Weekly Update Thread - April 27

[Megamama]

Hey all:

I'm starting it again!! This is a good way for me to catch up with everyone. I am having a terrible time with the sickness. No barfing, but tons of gas and nausea and just everything tastes bad, etc. I am very tired of it!! My in laws just left from a week long visit and I felt like the worst hostess. They are just the sweetest people and I'm looking forward to them coming back in the fall...when I feel huge and miserable LOL. I'm 9 weeks and 3 days today..still wishing for week 12 to solve all my problems. I am finally starting to feel my uterus through all the fat..Elijah is still nursing like a champ...I'm having majorly vivid dreams...

How is everyone????

[jecaly]

hi mega!

speaking from the relative vantage point of 11 weeks on the nose i can say: it gets better. my nausea has improved a LOT, to where it's a pretty rare thing. i felt yucky last night, but only because i took too long to eat a proper dinner (11:30 pm, doy). hang on, mama!

i can feel the little bump down there too, which i find completely thrilling. i feel pretty darn confident that this one is hanging on.

lessee, what else...crazy busy work situation this week, but it should calm a lot after this weekend. still not swimming yet, but hoping to start that and a prenatal yoga class next week, since i'm feeling like i can move again. the "gut" is staying about the same size as it has been, but the boobs are starting to give me away. there are still a lot of people i haven't told, but i'm not too worried--if they guess before i tell them, it just makes the telling easier, heh.

getting a little bit frustrated with the whole clothing situation. too small to wear maternity, but too big to fit into most of my pants. i just cleaned out my closet and i have, like, two pair left that aren't yoga pants. ha! my dear mil is sending me some maternity pants, though, bless her. are you guys wearing maternity stuff yet?

oh and! (hi, i guess i'm chatty today) we decided on a starter diaper system: plain old prefolds and covers, mostly wool ones but also some bummis sww and mother-ease airflow, etc. i figure that if the cheapest option works, then we'll save money and can spend it on the part that shows. plus, i remember my mom using prefolds on us, and i guess i'm sorta nostalgic. i may give up in a flood of bf poo and go for something fitted instead, but i've gotta at least TRY the option that is like 1.50 a pop.

how are the rest of you guys?

[clynnr]

Hello there!

This is my first post on the Weekly Update Thread! My name is Lynn, and I am about 13 weeks along, first-time mama! I'm planning to BF, CD, and be a SAHM (possibly a WAHM doing daycare for my nephew neice). I've been married to my hubby for a couple of years, and we are SO EXCITED to be PG!

I haven't had much experience with m/s--only a couple days here and there (and that was over a month ago). I'm RAVENOUS all morning (eating every hour or so) until about 1-2pm, then I could care less about eating until dinner, and it had better be small! :wink

I was very excited this week to wake up two mornings in a row to realize...I didn't have to get up in the middle of the night to pee!!! :thumb DH thinks it's funny that I know that, but I am usually a heavy sleeper--you can't get me up for anything! So the fact that I have had to drag my behind out of bed 2-3 times a night for the past three months has really been a drag.

That's really about all that's going on with me. I've worn a couple of maternity items--not because I really NEED to, but because they are SOOOOO much more comfy than my fitted pants!

Looking forward to getting to know all of you! (And thanks for reading this book of a post!)

[Seeking Refuge]

12 weeks 2 days and still hanging in here. I have been feeling better too, although the m/s did not magically disappear at 12 weeks for me, it is improving. I am still really tired but I think the nursing has a lot to do with that. I still haven't developed much of an appetite but it is getting better.

I am all about cheap. I've used prefolds, covers and snappis all the way through with ds although I am going to get some little newborn contours because I my small CPFs were too big and I never got the hang of folding them for a newborn.

I can still wear some of my pants but they are starting to get small. They were a little big to start with so I had some growing room. I really am not showing much though. I was big to start so I am not too worried about it.

eta I have been feeling little flutters now for a while. I felt ds really early like this too. Maybe it is another boy.

take care,

[Attached_Mom_to_7]

HI,
12 weeks today!
I went and seen a new midwife today out of town and will be staying with her! Shes's awesome, was so recomended, and felt so much at ease with her!!
We also heard the heartbeat at 160 beats a minute!!

[tuffykenwell]

One of the downfalls to a low-tech pregnancy LOL...I have no milestones till later :) Had my second midwife appointment last week and it went pretty well. All talk though but I got some answers to some of my contingency questions (ie what happens at 43 weeks...what are my options, can I choose an OB compatible with what I want to have happen etc etc).

I really liked the vibe with this midwife (one of my backup midwives) almost better than my primary midwife. I am going to give the primary another visit but if I am still getting the same vibe I may request that they switch places. I just can't let other peoples feelings or my not wanting to make anyone feel bad get in the way of my birth KWIM? We'll see how it goes at my next visit (May 20th).

Declined the triple screen (again LOL) and read through the hospital records on my c-section...but it didn't contain the two most important things that I wanted and needed to see (a) whether I have a double or single layer suture and (b) the notes from my "primary" nurse during the induction.

The midwife is going to call the hospital and see if we can get that information. Hopefully there won't be any issues with getting it (otherwise I may have to pull in my member of parliament and ugh...don't really want to get into all that!)

A bit of nausea but nothing I can't handle so that is good! I can't believe I am already at 12 weeks!

Steph

[2boysandagirl]

Everything here is going ok I guess. Nausea gone except for the occasional evening wave of nausea. I'm now 13 wks. I thought I might have felt baby move a couple of times but not sure it wasn't just gas. I've been wearing maternity shorts or either my husband's shorts but definately not any maternity shirts.
I'm planning on buying about 2 doz fitted nb diapers and some covers and some stuff in smalls. I cd my twins so I have millions of diapers from size med on up so I shouldn't have to buy anything in those sizes.
I had a csection with my last pregnancy so I'm hoping to have a vbac. My vag birth was a lot less painful than my csection.
Welcome Chelsea!
Guess I'll go now.
Bye, susie

[Megamama]

Just a quick cloth diaper commentary...I used a service when Elijah was born and where I lived in CA it was just as cheap as buying sposies and I didn't have to do the laundry, which, with a newborn, is a good thing. Here the service is too expensive, so i am also probably going to just buy some prefolds since I already have covers and snappis. Since i'm already washing Eli's diapers every third day, hopefully this will just not add too much more to that. I am going to invest in the Mini shower thing for the toilet though, for newborn poops :)

Ok..Just wanted to throw that in. I'm loving hearing from everyone!!

[KittyMommy]

I'm at 12w5d. The good news is that the nausea is getting better. The bad news is that I'm still barfing...I'm having a terrible time with sinus drainage from seasonal allergies, which starts the gag reflex. DS gets so upset when I puke. This morning, he was just about hysterical and trying to push me away from the toilet, like that would stop me and make it better. Poor little guy :(.

My appetite is just gone. I get hungry, but nothing sounds good right now. I had a better appetite when I was still queasy all the time!

I am definitely getting a poochier belly, but it was already poochy to begin with, so to anyone who doesn't know I'm pg, it probably looks like I'm just gaining weight. I'm wearing elastic waistbands or maternity pants, just 'cause I still can't stand anything tight around my waist.

[Annabel]

I'm 10 weeks today. I feel awful because I have a terrible cold but other than that my nausea seems to have mostly gone away. (could be I'm not noticing it because of the cold...) I only feel sick occaisionally throughout the day which is nice although it does make me worry that the baby might not be there anymore! I seem to remember it easing this time last pregnancy though.
As far as my belly goes it is actually a little smaller, probably because it is less bloated now that I don't feel so sick. The bit that sticks out is lower down where my uterus should be rather than the fat part being over my stomach!
I have my first appointment next monday.

[KittyMommy]

I had my doctor's appointment today and we got to hear the heartbeat. I had forgotten just what a rush that is...not that it has been that long since we were going through this with ds. I have lost one pound in the last four weeks...gotta love the morning sickness diet! Neither the doctor or I are too worried, this is just about exactly what happened with ds. I stayed pretty constant (no gain or up or down one pound) for quite a while with him.

Hope thing are going well with everyone!

Jen

[Seeking Refuge]

Jen,

The first heartbeat is fun. I am losing weight too, not a lot you can do about it just eat when you can and eventually you will start gaining. You are still nursing right? I think that has a lot to do with it.

Steph,
I hear you on the low tech thing, it is kind of boring. I think that it is kind of cool that the first contact I am having with the babe is the little flutters though.

Annabel,
Hope your cold is better soon. Try some eucalyptus essential oil, thats what I have been using.

Meg,
I'll bet the mini shower things work well. I am lucky that my hand held shower head in my tub reaches to my toilet so I can use it to spray the diapers down.

Susie,
I'll bet it wasn't gas. My midwife told me she felt her third and fourth babies as early as 10 weeks. It is a pretty neat feeling isn't it?

Attached Mom,
I am glad you found a cool midwife and that is a really strong heartbeat. COOL

I am feeling more flutters all the time and I still have m/s but it comes and it goes.

Night all

[Shell]

Hi all! Today starts week 14. Wow! I must report that I feel better than ever! Lots of energy! I never thought this would happen, because I suffered through three solid weeks of being nauseous, exhausted, cravings, aversions to smells, it was terrible! So there is light at the end of the tunnel (for some of us).

Last week we went for a nuchal translucency sonogram, because I will be 36 when I give birth. My dh, who has two boys ages 8 and 12, couldn't believe how advanced the technology has gotten. We were fully able to see the baby and all its parts, even in 3D! We could see the heart pumping blood and the brain cavity. It was truly wild, and it made us so happy. We were also happy that the doctor gave us the thumbs up from his visual inspection, although we'll get the full results later. I also think we are going to decline the triple screen, but we're still thinking about it.

I've been really frustrated by my clothing situation too. Maternity clothes are too big, and my clothes are too small. Elastic has become my friend! I work out of my home, so my co-workers haven't seen me yet, but tomorrow I leave for a business trip and I want to hide my pregnancy until the following week when I will see my boss. The problem is that maternity clothes look like maternity clothes! I refuse to spend money just to buy oversized non-maternity looking clothes just to hide my pregnancy for one week. I'm not quite sure what I will do yet, but I will figure it out. Have any of you working mommas told your bosses yet?

I wish I had a real big belly already!

Meanwhile, we're planning a 4-day canoe trip for August, and I don't know if I am crazy or not for attempting that at 6 months!

[Megamama]

Hey...another commentary from the Meg peanut gallery..he he..don't let Drs/midwives convince you you HAVE to take any test because of your age. I'm 38 with this baby, I was 36 with Elijah and I refused whatever U/S or tests I didn't want, even though I was on Medical at the time. 36 is barely over the mysterious over 35 barrier ...and these days very little risk. Obviously you all have to do what feels right for you..I will be refusing the triple screen again, too, but I will probably have at least a level 2 U/S to make sure things are hunkey dory.

[momsgotmilk4two]

I'm 11 and a half weeks now and feeling much better :) The nasea and general tiredness has eased up a lot so that's a big relief! I'm really looking forward to next month when I can find out the sex of this baby! Everyone is asking and it's driving me nuts.

[MonkeyPrincess]

Hello, everyone! This is my first post for November Mommas, just found it!

Because I was nursing my ds when I got pregnant, we don't have an exact due date day...from my LMP it's 11/3, from one m/w it's 11/5, the other m/w says 11/7, the ultrasound said 11/6 and my calculations it's 11/8...so I just say the first week in November! I guess I am about 14 weeks or so.

This is my fourth baby, and I will not be finding out what it is for the first time! I can't wait for the surprise and I am enjoying the suspense :)

I have two boys and one girl and really don't have a preference to what the sex of this baby is, also for the first time, lol.

I haven't had m/s per say, just an overall aversion to food in general! Which not eating makes me feel yucky, but when I do eat, I feel yucky too and I gag while I try to get it down. That has been improving the last few days or so though. It's funny because one of the things I really enjoy about being pregnant is eating, food tastes soo good! So I am very much looking forward to being past this phase, lol.

About a week ago, I woke up around 2 am and I was laying stretched out on my side, very still. I felt the baby flipping around for a few minutes, it was awesome! I haven't felt movement since, but I am not worried since it was so early and probably a fluke I was even able to feel it that time. (My other favorite thing about being pregnant ;) )

Thanks for reading, and I am looking forward to "getting to know" you all!

[heatherevond]

Things have been hectic around here. I have had two appointments and so far things are progressing nicely. My blood pressure was a bit elevated two weeks ago and the doctor ordered a 24 hour urine and a visit every two weeks until the blood pressure is under control. As far as birthing options she is very positive about my plans to have a VBAC. I've had coworkers who say I am crazy to want to give birth naturally when I can just have a section. I don't even respond to those remarks.

The u/s at 9 and a half weeks showed the heartbeat again. It also showed a baby instead of a spot with a heartbeat. It relaxed me for a few days. Now I am nervous that something can still go wrong at 11 + weeks.

My SIL and MIL visited for a week. I felt like the worst hostess. But, when we told MIL we were pregnant, her reaction was sour. "I've been here 24 hours and now you throw this on me." I'm not doing anything special for people like that. In-laws or not. There is also a huge push that this baby has to be a girl. When we were pregnant with DS and found out the gender we got a sour responser there too. "I'll still love him, even though he's not a girl." In-law visits are infrequent thankfully.

The nausea is gone as long as I stay on an eating routine. Lil' Bit demands to be fed at least every 4 hours, I'm not allowed wait 20 minutes to eat. I had the worst case of gas last week. It seems to be gone for now.

With a two-year old and work I don't have much time to think about being pregnant. DH and I are trying to decide how to handle the last trimester and post partum period. I didn't work the first year after ds was born. It was great. If I work after this child is born it will be a different shift so that DH and I can keep the baby home and save on the daycare expense.

I stay away for a couple of weeks then write a novel.

[TalkToMeNow]

Hi, Monky Princess. Welcome! Can I just say that I wish I would have found out at 14 weeks! Maybe everyone wouldn't feel the same way, but I'd love to find out I was pregnant and already be in the second trimester... in my opinion, the first is lousy and I'd love to "skip" it! :)

[FSUBecca]

10 weeks here, and suffering with allergies. Virginia is in a blanket of pollen this time of year, and because I am way to paranoid to take any meds I am barely breathing and my eyes are swollen. Ugh! Otherwise though, feeling really great. Appetite is back, and it is nice to be eating again!

I did have to nightwean my 15 month old DS. The exhaustion was just getting to be too much. I don't mind nursing once or twice a night --- but 5 or 6 times I do mind, so we had to have an intervention. A week in the bed with only Daddy did the trick, and I am a much happier mama now, so I guess it was the right decision.

I am committed to not getting into any of my old maternity clothes until 13 weeks, but my these waistbands are a killer!

[mamasboys4me]

Well, I'm now 13 weeks I suppose. Finally getting out of a funk of m/s and just plain suprise over this pregnancy. out of the two the m/s has worn off! lol :yikes: lol

I'm need to make a second dr.s appt, I just really hate to. I don't know why exactly. Guess it just isn't much fun with both my rugrats and all the wait of a dr.s office. I have lost about 5 lbs, but am getting a bigger stomach. I asked my dh the other day if I looked preggo or just fat in the belly, and he changed the subject. :soapbox lol I guess it's just that stage where I can't exactly (nor want to) wear maternity clothes, but everything else makes me look like I have a gut.

Guess that is it with me. lol My 25th b-day was on April 30th. :balloons All I told my dh I wanted for my b-day was to eat. lol I'm craving ribs from the Outback something awful!!!! Too bad it takes us 1 1/2 hours to get there!

[stanya]

Hi y'all... i haven't checked in in a while. I'll be eleven weeks in a few days. I have to pass this info on: My excellent midwife took me OFF the PRENATALS and my morning sickness is practically gone! What a relief! She said the one-a-day prenatals hit your system like a rock and increase nausea ten-fold. So instead, for now, I'm taking the 800mcg of Folic Acid and 1200 mg of calcium each day and eating lots fo fruit for vitamin C. She said all will be fine. In a another week or two, when m/s seems to be on its way out, I'll get back on prenates but not the one a days. There are some that come in smaller doses, to be taken a few times a day and apparetnly keep nauseas down!
Hope that's helpful.
I am also in the awkard size stage. living in dresses for now (i live in LA where its hot as hell anyway). Frustrated too because I've been in a cast now for seven weeks (broke my ankle), so the lack of excercise and the eating of lots of comfort food has got me chubbier than normal. So, part of my show I'm sure is new chub I never had.
I think I'm going to start telling people this wek. I've been watiing and waiting. We heard heartbeat at 9 weeks and now I am starting to feel that hopefully all is going to go ok...
hope everyone's doing well.
P.S. anyone from socal? know of any maternity reslae stores? the maternity clothes are so expensive!!!! and the cheap ones aren't really my style.

[stanya]

p.s ok, the expensive ones aren't really my style either, but they seem to be a little hipper anyway...

[jane-t-mommy]

Good Morning November Mamas!
I haven't posted in so long. I had some spotting that although it was minimal, kind of freaked me out a bit. Also the fatique is claiming my life at the moment. But I heard my little one's heart beat on Saturday (MW had to cancel appt due to a birth and was kind enough not to make me wait out the entire weekend) What a relief. There is really a little baby growing inside me! WOW. So, I am feeling much more attatchment with my pregnancy now.

Meg, I'm with you in the testing department. I'll be 36 when baby comes, and thankfully I have a very low intervention minded midwife who doesn't apply any pressure for any tests whatsoever. Unfortunately one of her nurses feels a bit more stongly and gave me the old story of how one time one mother didn't have amnio (or whatever, fill in the blank) and she had a (fill in the blank with fear). Ugghh!! I mean I totally understand that they have my best interest at heart, but I don't like fear tactics especially when I've already done the research and feel confident that I'm making the right decision for myself and my baby. Anyhow, I'll be refusing all tests except U/S at about 20 weeks.


I really know the old maternity clothes woes, too. I guess in a few more weeks I'll be wearing them full time, but for now I mix and match.

Welcome to the new Mamas.

Has anyone read the article in the most recent Mothering magazine about a desperate solution for morning sickness?

Good day to you all,
Janet

PS, I wanted to add that my midwife said that about 1/3 of all women experience some spotting during pregnancy and in most of those cases it's nothing at all to be concerned about. So if anyone else is looking for info about that issue and needs some peace of mind, I hope I have provided it....

[TalkToMeNow]

Janet, I read the ms article... there was a loooong discussion on it in taos last week. You should check it out.

I'm 13 weeks now. I've been wearing maternity clothes pretty much full time for two weeks, which is just awful. I wanted to hold out as long as possible so I wouldn't get so sick of them. Last time, I didn't wear them till around 5 months and still hated them all. Its annoying... "Hmmm... which of my four maternity shirts will I wear today?" We don't have any money in our budget for maternity clothes. Mother's day and dd's birthday are coming up and are much more important! Plus, I think this will be the last child, at least the last one I give birth to in our family. So it feels silly to buy a lot of stuff, kwim?

I swear I can feel this little guy move sometimes... but I must just be crazy. I haven't mentioned that to anyone in real life. Have a great week, everyone!

[Megamama]

Hey Amanda:

You might be feeling the bump move...I think you can start feeling it from week 13 on in subsequent pregnancies, particularly since you know already what it feels like and can recognize it faster than in a first pregnancy :) I swear I felt my bump move already at 10 weeks but I know I can't be right!!

Alternatives to Maternity wear...loose t-shirts..sweat pants or yoga pants..other loose pants (I have a few from clearance racks at J. Jill that I like wearing)..I don't have summer maternity clothing at all, so I just do that stuff..I have a loose skirt too..I'm still just trying to wear my regular clothing because I'm overweight already so I haven't gained any weight yet...check out ebay for decent buys on the fancier brands..or you can just buy a lot on the cheap...good way to go if you can't stand your 4 shirts :)

[Seeking Refuge]

13 weeks here too

I am sure that you guys are feeling the babies move. My midwife swears she can feel hers move as early as 10 weeks and I have been able to feel this sprout move a little, I think.

Re: Maternity Wear I wear skirts and roll up the waistbands. I lost so much weight in the first trimester that my clothes still fit me even though I have a little bit of a tummy.

take care,

[jecaly]

that's so neat that you guys are feeling movement already. i'm twelve weeks today, wahoo, and i woke up this morning to the bump actually sticking up between my pubic bone and navel, oriented vertically. then, a few minutes later, it was oriented horizontally, but i didn't feel it do that! so, i know there is movement happening, but so far it is happening too quietly for me to feel.

went to my first prenatal yoga class yesterday, which was nice. it's lovely to be able to move again, although i did get a little nauseated a couple of times during the class. next: swimming!

one and a half weeks until we're past the point where we miscarried the last one--it doesn't really even feel like an important landmark anymore, though, since this pregnancy is already so different. my midwife mentioned wanting to listen for the heartbeat with a doppler at our next appointment, a week from today, and when we spoke last i was completely on board with that, but now, having read so much more about what ultrasound waves can do, i'm less sure.

anyway. so glad to hear that folks are starting to feel better! jane-t, how's your spotting? i know that can be so upsetting, even though there are all kinds of explanations for it. thinkin about you. stanya, there's naissance down where you are, right? some of their stuff is really cute, but yeah, spendy spendy. i'm down to 2 pair of nonmaternity, non-drawstring pants that fit, and there are only a few shirts that don't show belly at this point, but i'm holding out. as soon as i have a moment, i'm so going shopping. i had an actual dream last night about buying new underwear, ha.

hugs to the mamas!

*jecaly

[jane-t-mommy]

Hello Mamas,

I am so excited at the thought of feeling this baby move! I haven't felt anything definitive yet, but am only 11 weeks.

Jecaly, my spotting has pretty much stopped. Plus I heard the heartbeat on Saturday, so am feeling much relief. Thanks for asking.

The clothing situation is pretty tricky now, huh, mamas? My maternity pants drop down all day, and my regular pants are uncomfortable or (gulp) don't fit. And sweatpants are a no-no at work. I am lucky to live near several maternity resale shops, but it still adds up quickly (not as quickly as shopping pea in a pod on line though!!LOL)

Fatigue seems to be getting a mite better, gosh it couldn't get any worse.....

Speaking of work, thankfully I only work a few hours a week, but it's all standing in one place and last night really wiped my back out. I tried stretching as much as I could, but am thinking about asking my bosses for a stool to rest one leg on, I think that would help. Anyone else with a standing in one place job that might have some good hints on survival? Thanks.

Off to the coal mines.....Janet

[stanya]

Hi again

to jecaly on the doppler: i was wondering too how safe it was, but my midwives said they use the doppler only up to 20 weeks, before the baby can hear. then they switch to a very sensitive stethatscope type of thing with no sound waves etc... You may have more info on U/S sound than i have though.. any suggestions where to read more ? thanks!

thanks to all about clothing ideas... today my new invention is two vintage aprrons tied on, one in front one in back, with a big loos vintage silk slip underneath... sure i look a little funny, but its colorful and comfortable and got me through a few errands. but i am on unemployment at the moment, so there's no boss to yell what the heck are you wearing! did i tell you last weeks invention? i cut up a cotton/lycra t-shirt, made a swatch of fabric with a button on one side and a buttonhole on the other, with a piece of elastic along the top. I hook into my pants so they stay up without zipping. then i just wear a shirt that covers the top of the pants... ok. too much time on my hands. but it works.
have a great week.
p.s. how do you know when you feel the bean move?! I'm so excited to look for this feeling.
Stanya

[jecaly]

stanya, your outfits sound amazing! post pictures! my favorite pair of pants dissolved last night at work with a huge rib down the middle seam. bah. thank goodness for a job in which it's normal to wear a bar towel hanging over your butt! i'm thinking of just getting a few pair of big low-hanging boy pants to work in. the huge maternity elastic gives me the fantods.

re the doppler: there's a big thread in the main pregnancy boards called "to u/s or not to u/s" or something like that, with lots of links to information about studies on the technology. i'm going to follow my gut (literally and figuratively, har har) and see what i feel like on the day. we've decided not to do the afp testing, though, wahoo!

jane-t, that's fantastic about the spotting and heartbeat! i'm so glad to hear that. oh, and i stand up at work a lot, too. the two things that help me the most are birkenstock clogs (not the most stylish footwear known to humankind, but they do the trick) and an anti-fatigue mat in the kitchen. what's your job? could you get a mat?

and finally...i keep posting in the wrong week's update thread. should we move this party to may?

hugs to the mamas!

*j