, hated going to work, all I wanted to do was sew and cook and rearrange the baby clothes for the umpteenth time. Now I'm always itching to get out of the house and go somewhere. I guess I'm at the "hurry up and wait" stage.

At my appointment yesterday one of my mws did the belly cast - so fun! It looks great. I highly recommend doing it - easy and fun.

So what do you gals think about cervical checks? I haven't had any so far; my mws are very hands-off unless I want any. They offered to check yesterday because I had a lot of questions about BH and effacement, dilation, etc., but we (DH and I) decided not to. I just don't think I could handle knowing I was dilated/effaced but still not have this baby for another month, KWIM? The apprentice mw said she was 5 cm for 2 weeks...that would kill me! I'd rather just not know! But I'd also like to know if I was 8 cm and the baby could drop out at any moment... :LOL

I realize that first-timers often go late, have long labors, etc. BUT, my family history is early, easy labors...my brothers and I were 4, 2 and less than 1 hour, respectively. Any thoughts?

Sarah

[Sarah'sMama]

Happy Wednesday!

Elfmama-I swear your life is one bout of bad luck after another. Hopefully all the bad luck is gone, and you'll have nothing but good luck from now on.

Sarah-I'm with you on really not wanting to know if I'm dilated/effaced or not. I mean,, I'm curious, but it really doesn't mean a thing. My sister was 3-4 cms dialated for about three weeks before she delivered. I was barely dialated to a fingertip at my 39 week check with dd, and less than two days later, myy water broke, and I was in labor. So it really doesn't tell me anything. I've only had one check so far, and it was at 36 weeks, b/c I had the GBS test done, and since I was already nekkid from the waist down, I said OK. Surprise Surprise, my cervix was still high and closed. I think I'm one of the ones that stays closed for a long time and all of a sudden starts to dialate when I'm in labor.

Starting to get a lot of things accomplished. Last night dh and I reassembled the car seat and bassinet, because I took them apart to wash all the fabric and wipe down everything else. So feeling better about that. Have all my dipes washed and organized. Have all the baby clothes washed, just need dh to get out the dresser so I can put them in it and put the changing pad on top. Have my breast pump all cleaned, just have to put it together. Have all my things ready to go in a bag for the hospital, just have to find a bag to put them all in. So I'm really getting prepared. Going to stencil the baby's room probably tomorrow, even though it will be awhile before she sleeps in there. I just like to have it done, even though I don't really need to.

As for me, have my 38 week check tomorrow. Yesterday I was having some weird pains in my rear, kinda like sciatica. So don't know if the baby is settling down into position in there or what. I remember I had really bad sciatica with my first, but that was while she was dropping, and I've read some places that second babies don't drop until labor alot of times so:shrug

OK, enough about me. Hope you all are feeling great, and nesting like crazy!

[Marco Esquandolas]

I could use some nesting vibes too! Dh is nesting. I am not. Not really. I'll get an urge here or there to do something, but dh is cutting down trees, gutting the upstairs bathroom and he just bought a bunch of paint to repaint the living room! :eek Good for him, I say. That man has gotten more and more pg with me each pg, lol! He's also gained a lot of weight this time. ;) Anyone else's SO have preggo symptoms or tendencies? I forget that french term for it, but he's definitely got it.

I'll be passing on the internals this time around. I got too falsely excited with both boys and it means nothing for me anyway. Ds#2 was +2 station, I was fully effaced, 2 cm's and they didn't want me further than one hour from the hosp and I still had him 8 days beyond his edd and labored 19 hours at home before I went in. Ds#1 was 12 days beyond his edd and had to be induced due to my pre-e. So that's why I say it means nothing for me!

Crap! I still haven't pre-registered. I keep forgetting to do that. I'm getting sooo flakey these days *sigh*.

We're still mulling over boy names. A new one to each of us that we both liked was Silas. I was thinking Silas David. We still like Lukas, but I like it much more than dh does. He kinda mumbled vague approval over Brody and Nicholas too. It has occurred to me that we can't settle on a boy name b/c we don't need it, kwim? It's weird b/c I just knew that both our boys were boys, but I don't feel so strongly with this baby. I initially thought girl, and do think of this baby as a girl more often than a boy, but it isn't definitive like with the boys. Oh well-the joys of not finding out early...(s)he's keeping mama guessing. :)

Ok, I'm off to surf more names, lol.

[forestmama]

The other night I was laying in bed asleep and I hear this noise in my house at like 4 in the morning.....I creep into the other room and there is dh with a cloth in one hand and a bottle of polish in the other......he was deep cleaning the whole house!!!!!
I could not help my self I smiled real big gave him a hug and said "Ohhh sweetie, your nesting!" :LOL He did not think it was to funny, but I thought it was cute. Yaaaaaa for nesting husbands!!!!:thumb

[Sarah'sMama]

HA! Dh wouldn't know how to use a bucket and water if it hit him in the head. Wish I had a nesting dh. Quite the contrary. I have to beg him to help put stuff together. :rolleyes:

[KKmama]

I feel like we're both nesting, but I also kind of feel like we're nesting in the wrong areas. Does the baby need a clean garage? Not really. But the baby might benefit from me setting up a room for ds (and/or dh) to sleep in, but which got done? The garage. Does the baby need us to work on this landscaping project? Not really (though to be fair, it will benefit ds). I guess the electrical project will help keep the baby's parents from getting zapped. I sometimes feel like I'm being downright lazy about preparing for the *baby*. It just energizes me to do more wacky projects (like the garage and pruning the trees out front). ;)

[theelves]

Howdy! Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers, yes, never a dull moment around here!!:rolleyes: Finally some good news! The sewer problem has been fixed!..And with only $1500, and no fines!!:D He is back to square one and ready to proceed.
This weekend we are going camping with both sides of the family for the first time, should be really interesting and fun! I am looking forward to *FUN*!:p We all need a break!
No nesting going on here yet :( , I hardly have the energy anyway. This head cold really wiped me out. But I hope next week will be different, and I can get some things done.
Got a MW appt. tomarrow, not expecting any surprises. Am wondering if it will be safe to swim in the lake this weekend, or if I need to sit it out. Will see.
OK, gotta go eat., pack, sleep! Good vibes to all!!!!! Elfmamma:hippie

[KKmama]

Insomnia again, so I'm trying to arrange labor CDs.

I really love George Harrison's All Things Must Pass, and I downloaded a bunch of lyrics, out of curiosity (to fill in the gaps I still can't make out)... wanted to share this one, because of course, it made me cry. It just seems to fit well right now for dh, ds, and the new one.

"What Is Life"

What i feel, i can't say
But my love is there for you anytime of day
But if it's not love that you need
Then i'll try my best to make everything succeed

Tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me, who am i without you, by my side

What i know, i can do
If i give my love now to everyone like you
But if it's not love that you need
Then i'll try my best to make ev'rything succeed

Tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me, who am i without you, by my side
Tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me, who am i without you, by my side

What i feel, i can't say
But my love is there for you any time of day
But if it's not love that you need
Then i'll try my best to make everything succeed

Tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me, who am i without you, by my side
Oh tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me, who am i without you, by my side

What is my life without your love
Tell me, who am i without you, by my side

[PattyCakes]

That's really nice kkmama.
YAY Elfmama - glad your DH's issue is resolved and CHEAPER to boot. Have a great time camping!

phismama - I really like Silas!

As for the nesting... I WANT to be nesting sooo badly. My fingers are itching to get all over the baby's things right now - but I'm saving that till I'm done work in 2 weeks. (YAY!) It's one of my projects to do while I'm off and before baby arrives (and my Mum).

other than the baby stuff we have just about everything else ready to go- and all I really need to do is just order the diaper service and wash the baby's clothes. I think we're set for everything else. We've got our infant CPR class at the end of the month and a breastfeeding class as well.

It seems so close now - and sometimes still seems SO far away. Weird sensation. Everyone keeps saying "so you've got a couple of months left now, huh?" and I have to say - "Uh no. About 6 weeks - give or take". It makes their eyes pop. :) (and my brain pop).

I can't WAIT to be done work - to just do my own thing and not have to think about what's going on here. It's going to be an intense 2 weeks though cos I'll be training my replacement (who should be here any day now).

[kittymama]

It seems so close now - and sometimes still seems SO far away. Weird sensation. Everyone keeps saying "so you've got a couple of months left now, huh?" and I have to say - "Uh no. About 6 weeks - give or take". It makes their eyes pop. (and my brain pop).

PattyCakes- I could have written this myself- I feel the SAME way exactly (and get the same comments)

I am sooo excited about our baby shower this weekend. It's at my dad's house in LA (about 5 hours from where we live now), so we get to see lots of friends and family that we don't see nearly enough. That, and the prospect of finally getting some baby stuff into the house have me beside myself with excitement. The only trouble is, I have a GIGANTIC, hard, and high-stakes test to take before the shower (test Saturday, shower Sunday). Whether or not I get my teaching credential depends on whether I can show this testing board I know how to teach reading, identify reading challenges, and plan instruction to fix them. A reasonable enough expectation, I suppose, but I feel like I've jumped through enough hoops for the sate of CA already. So anyway, I'm both dreading the weekend and thrilled about it.

Phishmama- I love Silas too! Now that our search is on for middle names, I keep hearing all these "s" names that I love for boys. This doesn't work for us, because our boy's name is Avery, and our last name starts with S. I wouldn't wish those initials on anyone. :)

I too can see the light at the end of the tunnel at work- yay! I'm going to work up until 38 weeks- only 3 1/2 more weeks to go. It's finally starting to seem like this baby will be here soon. We really do have a lot of preparations to make also, so I'm sure the time will go by fast.

Oh, one more thing- does anyone know where to find some good info on the Vit. K shot and the eye ointment they give babies at the hospital. I don't really know anything about them, and dh and I would like to be well-informed before making those decisions. Thanks in advance for anything you ladies can offer.

Have a great weekend!

[pottermamma]

Hi Gals!!!

We keep getting closer and closer...I'm 38 weeks today...I am finally getting more and more comfortable with the transition from being pregnant to having 2 kiddos...and the whole giving birth thing in between!!!!!!!!!

Ds is doing well. He seems to be a bit less moody but is very emotional at times. Dh and I are just trying to do a lot of one on one time with him and answer any questions he has about the baby as best as possible...thanks for all the support though...I know there are many kiddos that go through this as so many people have siblings...I'm an only though so I think that makes it even harder.

No internals for us either...false hope of having this baby is not something I need right now (I'm getting closer and closer on the whole I'm ready to go NOW thing!!!). We are hopefully doing a belly cast tomorrow at our appt though, which will be cool. I didn't do one of these with Ds so it will be neat to have for this baby.

KKmamma...that case you testified on sounds really wild. Good for you being able to support your neighbor though...and the whole preggo social worker thing...how odd....good thing you are so far along too so that you can provide a different perspective. CPS is such a weird thing...I'm a social worker and have made reports (I'm bound to) that really ought to at least be followed up on and they send me the lovely letter saying they aren't going to persue any action and then hear about other cases that they are so overly involved in unnecessarliy?????? I just don't get it:confused:

Theelves...so glad to hear your hubbies problem worked out the way it did...how scary that must have been....but what a great pregnant wife you were...soooo supportive

Hope everyone keeps keepin on :love

[mcsarahb]

kittymama, re: Vit. K and eye drops...check out this thread:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?s=&threadid=111440&highlight=eye+ointment

My mws' personal recommendations are to get the Vit. K (shot or oral, whichever you prefer) and only get the eye ointment if you test positive for STDs. Apparently the hemorrhagic disease of the newborn (which the Vit. K guards against) is horrible and devastating.

IMO, the eye ointment is completely unnecessary if you test negative for the things it gu